playoffs with most upsets?

[young.hustle]

In true March Madness spirit i pose the question: In which year did the NBA experience the most surprising playoffs? Im talking about the most fucked up bracket there ever was, not denver/sonics or mavs/gsw.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

I would have to say the 1981 Western Conference playoffs qualify, by a landslide:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1981.html

Western ConferenceWLW-L%GBPS/GPA/GSRSMidwest Division San Antonio Spurs (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1981.html)* (2)5230.634—112.3109.42.18Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html)* (5)4042.48812.0106.9106.9-0.49Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html)* (6)4042.48812.0108.3107.9-0.20Denver Nuggets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1981.html) (8)3745.45115.0121.8122.3-0.95Utah Jazz (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/1981.html) (11)2854.34124.0101.2107.1-5.99Dallas Mavericks (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/1981.html) (12)1567.18337.0101.5109.9-8.33Pacific Division Phoenix Suns (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1981.html)* (1)5725.695—110.0104.54.83Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1981.html)* (3)5428.6593.0111.2107.33.27Portland Trail Blazers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1981.html)* (4)4537.54912.0110.7109.80.52Golden State Warriors (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/1981.html) (7)3943.47618.0109.8111.0-1.41San Diego Clippers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SDC/1981.html) (9)3646.43921.0106.5108.1-1.78Seattle SuperSonics (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/1981.html) (10)3448.41523.0104.0105.7-1.84

Western Conference Finals (4-1):Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html) over Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html)Game 1April 21Houston Rockets97@ Kansas City Kings78Game 2April 22Houston Rockets79@ Kansas City Kings88Game 3April 24Kansas City Kings88@ Houston Rockets92Game 4April 26Kansas City Kings89@ Houston Rockets100Game 5April 29Houston Rockets97@ Kansas City Kings88 Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-0):Boston Celtics (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1981.html) over Chicago Bulls (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1981.html)Game 1April 5Chicago Bulls109@ Boston Celtics121Game 2April 7Chicago Bulls97@ Boston Celtics106Game 3April 10Boston Celtics113@ Chicago Bulls107Game 4April 12Boston Celtics109@ Chicago Bulls103Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3):Philadelphia 76ers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1981.html) over Milwaukee Bucks (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1981.html)Game 1April 5Milwaukee Bucks122@ Philadelphia 76ers125Game 2April 7Milwaukee Bucks109@ Philadelphia 76ers99Game 3April 10Philadelphia 76ers108@ Milwaukee Bucks103Game 4April 12Philadelphia 76ers98@ Milwaukee Bucks109Game 5April 15Milwaukee Bucks99@ Philadelphia 76ers116Game 6April 17Philadelphia 76ers86@ Milwaukee Bucks109Game 7April 19Milwaukee Bucks98@ Philadelphia 76ers99Western Conference Semifinals (4-3):Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html) over San Antonio Spurs (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1981.html)Game 1April 7Houston Rockets107@ San Antonio Spurs98Game 2April 8Houston Rockets113@ San Antonio Spurs125Game 3April 10San Antonio Spurs99@ Houston Rockets112Game 4April 12San Antonio Spurs114@ Houston Rockets112Game 5April 14Houston Rockets123@ San Antonio Spurs117Game 6April 15San Antonio Spurs101@ Houston Rockets96Game 7April 17Houston Rockets105@ San Antonio Spurs100Western Conference Semifinals (4-3):Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html) over Phoenix Suns (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1981.html)Game 1April 7Kansas City Kings80@ Phoenix Suns102Game 2April 8Kansas City Kings88@ Phoenix Suns83Game 3April 10Phoenix Suns92@ Kansas City Kings93Game 4April 12Phoenix Suns95@ Kansas City Kings102Game 5April 15Kansas City Kings89@ Phoenix Suns101Game 6April 17Phoenix Suns81@ Kansas City Kings76Game 7April 19Kansas City Kings95@ Phoenix Suns88 Eastern Conference First Round (2-0):Chicago Bulls (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1981.html) over New York Knickerbockers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1981.html)Game 1March 31Chicago Bulls90@ New York Knickerbockers80Game 2April 3New York Knickerbockers114@ Chicago Bulls115Eastern Conference First Round (2-0):Philadelphia 76ers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1981.html) over Indiana Pacers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1981.html)Game 1March 31Indiana Pacers108@ Philadelphia 76ers124Game 2April 2Philadelphia 76ers96@ Indiana Pacers85Western Conference First Round (2-1):Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html) over Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1981.html)Game 1April 1Houston Rockets111@ Los Angeles Lakers107Game 2April 3Los Angeles Lakers111@ Houston Rockets106Game 3April 5Houston Rockets89@ Los Angeles Lakers86Western Conference First Round (2-1):Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html) over Portland Trail Blazers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1981.html)Game 1April 1Kansas City Kings98@ Portland Trail Blazers97Game 2April 3Portland Trail Blazers124@ Kansas City Kings119Game 3April 5Kansas City Kings104@ Portland Trail Blazers95

The east had one upset, Chicago over New York, but the western playoffs were nuts. Imagine, two sub 500 teams playing in the WCF. That's like Indiana and Charlotte playing the ECF now. Houston and Kansas City simply went nuts. Remember, they were the bottom two seeds, only 6 teams from each conference made it.

[stretch]

I would have to say the 1981 Western Conference playoffs qualify, by a landslide:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1981.html

Western ConferenceWLW-L%GBPS/GPA/GSRSMidwest Division San Antonio Spurs (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1981.html)* (2)5230.634—112.3109.42.18Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html)* (5)4042.48812.0106.9106.9-0.49Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html)* (6)4042.48812.0108.3107.9-0.20Denver Nuggets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1981.html) (8)3745.45115.0121.8122.3-0.95Utah Jazz (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/UTA/1981.html) (11)2854.34124.0101.2107.1-5.99Dallas Mavericks (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DAL/1981.html) (12)1567.18337.0101.5109.9-8.33Pacific Division Phoenix Suns (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1981.html)* (1)5725.695—110.0104.54.83Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1981.html)* (3)5428.6593.0111.2107.33.27Portland Trail Blazers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1981.html)* (4)4537.54912.0110.7109.80.52Golden State Warriors (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/1981.html) (7)3943.47618.0109.8111.0-1.41San Diego Clippers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SDC/1981.html) (9)3646.43921.0106.5108.1-1.78Seattle SuperSonics (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SEA/1981.html) (10)3448.41523.0104.0105.7-1.84

Western Conference Finals (4-1):Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html) over Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html)Game 1April 21Houston Rockets97@ Kansas City Kings78Game 2April 22Houston Rockets79@ Kansas City Kings88Game 3April 24Kansas City Kings88@ Houston Rockets92Game 4April 26Kansas City Kings89@ Houston Rockets100Game 5April 29Houston Rockets97@ Kansas City Kings88 Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-0):Boston Celtics (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1981.html) over Chicago Bulls (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1981.html)Game 1April 5Chicago Bulls109@ Boston Celtics121Game 2April 7Chicago Bulls97@ Boston Celtics106Game 3April 10Boston Celtics113@ Chicago Bulls107Game 4April 12Boston Celtics109@ Chicago Bulls103Eastern Conference Semifinals (4-3):Philadelphia 76ers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1981.html) over Milwaukee Bucks (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1981.html)Game 1April 5Milwaukee Bucks122@ Philadelphia 76ers125Game 2April 7Milwaukee Bucks109@ Philadelphia 76ers99Game 3April 10Philadelphia 76ers108@ Milwaukee Bucks103Game 4April 12Philadelphia 76ers98@ Milwaukee Bucks109Game 5April 15Milwaukee Bucks99@ Philadelphia 76ers116Game 6April 17Philadelphia 76ers86@ Milwaukee Bucks109Game 7April 19Milwaukee Bucks98@ Philadelphia 76ers99Western Conference Semifinals (4-3):Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html) over San Antonio Spurs (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/SAS/1981.html)Game 1April 7Houston Rockets107@ San Antonio Spurs98Game 2April 8Houston Rockets113@ San Antonio Spurs125Game 3April 10San Antonio Spurs99@ Houston Rockets112Game 4April 12San Antonio Spurs114@ Houston Rockets112Game 5April 14Houston Rockets123@ San Antonio Spurs117Game 6April 15San Antonio Spurs101@ Houston Rockets96Game 7April 17Houston Rockets105@ San Antonio Spurs100Western Conference Semifinals (4-3):Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html) over Phoenix Suns (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHO/1981.html)Game 1April 7Kansas City Kings80@ Phoenix Suns102Game 2April 8Kansas City Kings88@ Phoenix Suns83Game 3April 10Phoenix Suns92@ Kansas City Kings93Game 4April 12Phoenix Suns95@ Kansas City Kings102Game 5April 15Kansas City Kings89@ Phoenix Suns101Game 6April 17Phoenix Suns81@ Kansas City Kings76Game 7April 19Kansas City Kings95@ Phoenix Suns88 Eastern Conference First Round (2-0):Chicago Bulls (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/CHI/1981.html) over New York Knickerbockers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1981.html)Game 1March 31Chicago Bulls90@ New York Knickerbockers80Game 2April 3New York Knickerbockers114@ Chicago Bulls115Eastern Conference First Round (2-0):Philadelphia 76ers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/PHI/1981.html) over Indiana Pacers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/IND/1981.html)Game 1March 31Indiana Pacers108@ Philadelphia 76ers124Game 2April 2Philadelphia 76ers96@ Indiana Pacers85Western Conference First Round (2-1):Houston Rockets (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/1981.html) over Los Angeles Lakers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/1981.html)Game 1April 1Houston Rockets111@ Los Angeles Lakers107Game 2April 3Los Angeles Lakers111@ Houston Rockets106Game 3April 5Houston Rockets89@ Los Angeles Lakers86Western Conference First Round (2-1):Kansas City Kings (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/KCK/1981.html) over Portland Trail Blazers (http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/1981.html)Game 1April 1Kansas City Kings98@ Portland Trail Blazers97Game 2April 3Portland Trail Blazers124@ Kansas City Kings119Game 3April 5Kansas City Kings104@ Portland Trail Blazers95

The east had one upset, Chicago over New York, but the western playoffs were nuts. Imagine, two sub 500 teams playing in the WCF. That's like Indiana and Charlotte playing the ECF now. Houston and Kansas City simply went nuts. Remember, they were the bottom two seeds, only 6 teams from each conference made it.

what a fucking upset

[Kyle Orton]

That 80s Suns team might have actually contended if it wasn't for classic Colangelo trading a great player away for a scrub big man even though at the time the team had a pretty good, balanced front court with decent size. They were able to make the WCF in 84 and somewhat play competitively with LA but Magic completely destroyed them which might not have happened if they still had DJ.

[Daddy_Of_All_Trolls]

That 80s Suns team might have actually contended if it wasn't for classic Colangelo trading a great player away for a scrub big man even though at the time the team had a pretty good, balanced front court with decent size. They were able to make the WCF in 84 and somewhat play competitively with LA but Magic completely destroyed them which might not have happened if they still had DJ.
I never understood that trade either. Dennis Johnson had championship and deep playoff experience. The trade gifted Boston two titles as they were finally able to get past Dr. J.'s Sixers and stay there. Philly had 4 finals appearances before the trade, and none after until 2001. Phoenix had a pretty balanced squad, and I bet few people in here remember Alvan Adams. He was a great player. Rick Robey? LOL, fail. This trade could compare to being the same thing today if Phoenix traded Robin Lopez to Boston for Rondo. The only difference is DJ could shoot mid range jumpers and make free throws.

[Pelicans78]

That 80s Suns team might have actually contended if it wasn't for classic Colangelo trading a great player away for a scrub big man even though at the time the team had a pretty good, balanced front court with decent size. They were able to make the WCF in 84 and somewhat play competitively with LA but Magic completely destroyed them which might not have happened if they still had DJ.

I predicted at the time that the Suns would be fine without DJ :lol