Post by TooSmoove on Jul 12, 2011 10:08:29 GMT -5
We take a look at two of the most successful franchises to date in the SSBL and their amazing rivalry in the SSBL playoffs. The Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves. We are currently at the Conference Semi Final stage of the 2012 SSBL playoffs where the two could potential meet each other for the 9th time. The Timberwolves face a talented Dallas Mavericks side while the Kings go up against the Spurs, if both teams win their series they will met in the Conference Finals. We know the two sets of fans would love to see the rival continue. To get the full extent of the rivalry we will look at 'The Numbers' and take a closer look at the 15 year history of the SSBL playoffs.
The Numbers
1 - Both teams have one SSBL Championship.
15 - In 15 SSBL seasons, the Kings have made the playoffs 13 times (the most in SSBL history) and the Timberwolves 12 times including 12 straight seasons.
9 - 9 times in SSBL history have both the Kings and Timberwolves made the playoffs in the same year and in those 9 times the Kings and Timberwolves have met each other 8 times.
6 - Timberwolves hold a combained 6-2 series advantage over the Kings in the playoffs.
20 - Kings wins against the Timberwolves in the playoffs.
26 - Timberwolves wins against the Kings in the playoffs.
Closer Look
1998 - In the first ever season in SSBLv4, the Timberwolves didn't make playoffs while the Kings lost 3-4 against the Miami Heat in the Finals.
1999 - Timberwolves didn't make playoffs again as their rebuilding process continues while the Kings lose against the Dallas Mavericks 1-4 in the first round of the playoffs.
2000 - Timberwolves failed to make the playoffs which would be the last time in Franchise history they fail to do so while the Kings would go on to defeat the Pistons 4-0 in the finals to win the SSBL Championship, Eddie Jones would win the finals MVP
2001 - This would be the first time the two teams met each other in the finals, the #6 seeded Kings would go on to sweep the #3 seeded Timberwolves 4-0 however would lose against the Lakers in the next round.
2002 - The two would met in the first round once again but this time in the Timberwolves (#2 seed) would defeat the Kings (#7 seed) 4-1. The Lakers would stop the Timberwolves in the Conference Finals.
2003 - This time around the two would met in the Conference Semis as the #1 seeded Timberwolves would see off the #4 seeded Kings 4-1, the Timberwolves would fall short at the Conference Finals for the second straight season.
2004 - The 2004 playoffs marked the forth straight year that the two would met in the playoffs, this time in the first round as #1 and #8 seeds. The Kings as the #8 seed pulled off the upset beating the Timberwolves 4-2. The Kings would lose against the Clippers in the next round.
2005 - 2005 would make the first year the Kings failed to make playoffs, while the Timberwolves would lose against the Sonics in the Conference Finals.
2006 - Kings didn't make playoffs for the second straight year. Timberwolves would again fall at the Conference Finals stage this time losing against the Trailblazers.
2007 - The Kings would return to the playoffs as the #5 seed and the two would once again meet this time Conference Semis. The Timberwolves (#1 seed) would beat the Kings 4-2 and go on to make the Finals for the first time in their history. However they would lose against the Bucks 4-1.
2008 - Timberwolves (#3 seed) would beat the Kings (#6 Seed) 4-2 in First Round in 2008 but would lose against the Rockets in the next round.
2009 - 2009 marks the only year that the two made the playoffs but failed to meet each other. The Kings would lose in first round against Suns, whilst the Wolves would reach the finals but lose 4-1 against Boston Celtics.
2010 - The two would meet once again in 2010 this time in a thrilling 7 game series would saw the Timberwolves (#3 seed) beat Kings (#6 Seed) 4-3 in First Round, the Timberwolves would go onto lose to the Jazz in the next round.
2011 - Last season marked the biggest series between the two. It would be the first time in 7 previous playoffs meetings that they would meet in the Conference finals. For the second year running it provided a thrilling seven game series and again the Timberwolves (#1 seed) beat Kings (#7 Seed) 4-3 and they would go onto to win the SSBL Championship with a 4-1 series win against the Celtics. Tim Duncan won the Playoff MVP then retired a couple of days later from basketball.
2012 - Conference Finals?
The Numbers
1 - Both teams have one SSBL Championship.
15 - In 15 SSBL seasons, the Kings have made the playoffs 13 times (the most in SSBL history) and the Timberwolves 12 times including 12 straight seasons.
9 - 9 times in SSBL history have both the Kings and Timberwolves made the playoffs in the same year and in those 9 times the Kings and Timberwolves have met each other 8 times.
6 - Timberwolves hold a combained 6-2 series advantage over the Kings in the playoffs.
20 - Kings wins against the Timberwolves in the playoffs.
26 - Timberwolves wins against the Kings in the playoffs.
Closer Look
1998 - In the first ever season in SSBLv4, the Timberwolves didn't make playoffs while the Kings lost 3-4 against the Miami Heat in the Finals.
1999 - Timberwolves didn't make playoffs again as their rebuilding process continues while the Kings lose against the Dallas Mavericks 1-4 in the first round of the playoffs.
2000 - Timberwolves failed to make the playoffs which would be the last time in Franchise history they fail to do so while the Kings would go on to defeat the Pistons 4-0 in the finals to win the SSBL Championship, Eddie Jones would win the finals MVP
2001 - This would be the first time the two teams met each other in the finals, the #6 seeded Kings would go on to sweep the #3 seeded Timberwolves 4-0 however would lose against the Lakers in the next round.
2002 - The two would met in the first round once again but this time in the Timberwolves (#2 seed) would defeat the Kings (#7 seed) 4-1. The Lakers would stop the Timberwolves in the Conference Finals.
2003 - This time around the two would met in the Conference Semis as the #1 seeded Timberwolves would see off the #4 seeded Kings 4-1, the Timberwolves would fall short at the Conference Finals for the second straight season.
2004 - The 2004 playoffs marked the forth straight year that the two would met in the playoffs, this time in the first round as #1 and #8 seeds. The Kings as the #8 seed pulled off the upset beating the Timberwolves 4-2. The Kings would lose against the Clippers in the next round.
2005 - 2005 would make the first year the Kings failed to make playoffs, while the Timberwolves would lose against the Sonics in the Conference Finals.
2006 - Kings didn't make playoffs for the second straight year. Timberwolves would again fall at the Conference Finals stage this time losing against the Trailblazers.
2007 - The Kings would return to the playoffs as the #5 seed and the two would once again meet this time Conference Semis. The Timberwolves (#1 seed) would beat the Kings 4-2 and go on to make the Finals for the first time in their history. However they would lose against the Bucks 4-1.
2008 - Timberwolves (#3 seed) would beat the Kings (#6 Seed) 4-2 in First Round in 2008 but would lose against the Rockets in the next round.
2009 - 2009 marks the only year that the two made the playoffs but failed to meet each other. The Kings would lose in first round against Suns, whilst the Wolves would reach the finals but lose 4-1 against Boston Celtics.
2010 - The two would meet once again in 2010 this time in a thrilling 7 game series would saw the Timberwolves (#3 seed) beat Kings (#6 Seed) 4-3 in First Round, the Timberwolves would go onto lose to the Jazz in the next round.
2011 - Last season marked the biggest series between the two. It would be the first time in 7 previous playoffs meetings that they would meet in the Conference finals. For the second year running it provided a thrilling seven game series and again the Timberwolves (#1 seed) beat Kings (#7 Seed) 4-3 and they would go onto to win the SSBL Championship with a 4-1 series win against the Celtics. Tim Duncan won the Playoff MVP then retired a couple of days later from basketball.
2012 - Conference Finals?
2000
