. He is, quite simply, the most dangerous underdog in NBA history. 5 seeds. New York ran into the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals and fell in five games, as Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan combined for their first of five championships over a 15-year stretch. The good news is, yes, a top seed has overcome that deficit and won the series (handily in all three games, even). 8 Warriors win over the No. 1 in doing so, and also became the first ever play-in tournament team to win a series. Throw in Joe Harris season-ending injury and Kevin Durants MCL sprain, and the Nets had to literally earn their way into the playoffs. 1 Bucks. 1 Spurs in 2011. That's a win rate of around 24%. The playoffs were expanded to 16 teams in 1984, which meant that up to this time, there were only eight teams and the seeding was one to four in each conference. During the 1997-98 season, the Knicks also had an exciting run, but this time, they did not just defeat a No. Lakers outlast Timberwolves in OT to claim 7-seed in West. Miami then went into hostile Madison Square Garden on Sunday and took down the favored New York Knicks in Game 1 of the conference semifinals. Kyle Daubs has 15 years' worth of writing experience for numerous sports sites. The 2023 NBA Playoffs are underway and the first round has already delivered some surprising results. It begs the question: Has a No. The No. He's a big fan of the NBA, NFL, and MLB, highly interested in data and statistics. Butler has been on very few championship-caliber teams. When fans get their NCAA Tournament bracket, they are already looking for which No. 8 seed to win a first-round series since the league expanded the playoffs to 16 teams during the 1983-84 season, and the fourth to do so in a best-of-seven matchup. The Cinderella run came to an end in the Western Conference Finals where Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the Lakers swept Seattle. They became the. There have been three number-five seeds that did play for a national title. After six months, an agreement was reached and the league was able to play a 50-game schedule. The Lakers are right behind with 13 championships, but if you pay attention to history, the 80s were a championship juggernaut. No. 5 seed ever won the NCAA Title? 8 seed has ever been past the second round. Then, Seattle had a second-round matchup versus Hakeem Olajuwon and the No. No No. Since Butler became a full-time starter in 2014, lower seeds have a series record of 33-102. Date, time and candidates. The lowest seed to reach the final in NCAA Tournament history is number eight. 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Three major North American professional sports leagues have playoff series that can reach a seventh game: Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Hockey League (NHL). Despite their daunting road ahead, it wouldnt be a surprise if the Nets were the last team standing in June. With the Knicks trailing by one in the closing seconds, Allan Houston put up a runner which hit the front of the rim, bounced off the backboard and fell through the net to win the series. The win earned Miami the No. 1 Heat in the 1999 playoffs. 1 seed in 1999. Since the league went to the 16-team tournament format, there have been six times . Of course, the base of icons such as Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson and Charlie Ward were already there, but there was uncertainty as to how the group would mesh. With that said, the eighth seed has seen a team make the NBA Finals. In 2020, the Miami Heat became the first five seed to ever make the championship game. When it comes to the tournament, the number "5" has been unluckier than 13 would ever hope to be. During the lockout-shortened season in 1999, the Heat went 33-17 and won a three-team tiebreaker for the No. Links to content and the quotation of material from other news sources are not the responsibility of Bleacher Nation. 8 seeds have ever made it past the first round of the playoffs, and the 1998-99 Knicks are the only ones to advance beyond Round 2. Throughout NBA history, there have been a few years where the 8th seed outplayed the 1st seed and won the series. 9:24 am ET, Nuggets are still getting underrated | Other best bets, Joel Embiid (knee) doubtful for Game 1 vs. Celtics, NBA playoffs: Suns vs. Nuggets odds, Game 2 picks, NBA playoff predictions: Second-round expert picks, Rumors: Lakers not interested in signing Kyrie Irving, Miami's Jimmy Butler is NBA's top playoff underdog ever, Dubs' beautiful game turns to brute force, Five biggest questions for Lakers-Warriors, 76ers' Embiid (knee) doubtful for Game 1 vs. C's, NBA rumors: Lakers not interested in signing Kyrie, Green: Sabonis wouldn't shake hands after Game 7, One playoff stat shows historic level of NBA parity. 5, just one game down the loss column ahead of the No. March Madness is a great time of year for college basketball. Ahead of this years playoffs, there was the feeling that the Brooklyn Nets could be contenders and so it would have been impressive to see the No. at There have been 21 No. 11 seed has accomplished the feat. Number 12 seeds have a 55-99 record vs 5 seeds for a winning percentage of almost 36 percent. 8 seed in the NHL or NBA to win the title. In addition, they would become the first team to be on both sides of such an upset; they lost as the No. It happens often but not every year. 3 Spurs. Has a No. 8 Knicks also threw an unexpected competition in the works when they defeated the No. 7 seed upset a No. 11. He also got to the free . 1. 3), the Suns (West No. No. Has a No. When they lifted the trophy, they were ranked as the . (Hockey Hall of Fame) Following the 1966-67 season, the NHL expanded from " The Original Six " to 12 teams, doubling in size. He was drafted onto reigning MVP Derrick Rose's team, but frequent injuries to Rose prevented him from genuinely competing for championships with the Chicago Bulls. Just four years earlier, the Mavericks entered the postseason as the top seed in the west. This is a list of seasons completed by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. The No. 7 seed Lakers and No. Even then, the consensus was the Sonics would take care of business in Game 5 in Seattle, where they went 37-4 that season. The Phoenix Suns have lost three straight games to slip behind the Clippers and into No. More: Carlson: NBA play-in tournament should boost this young OKC Thunder team for years to come. Will any of those teams win this year? 2 seed Celtics defeat the No. 7 seed ever won the NBA Finals? Butler has an 19-25 record on the road in the postseason, translating to a winning percentage of roughly 43%. 1 Miami in Round 1 and No. The second-longest streak came from 1953 to 1966, when the Lakers, National, Warriors, Hawks, and Celtics all claimed the title as one seed. The Knicks, though, set the tone with a 20-point win in Game 1. New York made a statement in Game 1, earning a 20-point win on the road. 4 or lower which have advanced to the NBA Finals - see below. History shows that the game has evolved and there are multiple contenders instead of the traditional top dogs in the Celtics and Lakers. The San Antonio Spurs won the title that year over the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the win, the Knicks became the first No. While a No. In fact, over that span, just four No. Bleacher Nation Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. When will the NBA announce the 2023 MVP? 1 seed has to fall first unless. From injuries to a lack of chemistry and a shortened 50-game campaign, the team just made it into the playoffs with a record of 27-23. Sports are serious, fun, competitive, and memorable, and at Sportscasting, we strive to thrill and entertain readers with our content the same way the games do. The Heat won the series over the MVPs squad in five games. 8 seed has reached the NBA Finals. SHOW COMMENTS! Thats an average of more than one victory per year. History for the @MiamiHEAT . With that being said, you may be wondering how No. Despite falling to the four seed, the Celtics continued to shine their championship pedigree by marching to the NBA Finals and taking the championship. 8 seed. 8 seeds had ever defeated a No. Kyle Irving is an NBA content producer for The Sporting News. Then, the team took on a less experienced Orlando Magic squad with Shaquille ONeal and won the Finals in four games. No. Comments by third parties are neither sponsored or endorsed by Bleacher Nation. In the finale of the NBA play-in tournament, the Thunder lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 120-95. In 2019, Oregon crushed Wisconsin 72-54 and Murray State had its way with Maquette 83-64 with the help of future first-round pick Ja Morant. Jimmy Butler did the damage for Miami, torching the Bucks for 56 points in the Game 4 win. In fact, over that span, just four No. Butler himself missed the end of Game 3 due to injury. In a do-or-die home game three nights later, the Heat rallied from a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls to pull out a 102-91 victory. 5 seed is the only seed in the top eight that hasnt won a National Championship. As for Shaq, the tandem of Kobe Bryant and himself completed the three-peat in 2002 with their lowest seed together. It took a decade for the first No. The N.Y. Giants were the No. We have seen upsets in the past such as the Golden State Warriors shocking the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs. Visit ESPN to view the 2022-23 NBA Standings. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks Monday night in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. How many NBA Championships have the Boston Celtics won? In the 80s, the one seed was a winner every year. 5 seed has reached the NBA Finals: the 2020 Heat, led by Butler. In the history of these leagues, teams that were down 3-1 in a series have come back to win the series 58 times; 14 times in MLB, 13 times in the NBA, and 31 times in . A No. Lets go bring the energy today !! The Minnesota Timberwolves shocked the world by getting an opening win over the Grizzlies as a seventh seed, while the Brooklyn Nets are the most dangerous seven seed in the league. 7 seed taking on the No. Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 55 upsets of No. There have been upsets in the first round before, but how often has that translated to a championship? In the five-game victory over the Bucks, Butler averaged 37.6 points, six rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 64.1% inside the arc and 44.4% from deep. #NewYorkForever pic.twitter.com/KLkFZzVvG1. #OTD in 1999:The #8 seed Knicks beat the #1 seed Heat thanks to Allan Houston's CLASSIC game-winning floater pic.twitter.com/czxA4FfYoi, NBA Playoffs: The Warriors Win Gives Us Something Weve Never Seen Before, and It Has Nothing to Do With Steph Currys 50-Point Performance. With the Heat on the verge of a historic achievement, here's a look back at the previous No. Yet, thats not what happened at all. But not only have No. 12 seed has beaten a number 5 seed 55 times since the tournament expanded in 1985. So, what kind of success have lower-seeded teams had in the playoffs? In total, there have been nine teams seeded at No. Historically speaking, the higher the seed means the more favorable matchups. I have many fond memories of the Patrick Ewing era, for example. They did so in 2020 as well, making Butler responsible for half of Milwaukee's postseason defeats under Mike Budenholzer. That was the last game the Bucks won. He earned his degree from Central Michigan University and was a member of the 2010 MAC Championship baseball team. Three of the four No. On Tuesday, April 11, things didnt look so hot for the Miami Heat. That is certainly no. In the Season Finale of The Break presented by The General Insurance, Mac McClung puts the finishing touches on a storybook season by leading the Delaware Blue Coats to a G League title, while Scoot Henderson wraps up his two-year journey with G League Ignite and Norris Cole reflects on where his career began. After sliding into the playoffs as the conferences lowest seed, the Celtics defeated the No. In addition to news, Bleacher Nation publishes both rumor and opinion, as well as information reported by other sources. #3 New York 1968 #2 Boston def. With that said, only one seed lower than four has ever won. After winning their first two games against the Nuggets, the Sonics dropped three straight, including Games 4 and 5 in overtime. Instead of two legitimate contenders, it could be up to four, five, or six teams. 8 seed to become conference champions. 2 seed. 7 seed has made it further in the postseason than the 1986-87 Seattle SuperSonics. Eight teams competed in four games for a shot to get into the First Round. The Nuggets would come close to reaching the conference finals but lost to the Utah Jazz in the following round instead. Its one of the most common upsets in NCAA history. Here are a few notable upsets in the First Round since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 (68 teams since 2011). 6-keys: media/spln/nba/reg/free/stories, at As it turned out, Baron Davis and Co. really did have the Mavs' number. In 2011, the NCAA field expanded to 68 games. In the playoffs, the Rockets overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat the third-seeded Jazz in five games. It has happened five times in history. All that said, one No. The Oregon State Beavers reached the Elite 8 in 2021 and the Missouri Tigers reached the round back in 2002. No, the NBA does not reseed in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Lakers hit .500 for the first time this season with a win over the Thunder. The trend continued with the No. The cast of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro won over the hearts of America by making an improbable run to the title. 8 . 8 Heat made history with upset of No. Here's a breakdown of the non-No. That's a dangerous team to meet in the postseason, and the Pacers proved it, sweeping Shaquille O'Neals up-and-coming, 50-win. Butler's 2023 Heat became the sixth on Wednesday when they knocked off the. Only two of those teams won the title: The 1994-95 Rockets and the 1968-69 Celtics. That set up a matchup with the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks; however, many called this an unfavorable matchup for the Bucks and those critics were right. 1 overall seed.Yet for the second consecutive time in the postseason, the Bucks. 2 seed Philadelphia Warriors in five games. Miami wasnt without injury in Game 1 as Tyler Herro left with a broken wrist, but the Heat pulled out a 130-117 victory. The Rockets traded for Clyde Drexler at the trade deadline, but the team finished 17-18 after the trade to stumble down the standings. Additionally, this team managed to sweep the inexperienced Shaq -led Orlando . He then had 42 in the overtime Game 5 win in Milwaukee to make history. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Has a No. 8 seed after finishing the season. 8 seeds have fared all time against No. 8 seed Heat have the No. For now, Butler technically remains there. 8 seed ever upset a No. On Sunday, Miami headed into New York as a four-point underdog. 2 seeds have won the championship 16 times and the top seeds having done it a whopping 50 times. As the reigning NBA champions, Houston entered the 1995 postseason as a No. 1 seed Bucks on the ropes, leading the series 3-1 as Milwaukee faces elimination. The same thing happened in 2007, 2000, and 1988. The Heat would claim the title with 4-1 series win over Oklahoma City. 7 seed to ever make it as far as the conference finals. 2 seeds from each conference. 1 Miami in Round 1, Allan Houston hit a go-ahead shot with under one second remaining to push the Knicks into the conference semifinals. Sadly, that injury would prove to be New Yorks undoing. It makes you wonder how many Cinderella teams have made it to the NBA Finals. 12 seeds have reached the Sweet 16 in the mens basketball tournament and one team has advanced to the Elite 8. Tucker and Gabe Vincent were all listed on the injury report. Then, the team took on a young star in Hakeem Olajuwon, but the team beat the Rockets in six games. 5-seeded Knicks in the second round to attempt to top that historic achievement. The NBA uses a playoff bracket, meaning the matchups are set once the postseason field is finalized.