A Great NBA Playoff Heartbreak

It was a historic upset in the 2007 NBA playoff season. The western conference was dominated by the Dallas Mavericks winning a franchise-record of 67 games out of the possible 82 games. As a result, the Mavericks was seeded no. 1 in the western conference. Its opponent was the lowly Golden State Warriors which won only 42 games in the regular season. Fresh from its NBA finals stint in the previous year, the experienced Mavericks was the overwhelming favorite to advance to the second round. But the Warriors had its own game plan and they delivered in six games to mark the great playoff heartbreak in the NBA.

Game 1 was played in the Mavericks' homecourt. All the advantages built by the homecourt and winning 67 games were shattered by the determined Warriors to begin the history in the making in the NBA playoff. The Warriors surprisingly won, 97-85. Living up to the expectations and high seeding in the playoff, the Mavericks bounced back in Game 2 with 112-99 victory to tie the series, 1-1. Then the series moved to the Warriors' den. Playing before a supportive and believing home crowd, the Warriors trounced the Mavericks in both Games 3 and 4 to take a commanding lead of the series, 3-1. Very few teams were able to come back after being 3-1 down in a best-of-seven series. Faced by a prospect of embarrassing exit in a once promising season, the Mavericks was able to salvage Game 5 in their homecourt to make it 3-2. Game 6 was played in the Warriors' turf. The Warriors and crowd believed that they were into a historic upset. Indeed, the Warriors demolished any hope of the Mavericks to come back in the series by beating them soundly in Game 6 before a boisterous crowd with 111-86 victory. The remarkable upset was cast and complete. The hungrier Warriors won the series, 4-2, to advance to the second round. The Mavericks were left behind wondering what hit them in the series.

If there was any consolation for the Mavericks, it would be the awarding of the NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) to Dirk Nowitzki. But bowing out of the playoff very early was a disappointment to the fans and the successful run in the regular season.

Indeed, only for the third time in NBA history, an 8th-seeded team beat a top-seeded team. And they beat the top seed convincingly.