I've always enjoyed watching NBA playoffs since it takes me back to some of the most thrilling upsets in sports history. Like back in 2007, do you remember the Golden State Warriors facing off against the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks? I couldn't believe my eyes when the No. 8 Warriors took them down in six games. The Warriors had just 42 wins in the regular season compared to the Mavericks' 67 wins. It was crazy to think a team with such a lower win percentage at 51.2% versus 81.7% could pull off such a stunner.
And if you thought that was wild, let's talk about the 1994 NBA playoffs. The Denver Nuggets were the underdogs, a true Cinderella story by every measure. As a No. 8 seed, they went up against the 63-win Seattle SuperSonics. Watching Dikembe Mutombo celebrate after that iconic Game 5 victory is something I'll never forget. The Nuggets barely scraped into the playoffs, but their turnaround was epic. The series ended 3-2 in favor of Denver, and Mutombo blocking shot after shot was like watching a one-man fortress.
Boston Celtics fans will never forget their team's clash with the Chicago Bulls in 2009. The Celtics were defending champions, so when they met the No. 7 Bulls, everyone thought it was a done deal. But boy, were we wrong. That series went to seven games, featuring one of the longest games in NBA playoff history. Game 6 went to triple overtime, totaling 63 minutes of game time. The Bulls pushed the Celtics to the edge, although Boston eventually won. Still, it highlighted the unpredictability and excitement of the NBA playoffs.
2011 gave us another gem when the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies took down the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in six games. The Grizzlies had never even won a playoff game before that series! Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph played out of their minds, completely redefining the concept of grit and grind basketball. The Grizzlies' defense had the Spurs frustrated, and their offense was perfectly timed. Memphis' shocking win was a turning point for the franchise.
One upset I can't forget is from 1999. That year was peculiar because it was a lockout-shortened season. The New York Knicks, an eighth seed, went all the way to the NBA Finals! They first upset the Miami Heat in the opening round, winning the series 3-2. And let’s not overlook Allan Houston's memorable buzzer-beater in Game 5 against Miami. The Knicks continued to surprise everyone by defeating the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. Although they ultimately fell to the San Antonio Spurs, that playoff run was legendary.
Let’s not ignore the 1981 Houston Rockets. The Rockets were a sixth seed and had to take a tough route. They upset the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs before reaching the Finals. Even though they lost to the Boston Celtics in the finals, the Rockets proved that seeding isn't everything. Moses Malone was a beast that year, and it was his sheer will that carried the team.
Then there's the 1995 Houston Rockets. As the defending champions, they fell to the sixth seed due to a challenging regular season. But Hakeem Olajuwon and company turned it up in the playoffs. They defeated the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs before sweeping the Orlando Magic in the finals. This series of upsets in one playoffs run was just incredible and truly showcased their resilience.
How about the 2004 playoffs when the Detroit Pistons, a No. 3 seed, took down the top-seeded Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals and then went on to crush the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals? Everyone was talking about the Lakers' superteam, yet the Pistons' defense, led by players like Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups, proved unbeatable. The Pistons won the series 4-1, and nothing was more satisfying than watching that underdog team overcome mountains to become the champions.
Most recently, the Toronto Raptors’ win against the Golden State Warriors in the 2019 Finals can't be left out. While the Raptors weren’t exactly a low seed, they were considered underdogs against the Warriors. It was the dramatic Game 5 loss of Kevin Durant to injury and Klay Thompson in Game 6 that tilted the odds. The Raptors took full advantage and clinched the series 4–2. Kawhi Leonard's performance earned him the Finals MVP, making that a season for the history books.
Upsets are the soul of the NBA playoffs, providing drama, thrill, and the very essence of why we love sports. Remembering these moments not only brings back the excitement but also reaffirms the notion that in sports, especially in the NBA, anything truly can happen.