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Thursday, June 7, 2012

San Antonio Spurs and the Biggest Postseason Disappointments of the Last Decade - Bleacher Report

The 2012 San Antonio Spurs had an incredible half-season of basketball, racing to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after the All-Star break and eventually winning 20-straight games from the end of the regular season until the Conference Finals.

There, the Oklahoma City Thunder emerged from an 0-2 hole to rattle off four straight wins against those formerly dominant Spurs.

Beyond the numbers, there was a palpable contrast between the team that had strolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs and the one that collapsed so suddenly.

But, this year's Spurs aren't the only team to inexplicably collapse at the worst possible time.

2011 San Antonio Spurs

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Yes, last season's Spurs were disappointing too, albeit in a different sort of way. After losing the first game of the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies, it became abundantly clear the first-seeded Spurs had met their unexpected match.

Memphis wound up winning its first playoff series of the franchise's young history thanks in large part to its size and athleticism. Meanwhile, San Antonio looked old and beat-up with Manu Ginobili hindered by an arm fracture and Duncan playing a step slow.

One would have thought the Spurs were on their last leg, until the even more disappointing 2012.

2007 Dallas Mavericks

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The Mavericks came into the first round a heavily favored No. 1 seed. The Golden State Warriors barely made it into the playoffs.

Then came the revenge of Don Nelson, the Warriors head coach who was the Mavericks coach from 1997-2005. Anchored by Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson, the run-and-gun Warriors ran Dallas out of the building in six games.

The Mavericks had a number of good teams before winning their first title in 2011, but the '07 version was one of the best.

2009 Cleveland Cavaliers

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After winning their first eight games of the postseason, the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers fell to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals, denying LeBron James his first title.

It took the Magic six games, including a 40-point outburst from Dwight Howard in the final contest. The Magic weren't a trivial opponent by any means, but Cleveland had high hopes after 66 regular-season wins and another outstanding season from James.

2004 Los Angeles Lakers

50964328_crop_650x440Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Having claimed three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002, the Lakers came into 2004 with a rebooted lineup featuring veterans Gary Payton and Karl Malone in ring-chasing cameos. The underrated Detroit Pistons used their world-class defense to oust the Lakers in five games.

The demise brought an official end to the Shaquille O'Neal chapter of the Lakers' dynasty and temporarily suspended Los Angeles' dominance of the NBA.

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