As I look back at the 2019 NBA regular season, I can't help but draw parallels to the boxing world's anticipation for major fights. Just like Sean Gibbons' prediction about the Pacquiao-Barrios matchup becoming legendary, the 2019 NBA season produced several teams whose dominance will be discussed for years to come. Having followed basketball for over two decades, I've developed a keen eye for what separates good teams from truly dominant ones, and the 2019 season offered some fascinating case studies.
The Milwaukee Bucks absolutely stunned me with their performance that year. Under Mike Budenholzer's system, they finished with a league-best 60-22 record, which honestly exceeded even my expectations. Giannis Antetokounmpo was simply phenomenal - his transformation from a raw athlete to the league's most dominant force was breathtaking to watch. What impressed me most was how the Bucks built around him with perfect complementary pieces. Brook Lopez spacing the floor, Khris Middleton as the reliable secondary scorer, and that defensive scheme that just suffocated opponents. They weren't just winning games - they were dominating them, leading the league in point differential at +8.8 per game. That's the kind of statistical dominance that separates true contenders from regular season wonders.
Out West, the Golden State Warriors were dealing with all sorts of drama and injuries, yet they still managed to secure the top seed with 57 wins. I remember thinking at the time that their dominance felt different from previous years - more workmanlike, less flashy. Kevin Durant's impending free agency created this underlying tension that you could feel even through the television screen. Still, having Steph Curry and Klay Thompson meant they could outshoot anyone on any given night. Their offensive rating of 114.9 was just ridiculous, though I noticed their defense wasn't quite as sharp as in their championship seasons. The Toronto Raptors surprised everyone, including me. After trading for Kawhi Leonard, I thought they'd be good but never expected 58 wins and the second-best record in the league. Nick Nurse's innovative defensive schemes and Kawhi's load management approach were fascinating to observe - it felt like they were playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers.
What really stood out to me was the Denver Nuggets' emergence. finishing 54-28 and securing the second seed in the West. Nikola Jokic's unique style of play revolutionized how we think about the center position. I've never seen a big man who could orchestrate an offense quite like him - his court vision was just extraordinary. The Nuggets played this beautiful, cohesive basketball that was incredibly fun to watch. Their pace wasn't frantic, but methodical and precise. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers assembled what I considered the most physically imposing starting lineup I'd seen in years. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and Tobias Harris created matchup nightmares everywhere, though I always felt they underperformed relative to their talent, finishing with just 51 wins.
The Houston Rockets' style was something I had mixed feelings about. Their extreme reliance on three-pointers and James Harden isolation plays was statistically effective - Harden's 36.1 points per game was historic - but it lacked the aesthetic beauty I prefer in basketball. Still, you couldn't argue with results, as they won 53 games. Out East, the Boston Celtics were perhaps the season's biggest disappointment in my view. With all that talent - Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown - I expected them to challenge for the top seed, not limp to 49 wins. The chemistry issues were palpable even from the outside looking in.
Portland quietly put together another solid season with 53 wins, and Damian Lillard continued to establish himself as one of the league's most clutch performers. I've always admired how the Blazers maintained consistency despite flying somewhat under the radar nationally. The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Russell Westbrook and Paul George, were explosive but inconsistent in my assessment. George's MVP-caliber season was remarkable given his shoulder issues, yet they never quite put it all together when it mattered most.
Reflecting on that season now, what strikes me is how temporary dominance can be in the NBA. The Warriors' dynasty was about to crumble, the Raptors would lose their superstar, and the Bucks, while dominant, hadn't yet proven they could translate regular season success to playoff glory. It reminds me of Gibbons' comment about fights being remembered for years - we remember dominant teams not just for their records, but for how they captured our imagination and changed how the game was played. The 2019 season gave us multiple teams that did exactly that, each in their own distinctive way. Some built through defense, others through offensive innovation, but all left their mark on what was one of the most compelling regular seasons in recent memory.
