What are the most respectable finals losses ever?

[Young X]

Losses where you can't be mad at a team for HOW they lost the series.

2005 Pistons for example - Lose first 2 games at SA, come back and win the next two games at home then lose a close game 5 in OT to Horry's clutch shot.

Don't get demoralized by the loss, and come back to win game 6 in SA to force a game 7. Lose close game 7 by a couple possessions on the road. End up losing in 7 to a better team that won more games and had homecourt.

No huge chokes, no letting the trailing team come back, didn't quit and get killed in the last game, fought all the way through just to come up short against a better team.

Can't be mad at that.

1988 Pistons are another example - Steal game 1 in LA, win 2/3 at home to go up 3-2. Lose game 6 in LA with Isiah Thomas having a heroic performance because of a terrible call, then lose in a close game 7. Only thing is they did let a 3-2 lead slip away.

[SouBeachTalents]

'01 76ers & '15 Cavs come to mind. You could probably include the teams that fell to Jordan's Bulls as well

[ArbitraryWater]

Good mentions so far.

'03 Nets I guess... shit team but won 2 games.

'93 Suns lost the first two home games, kept believing, won 2 of the next 3 even with MJ saying he wouldnt go back to Phoenix, were an MJ 55 pointer away from pretty much pulling off all 3 straight, had Chuck saying they're a team of destiny, God wanted them to win, fell to a Paxson 3... they did as much as they could.

Only thing you could fault the '96 Sonics for is that they turned it up too late, but again, thats just how good the Bulls were, and the Bulls struggling offensively had plenty to do with their D in games 4-5...

However, I do remember watching game 2 I believe it was on YouTube, and the game was in the balance for a long, long time, and the Sonics never did anything with it... wasted a bunch of opportunities.

[Young X]

2015 Cavs are a good one.

2001 76ers is a solid pick too but they did lose 4 straight games and 3 straight home games but they were facing a much superior team so you can't get mad at that.

2003 Nets are a good one too.

I don't agree with the '96 Sonics. They went down 0-3 and got killed I believe in that game 3 at home. The series was basically over at that point.

[Bankaii]

2001 Sixers. It was closer than people think. Even if the lost 4 in a row, at least they went down fighting. I thoroughly enjoyed that series and still go back and watch it.
AI in Game 1 was beautiful.

Can't be mad at losing to peak Shaq and FroBe.

[BigKAT]

2013 Spurs.

I know that they were really close in game 6,
But to bounce back after that devestating defeat and give it all in game 7, having it down to the last two posessions, on the road.. That's class.

2005 Pistons was a good choice too.

[Young X]

^ They choked in that game 6 though. They literally had the trophy about to be rolled out on the court for them in game 6 and still lost.

They also lead Miami twice in that series (after games 3 and 5) and didn't capitalize.

They did bounce back in game 7 nicely but I can't ignore the blown opportunities.

[NBAGOAT]

I would say 10 Celtics but some would say they choked in game 7 leading most of the game. Think 00 Pacers deserve a mention. Gave the Lakers a tough series with a not so talented roster. Shot lights out.

[Dro]

2000 Pacers, up 16 in the 3rd quarter in game 6 until Shaq and the refs took over.

[Orlando Magic]

2011 Heat. It was amazing they even got to the ECF let alone made the finals considering the entire cast was new.

[Steven Kerry]

2011 Heat. It was amazing they even got to the ECF let alone made the finals considering the entire cast was new.
LeBron was anything but respectable though.

[LostCause]

2001 Sixers going up against that Lakers team and stealing one and ruining their perfect playoff run. Couldn't have expected more of them than that but damn that was amazing

Didn't see it but I imagine the Finals where West won the Finals MVP despite losing has to be up there

Cavs in 2015 I'd say as well. Although overrated, Lebron leading that Cavs team to 2 wins on Golden State was really something.

[SouBeachTalents]

2011 Heat. It was amazing they even got to the ECF let alone made the finals considering the entire cast was new.

That was easily one of the most humiliating Finals losses of all time

[Young X]

1997 Jazz isn't bad.

Lose the first 2 in Chicago (1 on a gamewinner).

Win the next 2 in Utah.

Lose close game 5 in Utah to the GOAT putting on a heroic performance + another gamewinner.

Lose close 6 to another gamewinner this time from Steve Kerr.

Malone did "choke" away the FT's in game 1 but they put up a good fight against the GOAT team.

I think they would beat a few of the non-Phil Jackson coached champions over the years.

[ILLsmak]

2015 Cavs are a good one.

2001 76ers is a solid pick too but they did lose 4 straight games and 3 straight home games but they were facing a much superior team so you can't get mad at that.

2003 Nets are a good one too.

I don't agree with the '96 Sonics. They went down 0-3 and got killed I believe in that game 3 at home. The series was basically over at that point.

yea the 6ers got scraped too hard. I think you gotta go 6-7 to get a respectable loss. And vs a great team, or extra circumstances.

I dunno if any of those fall into that. I think the Jazz vs Bulls had a pretty respectable loss without going 7.

If Curry didn't play like epic ass, I'd say the Warriors last year had a respectable loss. They came so close to winning.

-Smak

[FireDavidKahn]

2001 Sixers. It was closer than people think. Even if the lost 4 in a row, at least they went down fighting. I thoroughly enjoyed that series and still go back and watch it.
AI in Game 1 was beautiful.

Can't be mad at losing to peak Shaq and FroBe.
I disagree wholeheartedly. Yes they ran into Shaq and Kome, but they lost 4 straight. losing 4 straight in a finals series is never respectable.

Might as well say the '16 Warriors finals loss was acceptable.

'15 LeBron is pretty good though. Didn't have his 2nd or 3rd option and took a team loaded with stars to 4-2.

[Demitri98]

07 Cavs and 01 Sixers. Those teams had zero business being anywhere near a championship outside their respective star players.

[SamuraiSWISH]

'93 Suns
'97 Jazz
'00 Pacers
'01 Sixers
'05 Pistons
'10 Celtics
'15 Cavaliers

All these were hard fought losses, and even in the more lop sided series ... The games and competitiveness was closer than people might initially remember.

Sixers for instance had no business even winning one game, when teams like Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio all got decimated by the two headed monster in LA.

'13 Spurs don't belong. They choked away sure fire victory in two straight games.

[KirbyPls]

'93 Suns
'97 Jazz
'00 Pacers
'01 Sixers
'05 Pistons
'10 Celtics
'15 Cavaliers

All these were hard fought losses, and even in the more lop sided series ... The games and competitiveness was closer than people might initially remember.

Sixers for instance had no business even winning one game, when teams like Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio all got decimated by the two headed monster in LA.

'13 Spurs don't belong. They choked away sure fire victory in two straight games.

Game 6 yes, but the Heat simply outplayed the Spurs by a small margin in game 7, with Lebron and Wade balling out, and Battier getting hot from deep. I'm no Spurs fan, but Duncan's two misses near the end get overblown as a choke (I think you and I may disagree here based upon previous threads). Sometimes people miss bunnies; doesn't mean they choked necessarily. Game 6 though there were missed free throws to seal it on two straight possessions.

[ArbitraryWater]

'93 Suns
'97 Jazz
'00 Pacers
'01 Sixers
'05 Pistons
'10 Celtics
'15 Cavaliers

All these were hard fought losses, and even in the more lop sided series ... The games and competitiveness was closer than people might initially remember.

Sixers for instance had no business even winning one game, when teams like Portland, Sacramento and San Antonio all got decimated by the two headed monster in LA.

'13 Spurs don't belong. They choked away sure fire victory in two straight games.

'10 Celtics? Allen was hot garbage after game 2, the loss in game 6 was absolutely pathetic.

[SamuraiSWISH]

'10 Celtics? Allen was hot garbage after game 2, the loss in game 6 was absolutely pathetic.
LeBron was garbage at home in game 4 and game 6 in 2015 ... What does that mean? The series in 2010 still could've very much gone either way, down to the final quarter of game 7. It was a respectable loss.

[livinglegend]

15 Cavs

13 Spurs: I was surprised by their game 7 performance. I expected a huge mental collapse and a blowout after the way they lost game 6, but they played very well. Lebron, Wade and Battier all 3 went off and the game was still close.

10 Celtics. Great game 7 performance on the road without their starting center, but got screwed by the refs in the 4th quarter.

[Spurs m8]

Thing about the Warriors is the most embarrassing, chokiest loss ever, can't be called respectable.

[hiphopfan777]

2013 spurs. David Stern rig job away from winning. Popovich said Ray Allens shot was a two and Ginobili getting fouled in overtime and no call

[SilkkTheShocker]

yea the 6ers got scraped too hard. I think you gotta go 6-7 to get a respectable loss. And vs a great team, or extra circumstances.

I dunno if any of those fall into that. I think the Jazz vs Bulls had a pretty respectable loss without going 7.

If Curry didn't play like epic ass, I'd say the Warriors last year had a respectable loss. They came so close to winning.

-Smak
Lol the Warriors won 73 games last year and lost. There is no argument for them at all losing respectfully. You're a moron.

[jbryan1984]

Maybe 2010 Celtics? With a healthy Perkins, do they win game 7?

[ScalsFan21]

The 2005 Pistons were definitely the first team to come to mind.

2013 SA actually led a series 3 times and lost (won game 1). I wonder if that is a one of a kind event? I'm pretty sure it is in Finals history but not sure about playoffs.

[KirbyPls]

2013 spurs. David Stern rig job away from winning. Popovich said Ray Allens shot was a two and Ginobili getting fouled in overtime and no call

:facepalm

There is video of the shot.

[Gougou]

05 Pistons

10 Celtics (this game still got me angry, it was definitely rigged)

15 Cavs (they prob win the series if they had Kyrie and Love, probably just Kyrie is good enough since TT, Mozgov and Delly played great already)

[Inferno]

2011 Heat. It was amazing they even got to the ECF let alone made the finals considering the entire cast was new.

:oldlol: :oldlol:

[ArbitraryWater]

LeBron was garbage at home in game 4 and game 6 in 2015 ... What does that mean? The series in 2010 still could've very much gone either way, down to the final quarter of game 7. It was a respectable loss.

LeBron was garbage in one game without support, Allen was beyond garbage in every single one on open shots.... Then the embarrassing game 6 loss... Not even putting up a fight. Nobody predicted SAS to still make G7 close after G6. No defeatist attitude.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Hmmm, 'respectable' is kind of a broad term just going off the lists here... I identify it with having sympathy for another opponent either because they were jobbed or played well by doing ALMOST everything right yet still coming up short.

Teams that come to mind:

1996 Sonics (Karl putting Gary on MJ to start the series changes their ENTIRE defensive legacy and place in history; funny how a couple of games work that way).

2005 Pistons

2006 Mavs

2010 Celts

2013 Spurs (that entire Ray Allen sequence was on Pop, as he should've left Duncan in the game).

[ClipperRevival]

1988 Pistons
2005 Pistons
2010 Celtics
2015 Cavs

These teams competed as hard as they could and didn't choke or give away the series. The series that sticks out most for me is the 2010 finals. Does anyone doubt the Celtics win this series if game 7 is in Boston? That Los Angeles crowd almost willed that Laker team to victory.

[ClipperRevival]

And what's up with people mentioning the 2001 76ers? Winning 1 game and getting swept is nothing respectable.