All your Spurs pain and heartbreak in one nice list...
http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...nd-heartbreak/
Spurs’ horror and heartbreak
By Mike Monroe
[email protected]
So stunned were the Spurs by their collapse in the final minute against Portland at the Rose Garden on Friday, their only means of describing the loss was comparing it to two of the most memorable give-back games in franchise history: the stunning loss to the Lakers in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference semifinals and the remarkable defeat at the hands of the Rockets in 2004 when Houston’s Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in the final 35 seconds.
Where does Friday rank among the most mind-numbing Spurs losses during the 13-year Tim Duncan era that has produced 12 consecutive 50-win seasons and four NBA les?
1. Lakers 74, Spurs 73
What: Game 5, Western Conference semifinals
When, where: May 13, 2004, AT&T Center
The Setup: The Spurs won Games 1 and 2 in San Antonio, then dropped Games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles. The Lakers led through most of the fourth quarter, but Tim Duncan made one of the toughest shots of his career, a fadeaway, 22-foot rainbow over Shaquille O’Neal while leaning to his left, to give the Spurs a 73-72 lead with 0.4 seconds remaining. A celebration ensued as Spurs fans believed their team would take a 3-2 series lead back to L.A.
The Stunner: The Spurs opted not to put a defender on inbounds passer Gary Payton. Robert Horry and Devin Brown shadowed Lakers star Kobe Bryant. Derek Fisher caught Payton’s pass and put up a high-arcing shot over Manu Ginobili’s fingertips. The shot hit nothing but net.
The Effect: On their Staples Center home court for Game 6, the Lakers closed out the series, winning 88-76.
2. Mavericks 119, Spurs 111 (OT)
What: Game 7, Western Conference semifinals
When, where: May 22, 2006, AT&T Center
The Setup: The Spurs led, 104-101, with 31 seconds left in regulation after a 3-point basket by Ginobili capped a fourth-quarter comeback.
The Stunner: During a timeout that followed Ginobili’s 3-pointer, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich admonished his players not to commit a foul on the Mavericks’ post-timeout possession. But when Dirk Nowitzki drove for a 12-foot runner, Ginobili tried to block his shot. Nowitzki made the shot. Ginobili was called for the foul. Nowitzki made the free throw to tie the game, and it went to overtime when Ginobili missed on a baseline drive at the other end.
The Effect: The Mavericks dominated the overtime period and eventually advanced to their first NBA Finals, which they lost to Miami 4-2.
3. Rockets 81, Spurs 80
What: Regular season
When: Dec. 9, 2004,? Toyota Center, Houston
The Setup: In a grimy defensive slugfest, the Spurs led 74-64 with 1:02 remaining, and two Devin Brown free throws pushed the lead to 76-68 with 42 seconds left.
The Stunner: McGrady nailed a 3-pointer with 35 seconds left. Brown made two free throws to make it 78-71 with 31 seconds left. A Duncan foul gave McGrady a four-point play with 24 seconds left. Duncan atoned somewhat by making two free throws with 16 seconds left to push the Spurs’ lead to 80-75. McGrady made his third 3-pointer with 11 seconds left to slice the Spurs’ lead to 80-78. When Brown lost the ball on the right baseline with six seconds showing, McGrady sprinted up the court and nailed another 3-pointer that sliced through the net with 1.3 seconds left.
The Effect: The Spurs won nine of their next 10, ended up 59-23 and won a third NBA le.
4. Trail Blazers 98, Spurs 96
What: Regular season
When, where: March 25, 2011, Rose Garden,? Portland, Ore.
The Setup: The Spurs led 96-92 with 38.9 seconds left when DeJuan Blair rebounded Nicolas Batum’s missed 3-pointer and got the ball to point guard Tony Parker.
The Stunner: Andre Miller stole the ball and drove for a layup with 30.5 seconds left. Ginobili dribbled the clock down to 7.9 seconds and lost the ball to Wes Matthews. Matthews passed to Miller, who passed back to Matthews, whose layup attempt was blocked by Matt Bonner. In the scramble for the rebound, Bonner fouled Batum, who tied the game with two free throws with nine-tenths of a second left. Steve Novak’s inbounds pass for Ginobili sailed over his fingertips and out of bounds. Batum scored off a lob pass on Portland’s inbounds play to give the Blazers the win.
The Effect: Unknown, but Spurs’ magic number to win the West is still six.
5. Magic 106, Spurs 104
What: Regular season
When, where: Feb. 9, 2007, Orlando Arena,? Orlando, Fla.
The Setup: The Spurs had watched a double-digit lead dwindle away in the second half against the Magic and its young star, third-year center Dwight Howard, but were looking at going to overtime, the score tied at 104 with just eight-tenths of a second left.
The Stunner: With Howard circling from the low post on the right side of the lane to take off from the left side of the lane, Magic inbounder Hedo Turkoglu lofted a perfect lob pass that Howard grabbed with one hand and dunked into the basket as time expired.
The Effect: The Spurs lost their next game, in Miami, but righted themselves and reeled off 12 straight victories en route to a regular-season record of 58-24, then made a playoff run to their fourth NBA le.
Two of those only hurt, the rest? not much! LA game and Mavs game are the only two that count IMO, the others are one loss out of 82, the other two lost us a le IMO! Those two sting, those others blahhhhhh.
BTW two of those as well lead to a le! NOT BAD HUH! NOT BAD AT all, good company there for regular season games played.
The Mavs lost should be at the top simply because it was game 7. (although series wise '04 was worse because of the reverse sweep.)
But if the Portland loss is the 4th worst of the Duncan era, we've had a pretty sweet run these dozen years. We should be thankful we don't know how the other NBA half lives
2002 WCSF Game 4 vs. Lakers will always be on the list for me. I was at that game and we were down 2-1 in the series and absolutely had to win this game to have any kind of chance. I remember we had a 10 point lead with about 6 min to go and then just went ice cold only scoring 1 freaking point the rest of the game. Lakers won by 2, took a 3-1 lead, and that was basically the series. That was also the last game at the Alamodome.
wasn't there a game last year where the Spurs let Dirk and company drop 40 points on them in the 4th quarter to lose that game?
1 and 2 yes. 3, 4 and 5 are laughable.
Are you sure ? Perhaps for one game and 4pts in 0.9s the Spurs will lose their first place in the West and TD will not see a new and last ring.
Only God can laugh !!
Actually I think this was just a list of games where a victory seemed a sure thing and then was suddenly snatched away.The Mavs lost should be at the top simply because it was game 7. (although series wise '04 was worse because of the reverse sweep.)
But if the Portland loss is the 4th worst of the Duncan era, we've had a pretty sweet run these dozen years. We should be thankful we don't know how the other NBA half lives
Not to be a drag, but OP should edit 1st post down to protect ST from legal action from Hearst.
Those four straight losses Vs. the Suns last Spring resulting in The Skunker.
I don't think you fellows will ever live that down.
No question that was depressing (and it was probably embarassing to anybody who thought that year's squad was Finals-bound) but a heart-breaker implies having the win in hand and losing it. We were soundly out-played by the Suns from the first tip to the last bell.Those four straight losses Vs. the Suns last Spring resulting in The Skunker.
I don't think you fellows will ever live that down.
Considering the giant deficit Manu almost single-handedly helped the Spurs recover from in game 7 vs. the Mavs (only to give it away by fouling Dirk at the very end of regulation) and the fact that the Spurs could have destroyed the Heat for LOB #4, I gotta give that game the floral horseshoe for biggest heart-breaker. Hurts just to think about it.
Nobody gives a . We wouldn't have won crap anyways given our health status. I don't think not advancing was such a surprise. Suns suck and yeah they swept us but you seem to be the only one who gives a . There was only so much we could do with a depleted team and the Suns desperate to beat us for a historical change.Those four straight losses Vs. the Suns last Spring resulting in The Skunker.
I don't think you fellows will ever live that down.
Not quite all, these are of course limited to the Duncan era.All your Spurs pain and heartbreak in one nice list...
Game 7 of the The 78/79 Eastern (!) Conference Finals against the Bullets have to rank right up there.
Spurs blew a 3-1 lead in the series and ended up losing by 2 points in game seven because of a very dodgy moving pick call against Billy Paultz.
I think this game gave birth to the "league is against us" feeling that sometimes is hard to shake, even after our 4 les.
I'm still waiting for us (or anyone, actually) to get a series-deciding call against the Lakers. Has it ever happened? When there's a controversy or break to be given, the Lakers benefit 100% of the time.
Game 7 against Dallas was the worst by far. The Spurs would of steamrolled to a le if they win that game.
No mention of the 1990 Game 7 against Portland, and the Rod Strickland over-the-head turnover?
Tim Duncan era, nit.
Anyways, honorable mentions:
December 2001 @ Milwaukee - Spurs lead consistently by 10 throughout most of the game, but the Bucks rally down the stretch and force overtime with some truly miraculous shots. In overtime, the Spurs get bad calls and a Tim Duncan three barely rims out off the backboard, Spurs lose by three and our seeding (we had a GREAT start to that year) takes a bit of a nosedive.
February 2002 @ Cleveland - Spurs choke away 11 point lead with three minutes in the 4th to an absolutely dreadful team. We need every victory we can for seeding. Andre Miller hits a prayer three to force overtime, Cavs dominate overtime, Spurs lose game and 2nd seed -- we'd have to face the Lakers on the road in the WCSF and in that we wouldn't fare too well.
Game 4 2002 WCSF vs. LAL - Spurs lead by 10 with 4:31 left. Kobe goes ape and we go cold, Lakers take 3-1 lead and would win in 5.
Game 4 2003 WCQF @ Phoenix - Spurs lead by 14 midway through 4th quarter. Suns come all the way back to tie, and then Jake Voskuhl hits a GW prayer over Tim Duncan -- who proceeds to miss the last shot -- series is tied 2-2. Spurs would win in 6 however.
Game 4 2003 WCSF @ LAL - Spurs have a 16-point second half lead. All we need is this one game to take the series back to San Antonio with a commanding 3-1 lead and finally end the long reign of the Lakers. But without Phil Jackson, Kobe and Shaq somehow manage to lead their team all the way back to victory, Spurs suffer monumental collapse, series is tied 2-2. Spurs however would win in 6.
Game 1 2003 WCF vs. Dallas - Spurs have an 18-point lead in the first half, but Don Nelson's cheap strategy of fouling Bruce Bowen pays off, tightening the game, but the Spurs keep the lead until :11 on the clock when Michael Finley sinks us with a hook shot down the middle of the lane. Spurs would proceed to miss, and then foul, and then miss again, losing home court.
Game 5 2003 WCF vs. Dallas - Spurs have won the next 3 in the series, and a 19-point lead in the first half seemingly ensures us a Finals bid. But the Spurs cough it up at home once again, and we're forced to pull the same thing on the Mavericks in Dallas. We do that with a bunch of S. Jackson and Kerr threes en route to a 6-game series win and a 2003 championship.
November 2003 vs. LAL - A game we easily had in the bag, and one that would have been a statement game for us to win with no Tim Duncan or Tony Parker against all of the Lakers' healthy big four. Spurs led by nine with four minutes, but stupid turnovers such as eight-second violations allow the Lakers right back in the game, and they would go on to win in double overtime.
March 2004 @ Milwaukee - Tim Duncan dunk at the buzzer that was ruled good but later was taken away from him on the IR, Spurs lose by one.
December 2005 @ Milwaukee - Andrew Bogut overtime .7 prayer after Bucks came back from 4 down with less than a minute to go...'nuff said.
Game 4 2007 WCSF vs. Phoenix - For three and a half quarters the Spurs are the better team here, leading by 13 with under 6:00 to play but we wilt under pressure in the final moments and the Suns shine. However, Nash's flop on Horry with the game already in the sack for them cost them Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw who were suspended for leaving the bench, which would in turn cost the Suns Game 5 and the series.
Game 1 2008 WCF @ LAL - We're up 20 points in the third. Popovich decides to take out Bruce Bowen and put Ime Udoka on Kobe Bryant. Worst coaching decision ever. The Lakers storm back to tie the game with a little under half a quarter to play and the Spurs just couldn't hit the basket afterwards, Lakers win the game and the series, in 5.
Now that was painful. I'll always remember the feeling of disbelief, like I couldn't accept what I just saw. You do not make that pass...sigh. Strickland was such an ass.
I also seem to recall that they went away from Robinson on several key possessions down the stretch. 3 point overtime loss.
There was also the game 5 double overtime loss. Painful series. I think we would've won the le that year.
Wasn't Robinson like a rookie or sop re back then?
I wasn't born yet.
Robinson's rookie season. I think it was also the best chance of winning a le prior to TD's arrival.
Gaudy record, but you had Bob Hill's coaching, Rodman and Hakeem to deal with. Not too sure the Spurs could have beat the Magic in the finals.
In 1990, the Spurs were a few possessions away from the finals. I like our chances against the Pistons.
Well the Pistons would have roughed us up for sure...
Debatable. We split the regular season games with them that year. Terry mings was also still a pretty tough player at that point.
I still think that team's a bit lacking in talent looking at the roster. The Pistons still have their "bad boy" team intact. Pistons in 5
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
