It was shocking, dreadful, and a sequence that left the basketball world stunned. In the last five minutes of the fourth quarter in Game 4, the dynastic champions, the Golden State Warriors had imploded catastrophically. Steph Curry failed to call a timeout after a late Jump-Ball, the Splash Brothers attempted ill-advised shots, and Draymond Green threw a pass away for a turnover after deciding to leave his feet. The meltdown by the Dubs was made worse by the career-defining performance of Lonnie Walker IV, who became the first Laker to score 15 points off the bench in the fourth quarter of a playoff game since Kobe Bryant. Yes, in the playoffs, unlikely heroes emerge. The Lakers now have a commanding 3-1 in the series, and their fans may be smelling the Western Conference Finals tickets. However, that is a dangerous mindset when you face the Golden State Warriors because this series is not over. In this article, we will discuss five epic comebacks during their dynastic run.
1. 2015 NBA Finals vs. Cavaliers (trailed 2-1)
Many fans forget that the Warriors’ first title in 2015 was built on a comeback. The first two games of the series were classics that went into overtime. The Warriors sneaked by to win the first game, while the Cavs evened it up in the second. Lebron James then delivered a splendid performance by dropping 40 points in Game 3 to put the Cavs in a commanding position heading into a pivotal Game 4 on the road in Cleveland. However, Steph Curry rose on the national stage by hitting some big shots down the stretch to propel his team to a Game 4 victory. In Game 5, he dropped 37 points and willed his team to electrify Arco Area. The comeback was complete in a third straight win in Game 6 on the road in Cleveland to secure the franchise’s first championship in 40 years. Talk about pressure! Lebron should remember that the dynasty was built on a comeback.
2. 2016 Western Conference Finals vs. Thunder (trailed 3-1)
The Warriors core has on their resume overcome a 3-1 deficit against a talented Oklahoma City Thunder team. Led by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, the Thunder stole Game 1 on the road to shock the defending champions. Then, the Warriors evened the series but were dominated in Games 3 and 4 in Oklahoma City to face a 3-1 series deficit. It was over, right? Think again! The Splash brothers enhance their reputation through jaw-dropping performances combining for 187 points in Games 5 to 7. Klay Thompson was dubbed the nickname “Game 6 Klay” after his preposterous 41-point performance. The Warriors completed the comeback in a 96-88 win in Game 7 at Oracle Arena to shock the basketball world and advance to the NBA Finals for the second consecutive year.
3. 2018 Western Conference Finals vs. Rockets (trailed 3-2)
In 2018, the Warriors had won two titles in three years and made three consecutive finals appearances. However, they had slipped in the regular season standings, with the Rockets entering the playoffs as the best team in the western conference. The Rockets were a team built to beat the Warriors with a small-ball lineup and a space-and-pace offensive system. Led by James Harden and Chris Paul, Houston surged to a 3-2 series lead to move within one win of the NBA Finals. It’s over, right? Wrong again. The Warriors engineered two stunning comeback wins in Games 6 and 7 to end the Rockets’ season. The critics will say the Rockets would have won this series if Chris Paul didn’t get hurt in Game 5. However, the Warriors always took advantage of the opponent’s weaknesses, and they will not make or take any excuses in the pursuit of victory. The Warriors then advanced to the finals to win their third title in four years.
4. 2022 NBA Finals vs. Celtics (trailed 2-1)
Last year, the narrative surrounding the Warriors’ pursuit of a championship was that Steph Curry could not deliver a Finals MVP performance to propel his team to a championship. Heading into Game 4, against the Celtics, the team was facing a 2-1 deficit, and another win by the Celtics would have moved them just one victory away from a championship. However, Steph Curry shined on the national stage in a hostile environment dropping 43 points to lift his team to victory in an electrifying performance. The Warriors rode the momentum to reel off two straight wins to secure a fourth championship for the Bay.
5. 2023 Western Conference First Round vs King (trailed 2-0)
The Lakers do not have to think back too far on how dangerous the Warriors are when trailing in the postseason. As the sixth-seeded team, the Warriors dropped the first two road games against a younger, and more energetic Kings squad led by former Coaching Assistant Mike Brown. It appeared the dynasty was over, right? Think again. The Warriors clawed back in the series winning back-to-back home games feeding off their home crowd and experience. They defied logic by winning Game 5 after being one of the worst road teams as a defending champion with an 11-30 record. Then, lost Game 6 at home when it appeared they would close out the series. Finally, Steph Curry delivered an improbable virtuoso performance dropping 50 points in Game 7 on the road to advance.
Yes, the above proves that the Lakers and their fans should feel good about their present advantage in the series. However, they should be focused on closing this series as soon as possible. Chris Paul can attest to the possibility of injury, and the Warriors can tap into a reservoir of playoff moments to flip a series on its head.