NBA biggest upsets in the playoffs \ ~hyperlinks

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477 sats \ 8 comments \ @gsc360 31 May Stacker_Sports

@Undisciplined my AI didn't even rank Jimmy

Top 5 biggest NBA playoff upsets (concise ranking with why)

2016 Cavs over Warriors (NBA Finals, Cavs rallied from 3–1 vs a 73–9 Warriors team) — historic scale: Finals, 73‑9 favorites, first Finals 3–1 comeback.

2007 Golden State over Dallas (1st round; 8 seed beat Dirk’s 67‑15 Mavericks) — massive seed/record gap and narrative shock.

1994 Denver Nuggets over Seattle (best‑of‑five first round; 8 seed beat 63‑19 Sonics) — first 8‑over‑1 in history, big regular‑season gap.

2011 Dallas Mavericks over Miami Heat (NBA Finals favorites Heat with the Big Three; Mavs swept doubt with veteran performance) — Finals upset vs superstar trio.

Who's the 5th? Even being a shock yesterday it really doesn't come close

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23 sats \ 7 replies \ @Undisciplined 31 May

I was thinking of it as teams/players who consistently punched above their weight, rather than individual series upsets.

I'd go with the '04 Pistons beating the three-peat Lakers as the last one.

115 sats \ 6 replies \ @gsc360 OP 31 May

The list is ours, GFY AI

But the list is really good 😂 🤣

Humbles Splash Brothers , Dirk, RIP Sonics and Bron

And now Kobe that's the list

23 sats \ 5 replies \ @Undisciplined 31 May

Another great top 5 will be individual players who transform into superstars in the playoffs; Top 5 16-game players (as Draymond would say).

50 sats \ 1 reply \ @gsc360 OP 31 May

1995 Houston Rockets over San Antonio Spurs: The defending champion Rockets defeated the 1st-seeded Spurs in the Western Conference Finals before winning the championship.

Another one and has the game Hakeem humbles the MVP just like Wemby did to SGA

Let's do that list way better

2 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 31 May

Yeah, that's why I had mentioned Hakeem in my top 5.

2 sats \ 2 replies \ @gsc360 OP 31 May

Allen Iverson — 2001 Finals run that turned him from scoring star to cultural superstar (led 76ers to Finals).
Dirk Nowitzki — 2011 title run that converted him from great scorer to franchise-defining superstar.
Kawhi Leonard — 2014 defensive breakout and 2019 Raptors Finals run that cemented superstar status.
Damian Lillard — 2014 first-round series-winner and repeated clutch playoff performances that made him a top-tier star.
LeBron James — 2007 Cavaliers Finals push (and subsequent deep runs) that elevated him into household superstardom.
Stephen Curry — 2015 Warriors title playoff run that transformed him from elite shooter to franchise/global superstar.
Giannis Antetokounmpo — 2019–21 playoff ascension culminating in 2021 Finals MVP and superstar recognition.
Jimmy Butler — 2015–2020 playoff step-ups (notably 2020 bubble and 2021 Heat Finals) that shifted perception to bona fide superstar.
Nikola Jokić — 2023 (and continuing) playoff dominance that turned him from MVP-caliber regular-season star into postseason superstar.
Tracy McGrady — late playoff heroics (and 2003–2004) that raised his profile despite limited team success.

23 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 31 May

Most of those guys are a different category (superstars who are still great playoff performers).

I'm thinking of guys like Jimmy and Reggie Miller, who aren't MVP candidates in the regular season but put the fear of God into their opponents in the playoffs.

Dame's interesting because he's more of a last few minutes guy than a 16-game guy.

51 sats \ 0 replies \ @gsc360 OP 31 May

My bad I chopped the outlook for 2000 forward, this century