My pick for the biggest NBA Finals Upset is the Mavs series win over the Heat in 2011.
The Heat has their super team core of LeBron, Wade and Bosh. All three were in their prime - LeBron 26, Wade 29 and Bosh 27. Two of those three are certain hall-of-famers and one of those two, LeBron, is viewed by most as the 2nd best player in League history and by some as the best.
The Mavs beat that elite core with a core consisting of a 32 year old Nowitski, 38 year old Jason Kidd and 33 year old Jason Terry. And JJ Barea started at PG some of the games in that series.
Biggest NBA Finals Upset
- Camden [enjin:6601484]
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Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
2004 -- Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, otherwise known as a gentlemen's sweep. That was also the Laker team that had Karl Malone and Gary Payton in their later years. The Pistons dominated them.
That 2011 pick isn't a bad one either. That's probably one of the more impressive playoff runs, especially from an individual player -- Dirk Nowitzki -- of the century so far.
That 2011 pick isn't a bad one either. That's probably one of the more impressive playoff runs, especially from an individual player -- Dirk Nowitzki -- of the century so far.
- Coolbreeze44
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Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
Those are good picks, I'll add a couple of my own:
1977 - Portland over Philadelphia. Philadelphia took the first two games before getting swept 4 straight
2016 - Cleveland over Golden State. The greatest regular season team of all time couldn't get it done on their home floor in game 7.
1977 - Portland over Philadelphia. Philadelphia took the first two games before getting swept 4 straight
2016 - Cleveland over Golden State. The greatest regular season team of all time couldn't get it done on their home floor in game 7.
- BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]
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Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
Camden0916 wrote:2004 -- Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, otherwise known as a gentlemen's sweep. That was also the Laker team that had Karl Malone and Gary Payton in their later years. The Pistons dominated them.
That 2011 pick isn't a bad one either. That's probably one of the more impressive playoff runs, especially from an individual player -- Dirk Nowitzki -- of the century so far.
Nice one. Malone and Payton took league minimums thinking they'd be guarantee rings.
Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
BizarroJerry wrote:Camden0916 wrote:2004 -- Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, otherwise known as a gentlemen's sweep. That was also the Laker team that had Karl Malone and Gary Payton in their later years. The Pistons dominated them.
That 2011 pick isn't a bad one either. That's probably one of the more impressive playoff runs, especially from an individual player -- Dirk Nowitzki -- of the century so far.
Nice one. Malone and Payton took league minimums thinking they'd be guarantee rings.
Pistons and Mavs championships both showed that playing as a team and coaching matters.
- Wolvesfan21
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Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
Camden wrote:2004 -- Detroit Pistons defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games, otherwise known as a gentlemen's sweep. That was also the Laker team that had Karl Malone and Gary Payton in their later years. The Pistons dominated them.
That 2011 pick isn't a bad one either. That's probably one of the more impressive playoff runs, especially from an individual player -- Dirk Nowitzki -- of the century so far.
I don't even consider that an upset. The Lakers might have been favored but it was only slight. My friend even asked me who to bet on and I said Detroit. Detroit was the better team that year IMO with their elite defense. I should have bet on it myself but I was out of state somewhere, pre smart phones of course. Pre -"legalized" online betting.
I think the Mavs winning was a true upset. They had a deep team though.
- JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]
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Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
CoolBreeze44 wrote:Those are good picks, I'll add a couple of my own:
1977 - Portland over Philadelphia. Philadelphia took the first two games before getting swept 4 straight
2016 - Cleveland over Golden State. The greatest regular season team of all time couldn't get it done on their home floor in game 7.
Underated moment from '77: Maurice Lucas taking a swing at Dawkins, missing, and catching Collins clean on the chin.
- Coolbreeze44
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Re: Biggest NBA Finals Upset
JasonIsDaMan wrote:CoolBreeze44 wrote:Those are good picks, I'll add a couple of my own:
1977 - Portland over Philadelphia. Philadelphia took the first two games before getting swept 4 straight
2016 - Cleveland over Golden State. The greatest regular season team of all time couldn't get it done on their home floor in game 7.
Underated moment from '77: Maurice Lucas taking a swing at Dawkins, missing, and catching Collins clean on the chin.
I wanted that fight to continue so bad. I was not a Dawkins fan and I think Lucas was going to put him down.