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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Clifford Ray, Golden State (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Clifford Ray, Golden State (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Warriors shock the world with a sweep over defending champion Bullets

Who knew? After all, with Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes and the fact that they were coming off a win over the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, who could stop them? Well, there was this team on the West Coast that knew a thing or two about playing good basketball, and that was the Golden State Warriors. They didn’t just win, they swept the Bullets.

Behind the play of Phil Smith and Rick Barry, Golden State took care of business. Barry had 36 and 38 points in Games 2 and 3, respectively, as the Warriors took a 3-0 lead, yet they weren’t given their respect by the outside noise. Didn’t matter. Instead, they used it to their advantage, capping off their remarkable run with a 96-95 win in Game 4 in DC and hoisted the NBA championship.

Like many sports, the stars will attract the headlines, but at the end of the day, you still have to play the game, and the Warriors did just that. Nowadays, Golden State would handle Washinton with ease. Back then, it wasn’t always the case. Still, they deserve credit for what they accomplished, especially Rick Barry. He put the team on his back and he came up big when he needed to.