NBA 2K17: 5 Classic Teams That Are Still Missing

2. 1999-2000 Miami Heat

NBA 2K, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson
By Keith Allison (Flickr) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Season Record: 52-30

Coach: Pat Riley

Key Players and Proposed Ratings: Alonzo Mourning (90), Tim Hardaway (85), Jamal Mashburn (79)

This was technically the last dance of Pat Riley's original Miami Heat project. Alonzo Mourning wasn't yet diagnosed with the kidney disease that derailed his career, while P.J. Brown and Jamal Mashburn weren't yet traded away after another off-season disappointment.

Since the year 1996, for four seasons the Heat were either first or second in the Eastern Conference, yet they never could translate that regular season success into playoff victories. For three consecutive seasons they were one game away from putting away their rivals, the New York Knicks.

Both teams were hard-nosed and tough, but Heat get the nod over the Knicks, as their earlier incarnation already appears in the game. With the Heat Riley perfected his formula of team building, but they lacked either luck or the mental edge to succeed in the post-season.

Apart from the players mentioned, the Heat had Tim Hardaway playing the point and distributing to two proven shooters: Dan Majerle and Voshon Lenard.

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I write sitting with my dogs on the sofa, which often leads to whole paragraphs being deleted by a single touch of a paw or a nose.