What were the best first round playoff series of all time?

[parsnips33]

First round of the playoffs is fast approaching - and we might get some really juicy matchups in both conferences

What were the best/your favorite first round series ever? For reasons other than your favorite team won ideally

Two that immediately come to mind for me are Clippers versus the defending Spurs in '14-'15 and Mavs Spurs the year before (that season weirdly had so many 7 gamers in the first round)

[Special_Puppy]

1989 NBA Eastern Conference First Round
Bulls vs. Cavaliers

[AEnigma]

Agreed on 2015 Spurs/Clippers. 2014 Thunder/Grizzlies would be my pick from the prior year. 2012 Clippers/Grizzlies was also one of the tightest series I have seen. My general bar would be at least four competitive games in a five-game series and at least five competitive games in a six or seven game series, and the Grizzlies seemed to specialise in that.

Going back farther, 1995 Jazz/Rockets comes to mind as reasonably entertaining. Most series from back then retroactively are a slog and even the close ones either involved uninteresting competition or a more talented team disappointing rather than the less talented team suddenly excelling, but the Jazz and Rockets were reasonably well-matched that year and definite contender level.

In a different direction, 1994 Sonics/Nuggets was not exactly good basketball, but it was (and still is) fun to see the Sonics floundering specifically because they would start sweating about Dikembe swatting away anything near him.

[Colbinii]

2018 Cavaliers/Pacers
2012 Clippers/Grizzles
2009 Celtics/Bulls -- 5 games decided by 3 or less points

[Ambrose]

2009 Bulls/Celtics
2007 Warriors/Mavericks

[LukaTheGOAT]

Nuggets vs Trailblazers in 2021 was pretty fire.

[EmpireFalls]

2006 has two of my absolute favourites, great memories as I was in school watching almost every game with my brother and friends.

Suns-Lakers with the infamous Kobe dagger… I mean, does it even need any introduction? Also the first “blew a 3-1 lead” meme. Nash, Kobe, Odom, peak Boris Diaw, nuff said.

Then, Cavs/Wizards often comes to mind whenever Gilbert Arenas says something dumb (which is a weekly occurrence). Incredible drama, the last two games were pure popcorn. Gil at his peak and 21 year old LBJ battling. I’d also do a homer nomination for the 2016 Hornets-Heat punctuated by infamous purple backpack guy provoking DWade, or at least it was on its way before a disappointing Game 7.

Nuggets vs Trailblazers in 2021 was pretty fire.

Surely you’d pick your boy’s epic showdown with Kawhi in the 7 game series against the Clippers from 2021, no?

A throwback pick? 1984 Bernard King (who averaged a staggering 40PPG) Knicks battle the Pistons in a 5 game series. When I watched Bernard King film these were the games I watched. Young Zeke too.

[Cavsfansince84]

Denver-Utah in the bubble gets a mention.

[Dr Positivity]

15 Clippers and Spurs gets mentioned more, but I think 14 Clippers and Warriors was pretty fun as well.

[dygaction]

21 Mavs vs Clippers went to game 7 with both teams losing three home court straight

[parsnips33]

15 Clippers and Spurs gets mentioned more, but I think 14 Clippers and Warriors was pretty fun as well.

Tears were shed in the nosebleeds of Oracle after the last play of game 3. **** Mark Jackson

[rk2023]

2023 Warriors vs Kings
2021 Mavs vs Clippers
2020 Jazz vs Nuggets
2015 Spurs vs Clippers
2014 Warriors vs Clippers
2009 Bulls vs Celtics

[wojoaderge]

1985 - Celtics and Cavs score an equal amount of points
1985 - Jazz/Rockets - Game 5 features Olajuwon/Sampson vs Paultz/Kelley
1987 - Warriors/Jazz - GS comes back down 0-2, Game 5 is Joe Barry Carroll's biggest game

[TheGOATRises007]

As a Bulls fan, the 2009 series vs the Celtics was special.

Game 7 was a bit of a let-off, but it was fun to root for that team vs the defending champs(without KG tbf).