2003 NBA playoffs

Overview

The 2003 Playoffs were notable for several reasons.

• This postseason featured the most series decided by six games in NBA playoff history. (Coincidentally, the Spurs won every single playoff series in six games en route to the championship.)
• For the first time since 1974, all series were conducted in a best-of-seven format. From 1984 to 2002, the first-round series were best of five. It is also notable as the only time the first round did not include any series sweeps.
• This is the first postseason that the NBA Playoffs carried more games on cable television than regular broadcast television, and marks the debut for the NBA Playoffs to be aired on NBA TV, and the return broadcast on ESPN and ABC after the NBA departed from NBC and TBS.
• This was the final postseason appearance for David Robinson, Steve Kerr, Shawn Kemp and John Stockton

The New Orleans Hornets made their first postseason appearance in franchise history. The franchise, which relocated to New Orleans and inherited the assets and personnel of the Charlotte Hornets, were retroactively considered an expansion team by 2014 after Charlotte (reactivated in 2004 as the Bobcats; was an expansion team in the pre-2014 timeline) reclaimed the original Hornets' franchise history in Charlotte from 1988 to 2002, while New Orleans (rebranded as the Pelicans in 2013) retained its franchise records from 2002 onward. In the pre-2014 timeline, the Hornets made the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz continued the longest active Western Conference playoff appearance streaks at the time, entering their 21st and 20th postseason appearances, respectively.

The Minnesota Timberwolves entered their seventh consecutive postseason. In addition, they were awarded home-court advantage for the first time in franchise history in their series against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Orlando Magic became the seventh team to lose a playoff series despite leading 3–1, losing to the Detroit Pistons in the first round. In an infamous post-game moment following Game 4, Tracy McGrady prematurely declared, "It feels good to get into the second round", not knowing that the NBA changed its first round series to a best-of-seven. The Magic would not win another playoff game again until 2008.

Game 5 of the Kings–Jazz series was the final game featuring Karl Malone and John Stockton as members of the Utah Jazz. Stockton would retire after the season while Malone would sign with the Lakers in the offseason. After this, the Jazz would not return to the playoffs until 2007.

With their first-round series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves earned the dubious distinction of making their first seven postseason appearances, only to lose in the first round. They would break that streak by winning their first playoff series the following postseason.

The Portland Trail Blazers snapped a ten-game playoff losing streak dating back to 2000 with a Game 4 win in their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks. The Trail Blazers also became the third team in NBA History to force a Game 7 after trailing 0–3 before bowing out. They would not return to the playoffs until 2009.

With their conference semifinals loss to the New Jersey Nets, the Boston Celtics were swept in a postseason series for the first time since 1983, and would not return to the Conference Semifinals until 2008.

With their conference semifinals loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers' championship streak was snapped at 3. With the win, the Spurs returned to the Western Conference Finals for the third time in five seasons.

With their conference semifinals win over the Philadelphia 76ers, the Detroit Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars-led team was swept by the Chicago Bulls in 1991. The Pistons would go on to appear in six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals through 2008, the most consecutive appearances for any Eastern Conference team since the Bill Russell-led Boston Celtics (1956–69).

With their conference semifinals victory over the Sacramento Kings, the Dallas Mavericks made the conference finals for the first time since 1988.

This was the first Western Conference Finals since 1995 to take place entirely in the state of Texas.

With their Eastern Conference Finals sweep of the Detroit Pistons, the New Jersey Nets won ten straight postseason games, the most since the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers.

In Game 6 of the Spurs–Mavericks series, Steve Kerr and Manu Ginóbili sparked a 42–15 run to help the Spurs advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Mavericks would not return to the Conference Finals (let alone face the Spurs in the playoffs) until 2006.

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Eastern Conference

Bracket

| RD2-group1=Eastern Conference | RD2-group2=Western Conference

| RD1-seed01=E1 | RD1-team01=Detroit* | RD1-score01=4 | RD1-seed02=E8 | RD1-team02=Orlando | RD1-score02=3

| RD1-seed03=E4 | RD1-team03=Philadelphia | RD1-score03=4 | RD1-seed04=E5 | RD1-team04=New Orleans | RD1-score04=2

| RD1-seed05=E3 | RD1-team05=Indiana | RD1-score05=2 | RD1-seed06=E6 | RD1-team06=Boston | RD1-score06=4

| RD1-seed07=E2 | RD1-team07=New Jersey* | RD1-score07=4 | RD1-seed08=E7 | RD1-team08=Milwaukee | RD1-score08=2

| RD1-seed09=W1 | RD1-team09=San Antonio* | RD1-score09=4 | RD1-seed10=W8 | RD1-team10=Phoenix | RD1-score10=2

| RD1-seed11=W4 | RD1-team11=Minnesota | RD1-score11=2 | RD1-seed12=W5 | RD1-team12=LA Lakers | RD1-score12=4

| RD1-seed13=W3 | RD1-team13=Dallas | RD1-score13=4 | RD1-seed14=W6 | RD1-team14=Portland | RD1-score14=3

| RD1-seed15=W2 | RD1-team15=Sacramento* | RD1-score15=4 | RD1-seed16=W7 | RD1-team16=Utah | RD1-score16=1

| RD2-seed01=E1 | RD2-team01=Detroit* | RD2-score01=4 | RD2-seed02=E4 | RD2-team02=Philadelphia | RD2-score02=2

| RD2-seed03=E6 | RD2-team03=Boston | RD2-score03=0 | RD2-seed04=E2 | RD2-team04=New Jersey* | RD2-score04=4

| RD2-seed05=W1 | RD2-team05=San Antonio* | RD2-score05=4 | RD2-seed06=W5 | RD2-team06=LA Lakers | RD2-score06=2

| RD2-seed07=W3 | RD2-team07=Dallas | RD2-score07=4 | RD2-seed08=W2 | RD2-team08=Sacramento* | RD2-score08=3

| RD3-seed01=E1 | RD3-team01=Detroit* | RD3-score01=0 | RD3-seed02=E2 | RD3-team02=New Jersey* | RD3-score02=4

| RD3-seed03=W1 | RD3-team03=San Antonio* | RD3-score03=4 | RD3-seed04=W3 | RD3-team04=Dallas | RD3-score04=2

| RD4-seed01=E2 | RD4-team01=New Jersey* | RD4-score01=2 | RD4-seed02=W1 | RD4-team02=San Antonio* | RD4-score02=4 |* Division winner |Bold Series winner |Italic Team with home-court advantage}}

First round

Eastern Conference first round

(1) [[Detroit Pistons]] vs. (8) [[Orlando Magic]]

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The Pistons became the 7th team in NBA history to overcome a 3–1 series deficit.

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

(2) [[New Jersey Nets]] vs. (7) [[Milwaukee Bucks]]

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• In Game 3, Rodney Rogers hit the game-winner with 2 seconds left.

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

(3) [[Indiana Pacers]] vs. (6) [[Boston Celtics]]

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

(4) [[Philadelphia 76ers]] vs. (5) [[New Orleans Hornets]]

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This was the first playoff meeting between the 76ers and the New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets franchise.

Western Conference first round

(1) [[San Antonio Spurs]] vs. (8) [[Phoenix Suns]]

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In Game 1, after Amar'e Stoudemire banks in a game-tying 3 with 7.9 seconds left in regulation, Stephon Marbury hits the game-winning 3 at the buzzer in OT.

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

(2) [[Sacramento Kings]] vs. (7) [[Utah Jazz]]

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Game 5 was John Stockton's final NBA game. It was also Karl Malone's last game in Utah as he joined the Los Angeles Lakers during the following offseason.

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

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

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The Trail Blazers became the third NBA team to force a Game 7 after being down 0–3, after the New York Knicks in the 1951 NBA Finals and the Denver Nuggets in the 1994 Western Conference semifinals. This would not happen again until 2023.

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

(4) [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] vs. (5) [[Los Angeles Lakers]]

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This was the first playoff meeting between the Lakers and the Timberwolves.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference semifinals

(1) [[Detroit Pistons]] vs. (4) [[Philadelphia 76ers]]

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• In Game 5, Chucky Atkins hit the game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left after Derrick Coleman was called for goaltending on the shot.

This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the 76ers winning the first meeting, which occurred when the Nationals/76ers franchise were in Syracuse and the Pistons franchise were in Fort Wayne.

(2) [[New Jersey Nets]] vs. (6) [[Boston Celtics]]

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

Western Conference semifinals

(1) [[San Antonio Spurs]] vs. (5) [[Los Angeles Lakers]]

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• In Game 5, the Lakers nearly overcame a 25-point deficit, but Robert Horry's potential game-winning 3 went in and out.

This was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first eight meetings.

(2) [[Sacramento Kings]] vs. (3) [[Dallas Mavericks]]

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

Conference finals

Eastern Conference finals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) New Jersey Nets

• Jason Kidd hit the game-winning jumper with 1.4 seconds left in Game 1.

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

Western Conference finals

(1) [[San Antonio Spurs]] vs. (3) [[Dallas Mavericks]]

|}} |}} |}} |}} |}} |}} Steve Kerr puts on a shooting performance for the ages connecting on 4 3-pointers closing out Dallas in game 6. Dirk Nowitzki missed the final three games with a knee injury.

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

NBA Finals (W1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (E2) New Jersey Nets

Main article: 2003 NBA Finals

• Game 6 is David Robinson's final NBA game. The Spurs become the first team to win all playoff series in 6 games.

This was the first NBA playoff meeting between the Nets and the Spurs. As members of the ABA, both teams met in the 1976 ABA Semifinals, where the Nets won 4–3.

Statistical leaders

References

References

1. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Orlando Magic (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
2. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Milwaukee Bucks (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
3. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Indiana Pacers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
4. "Team Rivalry Finder — New Orleans Pelicans versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
5. "Team Rivalry Finder — Phoenix Suns versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
6. "Team Rivalry Finder — Sacramento Kings versus Utah Jazz (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
7. "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Portland Trail Blazers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
8. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus Minnesota Timberwolves (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
9. "Team Rivalry Finder — Detroit Pistons versus Philadelphia 76ers (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
10. "Team Rivalry Finder — Boston Celtics versus Brooklyn Nets (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
11. "Team Rivalry Finder — Los Angeles Lakers versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
12. "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus Sacramento Kings (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
13. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus Detroit Pistons (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
14. "Team Rivalry Finder — Dallas Mavericks versus San Antonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.
15. "Team Rivalry Finder — Brooklyn Nets versus San Anfsertonio Spurs (Playoffs)". basketball-reference.com.