The NBA is predictable, right? Not always. Especially not before they ditched the best-of-three and eventually the best-of-five series. Then, anything could happen. Also, upon further review, some upsets no longer seem that big. Others have grown in stature. And as long as Dallas is around, the chance for more grand falls remains.
10 » No. 8 New York Knicks over No. 2 Indiana Pacers, Eastern Conference Finals, 1999
The Knicks beat top-seeded Miami in the first round, but that followed a 50-game regular season. The Knicks were hot at season’s end. However, the Knicks lost starting center Patrick Ewing in Game 2 and forward Larry Johnson Game 6 vs. Indiana, yet still won in six.
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9 » No. 2 Minneapolis Lakers over No. 1 St. Louis Hawks, Western Conference Finals, 1959
The Lakers, led by rookie Elgin Baylor, stunned the defending NBA champs in the conference finals, 4-2. Minneapolis went 33-39 during the regular season while the Hawks had won 49 games. The Lakers then lost to Boston in the finals.
8 » No. 4 Boston Celtics over No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Finals, 1969
The Celtics ruled the ’60s, but by this time had become an old team. They sprung two upsets in the East to reach the finals. The Lakers had Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Somehow, they lost in seven — at home.
7 » No. 3 Detroit Pistons over No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Finals, 2004
The Lakers with Shaq and Kobe were heavy favorites against the upstart Pistons, partly because of the belief that the Eastern Conference was vastly inferior. But the Laker dynasty was crumbling, so this isn’t a stunner in hindsight. The defensive-minded Pistons won in five games.
6 » No. 1 Golden State Warriors over No. 2 Washington Bullets, NBA Finals, 1975
The Bullets were solid favorites to win a title, with Elvin Hayes, Wes Unseld and Co. having won 60 games during the regular season, 12 more than Golden State. Washington had beaten them in three of four meetings. However, the Warriors swept this series.
5 » No. 7 Golden State Warriors over No. 2 San Antonio Spurs, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1991
David Robinson led San Antonio to 55 wins in the regular season. Sean Elliott was maturing as a player. It didn’t matter. Golden State, led by Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin — Run TMC — won the series, 3-1.
4 » No. 6 Houston Rockets over No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1981
The Rockets (40-42) had Moses Malone and … very little. The defending-champion Lakers had Magic and Kareem and a strong supporting cast. Houston won the best-of-three and eventually became the first team with a losing regular-season record to reach the NBA finals.
3 » No. 7 Seattle Supersonics over No. 2 Dallas Mavericks, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1987
There’s a pattern here with the Mavericks. Seattle finished 39-43 during the regular season while Dallas had won 55 games. But the Sonics won the first-round matchup — and made it to the Western Conference Finals — before being swept by the Lakers.
2 » No. 8 Denver Nuggets over No. 1 Seattle Supersonics, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 1994
Seattle led this best-of-five series 2-0 when everything fell apart. Denver won the next three, becoming the first eight seed to upset a No. 1. The Sonics, who had gone 39-4 at home, lost the last game in overtime at home.
1 » No. 8 Golden State Warriors over No. 1 Dallas Mavericks, Western Conference Quarterfinals, 2007
Golden State went 3-0 vs. Dallas in the regular season. But still. The Warriors won a first best-of-seven series for the first time in 31 years. And the Mavs became the first team with at least 65 wins to not win a series.
