Take a look at this chart which shows the farthest run for each of the 8 playoff seeds in the 2 conferences since the 1984 playoffs when the current 16 team format began.
*( ) denotes the number of teams having won the championship with the one listed being the most recent.
Since the 1983-84 season::
Overall since 1983-84 season |
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| # | Deepest playoff run | Team | Year |
| 1 | NBA Champions | *(15) San Antonio Spurs | 2003 |
| 2 | NBA Champions | *(3) Los Angeles Lakers | 2001 |
| 3 | NBA Champions | *(2) Detroit Pistons | 2004 |
| 4 | Game 7, Second Round | (4)Sacramento Kings | 2004 |
| 5 | Game 7, Conference Finals | Indiana Pacers | 1994 |
| 6 | NBA Champions | Houston Rockets | 1995 |
| 7 | Game 4, Conference Finals | Seattle Supersonics | 1987 |
| 8 | Game 5, NBA Finals | New York Knicks | 1999 |
Eastern Conference |
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| # | Deepest playoff run | Team | Year |
| 1 | NBA Champions | *(9) Chicago Bulls | 1998 |
| 2 | NBA Champions | Chicago Bulls | 1993 |
| 3 | NBA Champions | Detroit Pistons | 2004 |
| 4 | Game 7, Second Round | (3)Atlanta Hawks | 1988 |
| 5 | Game 7, Conference Finals | Indiana Pacers | 1994 |
| 6 | Game 6, Conference Finals | Chicago Bulls | 1989 |
| 7 | Game 5, Second Round | New York Knicks | 1998 |
| 8 | Game 5, NBA Finals | New York Knicks | 1999 |
Western Conference |
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| # | Deepest playoff run | Team | Year |
| 1 | NBA Champions | *(6) San Antonio Spurs | 2003 |
| 2 | NBA Champions | *(2) Los Angeles Lakers | 2001 |
| 3 | NBA Champions | Los Angeles Lakers | 2002 |
| 4 | Game 7, Second Round | Sacramento Kings | 2004 |
| 5 | Game 6, Conference Finals | Phoenix Suns | 1990 |
| 6 | NBA Champions | Houston Rockets | 1995 |
| 7 | Game 4, Conference Finals | Seattle Supersonics | 1987 |
| 8 | Game 7, Second Round | Denver Nuggets | 1994 |