Lack Of Recent Titles Among The 8 “Semis” Teams

Three of the 8 NBA and NHL semi-final round qualifiers have never won its league’s crown, two have won it only once, while the other three have a combined 1 title in the last 85 aggregate, seasons.

Let’s cite 1984, and years ending in 4, as this one does.

In 1984, both the Edmonton Oilers (slight series u/dogs vs the Dallas Stars) and Boston Celtics won it all. That was the only year that both the NHL and NBA title was won by teams still going in the 2024 ‘offs, whose semis commenced with top heavy, series favorite Boston (-10) winning (133-128) in overtime, at home, vs the Indiana Pacers.

The Celtics are actual plurality and roughly 3 to 2 “faves” to win a fourth, “4” year crown, as they won NBA titles in 1964, 1974 and aforementioned 1984.

Edmonton, which as with the situation regarding the Celtics, whose incredible 11 titles in 13 seasons with greats such as Bill Russell and Sam Jones, on all but one of those teams, had a great “dynasty type run” of 5 crowns in 7 seasons (’84-’90).

However, the Oilers have gone 32 completed seasons sans a crown, while the Celtics, who once had an incredible 40 percent of the NBA’s 40 crowns (16 in the league’s first 40 seasons, ’47-’86) have but one title (’08) in the 37 seasons since.

Meanwhile the New York Rangers whose last title was in a “4” year, (1994) and it ended a 54 year title drought.

New York again is a series underdog, roughly 7 to 5, despite having home advantage vs the Florida Panthers, last year’s final round losing team and looking for their first title in this, what is to be their 30th completed season, their first being 1994.

Two NBA semis qualifiers, the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves have never won a crown and have but one NBA final round appearance combined, that by “Indy” in 2000. (The Pacers, who won 3 ABA titles are in their 48th NBA season, the Wolves are in their 35th.

Minnesota is a decent sized series “fave” (say 8 plus to 5), vs the Dallas Mavericks, who as is the situation with fellow Dallas team, the NHL Stars, has one crown in their franchise history, the latter’s going back to its 25 years as the Minnesota North Stars.

Certainly, Bob Cousy, pictured above, an integral member of the first 6 Celtics’ title teams and 95 years old, ought to be cited along with Bill Russell, Sam Jones and many others, part of what “The Cooz” called the greatest of the sports dynasties, 11 titles in 13 seasons (’57-’69).