2011 NBA Playoffs

The 2011 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks defeating the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. Dirk Nowitzki was named NBA Finals MVP.

The Chicago Bulls achieved several "firsts" since 1998: the East's best record, a Central Division title, and over 60 victories. They also clinched the NBA's best record for the first time since 1997, guaranteeing home-court advantage in every round. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1998, and lost the ECF for the first time since 1990.

The Indiana Pacers appeared in the playoffs for the first time since 2006, as did the Memphis Grizzlies. The New York Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2004, but this was their first playoff appearance as an above-.500 team since 2001. The Philadelphia 76ers and New Orleans Hornets appeared for the third time in 4 years. The other 11 teams were in the 2010 NBA playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder headed to the playoffs with their first Northwest Division title under this incarnation.

This was the final postseason appearance for the New Orleans franchise while known as the Hornets, as the team was renamed the Pelicans before the 2013–14 season.

For the first time since the 16-team format was introduced in 1984, the top two seeds from the same conference (San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers of the West) lost Game 1 of the first round. The Spurs lost to the Grizzlies, who won their first playoff game in team history, while the Lakers lost Game 1 to the Hornets and were subsequently swept by the Mavericks in the next round. Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic tied a franchise record with 46 points (31 in the first half) in Game 1 of the first round against the Atlanta Hawks, tying Tracy McGrady's total in Game 2 of the 2003 First Round against the Detroit Pistons.

With a 4–1 series win over the Denver Nuggets, the Thunder won their first playoff series since relocating to Oklahoma City. The Boston Celtics swept a best-of-7 playoff series for the first time since winning the 1986 Eastern Conference Finals with a 4-game sweep of the Bucks; prior to the series win they had not swept a series overall since 1992, in Larry Bird's final season.

The Grizzlies followed up their first playoff-game win with their first playoff series win ever. They became the fourth 8th-seeded team ever to advance to the Conference Semifinals after defeating the Spurs in 6, and the second since the first round expanded to a best-of-7 format in 2003. In addition, this marked the first time that no first-round series was pushed to a Game 7 since the current format was introduced. Also, the 2011 Playoffs was the first time since 2007 that only one series went to a Game 7. Would be happen again until 2022 without any Game 7 in the First Round of the Playoffs.

The Los Angeles Lakers, who went to the Finals the previous 3 years, were swept by the Mavericks in the second round. It was the first time that Lakers head coach Phil Jackson had been swept in a playoff series. It would be the first time since 1996 and only the second since 1990 in which the Lakers lost a Western Conference playoff series despite having home court advantage.

Game 7 of the Grizzlies–Thunder series ensured a 12th straight postseason with at least one Game 7 played. The last without one was the 1999 NBA playoffs.

Format

The 3 division winners and 5 other teams with the most wins from each conference qualified for the playoffs. The seedings are based on each team's record. However, a division champion is guaranteed to be ranked at least fourth, regardless of their record and their winnings.

Tiebreak procedures

The tiebreakers that determined seedings were:
#Division leader wins tie against team not leading a division
#Head-to-head record
#Division record (if all tied teams are in the same division)
#Conference record
#Record vs. playoff teams, own conference (top 8 of the conference east/west) (including tied teams)
#Record vs. playoff teams, other conference (top 8 of the conference east/west) (including tied teams) (this tiebreaker does not apply if 3 or more tied teams)
# Point differential, all games

Playoff qualifying

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

''— = Did not achieve''

Notes

Bracket

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage for the playoffs does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams with home court advantage are shown in italics. If two teams with same record met in a round use normal tiebreakers. Tiebreakers in NBA Finals are head-to-head and record vs opposite conference.

First Round

:''All times are in Eastern Daylight Time ( UTC−4)''

Eastern Conference First Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Indiana Pacers

;Regular-season series

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning the first meeting.

This series pitted the team with the best record in the regular season against the team with the worst record in the playoffs. As such this series was expected to be a very easy one for the Bulls. However, despite the Bulls winning 4-1 the series was much closer than this figure would indicate. Except for the last game each was heavily contested with each of the first 4 being decided by 6 points or less. The series could have easily gone 6 or 7 games had the Pacers been able to convert in the end of game situations in each of the first 3 games. However, despite their struggles the Bulls were able to take the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the second time since the Michael Jordan era (they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2007).

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

;Regular-season series

This was the first playoff meeting between the Heat and the 76ers.

The newly revamped Heat, with the much publicized acquisition of all stars and franchise players LeBron James and Chris Bosh during the off-season, were heavy favorites going into this series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Along with Dwyane Wade, James and Bosh comprised the "Big 3", and were eager to show critics that they were a team that could compete in the playoffs after some slip-ups during the regular season (a 9-8 start, a 5-game losing streak, and a not so favorable record against the best teams in the league). However, many pundits believed that the end of the season showed the Heat playing the best they had all season. Although the Sixers offered some resistance to the Heat, including some close games and a come from behind victory the Heat were able to take it in five and advance out of the first round for the first time since their NBA Championship in 2006.

(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) New York Knicks

;Regular-season series

This was the 14th playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning seven of the first 13 meetings.

Due to the Celtics' struggles at the end of the regular season as well as the star power of the New York Knicks in Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony this was a favorite first round upset for many. In the first two games the Knicks were indeed able to show they could contend with the defending Eastern Conference champions. In Game 1, Ray Allen made a game winning three-pointer after being freed up by a controversial screen. The next two games the Celtics took fairly easily as injuries to both Chauncey Billups and Amar'e Stoudemire took their toll on the Knicks. This was the only sweep of the first round.

(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

;Regular-season series

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Magic winning the first two meetings.

Despite having won the season series against the Magic the Atlanta Hawks were touted as underdogs against the Orlando Magic, led by Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard. In the first game of the series the Hawks were unable to contain Howard as he scored 46 points – however, by limiting the contributions of the Magic's role players they were able to get a victory and steal home court advantage from the Magic. Although the Magic won the next game, better play by the Hawks down the stretch and the inability of the Magic to convert on 3-point shots (the Magic shot 2-23 from beyond the arc in game 4) gave the Hawks a 3-1 lead. The next two games were split and the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the third straight year.

Western Conference First Round

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

;Regular-season series

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Spurs winning the first meeting.

The eighth seeded Grizzlies won their first playoff game in franchise history after they defeated the top seeded Spurs 101-98 in Game 1. The Spurs evened the series up in Game 2, but the Grizzlies won Games 3 and 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the series. In Game 5 with only 1.7 seconds left in regulation, Gary Neal tied the game with a 3-point buzzer beater to force OT. The Spurs won in OT 110-103. In Game 6, the Grizzlies won their first ever playoff series in franchise history when they defeated the Spurs 99-91, winning the series 4-2. In addition, the Grizzlies became just the second eighth seeded team to knock off a top seeded team since the NBA went to a best-of-seven series in the first round.Grizzlies vs. Spurs , Western Conference First Round , 2011 NBA Playoffs
NBA.com. Retrieved 14 June 2011

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets

;Regular-season series

This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers

;Regular-season series

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning two of the first three meetings.

The Mavericks won the first two games of the series, but the Trail Blazers won Games 3 and 4 to tie the series 2-2. In Game 4, the Trail Blazers played from behind most of the game, at one point trailing the Mavericks by 23 points late in the third quarter. Entering the final quarter down 67-49, the Trail Blazers, with the help of Brandon Roy's 18 fourth quarter points, embarked on their biggest fourth quarter comeback in franchise history to win the game 84-82. However, the Mavericks recovered from their Game 4 collapse and won Games 5 and 6 to win the series 4-2.Trail Blazers vs. Mavericks , Western Conference First Round , 2011 NBA Playoffs
NBA.com. Retrieved 14 June 2011

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets

;Regular-season series

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Nuggets winning two of the first three meetings. All previous meetings took place while the Thunder franchise were still known as the Seattle SuperSonics.

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

;Regular-season series

This was the fifth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the each team winning two series apiece.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Boston Celtics

*Game 4 is Shaquille O'Neal's final NBA game.

;Regular-season series

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Celtics winning the first meeting.

The series was seen as a way for Heat small forward LeBron James to exact revenge on the Celtics after Boston eliminated James' former team the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008 and 2010. James called the series "personal", saying "...You don't want to keeping getting beat by the same team, the same team keep sending you home to plan a vacation..."Celtics vs. Heat , Easter Conference Semi-Finals , 2011 Playoffs
NBA.com. Retrieved 19 June 2011

The Heat won the first two games of the series to take a 2-0 lead. However, the Celtics cut the series lead in half by winning Game 3 97-81. In that game, Boston point guard Rajon Rondo dislocated his left elbow on a bizarre play where he became tangled up with Dwyane Wade. Despite his injury, Rondo still contributed to the Celtics' victory with his 11 assists and 4 points in the fourth quarter, however his left arm was visibly limp the rest of the series and he was unable to play at his customarily high level.

Miami bounced back after the Game 3 loss and won Games 4 and 5, winning the series 4-1 and returning to their first Eastern Conference Finals since the 2006 NBA playoffs.

Western Conference Semifinals

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (3) Dallas Mavericks

;Regular-season series

This was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning the first three meetings.

The Mavericks won the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, including overcoming a 16-point late third-quarter deficit in Game 1. The Mavericks then overcame another second-half deficit in Game 3 to win 98–92. In Game 4, the Mavericks blew out the Lakers 122–86, sweeping the two-time defending NBA champions from the playoffs. In that game, Dallas scored 20 three-pointers, equaling an NBA record. Mavericks sixth man Jason Terry led the team in scoring with 32 points while making 9 of his 10 3-point attempts, tying another NBA playoff record that would go unequaled for nearly five years.Mavericks vs. Lakers , Western Conference Semi-Finals , 2011 NBA Playoffs
NBA.com. Retrieved 14 June 2011 Also in the same game, Andrew Bynum was ejected and eventually fined and suspended for five games of the next season after he committed a flagrant foul on J. J. Barea.Andrew Bynum suspended, fined
ESPN. Retrieved 14 June 2011

This series was the first time a team coached by Phil Jackson was swept in the playoffs.

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

;Regular-season series

This was the first playoff meeting between the Grizzlies and the Thunder.

The Grizzlies and Thunder split the first 2 games of the series. In Game 3, the Grizzlies took a 2-1 series lead after overcoming a 16-point deficit late in the 3rd quarter. The Thunder tied the series in Game 4 after winning in triple OT 133-123. The Thunder blew out the Grizzlies in Game 5 99-72, but the Grizzlies tied the series at 3 when they defeated the Thunder 95-83 in Game 6. The Thunder finally advanced to their first conference finals since they moved from Seattle when they eliminated the Grizzlies 105-90 in Game 7. In that game, Russell Westbrook became the fifth player to record a triple double in a Game 7.Grizzlies vs. Thunder , Western Conference Semi-Finals , 2011 NBA Playoffs
NBA.com. Retrieved 14 June 2011

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference Finals

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat

;Regular-season series

This was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bulls winning four of the first five meetings.

Going into the series, Chicago had swept Miami in the regular season. The Bulls took Game 1 by blowing out the Heat 103-82. However, Miami won the next four consecutive games to win the series 4-1. In Game 5, Miami came back from a 12-point deficit with only three minutes left in the fourth quarter to win the game 83-80.
NBA.com. Retrieved 19 June 2011

This series marked the first time the Bulls lost 4 consecutive games in the season.

Western Conference Finals

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (4) Oklahoma City Thunder

;Regular-season series

This was the third playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning one series apiece. All previous meetings took place while the Thunder franchise were still known as the Seattle SuperSonics.

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks set a playoff record for most free throws made without a miss with 24, previously held by Paul Pierce (21) in 2003. The Mavericks won 121-112. The Thunder and Mavericks then split the next two games. In Game 4, the Mavericks rallied from a 15-point deficit with only five minutes left in regulation to win the game in OT and take a 3-1 series lead. The Mavericks then overcame another late 4th quarter deficit in Game 5 to win the game 100-96 and the series 4-1 and reach their first finals since 2006.Thunder vs. Mavericks , Western Conference Finals , 2011 NBA Playoffs
. NBA.com. Retrieved 14 June 2011. It would be the last time that neither the 1st seed or the 2nd seed reached the Conference Finals until 2020.

NBA Finals: (E2) Miami Heat vs. (W3) Dallas Mavericks

;Regular-season series

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Heat winning the first meeting.

Statistic leaders

References

External links

2011 playoffs at NBA.com

2011 NBA Playoffs at ESPN

{{2010–11 NBA season by team

Playoffs
National Basketball Association playoffs
Sports in Portland, Oregon
ABS-CBN television specials

fi:NBA-kausi 2010–2011#Pudotuspelit