2007 NBA Playoffs

2007 NBA Playoffs
2007 NBA Playoffs logo.

The 2007 NBA Playoffs was the postseason to the National Basketball Association's 2006–2007 season.

There were four rounds of postseason action, all of them in a best-of-seven format, with teams seeded on a bracket. The team with the better record wasn't necessarily the basis of seeding teams in the playoffs. Nevertheless, the team with the better record in a match-up had home court advantage.

The 2007 NBA Champions were the San Antonio Spurs who won their fourth title in the last nine years. They defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 in the 2007 NBA Finals with the Spurs' Tony Parker being named Finals MVP.

Contents

Format

Main article: NBA Playoffs

Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involve nearly two months of play in a best-of-seven, bracket format, with no reseeding.

Seeding

The playoffs are conducted in four rounds of best-of-seven series. The three division winners in each conference, along with the five best non-division winners in each conference, qualify for the playoffs. The division winners and top second-place team are seeded first through fourth based on record, with the remaining teams seeded fifth through eighth on record.

Up until 2006, the division winners earned the top three seeds in the conference; this was amended by the NBA on August 2, 2006 to rectify the problem highlighted by controversy in the 2006 playoffs.[1] Under this new system, the teams with the two best records in the conference cannot meet until the conference finals, unlike the 2006 season, when the 63-win San Antonio Spurs and the 60-win Dallas Mavericks met in the conference semifinals.

Home court advantage

In each series, the team with the better record (or which wins a tiebreaker, in the event that teams with identical records are matched) holds home court advantage, meaning that the seventh game, if played, is held in their home arena.

The first two games in each series are played in the home arena of the team with home court advantage. The third and fourth games are played in the other arena. The fifth, sixth, and seventh games alternate between the two arenas. However, in the NBA Finals, the team with home court advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, while the other team hosts Games 3, 4 and 5.

Team bonuses

Teams receive funds to distribute among players and support staff from the league's playoff pool. For 2007 the distribution is based on the following schedule:[2]

  • Qualify for first round: $149,243 plus an amount based on their regular-season finish in their conferences.
  • Advance to second round: $177,579.
  • Advance to Conference Finals: $293,447.
  • Lose Finals: $1,945,164.
  • Win Finals: $2,542,637.

Playoff qualifying

Eastern Conference

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

  1. Detroit Pistons (53 wins, clinched Central division)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers (50 wins, best record in the conference outside the division winners)
  3. Toronto Raptors (47 wins, clinched Atlantic division)
  4. Miami Heat (44 wins, clinched Southeast division)
  5. Chicago Bulls (49 wins)
  6. New Jersey Nets (41 wins)
  7. Washington Wizards (41 wins)
  8. Orlando Magic (40 wins)

Western Conference

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

  1. Dallas Mavericks (67 wins, clinched Southwest division)
  2. Phoenix Suns (61 wins, clinched Pacific division)
  3. San Antonio Spurs (58 wins, best record in the conference outside the division winners)
  4. Utah Jazz (51 wins, clinched Northwest division)
  5. Houston Rockets (52 wins)
  6. Denver Nuggets (45 wins)
  7. Los Angeles Lakers (42 wins)
  8. Golden State Warriors (42 wins)

Bracket

This is the outlook for the 2007 NBA playoffs. Teams in italics have home court advantage. Teams in bold advance to the next round. Numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's original playoffs seeding in their respective conferences. Numbers to the right of each team indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions possess an asterisk (*)

  First Round Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1  *Detroit 4  
8  Orlando 0  
  1  *Detroit 4  
 
  5  Chicago 2  
4  *Miami 0
5  Chicago 4  
  1  *Detroit 2  
Eastern Conference
  2  Cleveland 4  
2  Cleveland 4  
7  Washington 0  
  2  Cleveland 4
 
  6  New Jersey 2  
3  *Toronto 2
6  New Jersey 4  
  E2  Cleveland 0
  W3  San Antonio 4
1  *Dallas 2  
8  Golden State 4  
  8  Golden State 1
 
  4  *Utah 4  
4  *Utah 4
5  Houston 3  
  4  *Utah 1
Western Conference
  3  San Antonio 4  
2  *Phoenix 4  
7  L.A. Lakers 1  
  2  *Phoenix 2
 
  3  San Antonio 4  
3  San Antonio 4
6  Denver 1  

Notes

  • Houston and Chicago had home court advantage in the first round despite being lower seeds. Both teams had better regular season records than their opponents, but did not have the best record of the non-division-champion playoff teams in their respective conferences.
  • San Antonio had home court advantage in the Finals since they had a better regular season record than Cleveland.

Eastern Conference

First Round

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Orlando Magic

April 21 1 Orlando Magic 92, Detroit Pistons 100    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills ESPN
April 23 2 Orlando Magic 90, Detroit Pistons 98    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
April 26 3 Detroit Pistons 93, Orlando Magic 77    Amway Arena, Orlando TNT
April 28 4 Detroit Pistons 97, Orlando Magic 93    Amway Arena, Orlando TNT
Detroit wins series, 4–0

Last Playoff Meeting: 2003 Eastern Conference First Round (Detroit won 4-3)

The Orlando Magic's first playoff trip in 4 seasons was short lived as the top ranked Detroit Pistons dispatched the upstart Magic in 4 games. The Pistons recorded their first series sweep since sweeping Indiana in the first round of the 1990 NBA Playoffs. The series was also the first time Orlando forward Grant Hill had appeared in the postseason since leaving Detroit after the 1999–2000 NBA season.

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Washington Wizards

April 22 1 Washington Wizards 82, Cleveland Cavaliers 97    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland TNT
April 25 2 Washington Wizards 102, Cleveland Cavaliers 109    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland NBA TV
April 28 3 Cleveland Cavaliers 98, Washington Wizards 92    Verizon Center, Washington TNT
April 30 4 Cleveland Cavaliers 97, Washington Wizards 90    Verizon Center, Washington NBA TV
Cleveland wins series, 4–0

Last Playoff Meeting: 2006 Eastern Conference First Round (Cleveland won 4-2)

A rematch of the previous year's first round series was spoiled when Wizards star Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler were both forced out of the playoffs due to injuries received in the later parts of the regular season. Without Arenas and Butler, the Wizards found themselves unable to stop LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers from sweeping them out of the playoffs. It was Cleveland's first playoff sweep in franchise history.

(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) New Jersey Nets

April 21 1 New Jersey Nets 96, Toronto Raptors 91    Air Canada Centre, Toronto ESPN
April 24 2 New Jersey Nets 83, Toronto Raptors 89    Air Canada Centre, Toronto NBA TV
April 27 3 Toronto Raptors 89, New Jersey Nets 102    Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford ESPN2
April 29 4 Toronto Raptors 81, New Jersey Nets 102    Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford TNT
May 1 5 New Jersey Nets 96, Toronto Raptors 98    Air Canada Centre, Toronto TNT
May 4 6 Toronto Raptors 97, New Jersey Nets 98    Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford ESPN
New Jersey wins series, 4–2

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

The Nets won the first round of the 2007 NBA Playoffs in their sixth straight appearance in the NBA Playoffs. The series was the only one in the Eastern Conference first round not to result in a sweep.

The series was notable for pitting ex-Raptor Vince Carter, who was traded to the Nets in 2004 after an acromonious split, against his former team. So great was the Toronto crowd's disdain for Carter that he was booed every time he touched the ball. The Nets took home court advantage in Game 1, holding off a late Raptors rally in the fourth quarter. The Raptors pulled away in another tight game to even the series at one game apiece. When the series shifted to New Jersey, the Nets took charge of the series, winning games 3 and 4 in routs. New Jersey had a chance to win the series in game 5 in Toronto, but the Raptors took a 20-point lead after one quarter. Still, New Jersey managed to chip away, and had a chance to win the game, but Bostjan Nachbar's three-pointer missed at the buzzer. Needing to win in New Jersey to force a game 7, Toronto held a one-point lead with under a minute to play in game 6, but Richard Jefferson hit a layup with eight seconds left to play. Toronto attempted to try for the game-winning shot, but Jefferson intercepted a pass to seal the series for the Nets.

(4) Miami Heat vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

April 21 1 Miami Heat 91, Chicago Bulls 96    United Center, Chicago ABC
April 24 2 Miami Heat 89, Chicago Bulls 107    United Center, Chicago TNT
April 27 3 Chicago Bulls 104, Miami Heat 96    AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami ESPN
April 29 4 Chicago Bulls 92, Miami Heat 79    AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami ABC
Chicago wins series, 4–0

Last Playoff Meeting: 2006 Eastern Conference First Round (Miami won 4-2)

The Bulls won their first playoff series since the 1998 NBA Finals and the retirement of Michael Jordan. This was the Bulls first 4-game sweep, since sweeping the Orlando Magic back in the 1996 Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, Miami became the first defending champion in NBA history since 1957 to be swept in the First Round the following season.

In addition, Southeast Division champions Miami and other division qualifiers Washington and Orlando were swept (0–12) by Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit respectively, all from the Central division (12–0).

Conference Semifinals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

May 5 1 Chicago Bulls 69, Detroit Pistons 95    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
May 7 2 Chicago Bulls 87, Detroit Pistons 108    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
May 10 3 Detroit Pistons 81, Chicago Bulls 74    United Center, Chicago ESPN
May 13 4 Detroit Pistons 87, Chicago Bulls 102    United Center, Chicago ABC
May 15 5 Chicago Bulls 108, Detroit Pistons 92    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
May 17 6 Detroit Pistons 95, Chicago Bulls 85    United Center, Chicago ESPN
Detroit wins series, 4–2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Eastern Conference Finals (Chicago won 4-0)

In a renewal of a rivalry from the late '80s and early '90s, the Chicago Bulls and the Detroit Pistons faced off against each other. The series began fairly one-sided as the Pistons took Games 1 and 2 in Detroit in blowout fashion, followed by another convincing victory in Game 3 in Chicago. In all three games, the Bulls looked severely outmatched against the more experienced Pistons squad. Expectations were low for the Bulls since no NBA team has ever won a seven-game series after being down 3-0. (It has only happened four times total in sports history, the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, the 1975 New York Islanders, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, and 2010 Philadelphia Flyers.)

Despite the huge obstacle, the Bulls rallied to take Game 4 in a romp, and then proceeded to shock everyone with a blow-out victory in Detroit in Game 5. Despite the renewed momentum, the Pistons' playoff experience ultimately won out as they closed out the Bulls in leading throughout in a 95-85 Game 6 win. The Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth straight year.

(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (6) New Jersey Nets

May 6 1 New Jersey Nets 77, Cleveland Cavaliers 81    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland ABC
May 8 2 New Jersey Nets 92, Cleveland Cavaliers 102    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland TNT
May 12 3 Cleveland Cavaliers 85, New Jersey Nets 96    Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford ESPN
May 14 4 Cleveland Cavaliers 87, New Jersey Nets 85    Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford TNT
May 16 5 New Jersey Nets 83, Cleveland Cavaliers 72    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland TNT
May 18 6 Cleveland Cavaliers 88, New Jersey Nets 72    Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford ESPN
Cleveland wins series, 4–2

Last Playoff Meeting: 1993 Eastern Conference First Round (Cleveland won 3-2)

The Cavaliers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1992, while the Nets have lost in the Conference Semifinals in three out of the last four years.

New Jersey Nets point guard Jason Kidd averaged a triple double the entire playoffs, scoring 14.6 points, grabbing 10.9 rebounds and dishing out 10.9 assists per game.

Conference Finals: (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) Cleveland Cavaliers

May 21 1 Cleveland Cavaliers 76, Detroit Pistons 79    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
May 24 2 Cleveland Cavaliers 76, Detroit Pistons 79    The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
May 27 3 Detroit Pistons 82, Cleveland Cavaliers 88    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland TNT
May 29 4 Detroit Pistons 87, Cleveland Cavaliers 91    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland TNT
May 31 5 Cleveland Cavaliers 109, Detroit Pistons 107 2OT  The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills TNT
June 2 6 Detroit Pistons 82, Cleveland Cavaliers 98    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland TNT
Cleveland wins series, 4–2

Last Playoff Meeting: 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Detroit won 4-3)

In a rematch of the thrilling 2006 second-round series, the Pistons and the Cavaliers matched up in perhaps one of the most closely contested series in NBA history, with the first five games being decided by six points or less. The spotlight of the series fell on Cleveland's LeBron James. Despite gaining some momentum in the opening games of the series against the experienced Pistons, key last-second decisions by James led to Cleveland losses in Games 1 and 2 in Detroit, by identical scores, in which Cleveland led for most of the two games. They faced a 0–2 deficit for the second straight year but would easily remember from the year before that they could win three straight games to get back into the series.

With media circles on his back for his complacency in these games (James had a playoff career low 10 points in Game 1), James came back to will the Cavs to close victories in Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland, evening the series at 2. The series shifted back to Detroit for a Game 5 that proved to be one of the most memorable postseason games in recent NBA history. In a match that went into double overtime, the Cavaliers stunned the Pistons on their home court, thanks to LeBron James' playoff career-high 48-point performance. James scored the Cavaliers' final 25 points of the game, including all 18 points in overtime, forced the second OT with a driving dunk and made a driving layup with 2 seconds left in the second OT to silence the Palace crowd. A game tying buzzer beater by Chauncey Billups rattled out making it two straight 2-point wins at the Palace in Game 5.

The heavily-favored Cavaliers took advantage of their home court in 2007 and exploded in Game 6 to close out the Pistons once and for all, and to clinch the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals. Rookie Daniel Gibson scored his career high 31 points, including five three-pointers, to lift the Cavs in the second half behind a roaring home crowd.

Western Conference

First Round

(1) Dallas Mavericks vs. (8) Golden State Warriors

April 22 1 Golden State Warriors 97, Dallas Mavericks 85    American Airlines Center, Dallas TNT
April 25 2 Golden State Warriors 99, Dallas Mavericks 112    American Airlines Center, Dallas TNT
April 27 3 Dallas Mavericks 91, Golden State Warriors 109    Oracle Arena, Oakland ESPN
April 29 4 Dallas Mavericks 99, Golden State Warriors 103    Oracle Arena, Oakland TNT
May 1 5 Golden State Warriors 112, Dallas Mavericks 118    American Airlines Center, Dallas TNT
May 3 6 Dallas Mavericks 86, Golden State Warriors 111    Oracle Arena, Oakland TNT
Golden State wins series, 4–2

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

The Warriors qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1994, the second longest such streak in league history. However, the Warriors were heavy underdogs against the Dallas Mavericks despite sweeping the regular season series between the teams, as Dallas had one of the best records in NBA regular season history. Expectations of a short series were immediately dashed by Golden State's Game 1 victory in Dallas, behind guard Baron Davis and his rather frantic style of play. The Mavericks came back to win Game 2 to tie the series at a game apiece.

But when the series shifted to Oakland for the next two games, a new X-factor emerged for the Warriors: their home crowd at the Oracle Arena. The electric crowd, which was the highest paid attendance crowd for an NBA game in the history of that arena, gave the Warriors a huge lift as they blew out Dallas in Game 3, and edged out a close victory in Game 4. As the series shifted back to Dallas, the top-ranked Mavericks found themselves one game from seeing their record breaking season end prematurely. The Mavericks gave their all and were able to stave off elimination in Game 5, but had nothing left in Game 6 in Oakland. The Warriors used a third-quarter 18–0 run, sparked by Stephen Jackson's 13 straight points en route to a franchise playoff record seven three-pointers, and an unexpected collapse from MVP candidate Dirk Nowitzki (2–13 from the field with 8 points) to finish Dallas and become the first #8 seed to win a best-of-seven series in the first round, and just the third overall in NBA history, in a large upset, following the Denver Nuggets in 1994 and the New York Knicks en route to the 1999 NBA Finals. The Warriors also won their first playoff series since 1991.

Both 2006 NBA Finalists (Dallas and Miami) were eliminated in the first round. This was the first time since 1956 that this had happened.

(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers

April 22 1 Los Angeles Lakers 87, Phoenix Suns 95    US Airways Center, Phoenix ABC
April 24 2 Los Angeles Lakers 98, Phoenix Suns 126    US Airways Center, Phoenix TNT
April 26 3 Phoenix Suns 89, Los Angeles Lakers 95    Staples Center, Los Angeles TNT
April 29 4 Phoenix Suns 113, Los Angeles Lakers 100    Staples Center, Los Angeles ABC
May 2 5 Los Angeles Lakers 110, Phoenix Suns 119    US Airways Center, Phoenix TNT
Phoenix wins series, 4–1

Last Playoff Meeting: 2006 Western Conference First Round (Phoenix won 4-3)

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers went up against the high powered Phoenix Suns in a rematch of the previous year's first round series, which saw the Lakers take a 3–1 lead before the Suns took the series in 7. Unlike the previous series, the Suns had near complete control of the series, taking the series in 5 games. The Suns advanced to their third straight conference semifinals by eliminating the Lakers in the first round for the second straight year. In Game 4, Phoenix point guard Steve Nash made a run at the record for most assists in a playoff game, finishing one shy of the record 24 shared by Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz.

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Denver Nuggets

April 22 1 Denver Nuggets 95, San Antonio Spurs 89    AT&T Center, San Antonio TNT
April 25 2 Denver Nuggets 88, San Antonio Spurs 97    AT&T Center, San Antonio TNT
April 28 3 San Antonio Spurs 96, Denver Nuggets 91    Pepsi Center, Denver ESPN
April 30 4 San Antonio Spurs 96, Denver Nuggets 89    Pepsi Center, Denver TNT
May 2 5 Denver Nuggets 78, San Antonio Spurs 93    AT&T Center, San Antonio TNT
San Antonio wins series, 4–1

Last Playoff Meeting: 2005 Western Conference First Round (San Antonio won 4-1)

The Nuggets duo of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson got Denver off to a fast start, winning Game 1 and taking home-court advantage away from Tim Duncan and the Spurs. Despite the early letdown, the Spurs showed their championship mettle and bounced back for a 97-88 win in Game 2. In the pivotal Game 3, the Nuggets built an eight-point first-quarter lead before Manu Ginóbili's eight second-quarter points helped put San Antonio up 43-40 at halftime. A back-and-forth contest turned in the final 2:24 of the third quarter: Michael Finley hit two three-pointers, and Robert Horry later hit a three that gave the Spurs a 75-67 lead at the end of the quarter. They hung on for a 96-91 win.

Denver started strong again in Game 4 and led by eight at halftime. But San Antonio stormed back after Anthony went to the bench in the third quarter with his fourth foul. The Spurs held a one-point lead with 30 seconds left in the game when Horry, playing for his seventh championship ring, hit a three from the right corner to help seal a 96-89 win. The stunned Nuggets could not recover from the Game 4 letdown. Finley was the hero in Game 5, hitting a team-playoff-record eight threes for 26 points as San Antonio won 93-78 to end the series, marking the Nuggets' fourth straight season where they lost in the first round in five games. This is the second time in three seasons that the Nuggets lost the first-round series to the Spurs, after taking Game 1 in San Antonio (the first also happened in five games).

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets

April 21 1 Utah Jazz 75, Houston Rockets 84    Toyota Center, Houston ESPN
April 23 2 Utah Jazz 90, Houston Rockets 98    Toyota Center, Houston TNT
April 26 3 Houston Rockets 67, Utah Jazz 81    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City NBA TV
April 28 4 Houston Rockets 85, Utah Jazz 98    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City ESPN
April 30 5 Utah Jazz 92, Houston Rockets 96    Toyota Center, Houston TNT
May 3 6 Houston Rockets 82, Utah Jazz 94    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City TNT
May 5 7 Utah Jazz 103, Houston Rockets 99    Toyota Center, Houston TNT
Utah wins series, 4–3

Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Western Conference First Round (Utah won 3-2)

The resurgent Utah Jazz, fresh off one of their best seasons since the Stockton/Malone years, faced Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and the Houston Rockets, who were seeking their first playoff series victory in 10 years. Home court advantage proved to be the key as the series progressed, as both the Rockets and the Jazz won closely contested matches in front of their home crowds.

As a result, the series had to go to a seventh and deciding game, which was played in Houston since the Rockets had the better record and thereby earned home court advantage, despite the division-winning Jazz being the higher-seeded team. Nevertheless, Utah overcame the Houston crowd and stunned the Rockets for the win on the road. The Jazz became only the second road team in history to win Game 7 of a seven-game series in which the home team won each of the first six games. Houston's Tracy McGrady lost his sixth straight post-season series (out of 10 seasons) and has not been out of the first round in his entire career.

After losing the series, the Rockets failed to reach a new contract agreement with their head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who was subsequently fired.[3]

Conference Semifinals

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (8) Golden State Warriors

May 7 1 Golden State Warriors 112, Utah Jazz 116    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City TNT
May 9 2 Golden State Warriors 117, Utah Jazz 127 OT  EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City TNT
May 11 3 Utah Jazz 105, Golden State Warriors 125    Oracle Arena, Oakland ESPN
May 13 4 Utah Jazz 115, Golden State Warriors 101    Oracle Arena, Oakland TNT
May 15 5 Golden State Warriors 87, Utah Jazz 100    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City TNT
Utah wins series, 4–1

Last Playoff Meeting: 1989 Western Conference First Round (Golden State won 3-0)

The Warriors play the Jazz at Oracle Arena in game 3.

Fresh off their stunning upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks, the Golden State Warriors faced a very different team in Utah. The Warriors continued the frantic style of play they exhibited against the Mavericks, but the Jazz, a more defensive-minded team, managed to shut them down to take Game 1. The Warriors tried to bounce back in Game 2, and took the Jazz to overtime. But the Jazz were able to prevail, due to the inspired clutch play of guard Derek Fisher, who arrived at halftime after being with his family in New York City because of his daughter's emergency eye cancer surgery.

The series shifted back to Oakland and the raucous Oracle Arena crowd, which lifted the Warriors to a resounding blowout in Game 3, a game which saw the Warriors hit a playoff record 11 threes in the first half, and saw guard Baron Davis delivering a series of spectacular plays. However, the Jazz were able to shrug off the crowd and handed the Warriors their only playoff home loss of the year in Game 4. The Warriors' magical playoff run ended as the Jazz finished them off in Game 5. The Jazz advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1998.

(2) Phoenix Suns vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs

May 6 1 San Antonio Spurs 111, Phoenix Suns 106    US Airways Center, Phoenix ABC
May 8 2 San Antonio Spurs 81, Phoenix Suns 101    US Airways Center, Phoenix TNT
May 12 3 Phoenix Suns 101, San Antonio Spurs 108    AT&T Center, San Antonio ABC
May 14 4 Phoenix Suns 104, San Antonio Spurs 98    AT&T Center, San Antonio TNT
May 16 5 San Antonio Spurs 88, Phoenix Suns 85    US Airways Center, Phoenix TNT
May 18 6 Phoenix Suns 106, San Antonio Spurs 114    AT&T Center, San Antonio ESPN
San Antonio wins series, 4–2

Last Playoff Meeting: 2005 Western Conference Finals (San Antonio won 4-1)

The highly anticipated match-up between the high-powered Phoenix Suns, led by two-time MVP Steve Nash, and the fundamentally sound San Antonio Spurs, led by three-time Finals MVP Tim Duncan, had high expectations before the series tip-off. The Suns were looking to make the conference finals for the third straight year, and also looking for their first Finals berth since 1993. The Spurs, on the other hand, were looking for their third trip in five years, and their fourth NBA title overall. The series received international interest with a playoff-record of 12 players originating outside the US.[4] When the series ended, it had become one of the most hotly contested and controversial series in recent NBA history.

The Suns had their home court advantage quickly taken away as the Spurs took a tight Game 1, a game that saw Nash missing the final minutes for Phoenix due to a gash to his nose, which bled profusely. Nash and the Suns recovered to take Game 2 but after the game, Suns star forward Amar'e Stoudemire accused the Spurs, especially Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginóbili, of being a dirty team. Despite the added scrutiny by the media circles, the Spurs took Game 3 with Tim Donaghy, the shamed referee who fixed games, at the helm. The Suns, trying to overcome their recent failures against Texas teams in the playoffs (the Spurs and the Mavericks both defeated them in the Conference finals), willed themselves to a come-from-behind victory in Game 4 to tie the series at 2.

However, the celebration would be short-lived. In the closing minute of Game 4, with the Suns leading by 3 points, Nash brought up the ball and was shoved into the press table by Robert Horry, creating a momentary ruckus, wherein Raja Bell received a technical. As this took place, Stoudemire and Boris Diaw left the Suns bench. Although they were not involved in the altercation, they broke an established NBA rule that prohibits players from leaving their bench during an altercation. As a result, the NBA suspended Stoudemire and Diaw for one game, while Horry received a two-game suspension for the flagrant foul and ejection. Severely undermanned, the Suns came into Game 5 with the task of beating the Spurs without their star big man. The suspensions created a national outrage, as well as a frontcourt breach for San Antonio to exploit during Game 5.

Although the Suns were able to control most of the game without the suspended players, even taking a 16-point lead on the Spurs at one point, the Spurs came back to win an incredibly close Game 5. Several NBA pundits feel the Suns would have likely won the series if the controversial suspensions had not been given to Stoudemire and Diaw.[5] The two did return for the Suns in Game 6, though that didn't help the Suns to force a game 7 and the Spurs eliminated them to advance to the Western Conference finals with a 114-106 win.

Conference Finals: (3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Utah Jazz

May 20 1 Utah Jazz 100, San Antonio Spurs 108    AT&T Center, San Antonio ABC
May 22 2 Utah Jazz 96, San Antonio Spurs 105    AT&T Center, San Antonio ESPN
May 26 3 San Antonio Spurs 83, Utah Jazz 109    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City ABC
May 28 4 San Antonio Spurs 91, Utah Jazz 79    EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City ESPN
May 30 5 Utah Jazz 84, San Antonio Spurs 109    AT&T Center, San Antonio ESPN
San Antonio wins series, 4–1

Last Playoff Meeting: 1998 Western Conference Semifinals (Utah won 4-1)

For the first time since 1990, neither the #1 nor #2 seed participated in the Western Conference Finals. However, the series pitted youth against experience as the up-and-coming Utah Jazz faced off against the seasoned San Antonio Spurs. Coming into the series, the Jazz were not given much of a chance due to their inexperience. However, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and the Jazz were able to hold their own against San Antonio for a good part of the series.

Unfortunately, it was not enough. The series' first two games - both San Antonio home victories - saw the Spurs blow big first-half leads and the Jazz mount last-gasp rallies that were ultimately thwarted by San Antonio's clutch shooting. When the Spurs' 19-point first-half advantage dwindled to 95-87 late in the fourth quarter of Game 1, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili came through with timely buckets down the stretch. When San Antonio's 22-point edge shrank to 83-76 late in Game 2, Bruce Bowen broke the Jazz's rhythm with a three from the left corner and another from the right to silence the threat.

The Jazz, who were undefeated at home in the postseason coming into the series, had their most cohesive effort in a 109-83 Game 3 rout. Utah pestered Duncan into early foul trouble and got baskets from players other than Williams and Boozer, who had combined for 57.7% of their team's points through the first two games. But Jazz fans' euphoria over the team's only series victory gave way to frustration in Game 4 - with most of it aimed at Ginóbili and his flair for flopping. Eleven of his 16 fourth-quarter points came at the foul line in an ugly overall team performance in which the Spurs made more free throws (30) than field goals (28). Contributing to that discrepancy were four technical fouls called against Utah in the fourth. The subsequent ejections of Utah headcoach Jerry Sloan and Jazz guard Derek Fisher had a charged-up EnergySolutions Arena crowd raining debris onto the court in protest.

The unflappable Spurs responded with yet another commanding start in Game 5. They outscored the Jazz by 19 in the first quarter and led by as many as 29. Not even another late-game arrival of Fisher (from New York again) could help the Jazz enough and the Spurs won a 109-84 series-clinching victory and an eventual date in the NBA Finals with the Cavaliers.

NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs

Main article: 2007 NBA Finals
June 7 1 Cleveland Cavaliers 76, San Antonio Spurs 85    AT&T Center, San Antonio ABC
June 10 2 Cleveland Cavaliers 92, San Antonio Spurs 103    AT&T Center, San Antonio ABC
June 12 3 San Antonio Spurs 75, Cleveland Cavaliers 72    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland ABC
June 14 4 San Antonio Spurs 83, Cleveland Cavaliers 82    Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland ABC
San Antonio wins NBA Championship series 4–0

Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)

The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by superstar LeBron James, entered the 2007 Finals looking for their first franchise championship, as well as the first championship for a pro team based out of Cleveland since the Browns won the 1964 NFL championship. However, the Cavs were considered heavy underdogs against the three-time champion San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs' veteran leadership and championship experience overwhelmed the Cavaliers as they were swept by the Spurs in the Finals after two blowout games at home and two close ones in Cleveland. San Antonio's Tony Parker was named Most Valuable Player of the Finals.

Notes

  1. ^ Associated Press (2006-08-02). "NBA announces postseason seeding format change". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2537369. Retrieved 2007-04-23. 
  2. ^ San Antonio Express News (2007-06-13). "Money Talks". www.mysanantonio.com. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA061307.05S.BKNspurs.notebook.3d76533.html. Retrieved 2007-06-13. 
  3. ^ Houston Rockets and Jeff Van Gundy to Part Ways, nba.com, accessed May 18, 2007
  4. ^ espn.com, Spurs-Suns series highlights NBA's international scope
  5. ^ http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0516suspend0516.html

External links

v · d · eNBA Playoffs
Conference Finals • Finals • Game 7 (list) • Streaks • Droughts • WNBA Playoffs
1940s
1947 1948 1949
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2010 2011

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 2007 NBA Finals — Team Coach Wins San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich …   Wikipedia

  • NBA Playoffs — 2007 NBA Playoff logo The National Basketball Association (NBA) Playoffs is a best of seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference (called Divisions, pre 1970), ultimately deciding the final… …   Wikipedia

  • 2007 NBA Draft — General information Date(s) June 28, 2007 Time 7:30 pm (EDT) Location Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York Network(s) (US) …   Wikipedia

  • 2006 NBA Playoffs — The 2006 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association s 2005 06 season. The 2006 NBA Champions were the Miami Heat who won the first championship in the history of the franchise. The team defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4… …   Wikipedia

  • 2007 NBA betting scandal — Tim Donaghy The 2007 NBA betting scandal was a scandal involving the National Basketball Association …   Wikipedia

  • 2008 NBA Playoffs — The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association s 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2. There were four… …   Wikipedia

  • 2010 NBA Playoffs — The 2010 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association s 2009–10 season. The playoffs started on April 17, 2010 with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States.[citation needed] Eight… …   Wikipedia

  • 2009 NBA Playoffs — The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association s 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States. Eight teams from each of the… …   Wikipedia

  • 2005 NBA Playoffs — The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association s 2004–05 season. The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the… …   Wikipedia

  • 1976 NBA Playoffs — The 1976 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association s 1975 1976 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns,… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”