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Every NBA team plays 82 regular-season games to try and get to the postseason. But not all teams that reach the NBA playoffs put together an impressive display. Qualifying for the playoffs is considered a win for many. While some are content with an NBA playoff appearance, others look to make deep runs.
The eighth seeds from both conferences are often looked down on. However, there have been a few notable upsets in the NBA playoffs over the years. Although No. 8 seeds have gone as far as the NBA Finals in the past, none have gone on to clinch the title.
Several factors are responsible for a team running out of steam in the playoffs, which is not necessarily exclusive to lower-seeded teams. Nevertheless, some teams were just poor, showing their incompetency to compete at the highest level and produce the goods under enormous pressure.
On that note, here's a look at five teams with the worst NBA playoffs record in history.
#5 Detroit Pistons (1962-63)
The Detroit Pistons had an incredibly slow start to their 1962-63 NBA campaign. They lost their first seven games, and went on several other losing streaks despite occasionally grabbing a few wins.
Although it was an all-around inconsistent performance from the Pistons, they successfully clinched the No. 3 spot among five teams in the West, making the NBA playoffs with a 34-66 run. At the time, only three teams from each conference made the NBA playoffs.
Led by Bailey Howell, the Pistons lost their first two playoff games to the St. Louis Hawks by a combined 33-point margin. The Pistons had a bright start in Game 3, and successfully closed out the game despite a poor outing in the second half. They managed to pull one back, but eventually lost the series in Game 4.
#4 San Antonio Spurs (1987-88)
The San Antonio Spurs were the second-worst team in the West the previous season. So with good fortune in the 1987 NBA draft lottery, they secured the No. 1 pick. David Robinson, but he was unavailable till he ended his service with the US Navy.
Fortunately, they made the NBA playoffs despite finishing 13 games behind the seventh seed. However, the top-seeded LA Lakers made quick work of the Spurs in the first round. Their loss was the only sweep in the entire 1988 NBA playoffs.
#3 Chicago Bulls (1985-86)
The Chicago Bulls struggled in the NBA playoffs before their dominance in the 90s. In the 1985-86 season, Michael Jordan was already playing for the Bulls, but was a lone ranger in their quest for championship glory.
Matters got worse for the Bulls after Jordan was diagnosed with a broken foot, and was sidelined for the better part of the season. As a result, the Bulls ended the season with a 30-52 record to clinch a spot in the 1986 NBA playoffs.
The Chicago Bulls were fortunate to see MJ return in time for the postseason. However, his efforts were not enough. Jordan scored 49 points in Game 1, and set the record for most points in an NBA playoff game with 63 in Game 2 that went to double overtime.
Nevertheless, the Boston Celtics swept the Bulls in the first round, as not much help came from the other Chicago Bulls players.
#2 Chicago Bulls (1967-68)
The Chicago Bulls made the 1968 NBA playoffs despite having only 29 wins in the season. The two new expansion teams failed to get going in their inaugural NBA season, thereby helping the Bulls clinch the 4th seed in the West.
Led by Bob Boozer, the Bulls faced off against the LA Lakers in the West Division semi-finals, and did not stand a chance. Outside of Boozer, there was no elite talent in the team, which made things very difficult. Despite winning one game in the series, they got knocked out in Game 5 fairly easily.
Eight teams were bound to make the NBA playoffs out of twelve in the league at the time. So at least one poor team was expected to make a postseason appearance. That year, it was the Bulls.
#1 Baltimore Bullets (1952-53)
With a win percentage of .229 and a 16-54 run, the Baltimore Bullets found themselves in the 1953 NBA playoffs.
The league had five teams in each division, four of whom qualified for the playoffs. Thanks to the Philadelphia Warriors' 12-57 run, the Bullets made their way into the record books as the worst team to feature in the NBA playoffs.
Although Hall of Famer Don Barksdale led the team, there was no hope of them advancing to the next round against the top-seeded New York Knicks. They got swept in the first round, and never made the postseason again. Midway through the 1954-55 season, the franchise halted operations and folded up.
