Upsets and unexpected results are part of what makes sports so interesting. These shock results can happen for a variety of reasons, including an unlucky performance, a string of minor errors, or the underdog team simply stepping up when it truly counts. Basketball is no exception to this rule, with unexpected scorelines occurring on an almost weekly basis.
With that being said, consistently upsetting the odds in the NBA is a feat that few teams have managed to achieve. In this article, we look at some of the biggest NBA underdog stories of all time, which led to the team lifting the Championship trophy!
1. Boston Celtics: 1969 NBA Finals
Arguably the biggest upset in NBA history came in the 1969 finals, with the LA Lakers facing off against the Boston Celtics. The Lakers had a star-studded lineup, featuring Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West, all of whom were prolific in their own right.
This series would go the distance, ending 4-3 in favor of the Celtics, which would be the last championship the team would claim with Bill Russell, a name that is synonymous with the Boston Celtics.
2. Houston Rockets: 1995 NBA Finals
Moving on from the Celtics, the 1995 Houston Rockets were another unforgettable team. They managed to put up a season record of 47 wins and 35 losses, establishing themselves as the sixth-placed team in the Western Conference. The Rockets added Clyde Drexler to their roster mid-season, which saw them drastically improve and string a series of winning performances together.
Their playoff journey was full of surprises. They faced a tough match against the Utah Jazz but made a fantastic comeback in Game 5 by overcoming a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Against the Phoenix Suns, they did something amazing. After losing three of the first four games, they came back and won the series before sweeping the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals, claiming back-to-back championships as they successfully defended their title.
3. Detroit Pistons: 2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 season for the Detroit Pistons was a particularly surprising one, as they faced up against the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association finals, a team that many thought would easily beat the Pistons.
Yet, in a stunning show of teamwork and skill, the team from Detroit defeated them 4-1 in the Finals. This victory was noted for its emphasis on collective effort over individual stardom, proving that a strong team dynamic can lead to an NBA Finals upset.
The Pistons showed their power mainly in the middle three games against the Lakers. With no true superstar on their roster, they relied on every player working together in tandem, marking one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.
4. Dallas Mavericks: 2011 NBA Finals
In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks had an incredibly strong season, putting up 57 wins to 25 losses, finishing 2nd in the NBA Southwest division. They could have perhaps done even better, however, with the superstar Dirk Nowitzki missing nine games due to a knee injury, slumping during the mid-season with a 2-9 record. Many of these losses were particularly frustrating for fans, as the Mavericks would seemingly always be defeated in a close fashion, meaning anything was possible in the later stages of each game.
The team was labelled as ‘Soft’ after mixed playoff performances, despite notable early season victories against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Miami Heat. Interestingly, the Mavericks would come to life towards the end of the playoffs, shrugging off the LA Lakers in a 4-0 fashion before beating the Miami Heat 4-2 to claim the NBA Championship!
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: 2016 NBA Finals
In 2016, the Cleveland Cavaliers ended a 52-year sports championship drought in Cleveland by winning the NBA Finals. The team made an incredible comeback as they were down 3-1 in the series against the Golden State Warriors but managed to secure the championship victory.
While many tipped the Cleveland Cavaliers to lift the trophy towards the early stages of the playoffs, this was considered to be a monumental NBA upset as the Cavaliers needed to win 3 games in a row to lift the trophy, a feat that is rarely achieved in the most important series of the basketball calendar.
The championship parade drew one million fans to celebrate this historic win, with key players LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love all making an appearance. This victory put an end to longstanding narratives of sports disappointments in Cleveland and marked an unforgettable moment in Cleveland’s sports history.
Conclusion
Plenty of NBA upsets have occurred since the league was formed in 1949, with some having greater implications than others. It’s these moments that create true unpredictability in the league, making basketball a sport that is watched by millions around the world on a weekly basis.
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The biggest upset in NBA history occurred in 1969 when the Boston Celtics defeated the LA Lakers in the 1969 NBA Championship Finals. This was due to the LA Lakers having a star-studded lineup, including big names such as Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West.
Upsets in the NBA can happen for a variety of reasons. However, the most common is that a team simply fails to show up or has a bad performance. Other factors can also influence how a team performs, such as injuries, team morale, or a stylistic clash between the two teams on the court.
While upsets in the National Basketball Association Championship Finals are rare, there’s a good chance that at least one favourite will fall to an underdog during the regular NBA season.
