Image via Complex Original
Game 7. The last chance a true contender has to prove themselves. As kids, we've all spent time shooting on the playground, pretending that we made that last-second, buzzer-beater to seal the victory for our favorite team. Who wouldn't want a chance like that, when the stakes for a series are at their absolute highest? After having traded blows for six games, this is where champions are born.
Sounds pretty incredible, right? Unfortunately, as we saw between the Heat and the Pacers this past Monday, the players can't always meet our lofty expectations. Whether it's because they're unwatchable, too lopsided, or just totally boring, some close-out games just fail to live up to the moment. Here they are now, The Worst Game 7s in NBA History.
Celtics @ Heat
Round: 2012 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: Heat, 101-88
For a team with as much pride as the Boston Celtics, you wish they'd shown a bit more of it in this game but, unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be. Age got the best of Boston's experienced core, as their wheels fell off in the fourth quarter to hand the win over to Miami. It signalled the end for Boston's Big Three, as Ray Allen would depart for Miami that offseason. Meanwhile, the Heat...well, you know the rest.
Lakers @ Suns
Round: 2006 Western Conference, First Round
Winning team and score: Suns, 121-90
To be honest, this series never should've even been this close, but the Lakers really made Phoenix sweat it out for the first six games. In fact, they were up 3-1 on the favored Suns before losing Games 5 and 6, despite 50 points from Kobe in the latter contest.
Do you realize that the Lakers were starting Luke Walton, Kwame Brown and Smush Parker during this series? At some point, the Suns noticed that too and started to take care of business. After going up 32-15 at the end of the first quarter, this game was basically over for L.A.
Clippers @ Suns
Round: 2006 Western Conference Semifinals
Winning team and score: Suns, 127-107
Same Suns facing off against the same city in the same year, and you know what? It was the same, boring result. There's no doubt that the D'Antoni-led Suns had one of the most fan-friendly offenses in NBA history. Unfortunately, their opponents just couldn't keep up.
The Suns went up 5-4 after two minutes in the first quarter, and would never trail for the rest of the game, bolstered by huge nights from Shawn Marion and Steve Nash. 107 points ain't shabby, but against a team that was averaging 108.4 PPG that season, the Clippers were going to have to do better than that.
Knicks @ Bulls
Round: 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Winning team and score: Bulls, 110-81
In 1992, Michael was at the peak of his powers. With one title under his belt, along with three MVPs, you know that there was just no way that His Airness was going to lose this game. You can't blame the Knicks for trying, but you just wish they'd put up more of a fight. With a veteran coach like Pat Riley at the helm, and All-Star Patrick Ewing posted up at center, it's surprising that New York whiffed so badly on this one. When you let MJ go for 42, though, you're almost always going to end up in the loss column.
Celtics @ Bucks
Round: 1974 Finals
Winning team and score: Celtics, 102-87
A year after their own embarrassing Game 7 defeat, the Celtics would take out their frustrations on Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and the rest of their Milwaukee Bucks teammates. It's Game 7 of the NBA Finals. You'd think that a couple future Hall-of-Famers like Oscar and Kareem could make it a close one, right? Wrong. While Kareem would post a double-double, Oscar was shut down by the stifling Boston defense, netting just six points, as his team fell by 15. Boston led by double digits at the half, and never let Milwaukee back in it.
Pacers @ Magic
Round: 1995 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: Magic, 105-81
Yes, Jordan ruled the '90s, but there was something about the Orlando Magic. Shaq was a goofy, but dominating, presence down-low, and Penny Hardaway had a devastating crossover to match his smooth jump shot. They were young, charismatic and, more importantly, they won games.
In this one, Indiana would figure that out the hard way, as Dale and Antonio Davis struggled to handle the Diesel in the paint. Meanwhile, Pacers legend Reggie Miller would only net 12 points on 38 percent shooting, while going 2-7 from beyond the arc.
76ers @ Celtics
Round: 1982 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: 76ers, 120-106
Though they only led by three at the half, the Sixers would ride the back of a strong third quarter to put away the defending champion Celtics, and punch their ticket to the Finals. Known as The Boston Strangler by Boston sportswriters, Philadelphia shooting guard Andrew Toney paved the way for the Sixers with 34 points, followed closely by 29 points from Dr. J. This team would end up falling to a tough Lakers squad in the Finals, though, before going on to take the title in 1983.
Hawks @ Celtics
Round: 1960 Finals
Winning team and score: Celtics, 122-103
Bob Pettit and Chuck Hagan were good, but Bill Russell, Tommy Heinsohn, and Bob Cousy? Better. By 19 points, too. This would be the second of Boston's eight straight championships, and the third of Bill Russell's 11, with Russell posting a double-double of 22 points and 35 rebounds in the close-out game. Yes, you read that right: 35 rebounds. Given that the Hawks only snagged 39 of their own, it's sort've a surprise that this wasn't more lopsided.
Pacers @ Heat
Round: 2013 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: Heat, 99-76
We all saw it. This game was ugly. From start to finish, the Pacers found themselves way out of step with the red-hot Heat, who had no problems putting the clamps down on their Eastern Conference rivals. Indiana's best quarter was the first, but even then they still managed to turn the ball over nine (!) times. On top of that, All-NBA forward Paul George scored just seven points on 2-9 shooting, and was the only Indiana starter who failed to crack double digits. As they say, you come at the King, you best not miss.
Hawks @ Celtics
Round: 2008 Eastern Conference First Round
Winning team and score: Celtics, 99-65
With their much-vaunted Big Three of KG, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen leading the way, the Celtics were supposed to roll through the playoffs en route to capturing Boston's first NBA title since 1986. While they'd still end up making good on the championship, it took Boston a little bit longer to get there than they expected.
Atlanta hung tough with Boston for six games before being steam-rolled in the seventh, a game in which only one of their starters, Joe Johnson, would put up double-digits. After slamming home a dunk to boost the lead to 36, Garnett made a slashing motion across his throat, and yelled to the crowd, "It's over." Looks like Atlanta got the message.
Nets @ Pistons
Round: 2004 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Winning team and score: Pistons, 90-69
Having been denied in the Eastern Conference Finals for two straight years by New Jersey, Detroit finally got its payback against the Nets in a big way. "If you would've told me that we were going to blow this team out, coming into a Game 7, I would've told you that you were crazy," Pistons center Ben Wallace said after the game. Crazier yet, Detroit was able to hold Jason Kidd completely scoreless.
Knicks @ Celtics
Round: 1973 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: Knicks, 94-78
Only 23 road teams have ever won a Game 7 in the NBA, but the Knicks pulled it off against one of the toughest home crowds in the league, and in a big way too. John Havlicek would only muster four points for Boston, while on the other side, Walt Frazier netted a game-high 25. It's hard to fault Boston too much here, though. Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere, Frazier, Bill Bradley, Earl Monroe...this Knicks team was absolutely stacked and would further prove that when they only needed five games to beat the Lakers in the Finals.
Bulls @ Pistons
Round: 1990 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: Pistons, 93-74
Before he made the leap to arguably the greatest player of all time, Jordan would find himself stymied by the infamous Bad Boys. Implementing what they called "The Jordan Rules," the Pistons pulled out all the stops on Jordan and his Bulls. Despite 31 points from MJ, though, Chicago couldn't even make it close. Horace Grant made just three of his 17 shots, while Scottie could only manage one out of 10.
Bucks @ 76ers
Round: 2001 Eastern Conference Finals
Winning team and score: 76ers, 108-91
Until he butted heads with the Lakers, Allen Iverson was a man who simply would not be denied during the 2001 playoffs. When it came time for his team to put away Ray Allen and the Milwaukee Bucks, The Answer dropped 44 points to go along with six rebounds, seven assists, and a double-double from his frontcourt anchor, Dikembe Mutumbo. With Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson holding it down in the paint, and a backcourt duo of Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, these Bucks certainly weren't shabby either, but, for whatever reason, they played like it. After the game, and in typical Philly fashion, when the stadium announcer asked Sixers fans to applaud the Bucks on their great season, Milwaukee was treated with a loud chorus of boos. Ouch.
Celtics @ Cavaliers
Round: 1992 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Winning team and score: Cavaliers, 122-104
Larry Bird had more than his fair share of memorable moments throughout his career, but this certainly wasn't one of them. In what would be the final NBA game of his career (before retiring, he'd go on to play with the Dream Team later that summer) Bird battled a bad back and could only snag five rebounds to go along with a mere 12 points. Boston trailed by 20 points at the half, effectively ending his days in Boston. We all know that Larry Legend deserved better.
Cavs @ Pistons
Round: 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Winning team and score: Pistons, 79-61
Even as a Pistons fan, this game must've been hard to watch. Detroit has never been a team that has been able to win flashy, but this was absolutely painful. Neither team would break 20 points in the third quarter, and Cleveland failed to do so in the first and fourth quarters as well.
We're not gonna say that this game was the reason that LeBron left Cleveland, but you know that it definitely didn't help. What's the guy supposed to do when you're pairing him up with Drew Gooden, Flip Murray, and Eric Snow? Cleveland's front office was woefully inept at surrounding LeBron with the right teammates, and that was never more apparent than here.
Lakers @ Knicks
Round: 1970 Finals
Winning team and score: Knicks, 113-99
This one wasn't even as close as the final score might suggest. The Knicks led 38-24 after the first quarter and never looked back. In these days, though, Los Angeles was never a sure thing in the Finals. Elgin Baylor and Jerry West had both played second fiddle to the overpowering Celtics dynasty and for awhile, it looked like they might never make it to the promised land. Unfortunately for Baylor, that proved to be true, but The Logo would soon go on to claim the lone title of his career in 1972 against these same Knicks.
Rockets @ Mavs
Round: 2005 Western Conference First Round
Winning team and score: Mavericks, 116-76
There have been 112 Game 7s played since the league was created, so you knew that somewhere in there we'd have to find the biggest loser. The ignominious honors go to the Houston Rockets, who lost by 40 points to their fourth-seeded, cross-state rivals. Indeed, the Mavs could've stopped shooting at the end of the 3rd quarter, and they still would've won. By 16. While Yao and T-Mac went off for 33 and 27, respectively, the rest of their team would only manage to scrape together 16 points, ending their season in a way that is still, unfortunately, unforgettable.
Lakers @ Knicks
Round: 1952 Finals
Winning team and score: Lakers, 82-65
A moment of silence in rememberance for all the unlucky fans who had to sit through this game. Twenty-one points were scored in the third quarter by both teams, combined, with the Knicks contributing only eight of those. Granted, the Lakers had the only true center in the league on their side in George Mikan, but c'mon, eight points?? In the Finals?? FOH.
Warriors @ Bombers
Round: 1948 Semifinals
Winning team and score: Warriors, 85-46
In this case, the first actually was the worst. In 1948, the Philadelpia Warriors squared off against the St. Louis Bombers for the first Game 7 in NBA history (though, at the time, the league was still referred to as the BAA). It came in a strange series of up-and-downs, too. While the Bombers had prevailed over Philly in three close games, the Warriors would clobber St. Louis in their victories.
But somehow, the Bombers found themselves leading the series three games to two after Game 5. With the help of future Hall-of-Famer Jumpin' Joe Fulks, though, Philadelphia would absolutely shut St. Louis down in the two final contests. We don't know what's worse: the fact that the Bombers lost by 39 or that they could barely put up that many points.
