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The Boston Celtics and the 5 biggest NBA first round upsets of all time

By Akash Anavarathan

Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) keeps the ball away from Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls 106-102 win over the Boston Celtics in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) keeps the ball away from Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the fourth quarter of the Chicago Bulls 106-102 win over the Boston Celtics in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the No. 1 seed Boston Celtics down 2-0 to the No. 8 Chicago Bulls, here’s a look at the five biggest NBA first round upsets of all time.

The Celtics limped into the top of the Eastern Conference, with the Cleveland Cavaliers resting their stars down the stretch. The Bulls squeaked into the playoffs through the back door. It took a resounding win on the last day of the regular season for them to punch their ticket into the postseason.

The Celtics were playing like more than the sum of their individual parts, while the Bulls seemed like they were looking for an excuse to fall apart all season long. A public tirade by Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, followed by an Instagram response by Rajon Rondo, the Bulls did not seem destined for any success in the playoffs.

But here we are, two games into the first round, and the Boston Celtics are down 2-0 heading to Chicago. Where would this rank in terms of NBA’s biggest first round upsets of all time?

Although the Celtics finished 53-29 in the regular season, it’s the lowest win total by a No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference since the Detroit Pistons in 2006-2007 in a full season. The Celtics are one of the weakest No. 1 seeds in recent memory if you go by point differential too.

Chicago has the best player on the floor in Jimmy Butler and a veteran with championship experience in Dwyane Wade. Boston has loads of young talent, headed by a rising superstar in Isaiah Thomas. But they lack the postseason experience to be able to win in April, May and June.

On paper, just based on the regular season records, this potentially could be a big upset. But dig a little deeper, and it doesn’t seem to be that big of a mismatch. In terms of all-time first round upsets in the NBA, Chicago pulling this off and getting two more wins from Boston wouldn’t even crack to the top five. Let’s take a look at the upsets that did make the cut.

5. (6) Charlotte Hornets over (3) Miami Heat

Won series 3-0

Although this upset didn’t feature a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 8 seeds, the Heat-Hornets series ended in an unexpected sweep. The Hornets came into the playoffs as a 48-win team, only two less than the Miami Heat.

But, Miami’s veteran core of Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway and Bruce Bowen should have been able to easily take care of the Hornets. Yet, Baron Davis and the front-court duo of P.J. Brown and Jamal Mashburn demolished the Heat in three games.

The Hornets won the first two games by 26 points each on the road, before the series shifted back to Charlotte. At home, they closed out the series in Game 3, winning by 15. To date this remains to be one of the most surprising series results in NBA history, especially because the Hornets weren’t even expected to win, let alone sweep the Heat with three enormous blowouts.

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