Kings 2002 G7. They’ve never had a true championship contender since.
That didn’t cause the Kings to change anything though. They still had the same team together two years later when they lost to the Wolves in the 2nd round of the 2004 playoffs. 2002 was as close as they ever got to the title, but that loss didn’t totally derail their quest like the OP is asking about.
Cavs 2018 Finals G1
I don’t think anyone really thinks the Cavs had a realistic shot at that championship that year, even if they’d won Game 1. It was widely speculated all season long that LeBron would leave that summer, in large part because they were not seen as true contenders anymore after Kyrie left (and especially with KD now on the Warriors). Maybe LeBron stays if they win, but I think he was pretty clearly already looking at the Lakers before that, just like he had looked at Cleveland back in 2014 before the Heat lost that year.
That didn’t cause the Kings to change anything though. They still had the same team together two years later when they lost to the Wolves in the 2nd round of the 2004 playoffs
Yes it did change everything. Kings would be some dynasty they were a one shot wonder at best, but Webber had a career altering injury in the 2003 playoffs and was never the same
That didn’t cause the Kings to change anything though. They still had the same team together two years later when they lost to the Wolves in the 2nd round of the 2004 playoffs. 2002 was as close as they ever got to the title, but that loss didn’t totally derail their quest like the OP is asking about.
I don’t think anyone really thinks the Cavs had a realistic shot at that championship that year, even if they’d won Game 1. It was widely speculated all season long that LeBron would leave that summer, in large part because they were not seen as true contenders anymore after Kyrie left (and especially with KD now on the Warriors). Maybe LeBron stays if they win, but I think he was pretty clearly already looking at the Lakers before that, just like he had looked at Cleveland back in 2014 before the Heat lost that year.
Yes it did change everything. Kings would be some dynasty they were a one shot wonder at best, but Webber had a career altering injury in the 2003 playoffs and was never the same