Open Court "Best 1980's Team Without A Title" 

Milwaukee Bucks were definitely the best 80's team without a title. 7 straight division titles, 7 straight 50 win seasons, 3 East finals appearances.

I like the fact that Kevin McHale gives guys that he played against their praise.

Kevin McHale is such a bright guy

Me: What an interesting conversation about lesser known teams before I was born! C-Webb: "Butt implants"

If Kevin Michale wasn’t on this episode, my god this would’ve been bad.

McHale was the best player of all the commentators in that room, no doubt. 3 chips, unstoppable on the low block.

Kenny "Don't talk when I'm interrupting" Smith

There needs to be an NBA Network where you can watch any NBA game that ever happened. I would easily subscribe to that and watch all these iconic players of the 80s and 90s that I didn't get to see or was too young to remember seeing!

The 1988 Dallas Mavericks: Derek Harper, Rolando Blackman, Roy Tarpley, Mark Aguirre, Sam Perkins, James Donaldson,&, more.

"I still have nightmares about that thing." -Kevin McHale

I love this nostalgia. Man there was great teams in the 80’s. I loved having TBS to watch Nique and the hawks.

This is one of the best shows EVER. Simple concept and I’m surprised other sports haven’t copied this format

The Bucks, The Rockets with the Twin Towers, The Nuggets with Issel and "The Poet" Alex English, The Dallas Mavericks; Aguirre, Ro Blackman

No mention of the Doug Moe's Nuggets and the Passing Game. Alex English had the most points of any player in the 80s.

If you're talking about the whole decade, I'm going with the Bucks. If you're talking about how good a team was at its best, I'm going with the '86 Hakeem/Sampson Rockets. They beat the Showtime Lakers in 5 and put up a good fight against an all-time great Celtics team.

The San Antonio Spurs of the 1980's with George Gervin, Artis Gilmore, Edgar Jones, Johnny Moore, etc., were a really good team that just didn't have enough to get past the Lakers.

The 1988 Utah Jazz: John Stockton, Bobby Hansen, Mike Ivaroni, Thurl Bailey, Darrell Griffith, Mark Eaton, Karl The Mailman Malone, &, more

It was extremely hard just to get to an NBA Finals in the 80's, only 5 teams did. The Lakers with 8 appearances going 5-3. The Rockets with the other two in the West, losing both times. The Celtics had 5 appearances going 3-2. Philly made it 3 times going 1-2, and Detroit made it 2 times going 1-1. That means 20 other NBA teams failed over a ten-year period. The Bucks are definitely the best team of the 80's who didn't win a title. Those playoff clashes against Philly and Boston were as good as it gets!

They need to bring this team back again!! Even if it’s on a joint video call...👍🏽👍🏽

I aways like Kevin McHale honesty and intelligence and strategy of playing the game. He was not the biggest or strongest or most skilled player; however, he changed the psychology dynamics of the game.

1. It's the Bucks. They swept the Celtics in 1983. !!!! They played in 2 conference finals and a very tough Game 7 in a conference semi (1987 agt the Celtics). Moncrief and Sikma are both in the hall of fame, Cummings and Pressey were both excellent players, Nelson was a great coach. 2. I like how McHale answers "best 1980's team to never win a ring" with the 1977 version of a team that DID win a ring in the 80's.

3:00 The way C Webb laughed like a little kid when Kevin Mchale said that is hilarious 😂

Atlanta Hawks. Deep, lots of good players at every position, well coached. There were two up-and-coming challengers to the Celtics in the East. When the Hawks couldn't quite get over the top, the Pistons did.

Definitely the Bucks! They would’ve made the Finals in any other era/decade, yet in the 1980’s East it was UNBELIEVABLY difficult (and then in the Finals you had to face the Showtime Lakers)! They had some amazing teams and players throughout the decade, and racked up many, many wins too. Besides Milwaukee, it’s the Houston Rockets (talking more about with Hakeem and Sampson as opposed to the early 80’s with Moses)… they already made the Finals in 1986 (had to face one of the GOAT teams though), and had lots of years of success ahead, with a terrific and young core, but injuries, substance abuse, internal problems… ruined it for them, in that decade. You also had teams like the Hawks, Nuggets, late 80’s Mavericks, Bulls coming up… that were very good! Even teams like the Cavs or Seattle, could really compete. Most stacked, greatest decade.

Imagine if your whole life was just basketball..How lucky they are..And These guys actually love the game..Peace All

Definitely the Bucks of the early 80s, in particular, when they were a young team on the rise. They lost a very close Western semifinal to Seattle in 1980 (after blowing a chance to close out the Sonics at home in Game 6), then switched to the Eastern Conference and lost an equally tough semifinal series to the Sixers. Those 1981 Bucks went 60-22, yet only finished with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference, behind both Boston and Philly, who were both 62-20. That was some lineup: Bob Lanier, Marques Johnson, Sidney Moncrief, Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters, Quinn Buckner, Harvey Catchings, etc. They just had the misfortune of having to try and co-exist with powerhouses like the Celtics and Sixers. How about an honorable mention for the 1980-81 Phoenix Suns? They went 57-25 that year, the only time during the entire decade that someone other than the Lakers won the Pacific Division. The Suns were the top seed in the Western Conference, but fell 4-3 to the 40-42 Kansas City Kings in the Western semifinals. Those Kings would then lose to the 40-42 Rockets in the Western finals, the only time, I believe, that a conference championship featured two teams with losing records.

Rip Bob Lanier

The addition of Mark Aguirre was what finally got the Pistons over the hump.

It's a shame that Ralph Sampson and Hakeem only had a few years of playing together. Those 2 as a duo/twin tower and what they could have become is one of the biggest what ifs in NBA history. They outright beat a prime Lakers showtime squad in the WCF the year before the Lakers won back 2 back titles. They lost the finals to one of the greatest teams in NBA history, the 86 Celtics but they beat them twice at home and very easily could have won a 3rd game. Mid 80's Rockets was a potential dynasty that never was.

I remember being 9 years old, walking courtside at a Rockets warmup in 1986. I was there anticipating seeing new basketball star Olajuwon -who was in a McDonald's commercial then - thinking he would be the biggest guy in the world. Then I saw the guy next to him was about five inches taller. "Who's that?" I asked my dad. "That's Ralph Sampson,." he said. I'd never imagined human beings could be so tall. I'd never seen such legs, arms. It was a land of giants. Sampson was 7'4" and wasn't even the center. Unbelievable.

Finally some respect for that 80's Mavs team

I can see Matt Barnes’ knuckle shape on Fishers forehead

Thanks for adding so much C-Webb

I love they talked about those Dallas teams. The Mavericks really got off to a pretty good start as a franchise, after starting in 1980. Making it to the Conference Finals by '86 or whatever it was is impressive.

The great Bucks teams with Moncrief and Cummings and Hawks teams with Doc Rivers and Nique top this list.

In the mid to late 80s those Atlanta Hawks teams being in a stacked eastern conference with Boston Detroit a young Chicago Bulls squad in 87 & 88

I really like the dynamic of this group.

thats crazy what they're saying about that hawks team, I use them as a sleeper a lot on 2k they have 2 7 footers down low best rebounding team on game

I agree with Mchale the 76ers, particularly in 1980/1982, were the best teams to not win it all. Dr. J just couldn't clutch it but those teams were great.

Trailblazers, Hawks, Cavs and Knicks come to mind!

80’s Nuggets were nice too 🔥

Kevin McHale and "short shorts"!! LMAO!!

I love the bond the NBA guy's have.

Terry Cummings is the only player in NBA history to have outplayed MJ in a playoff series. Underrated af.

BUCKS for me and I'm primarily referring to that talent-stacked early-80s squad (Moncrief, Marques Johnson, Lanier, Bridgeman, Winters, OOH BABY!!!). 1980-81 team definitely should've won it all, too. 1982-83 squad in any other year would've gotten it done as well. Even the mid-80s Bucks (Moncrief, Cummings, Sikma, Pressey) had their moments as legit title contenders, especially that 1986-87 team that VERY nearly took the eventual Finals-bound Celtics out in the 2nd round of the playoffs that season. Looking back, they were probably my 2nd favorite team to watch right behind my hometown Lakers because they loved to run the floor just as hard too! ;-)

The rivalries were way better back then because the players didn't move around to other teams like they do today. Today's players are friends who make "agreements" in the off season to sign elsewhere to build super teams.

Mchale always brings life without having to showing out.

Love to pick Kevin Mchale brains on all things basketball

Milwaukee is the best that never won the chip in the '80's. Three conference finals in a four-year span from '83-'86. They just happened to lose to better teams in Philly and Boston.

I'm definitely biased as a Bucks fan, but if you look at regular season records in the 80s, only the Celtics and Lakers had better records. Bucks went to 3 ECF and won 7 division titles. They didn't have Bird or Dr J/Malone during their best years. That was the difference.

Kevin McHale’s humor and enthusiasm really make this video

Why does Kenny Smith act like he’s this great player that everyone knows lol.

Definitely the Bucks they were scary good in the 80's. In the East it was Boston, Philly and Milwaukee period.

McHale's a funny dude.

Huh, so Greg Anthony can actually smile. I never knew that.

I know it says 80’s...but to dismiss the Cavs of the late 80’s and early 90’s is BS...you had Price, Hot Rod, Larry Nance, Brad Daughtery, Ron Harper, Craig Ehlo....those were good Cavs teams that came up short because of one player ....Jordan

McHale, actually Magic had a phenomenal 6th game in the 1980 NBA Finals. There was no 7th game in that series.

The back to back 87 and 88 Lakers barely escaped in game 7 both years versus the Jazz. Like down to the last shot game 7s.

Hard to argue against the Bucs but peeps are sleeping on the Cavs. Mark Price was an under-rated point guard. They had two legit big men in Brad Doigherty and Hot Rod Williams. Craig Ehlo was a scrappy player who could hoop.

Marques Johnson is the guy from White Man Can’t Jump

Mchale mispoke when he said "When Magic has a phenomenal 7th game...": Did the Lakers not win against the Sixers in 1980 in 6 games?

The Atlanta Hawks get my vote.

Wish this was back on

Kevin's 100% correct.Sixers of 80,81,82.

Maybe the Cavs ...they couldn't get over the Bulls hump

Absolutely love this

The 1980’s “TMC” Warriors had Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullen. Great fun to watch, but never a serious playoff threat. Manute Bol at center was comical, but he was a sloth.

R.I.P to great Roy Tarpley . He had drugs and alcohol problems and that's why he left from NBA,he came to my country (Greece ) even if he was all the time drunk and with cocaine he was able to dominate the game ,if he wasn't to the drugs addicted now maybe we would talk for one of greatest power forward ever ,so great way Roy

Cleveland Cavaliers. Mark Price Craig Ehlo hot rod Williams Brad Daugherty Larry Nance Etc

Just 2hear these guys talk Old School Basketball is just music to my ears.

What song is playing at the end?

Aguirre was a forward,geniuses.

The Bucks of the 80s got screwed by the Celtics and then Pistons being better.

I thought the '86 Bucks were really powerful. Then, they got swept by the Celtics and I was like what the hell?

Cool video

Twin Towers. The Sampson-Olajuwon combo was incredible.

I want McHale input on kurt rambis lol

Man I know it’s about the 80’s but the best team that never won a chip was either 1997 Jazz, 1996 SuperSonics, the Jailbreakers and early 2000’s Kings

88 Jazz were tough

Nobody: Chris Webber: Yeah he had butt implants

The Sonics had some pretty good teams in the 80's.

I have the best 80s team of all time that didn't win it at all which is what kevin mchale said. The 76ers with Dr J was beyond top tier. They were the greatest badass eastern team to never win.

Kevin is a great storyteller 😅

Gotta go with the Twin Towers Rockets, but the Bucks had a great team.

Before the 1984 draft the Portland Trail Blazers offered the #2 pick and Clyde Drexler for Ralph Sampson. Houston could of had Hakeem / Clyde and Michael Jordan

Who would you guys pick in 00 trailblazers vs 02 kings???? I can't decide. Both took Shaq/Kobe Lakers to game 7s.

LMAO 🤣🤣🤣,Kevin McHale is comedy.....

Dang that guy strong to 😂

I'm sure DeMar Derozan loved Kenny's comment there.

Terry Cummings and Paul Pressey were a big part of that Bucks team. They were a tough, mean, board-banging, defensive oriented team. They always gave my Pistons real trouble.

Greg Anthony needs to just not talk.. and 2000s team vs lebron what? Kenny just stop

Who was the best player on those 80 bucks teams and who was the best player on the 80s Mavericks.

The Bucks were probably the best team in the 80s without a title...Portland or Houston is a close 2nd

Kevin McHale is good on here.

Imagine talking about a guy saying hes a demar derozan... with talent The disrespect to deebo is crazy

Mchale is a gentleman.

Milwaukee Bucks with Sidney Moncrief, Marques Johnson, Paul Pressey, ect

Ehhh... the '86 Houston Rockets with Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon???

McHale lists a team that won a title in the 80s lol. Genius

8:43....had a similar experience with a teammate in high school during a practice...missed shot....gathered to jump for the rebound, looked up and saw the bottom of this kid's shoes....kid could jump out the gym