Best 1st-Rd Series You've Ever Seen?

[JoeTait75]

I'm going to say Jazz-Kings in 1999, but if we get another couple of games in this Celtics-Bulls series to match the first two, my pick will change. Any thoughts?

[xtremesteven33]

Mavs vs Warriors in 07.

[IronMexican]

Probably Mavs vs Warriors in 07 also.

[Matchman]

Knicks vs. Heat 1999. that series literally went down to the last seconds...

[stretch]

Mavs vs Jazz in 01

[dirk4mvp]

Suns-Lakers 06 for various reasons.

[LeCrab]

2006 Cleveland v. Washington

Gilbert Arenas tryina talk shit and getting punked like a little guppy. Getting in the key and scoring in the lane was like a walk in the park.

[pauls931]

Mavs vs Warriors in 07.

I'd like to say the Nuggets/Sonics, but the Mavs vs Warriors series for entertainments sake wins. I never seen such a college like atmosphere during a playoff series.

[cheguevara]

yeah mavs warriors. Warriors looked like the 80s lakers and mavs looked like a bunch of pussies

[manufan10]

Mavs vs Warriors 07.

[Lars]

Mavs/Warriors 07

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Suns Lakers 2006


Best first round game ever was Suns Spurs 2003 game one.

[JamStone]

As a Pistons fan, 2003 Detroit-Orlando.

That was the first year the NBA implemented the seven game series for the first round of the playoffs. The Magic led by T-Mac goes up 3-to-1 in the series, after which T-Mac is quoted in the media about how excited he was to finally get to the second round of the playoffs. As we all know, Detroit ends up taking the final three games rather convincingly and T-Mac still hasn't seen the second round of the playoffs since. Probably not as exciting as the Mavs-Warriors series most of you have said, but for me it was.

[leo_d]

...
Best first round game ever was Suns Spurs 2008 game one.

fixed

[BlackSwordsMan]

spurs vs suns

[JoeTait75]

I wouldn't put Mavs-Warriors at the top because it didn't go the limit and really, there weren't that many truly great individual games in the series, if any.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

fixed

they are both crazy good. Basically Suns fans are gonna say 2003 Spurs fans are gonna say 2008.

[sribb43]

Mavs Jazz 2001

[stretch]

America, eatin' my lunch from a single bowl in my parents basement, where I'm livin'. Happy Birthday, I'm forty-three.

Don't want to waste those precious calories...chewin'. Jesus come move my jaw for me, help me get my sloppy food down my throat.

[NBA Junkie]

Denver over Seattle in 1994.

Though, I'm sure many on this board were either too young to remember or weren't born yet.

[Allanon]

Mavs vs Warriors in 07.

[baseline bum]

Mavs-Warriors 07, with Suns/Lakers 06 as a distant second.


I wouldn't put Mavs-Warriors at the top because it didn't go the limit and really, there weren't that many truly great individual games in the series, if any.

Games 4 and 5 were incredible. Game 6 was awesome too, the way Davis got injured and kept hitting circus shots on one leg.

[stretch]

LMAO @ all the spurs fans loving the Warriors beating the Mavs, because they knew the Spurs wouldn't have won the title if that hadn't happened.

[baseline bum]

LMAO @ all the spurs fans loving the Warriors beating the Mavs, because they knew the Spurs wouldn't have won the title if that hadn't happened.

Is that why Laker, Suns, and Rocket fans pick it too?

[stretch]

Is that why Laker, Suns, and Rocket fans pick it too?

yes

[sook]

Suns Vs Rockets 95'

overcame 1-3 deffecit

[BUMP]

that series was ridiculous. sick play after sick play

NusbJzrn9SU

[NBA Junkie]

Suns Vs Rockets 95'

overcame 1-3 deffecit

That was a second round series.

The 1st round series that year between the Rockets and Jazz was a great one as Houston won a close game 5 in SLC to advance

[Obstructed_View]

Mavs vs. Warriors for the sheer embarrassment it caused, and continues to cause. :lol Maybe 1993 against the Blazers just because it was so rare for the Spurs to win a first round series back then. I was really excited when they advanced.

[Xylus]

I might be biased, but the Suns/Lakers in '06 had it all:

-Comeback from a 1-3 deficit, which is amazing by itself.
-Fighting/arguing in almost every game. :lol Seriously, Kwame vs. Boris, Luke Walton vs. Tim Thomas, Nash vs. Kobe, Raja vs. Kobe... very physical series.
-Raja Bell clothesline, resulting in a suspension
-Kobe Bryant's ridiculous, ridiculous end-of-Game-4 performance
-Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant getting in each other's face
-7 games

[LakeShow]

Let me see, Topic: Best 1st rd series you've ever seen? Got it! :lol

Dallas vs. GS

[balli]

I might be biased, but the Suns/Lakers in '06 had it all:

-Comeback from a 1-3 deficit, which is amazing by itself.
-Fighting/arguing in almost every game. :lol Seriously, Kwame vs. Boris, Luke Walton vs. Tim Thomas, Nash vs. Kobe, Raja vs. Kobe... very physical series.
-Raja Bell clothesline, resulting in a suspension
-Kobe Bryant's ridiculous, ridiculous end-of-Game-4 performance
-Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant getting in each other's face
-7 games

You're not biased. That series was the shit until Kobe's teammates quit in the first half of game 7 and he quit in the second.

[JoeTait75]

Mavs-Warriors 07, with Suns/Lakers 06 as a distant second.



Games 4 and 5 were incredible. Game 6 was awesome too, the way Davis got injured and kept hitting circus shots on one leg.

Well, you're right about Games 4 & 5 (esp. Game 5.) Game 6 was more a series of brilliant individual performances than a good game. Baron and Stevie Jax were awesome, but the result wasn't in doubt by the end of the third period.

To me, a great series has to go seven (or five, in the case of a best-of-five.)

Nobody else with me on Jazz-Kings '99? That was a fantastic series.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Well, you're right about Games 4 & 5 (esp. Game 5.) Game 6 was more a series of brilliant individual performances than a good game. Baron and Stevie Jax were awesome, but the result wasn't in doubt by the end of the third period.

To me, a great series has to go seven (or five, in the case of a best-of-five.)

Nobody else with me on Jazz-Kings '99? That was a fantastic series.

When I saw the thread title I immediately thought of this series. I thought for sure everyone would overlook it but lo and behold it was the first one mentioned:rollin

I can still see Divac missing that hook shot at the end of regulation in Game 5...Jazz won it in OT.

[sook]

That was a second round series.

The 1st round series that year between the Rockets and Jazz was a great one as Houston won a close game 5 in SLC to advance

oops! Thanks for the correction by the way. I only know of that game from what I saw on NBA TV, didn't start watching basketball till 97 or 96'

[SpursDynasty]

Aside from the obvious choice of Mavs/GS in 2007, I remember the Kings/Jazz first round series in 2002 (when first rounds were still best of 5) being fun to watch...that series could have gone 3-1 either way, very close series, but Sacramento took it. I was hoping Utah would pull off the upset. That's the 1st round series that sticks out to me.

[YellowFever]

A cool moment for me was when Mutombo fell to the ground clutching the game ball and a pure ecstacy grin on his face when his Denver 8 seed beat Seattle Supersonic 1 seed way back when.

I think it was the first time an 8 seed beat the 1 seed.

[layupdrill]

easily Nuggets shocking the Supersonics. Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp were supposed to make the Finals that year...then the Nuggets happened.

Shit was never the same.

[NBA Junkie]

Well, you're right about Games 4 & 5 (esp. Game 5.) Game 6 was more a series of brilliant individual performances than a good game. Baron and Stevie Jax were awesome, but the result wasn't in doubt by the end of the third period.

To me, a great series has to go seven (or five, in the case of a best-of-five.)

Nobody else with me on Jazz-Kings '99? That was a fantastic series.

That was a great series. The Kings nearly won game 4 at Arco, until John Stockton beat them with a last second shot.

I was actually shocked the Kings hung so tough in game 5 in SLC.

What the Kings did was expose cracks in the Jazz' armor as Portland took them out in round 2.