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Shocking NBA Playoff Failures That No One Saw Coming

by Jeremy Block - 12/23/2024

Shocking NBA Playoff failures nobody saw coming Stephen Curry Golden State Warriors

The NBA playoffs are supposed to be where the best teams shine, but sometimes they’re the stage for absolute disaster. Some of the league’s most dominant teams have faced shocking collapses that no one saw coming. 

Whether it's a powerhouse team crumbling under pressure, or an underdog coming out of nowhere to spoil the party, these playoff failures will go down in history. Buckle up, because we’re diving into the moments that left everyone asking, "How the heck did that happen?"

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1. 2011 Miami Heat - The "Big 3" Collapse

 When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh teamed up in Miami, the NBA’s expectations were sky-high. The Heat were the heavy favorites going into the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, and they even had a 2-1 series lead. But then, LeBron decided to put on one of the most disastrous performances of his career. Game after game, he disappeared in the fourth quarter -- eight points in a crucial Game 4, and the Mavericks capitalized. Dirk Nowitzki was playing out of his mind, and the Heat couldn’t get it together.

In the end, Dallas won the Finals in six games, and Miami’s "Big 3" had their first big taste of failure. It wasn’t just a series loss; it was the moment that made LeBron’s championship quest a national punchline. LeBron’s infamous "not one, not two" championship promises started to sound like pure comedy, and this Finals loss haunted him until he finally delivered in 2012. That 2011 Finals will forever be the “what could’ve been” in Miami.

2. 2016 Golden State Warriors - 73-9 and the 3-1 Collapse

 Let’s set the scene: The 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors weren’t just a good team. They were historically good - the best regular season in NBA history at 73-9. They had the dynamic splash bros, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, and a loaded roster that was clicking on all cylinders. In the NBA Finals, they had a 3-1 series lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and it was basically over, right? Wrong (buzzer sound). The Warriors got completely outclassed, as LeBron James turned into a man on a mission.

Cleveland didn’t just make a comeback; they would go on to squash the Warriors. LeBron’s block on Andre Iguodala helped the Cavs snatch the series from Golden State’s grasp. This was a team that set an NBA record for wins and had a 3-1 lead in the Finals - and they still lost. The Warriors’ 73-9 season is now a distant memory, replaced by the sting of the biggest Finals collapse of the century. How do you even process that?

3. 2016 Oklahoma City Thunder - The 3-1 Lead That Vanished

 2016 was a year for the ages. Oklahoma City had the Golden State Warriors on the ropes, leading them 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals. Kevin Durant was in his prime, Russell Westbrook was a freight train, and it felt like the Thunder were finally about to crush the Warriors’ dynasty. Then, just like that, the wheels came off. The Warriors stormed back, winning three straight games to clinch the series and sending OKC home in heartbreak. It was like watching a car crash in slow motion, and somehow, the Thunder couldn’t stop themselves from spinning out of control.

The worst part? Durant’s decision to join the Warriors that offseason was basically a nail in the coffin for Oklahoma City’s championship hopes. The Thunder’s failure to close out the series meant they were just one game away from the Finals, and the entire landscape of the NBA would be changed forever. 

4. 2018 Houston Rockets - Game 7 Meltdown vs. Warriors

 The 2018 Western Conference Finals should’ve been Houston’s year. The Rockets finished with the best record in the NBA, they had a 3-2 series lead, and Game 6 was in Houston. If they won that game, they’d advance to their first NBA Finals since 1995. And then it happened -- Houston missed 27 straight 3-pointers in Game 7. Yep, you read that right -- 27. The Rockets completely fell apart offensively. And instead of sealing the deal, they handed the Warriors a ticket to the Finals.

What happened? Houston couldn’t buy a bucket. And with Chris Paul sidelined due to injury, the Rockets’ offense looked like it had never seen a basketball before. Golden State capitalized on every mistake and locked in a dominant win to secure their place in the Finals. Houston fans are still probably asking, "How in the world do you miss 27 straight 3-pointers?" It was a meltdown of epic proportions, and another wasted chance to dethrone ‘Dub City’.

5. 2007 Dallas Mavericks - The Biggest Upset in Playoff History

Rewinding back to 2007, where the Dallas Mavericks were cruising into the playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference with a 67-15 record. Dirk Nowitzki was the MVP, and the Mavs were supposed to be the favorite to win it all. But then, the unimaginable happened. The Warriors, who had snuck into the playoffs as the 8th seed, played small-ball, led by Baron Davis and Matt Barnes, upsetting them in the first round. This wasn’t just an upset -- it was full-blown humiliation.

Dallas couldn’t handle the Warriors’ fast-paced, perimeter shooting style, and the Mavs looked completely out of sorts. The series was over in six games, and suddenly the team with the best record in the NBA was going home early. It was one of the biggest upsets in playoff history and left the Mavericks wondering just how they let it slip through their fingers. The Warriors' unlikely run became the stuff of legends. However, for Dallas? It was a first-round disaster they’ll never live down.

6. 2012 Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose’s Torn ACL

 The 2012 Chicago Bulls were on top of the Eastern Conference, led by the young and explosive Derrick Rose, who had just won MVP. Everything seemed aligned for the Bulls to make a deep run, maybe even win the title. But then disaster struck in the opening game of the playoffs. Rose, in just the first few minutes of Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers, tore his ACL. The entire city of Chicago collectively held its breath. Rose’s injury completely derailed the Bulls’ chances. And despite still having a solid squad, they were knocked out by the 8th-seeded Sixers in the first round.

It was a tragic and shocking blow to a team that had the potential to go all the way. Rose never returned to his MVP form, and the Bulls’ window for a championship slammed shut just as fast as it had opened. Chicago fans were left to wonder “what could have been,” as Rose’s injury turned a title contender into a team simply struggling to get out of the first round.

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