NBA Time Capsule: Ranking every NBA Finals series since 1990

15. 2012 – Miami Heat over Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1)

This series cracks the top 15 based on the sheer volume of talent on the court at all times. The Thunder players weren’t in their prime yet, but there were six future Hall of Fame players on the floor to close each of these games and it’s fascinating to watch.

Despite the series only going five games, the first four are really competitive. It’s a series that I really wish we could have seen multiple times throughout the decade (and would have if the Thunder didn’t trade James Harden after these Finals) because the only thing stopping this OKC team was their youth at the end of tight games. The talent was obviously there for both sides, but the experience and poise of Miami are what stood out in every close game. The Thunder’s stars just weren’t ready to win yet.

The end of Game 2 was the most controversial point in the series regarding whether or not LeBron James should have been called for a foul on a Kevin Durant drive which could have swung the game, and there is a case to be made that it should have been called. But either way, Miami was going to be too much for such an inexperienced OKC team over seven games.