NBA Playoffs 2011: The 15 Best 7-Game Series of the Past Decade
The idea of one game deciding a season, champion or legacy is enough to excite anyย sports fan.
Since the NBA began in 1946, there have beenย over 100 seven-game series. That means more than 100 Game 7s.
Even though the home team is victorious more than 80 percent of the time, anything can happen in a Game 7 (just ask Dirk Nowitzki's 2006 Mavericks).
However, it's rare that we see a series go the distance, and even when we do, it doesn't always mean the series was overly captivating (just ask the 2010 Bucks and Hawks).
Join B/R as we count down the 15 best seven-game series of the past 10 years.
No. 15: Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics (2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals)
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This series saw several close games decided in the fourth quarter.
The Magic opened the series winning two out of the first three games, including Game 1 in Boston.
The Celtics, with the help of Glen "Big Baby" Davis, evened the series at two games apiece with a one-point win in Game 4.
The Celtics would eventually take a 3-2 series lead before losing the series in seven games.
Orlando shocked Beantown with a 19-point road win in Game 7, outscoring the Celtics by 14 points in the fourth quarter.
It was the first playoff series loss for Boston since itย acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the 2007 offseason.
However, Garnett did not play in the 2009 playoffs because of a knee injury suffered during the regular season.
No. 14: Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets (2005 Western Conference First Round)
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What home-court advantage?
In the first four games of Dallas and Houston's 2005 first-round series the road team won every game.
Houston, led by Tracy McGrady, would take a commanding 2-0 series lead on a T-Mac jumper with 2.2 seconds left in Game 2 before dropping three straight to the Mavericks, including Games 3 and 4 at home.
The Rockets went on to blowย out Dallas in Game 6 before losing by 40 points in Game 7 on the road.
The series was highlighted by Dallas' comeback after dropping the first two games of the series at home, something that seldom happens in the NBA.
No. 13: Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic (2003 Eastern Conference First Round)
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Sorry T-Macโit's nothing personal.
McGrady was on the losing side of another classic seven-game series before joining the Rockets.
In 2003, the No. 8-seeded Orlando Magic pushed the East-best Pistons to the brink of elimination, taking a 3-1 series lead after four games.
What Detroit did next has only happened eight times in NBA history.
The Pistons stormed back, winning three straight games, none of which were very close, including a 15-point win in Game 7 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Pistons would go on to make six consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference Finals.
No. 12: Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland Trail Blazers (2003 West Conf. First Round)
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Often one of the more forgotten seven-game series of the past decade, 2003's Dallas-Portland series remains one of the most unique.
Dallas quickly picked up three wins against the No. 6 seeded-Trail Blazers, including a Game 3 road win at the Rose Garden.
Portland didn't quit, however, winning the series' next three games, including a four-point victory in Game 5 on the road.
The Mavericks avoided what would likely have been the greatest collapse in NBA playoff history by winning Game 7 in Dallas by 12 points.
Dallas would go on to play the Kings in seven games in the conference semifinals, winning the series 4-3.
No. 11: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Sacramento Kings (2004 West Conf. Semifinals)
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Before the Timberwolves could play the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, they would have to defeat the upset-minded Sacramento Kings.
The Kings stole Game 1 in Minnesota before suffering two straight losses, including a heartbreaking one-point overtime loss in Gameย 3 at home.
Sacramento would even the series at 2-2 after a Game 4 victory.
The home team won Games 5 and 6, setting the stage for an epic Game 7 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Chris Webber's tying three-point attempt at the buzzer would go in and out for the No. 4-seeded Kings, giving the Timberwolves a three-point win and 4-3 series victory.
The loss marked the third straight Game 7 loss in three years for the Kings.
No. 10: Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat (2005 Eastern Conference Finals)
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A Game 7 isย just thatย much more exciting when it decides who goes to the NBA Finals.
That was the case in 2005, when the Detroit Pistons shocked the Miami Heat on their home court in Game 7.
The series went back and forth. Detroit led 1-0 after Game 1. Miami led 2-1 after Game 3 and 3-2 after Game 5.
Detroit would dismantle the Dwyane Wade-less Heat in Game 6, giving it momentum heading into the series' deciding game.
The Pistons trailed by two points heading into the fourth quarter of Game 7, but big shots from Chauncey Billups helped Detroit to a six-point upset win over the No. 1-seeded Heat.
No. 9: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2006 East Conf. Semifinals)
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It was Cleveland's first postseason appearance since 1988, and the Cavaliers were determined to make a run.
LeBron James pushed the reigning Eastern Conference champions to the brink of elimination in 2006, but that's all he and the Cavaliers did, losing the series in seven games.
The home team held serve through the first four games before "King James"ย and the Cavaliersย notched a two-point winย over theย Pistonsย on the roadย in Game 5.
Detroit would return the favor with a two-point win in Cleveland in Game 6.
The Pistons defense would prove fatal to the Cavaliers' season in Game 7, allowing just 61 points to Cleveland, half of which were scored by LeBron James.
The series win would send Detroit to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time in as many seasons.
No. 8: Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2008 East Conf. Semifinals)
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One of the best individual matchups of the past 10 years without a doubt.
"King James" vs. "The Truth."
The series went the distance with the home team winning every game, including Game 7.
The Celtics needed 41 points from Paul Pierce in Game 7 to overcome a 45-point performance from LeBron James.
The individualย matchup between Pierce and Jamesย will forever be remembered as one of the greatest of this generation.
Boston edged out a five-point win in the series' deciding game, sending the defending Eastern Conference champions home while earningย a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals in the process.
The Celtics would go on to win their 17th NBA title that season.
No. 7: San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons (2005 NBA Finals)
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The 2005 NBA Finals had everything you could ask for in a championship series.
San Antonio used strong defensive efforts in Games 1 and 2 to get out to a 2-0 series lead.
Detroit then received some home cooking in Games 3 and 4, winning both by a combined 48 points.
"Big Shot Bob" would come up huge for the Spurs in Game 5 on the road.
The swing gameย was decided by a last-second Robert Horry three-pointer that caught nothing but net, giving the Spurs a 96-95 overtime win and a 3-2 series lead heading back to Texas.
Detroit would avoid elimination in Game 6, winning in San Antonio by nine points.
Game 7 would be even tighter, however.
Both teams were tied heading into the fourth quarter, but the home team, with the help of Tim Duncan, pulled away at the end to win the game and the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
No. 6: Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers (2006 Western Conference First Round)
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Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers put quite a scare in Phoenix fans in 2006.
The Lakers dropped Game 1 in the desert before rolling off three straight wins against theย favored Suns.
Game 4 was an epic one, as Bryant nailed a jumper at the overtime buzzer to give the Lakers a one-point win at Staples Center and a commanding 3-1 series lead heading back to Phoenix.
The Suns would respond in Game 5, not only with a win, but with a clothesline of Bryant at the hands of Raja Bell.
Bell would be suspended for a must-win Game 6 in L.A.. However, the Suns would force overtime with a Tim Thomas three-pointer, eventually tying the series at three games apiece with an eight-point overtime win.
Game 7 was a runaway for the home team, however, and the Suns would become the eighth and most recent team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
No. 5: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors (2001 East Conf. Semifinals)
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This series will always be known as the Iverson-Carter duel.
Allen Iverson's No. 1-seeded 76ers struggled to dispose of Vince Carter's Raptors in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Toronto won Game 1 on the road but fell by five points at home to Philadelphia in Game 4, resulting in a tied series after four games.
The 76ers would blow out the Raptors in Game 5, taking a 3-2 series lead behind Iverson's 52-point performance.
Game 6 proved just as amazing, though, as Carter posted 39 points to keep the Raptors alive.
Game 7 would be an instant classic.
Vince Carter's game-winning attempt would go begging at the buzzer, as the 76ers secured the series win with a 88-87 victory.
The series was highlighted by three 50-point scoring performances (two by Iverson and one by Carter).
No. 4: Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs (2006 West Conf. Semifinals)
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San Antonio jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a two-point win at home in Game 1.
Dallas then blew out the defending champions in Game 2, evening the series at 1-1.
The Mavericks then returned home to grab a one-point win in Game 3 and a five-point win in overtime of Game 4.
Dallas, behind the strong play of Dirk Nowitzki, had San Antonio in a 3-1 hole.
The Spurs would rally, however, avoiding elimination in Game 5 after squeaking out a one-point win at home.
San Antonio then took advantage of a solid fourth quarter in Game 6 to win by five points on the road.
Game 7 in San Antonio was a classic.
Dallas jumped out to a 14-point lead at halftime, only to see it completely erased by the end of the fourth quarter.
Nowitzki was clutch for the Mavericks in the overtime period, however, finishing the game with 37 points and 15 rebounds, disposing of the Spurs in seven games on the road.
No. 3: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (2010 NBA Finals)
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The 2010 NBA Finals featured the two greatest franchises in the history of the NBA; it also featured a Game 7.
The L.A. Lakers jumped out to a quick 1-0 series lead, burying the Celtics at Staples Center in Game 1.
Boston would even the series at 1-1 behind a record-setting night from Ray Allen and a triple-double performance from Rajon Rondo.
The Lakers would take Game 3 in Boston, stealing back home-court advantage in the process.
Boston's team effort in Game 4 outshined Kobe's 33 points, and the series was tied after four games.
The Celtics would hold off Kobe and the Lakers yet again in Game 5 to head back to the West Coast with a 3-2 series lead, needing just one win to secure the title.
Game 6 saw Kendrick Perkins go down with a season-ending knee injury and was never really close.
Game 7 from Staples Center was exactly what you would expect from the Lakers and Celtics.
Boston led for most of the game until the fourth quarter.
Kobe would lead the Lakers to a 30-point fourth quarter, proving four points too much for the injury-ridden Celtics.
The Lakers would win their 16th title in franchise history.
No. 2: Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls (2009 Eastern Conference First Round)
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Without question the greatest first-round series in NBA history.
Celtics-Bulls had everything.
Two historic franchises, two up-and-coming point guards and seven classic games, four of which required overtime.
Chicago stirred things up with a two-point overtime win in Boston in Game 1.
The Celtics would then need late-game heroics from Ray Allen in Game 2 to holdย on for a three-point win.
Game 3 was won by Boston in a runaway.
Game 4 was anything but.
The Bulls held off the Celtics in a two-overtime classic in Chicago, winning 121-118 and tying the seriesย behind Derrick Rose's near triple-double.
Game 5 needed overtime as well, but this time it was Boston riding its point guard, Rajon Rondo, to a two-point victory.
No other overtime playoff game even comes close to Game 6.
Boston rallied in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but it would be Chicago tying the series with a one-point win in three overtime periods despite 51 points from Ray Allen.
Game 7 was a close one, but nothing compared to the previous six.
The Celtics won by 10 points and sent the upstart Bulls packing.
No. 1: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings (2002 Western Conference Finals)
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Arguably one of the most infamous playoff series in NBA history is also the best seven-game series of the past decade.
To this day no one knows for sure what happened in the fourth quarter of Game 6 at Staples Center.
No one knowsย for sure whyย the Lakers shot 18 more free throws than the Kings in the game's final 12 minutes.
Speculation is that the game was fixed by several referees who were told by the league to extend the series to seven games.
Regardless, these two teams provided the most thrilling seven games anyone has ever seen.
Games 4 and 5 were both decided by one point each, and Game 7ย required overtime.
The Kings scored 697 points combined in seven games to the Lakers' 695.
No game was decided by more than 13 points (Game 3); each game was won by an average of 5.4 points.
Games 4, 5, 6 and 7 all needed late-game shots to be decided, and Game 7 needed 75 combined points from Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal toย secure a Lakers road win and NBA Finals berth.
Game 7 would see 16 ties and 19 lead changes before it was over.
The Lakers would go on to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy that year, and again in 2009 and 2010, while the Kings have never returned to the conference finals and currently face future uncertainty.
Patrick Clarke is a Featured Columnist for the Phoenix Suns and a student at Towson University.
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