Was this the closest a team ever came to winning a title?

[Young X]

The Spurs had SO MANY chances to win this series. :oldlol:

- Up 3-2 in the series before game 7

- Up 5 with 30 seconds left in game 6

- ONE FREE THROW away from winning game 6

- One rebound away from winning game 6

- One Ray Allen 3 from winning game 6

- Missed 3ft layup from tying the game 90-90 in game 7


What other team in NBA history came this close to winning a championship, but didn't? '88 Pistons? '02 Kings? '05 Pistons?

[tikay0]

Choke job.

[fsvr54]

2010 Celtics

1969 Lakers

[Cousin Oliver]

This was the closest that I can remember. Though my Knicks had their chances in 94. :facepalm

[Cousin Oliver]

2010 Celtics

1969 Lakers


Yeah the Celtics were pretty damn close as well.

[nosfan773]

In my 20+ years of following the NBA no team has squander a greater chance, and I say that reluctantly.

[deja vu]

One defensive rebound from winning it all. :cry:

[ChrisPosh]

Those sweet sweet tears of Spurs fans. :oldlol:

[DMV2]

- Missed 3ft layup from tying the game 90-90 in game 7

It was a hook shot. Not a lay-up.

[deja vu]

Those sweet sweet tears of Spurs fans. :oldlol:
It's okay nobody gave us a chance to win the title, but came very close. :bowdown:

[DuMa]

absolutely. that was the closest I have ever seen a team get close to that trophy and lose it

[Kblaze8855]

I think the Hawks lost game 7 to the Celtics in double OT by a missed layup...twice.

[3LiftHeatCurse]

http://oi41.tinypic.com/ix6mwn.jpg

[ClutchOver9000]

Biggest chokejob I remember seeing thats for sure. Up 5 in what was a potential elimination game w/ just over 24 secs left. Literally a defensive rebound away from winning the title. Ouch...

[tikay0]

http://oi41.tinypic.com/ix6mwn.jpg

:roll:

[chips93]

Biggest chokejob I remember seeing thats for sure. Up 5 in what was a potential elimination game w/ just over 24 secs left. Literally a defensive rebound away from winning the title. Ouch...

how did they choke?

the heat just outplayed them imo.

[dude77]

how did they choke?

the heat just outplayed them imo.

are you serious ? lol

[ninephive]

http://oi41.tinypic.com/ix6mwn.jpg
You forgot to show the other 3 they still have. One day Lebron might also...maybe. Spurs keep getting better every year though...they'll be back.

[ClutchOver9000]

how did they choke?

http://i.imgur.com/hP9VJhB.gif

[tikay0]

http://i.imgur.com/hP9VJhB.gif

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[DirkNowitzki41]

http://i.imgur.com/hP9VJhB.gif
:roll: :roll:

[dude77]

http://i.imgur.com/hP9VJhB.gif

this gif is ****in' classic lol never gets old

[fsvr54]

http://i.imgur.com/hP9VJhB.gif


:roll: :roll: :roll:

[KG215]

I think the Hawks lost game 7 to the Celtics in double OT by a missed layup...twice.

No clue how accurate this is, but...

[QUOTE]One of the wildest, best series finales in NBA history in which there were 38 lead changes & 28 ties. Boston

[1Time4YourMind]

Game 7 of the 1962 nba finals, the selvy shot.

Game 6 of the 1988 nba finals, the phantom foul on Kareem.

[allball]

84 Lakers
88 Pistons
69 Lakers
76 Suns
94 Knicks

all come to mind

[kNicKz]

how did they choke?

the heat just outplayed them imo.

game 6 up 5 with 30 seconds left and losing is a choke son

[Young X]

how did they choke?

the heat just outplayed them imo.
:durantunimpressed:

Losing a 5 point lead with 30 left = choke
Missing 3 foot layups/hooks to tie in a game 7 = choke
Giving up 2 offensive rebounds that led to threes = choke

[dh144498]

http://oi41.tinypic.com/ix6mwn.jpg

:lol

[SCdac]

Spurs-Pistons were tied 57-57 going into the 4th quarter of Game 7.... almost as close as it gets

http://need4sheed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/pistons_vs_n4s_spurs.jpg

[Nastradamus]

Yah Pistons vs. Spurs and Lakers were both epically close.

[Young X]

Think about it, SA was ONE FT away from winning game 6, literally inches away from winning a championship. Can't believe they let those clowns win game 6. :facepalm

I'd be PISSED right right now if I was a Spurs fan.

[SCdac]

Think about it, SA was ONE FT away from winning game 6, literally inches away from winning a championship. Can't believe they let those clowns win game 6. :facepalm

I'd be PISSED right right now if I was a Spurs fan.

It's hard, but 4 championships and decades of a great franchise makes it easier... I think it'd be harder to be in, say, the shoes of Mavs fans post-2006 Finals... My facebook stream is all about the Spurs, but people are upbeat and have so much support for the team.

[Young X]

Still can't get over how badly SA choked.
:durantunimpressed:

[Mr. Jabbar]

http://i.imgur.com/hP9VJhB.gif

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Deuce Bigalow]

Yeah they had the chip in the bag.

[Young X]

Game 6 should go down as the worst choke of all time, Miami practically gave them the title and they still find some way to lose. :oldlol:

All they had to do was either:
Make 1 FT
Grab one defensive rebound
Foul Chris Bosh

They do one of these things and they're champs right now.

[NumberSix]

You forgot to show the other 3 they still have. One day Lebron might also...maybe. Spurs keep getting better every year though...they'll be back.
Spurs are legit. Pacers too. Respectable first class organizations. Bulls are crybabies with scum fans. Nothing bad to say about the Spurs. It's a privilege to say we played a series against the spurs and the great Tim Duncan.

[tikay0]

Spurs are legit. Pacers too. Respectable first class organizations. Bulls are crybabies with scum fans. Nothing bad to say about the Spurs. It's a privilege to say we played a series against the spurs and the great Tim Duncan.

Bitch ni99a, you're a Lakers fan!!! :wtf:

[Young X]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818167/duncanmiss.gif

:oldlol:

[#number6ix#]

I'm still proud of my boys for not giving up in game 6 that took a lot of heart and luck to pull out that win

[Dengness9]

I'm still proud of my boys for not giving up in game 6 that took a lot of heart and luck to pull out that win


Lebron James with 2 TO's in last minute and an airball. The defeat was all over his face.....Ray Allen saved his career and the Spurs missed two FT's.....

[Dengness9]

Bitch ni99a, you're a Lakers fan!!! :wtf:


And he said it was a privilege that WE played the Spurs.....you aren't on the team ******.

and the entire site knows you jumped on the Heat bandwagon.

Dickriders like to pretend they dont ride D I C K.

Number6 is absolutely bitch made.

[#number6ix#]

Lebron James with 2 TO's in last minute and an airball. The defeat was all over his face.....Ray Allen saved his career and the Spurs missed two FT's.....
You forgot about the three lebron hit to bring the heat within two... Anyway it's all good, it's a team game everybody contributed to the win and the chip:cheers:

[Dengness9]

You forgot about the three lebron hit to bring the heat within two... Anyway it's all good, it's a team game everybody contributed to the win and the chip:cheers:


The one where he hit nothing but backboard and AGAIN he gets lucky when his team gets the rebound and he got another shot at it.


Lebron....one of the luckiest players in NBA history.

[secund2nun]

The one where he hit nothing but backboard and AGAIN he gets lucky when his team gets the rebound and he got another shot at it.


Lebron....one of the luckiest players in NBA history.

wah wah wah :roll:

LJ has a 30 point triple double in game 6 and had like 16 forth quarter points to lead the come back.

[Dengness9]

wah wah wah :roll:

LJ has a 30 point triple double in game 6 and had like 16 forth quarter points to lead the come back.

You list stats like a stan and I'll list his two T/O's and airball that lost the game for the Heat until Ray Allen saved his career.

Whatever. Heat fans talk shit to Bulls fans like we have never seen excellence. Saw 6 in 8 years with no game 7's in the finals. Miami will never have that, I've already got the Goat and one of the best dynasty's sports has ever "WITNESSED".

Suck one.

[KG215]

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2818167/duncanmiss.gif

:oldlol:
For Duncan, that's akin to a normal player, who actually usually shows emotion, walking over and treating the basket stanchion like a punching bag, or letting out a string of obscenities. I really did feel bad for him, because he went off in game 6, and carried his team (especially in the 1st half when Parker, Ginobili, and Green were sucking) to what should've been a 5th ring. You just couldn't help but feel bad for him because he knew that was probably the last/best chance he was going to have in his career at getting ring number 5.

[secund2nun]

You list stats like a stan and I'll list his two T/O's and airball that lost the game for the Heat until Ray Allen saved his career.

Whatever. Heat fans talk shit to Bulls fans like we have never seen excellence. Saw 6 in 8 years with no game 7's in the finals. Miami will never have that, I've already got the Goat and one of the best dynasty's sports has ever "WITNESSED".

Suck one.

A ring is a ring regardless of whether it was won in 6 or 7 games.

The only reason they were in the game was because of Lebron's rally.

Go suck it you whiny butthurt delusional bulls fan. There will be more rings for Lebron so get ready for it.

[Djahjaga]

Spurs-Pistons were tied 57-57 going into the 4th quarter of Game 7.... almost as close as it gets

http://need4sheed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/pistons_vs_n4s_spurs.jpg

Sounds pretty evenly matched. By "close to winning" I think the OP meant, basically, how firmly in the bag did a team ever have it and lose the title?

The Spurs has to be the biggest such case. Wouldn't say it was overall a choke, but it did include choking moments.

[Cone]

Biggest choke of all time easily

[BoutPractice]

It doesn't necessarily have to be a team that reached the Finals... for instance, the 2004 Spurs were a largely impossible shot by Derek Fisher away from going up 3-2 against the Lakers. They would've crushed the Timberwolves and would've been a better matchup for the Pistons, as evidenced by their series one year later. They also got close in 2006 - one idiotic foul (miracle foul from my point of view) away from beating the Mavs... I don't think they would've collapsed against the Heat like the Mavs did - even though the Heat won, the best teams in the West were stronger, Phoenix too would've had a shot against Miami. So you could say that Tim Duncan had 3 real title opportunities taken away from him... he could have 7 rings by now. (Some say 8, but I don't believe 2012 was meant to be.)

You also have the 2002 Kings, who similarly to the 2006 Mavs (who despite their choking still should've won), were a ref takeover away from the championship. They still would've had to win the Finals, but everyone knew that the West finals back then was the real Finals.

[SacJB Shady]

Spurs choked. They were more than lucky to beat GSW in game 1 and by game 6 vs the Heat their luck turned against them. So the universe had a way of balancing luck out.

[BoutPractice]

Not really. It's clear from watching the playoffs that the Spurs were a better all-around team than Golden State, whereas the Spurs and Heat were evenly matched.

Replay the second round in the West 10 times, and the Spurs probably win 8 out of 10... replay the Finals, and it's closer to 5 out of 10.

[KOBE143]

2004 Lakers :(

We should've won that year if Malone never get injured and if only Shaq was not selfish and doesnt had a big ego.. People that time knew that Kobe was already far better than Shaq and should be the 1st option.. This was the reason why Shaq was kicked out of LA the next season..

[embersyc]

Spurs-Pistons were tied 57-57 going into the 4th quarter of Game 7.... almost as close as it gets

http://need4sheed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/pistons_vs_n4s_spurs.jpg

Not to mention Pistons should've won game 5.

Goddamn Robbert Horry.

[SilkkTheShocker]

The one where he hit nothing but backboard and AGAIN he gets lucky when his team gets the rebound and he got another shot at it.


Lebron....one of the luckiest players in NBA history.
It must suck that your favorite player is LeBron's personal j.izz rag.

[28renyoy]

02 Kings IMO, they would have swept NJ

[SilkkTheShocker]

You list stats like a stan and I'll list his two T/O's and airball that lost the game for the Heat until Ray Allen saved his career.

Whatever. Heat fans talk shit to Bulls fans like we have never seen excellence. Saw 6 in 8 years with no game 7's in the finals. Miami will never have that, I've already got the Goat and one of the best dynasty's sports has ever "WITNESSED".

Suck one.

"See thats the things about the old days, they the old days"

[All Net]

They had their hand on the trophy...

[Bandito]

2004 Lakers :(

We should've won that year if Malone never get injured and if only Shaq was not selfish and doesnt had a big ego.. People that time knew that Kobe was already far better than Shaq and should be the 1st option.. This was the reason why Shaq was kicked out of LA the next season..
That Lakers team wouldn't had won anything because the Pistons defense was just destroying the offense of the Lakers. They played the passing lanes and prevented Shaq from dominating. It doesn't have anything to do with the Kobe-Shaq feud. Losing Malone was a great factor in them losing though.

[rzp]

That Lakers team wouldn't had won anything because the Pistons defense was just destroying the offense of the Lakers. They played the passing lanes and prevented Shaq from dominating. It doesn't have anything to do with the Kobe-Shaq feud. Losing Malone was a great factor in them losing though.

Malone, fisher, george (great role player that season), fox... all injuried, and the Kobe Colorado thing:lol .

In a normal situation Lakers would crush those Pistons.

[guy]

A ring is a ring regardless of whether it was won in 6 or 7 games.

The only reason they were in the game was because of Lebron's rally.

Go suck it you whiny butthurt delusional bulls fan. There will be more rings for Lebron so get ready for it.

And the main reason they needed the rally from Lebron was cause he was sucking ass before that and couldn't even hit open jumpshots all series.

[Young X]

Ginobiliiiii with 12 turnovers in the 2 most important games of the season.

Parker shooting 9-35 in the 2 most important games of the season.

Spurs = chokers.

[Bandito]

Ginobiliiiii with 12 turnovers in the 2 most important games of the season.

Parker shooting 9-35 in the 2 most important games of the season.

Spurs = chokers.
3 rings in the last decade says otherwise fgt. More like injuries and mileage got them in the end.

[MaxFly]

2010 Celtics



Yeah man... :facepalm

[WayOfWade]

Pretty much, they were a Manu Ginobili away from winning it all.

[guy]

The 2010 Celtics was clearly not as close as the 2013 Spurs were. They basically didn't even show up for game 6 and didn't have a significant lead late in game 7 like like the Spurs did in game 6. They were close, but not as close.

[caliman]

2004 Lakers :(

We should've won that year if Malone never get injured and if only Shaq was not selfish and doesnt had a big ego.. People that time knew that Kobe was already far better than Shaq and should be the 1st option.. This was the reason why Shaq was kicked out of LA the next season..


:facepalm

[Bandito]

Malone, fisher, george (great role player that season), fox... all injuried, and the Kobe Colorado thing:lol .

In a normal situation Lakers would crush those Pistons.
I forgot about Devean:lol He was crucial for this team and he got injured (yet again) in the playoffs too.