The Best of the Best: The "NBA 2K14" All-Time Virtual Playoffs

With the 2014 NBA Finals now upon us, we used NBA 2K14 to match up past champions in a virtual winner-take-all.

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Image via Complex Original
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The 2014 NBA Finals have finally arrived, drawing a whirlwind NBA season to close, and bringing us that much closer to the ultimate question regarding who will be no. 1 in the league. Can the Miami Heat affirm their dynasty with a three-peat, or will Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs make LeBron James' 'not three, not four' speech fall just short? 

We all know that watching the real LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George and Tim Duncan battle it out on the hardwood is awesome. But when the final buzzer sounds IRL, we all need a little virtual love in our basketball lives.

That said, we were wondering: if we created a mini-playoff field? What team from history would emerge as the best of all-time? Would the Miami Heat be able to stand up against the heroes of yesterday? 

You know how we do; we had to grab NBA 2K14 to crown a virtual champion. Here’s the bracket:

1995-96 Chicago Bulls vs. 1993-94 Houston Rockets

1964-65 Boston Celtics vs. 2012-13 Miami Heat

1985-86 Boston Celtics vs. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers vs. 1988-89 Detroit Pistons

Let’s get into the first match-up.

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Quarterfinals: The 1995-96 Bulls vs. 1993-94 Rockets

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Quarterfinals: 1995-96 Chicago Bulls vs. 1993-94 Houston Rockets

The Bulls’ two 3-peats sandwiched back-to-back titles by the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. During his famously ill-fated attempt to play baseball, Michael Jordan was out of the NBA during the '93-94 season entirely, and for most of the '94-95 season. What would have happened if one of MJ’s teams took on Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets?

You’re about to find out. Behind Olajuwon's dominating presence down low, the Rockets were able to control most of the first half. Moves like this step-back J gave Luc Longley nightmares about defending the Dream.

Chi-Town Downs Houston

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Chi-Town Downs Houston

But of course, MJ kept it close. Vernon Maxwell's game in the post was put in purgatory by trying to guard His Airness.

Still, however, the Rockets led 41-40 at the half. In the second half, Olajuwon once again powered Houston to a lead, but the Bulls countered by sending Dennis Rodman to guard him. The Worm's second-half defense on the Dream made a huge difference.

Because of Rodman's smothering D and Jordan's undeniable greatness, the Bulls held on for a hard-fought 94-91 win to advance to the semifinals. Imagine if Jordan had stuck with basketball instead of going to baseball. He let the eight-peat slip through his fingers. 

Quarterfinals: 1964-65 Boston Celtics vs. 2012-13 Miami Heat

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Quarterfinals: 1964-65 Boston Celtics vs. 2012-13 Miami Heat

LeBron James has constantly had to prove himself against Michael Jordan, fighting comparisons to MJ for nearly his entire career. Still, however, even though James wears the same number that Russell did during his storied career, we rarely discuss James' place next to the greatest winner of all time. 

That's no longer the case. Starting off another stellar first round, we have the Miami Heat going to Boston to take on the 1964-65 Celtics. And the home team rules, so this one had to take place in black and white. Not just because NBA 2K kept on those awesome filters from NBA 2K12, but because it's also really, really cool.

Anyway, early in the game, Bill Russell tells LeBron James: put that on your Mount Rushmore

Russell's Revenge

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Russell's Revenge
Bill Russell wasn't to be messed with in this contest. The 1964-65 season was Russell's fifth season as the league MVP, further cementing his place among the game's greatest.

In this clip, Shane Battier learns that fact the hard way as Russell takes it straight down the lane to flush it on Battier. The Heat aren't going to get a three-peat playing like this. But you can be sure that they'll be put on a poster. 

The Return of the King

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The Return of the King
Yes, Boston enjoyed an early lead, but LeBron came on strong as you knew he would. In this highlight, he leaves Russell off the screen and slams it down with two hands. What else would you expect from the four-time MVP? Heat fans are hoping he'll be able to do the same to Tim Duncan in the coming week.

LB No J

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LB No J

Still, however, Boston held the slight advantage heading into the fourth quarter. But LeBron wouldn’t quit. Late in the game and with the scored tied at 85, LBJ has a chance to give Miami the lead. Unfortunately, King James couldn’t hit the potential game winner, taking the game to OT. Clank.

Lob City: Miami

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Lob City: Miami
In the extra session, the Heat weren't ready to give up yet. As you can see, LeBron was still bringing his A-game, even taking an alley-oop and slamming it over John Havlicek.

Havlicek was a bulldog during his playing days with the Celtics. Would the real Hondo have ever let LeBron dunk on him? Doubtful. But keep in mind: this is a video game. Virtual LeBron can do whatever he wants.

Easy Money

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Easy Money

And don't forget about LeBron's ability to pass the rock, either. King James is an all-around talent, showcasing an overall dominance that hasn't been seen since the days of Magic Johnson. Watch as he dishes this assist to teammate Udonis Haslem. 

Haslem has been with Heat for a decade now, and though he doesn't contribute like he used to, he also doesn't have to contribute like he once did. Lucky for Haslem, he has LeBron to help him look good on a game-by-game basis. 

It couldn't have come at a better time either. With just over 11 seconds left in extra time, Miami is now up by one. 

From Zero to Hero

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From Zero to Hero

But with 4.9 second remaining in the overtime period, Hondo strikes back, nailing a floater over LeBron in the lane. Remember Hondo? He was the one getting taken to the rack by LeBron just a couple slides ago. That's how you go from zero to hero in a heartbeat.

And just like that, the Heat go down. Ball game. The 1964-65 Celtics advance to the next round to meet MJ and the Bulls, while Bill Russell tells LeBron to kiss the rings. All 11 of them. 

Quarterfinals: 1985-86 Boston Celtics vs. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

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Quarterfinals: 1985-86 Boston Celtics vs. 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers

The oldest rivalry in the NBA gets a redux here. Yes, it's the purple and gold versus the green and white, featuring their two top squads from the '80s. The game started out close, but Magic Johnson was able to give his team a slight early edge. Of course, it didn't happen without some help.

The 1987 Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Cooper, threw down this slam in transition for the Showtime Lakers.

Kevin McHale

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McHale Refuses to Back Down, Destroys Lakers' Dreams

But these Boston Celtics were no pushovers. Led by Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, Boston was a famously tough squad during the 1985-86 season, winning 67 games and capturing their 16th NBA title.

Their virtual personae refused to bend as well. By the time the first half was over, Parish and McHale helped to give the Celtics the lead with moves like this against the L.A. frontcourt. Dennis Johnson sets up McHale for a nasty flush down low. 

Robert Parish

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The C's Reign Supreme

But again, don't forget about Robert Parish. The C’s bigs just kept pounding L.A. in the post, thanks in part to the efforts of the Chief. Even with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on their side, the Lakers were simply no match for Boston's superior muscle. Boston dominated their rivals, finishing the game out by a score 96-80, and bringing another Beantown representative through to the semifinals.

In real life, the 1986-87 Lakers had been able to defeat the Celtics during the Finals that season. However, it has to be noted that the contributions of the Celtics' star reserve Bill Walton had been diminished by a nagging foot injury for much of the season and postseason. With Walton at full strength, it appears that Boston would've been a completely different team against those Lakers. 

1988-89 Detroit Pistons vs. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

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Quarterfinals: 1988-89 Detroit Pistons vs. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

The 1988-89 Detroit Pistons were known as the Bad Boys because of their rough-and-tumble style of play, and their uncompromising attitude toward their critics. They were good enough to unseat the defending champion Lakers in the 1989 NBA Finals, throwing dirt in the face of Los Angeles' glamour and glitz.

But when we matched them up against the 1971-72 Lakers, Wilt and Co. were not impressed. Look at Isiah Thomas getting rejected in the paint by Elgin Baylor.

Clean-Up Duty

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Clean-Up Duty

Simply put, Los Angeles was just the better team on this day. The Bad Boys may have made an indelible mark on the league in their era, but the 1971-72 Lakers were a force of nature, winning 69 games in the regular season, including a 33-game winning streak. 

In this game, even the Lakers' misses could turn into makes. Later in the contest, one misguided attempt from Los Angeles is thrown back in off a tip slam.

He Feels Good

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He Feels Good

But the star of Los Angeles' show was Gail Goodrich, the five-time NBA All-Star and two-time NCAA champion with the UCLA Bruins. Goodrich was an absolute beast against the Pistons, largely off of his eagle-eye shooting. The gunner had 21 points in the first half draining treys like this one from the baseline.

Wiz Kid

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Wiz Kid

Goodrich was also a wizard passing the ball in this game. Look at this sweet dish to Wilt Chamberlain. Flashy dimes weren't an uncommon part of Goodrich's actual game either. The star guard averaged 4.7 APG throughout his 17-year career.

Because of plays like this, the game ended as a blowout. The Lakers stomped the Pistons like they were the 2013-14 Milwaukee Bucks. Final score: 112-89.

Semifinals: 1995-96 Bulls vs. 1964-65 Celtics

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Semifinals: 1995-96 Chicago Bulls vs. 1964-65 Boston Celtics

Who is the greatest winner: Michael Jordan or Bill Russell? With the help of NBA 2K14, we're about to find out. You have to think that this is the type of match-up that Jordan dreams about. It's a chance to prove that he is truly the greatest to ever do it. 

However, in the beginning, the Celtics took a big early lead. Of course, His Airness wasn’t going quietly. This steal and slam from MJ cut Boston’s lead to just two before the half.

How about we see that one more time, just for good measure? 

Keeping Up With the Joneses

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Keeping Up With the Joneses

But Boston kept pounding away. Bolstered by a stout defense and the irreplaceable contributions of shooting guard Sam Jones, the Celtics began to take over. Here, Jones looks a lot like the guy that became the mayor in Back to the Future after working in the ice cream parlor, which is to say he gave Chicago two scoops on this drive to the basket.

Boston rode Jones’ 35 points and overcame Jordan’s 33 to advance to the finals of our tournament. At the buzzer, the score was 94-84. Add Jordan to Bill Russell's growing list of victims. 

Semifinals: 1985-86 Celtics vs. 1971-72 Lakers

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Semifinals: 1985-86 Boston Celtics vs. 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers

Having another Boston Celtics-Los Angeles Lakers match-up might seem repetitive, but what else would expect when these two franchises are the winningest clubs in league history? Apologies to those who can't appreciate perennial greatness. 

Anyway, Boston got off to another strong start in this game. And once again, it was on the back of the lumbering Kevin McHale. The C's center has been a big, Herman Munster-looking monster in this simulation, murdering baselines like his name his Dr. Dre. Watch him attack the basket with a nifty reverse lay-up. 

Bird the Back-Breaker

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Bird the Back-Breaker

Boston led handily for most of the game, but in a rivalry like this, you had to figure the Lakers would come storming back. Don't forget: it wasn't just Bird and Magic who started a Boston-Los Angeles rivalry. The bloodsport between the two franchises extends back to the days of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. So you can be sure that every time this Lakers squad is seeing green, they're also seeing red. With the help of Gail Goodrich and Wilt, L.A. took a 92-90 lead with under 20 seconds remaining.

But as you can see above, you should never leave Larry Bird open in the corner when the game is on the line. Too easy. 

Goodrich Bankrupts Lakers Chances

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Goodrich Bankrupts Lakers Chances

Larry Bird's miraculous shot gives the Celtics a one-point lead with just over 13 seconds left in the game. Now, with the game on the line, who would the Lakers turn to? Who would be their hero? On a roster stacked with Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, the options were aplenty.

Wait, they chose Goodrich? Really? With Chamberlain on the floor and West wide open on the perimeter, Goodrich forced the shot and got it blocked by Danny Ainge. Really? You're going to stand the Logo up like that, Goodrich?

For Lakers fans, Goodrich's ill-fated decision is a tough pill to swallow. Not only do they lose the game because of it, but it also sets up the one phrase a Los Angeles fan never wants to hear: an all-Celtics NBA Finals.

Finals: Celtic Pride

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Finals: 1985-86 Boston Celtics vs. 1964-65 Boston Celtics
It's the final game of our all-time NBA playoff tournament, and sitting at the end is the most highly decorated franchise ever: the Boston Celtics. The Celtics have accounted for nearly 25 percent of all NBA championships since the league's foundation, setting a standard for excellence that is nearly unrivaled in sports. 

However, just because they've shared the same uniform doesn't mean that these two Boston squads are going to be buddy-buddy on the court. Led by Bill Russell, the 1964-65 Celtics set the tone for the entire franchise. Sure, Larry Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever, but as time goes on, Russell's contributions to the game are only being more and more overlooked. Don't sleep on their chances to win this match-up. After all, this is the dynasty that won 11 championships. 

But in the final game though, Kevin McHale and Larry Bird were working to prove that they wouldn't go down so easily to Russell. Watch as McHale leans into Mel Counts to give the 1985-86 team an early lead.

Larry Legend

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Larry Legend

Of course, you know that Larry Bird had to get his two cents in there as well. Or, rather, his 10 cents. Larry Legend uses a behind-the-back pass to freeze his defender and assist McHale in the post. 

These types of plays were common for Bird during his heyday, especially in the 1985-86 season when Bird captured his third consecutive MVP. He is the last player to win the award three years in a row, and one of only three players to ever do so. 

The World's Greatest

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The World's Greatest
However, you had to know that the older old-timers wouldn’t go quietly. Remember Sam Jones? He got back to work in this match-up and put the 1964-65 team up with a flurry of points.

While the younger Celtics had their fair share of reliable hands, Jones was simply too much for them to handle down the stretch. In an 87-78 win, Jones exploded for another 35 point game, leading his Boston squad to our All-Time NBA Finals championship. Count that as ring no. 12 for the Association's greatest ever dynasty.

Perhaps this just goes to show how much we overvalue the teams of today versus the older generations. On one hand, who would've guessed that this would happen? Bill Russell and his Celtics had to take down LeBron, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird in order to win this title. However, when you consider the fact that the old Boston team set records for their historical dominance, it's almost better to ask why no one saw this coming. Russell and his teammates add yet another title to their trophy case. Should anyone really be shocked? 

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