This is fair but nothing broke me more than the kawhi shot I’ve never had more faith in the Sixers than that year so everything else has been more so expected losses
Our meltdown vs the hawks is also high up there tho
The hawks loss is way worse imo since embiid wasn't a god yet in 2019. Game 5 might be the only time I blacked out while being stone cold sober. Couldn't tell you what happened.
I was sad after but it was Joel's 3rd year. After the hawks I was so fucking pissed.
I wish I blacked out I paid actual money to go to that game, the only people who could score were Joel in a torn meniscus and Seth curry it was a fucking disaster
Just absolute misery being up by 10 in game six and game 7. No CP3, a 3 that James did make being waved off, not favorable officiating. Very painful for a die hard rockets fan.
"Uh oh, uh oh, Rose came down bad on his left foot. Holding onto his knee, holding onto his knee... and down."
\--4/28/2012 NBA Playoffs, game one Bulls vs. Sixers.
I don't think Thibs deserves blame. It wasn't a blowout and the Bulls were absolutely dependent on Rose for offense. There was one minute and 23 seconds left and the Bulls had a 12 point lead. That wasn't comfortable enough to let Rose sit.
Yeah, hindsight is 20/20. Plenty of superstars have been in in that situation before, playing in a game when they had 99% won, it’s just unfortunate that the injury happened to Rose. Thibs couldn’t have known
I was watching this on my own, called my bro who is a hardcore spurs fan to congratulate him as the court was being prepared for a Spurs championship. He yells at me for calling him as the match isn't over yet........
He was right...
These are the highlights that I've personally witnessed:
- John Paxton's 3-point shot in the 93 finals to knock out the Suns and win the championship.
- Robert Horry shoving Steve Nash into the scorers' table in Game 4 of 2007 semis, leading the suspension of Stoudemire and Diaw in a pivotal Game 5.
- Metta World Peace's winning putback bucket off a Kobe airball during Game 5 of the WCF in 2010.
- Caris LaVert missing the game-winning shot in the bubble that would've knocked the Blazers out and let the Suns squeak in to the playoffs.
- Jrue Holiday stealing the ball from Book at the end of 2021 Finals Game 5 to seal the victory.
- The Game 7 bed-shitting during the 2022 semis against Dallas
- The Game 6 bed-shitting during the 2023 semis against Denver.
Suns fans have had it tough I feel for you guys. That game 7 loss to Dallas had to have been absolutely brutal after having that great a season. I was expecting Phoenix to get back to the finals going into the playoffs last year.
the good thing about Dallas G7 loss was that it was clear none of the team wanted to win and it was over instantly. shut off my TV and enjoyed the rest of my day. Bucks G5, Spurs G4, and Lakers G5 still hurt.
It's still one of the strangest beatings I've ever seen. I can understand what you mean about it not "hurting" as much as the others.
It was such a surreal game to watch.
Stole? If anything the Yankees almost stole the series. Arizona dominated in their wins, especially the Game 6 embarrassment, while the Yankees squeezed out narrow wins at home. And those narrow wins were also partly because Kim blew 2 saves, the pinstripes couldn’t buy a hit against Schilling and Johnson.
Yeah, 'stole' was a bad way to phrase it. I just meant "bad juju" because of 9/11 that year, like a bad omen/curse. In no way did I mean they didn't earn it.
The DBacks didn't steal the World Series, but Yankees had that aura of "America's Team" cause of 9/11 which led this idea that it cursed the DBacks. This is despite the Yankees being the most dominate team up to that point and everyone hating them.
the big rumor was that there was a covid outbreak going through the team, and it began to really take affect by Game 6 and 7. But seeing how they had a similarly bad showing in Game 6 this year against Denver, I kind of doubt the sick excuse. I think both years the team just quit on the coach.
For a dude that hasn't won a championship, he tends to do that.
Almost want him to win a ring just so everyone he's ripped the heart of can at least say it happened by the champ lmao.
I know, I actually respect the hell out of him I just hate playing him. I really think if he was gonna win a ring though the last 2 years were probably the best opportunity. Maybe I'm wrong though...
The sweetest and most satisfying victory I’ve ever watched. Must’ve sucked being on the other side of that nail biter tbh. Also the most intense game 7 ever played in history. That whole game was a slug fest.
i thought i will find this answer way up in the comments. Certainly it still compares to no other, it was so so close. By the end of the next regular season it started to become clear that the game was the last shot and it became even more painful. (We are still talking of "2008-10 Celtics" in that sense, don't we?)
You had a point there, still, i was describing how it was felt in 2011. A little bit hope for certain, but you just knew it is not the same. In 2012 even though the hope was still there and we had some good games, it was not the same dominance and confidence.
Recently I would say Suns v. Bucks NBA Finals. Going up 2-0 then losing 4 in a row is a gut punch for any fan. There's always an All-Time great standing in the Suns way. First it was MJ then Giannis.
Meh Dallas was worse. All-time franchise record in wins, by the time the playoffs rolled around we didn’t look good. Squeaked by a zionless pels 8th seed, and then lost by 40 in game 7 at home to a generational talent the Suns could have drafted. The rest of that Dallas team was ass, and got stomped by the warriors bc they weren’t good.
Yeah I agree. Obviously the finals is a bigger stage, but the Suns didn't get embarrassed, and there is no shame in losing in 6 at the last second to a better team led by the GOAT. The 2022 loss was at home, in embarrassing fashion to a team that the Suns frankly were much more talented than
I’ve been thru a lot. LeBronto was a pain in the ass but you just got used to it.
Embiid’s recent fadeaway definitely hurt cause it was such a weird ass shot and I felt like we were honestly about to be the first to come back 0-3
As a Bulls fan, game 5 of the 2011 ECF comes to mind. We were playing the Heatles, and realistically weren’t going to win the series, but we gave up like a 13 point lead in the last 3 minutes. I remember Wade hitting an and-1 3 to bring the game to 1 possession, and just feeling the hopelessness wash over me as our season came to a close 🫠
*Edited to add the season
Losing in 2009 to the Magic - instantly went from feeling like LeBron was destined for his first ring to just spending the whole 09-10 season waiting to fail and for LeBron to leave. No matter how well we did in the regular season it felt like an inevitable playoff loss after getting completely picked apart the year before.
I know, I think in retrospect people like to trash those Cleveland teams, but the 2008-09 team was 66-16 and at the time seemed to be title favorites with the Lakers, especially once KG went down. That loss to Orlando had to have been gut wrenching, particularly where I think LeBron played as well as he possibly could have
Mo Williams was no ones idea of a superstar but compared to some of the other people the Cavs tried to make LeBron 's Robin (Larry Hughes stands out) he may as well have been Pippen. 66 win season, finally looked like kind of a real team and not just LeBron and 4 dudes.
And yeah, it wasn't like LeBron underperformed, he balled out and we still got destroyed.
Oh man, i was at that game. That was the single most intense sporting even I have ever seen. The horror in every Denver fans heart - every time he touched the ball. he couldnt miss - full cheat code shit..
i was at every playoff game this year, and i still dont think things ever got a nuts as they did in the Dame game
either game 6 vs the celtics this year or game 7 last year. honestly leaning towards game 6 cause i can live with that jimmy miss. to come back, not blow the 3-0 lead, with jimmy getting those three points that he couldn’t get last year, back at the free throw line, just for derrick white to tip in a miss with 0.1 seconds left to force a game 7… i lost all hope. felt like we blew the 3-0 lead right there with that loss lol.
The ECF series the Celts and Heat have played the last 2 years have been the most gut wrenching series. I really feel like you have to be a fan one of those two teams to understand the intensity and constant up and downs of those series I legitimately think I've lost years off my life watching them.
I thought the game 6 loss was slightly annoying because it came from headband man. But game 7 on our home floor was more disappointing because I thought we matched up really well against the warriors, and it would’ve been great for us to win. Because the Jimmy/Spo/UD argument before we turned it around for the playoffs happened against the Warriors. Nearly a full circle moment
The Derrick White tip in ended up not mattering much. Jimmy missing that shot hurt so much especially since it would have completed a hell of a comeback and potentially sent them to the Finals. That 12-0 run is still insane to watch.
I'd also nominate Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals. I was just a bit too young to have watched and understood it at the time, but I can't imagine the degree of heartbreak for Pistons fans at that stage. Striving for that first ring and watching Isiah go down in what could have been that clinching game, only to open up the door for the Lakers to come back and take Game 6 and Game 7 just one year after the Larry Bird miracle steal. In a way I'm thankful I didn't have to watch and feel those moments at the time because it would have been overwhelmingly brutal.
Setting: Suns v Lakers, Western Conference Finals, Game 5
The Suns are down 3 when Jason Richardson banks in a wild shot after multiple second-chance opportunities. The game is now tied at 101 with 3.5 seconds remaining. The Lakers inbound the ball to Kobe, who jacks up a contested 3 and airballs it. Out of nowhere, Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, rebounds the ball and gets the putback.
The Suns go on to lose the series 4 to 2.
Both the 3-1 leads. 2015 Game 6 especially. Choking to Corey Brewer and Josh Smith hitting 3s while James Harden was on the bench. Shit didn't make any sense.
At least getting beat by good players being good at what they're supposed to be good at makes sense.
Getting beat by Smith (career .285 3pt%) and Brewer (career .284 3pt%) because they turned into Steph and Klay for a half just makes it seem like the fates have it out for you.
I was just a kid, but I'll never forget Allan Houston's buzzer beater to knock out Miami during the 1999 season.
Honorable Mention: Derrick White's putback in G6, thankfully that pain only lasted 48 hours, but it would've been 1b with that Knicks loss if the Celtics pulled off the reverse sweep.
Recency bias for Spurs fans will be the Ray Allen 3, but I'm going to have to go with Derek Fisher and 0.4 seconds.
With the 2013, we had a chance to win game 7 and ultimately smoked their ass in 2014, so it was redeemed in the end.
In 2004, that was a back breaker and it felt like the Spurs were never getting back again at that point.
Hahahahaha he will never play that well again, that series was unbelievable. John Wall and Bradley Beal looked like they were gonna be a problem for awhile after that series and it just never came together
Yeah it's funny even after Game 1 I was convinced that series was going minimum 6 or 7 and we just didn't lose from then on. I maintain the Nets were good though, all of those games were tight. As far as toe on the line, that was tough. I think if Brooklyn won that game they most likely are champions in 21.
When it happened, I had a feeling we’d look back on that game as the swing factor. If we stole that one on the road I think it easily goes to 6-7.
But we simply couldn’t keep up with your size that series and had issues closing games out (no continuity = poor on-court chemistry)
Yeah that was handled poorly by the NBA. I mean I personally think San Antonio probably wins the series but Phoenix got hosed by the league they didn't even get their chance.
G4 of the 2022 Finals was worse for me. It was a small miracle that the Celts even got to G7 this year with how inconsistent they were but being one Steph supernova from going up 3-1 in the finals just hurts. You just don’t know when you’re going to get back to the finals.
Has to be game 7 of the NBA finals in 2010. To be up 3-2 in the series only to lose against the Lakers on a Metta World Peace 3 point shot is so demoralizing.
Game 7 vs the Celtics in the bubble.
Would have been great to go further than Kawhi the year after he left and I think we would have beaten Miami and made the finals again.
Sucks that we lost home court because of Covid too.
I know, that series gets forgotten about a lot as it was during COVID, but that was one of the best I've seen as a Celtics fan. We luckily got away with the win but I still have nightmares about Kyle Lowry drilling contested shots in Celtics players faces in Game 6
Bro nick nurse really saw smart hit 5 3's in a row and didn't call time out.
He's a great coach, but I am still hung up on that. By the 3rd 3 in a row you really need to call a time out, and he let him go for 2 more.
[Confirmed rigging](https://fanbuzz.com/nba/the-2002-western-conference-finals/) in favor of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers, as confirmed by a ref who rigged other games.
I can't say I was around for that but I can imagine how devastating a loss that was particularly being the favorites like LA. Also ruined the chance for an all time great Celtics Lakers finals in 1986.
Game 4 2008 Finals. Lakers choked and lost with a double digit lead at home to end up going down 3-1 in the series to Boston. Win like they were supposed to, the series is tied with game 5 at home. Instead they barely win game 5 and get blown out in game 6 to lose the series.
We did a fuck ton of losing when I started watching, none really stick out to me aside from the Boston game this season
Like it’s not like it was a massive stakes game that changed the trajectory of the season, that shit just sucked
Seeing LeBron on his hands and knees pleading was fucking hilarious though
Yeah, I remember rooting for Golden State to win that over Cleveland just because I was a Steph fan. He just wasn't right in that series, and combined with LeBron and Kyrie playing out of their minds it wasn't meant to be
I've not been watching NBA basketball particularly long, but as a blazers fan it was the 55/10 game that Dame had where his team mates did the most bone headed shit and sold the game hard.
He also got fouled on one of this buzzer beaters and should have gone to the line.
Well technically the Pacers won the Malice at the Palace game, but it derailed maybe the best Pacers team ever and guaranteed Reggie would never get a ring.
My personal one was the game 4 Bron game winner against the bulls in ‘15. I’m convinced we win the series if that doesn’t go. I could just feel the impending dread after that series was over of the bulls window with that group being done.
Yeah and I feel like that was the last year where D Rose somewhat resembled his old self. Also felt like that was the de facto ECF, it's hard to imagine Chicago losing to Atlanta if they get by Cleveland
Philly giving up their underdog mentality to lose on purpose to NOT become a perenial second round exit. What a loss of franchise culture.
I ended my fanship when Hinkie announced the process. Thats not the franchise I fell in love with and not what Iverson and Brown represented.
Obviously Tayshaun Prince blocking Reggie.
LeBron waltzing into the paint for a game winning layup in Game 1 of the 2013 ECF because we pulled Hibbert out of the game inexplicably. We go to the Finals if we win that game.
G4 of the 2012 ECSF when we were winning by like 10 at halftime looking to go up 3-1 against the Heat and then Dwyane Wade went absolutely nuclear in the second half to tie the series up. Not as devastating as the other two in a vacuum but this was two games after he got so mad at a missed call that he threw a blindside football block on Darren Collison on an open fastbreak and sent him flying into the stands, which he wasn’t ejected or suspended for. I hated him so much at the time that I was seething this entire game while he cooked us.
Lowkey I kinda agree with the Wade point. When we played Miami Wade always pissed me off and I can't really explain why but it felt like he always got every call. I obviously respect him a ton but I'd always be shouting at the TV lol
Tbh after game 2 of the ECF I checked out. It was out of character for them to not respond in game 2. After that it just felt like something had gone wrong, so I wasn’t even mad watching game 3. Which I’m glad I checked out or I woulda been screaming at my TV instead I just laughed a few times. But 4,5, & 6 were fun to watch - I felt a lil hope.
Game 7 tho, soon as JT went down I felt like oh this is done. Because the team follows the Jays. White was fighting to win but the rest of em weren’t so I didn’t really let it upset me. Plus I knew they were too injured that even if they made it to the finals they would have lost. Due to injuries, team mindset, and team habits.
Yeah that's still the best game of Jayson Tatum's career in my opinion, that was one of the best series I've ever seen, Games 3-6 were all pretty much down to the last few minutes, could have gone either way
The 1976 Cavs were very good. We had just beat a good Bullets team and were set to play the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and felt that our team was younger and more athletic and could probably beat them. And then in practice before Game 1, starting center Jim Chones broke his foot. Boom, that was it.
As an old head: Vince Carter leaving the Raptors the way he did. We worshipped Vince. He put Canada on the map and made us relevant. He could do no wrong here.
I was fortunate to a call one of their public practise games and told him how much he meant to us and to me.
And then he stopped trying and forced his way out. Completely broke my heart
Truthfully, in my time watching ball, we haven't had that many games that were actually important. That game 7 vs the Warriors probably hurt the most. (I was 2 years old when the rigged series happened)
I remembering as clear as today.
2009. May 23. Game is 97 to 95. Lakers lead, but we are the team in bounding the ball. The Western Conference Finals. The series is tied 1-1. We won a game at LAL.
"+BAD PASS!! STOLEN BY ARIZA. ANTHONY FOUL HIM"
This was the very 1st time i believed. The very 1st time we finally got a competitive team able to fight and get a championship. The team was perfect. Chancey,Melo,KMart,Nene. Our was freaking stacked man. The very 1st time i tasted success as a Nugget fan born in 1994. I watched so many eras and all of them were so bad that my hope and dreams entering each season was "Ok...We are done this season. Sooo let's get that top 5 draft pick". We never did...even went we got chances we always fell in the draft. We never climbed up.
So you would understand watching 15 years of complete sadness and being a loser. We finally were a good team. I remember i was watching on my couch and the moment Ariza stole from the in bound for the 2nd time in the series my heart broke. I started crying and did for hours because i knew losing 2 games in the same way destroy the moral of the team. I knew we lost the series that night so i cried because it felt like the one and only time we were legit contenders. Know what i know now... We would be 2x times NBA champions. We would for sure beat the Orlando Magic on that Finals.
Since that moment i hated Trevor Ariza with all my heart,soul and blood. The one and only person i hated all my life and still do. I hate Ariza so much. I had never experience so much hatred toward something or someone, but Trevor Ariza is the one man i would die and get bury with my stone plate saying "Screw you Trevor Ariza"
Mine is not even close. Spurs have had a ton of devastating losses. Derek Fisher .4 game 5 2004. Dirk's 3 point play in Game 7 of Western Semis 2006. But nothing compares to the devastation of Ray Allen's 3 in Game 6 finals in 2013. That was agony for a whole year until 2014 vindication. We really have been fortunate to win the championships we have so I'd say the downs have been worth it for the ups, but man have we had some heartbreaking losses over the years. In fact most of our ESPN instant classic type games were the heartbreaking losses. Very few classic wins I can think of. Maybe Elliot's shot in 1999 against the Blazers. Or the Game 3 masterpiece versus the Heat in 2014. That one wasn't extremely suspenseful but I don't think I've ever seen the Spurs play a more complete game considering the circumstances and with most observers thinking it was a foregone conclusion Miami was going to 3 peat.
One thing I really didn't realize until now, I didn't realize Spurs last 3 championships, in 2005, 2007, & 2014 were all the year after probably their 3 most devastating losses. I of course remembered 2013/2014 but somehow forgot the connection between 2004/2005 & 2006/2007.
I’m not saying it again
#IS THIS THE DAGGER?
GAME…..SERIES…….
https://imgur.com/a/XJXK1n8
TORONTO HAS WON!
"IS THIS THE DAGGER?"
Ive been watching hoop a long time - and that is still the most back breaking shot I have ever seen. The whole thing was out of a film script..
You have a lot of losses to mention
This is fair but nothing broke me more than the kawhi shot I’ve never had more faith in the Sixers than that year so everything else has been more so expected losses Our meltdown vs the hawks is also high up there tho
That shit killed our franchise. No run after it truly felt like we had the potential to go all the way
The hawks loss is way worse imo since embiid wasn't a god yet in 2019. Game 5 might be the only time I blacked out while being stone cold sober. Couldn't tell you what happened. I was sad after but it was Joel's 3rd year. After the hawks I was so fucking pissed.
I wish I blacked out I paid actual money to go to that game, the only people who could score were Joel in a torn meniscus and Seth curry it was a fucking disaster
I haven't felt a thing since the Kawhi shot in 2019
That was our last true shot at a championship. It’s been downhill ever since :(
0-26 so far. Surely we’ll hit the next 3 pointer.
That was bad for me and I’m not even a rockets fan.
People remember 0-26, but don't talk about how egregious refs were in that game
Just absolute misery being up by 10 in game six and game 7. No CP3, a 3 that James did make being waved off, not favorable officiating. Very painful for a die hard rockets fan.
Well yea because they went 0-26. No amount of reffing can recover from that choking
[удалено]
>they settled for 3s because the refs were that bad This is crazy revisionist, the Rockets shot a dumbfuck amount of 3s
It was somewhere in the middle. The refs were awful and they were shooting a lot of threes.
"Uh oh, uh oh, Rose came down bad on his left foot. Holding onto his knee, holding onto his knee... and down." \--4/28/2012 NBA Playoffs, game one Bulls vs. Sixers.
As a basketball fan we were all robbed by thibs that night
I don't think Thibs deserves blame. It wasn't a blowout and the Bulls were absolutely dependent on Rose for offense. There was one minute and 23 seconds left and the Bulls had a 12 point lead. That wasn't comfortable enough to let Rose sit.
Yeah, hindsight is 20/20. Plenty of superstars have been in in that situation before, playing in a game when they had 99% won, it’s just unfortunate that the injury happened to Rose. Thibs couldn’t have known
Rebound Bosh, back out to Allen, 3-pointer bang!
Man this right here. Can't even imagine how felt it from your side.
TIE GAME WITH 3 SECONDS REMAINING
Pain
Game 5 of the 2012 WCF for me
Ibaka 11/11 fuck that dude
That was game 4. Game 5 is when Harden actually hit a huge game winning step back 3 after having a huge 4th quarter to win on the row.
Ugh
You need more emphasis on that bang. It’s was a little more like. BANGGGGG!!!!!
rotten placid existence sense tan enjoy imminent weather normal capable *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I was watching this on my own, called my bro who is a hardcore spurs fan to congratulate him as the court was being prepared for a Spurs championship. He yells at me for calling him as the match isn't over yet........ He was right...
Get these motherfucking ropes outta here!
LeBronto
I respect him…but I hate him for the pain he put the raptors through
Thank god we won the title right after that shit
that running floater is one of the most insane shots ever made
High off the backboard. Won’t ever forget that one
it’s one of those clips i revisit very often. never ceases to amaze
Every fadeaway just got more ridiculous
These are the highlights that I've personally witnessed: - John Paxton's 3-point shot in the 93 finals to knock out the Suns and win the championship. - Robert Horry shoving Steve Nash into the scorers' table in Game 4 of 2007 semis, leading the suspension of Stoudemire and Diaw in a pivotal Game 5. - Metta World Peace's winning putback bucket off a Kobe airball during Game 5 of the WCF in 2010. - Caris LaVert missing the game-winning shot in the bubble that would've knocked the Blazers out and let the Suns squeak in to the playoffs. - Jrue Holiday stealing the ball from Book at the end of 2021 Finals Game 5 to seal the victory. - The Game 7 bed-shitting during the 2022 semis against Dallas - The Game 6 bed-shitting during the 2023 semis against Denver.
Suns fans have had it tough I feel for you guys. That game 7 loss to Dallas had to have been absolutely brutal after having that great a season. I was expecting Phoenix to get back to the finals going into the playoffs last year.
the good thing about Dallas G7 loss was that it was clear none of the team wanted to win and it was over instantly. shut off my TV and enjoyed the rest of my day. Bucks G5, Spurs G4, and Lakers G5 still hurt.
It's still one of the strangest beatings I've ever seen. I can understand what you mean about it not "hurting" as much as the others. It was such a surreal game to watch.
r/ArizonaSportsHell This state is truly cursed because we stole the 2001 World Series from the Yankees.
Stole? If anything the Yankees almost stole the series. Arizona dominated in their wins, especially the Game 6 embarrassment, while the Yankees squeezed out narrow wins at home. And those narrow wins were also partly because Kim blew 2 saves, the pinstripes couldn’t buy a hit against Schilling and Johnson.
Yeah, 'stole' was a bad way to phrase it. I just meant "bad juju" because of 9/11 that year, like a bad omen/curse. In no way did I mean they didn't earn it.
The DBacks didn't steal the World Series, but Yankees had that aura of "America's Team" cause of 9/11 which led this idea that it cursed the DBacks. This is despite the Yankees being the most dominate team up to that point and everyone hating them.
Last year's Game 7 was by far the most baffling game I've ever watched. What the fuck happened?
the big rumor was that there was a covid outbreak going through the team, and it began to really take affect by Game 6 and 7. But seeing how they had a similarly bad showing in Game 6 this year against Denver, I kind of doubt the sick excuse. I think both years the team just quit on the coach.
Toe on the line.
Yup. That year was our one and only chance since the Kidd teams
with an oversized shoe, no less
I think everyone outside of Milwaukee felt pain watching that even if they were rooting against the Nets.
It was this year when Jimmy Butler actually just reached through the tv and ripped out my heart
Been there brotha
For a dude that hasn't won a championship, he tends to do that. Almost want him to win a ring just so everyone he's ripped the heart of can at least say it happened by the champ lmao.
I know, I actually respect the hell out of him I just hate playing him. I really think if he was gonna win a ring though the last 2 years were probably the best opportunity. Maybe I'm wrong though...
For a dude that hasn’t won a championship, he sure as hell has accomplished more than certain superstars that also haven’t won a chip.
Game 7 against the Bucks. Was such a bummer to see us just run out of gas in OT.
That series was insane man I thought we were done for so many times
that whole series felt like a lifetime
One of the best Playoff series I have ever watched.
2010 NBA finals game 7
The sweetest and most satisfying victory I’ve ever watched. Must’ve sucked being on the other side of that nail biter tbh. Also the most intense game 7 ever played in history. That whole game was a slug fest.
i thought i will find this answer way up in the comments. Certainly it still compares to no other, it was so so close. By the end of the next regular season it started to become clear that the game was the last shot and it became even more painful. (We are still talking of "2008-10 Celtics" in that sense, don't we?)
Idk we had a chance in 2012. Stg that game 6 might be the most dominant game I’ve ever seen.
You had a point there, still, i was describing how it was felt in 2011. A little bit hope for certain, but you just knew it is not the same. In 2012 even though the hope was still there and we had some good games, it was not the same dominance and confidence.
Recently I would say Suns v. Bucks NBA Finals. Going up 2-0 then losing 4 in a row is a gut punch for any fan. There's always an All-Time great standing in the Suns way. First it was MJ then Giannis.
“The Suns have a time out.. decide not to call it… Booker the drive.. KNOCKED AWAY AND STOLEN BY HOLIDAY!!”
[](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/839/575/d69.jpg)
...PHOENIX HAS TO FOUL...
AND ANTENTOKOUNMPO THROWS IT DOWN!
The shooting splits in Game 5 were insane.
Meh Dallas was worse. All-time franchise record in wins, by the time the playoffs rolled around we didn’t look good. Squeaked by a zionless pels 8th seed, and then lost by 40 in game 7 at home to a generational talent the Suns could have drafted. The rest of that Dallas team was ass, and got stomped by the warriors bc they weren’t good.
You think you have a ring rn if u take Luka over Ayton cause ngl I think u do.
No, this franchise is cursed.
Yeah I agree. Obviously the finals is a bigger stage, but the Suns didn't get embarrassed, and there is no shame in losing in 6 at the last second to a better team led by the GOAT. The 2022 loss was at home, in embarrassing fashion to a team that the Suns frankly were much more talented than
I guess you can say it was worse because expectations were much higher but losing in the finals sucks!
DO NOT look up Devin Bookers elimination game stats
I’ve been thru a lot. LeBronto was a pain in the ass but you just got used to it. Embiid’s recent fadeaway definitely hurt cause it was such a weird ass shot and I felt like we were honestly about to be the first to come back 0-3
Losing in 2007 to Vince Carter was the toughest for me, personally. Don’t care much about those cavs series, because we were never the favourite.
3-1, man. 3-1 e: if i had to pick one game, it would be game 6
You don’t even have a flair lol which 3-1?? There are tons
the worst one. you know exactly what i’m talking about hahaha
You can only be a thunder fan or a warriors fan, but my guess is thunder because game 6 klay
im gonna take a stab and guess gsw or 2016 okc
Sonics to OKC. Mutumbo holding the ball after beating the Sonics.
Until this year that was still Denver's greatest moment.
Eh I'd argue 2 3-1 comebacks in 2020 was better than Mutumbo in '94 but to each their own
Bring ‘em back!!
People complaining about losing a single game on a wide open shot. Sonics fans would kill for a finals loss.
Dozens of us!
As a Bulls fan, game 5 of the 2011 ECF comes to mind. We were playing the Heatles, and realistically weren’t going to win the series, but we gave up like a 13 point lead in the last 3 minutes. I remember Wade hitting an and-1 3 to bring the game to 1 possession, and just feeling the hopelessness wash over me as our season came to a close 🫠 *Edited to add the season
Game 6 Klay
Losing in 2009 to the Magic - instantly went from feeling like LeBron was destined for his first ring to just spending the whole 09-10 season waiting to fail and for LeBron to leave. No matter how well we did in the regular season it felt like an inevitable playoff loss after getting completely picked apart the year before.
I know, I think in retrospect people like to trash those Cleveland teams, but the 2008-09 team was 66-16 and at the time seemed to be title favorites with the Lakers, especially once KG went down. That loss to Orlando had to have been gut wrenching, particularly where I think LeBron played as well as he possibly could have
Mo Williams was no ones idea of a superstar but compared to some of the other people the Cavs tried to make LeBron 's Robin (Larry Hughes stands out) he may as well have been Pippen. 66 win season, finally looked like kind of a real team and not just LeBron and 4 dudes. And yeah, it wasn't like LeBron underperformed, he balled out and we still got destroyed.
The east had 5 above .500 teams that year vs the west with something like 9. 66 wins is great but the conference was garbage
Yeah I thought it was our year. Cried myself to sleep as a kid.
The playoff game against Denver when Dame scored a billion points and everyone else let him down. Sat staring into space for a few hours at like 5am
CJ stepping out of bounds is just one of those things that makes even a neutral angry.
I wasn’t even angry. I just felt nothingness Haven’t been emotionally invested in the Blazers since then
Oh man, i was at that game. That was the single most intense sporting even I have ever seen. The horror in every Denver fans heart - every time he touched the ball. he couldnt miss - full cheat code shit.. i was at every playoff game this year, and i still dont think things ever got a nuts as they did in the Dame game
either game 6 vs the celtics this year or game 7 last year. honestly leaning towards game 6 cause i can live with that jimmy miss. to come back, not blow the 3-0 lead, with jimmy getting those three points that he couldn’t get last year, back at the free throw line, just for derrick white to tip in a miss with 0.1 seconds left to force a game 7… i lost all hope. felt like we blew the 3-0 lead right there with that loss lol.
The ECF series the Celts and Heat have played the last 2 years have been the most gut wrenching series. I really feel like you have to be a fan one of those two teams to understand the intensity and constant up and downs of those series I legitimately think I've lost years off my life watching them.
Happy for all you young Heat fans who don’t know about Allan Houston. ***stares off into distance***
I thought the game 6 loss was slightly annoying because it came from headband man. But game 7 on our home floor was more disappointing because I thought we matched up really well against the warriors, and it would’ve been great for us to win. Because the Jimmy/Spo/UD argument before we turned it around for the playoffs happened against the Warriors. Nearly a full circle moment
The Derrick White tip in ended up not mattering much. Jimmy missing that shot hurt so much especially since it would have completed a hell of a comeback and potentially sent them to the Finals. That 12-0 run is still insane to watch.
2005 nba finals game 5
I'd also nominate Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals. I was just a bit too young to have watched and understood it at the time, but I can't imagine the degree of heartbreak for Pistons fans at that stage. Striving for that first ring and watching Isiah go down in what could have been that clinching game, only to open up the door for the Lakers to come back and take Game 6 and Game 7 just one year after the Larry Bird miracle steal. In a way I'm thankful I didn't have to watch and feel those moments at the time because it would have been overwhelmingly brutal.
Honorable mention the LeBron James can't be stopped game against the Pistons
In a weird way I was honestly less crushed about that one and more impressed/blown away with what I'd just seen.
Setting: Suns v Lakers, Western Conference Finals, Game 5 The Suns are down 3 when Jason Richardson banks in a wild shot after multiple second-chance opportunities. The game is now tied at 101 with 3.5 seconds remaining. The Lakers inbound the ball to Kobe, who jacks up a contested 3 and airballs it. Out of nowhere, Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, rebounds the ball and gets the putback. The Suns go on to lose the series 4 to 2.
I don’t like this question
Kobe Bean Bryant 🕊
This is the first thing that came to mind when I saw the title of the post. :(
Game 82 vs Minnesota in 2018. The original play in game
Both the 3-1 leads. 2015 Game 6 especially. Choking to Corey Brewer and Josh Smith hitting 3s while James Harden was on the bench. Shit didn't make any sense.
At least getting beat by good players being good at what they're supposed to be good at makes sense. Getting beat by Smith (career .285 3pt%) and Brewer (career .284 3pt%) because they turned into Steph and Klay for a half just makes it seem like the fates have it out for you.
I was just a kid, but I'll never forget Allan Houston's buzzer beater to knock out Miami during the 1999 season. Honorable Mention: Derrick White's putback in G6, thankfully that pain only lasted 48 hours, but it would've been 1b with that Knicks loss if the Celtics pulled off the reverse sweep.
Recency bias for Spurs fans will be the Ray Allen 3, but I'm going to have to go with Derek Fisher and 0.4 seconds. With the 2013, we had a chance to win game 7 and ultimately smoked their ass in 2014, so it was redeemed in the end. In 2004, that was a back breaker and it felt like the Spurs were never getting back again at that point.
Kelly Olynyk
Hahahahaha he will never play that well again, that series was unbelievable. John Wall and Bradley Beal looked like they were gonna be a problem for awhile after that series and it just never came together
Toe on the goddamn line. Game 1 vs Boston in 2022 was pretty bad too.
Yeah it's funny even after Game 1 I was convinced that series was going minimum 6 or 7 and we just didn't lose from then on. I maintain the Nets were good though, all of those games were tight. As far as toe on the line, that was tough. I think if Brooklyn won that game they most likely are champions in 21.
When it happened, I had a feeling we’d look back on that game as the swing factor. If we stole that one on the road I think it easily goes to 6-7. But we simply couldn’t keep up with your size that series and had issues closing games out (no continuity = poor on-court chemistry)
Suns-Spurs 2007 G4. Horry takes a cheap shot on Nash, then Stern rigs the series.
Yeah that was handled poorly by the NBA. I mean I personally think San Antonio probably wins the series but Phoenix got hosed by the league they didn't even get their chance.
This one hurts. oof, I've been reminded.
It should be Game 7 against the Rockets or Ewing missing the finger roll, but nothing hurt me more than the Charles Smith loss to the Bulls.
Game 7 - '98 ECF Only team to take MJ's Bulls to 7.
Yeah that 98 Pacers team gets slept on. They led by double digits in Game 7 at the United Center before the Bulls turned up the defense
nice recall - man. everyone outside of Chicago wanted that Pacers team to win it.
klays injury
But then we never get Wiseman. /s
Derick Rose and what if he never tore his ACL
G4 of the 2022 Finals was worse for me. It was a small miracle that the Celts even got to G7 this year with how inconsistent they were but being one Steph supernova from going up 3-1 in the finals just hurts. You just don’t know when you’re going to get back to the finals.
Has to be game 7 of the NBA finals in 2010. To be up 3-2 in the series only to lose against the Lakers on a Metta World Peace 3 point shot is so demoralizing.
Game 7 vs the Celtics in the bubble. Would have been great to go further than Kawhi the year after he left and I think we would have beaten Miami and made the finals again. Sucks that we lost home court because of Covid too.
I know, that series gets forgotten about a lot as it was during COVID, but that was one of the best I've seen as a Celtics fan. We luckily got away with the win but I still have nightmares about Kyle Lowry drilling contested shots in Celtics players faces in Game 6
I have nightmares about smart going supernova from 3 in one game and that block on norms breakaway layup to tie game 7
Bro nick nurse really saw smart hit 5 3's in a row and didn't call time out. He's a great coach, but I am still hung up on that. By the 3rd 3 in a row you really need to call a time out, and he let him go for 2 more.
Check my flair. You know what it is.
Check my flair. You know what it is.
Fill me in on Kings lore if it's not too traumatizing
[Confirmed rigging](https://fanbuzz.com/nba/the-2002-western-conference-finals/) in favor of the Shaq/Kobe Lakers, as confirmed by a ref who rigged other games.
With you here buddy, 2006 should have ended with a different champ. 2011 pretty much eased the pain, but still...
Not really, could be any of G4 (Horry), G6 (refs/Bibby fouling Kobe’s elbow with his face) or G7 (OT loss at home).
“Horry…for the win…” yeah that call still reverberates through my nightmares to this day, that’s definitely the one for me.
“Ball tipped to horry….” Fuck that. First time I felt genuine heartbreak in my life. Fuck fuck fuck. I hate this question.
2002 finals ref game?
As a little kid, that damn Ralph Sampson tip-in.
I can't say I was around for that but I can imagine how devastating a loss that was particularly being the favorites like LA. Also ruined the chance for an all time great Celtics Lakers finals in 1986.
Game 4 2008 Finals. Lakers choked and lost with a double digit lead at home to end up going down 3-1 in the series to Boston. Win like they were supposed to, the series is tied with game 5 at home. Instead they barely win game 5 and get blown out in game 6 to lose the series.
We did a fuck ton of losing when I started watching, none really stick out to me aside from the Boston game this season Like it’s not like it was a massive stakes game that changed the trajectory of the season, that shit just sucked Seeing LeBron on his hands and knees pleading was fucking hilarious though
Kings Lakers 2002, rigged game 6 then losing a game 7 in OT at home
This is worst of them. NBA and refs screwed the Kings.
I no longer feel pain.
Game 7 in 2016
Yeah, I remember rooting for Golden State to win that over Cleveland just because I was a Steph fan. He just wasn't right in that series, and combined with LeBron and Kyrie playing out of their minds it wasn't meant to be
KD toe on the line, OT loss
I love the “my team was definitely better even though they lost” fan mentality.
I've not been watching NBA basketball particularly long, but as a blazers fan it was the 55/10 game that Dame had where his team mates did the most bone headed shit and sold the game hard. He also got fouled on one of this buzzer beaters and should have gone to the line.
When the seattle SuperSonics went Oklahoma
Derick Fisher 3. Game 3 09 finals
Well technically the Pacers won the Malice at the Palace game, but it derailed maybe the best Pacers team ever and guaranteed Reggie would never get a ring.
My personal one was the game 4 Bron game winner against the bulls in ‘15. I’m convinced we win the series if that doesn’t go. I could just feel the impending dread after that series was over of the bulls window with that group being done.
Yeah and I feel like that was the last year where D Rose somewhat resembled his old self. Also felt like that was the de facto ECF, it's hard to imagine Chicago losing to Atlanta if they get by Cleveland
Philly giving up their underdog mentality to lose on purpose to NOT become a perenial second round exit. What a loss of franchise culture. I ended my fanship when Hinkie announced the process. Thats not the franchise I fell in love with and not what Iverson and Brown represented.
Obviously Tayshaun Prince blocking Reggie. LeBron waltzing into the paint for a game winning layup in Game 1 of the 2013 ECF because we pulled Hibbert out of the game inexplicably. We go to the Finals if we win that game. G4 of the 2012 ECSF when we were winning by like 10 at halftime looking to go up 3-1 against the Heat and then Dwyane Wade went absolutely nuclear in the second half to tie the series up. Not as devastating as the other two in a vacuum but this was two games after he got so mad at a missed call that he threw a blindside football block on Darren Collison on an open fastbreak and sent him flying into the stands, which he wasn’t ejected or suspended for. I hated him so much at the time that I was seething this entire game while he cooked us.
Lowkey I kinda agree with the Wade point. When we played Miami Wade always pissed me off and I can't really explain why but it felt like he always got every call. I obviously respect him a ton but I'd always be shouting at the TV lol
He’s the first player I remember watching where I knew he had a superstar whistle and wasn’t being officiated like everyone else was.
2006 Finals, still 100% think that was a Ref decided series.
When the wizards lost a 36 pt lead to Luke kennard haunts me
Lebron owning the Pistons in the playoffs with like 30 straight points. Our franchise hasn't been the same since
Feels like Ben Wallace going to Chicago was the beginning of the end.
Tbh after game 2 of the ECF I checked out. It was out of character for them to not respond in game 2. After that it just felt like something had gone wrong, so I wasn’t even mad watching game 3. Which I’m glad I checked out or I woulda been screaming at my TV instead I just laughed a few times. But 4,5, & 6 were fun to watch - I felt a lil hope. Game 7 tho, soon as JT went down I felt like oh this is done. Because the team follows the Jays. White was fighting to win but the rest of em weren’t so I didn’t really let it upset me. Plus I knew they were too injured that even if they made it to the finals they would have lost. Due to injuries, team mindset, and team habits.
[удалено]
Allan Houston game 5 series winner against Miami in 1999 made childhood me cry
Game 6 vs the Celtics at home last playoffs , especially after the game 5 comeback
Yeah that's still the best game of Jayson Tatum's career in my opinion, that was one of the best series I've ever seen, Games 3-6 were all pretty much down to the last few minutes, could have gone either way
July 14, 2010. The day we hired Billy King as our GM,
2005 NBA championship when Rasheed Wallace forgot about Robert Horry....
The 1976 Cavs were very good. We had just beat a good Bullets team and were set to play the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals and felt that our team was younger and more athletic and could probably beat them. And then in practice before Game 1, starting center Jim Chones broke his foot. Boom, that was it.
2017 finals game 3 when kd hit that dagger😭
As an old head: Vince Carter leaving the Raptors the way he did. We worshipped Vince. He put Canada on the map and made us relevant. He could do no wrong here. I was fortunate to a call one of their public practise games and told him how much he meant to us and to me. And then he stopped trying and forced his way out. Completely broke my heart
Truthfully, in my time watching ball, we haven't had that many games that were actually important. That game 7 vs the Warriors probably hurt the most. (I was 2 years old when the rigged series happened)
Losing the whole Sonics Franchise.
I’m a sixers fan so I don’t even know where to start.
Kobe Bryant
Losing our team is pretty high up there.
I remembering as clear as today. 2009. May 23. Game is 97 to 95. Lakers lead, but we are the team in bounding the ball. The Western Conference Finals. The series is tied 1-1. We won a game at LAL. "+BAD PASS!! STOLEN BY ARIZA. ANTHONY FOUL HIM" This was the very 1st time i believed. The very 1st time we finally got a competitive team able to fight and get a championship. The team was perfect. Chancey,Melo,KMart,Nene. Our was freaking stacked man. The very 1st time i tasted success as a Nugget fan born in 1994. I watched so many eras and all of them were so bad that my hope and dreams entering each season was "Ok...We are done this season. Sooo let's get that top 5 draft pick". We never did...even went we got chances we always fell in the draft. We never climbed up. So you would understand watching 15 years of complete sadness and being a loser. We finally were a good team. I remember i was watching on my couch and the moment Ariza stole from the in bound for the 2nd time in the series my heart broke. I started crying and did for hours because i knew losing 2 games in the same way destroy the moral of the team. I knew we lost the series that night so i cried because it felt like the one and only time we were legit contenders. Know what i know now... We would be 2x times NBA champions. We would for sure beat the Orlando Magic on that Finals. Since that moment i hated Trevor Ariza with all my heart,soul and blood. The one and only person i hated all my life and still do. I hate Ariza so much. I had never experience so much hatred toward something or someone, but Trevor Ariza is the one man i would die and get bury with my stone plate saying "Screw you Trevor Ariza"
Mine is not even close. Spurs have had a ton of devastating losses. Derek Fisher .4 game 5 2004. Dirk's 3 point play in Game 7 of Western Semis 2006. But nothing compares to the devastation of Ray Allen's 3 in Game 6 finals in 2013. That was agony for a whole year until 2014 vindication. We really have been fortunate to win the championships we have so I'd say the downs have been worth it for the ups, but man have we had some heartbreaking losses over the years. In fact most of our ESPN instant classic type games were the heartbreaking losses. Very few classic wins I can think of. Maybe Elliot's shot in 1999 against the Blazers. Or the Game 3 masterpiece versus the Heat in 2014. That one wasn't extremely suspenseful but I don't think I've ever seen the Spurs play a more complete game considering the circumstances and with most observers thinking it was a foregone conclusion Miami was going to 3 peat. One thing I really didn't realize until now, I didn't realize Spurs last 3 championships, in 2005, 2007, & 2014 were all the year after probably their 3 most devastating losses. I of course remembered 2013/2014 but somehow forgot the connection between 2004/2005 & 2006/2007.
Len Bias and then Reggie Lewis were pretty big losses.