spurs1990
04-12-2019, 06:14 PM
The Spurs started out this decade with a 2-7 match-up upset, so it would be fitting for them to end it the same way.
The NBA Playoffs expanded from 12 to 16 teams in 1984, pitting all teams in a first round Best-of-5 match-up. After 19 seasons, the league changed to a Best-of-7 first round in 2003. The following data from those past 35 seasons provides a snapshot of how tough of a climb it is for a 7th seed in particular.
Only 5 of the 70 teams (7%) seeded at 7 advanced to the next round, and just once (Spurs) in the 32 Best-of-7 match-ups (3%):
1987 - Seattle (Also beat Rockets in Semi's 4-2, then were swept by LA in WCF)
1989 - Golden State (then lost to Phx 4-1 in Semi's)
*** 2nd seed Utah had worse record than 3rd seed Phx
1991 - Golden State (over the Spurs, and then lost 4-1 to LA)
***2nd seed Spurs had worse record than 3rd seed LA
1998 - New York (then lost in 5 to Pacers)
***Pacers had better record than 2nd seed Miami
2010 - San Antonio (Swept by Suns in 2nd Rd)
As you can see from above, winning Round 1 leads to a big beating in the subsequent round(s). A thought to consider if the Spurs prevail vs Denver.
Other Notes:
There have been 23 sweeps in the 70 match-ups.
5 of the 32 Best-of-7 match-ups went to a Game 7; 9 were 4-0 sweeps, 11 went to Game 5, and 6 ended up 4-2
The 7th seed is 90-232 W-L overall (.279), and 42-126 (.250) since the '03 format change, on average a five game series
This is the 3rd time the Spurs have been the 7th seed. 1985 (lost in 5 to Denver) and 2010 were the first two occasions.
Miami Heat are the only team in the league to have never been a 7th seed (OKC has neither, but they own Seattle's history); GSW won the only 2 times they were the 7th seed
***Note: from 1984-2015, division winners were given preference in seeding, so there were several instances where Seed 7 did not face the 2nd best record in its conference, and as listed above, was applicable to 3 of the 5 upsets. This only further illustrates the difficulty San Antonio is facing in trying to advance.
(Coincidentally, there have also been 5 out of 70 8th seeds to win a series. Though an asterisk could be assigned to the 1999 Knicks (lockout) and 2012 Sixers (DRose injury))
The NBA Playoffs expanded from 12 to 16 teams in 1984, pitting all teams in a first round Best-of-5 match-up. After 19 seasons, the league changed to a Best-of-7 first round in 2003. The following data from those past 35 seasons provides a snapshot of how tough of a climb it is for a 7th seed in particular.
Only 5 of the 70 teams (7%) seeded at 7 advanced to the next round, and just once (Spurs) in the 32 Best-of-7 match-ups (3%):
1987 - Seattle (Also beat Rockets in Semi's 4-2, then were swept by LA in WCF)
1989 - Golden State (then lost to Phx 4-1 in Semi's)
*** 2nd seed Utah had worse record than 3rd seed Phx
1991 - Golden State (over the Spurs, and then lost 4-1 to LA)
***2nd seed Spurs had worse record than 3rd seed LA
1998 - New York (then lost in 5 to Pacers)
***Pacers had better record than 2nd seed Miami
2010 - San Antonio (Swept by Suns in 2nd Rd)
As you can see from above, winning Round 1 leads to a big beating in the subsequent round(s). A thought to consider if the Spurs prevail vs Denver.
Other Notes:
There have been 23 sweeps in the 70 match-ups.
5 of the 32 Best-of-7 match-ups went to a Game 7; 9 were 4-0 sweeps, 11 went to Game 5, and 6 ended up 4-2
The 7th seed is 90-232 W-L overall (.279), and 42-126 (.250) since the '03 format change, on average a five game series
This is the 3rd time the Spurs have been the 7th seed. 1985 (lost in 5 to Denver) and 2010 were the first two occasions.
Miami Heat are the only team in the league to have never been a 7th seed (OKC has neither, but they own Seattle's history); GSW won the only 2 times they were the 7th seed
***Note: from 1984-2015, division winners were given preference in seeding, so there were several instances where Seed 7 did not face the 2nd best record in its conference, and as listed above, was applicable to 3 of the 5 upsets. This only further illustrates the difficulty San Antonio is facing in trying to advance.
(Coincidentally, there have also been 5 out of 70 8th seeds to win a series. Though an asterisk could be assigned to the 1999 Knicks (lockout) and 2012 Sixers (DRose injury))