Hoops Habit
Fansided

The 10 greatest upsets in NBA playoff history

By Sravan Gannavarapu

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 04: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives on Ben Wallace #6 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Staples Center on January 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 04: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives on Ben Wallace #6 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at the Staples Center on January 4, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Warriors down Dirk Nowitzki and top-seeded Mavs in 2007

This was a time when Golden State was not as despised as it is now. Furthermore, they were the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. How were they going to top the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks? After all, Dirk and his friends were the top dogs in the West with 67 victories, and they were hoping to get back to the finals to avenge their loss to Miami. But they were in for a stunner.

Dallas became the third one-seed in NBA history to be eliminated by an eight-seed, joining the 1994 Seattle SuperSonics and the 1999 Miami Heat, as mentioned previously on this list. Stephen Jackson’s performance in Game 6 makes this all the more compelling, with his helping the Warriors pull away in the third quarter after being up at the half by two points.

Chris Mullin’s team went on to lose to the Utah Jazz in the next round, four games to one, but the remarkable achievement of this team makes them more than deserving of No. 2 on the list. Baron Davis, Jackson, and Monta Ellis will forever have this great moment, but there is one upset that trumps everything else, and that’s up next. Here’s a hint: it involves a big market, and it’s the NBA’s version of David beating Goliath.