20 November 2008, 5:00 pm
2007 Dallas Mavericks Record: 67-15, lost in first round in six games to Warriors What went right: Only five NBA teams have won more than the Mavs, who won 67. Dirk Nowitzki was named NBA MVP after averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. Josh Howard averaged 18.9 points, and Jason Terry averaged 16.7. The Mavs' efficiency rating put them as the second-best offensive and fifth-best defensive team in the league. After an 0-4 start, they went an amazing 61-7, including a 17-game winning streak. Nowitzki and the Mavs couldn't believe they lost to the Warriors. What happened in the playoffs: One of the greatest upsets in postseason history. The Warriors were a meager 42-40 and in the playoffs for the first time since 1994; however, the Warriors had swept the season series and had won nine of their final 10 games. The Warriors shocked the Mavs in Game 1, winning 97-85, and then took Games 3 and 4 at an electric Oracle Arena in Oakland. After Dallas won Game 5, the Warriors ran off 18 straight points in third quarter in Game 6 en route to a 111-86 win. Nowitzki collapsed with a 2-of-13 effort from the field. Mark Cuban cried. 1994 Seattle SuperSonics Record: 63-19, lost in first round in five games to Nuggets What went right: Seattle cruised to the NBA's best record, starting out 10-0, 16-1 and 26-3. The Sonics outscored their opponents by an impressive nine points per game. Gary Payton (16.5 points, 6.0 assists) and Shawn Kemp (18.1 points, 10.8 rebounds) were All-Stars, while Detlef Schrempt, Ricky Pierce, Kendall Gill and Sam Perkins all averaged double figures. With Michael Jordan in retirement, Seattle looked poised for an NBA title after finishing the season on a 17-2 run. What happened in the playoffs: Dikembe. Mutombo. In the words of Page 2 founder Kevin Jackson, "Please leave out the moment in the final seconds of Game 4 when the Nuggets deliberately had to foul Shawn Kemp, and I danced around my apartment, screaming, 'We're going to escape! We're going to escape!'" (The Nuggets won the final two games in overtime.) others 1997 Utah Jazz (64-18) 2008 Lakers remind me of these teams lol lol showtime Knicks were the 8th seed in 1999 and yea they should have won in 94 but the best knicks team to not win is 1997 only team that could have dethroned the bulls they were loaded damn if it wasn't for the Heat Brawl... Read More »
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