The NBA playoffs are a time of the year when basketball reaches the zenith. It’s a time of high-stakes drama, buzzer-beaters, and sweat-dripping moments, which keeps everyone at the edge of their seats. Over the years, the league has witnessed some truly epic playoff battles that have gone down in the history of the NBA. Be it the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers or the 1995 Houston Rockets, each of these playoffs has seen legendary comebacks to an underdog story.
In this article, we’ll explore the five greatest playoff clashes that have ever graced the hardwood. So, buckle up, grab your popcorn, and let’s take you for a ride through the NBA’s most iconic playoff moments.
Credits: Rocky Widner/Getty
The 2017 Golden State Warriors is potentially the greatest team ever assembled. After coming off a 73-win season, the Warriors added Kevin Durant to their already star-studded core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. In the same year, the team went 16-1 in the Playoffs en route to Stephen Curry’s second championship.
Curry and the Warriors swept the first three rounds against the Trail Blazers, the Jazz, and the Spurs, they dealt with LeBron’s Cavaliers in 5 games to claim the championship. With a win percentage of .941, this Warriors team easily had one of the best playoff runs of all time. What’s even more astonishing is the fact that they won the NBA Championship the following season as well.
Credits: Getty
Back in 1989, Isaiah Thomas and his Detroit Pistons went back-to-back to complete what is potentially the craziest playoff run ever. That year, Thomas and his team first crushed Larry Bird’s Celtics by sweeping them in the first round. In the second round, the Pistons swept Sidney Moncrief and his Milwaukee Bucks.
What came next was the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Pistons defeated Michael Jordan’s Bulls in six games. Finally, they swept Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. Throughout four playoff series, Isaiah Thomas and his team defeated Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Michael Jordan. A sentence that would be untrue for any other NBA Champion.
Credits: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
LeBron James was on another level during the 2016-17 season. After making the playoffs as the #1 seed in the East, LeBron and his Cavaliers first swept the Detroit Pistons. Then, in the second round, the Cavs swept the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavaliers then faced the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals and beat them: 4-2.
However, what came next was the biggest obstacle LeBron has ever faced in his career. In the finals, he and the Cavaliers faced the 73-win Warriors led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. After going down 3-1 in the Finals, LeBron put together back-to-back 40-point performances, and made the famous block on Andre Iguodala in Game 7. When all is said and done, this campaign will most likely be the highlight of LeBron’s legendary career.
Credits: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
When people talk about the Mavericks’ 2011 playoff run the first words that often come to mind are “legendary” and “undeniable.” With Nowitzki as the team’s engine, the Mavericks demolished a young OKC team consisting of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard’s Lakers, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade’s Heat, and LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy’s Trail Blazers. Keep in mind that Dirk did all of this as a 33-year-old, who was on the decline.
Nowitzki believes that his team got lucky that year, but everyone who watched the Mavericks knows just how dominant they were. If the Mavs had provided Dirk with another superstar on the roster, he might just have retired as one of the best.
Credits: Getty
The 1995 Houston Rockets made the playoffs as the sixth seed in the West and had a record of 47-35. They were far from being the favorites for the title that year. After qualifying as the #6 seed they took on and defeated the Utah Jazz 3-2. Do note that the Jazz were the #3 seed and had both John Stockton and Karl Malone.
After defeating the Jazz, the Rockets overcame Charles Barkley’s Suns in seven games. The Suns were the second seed and had a record of 59-23. The Rockets didn’t stop there though as they also defeated the #1 seed, the San Antonio Spurs in six games during the Western Conference Finals.
Finally, they met Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway’s Orlando Magic in the finals. This was a legendary battle between Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O’Neal, but the former prevailed. The Rockets swept O’Neal and his Magic to claim the championship and etched their names in the history books.
So, there you have it folks, a tour through five of the most indescribable playoff runs in NBA history. From the 1989 Detroit Pistons to the 2017 Golden State Warriors era, these series have evidently etched their names in basketball folklore. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a passing observer, these playoffs offer a masterclass in skill manship, basketball drama, moments that can never be forgotten, and lastly, pure, unadulterated excitement. In case, you’re ever feeling down, just remember: there’s always a classic playoff series waiting to lift your mood. Which do you think to be the greatest of ‘em all? Let us know in the comment section below!
