Hardest lost as a fan of a player/team that you experienced?

[Micku]

03 Lakers losing to the Spurs was a big one.
I always thought the Spurs were boring and lucky back then. The Lakers didn't have the best year. But Shaq was out, and I think he was playing into shape. It seems this is the year for Kobe too. While it was still Shaq's team, especially in hindsight, the gap between them seem to close. At least as a fan. I figure the Lakers was gonn'a turn it on in the playoffs once again. And then the Spurs. It was a close series with 2-2 and going on to game 5. Horry missed an open shot that would've pulled them ahead. It went in and out. And then the Spurs blew them out in game 6. Watching Fisher and Kobe cry broke my heart. Hated the Spurs for like 10 straight years. Hated Duncan. Thought he was boring. Hated Pop, he was a drill sergeant. Tony sucked. Manu sucked. Bowen was a dirty player. Didn't acknowledge Stephen Jackson. Blind with hate. Just hated the Spurs, and thought they were just carried by boring Duncan and thought David Robinson and the Spurs organization got lucky they landed Duncan.

It still hurts a little till this day. I wanted to see Lakers take on the Kings again or Dallas, beat them and then do a 4peat. I knew MJ bulls didn't do that, and I wanted that to be special for the Lakers.

04 Lakers losing the Pistons in the finals is about the same the level.
I never watched the east teams that much back then. It's mostly whoever that wins the WCF is the one that wins the the NBA finals. After the Lakers beat the Spurs and the Kings were out, I thought that was it. T-Wolves didn't scare me at all, cuz I thought no way could they defend better than the Spurs. And I never thought KG was better than Duncan. And the Pistons had no stars. So, I thought it's another sweep. But the deconstruction started. I knew it was trouble when the Lakers barely won game 2 when Kobe had to be clutch. Even when they were down 1-3, I thought the Lakers would probably still have it in the bag. Nooooope. Then Shaq and Kobe broke up. I thought if they would've won, things would've been fine. I never understood how they won without a star talent back then. And I didn't believe Billups was THAT good. I didn't think he was better than Steve Francis, Jason Kidd or Steve Nash. Thought the whole crew seemed a bit thuggish too. And especially after the brawl the following season.

Like even rewatching those series still opens a little wound mentally lol. What about you guys? What's your toughest lost that you took as a fan?

[Gohan]

03 Lakers losing to the Spurs was a big one.
I always thought the Spurs were boring and lucky back then. The Lakers didn't have the best year. But Shaq was out, and I think he was playing into shape. It seems this is the year for Kobe too. While it was still Shaq's team, especially in hindsight, the gap between them seem to close. At least as a fan. I figure the Lakers was gonn'a turn it on in the playoffs once again. And then the Spurs. It was a close series with 2-2 and going on to game 5. Horry missed an open shot that would've pulled them ahead. It went in and out. And then the Spurs blew them out in game 6. Watching Fisher and Kobe cry broke my heart. Hated the Spurs for like 10 straight years. Hated Duncan. Thought he was boring. Hated Pop, he was a drill sergeant. Tony sucked. Manu sucked. Bowen was a dirty player. Didn't acknowledge Stephen Jackson. Blind with hate. Just hated the Spurs, and thought they were just carried by boring Duncan and thought David Robinson and the Spurs organization got lucky they landed Duncan.

It still hurts a little till this day. I wanted to see Lakers take on the Kings again or Dallas, beat them and then do a 4peat. I knew MJ bulls didn't do that, and I wanted that to be special for the Lakers.

04 Lakers losing the Pistons in the finals is about the same the level.
I never watched the east teams that much back then. It's mostly whoever that wins the WCF is the one that wins the the NBA finals. After the Lakers beat the Spurs and the Kings were out, I thought that was it. T-Wolves didn't scare me at all, cuz I thought no way could they defend better than the Spurs. And I never thought KG was better than Duncan. And the Pistons had no stars. So, I thought it's another sweep. But the deconstruction started. I knew it was trouble when the Lakers barely won game 2 when Kobe had to be clutch. Even when they were down 1-3, I thought the Lakers would probably still have it in the bag. Nooooope. Then Shaq and Kobe broke up. I thought if they would've won, things would've been fine. I never understood how they won without a star talent back then. And I didn't believe Billups was THAT good. I didn't think he was better than Steve Francis, Jason Kidd or Steve Nash. Thought the whole crew seemed a bit thuggish too. And especially after the brawl the following season.

Like even rewatching those series still opens a little wound mentally lol. What about you guys? What's your toughest lost that you took as a fan?


03 sixers to the pistons

[imdaman99]

1994 Knicks losing in the Finals to the Rockets. Their best chance during my lifetime at a ring. Starks was blocked in game 6, he was carrying them in the 4th but of course Olajuwon blocked him and the rest is history :(

[Reggie43]

1999 was supposed to be our year with the Bulls gone. They were one of the preseason favorites because of the deep playoff run the year before and the early preparation they did as a team despite the lockout. They underachieve during the regular season but playoff time comes and they actually sweep the first two rounds against the big three Bucks and Iversons Sixers. Then they choked and lost to the 8th seeded Knicks in the Conference Finals. Always felt that was the Pacers best chance at a ring and they blew it. What made matters worse is they actually trade Antonio Davis away in probably the aftermath of that loss.

[BigtimeNBAFan]

Seattle losing to the Nuggets. Best team in the regular season, but choked in the playoffs and not even to a title contender like the Rockets or Knicks. That should have been the Sonics year.

[Axe]

2012 bulls lost to the 8th seeded sixers. Became the fourth team in league history as a top seed which were wiped out by a low seed if I ain't mistaken.

[ELITEpower23]

Losing a closely fought 7-game series against OKC in 2011 after ousting the #1 seed Spurs. I really thought that could have been our year.

We had a solid, solid squad with prime Randolph, Conley, Marc Gasol, O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen, Battier.

We had toughness and rebounding, rim protection, excellent perimeter defense, and solid scoring. If Conley or Gasol was a year or two older we might have won it all that year.

[ELITEpower23]

2012 bulls lost to the 8th seeded sixers. Became the fourth team in league history as a top seed which were wiped out by a low seed if I ain't mistaken.

True but Derrick Rose got hurt so it does "count" but then again does it? Nothing like my 8 seed Grizzlies spanking the 1 seed Spurs in 2011 and finally making our playoff debut.

[fsvr54]

Hawks in 08 sucked because we pushed them to 7, Joe Johnson had the most ridiculous 4th quarter in game 6 I've ever seen. I was convinced he was a superstar and then we got raped in game 7.

2010 Hawks be got absolutely demolished by Orlando in the second round, it was just too much. I think at the time if was the biggest sweep of all time in terms of point differential

[Doranku]

Definitely the '08 finals. I'll never forget how pumped I felt at halftime of game 4, Lakers up ~20 about to tie the series. Looked like Kobe and the Lakers had figured out the Celtics defense... then it all just unraveled.

[red1]

havent had any real tough losses because the raptors are the youngest team in the city and expectatons were fairly low. we were fortunate as well and also closed it out the one time we were in the finals.



most annoying loss would definitely be 2015 when we got swept by the wizards. the players just didnt have it that series. it was tough to watch.

[Whoah10115]

Reggie Miller's 8 points.

[Micku]

Losing a closely fought 7-game series against OKC in 2011 after ousting the #1 seed Spurs. I really thought that could have been our year.

We had a solid, solid squad with prime Randolph, Conley, Marc Gasol, O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen, Battier.

We had toughness and rebounding, rim protection, excellent perimeter defense, and solid scoring. If Conley or Gasol was a year or two older we might have won it all that year.

Those early 10s Memphis teams were always a team I thought would be similar to the Pistons of the mid 00s. I always thought they had a lot of talent to succeed, even when they had OJ Mayo over there and they were losing, I just couldn't figure out why lol. But man, I always felt those early 10s Memphis teams could beat anyone in the league.

[Gougou]

2010 Celtics vs Lakers. 2016 Cavs vs Warriors.

Wanted Celtics and Cavs to win :(

Also maybe all those LeBronto series, too embarrassing.

[GimmeThat]

Pete Buttigieg

[Smoke117]

1999 was supposed to be our year with the Bulls gone. They were one of the preseason favorites because of the deep playoff run the year before and the early preparation they did as a team despite the lockout. They underachieve during the regular season but playoff time comes and they actually sweep the first two rounds against the big three Bucks and Iversons Sixers. Then they choked and lost to the 8th seeded Knicks in the Conference Finals. Always felt that was the Pacers best chance at a ring and they blew it. What made matters worse is they actually trade Antonio Davis away in probably the aftermath of that loss.

:facepalm

[highwhey]

when Amare was suspended against the spurs playoff series bc he cleared the bench when robert horry hip checked NASH. it's clearly a desperation move to stop Nash bc they knew this was our year.

[Pipes2.0]

2010 Celtics vs Lakers. 2016 Cavs vs Warriors.

Wanted Celtics and Cavs to win :(

Also maybe all those LeBronto series, too embarrassing.

The 2010 finals was a hard loss for me too. The celtics were already up 3-2, they had two chances to win the chip but they couldn't get it done.
I was really hoping they would win that one because their 2009 run was wasted due to KG being injured. That Celtics team could've possibly three-peat but instead they only won one.

I'm confused, the Cavs won in 2016 right?

[pandiani17]

:facepalm

He is right, the Pacers were one of the favorites in 1999 and they had a better, more solid and more veteran-savy team than the Knicks that beat them. However, I think they would have lost against the Spurs in the finals, that Duncan-Robinson duo was something special. I was a Pacer fan in the Jermaine O'Neal years and the 2004 loss to the Pistons was a tough pill to swallow. Especially that game 2 Tyshaun Prince block, I think it is one of the most underrated post-season play of all-time.

[pandiani17]

The 2010 finals was a hard loss for me too. The celtics were already up 3-2, they had two chances to win the chip but they couldn't get it done.
I was really hoping they would win that one because their 2009 run was wasted due to KG being injured. That Celtics team could've possibly three-peat but instead they only won one.

I'm confused, the Cavs won in 2016 right?

Well, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins act as if they are three time NBA champions, anyway. They sure milk that ring.

[And1AllDay]

Well, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins act as if they are three time NBA champions, anyway. They sure milk that ring.

:oldlol: :oldlol:

[Pipes2.0]

Well, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins act as if they are three time NBA champions, anyway. They sure milk that ring.

Yeah, I agree they're not likeable now but back then I was big time KG fan. Lol.

[Wally450]

2010 Celtics. I agree, they do milk the 2008 ring, but the 2010 ring was right in their grasp.

[DMAVS41]

2006 Finals.

[ScottieQuitting]

1994 ECSF. Our roster had been much improved, outside of losing our best player. Our then second in command became the "Go To Guy", and while competent in the regular season. Revealed himself to be the caliber player he's known to be, which was a supplemental Beta, who lacked the requisite scoring skill, mental toughness, and leadership to get us out of a 2nd round, when we were getting odd outlier contributions motivated out of contract seasons, and desire to prove doubters wrong that they were just role players in BJ and Horace Grant. Literal career years from both. Hell, out rookie foreigner was hitting game winners, while our new "leader" was pouting on the bench.

[Shogon]

1995 NBA Finals Game 1.

2009 NBA Finals Game 2.

[Hakkim90cc]

2011 heat game 5

We were all in disbelief

[Roundball_Rock]

blah blah blah

3ball is back again. :lol

For basketball it is Game7 of the 2000 WCF. Game 5 of the 94' ECSF would be second. The Bulls were probably robbed of a trip to the finals by one of the WOAT phantom foul calls, called on the final Knicks' possession in New York with the Knicks defeated on the court absent to Hue Hollins bailout (same ref cost the Bulls a 40-1 home record in 96'). These are as far as losses go. The hardest game was a game we actually "won": Game 1 of the 2012 first round because that is when we lost Rose as we knew him.

For stick and ball sports as a whole, the 2002 NFC championship game.

[Gudo]

2010 celtics vs lakers was very tough. I didnt feel like watching sports for a while after that loss.

[highwhey]

3ball is back again. :lol

For basketball it is Game7 of the 2000 WCF. Game 5 of the 94' ECSF would be second. The Bulls were probably robbed of a trip to the finals by one of the WOAT phantom foul calls, called on the final Knicks' possession in New York with the Knicks defeated on the court absent to Hue Hollins bailout (same ref cost the Bulls a 40-1 home record in 96'). These are as far as losses go. The hardest game was a game we actually "won": Game 1 of the 2012 first round because that is when we lost Rose as we knew him.

For stick and ball sports as a whole, the 2002 NFC championship game.

Holy sheeit this guy can't stay away from this forum :roll:

[dankok8]

2014 1st Round vs. Nets

Lost in Game 7 by two points and Lowry totally got fouled by Pierce on that last play. That one freaking sucked and still remember it today.

The Carter shot that rimmed out 2001 2nd Round vs. Sixers didn't really hit me that hard. I wasn't really much of a fan back then.