yup the difference between the calls the home and away team get from game to game is pretty silly. That major media market teams receive more favorable calls is pathetic. Most every single series is milked out to a 6 or 7 game series. The games should be called straight up period. STOMP
It does happen. The #6 seeded Rockets won the championship in 1995 and the #8 seeded Knicks (led by Camby) reached the NBA Finals.
A 7 game series allows for a couple mistakes. If you can't win a 7 game series, you're not the best team.
Also- the Warrios upset of the Dallas Mavericks in 2007 was arguably the greatest upset in the history of all spots. The Mavericks had won 67 of their previous 78 games, something no team had done since Jordan's Bulls, and they ended up losing in 6 to a team that barely made the playoffs.
...but had gone 3-0 vs them during the season. Nelson knew some keys to beating his former team such as sticking a long quick smaller defender (Stephen Jackson) on Dirk to slow him down that we've since seen "McMoron" mimic with success with Batum. Of course Portland is 3-1 vs the Mavs this season. STOMP
it's relevant that baseball has less teams make the playoffs. having only 8 teams instead of 16 matters. with only 8 teams making it, it may seem like there are upsets because people make a big deal about wildcards going far when in reality the better team is winning. it's a lot easier for the 4th best team in a league in baseball to get hot and make the world series by winning two series than it is for the 4th(or worse) seed in a basketball conference to win 3 series to make the finals. this can easily give the appearance of more upsets in baseball.
By the way, on the subject of the 1994 Nuggets, they fell behind 0-3 to the Jazz in the second round but then actually won 3 straight to force a game 7. Meanwhile, the Pacers went from a 16-23 start to the regular season to a 3-2 edge in the Eastern Conference Finals! Best playoff year ever.
