2003 NBA Playoffs

The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. From 1984 to 2002, first-round series were best-of-5 series. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets four games to two in the Finals.

The Detroit Pistons advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars-led team were swept by the Chicago Bulls in the 1991 series, ending the Pistons' quest for a third consecutive title.

The Dallas Mavericks also ended a long conference finals drought by making it to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1988.

Bracket

16TeamBracket

RD1=First Round
RD2=Conference Semifinals
RD3=Conference Finals
RD4=NBA Finals
group1=Western Conference
group2=Eastern Conference

RD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=San Antonio
RD1-score01=4
RD1-seed02=8
RD1-team02=Phoenix
RD1-score02=2

RD1-seed03=4
RD1-team03=Minnesota
RD1-score03=2
RD1-seed04=5
RD1-team04=L.A. Lakers
RD1-score04=4

RD1-seed05=3
RD1-team05=Dallas
RD1-score05=4
RD1-seed06=6
RD1-team06=Portland
RD1-score06=3

RD1-seed07=2
RD1-team07=Sacramento
RD1-score07=4
RD1-seed08=7
RD1-team08=Utah
RD1-score08=1

RD1-seed09=1
RD1-team09=Detroit
RD1-score09=4
RD1-seed10=8
RD1-team10=Orlando
RD1-score10=3

RD1-seed11=4
RD1-team11=Philadelphia
RD1-score11=4
RD1-seed12=5
RD1-team12=New Orleans
RD1-score12=2

RD1-seed13=3
RD1-team13=Indiana
RD1-score13=2
RD1-seed14=6
RD1-team14=Boston
RD1-score14=4

RD1-seed15=2
RD1-team15=New Jersey
RD1-score15=4
RD1-seed16=7
RD1-team16=Milwaukee
RD1-score16=2

RD2-seed01=1
RD2-team01=San Antonio
RD2-score01=4
RD2-seed02=5
RD2-team02=L.A. Lakers
RD2-score02=2

RD2-seed03=3
RD2-team03=Dallas
RD2-score03=4
RD2-seed04=2
RD2-team04=Sacramento
RD2-score04=3

RD2-seed05=1
RD2-team05=Detroit
RD2-score05=4
RD2-seed06=4
RD2-team06=Philadelphia
RD2-score06=2

RD2-seed07=6
RD2-team07=Boston
RD2-score07=0
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=New Jersey
RD2-score08=4

RD3-seed01=1
RD3-team01=San Antonio
RD3-score01=4
RD3-seed02=3
RD3-team02=Dallas
RD3-score02=2

RD3-seed03=1
RD3-team03=Detroit
RD3-score03=0
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=New Jersey
RD3-score04=4

RD4-seed01=W1
RD4-team01=San Antonio
RD4-score01=4
RD4-seed02=E2
RD4-team02=New Jersey
RD4-score02=2

Playoff qualifying

Western Conference

Best record in NBA

The San Antonio Spurs clinched the best record in the NBA, and earned home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the West:

# San Antonio Spurs (clinched Midwest division)
# Sacramento Kings (clinched Pacific division)
# Dallas Mavericks
# Minnesota Timberwolves
# Los Angeles Lakers
# Portland Trail Blazers
# Utah Jazz
# Phoenix Suns

Eastern Conference

Best record in conference

The Detroit Pistons clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference, and had home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Clinched a playoff berth

The following teams clinched a playoff berth in the East:

# Detroit Pistons (clinched Central division)
# New Jersey Nets (clinched Atlantic division)
# Indiana Pacers
# Philadelphia 76ers
# New Orleans Hornets
# Boston Celtics
# Milwaukee Bucks
# Orlando Magic

Western Conference

Champion: San Antonio Spurs

First Round

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

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

**Required double-overtime.

Conference Finals

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

*Required overtime.

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

*Required overtime.

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

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playoffs2003/ NBA.com's section for the 2003 NBA Playoffs]