Top 3 most historic upsets in NBA finals history?

[Solefade]

The biggest upsets in NBA finals history IMO:

1. 2004 Pistons vs Lakers
2. 2011 Mavs vs Heat
3. 2006 Heat vs Mavs


If Cavs beat the Warriors in the finals I would put it at #1 since the Warriors are a historically good team and given all the injuries of the Cavs team.

[kamil]

The biggest upsets in NBA finals history IMO:

1. 2004 Pistons vs Lakers
2. 2011 Mavs vs Heat
3. 2006 Heat vs Mavs


If Cavs beat the Warriors in the finals I would put it at #1 since the Warriors are a historically good team and given all the injuries of the Cavs team.

2004 Pistons will be the bigger upset regardless.

[scm5]

The biggest upsets in NBA finals history IMO:

1. 2004 Pistons vs Lakers
2. 2011 Mavs vs Heat
3. 2006 Heat vs Mavs


If Cavs beat the Warriors in the finals I would put it at #1 since the Warriors are a historically good team and given all the injuries of the Cavs team.

I agree and if I'm honest, I'm more of a hater of Lebron than I am unbiased.

This Warriors team has no excuses barring Stephen Curry actually getting brain damage from that fall or something similar.

[ArbitraryWater]

I'd agree with 2004 and 2011, check out this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lScgwGwF3nc lol

but 2006 isn't in there... 1969 IMO.

If Cavs win this year, its up there.

Don't know much about the lame 70's (they really were lol), but I think the main consensus was that the Lakers had the better team in 1984 and the Lakers in 1985...

then we have a bunch of series' where both sides could win. 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2005, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1994, 1995.. just going back to the 1990's.

[ShackEelOKneel]

The biggest upsets in NBA finals history IMO:

1. 2004 Pistons vs Lakers
2. 2011 Mavs vs Heat
3. 2006 Heat vs Mavs


If Cavs beat the Warriors in the finals I would put it at #1 since the Warriors are a historically good team and given all the injuries of the Cavs team.

There has to be a bigger one than 2006 Heat over Mavs. The other 2 I agree with.

[scm5]

There has to be a bigger one than 2006 Heat over Mavs. The other 2 I agree with.

If Lebron loses Kyrie and Love for the rest of the postseason, Lebron would have won it all without another HOFer when it's all said and done.

Most likely though, Kyrie will be back.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

What about the year Pettit beat Russell's Celtics?

[ArbitraryWater]

What about the year Pettit beat Russell's Celtics?

It was just their 2nd year together, and Russell missed like 2 games.. and the series' they had the year before was crazy close also, Hawks could have won it at the buzzer actually.. those teams were just pretty close to each other.

[jayfan]

2004 Pistons will be the bigger upset regardless.

This. Without doubt.



.

[DMAVS41]

The 06 Heat won really wasn't that big.

The Spurs/Heat were actually favored to win for the majority of that year.

It was injuries that derailed the Heat's odds.

The 04 Pistons winning was more surprising in real time than the Heat winning.

[plowking]

How was 2011 some huge upset? Mavs had a good team. The favourites lost, but meh. Same with 2006.

95 Houston beating the Magic in a sweep was a huge upset and shock.

[KNOW1EDGE]

1977 Blazers vs 76ers

Portland went down 0-2 and then won the next 4 games to win their first and only championship. It's the only time a franchise has won their first trip to the finals. Philly was heavily favored led by Julius Irving.

IMO bigger upset than 2 & 3 on OPs list

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Mavs vs Heat betting line in 2011 was pretty close iirc.

Edit: Just looked it up - Heat were -180 against the Mavs and the Thunder were -150 against the Heat the next year. Factoring that the Heat were by far the more "popular" team in both instances (typically favored by casual better) the real perception, among pro-betters, was probably about the same. Neither year was a massive upset.

[warriorfan]

2007 Spurs
2011 Mavs
2014 Spurs

[Thorn]

1975 Warriors over Bullets - GS won 48 and the Bullets won 60. Warriors swept them.

1969 - Celts over Lakers in 7. Lots of things went the Celtics way - Jones making a 35 footer to steal Game 4, West getting hurt late in Game 5 then Nelson's fluky ass shot late in Game 7. I'd consider that a upset. Celts won 48, Lakers won 55.

11 Mavs over Heat is a good one, although I'd say that was more of a overlooking of the Mavs compared to their actual level of play in the West playoffs. They killed three very good teams so it's not like they randomly turned it up for the Finals.

04 Pistons over Lakers already mentioned too.

[ArbitraryWater]

How was 2011 some huge upset? Mavs had a good team. The favourites lost, but meh. Same with 2006.

95 Houston beating the Magic in a sweep was a huge upset and shock.

2011 wasn't huge, but they were, favorites.. somewhat clear, favorites.

1995 is a good mention, people now leave it out because 4-0, its not exactly a GOAT upset because it wasnt fluky or anything, but 2 of those 4 games did go right down to the wire, and Nick Anderson completely changed the series by choking away game 1.

[Duncan21formvp]

The first two are spot on.

1. Pistons over Lakers 2004 (4 superstars in there prime in Shaq, Kobe, Malone, Payton)
2. Mavs over Heat 2011 (3 superstars in there peak, Lebron, Wade, Bosh)
3. Bulls over Lakers 1991

[Droid101]

The first two are spot on.

1. Pistons over Lakers 2004 (4 superstars in there prime in Shaq, Kobe, Malone, Payton)
2. Mavs over Heat 2011 (3 superstars in there peak, Lebron, Wade, Bosh)
3. Bulls over Lakers 1991
:kobe:

[Sarcastic]

I don't think a team with a top 10 player at his peak beating anyone should be construed as an upset.

[Solefade]

I don't think a team with a top 10 player at his peak beating anyone should be construed as an upset.

yes maybe at first glance


but a historic player with a crippled team vs a historically good and healthy team...

[Sarcastic]

yes maybe at first glance


but a historic player with a crippled team vs a historically good and healthy team...

They will still have the best player on the court at all times, and with Kyrie coming back they will have 2 of top 3. In playoff basketball, having the better player means more than having the better team.

Are you not watching Atlanta vs Cleveland series? Or are you trying to make excuses for Bran if he loses/prop him up more if he wins?

[ArbitraryWater]

They will still have the best player on the court at all times, and with Kyrie coming back they will have 2 of top 3. In playoff basketball, having the better player means more than having the better team.

Are you not watching Atlanta vs Cleveland series? Or are you trying to make excuses for Bran if he loses/prop him up more if he wins?

Kyrie will probably not be better than Bogut/Green with the state he's in. I hope though.

most people have GSW as comfortable favorites, dont try to turn this on him when I see what you're trying to do.. you don't like LeBron, him being able to win as underdog, you don't like it.. also hard to push blame that way when you lose.

If they'd have a healthy Kyrie/Love, I'd take the Cavs.

[SouBeachTalents]

The first two are spot on.

1. Pistons over Lakers 2004 (4 superstars in there prime in Shaq, Kobe, Malone, Payton)
2. Mavs over Heat 2011 (3 superstars in there peak, Lebron, Wade, Bosh)
3. Bulls over Lakers 1991

One of the dumbest and most inaccurate posts in ISH history

[Solefade]

They will still have the best player on the court at all times, and with Kyrie coming back they will have 2 of top 3. In playoff basketball, having the better player means more than having the better team.

Are you not watching Atlanta vs Cleveland series? Or are you trying to make excuses for Bran if he loses/prop him up more if he wins?

are you trying to tell me that if the cavs and warriors met in the finals, the cavs would be the heavy favorites? :roll:

i would love to see you continue on with this argument

[buddha]

1. Mavs over Heat (the supposed GOAT and his cast of superstars getting exposed)
2. Heat over Spurs (an over the hill journeyman destroying Tim Duncan's legacy.)
3. Pistons over Lakers (Kobe and Shaq losing to an eastern conference team is always going to be historic)

[Sarcastic]

are you trying to tell me that if the cavs and warriors met in the finals, the cavs would be the heavy favorites? :roll:

i would love to see you continue on with this argument


We'll see what Vegas has to say when the health of both rosters is known. Warriors will probably be favorites, but I would put my money on the Cavs. I'm sure the money is going to be a lot more even than you think.

[Wade's Rings]

The 06 Heat won really wasn't that big.

The Spurs/Heat were actually favored to win for the majority of that year.

It was injuries that derailed the Heat's odds.

You may be thinking about 2005.

The 2006 Heat got swept by Dallas, S.A, and Phoenix and went 1-3 vs Detroit in the Regular Season. I doubt anybody had them as favorites vs Detroit or Dallas.

[Solefade]

We'll see what Vegas has to say when the health of both rosters is known. Warriors will probably be favorites, but I would put my money on the Cavs. I'm sure the money is going to be a lot more even than you think.


it's contingent on kyrie tbh, but as of now with a crippled kyrie the warriors are currently heavy favorites

[DMAVS41]

You may be thinking about 2005.

The 2006 Heat got swept by Dallas, S.A, and Phoenix and went 1-3 vs Detroit in the Regular Season. I doubt anybody had them as favorites vs Detroit or Dallas.

No. I'm thinking about 06...LOL

The Pistons were up there as well, but I distinctly remember Miami/SAS were the two favorites early in the season because I bet the Spurs.

Here is an article I found:

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba-gossip-and-rumors/64193-odds-to-win-the-2006-nba-championship

More odds as of April 20, 2006...Heat over the Mavs.

http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=77065

Here is the one I'm talking about...I must have bet it in the summer:

http://nbasource.blogspot.com/2005/07/very-early-2006-nba-odds.html



The point is all 3 have the Heat favored over the Mavs.

[Wade's Rings]

1977 Blazers vs 76ers

Portland went down 0-2 and then won the next 4 games to win their first and only championship. [B]It's the only time a franchise has won their first trip to the finals.[\B]Philly was heavily favored led by Julius Irving.

IMO bigger upset than 2 & 3 on OPs list

The Heat won their 1st trip to the Finals. I think the Bulls and NY won their 1st Trips as well.

[T_L_P]

1. Mavs over Heat (the supposed GOAT and his cast of superstars getting exposed)
2. Heat over Spurs (an over the hill journeyman destroying Tim Duncan's legacy.)
3. Pistons over Lakers (Kobe and Shaq losing to an eastern conference team is always going to be historic)

If 2013 destroyed Duncan's legacy, what did 04 do to Kobe's?

[Sportal]

Nvm: didn't see "finals" .

[Wade's Rings]

No. I'm thinking about 06...LOL

The Pistons were up there as well, but I distinctly remember Miami/SAS were the two favorites early in the season because I bet the Spurs.

Here is an article I found:

http://www.hoopsvibe.com/nba-gossip-and-rumors/64193-odds-to-win-the-2006-nba-championship

More odds as of April 20, 2006...Heat over the Mavs.

http://www.covers.com/articles/articles.aspx?theArt=77065

Here is the one I'm talking about...I must have bet it in the summer:

http://nbasource.blogspot.com/2005/07/very-early-2006-nba-odds.html



The point is all 3 have the Heat favored over the Mavs.

Well one of those was from July 2005 not sure if that was before or after the big moves?

Another was at the start of the Season assuming the trades made the Heat better(IMO the 2005 Heat were better).

I do see your point and the Heat weren't complete underdogs. What other Finals upsets would you put above it?

[buddha]

If 2013 destroyed Duncan's legacy, what did 04 do to Kobe's?

what are you talking about? those were Shaq's teams... :confusedshrug:

that was Shaq's legacy on the line.

[Wade's Rings]

Dallas Mavericks vs Golden State Warriors?

#1 vs #8?

Was this Dirks MVP season too?

Must be up there, I don't see it mentioned too often.

This is Finals upsets.

[Sarcastic]

it's contingent on kyrie tbh, but as of now with a crippled kyrie the warriors are currently heavy favorites

As of today Warriors are 2/7 to win, and Cavs are 5/2 to win. So roughly between 2 and 3 to 1 is where the odds will be, and this is without knowing about Kyrie.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nba/odds/futures/

I'm sorry I just don't think 3 to 1 underdogs classifies as heavy underdogs nor would classify as a historic upset. Pistons for example were like a 15 to 1 underdog. It's just not in the same ballpark, other than you trying to push your agenda.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

2007 Spurs
2011 Mavs
2014 Spurs

:oldlol:

So transparent.

[Sportal]

Oh whoops.. My bad.. Missed one word in that title.

[T_L_P]

what are you talking about? those were Shaq's teams... :confusedshrug:

that was Shaq's legacy on the line.

If anything, that makes it worse. It's Shaq's team...yet Kobe was taking shots away from him and missing them like crazy. :oldlol:

Duncan's legacy wasnt on the line in 2013. He was 37 years old. Nothing left to prove, and he was still his team's best player in the series.

[unknowns8]

1977 Blazers vs 76ers

Portland went down 0-2 and then won the next 4 games to win their first and only championship. It's the only time a franchise has won their first trip to the finals. Philly was heavily favored led by Julius Irving.

IMO bigger upset than 2 & 3 on OPs list


errrr... fairly sure that MJ and the Bulls won their first trip to the NBA Finals and I'm reasonably confident that was the franchises first trip to the NBA Finals

[Solefade]

If anything, that makes it worse. It's Shaq's team...yet Kobe was taking shots away from him and missing them like crazy. :oldlol:

Duncan's legacy wasnt on the line in 2013. He was 37 years old. Nothing left to prove, and he was still his team's best player in the series.


dat backfire :oldlol:

[MEB2kDeez]

The first two are spot on.

1. Pistons over Lakers 2004 (4 superstars in there prime in Shaq, Kobe, Malone, Payton)
2. Mavs over Heat 2011 (3 superstars in there peak, Lebron, Wade, Bosh)
3. Bulls over Lakers 1991
:roll: :roll: No

[KNOW1EDGE]

The Heat won their 1st trip to the Finals. I think the Bulls and NY won their 1st Trips as well.

I misquoted wikipedia.

They were the first and only team to win the championship in their first trip to the playoffs.

[ArbitraryWater]

what are you talking about? those were Shaq's teams... :confusedshrug:

that was Shaq's legacy on the line.

this solid logic could only come from a Kobe fan

"Kobe played so bad that it was Shaq's team and not his so Kobe gets no blame, its Shaqs legacy yo"

oh man you people are special :lol

[kennethgriffin]

How was 2011 some huge upset? Mavs had a good team. The favourites lost, but meh. Same with 2006.

95 Houston beating the Magic in a sweep was a huge upset and shock.

50 year old dirk and 70 year old kidd with jason terry as the 2nd best scorer

vs

the heatles with dwayne wade still in his absolute prime


:lol


i still dont know how they swept my lakers... the mavs overachieved that year.. heat shoulda won

if lebron gets his average from 17 up to even just 22+ they probly take it

[SamuraiSWISH]

The Jordan's Bulls lost in the Finals to ... Wait

[Wade's Rings]

I misquoted wikipedia.

They were the first and only team to win the championship in their first trip to the playoffs.

That's crazy. Very Impressive :applause:

[Ruler]

errrr... fairly sure that MJ and the Bulls won their first trip to the NBA Finals and I'm reasonably confident that was the franchises first trip to the NBA Finals

Spurs in '97, first trip and won first 4 trips to finals :oldlol:

Same with Bulls, but first 6 they won.

[Midnite89]

Spurs in '97, first trip and won first 4 trips to finals :oldlol:

Same with Bulls, but first 6 they won.

He corrected himself. He means the team's first trip to the PLAYOFFS resulted in a championship. I assume by now every team has ventured into the playoffs at one time or another so it's not possible to achieve this anymore.

[Solefade]

The Jordan's Bulls lost in the Finals to ... Wait


remember that one time when Jordan swept a 60 win team in the ECF without Jordan and Pippen to go to his 5th straight final? Man that guy was awesome

[masonanddixon]

Mavs over Heat wasn't an upset at all. Mavs swept the regular season meetings and their final records were nearly the same despite losing Butler for half the season and Dirk for like ten games.

[masonanddixon]

50 year old dirk and 70 year old kidd with jason terry as the 2nd best scorer

vs

the heatles with dwayne wade still in his absolute prime


:lol


i still dont know how they swept my lakers... the mavs overachieved that year.. heat shoulda won

if lebron gets his average from 17 up to even just 22+ they probly take it

I love how people say this despite the evidence that Dallas raped the league in the regular season when healthy and completely ran train on everyone in the postseason.