Was the Pacers loss the most devastating in NBA history?

[jkvonny]

Pacers window isn't closed BTW.

[BigDan245]

Obviously the Spurs won the title in 2014, but games 6 and 7 of the 2013 finals were as gut wrenching as you can get.

[Franco]

Mad respect for a team that fouls on every play? Lol!

If they didn't call it, it isn't a foul. It is what it is.

[Hair Jordan]

Nah, the Spurs in 2013 or the Lakers in ‘88 were more devastating. Both teams were up 3-2 in the series and up late in the game. Hell, they were bringing out the champagne in the locker room for the Spurs and roping off the court seconds before Ray Allen’s three. In ‘88, the ref called a phantom foul on Laimbeer to put Kareem on the line to save LA. Both of these losses were brutal.

[ShootersShoot]

Was gonna say no but I suppose losing the finals and losing any chance to compete thr following year all at once has gotta be up there.

Exactly how I looked at it, I read the title and was like "not a chance" but then thinking about it, losing Game 7 when you played close 75% of the game and lose your best player for not only the game but likely all of the following year, thats gotta just gut a franchise and fanbase

For me at least, its easier to accept losing in a close game with the best players on the floor. Having that what if and also the lost season is much, much harder to get over.

[karmew32]

With the Myles Turner departure, this loss became even worse. No way do they release him if Haliburton is healthy. Ownership had stated before Game 7 that they'd be willing to go into the tax to keep the team together.

[Wargreymon]

Is it too late to change our poll selection? Man...feel bad for Pacers fans

[jkvonny]

Nah, the Spurs in 2013 or the Lakers in ‘88 were more devastating. Both teams were up 3-2 in the series and up late in the game. Hell, they were bringing out the champagne in the locker room for the Spurs and roping off the court seconds before Ray Allen’s three. In ‘88, the ref called a phantom foul on Laimbeer to put Kareem on the line to save LA. Both of these losses were brutal.

You mean '88 Pistons. But ya. True

[Los_29]

Brutal loss but they earned the respect of every basketball fan in the world because of how they play.

On the flip side the Thunder won the championship but they lost the respect of every basketball fan in the world because of how they play.

Obviously I'd rather have the championship regardless of public opinion but that has to count for something.

Please speak for yourself. The Thunder is a tremendous team, both offense and defensive the entire season. I have mad respect for this team.

Defensively yes, but their offense looked horrid at times. Without SGA, I don’t know how they’d even score in the half court. lol.

[syrus3]

The correct answer is now yes.

And Game 4 is up there too.

[Hair Jordan]

Nah, the Spurs in 2013 or the Lakers in ‘88 were more devastating. Both teams were up 3-2 in the series and up late in the game. Hell, they were bringing out the champagne in the locker room for the Spurs and roping off the court seconds before Ray Allen’s three. In ‘88, the ref called a phantom foul on Laimbeer to put Kareem on the line to save LA. Both of these losses were brutal.

You mean '88 Pistons. But ya. True

Yeah, you’re right. I meant the Pistons. What was even worse than the phantom call on Laimbeer at the end of game 6 was the end of game 7. The Pistons still had a chance but the refs allowed Magic to bulldoze Isiah on the final play as Lakers fans were already storming the court. It was bad at the time and seems especially egregious 37 years later.

[Up-And-Coming]

I think this opens up Bradley Beal to the Bucks via their Full MLE. The Bucks have been rumored to be on Beal's short list of destinations he would waive his NTC for but this scenario doesn't even require him to do so. Suns waive and stretch Beal (giving up $2.8 mil per which is $13.8 mil in Full to satisfy the 15%) opening up the Suns to use and split their Full MLE on Chris Paul (beat out Clippers offer) plus GP2, Brogdon or someone else they want.

The Pacers have their Full MLE to fill their gap in Center with either a similar switchable stretch big in Al Horford or perhaps a different look with Ayton.

EDIT: Bucks have the Cap Room Exception as a Capspace team which can throw off the math meaning Beal would most likely have to give up $ in this hypothetical

[Haldi]

The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead and lost at home in game 7 by 4 points.

Followed by back to back championships and another title 4 years later. I could be wrong but I read the op as the reason its more devastating, is because that loss marks an irreversible faith for the franchise to be doomed for long. If Im right, the warriors don’t fit here at all, they recovered just fine.

His other examples seem to accord to this. 2002 Kings I believe didn’t even make the playoffs for like 20 years after. 98 Jazz had an aging Malone and Stockton and fell apart a few years after and so on.

It could really be that bad for Pacers too, with Hali’s injury and losing Turner, but I guess time will tell.

[jkvonny]

Nah, the Spurs in 2013 or the Lakers in ‘88 were more devastating. Both teams were up 3-2 in the series and up late in the game. Hell, they were bringing out the champagne in the locker room for the Spurs and roping off the court seconds before Ray Allen’s three. In ‘88, the ref called a phantom foul on Laimbeer to put Kareem on the line to save LA. Both of these losses were brutal.

You mean '88 Pistons. But ya. True

Yeah, you’re right. I meant the Pistons. What was even worse than the phantom call on Laimbeer at the end of game 6 was the end of game 7. The Pistons still had a chance but the refs allowed Magic to bulldoze Isiah on the final play as Lakers fans were already storming the court. It was bad at the time and seems especially egregious 37 years later.

I was very young at the time but I do remember that.

Sucks that Isiah Thomas had a bum ankle, injury too.
Well, Detroit got their revenge the very next season and swept LA Lakers in the Rematch, winning their first ever NBA title.

[jkvonny]

The Warriors blew a 3-1 lead and lost at home in game 7 by 4 points.

Followed by back to back championships and another title 4 years later. I could be wrong but I read the op as the reason its more devastating, is because that loss marks an irreversible faith for the franchise to be doomed for long. If Im right, the warriors don’t fit here at all, they recovered just fine.

His other examples seem to accord to this. 2002 Kings I believe didn’t even make the playoffs for like 20 years after. 98 Jazz had an aging Malone and Stockton and fell apart a few years after and so on.

It could really be that bad for Pacers too, with Hali’s injury and losing Turner, but I guess time will tell.

Kings stayed elite until 2005. 2006 they made playoffs lost to the Spurs in 1st round.

2003 (back to back Pacific Division winners) Kings were one of the favorites, Chris Webber blew out his knee in the 2nd round vs the Mavs. Lost the series in 7 games.
2004, lost in 7 to the TWolves in 2nd round. Would've been 2002 WCF vs Lakers had Kings won.

The long 16 year drought started in 2007. Before 2022.