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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Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (Photo credit should read BECK DIEFENBACH/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (Photo credit should read BECK DIEFENBACH/AFP via Getty Images) /

No. 5: Warriors Blow a 3-1 series lead to Cavaliers

No. 5? Yup, the NBA didn’t just start in 2010 for the younger crowd. There are other upsets that are greater, but this is up there. After all, at 73-9, the Warriors just needed to win one more game to supplant the Chicago Bulls’ 72-10 season, but they didn’t. It’s a star on LeBron James’ legacy, as signified by his chase-down block.

But why is this not higher? Golden State’s shooting slump from this series was perplexing, and a legitimate argument could be made that this upset might have never occurred if Draymond Green wasn’t suspended for Game 5. Yes, Games 6 and 7 still had to happen, but Game 5 was a pivotal game that could have changed history.

If the Warriors had won, Kevin Durant would have never joined Golden State. No one will ever know. For now, LeBron gets his dues as someone who helped orchestrate a significant upset. LeBron has been on the losing side of an upset, and that performance was disappointing, but his performance in this comeback makes this a bigger story than the Warriors’ 73-9 collapse.