When the Celtics (my team) were up 3-1 I was feeling great because throughout the existence of the NBA only a handful for teams have ever come back from being down 3 games to 1 and advanced. It is so unlikely that perhaps the Boston Celtics sat on their hands and didn't give it their all because well, Philly (who I loathe) managed to scrap their way back for 3 games in a row and win the dern thing 4-3.
When it happens once it is something to really get excited about but the cases of it happening two times in the same tournament are astronomically low. There has only ever been a single team in the near 100 years of NBA playoff history that did it twice in the same tournament and when we are talking about all teams playing, the chances of two teams pulling off this feat in the same year, in the same tournament, is really really low. There had only been two other seasons in the history of the NBA, until this year, that this feat has ever been accomplished. Oddly enough, all of the instances of this happening took place in the past 10 years.
Now I have to admit hat when Orlando won a game vs the Pistons, I thought it was a fluke. I figured that the Pistons would just crush the number 8 ranked Orlando Magic and cruise on through to the semi-finals. But then when Orlando won 3 to Detroit's 1, I think everyone who is an NBA fan was shocked. That business does a team that barely even made it into the playoffs have defeating a near perfect Detroit Pistons who many believed were going to ease their way to the final and play against (and most likely lose to) the OKC Thunder.
Despite being down 3-1, the bookies had the Pistons favored in every game, often to the tune of 10 points or more. These bookies definately can see something that us regular people cannot, because outside of one singular game, their predictions were correct as far as the spread was concerned.
With their backs against the wall, I guess the 76ers and the Pistons play much better. The final game of both series wasn't even close with both Philly and Detroit winning with what appeared to be relative ease.
While this was disappointing to me because it looked like my Celtics were finally going to not let us down this year (they find a way!) but yet, they did. But I also will give credit where credit is due, even if it is the team I dislike the most in the 76ers. Them and the Pistons have made history in this rather exciting tournament! What other records will be broken this year?
There's still plenty of excitement remaining but do not pay any attention to the start times of those games, that's just my VPN talking.
I predict an OKC and Detroit final but if anything has to be learned this year, strange things can and will happen so who knows? I think the number 1 teams from both sides making it to the final dance is kind of the most boring possible outcome and wouldn't mind seeing an underdog making their way through.