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NBA: Top 5 Underdog Teams That Have Won The Title

By James D. Tillman III

Jun 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; (Editors note: a tilt-shift lens was used to create this image) A overall view of the court before game one of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 2, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; (Editors note: a tilt-shift lens was used to create this image) A overall view of the court before game one of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNITED STATES - JUNE 20: Basketball: NBA Finals, Closeup of Miami Heat Shaquille O'Neal (32) and Dwyane Wade (3) victorious with trophy after winning Game 6 and championship vs Dallas Mavericks, Dallas, TX 6/20/2006 (Photo by Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
UNITED STATES – JUNE 20: Basketball: NBA Finals, Closeup of Miami Heat Shaquille O’Neal (32) and Dwyane Wade (3) victorious with trophy after winning Game 6 and championship vs Dallas Mavericks, Dallas, TX 6/20/2006 (Photo by Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) /

5. 2006 Miami Heat

The Miami Heat acquired Shaquille O’Neal prior to the start of the 2004-05 campaign to play alongside Dwyane Wade in hopes of turning the team into title contenders. They came up short, though, falling to the Detroit Pistons in seven games in the conference finals.

The following season, Miami finished with a 52-30 record, good enough for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

After defeating the Chicago Bulls and the New Jersey Nets in six and five games, respectively, the Heat avenged the previous year’s loss by knocking off the Pistons in six games en route to their first Finals appearance.

After the first two games of the Finals, things looked a bit grim for the Heat as they fell behind 0-2 to the Dallas Mavericks. But thanks to Wade — who averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest — the Heat took the next four games, giving the franchise its first-ever NBA championship.