The Spurs' Worst Playoff Losses

[SA210]

Pop outcoached Himself.
Avery took what Pop gave him.

Pop went against his own beliefs. He should be ashamed of himself, he needs to learn from his horribble mistake and come back smarter and remember what got him 3 les.

Again, he needs to learn from this and not make this same screw up next year.

[ancestron]

Agree with Jim. The spurs played into dallas's strenght. The spurs don't match up small ball with Dallas. Dallas has overall better athletes and more scorers.

I don't understand why some believe the spurs couldn't win this year when they never had much trouble beating Dallas in the past playng the centers they had.

i tend to agree that we should have at least had Nazr out there for some parts of the game, if for nothing else to help us on the offensive boards. i firmly believe that
Nazr was an integral part of the spurs run last year, and not playing him at all this series was probably a mistake. but if the spurs had won game 7 everyone would be saying what a genius popovich is using the small lineup. hindsight is always 20/20
we just have to bite the bullet and say that its someone elses turn this year. But gosh darnit manu why'd you have to foul Nowitzki. Don't you know if you guys even breathe on him wrong Javie will blow the whistle? especially in the closing seconds of a big game. Cant hurt the precious
Dirk.

[degenerate_gambler]

I'm a little biased when it comes to my top playoff losses because 1) I'm older than probably the majority of ya'll and 2) I was fortunate to have been a ball boy for the Spurs from their ABA days up until 1981. So some of the ones I think were tough to swallow occurred back in the day when I was young and impressionable. With that said, here's my top 5:

5. 1983 Game Six LA @ SA....Very even series with both teams winning on each others' court. But in this game SA fought like all nite and had a chance for OT but Mike Mitc 's shot was off target and time ran out just before the A-Train grabbed the rebound and stuffed it.

4. 1981 Game 7 Hou @ SA...This series was a ing war and if you think Dal/SA was intense, this game 7 was boiling with bad blood. The Spurs were favored and the better team but in those days that usually meant somehow we'd screw it up. Unfortunately, Calvin ing Murphy just went off that nite and we had no answer for the little .

3. 2004 Game 5 LA @ SA...0.4 The loss that nite took a day or two to sink it because of the suddeness of it. Shocking and devastating especially after TD's unbelievable bucket to put us ahead.

2. 2006 Game 7 Dal @ SA...Knowing that the Spurs had long put to rest the "cant win the big game" tag, I just knew with TD, Gino etc. that we'd find a way, any way to win especially in our house. It wasn't meant to be and it hurts to want something so bad and see it slip away.

1. 1979 Game 7 SA @ Wash...We all know about SA being up 3-1 and blowing it. But this game was a crusher. Ice played his ass off this series. The Spurs were up late in this game when "mysteriously" the power failed at the Capital Center. The game was delayed for a good 10-15 min. and SA lost every bit of their momentum and had some calls go against them, letting the Bullets off the hook. This one still pisses me off. you Wes Unseld, Bobby Dandridge, Keving Grevey and Elvin Hayes.

[Beaverfuzz]

1. 1994-95 WCF vs. Houston Rockets
This one hurt so damn much. The Spurs lose the first two games at home. Fight back and win the next two at home. Everything is looking good ... but then lose Game 5 at home and Game 6 on the road. Spurs had never won the championship before so getting that close and not doing it was damn tough to swallow.

2. 2005-06 WCSF vs. Dallas Mavericks
This one was bad. The only reason I don't think it's worse than the '95 loss is because the Spurs have three les to their name. That said, if the Spurs win Game 7 at home, I think they go on to win the championship. Phoenix? Spurs owned them last season with Amare. Detroit looks beatable with Flip at the helm.

3. 2003-04 WCSF vs. Los Angeles Lakers
.4 sucked. It really sucked. But going into that series, I thought the Lakers were the better team on paper. The Spurs were going to have to play perfect to beat them. As it turns out, they played great the first two games and then folded.

4. 2000-01 WCF vs. Los Angeles Lakers
That azz beating was just wrong.

5. 1978-79 ECF vs. Washington Bullets
Going up 3-1 and then dropping three in a row had to suck.

Where's the 89-90 series vs Portland or that series in the 90's against Run TMC?

[tlongII]

1a. 1989-90 WCSF vs. Portland Trailblazers
Oddly enough, meetings in the WCF against the Phoenix Suns and in the Finals against the Pistons awaited, with the Spurs having played well against both in the regular season. The Game 7 also went into overtime.

I'd rate that one right behind the '95 WCF debacle. I'd also rate the '79 ECF loss higher since the Spurs were that close to winning their 1st championship. After that, I'd rate the '01 WCF loss higher since that team was blown out despite having a great regular season and it was the matchup of the last two le teams due to TD having missed the postseason the year before. That was much more humiliating than last night.

The Spurs played this series down to the wire plus an extra half frame while playing a style other than their own. At this point, the consolation prize of not having to read the 12 year old drivel of Mavs fans anymore isn't that bad. There's plenty of options this summer to retool, which should be interesting.

This one was my favorite.

[boutons_]

Worst is this year.

After 3 single les, Spurs were tasked by Pop to repeat this season. Having 3 les doesn't relieve this loss. They actually make it worse.

Now we'll have to start all over to join the elite group of repeaters.
Age and injuries are catching up with Tim and Manu.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

5. 1983 Game Six LA @ SA....Very even series with both teams winning on each others' court. But in this game SA fought like all nite and had a chance for OT but Mike Mitc 's shot was off target and time ran out just before the A-Train grabbed the rebound and stuffed it.

I remember that game, but I thought Artis missed the tip at the end as time expired. In fact I'm pretty sure he did because that game was etched in my mind. I was a teenager and the Spurs games seemed much more life or death than they actually were. Probably in my top five most disappointing losses as well.

[degenerate_gambler]

I remember that game, but I thought Artis missed the tip at the end as time expired. In fact I'm pretty sure he did because that game was etched in my mind. I was a teenager and the Spurs games seemed much more life or death than they actually were. Probably in my top five most disappointing losses as well.

You're right bro. He missed the tip, the ball went to the floor and he picked it up and time expired before he flushed it.


This is just my opinion but that nite I believe is where the "Go Spurs Go" battle cry originated. It was during a timeout after SA had closed the gap again and everyone in Hemisfair was on their feet yelling it totally unscripted. Was ing awesome.

[wildbill2u]

if the spurs don't foul dirk or gino makes that layup, pop doesn't get outcoached. pop did what he had to do to try and win the series, and almost did. he didn't get outcoached in game 7, the bench didn't show up AT ALL. at some point the players have to put the ball in the bucket, and the bench didn't do that.

The bench for this series was: Barry and NVE. Barry needs minutes to play well and NVE needs a wheelchair and a lively nurse.

Pop didn't use anyone else, keeping NAZR, Rasho, Beno, Marks, Oberto almost totally out of the series.

Basically, AJ imposed his will on Pop.

[polandprzem]

To me this year was the biggest upset of all. Maybe because I do not realy remember the 95 or the spurs losing to the Bullets.

But this year the 63 wins and a long bench and Tim Duncan playing better and better, that makes it.
Plus I do not think that the Miami or Pistons this year could beat the spurs. Only rested and healthy athletic Mavs team with the longest bench in NBA could do it and they did.

So close, chances to win in regulation game 4 and 7, a mistake by manu....it's just so heartbreaking. I alwayes takes spurs loss personally. Right now I'm devastated and I do not know when I will be able to came to life. I don't want to watch any of the NBA games. No spurs games - even spurs championship DVD 2005 which I put into DVD 2 days ago. I don't know what to do, I just don't

[baseline bum]

I don't think the Spurs would have beaten Detroit. The Pistons waxed their asses badly both regular season games, and even when our bigs were playing this season the Spurs got killed on the boards. This became too much of a finesse team this season. I want to see the Spurs attacking the basket and going to the free throw line like they did in the 2003 and 2005 seasons. You're never going to outshoot your opponent at the line if you play no D and can't rebound either.

I think this team would have had no answer for the Wallace's on the boards this time around.... and no loss will ever compare to 111-72 in game 3 of the 2001 WCF. A loss where the team played their asses off and left it on the floor doesn't bother me.

[CharlieMac]

.4

[Spurminator]

This doesn't suck so much from the standpoint that we should have won or anything like that, but what sucks is that if we HAD won, this would have been one of the greatest Spurs games of all time. One for the video archive, to be watched every year like the Memorial Day Game and The Horry Game.

[ShoogarBear]

1. 1979 Game 7 SA @ Wash...We all know about SA being up 3-1 and blowing it. But this game was a crusher. Ice played his ass off this series. The Spurs were up late in this game when "mysteriously" the power failed at the Capital Center. The game was delayed for a good 10-15 min. and SA lost every bit of their momentum and had some calls go against them, letting the Bullets off the hook. This one still pisses me off. you Wes Unseld, Bobby Dandridge, Keving Grevey and Elvin Hayes.

Spurs blow a 10 point fourth quarter lead. Jack Madden calls a BS offensive foul on a screen handoff from Billy Paultz late in the game. Bobby Dandridge hits a jumper from the left baseline with less than 10 seconds left. James Silas' last-second jumper is blocked by Elvin Hayes.

Fortunately, that one doesn't bother me too much or anything.

[efrem1]

I remember that game, but I thought Artis missed the tip at the end as time expired. In fact I'm pretty sure he did because that game was etched in my mind. I was a teenager and the Spurs games seemed much more life or death than they actually were. Probably in my top five most disappointing losses as well.

Their still should be archived videos of this game. I remember Artis going up and the shot fell to the side and Magic and Kareem running off the court for joy. I was at Game 5 a few nights before and I thought these guys had a chance to go to the Finals. If I recall correctly, they beat the 76ers both times that season and I looked forward to the matchup and wanted to see Brent Musburger (sic) and Tommy Heinsohn whine about a small town team making it to the finals.

[Nikos]

.4 hurt more. But this one hurt a lot too. 2001 just flat out made me angry.

2002 there was a bright light of hope with Tony coming in, and Manu on his way. That was the best time because you could just sense the potential for growth into a perenial championship contender. But then again this years loss kind of dampens that a bit, because the Spurs had a golden opportunity to win it all, at least in terms of the talent and experience the team had and the lack of balanced competetion this season.

[polandprzem]

How could the experiance did not pay off?

[cherylsteele]

Show me examples of how Rasho and Nazr would have won this series, and I may be more willing to accept your argument.

You know that is impossible because neither played......AND WE LOST.
How about proving we would still would not have won with at least Rasho playing more minutes.

We played with twin towers all season....we won a record 63 games....and al of the sudden you want to change it?

We were defending champions....we win the first game with a 2nd big starting.....you go to small ball and still lose a series.

Guard speed has little to do with it. Rasho doesn't need to be fast....he and Tim will usually be waiting for whoever would have driven the lane. Pop made hasty knee-jerk reaction about the team size.....he should have made a different strategy on how to funnel the peremiter players into the middle and use thst to our advantage. You turn them into more of jump shooting team and they would not be able to hit all their shots like they did.
Small ball did not work....the Mavs still had a layup parade.....at least put in a 2nd big a try ro stop the easy layups and dunks.

I do not understand the facination Pop had with NVE.
NVE did absolutely nothing outside on game 1 vs. Sacramento bur still played him. At least give Beno a little more of a chance when it matters.

This series loss is all on Pop.

[Mavtek]

Pop went with Small ball cause in the 2nd game he got torched like a Roman candle in a hot ashes.......

Trust me, he saw the film and realized pretty quickly that Nazr, Duncan, nor Rasho could handle Dirk or Howard on the defensive end. The thing that he didn't count on in the end was that none of his guys could handle Dirk on the defensive end.

You have to realize what Dallas was doing in game 2 to see what Pop had to do. Dallas primarily runs 2 plays for most of the game, the high pick, or a Dirk Iso at the top of the key. That's all they pretty much run I'd say %80 of the time. Pop knew that's what they were going to do by game 2, but the way they ran with Harris vs Griffin wasn't stoppable with Rasho in the game. Dirk would pick for Terry or Harris Nazr switched, now you have Parker on Dirk and Bowen on Terry or Harris doesn't sound bad yet does it. Now in the switch the guard has time to get in the key just slightly sucking in the Defense and now Terry or Harris can go to the wing to Howard or Stackhouse who is either gaurded by Nazr, Duncan, or Rasho, but if for some reason that mismatch isn't available he just dumps it back to Dirk and Dirk drains the jumper from the top of the key or if the Spurs bring a double he kicks to a guard who is being guarded now by a big. That guard can now shoot over the big or drive to the hole now guarded by a bunch of guards....

Pop had no choice really, Dirk is the ultimate defensive killer, he's simply like no other player to ever play the game. He's an above average shooting guard that happens to be 7' tall and can rebound as well as just about anyone in the league. Dirk's offensive skill set is so amazing but dare I say even if he were 6'5" he'd still be a starting guard in the NBA.

[Winnipeg_Spur]

In about a month I think we'll know how bad this loss was. If Detroit gets upset in the ECF or makes it through but looks weak in losing to the Mavs then I'd rank this one at the top. Right now, I don't think we'd beat the Pistons, cause I think they'd defend us just as well as Dallas did, except they have better shotblockers and interior defenders. Duncan wouldn't be able to average 30 a game against Detroit, and he needed that every game just to stay close to Dallas.

[timvp]

I'm telling you, this series is going to top the charts because the final four teams are weak. Sorry Piston fans, but if the Spurs were still alive, I'd be more confident than ever that the Spurs were going to win it all.

The Spurs would have beaten up on PHX and then whoever limps out of the east.

[polandprzem]

I'm telling you, this series is going to top the charts because the final four teams are weak. Sorry Piston fans, but if the Spurs were still alive, I'd be more confident than ever that the Spurs were going to win it all.

The Spurs would have beaten up on PHX and then whoever limps out of the east.

That's why to me this year it is the biggest upset in history.

And why did spurs played so poorly in 1st half? Where is the expierience? The playoffs has changed.
I don't believe the Pistons would beat spurs in that shape. Take a look at the cavs series.
Oppurtunity to win a championship. We saw a chapionship series in the 2nd round. well it is not happening every year.

[TonyC]

I'm telling you, this series is going to top the charts because the final four teams are weak. Sorry Piston fans, but if the Spurs were still alive, I'd be more confident than ever that the Spurs were going to win it all.

The Spurs would have beaten up on PHX and then whoever limps out of the east.

Your F'n crazy....weak?? Look who just eliminated your sorry asses...the Mavs baby!! You guys are still in denial

[SA Gunslinger]

1.) 0.4
2.) '06
3.) '01
4.) '95
5.) '02

[T Park]

This series loss is all on Pop.

heaven forbid it be the bad defense.

Damn pop not rebounding!!