NBA History: The best era for each of the 30 franchises

SAN ANTONIO - JANUARY 14: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to drive around Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks at the SBC Center on January 14, 2005 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Chris Birck/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Memphis Grizzlies: 2010-17

Only in existence since 1995, the Memphis Grizzlies had little success during their first 15 years of basketball. There were three consecutive playoff appearances but not even a single game victory to show for it, but everything changed at the turn of the decade.

The 2010-11 season will always be remembered in Memphis lore. Not only did the Grizzlies return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. They became just the second eighth seed in the modern era to dethrone a No. 1 seed, advancing to their first-ever conference semi-finals in the process.

That unpredictable second-round appearance laid the foundation for the Grit and Grind era where the Grizzlies became a tough, but more importantly consistent, playoff out.

Memphis is no vacation hot-spot, and the cities hard-nosed mentality was manifested through its basketball team. Led by physical imposers Tony Allen and Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies were a unit no opponent wanted to face in the playoffs knowing full well the punishment they were about to absorb.

The high point for Memphis’ seven straight playoff appearances came during the 2012-13 campaign that culminated in a trip to the Western Conference Finals.

Sure, a sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs wasn’t fun, but the inaugural appearance for the Grizzlies was a big deal to those who understood what it took to get the franchise off the ground.

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