NBA Playoffs: 10 Year History of #2 Seed
The Cleveland Cavaliers wrapped up the #2 seed in the East for the upcoming NBA Playoffs. We thought it might be fun to look back at the last 10 years of #2 seeds to see how they fared. Having homecourt in the 1st two rounds of the NBA Playoffs has to be helpful, but how helpful? How good have #2 seeds had it?
2014
Miami Heat – The Heat made it to where the Cavs hope to make it this year: The NBA Finals. They fell to the San Antonio Spurs.
Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder also fell to the Spurs, this time in the Western Conference Finals.
2013
New York Knicks – The Carmelo Anthony led Knicks fell in the 2nd round to the #3 seed Indiana Pacers, who lost in the East Finals to the Heat.
San Antonio Spurs – The Spurs made it all the way to the Finals and were one Ray Allen shot away from winning it all. Instead they lost to the Heat in 7 games.
2012
Heat – The Heat continue to make this list as we go backward. The Heat won an NBA Championship out of the 2 seed in the East.
Thunder – In the Finals the Thunder faced off with the Heat as the West’s 2 seed.
2011
Heat – The 1st of the Heat’s run with LeBron James ended with an NBA Finals loss.
LA Lakers – Remember back when the Lakers were good? The Lakers were drubbed out in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks, in a sweep. The Mavs went on to beat the Heat in the Finals.
2010
Orlando Magic – The Magic were defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals by the Boston Celtics. The Cavs were the #1 seed this season but were ousted in the 2nd round.
Dallas Mavericks – The Mavs were not able to make it out of the 1st round, beat by the San Antonio Spurs 4 – 2.
2009
Boston Celtics – The Celtics were surprised by the Orlando Magic in the 2nd round. The Magic went on to the NBA Finals after being both the C’s and Cavs.
Denver Nuggets – The Nuggets made it to the West Finals before being ousted by the soon to be champ Lakers.
2008
Detroit Pistons – The Pistons were coming near the end of their run in 2008. They made it to the Conference Finals before being beat by the NBA Finals winning Celtics.
New Orleans – The Hornets back then, were taken out by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round. The Spurs have had quite a run of knocking out West’s 2 seeds.
2007
Cavaliers – The LeBron led Cavs tore through a couple series before finally dethroning the Pistons in the East Finals. The Spurs took care of them in a sweep in the NBA Finals.
Phoenix Suns – The run and gun Suns were taken out in the 2nd round, by none other than the Spurs.
2006
Heat – A different era for the Heat, but the East’s 2 seed ended up with the NBA Title this year.
Suns – The Suns made it to the Western Conference Finals before being ousted from the NBA Playoffs by the Mavs.
2005
Pistons – The Pistons once again made the NBA Finals only to fall to the Spurs….
Spurs – … who were the 2 seed in the West. The Spurs have had an amazing run.
2 Seed Totals
Out of twenty #2 seeds in the last 10 years these were the results of their NBA Playoffs run:
Champs – 3
Lost in Finals – 6
Lost in Conference Finals – 5
Lost in 2nd Round – 5
Lost in 1st Round – 1
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Almost 50/50 odds that the Cavs make it to the NBA Finals, based on this 10 year history. Losing in the 2nd round is as likely as losing in the Conference Finals, almost as likely as losing in the NBA Finals and more likely than being Champs. Thankfully we think the Cavs will have better luck than the Mavs in the 1st round, partially because they don’t have to face the Spurs.
How does the 10 year history impact your Cavs thoughts going into the NBA Playoffs?