is choking away the best record just as bad as losing in the finals?

[kennethgriffin]

i think so... if you fail to make the finals with the top seed. you choked. period



Top Records:

2015 - Golden State = Championship
2015 - Atlanta Hawks = Choke

2014 - San Antonio Spurs = Championship
2014 - Indiana Pacers = Choke

2013 - Miami Heat = Champions
2013 - OKC thunder = Choke

2012 - San Antonio Spurs = Choke
2012 - Chicago Bulls = ( Rose injured )

2011 - San Antonio Spurs = Choke
2011 - Chicago Bulls = Choke

2010 - LA Lakers = Championship
2010 - Cleveland Cavs = Choke

2009 - LA Lakers = Championship
2009 - Cleveland Cavs = Choke

2008 - LA Lakers = Finals
2008 - Bos Celtics = Championship

2007 - Dallas Mavs = Choke
2007 - Detroit Pistons = Choke

2006 - San Antonio Spurs = Choke
2006 - Detroit Pistons = Choke

2005 - Phoenix Suns = Choke
2005 - Miami Heat = Choke

2004 - Min wolves = Choke
2004 - Indiana Pacers = players suspended*

2003 - San Antonio Spurs = Championship
2003 - Detroit Pistons = Choke

2002 - Sacramento Kings = Choke ( watch game 7. they really did choke )
2002 - New Jersey Nets = Finals

2001 - San Antionio Spurs = Choke
2001 - Philly Sixers = Finals

2000 - LA Lakers = Championship
2000 - Indiana Pacers = Finals





in reality


Kobe = 5 for 7
Duncan = 4.5 for 10 ( choking the #1 record away FOUR times )
Lebron = 1.5 for 8 ( choking the #1 record away 2 times )



http://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Tim-Duncan-AP-e1369928184247.jpg


http://cdn.slamonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/lebron_james3.jpg

[SouBeachTalents]

Another stellar thread with almost no context used

[Legends66NBA7]

03 Spurs choked ? 11 Rose injured ?

[kennethgriffin]

03 Spurs choked ? 11 Rose injured ?


nice catch

:cheers:

[6 for 24]

03 Spurs choked ?

Yes, that was the year the Lakers completed the 4-peat and Kobe got his first FMVP, remember?

Realistically, the only real "chokes" are blowing big game or series leads. Eg, losing a series up 3 games to 1, or blowing a 20+ pt lead in an important Finals game. I'm not sure if either of these things have ever happened though.

Warmest regards,

Ayotunde Ndiaye

[kennethgriffin]

Another stellar thread with almost no context used

i used context. i gave the 2012 bulls and 2004 pacers a pass on their losses

:confusedshrug:

[Fudge]

Meltdown.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COv8ZvJU8AAhmWN.jpg

[kennethgriffin]

Yes, that was the year the Lakers completed the 4-peat and Kobe got his first FMVP, remember?

Realistically, the only real "chokes" are blowing big game or series leads. Eg, losing a series up 3 games to 1, or blowing a 20+ pt lead in an important Finals game. I'm not sure if either of these things have ever happened though.

Warmest regards,

Ayotunde Ndiaye

youre too late. i already fixed it.

:lol

[SouBeachTalents]

Let's go through these team by team

'01 Spurs: :lol

'02 Kings: Shady officiating aside, they did indeed choke in Games 4/7

'03 Pistons: Finished just 1 game better than the Nets, Nets were a better team

'04 T'Wolves: Lakers were a better team, Cassell was injured

'05 Heat: Wade was injured

'05 Suns: Lost in an evenly matched series

'06 Pistons: Record aside, they had nobody close to as good as Wade (or even Shaq)

'07 Mavs/Pistons: Both choked badly

'09 Cavs: Magic just outplayed them, besides Game 1 wouldn't consider this one a choke

'10 Cavs: LeBron played like ass Games 4-6, you could call this one a choke

'11 Spurs: Choked

'12 Spurs: They did blow a 2-0 lead, but that was an evenly matched series

'13 Thunder: Westbrook was injured

'14 Pacers: :lol

'15 Hawks: They got absolutely demolished, had nobody close to as good as LeBron

[Gileraracer]

Yess, all chokers

[BlakFrankWhite]

Yes, that was the year the Lakers completed the 4-peat and Kobe got his first FMVP, remember?

Realistically, the only real "chokes" are blowing big game or series leads. Eg, losing a series up 3 games to 1, or blowing a 20+ pt lead in an important Finals game. I'm not sure if either of these things have ever happened though.

Warmest regards,

Ayotunde Ndiaye

The Legend returns. :bowdown:

[AnaheimLakers24]

Bron sucks. It just kills his fans that hes 2/6
Pm if you are close to suicide.

[eeeeeebro]

no but who here has had bad ref calls when your favorite team faces Lebron

[eeeeeebro]

i dont see playing against any other team that bad calls happen but cleaveland and miami lebron team.. except did see a bunch of bad calls with Detroit when they had a good squad

[plowking]

You have a warped perception of reality.

Do you consider it a choke by the Atlanta Hawks, considering they didn't make the finals? Or, did they maybe overachieve in the first place and shouldn't have actually been as good as they were?

[kennethgriffin]

You have a warped perception of reality.

Do you consider it a choke by the Atlanta Hawks, considering they didn't make the finals? Or, did they maybe overachieve in the first place and shouldn't have actually been as good as they were?


choke

atlanta fell off hard at the end of the year..

they got shook of their own expectations

[Naero]

'15 Hawks: They got absolutely demolished, had nobody close to as good as LeBron

They just overachieved by capitalizing on a cakewalk schedule midway through the NBA season. Their 19-game winning streak that vaulted them as one-seeded team

[sportjames23]

Yes, that was the year the Lakers completed the 4-peat and Kobe got his first FMVP, remember?

Realistically, the only real "chokes" are blowing big game or series leads. Eg, losing a series up 3 games to 1, or blowing a 20+ pt lead in an important Finals game. I'm not sure if either of these things have ever happened though.

Warmest regards,

Ayotunde Ndiaye


:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[dunksby]

https://youtu.be/fY5m4lWcsHY?t=11s

[KG215]

To answer the OP, yes.

But I agree only because it gives you another warped, lame ass way to discredit LeBron and Duncan. Can't wait to see the original post in this thread copied and pasted dozens of times by Griff over the coming years anytime there's an argument about "Kobe vs Duncan" or "Kobe vs LeBron".

[dhsilv]

I never understood the whole losing in the finals is bad thing. It literally makes zero sense.

Now missing the playoffs, that's failure.

[KembaWalker]

I never understood the whole losing in the finals is bad thing. It literally makes zero sense.

Now missing the playoffs, that's failure.

It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I mean if you go into the finals as favorites and lose it should be seen as a bad thing, not in reference to this thread, cause op spilling some rubbish, but just in general

[dhsilv]

It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I mean if you go into the finals as favorites and lose it should be seen as a bad thing, not in reference to this thread, cause op spilling some rubbish, but just in general

You still made the finals so at worst it's a less good thing.

Lets edit history and Magic wins 6 titles and goes to the finals 9 times. He wins in that aspect against MJ who's 6-0. 3 finals losses are better all day than missing the finals.

[sportjames23]

You still made the finals so at worst it's a less good thing.

Lets edit history and Magic wins 6 titles and goes to the finals 9 times. He wins in that aspect against MJ who's 6-0. 3 finals losses are better all day than missing the finals.


No it's not. Three Finals losses means you didn't win. Ultimately, it's the same thing as not going to the Finals. Both scenarios = no rings.

I'd rather not go to the Finals than to get there and lose.

[GimmeThat]

for a coach, termination and getting a warning are clearly two things with different severity.

under the assumption that players work for themselves and the team.

[ShawkFactory]

OP is like Benjamin button. Threads gets more childish every day

[SOD 21]

Even though I wouldn't necessarily call it "choking away" the best record if you don't win a championship, the OP brings up a valid point that some star players have received passes for failing to win a title with home-court advantage.

I have often heard Tim Duncan lauded for his record in the finals, rightfully so, but he gets a pass for failing to win a tile on four separate occasions when his team had the best record, not good. He should get dinged for this.

I have also never understood the logic by some that it is better to lose before the finals. Like somehow, it's better to win two titles in three tries than it is to win three titles in six tries. It's as if some people think that just a higher winning percentage in the finals itself is more important with fewer championships is better than getting there a lot with a slightly less winning percentage.

It's a weird mentality that losing early in the playoffs is better than losing late in the playoffs. I have never understood that.

[r15mohd]

No it's not. Three Finals losses means you didn't win. Ultimately, it's the same thing as not going to the Finals. Both scenarios = no rings.

I'd rather not go to the Finals than to get there and lose.


still cant believe this type of sentiment exists. :facepalm thankfully no NBA player, or any real athlete (professional or not) thinks this way. if so, all there'd be is a bunch of lame ducks playing sports with no heart/drive/motivation.

might as well give up mid-season when you're playoff chances become slim...why bother even risking the "shame" in making the playoffs or even the possibility of causing an upset, might as well hang it up after the all-star game by your regards if you're out the race. again, :facepalm

[Gileraracer]

I'd rather not go to the Finals than to get there and lose.

As much as I love it to make fun of 2/6 but this is just stupid.

[BasedTom]

05 heat had wade go down with injury in the ECF, def not a choke

[ralph_i_el]

http://i.imgur.com/oS47R9e.gif

This thread is dildos

http://i.imgur.com/8eFs4o5.gif

[GimmeThat]

It's a weird mentality that losing early in the playoffs is better than losing late in the playoffs. I have never understood that.


I don't think people in these scenarios are asking for your understanding, but more so, the game had been adjusted to in a manner where perhaps they are not accustom to.

[Hey Yo]

No it's not. Three Finals losses means you didn't win. Ultimately, it's the same thing as not going to the Finals. Both scenarios = no rings.

I'd rather not go to the Finals than to get there and lose.
This gem's going to the stupid thread.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

No it's not. Three Finals losses means you didn't win. Ultimately, it's the same thing as not going to the Finals. Both scenarios = no rings.

I'd rather not go to the Finals than to get there and lose.

Brutal. I don't really know how to respond to this, it's such a sad statement, you ALWAYS want to get as far as you can. If anything, wanting to spare yourself the pain of losing on the big stage is a sign of mental weakness; you're supposed to use failure as motivation to come back hungrier next time but you need to be mentally tough for that to happen.

[dh144498]

No it's not. Three Finals losses means you didn't win. Ultimately, it's the same thing as not going to the Finals. Both scenarios = no rings.

I'd rather not go to the Finals than to get there and lose.


:coleman:

[kennethgriffin]

I never understood the whole losing in the finals is bad thing. It literally makes zero sense.

Now missing the playoffs, that's failure.


losing in the finals isnt the end of the world


losing more often than you win in the finals is

you should be above .500 at every level if youre a an all time great


0 for 2 in the finals is worse than 5 for 9 ... the guy with more finals losses isnt effected due to winning more often than not


hense the perception of magic johnson being way ahead of karl malone

[sportjames23]

This gem's going to the stupid thread.


Knock yourself out, champ.

[sportjames23]

Brutal. I don't really know how to respond to this, it's such a sad statement, you ALWAYS want to get as far as you can. If anything, wanting to spare yourself the pain of losing on the big stage is a sign of mental weakness; you're supposed to use failure as motivation to come back hungrier next time but you need to be mentally tough for that to happen.


To each his own, nikka.

I'd rather not go 1-8 in the NBA Finals like Jerry West just to say that one win would be sweet.

I'd rather not go to the Super Bowl once like Dan Marino, or the NBA Finals once like Charles Barkley, or the NBA Finals three times like Karl Malone, than to get there and lose.

If I get to the ultimate level, I'm winning. 6-0 sounds great to me. I'd rather MJ be 6-0 than to have him get to the Finals one last time, lose, and then be 6-1.

But then again, you young cats don't mind losing nowadays. You'll even collude to make it happen.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

To each his own, nikka.

I'd rather not go 1-8 in the NBA Finals like Jerry West just to say that one win would be sweet.

I'd rather not go to the Super Bowl once like Dan Marino, or the NBA Finals once like Charles Barkley, or the NBA Finals three times like Karl Malone, than to get there and lose.u

If I get to the ultimate level, I'm winning. 6-0 sounds great to me. I'd rather MJ be 6-0 than to have him get to the Finals one last time, lose, and then be 6-1.

But then again, you young cats don't mind losing nowadays. You'll even collude to make it happen.

What a load of garbage. You're afraid to play the game because you're afraid to lose and now you're attempting to justify that cowardice through deflection and unconvincing bravado. Weak shit.

Winning in the finals > making the finals > not making the finals. It's that simple.

[catch24]

To each his own, nikka.

I'd rather not go 1-8 in the NBA Finals like Jerry West just to say that one win would be sweet.

I'd rather not go to the Super Bowl once like Dan Marino, or the NBA Finals once like Charles Barkley, or the NBA Finals three times like Karl Malone, than to get there and lose.

If I get to the ultimate level, I'm winning. 6-0 sounds great to me. I'd rather MJ be 6-0 than to have him get to the Finals one last time, lose, and then be 6-1.

But then again, you young cats don't mind losing nowadays. You'll even collude to make it happen.


What a load of garbage. You're afraid to play the game because you're afraid to lose and now you're attempting to justify that cowardice through deflection and unconvincing bravado. Weak shit.

Winning in the finals > making the finals > not making the finals. It's that simple.


I see where dude is coming from, tbh. Technically its better to make the finals, but losing and playing terribly, on the big stage, can actually do more harm than good for your "legacy", e.g., 2011 LeBron.

It just depends on the level you and your team plays at, and how they meet expectations.

[I<3NBA]

not as bad as totally missing the playoffs in your prime.

[24-Inch_Chrome]

Everyone would rather go 6/6, or win every time...but there's no shame in getting to the finals, giving 100%, and losing. There is shame in bowing out early by choice rather than getting a shot, no matter how long or impossible.

[dunksby]

Let's keep pretending basketball=tennis.