1. 2007 Western Conference First Round: The “We Believe” Warriors solidify themselves as a legendary underdog
We have finally arrived at the number one spot. Taking home the crown is the 2007 “We Believe” Warriors team that defied all odds and took down an elite Dallas Mavericks team. To understand how big of an upset this was, let’s set the stage for both teams.
For Dallas, they were one year removed from a 60 win regular season and a trip to the NBA Finals. They have responded big time to their devastating loss in the Finals by winning 67 games this season. Dirk Nowitzki is having a career season, averaging 24.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game and winning the MVP award.
Meanwhile, the Warriors are in the midst of a 12-year playoff drought and are desperate to just reach the postseason again. With a few talented players in Jason Richardson, Baron Davis, Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, the Dubs managed to win 42 games and squeeze into the playoffs as a seven seed.
So, it’s clear that these two teams had very different expectations. The Mavericks are looking to redeem themselves and win a championship while the Warriors are relieved just to be in the playoffs.
This is why it was such a surprise when Davis and the Dubs exploded in Game 1 to open up the series. Davis scored a game-high 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds en route to a 97-85 victory.
The Mavs responded in Game 2, only for Richardson to drop 30 points in Game 3. Dallas again won the next game while Davis posted another 33 points in Game 5 to take a 3-1 lead. By the time game 6 began, the Mavericks were shell shocked and the Warriors crowd was too intense. The Dubs clinched the series behind Jackson’s 33 points.
This inspiring upset was fueled by an all-around team effort. The Warriors had three different players score 30+ in this series and four players averaged double-digit scoring figures. This was a truly miraculous performance and one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.