This is the second of a 2-part series ranking the top 10 NBA teams that didn’t win a championship. Make sure to check out part 1 first. It is based on the regular season metric SRS (simple rating system) from basketball-reference. Net rating measures points scored per 100 possessions – opponent points per 100 possession, and this is a modified net rating that is adjusted for the strength of opponents. All regular season teams in history were considered. See how many of the top 5 you can guess.

5. 1985-86 Milwaukee Bucks (SRS: 8.69)

Regular Season Record: 57-25 (2nd Seed in Eastern Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference Finals to Boston Celtics (4-0)

Starting Lineup:

PG Sidney Moncrief: 20.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.9 apg

SG Craig Hodges: 10.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.5 apg

SF Paul Pressey: 14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.8 apg

PF Terry Cummings: 19.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.4 apg

C Randy Breuer: 8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.4 apg

What happened:

The 1985-86 Milwaukee Bucks finished with the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference, despite not having any player average more than 20 points per game. They swept the New Jersey Nets in the First Round, and in the Conference Semifinals they faced the Philadelphia 76ers, the team that had swept them out of the playoffs the previous year. Despite the 76ers having all-time great players Charles Barkley and Julius Erving, the Bucks prevailed, ending the series in a 1-point Game 7 victory.

However, they were no match for the Boston Celtics, the team they faced in the Conference Finals, and that year’s eventual NBA champion. Led by Larry Bird, the Celtics easily swept the Bucks, ending their run. Interestingly, although the Bucks had the 5th highest SRS of all non-championship teams in NBA history, the Celtics’ SRS was actually higher.

The Bucks performed very well for a team with no superstar, but they ultimately lost to a stronger opponent.

4. 2012-13 Oklahoma City Thunder (SRS: 9.15)

Regular Season Record: 60-22 (1st Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Semifinals to Memphis Grizzlies (4-1)

Starting Lineup:

PG Russell Westbrook: 23.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 7.4 apg

SG Thabo Sefolosha: 7.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.5 apg

SF Kevin Durant: 28.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 4.6 apg

PF Serge Ibaka: 13.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.5 apg

C Kendrick Perkins: 4.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.4 apg

What happened:

Led by future MVP’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder finished with the first seed in the Western Conference. Having made the Finals the previous year, they were poised to do it again. They faced the Houston Rockets in the First Round, where Russell Westbrook suffered a season ending injury. The Thunder won 4-2, and faced the Memphis Grizzlies in the Conference Semifinals. They won game one, but then lost the next four, each being by a margin of 6 points or less. The Grizzlies lost in the next round.

Although to an extent the Thunder choked, it was Westbrook’s injury that ultimately stopped them for fulfilling their potential.

3. 2015-16 San Antonio Spurs (SRS: 10.28)

Regular Season Record: 67-15 (2nd Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Semifinals to Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2)

Starting Lineup:

PG Tony Parker: 11.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 5.3 apg

SG Danny Green: 7.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.8 apg

SF Kawhi Leonard: 21.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 apg

PF LaMarcus Aldridge: 18.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.5 apg

C Tim Duncan: 8.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.7 apg

What happened:

The San Antonio Spurs dominated the regular season, finishing 67-15 and tying an all-time best home-court record of 40-1. Still, they only finished with the 2nd seed in the Western Conference (the team that finished ahead of them will also appear in this list).

In the First Round, the Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies with each game being a blowout. In the Conference Semifinals, they faced the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a Spurs blowout in Game 1, the Thunder pulled off a one-point win with Patty Mills missing a game winning shot attempt in the final seconds. The Spurs won Game 3 on the road, stealing back the home-court advantage, and after the Thunder won Game 4, the Spurs had a chance to redeem themselves at home in Game 5. However, they found themselves again down by one in the final seconds, and this time it was Tony Parker who missed the game-winning shot attempt. After win comfortably in Game 6, the Thunder advanced to the next round as the Spurs historic season came to a premature end.

Despite having the best home-court record of all-time, the Spurs choked in the playoffs, losing 2 of 3 of their home games against the Thunder.

2. 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (SRS: 10.38)

Regular Season Record: 73-9 (1st Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Finals to Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)

Starting Lineup:

PG Stephen Curry: 30.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 6.7 apg

SG Klay Thompson: 22.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.1 apg

SF Harrison Barnes: 11.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.8 apg

PF Draymond Green: 14.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 7.4 apg

C Andrew Bogut: 5.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.3 apg

What happened:

After winning the NBA championship in 2015, the Golden State Warriors looked poised to repeat. They started the season 24-0 (the best ever start of any major sports league), and finished 73-9, the greatest regular season record of all-time. They also became the first team in NBA history to to go the entire regular-season without back-to-back losses and without losing to the same team twice. Stephen Curry won his second of back-to-back MVP’s (this time being the first unanimous MVP ever), averaging 30 ppg on 50-45-91 shooting splits and becoming. To top it off, Steve Kerr also won Coach of the Year.

In the First Round the Warriors comfortably beat the Houston Rockets 4-1. In the Conference semifinals the Warriors beat the Portland Trailblazers 4-1, with this series being more competitive. Their first real challenge came against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Conference Finals. Led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder won a close Game 1 in Golden State, and after blowout home victories in Games 3 and 4, the Thunder had a commanding 3-1 lead. However, the Warriors would win 3 consecutive close games, with the Thunder blowing double digit leads in Games 6 and 7.

After their comeback, the Warriors reached the Finals where they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers, who they’d beaten in the previous year’s finals. The Warriors won Games 1 and 2 at home, both being blowouts. The Cavaliers won Game 3, but after the Warriors won Game 4, they returned home with a 3-1 lead, one win away from capping off of the greatest season of all time. However, they still made this list.

In Game 5, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James scored 41 points each, and the Warriors were unable to respond as the Cavaliers won 112-97. After a dominant home win by the Cavalier in Game 6, with LeBron scoring 41 points again. The teams returned to Golden State for Game 7. It was a close game throughout, and after Klay Thompson made a layup with 4:39 remaining, the score was tied 89-89. In the last four and a half minutes, the Warriors wouldn’t score a single point, and a 3-pointer by Kyrie Irving in the final minute would be the deciding shot as the Cavaliers won 93-89, completing the first ever 3-1 comeback in the Finals. Curry was a no-show in the final 3 games, and throughout the playoffs he averaged 5 less points per game on 5% worse shooting.

The Warriors were the first team to do so many things, but on the biggest stage, they became the first team to blow a 3-1 Finals lead, choking away a chance to go down as the greatest team of all time.

1. 1971-72 Milwaukee Bucks (SRS: 10.70)

Regular Season Record: 63-19 (2nd Seed in Western Conference)

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Finals to Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)

Starting Lineup:

PG Oscar Robertson: 17.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 7.7 apg

SG Lucius Allen: 13.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.2 apg

SF Bob Dandridge: 18.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.1 apg

PF Curtis Perry: 7.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.6 apg

C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 34.8 ppg, 16.6 rpg, 4.6 apg

What happened:

The Milwaukee Bucks had won the NBA championship the previous season, posting the highest SRS of any team in NBA history. They returned strongly, winning 63 games, although they won 66 the year prior. Center Kareem Abdul Jabbar won his 2nd MVP, and the eventer

In the Conference Semifinals, they faced the Golden State Warriors. After the Warriors upset the Bucks on their home court in Game 1, the Bucks rallied back, winning the next four and winning the series 4-1. They advanced to the Conference Finals where they faced the #1-seeded Los Angeles Lakers which were led by Wilt Chamberlain. The previous season the Bucks had beaten the Lakers in the Conference Finals 4-1, with all their wins being blowouts. It looked like history was repeating itself after the Bucks blew the Lakers out in Los Angeles for Game 1. However, the Lakers hung on in a 135-134 game 2 victory where the Bucks had chances to win. Still, the Bucks had earned home-court advantage as they returned to Milwaukee for Game 3. However, they lost 108-105, again missing several chances. The Bucks would have a blowout victory in Game 4 and the Lakers would have a blowout victory in Game 5. The Bucks entered Game 6 down 3-2, needing a home win to prolong the series. However, they lost yet another close game 104-100, ending their chances of winning another championship.

It is worth noting that the Lakers, the team that beat the Bucks, actually had a higher SRS, even though the Bucks had the highest SRS of all teams to never win a championship. The Lakers’ SRS was 3rd all time while the Bucks’ was 6th all time. However, this doesn’t justify the loss.

The Bucks had missed several opportunities, as they won two games by a combined 47 points but lost three by a combined 8 points. Also, Kareem, who shot 58% during the regular season, shot only 43% in the playoffs, with all his stats dropping off. This was a choke.