Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Losing Games One and Two at Home

The New York Knicks and Miami Heat both dropped the opening game of their Eastern Conference Semifinals set against the Pacers and Bulls, respectively. Over the next two nights, the East's top two seeds must win to avoid being the 27th and 28th NBA teams to lose the first two games of a playoff series at home.

How have the other 26 fared? Only four teams came back to win the series:

Year Round Road Home Result
2011 West Semis Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers Dallas Mavericks 4-0
2010 East Finals Boston Celtics Orlando Magic Boston Celtics 4-2
2008 West First Utah Jazz Houston Rockets Utah Jazz 4-2
2005 West First Houston Rockets Dallas Mavericks Dallas Mavericks 4-3
2003 East Finals New Jersey Nets Detroit Pistons New Jersey Nets 4-0
2001 West Finals Los Angeles Lakers San Antonio Spurs Los Angeles Lakers 4-0
2001 East First Charlotte Hornets Miami Heat Charlotte Hornets 3-0
1999 East Semis New York Knicks Atlanta Hawks New York Knicks 4-0
1996 East First New York Knicks Cleveland Cavaliers New York Knicks 3-0
1995 Finals Houston Rockets Orlando Magic Houston Rockets 4-0
1995 West Finals Houston Rockets San Antonio Spurs Houston Rockets 4-2
1994 West Semis Phoenix Suns Houston Rockets Houston Rockets 4-3
1994 East First Indiana Pacers Orlando Magic Indiana Pacers 3-0
1993 Finals Chicago Bulls Phoenix Suns Chicago Bulls 4-2
1993 West First Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns 3-2
1991 East First Philadelphia 76ers Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ers 3-0
1989 West First Golden State Warriors Utah Jazz Golden State Warriors 3-0
1987 West Semis Seattle Supersonics Houston Rockets Seattle Supersonics 4-2
1985 East Semis Philadelphia 76ers Milwaukee Bucks Philadelphia 76ers 4-0
1984 East First New Jersey Nets Philadelphia 76ers New Jersey Nets 3-2
1983 East Semis Milwaukee Bucks Boston Celtics Milwaukee Bucks 4-0
1977 West Finals Portland Trail Blazers Los Angeles Lakers Portland Trail Blazers 4-0
1970 West Finals Los Angeles Lakers Atlanta Hawks Los Angeles Lakers 4-0
1969 West Semis San Francisco Warriors Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
1966 West Semis St. Louis Hawks Baltimore Bullets St. Louis Hawks 3-0
1947 Semis Chicago Stags Washington Capitols Chicago Stags 4-2

I've included the eight series that were best-of-five, of which six ended in sweeps. The 1984 Nets/Sixers series featured five road wins as New Jersey avoided a collapse. The 1993 Suns lost the first two at home in their first-round series, only to win two in L.A. plus the decisive fifth game in Phoenix for the comeback.

Of the remaining 18 series that were best-of-seven, exactly half resulted in a four-game sweep. All of the other nine teams that managed to win a game on the road were able to extend the series to a sixth game, but six of them lost there.

The 1969 Lakers, 1994 Rockets and 2005 Mavericks are the only three teams to lose the first two games of a best-of-seven series at home and bounce back to advance. I think both Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James will lead their teams to home victories in Game Two, but if they don't, they will be facing a tall task moving forward. 

----------

After losing a pair in L.A., Jerry West led the '69 Lakers to four straight victories over the Warriors by an average of 17 points. They made it to the Finals before losing at home in Game Seven to the Celtics*.

* The famous story surrounding that seventh game is that Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke ordered championship balloons to be dropped from the rafters upon winning the game. Boston player/coach Bill Russell told West before the game, "those f*cking balloons are staying up there." West put up a 42-13-12 line for a triple double, but it wasn't enough as Russell and the Celtics won 108-106 for their 11th title in 13 years. The 1969 Celtics and 1978 Bullets are the only teams to win Game Seven of the Finals on the road. With a 38 ppg average, West took home MVP honors, the only player from the losing team to do so.

----------

In their 1994 second-round series against the Suns, the Rockets lost the first two games in Houston. Hakeem Olajuwon averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Rockets to three straight wins, but the Suns took Game Six. In the seventh game, Olajuwon poured in 37 points, grabbed 17 boards, dished out five assists and blocked three shots to finish the comeback. They reached the Finals, where they outlasted the Knicks in seven games to clinch the first of back-to-back championships.



----------

In 2005, the Mavericks fell to the Rockets in Dallas twice before taking two in Houston to even the series. They won again in Game Five, but missed a chance to clinch on the road as Tracy McGrady and the Rockets forced a seventh game. Jason Terry scored 31 points to lead the Mavs to a 116-76 thrashing that was the biggest Game Seven blowout in NBA history. Dallas lost in the next round to the Suns 4-2.




----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's the same list for the baseball postseason:


Year Round Road Home Result
2012 ALCS Detroit Tigers New York Yankees Detroit Tigers 4-0
2012 NLDS Cincinnati Reds San Francisco Giants San Francisco Giants 3-2
2010 ALDS New York Yankees Minnesota Twins New York Yankees 3-0
2010 ALDS Texas Rangers Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers 3-2
2008 NLDS Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago Cubs Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0
2008 ALDS Boston Red Sox Los Angeles Angels Boston Red Sox 3-0
2007 NLCS Colorado Rockies Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies 4-0
2007 NLDS Colorado Rockies Philadelphia Phillies Colorado Rockies 3-0
2006 ALCS Detroit Tigers Oakland Athletics Detroit Tigers 4-0
2006 ALDS Oakland Athletics Minnesota Twins Oakland Athletics 3-0
2006 NLDS St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Padres St. Louis Cardinals 3-1
2004 ALDS Boston Red Sox Los Angeles Angels Boston Red Sox 3-0
2002 NLCS San Francisco Giants St. Louis Cardinals San Francisco Giants 4-1
2002 NLDS St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Diamondbacks St. Louis Cardinals 3-0
2001 ALCS New York Yankees Seattle Mariners New York Yankees 4-1
2001 ALDS Oakland Athletics New York Yankees New York Yankees 3-2
2001 NLDS Atlanta Braves Houston Astros Atlanta Braves 3-0
2000 NLCS New York Mets St. Louis Cardinals New York Mets 4-1
2000 ALDS Seattle Mariners Chicago White Sox Seattle Mariners 3-0
1999 World Series New York Yankees Atlanta Braves New York Yankees 4-0
1998 NLCS San Diego Padres Atlanta Braves San Diego Padres 4-2
1997 ALDS Baltimore Orioles Seattle Mariners Baltimore Orioles 3-1
1996 World Series Atlanta Braves New York Yankees New York Yankees 4-2
1996 NLDS Atlanta Braves Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta Braves 3-0
1995 NLCS Atlanta Braves Cincinnati Reds Atlanta Braves 4-0
1995 NLDS Atlanta Braves Colorado Rockies Atlanta Braves 3-1
1993 ALCS Toronto Blue Jays Chicago White Sox Toronto Blue Jays 4-2
1990 ALCS Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics 4-0
1988 ALCS Oakland Athletics Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics 4-0
1986 World Series Boston Red Sox New York Mets New York Mets 4-3
1985 World Series St. Louis Cardinals Kansas City Royals Kansas City Royals 4-3
1984 ALCS Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Detroit Tigers 3-0
1981 ALDS New York Yankees Milwaukee Brewers New York Yankees 3-2
1981 ALDS Oakland Athletics Kansas City Royals Oakland Athletics 3-0
1979 NLCS Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0
1978 NLCS Los Angeles Dodgers Philadelphia Phillies Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1
1976 NLCS Cincinnati Reds Philadelphia Phillies Cincinnati Reds 3-0
1974 NLCS Los Angeles Dodgers Pittsburgh Pirates Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1
1972 World Series Oakland Athletics Cincinnati Reds Oakland Athletics 4-3
1970 World Series Baltimore Orioles Cincinnati Reds Baltimore Orioles 4-1
1970 ALCS Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins Baltimore Orioles 3-0
1970 NLCS Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds 3-0
1969 NLCS New York Mets Atlanta Braves New York Mets 3-0
1966 World Series Baltimore Orioles Los Angeles Dodgers Baltimore Orioles 4-0
1963 World Series Los Angeles Dodgers New York Yankees Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0
1950 World Series New York Yankees Philadelphia Phillies New York Yankees 4-0
1938 World Series New York Yankees Chicago Cubs New York Yankees 4-0
1929 World Series Philadelphia Athletics Chicago Cubs Philadelphia Athletics 4-1
1927 World Series New York Yankees Pittsburgh Pirates New York Yankees 4-0
1914 World Series Boston Braves Philadelphia Athletics Boston Braves 4-0
1913 World Series Philadelphia Athletics New York Giants Philadelphia Athletics 4-1

Taking a 2-0 lead on the road is much more prevalent in baseball because most postseason series did not have home-field advantage determined by best record. For the World Series and much of the League Championship Series, HFA simply rotated by league or division. The top teams often opened a series on the road. Still, the 0-2 road comeback is awfully difficult, with two pulling it off in a best-of-five LDS and three in the best-of-seven World Series.

----------

The defending champion Braves beat down the Yankees in the Bronx to take a 2-0 lead back to Atlanta. Joe Torre tried to calm George Steinbrenner by assuring that they would win three straight there and come back home to clinch in Game Six. That's exactly what happened as New York won four in a row as the 1969 Lakers did.

Joe Girardi's RBI triple (59:55 mark of video):



Charlie Hayes records the final out (2:36:11 mark of video):

 


----------

In 1986, the powerhouse 108-win Mets were surprised by two Red Sox victories in New York. They pulled out two wins in Boston to set up Game Six at Shea Stadium. Well, we all know what happened then (3:29:05 mark of video):




And Mookie Wilson's grounder (3:30:44 mark of video):



The Sox actually led 3-0 in the sixth inning of Game Seven, but the Mets inevitably stormed back to win the championship.


----------

The 1985 Royals came back from 3-1 deficits in both the ALCS and the World Series. In the Fall Classic, after losing two in KC to the Cardinals, Bret Saberhagen saved the season with a shutout victory in Game Three. They lost Game Four, but were able to take the next game to send everyone back to Kansas City for Game Six.

The Cardinals held a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth and were three outs away from clinching the title, but then this happened: (1:33:13 mark of video)




It was a badly missed call that put the tying run aboard instead of being the first out of the inning. However, St. Louis responded by completely falling apart. A missed foul pop, a single and a passed ball helped load the bases for Dane Iorg(2:25:10 mark of video)




The Royals blasted the Cards the next night in Game Seven, 11-0 to complete the comeback. (2:18:25 mark of video)

 



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, the same list for the hockey postseason:


Year Round Road Home Result
2013
2013
2012
Conference Final
Conference Quarters
Stanley Cup Finals
Boston Bruins
San Jose Sharks
Los Angeles Kings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Vancouver Canucks
New Jersey Devils
???
San Jose Sharks 4-0
Los Angeles Kings 4-2
2012 Conference Final Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes Los Angeles Kings 4-1
2012 Conference Semis Los Angeles Kings St. Louis Blues Los Angeles Kings 4-0
2012 Conference Quarters Los Angeles Kings Vancouver Canucks Los Angeles Kings 4-1
2012 Conference Quarters Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers 4-2
2011 Conference Semis Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0
2011 Conference Semis Boston Bruins Philadelphia Flyers Boston Bruins 4-0
2011 Conference Quarters Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins Boston Bruins 4-3
2010 Conference Final Chicago Blackhawks San Jose Sharks Chicago Blackhawks 4-0
2009 Conference Quarters Anaheim Ducks San Jose Sharks Anaheim Ducks 4-2
2009 Conference Quarters New York Rangers Washington Capitals Washington Capitals 4-3
2008 Conference Semis Dallas Stars San Jose Sharks Dallas Stars 4-2
2008 Conference Quarters Dallas Stars Anaheim Ducks Dallas Stars 4-2
2008 Conference Quarters New York Rangers New Jersey Devils New York Rangers 4-1
2007 Conference Final Ottawa Senators Buffalo Sabres Ottawa Senators 4-1
2007 Conference Quarters New York Rangers Atlanta Thrashers New York Rangers 4-0
2006 Conference Final Edmonton Oilers Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Edmonton Oilers 4-1
2006 Conference Semis Buffalo Sabres Ottawa Senators Buffalo Sabres 4-1
2006 Conference Quarters Colorado Avalanche Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche 4-1
2006 Conference Quarters Montreal Canadiens Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes 4-2
2004 Conference Final Calgary Flames San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames 4-2
2003 Conference Final Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Minnesota North Stars Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-0
2003 Conference Semis Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Dallas Stars Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-2
2003 Conference Quarters Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Detroit Red Wings Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 4-0
2003 Conference Quarters Washington Capitals Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2
2002 Conference Quarters Vancouver Canucks Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings 4-2
2001 Conference Semis St. Louis Blues Dallas Stars St. Louis Blues 4-0
2001 Conference Semis Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Sabres Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3
2001 Conference Quarters Buffalo Sabres Philadelphia Flyers Buffalo Sabres 4-2
2001 Conference Quarters Toronto Maple Leafs Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0
2000 Conference Semis Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers 4-2
1999 Conference Semis Detroit Red Wings Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche 4-2
1999 Conference Quarters Colorado Avalanche San Jose Sharks Colorado Avalanche 4-2
1999 Conference Quarters Buffalo Sabres Ottawa Senators Buffalo Sabres 4-0
1997 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings Philadelphia Flyers Detroit Red Wings 4-0
1997 Conference Semis Philadelphia Flyers Buffalo Sabres Philadelphia Flyers 4-1
1996 Conference Final Colorado Avalanche Detroit Red Wings Colorado Avalanche 4-2
1996 Conference Quarters Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins 4-2
1996 Conference Quarters Montreal Canadiens New York Rangers New York Rangers 4-2
1995 Stanley Cup Finals New Jersey Devils Detroit Red Wings New Jersey Devils 4-0
1995 Conference Final New Jersey Devils Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils 4-2
1995 Conference Quarters Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks 4-3
1995 Conference Quarters San Jose Sharks Calgary Flames San Jose Sharks 4-3
1995 Conference Quarters New Jersey Devils Boston Bruins New Jersey Devils 4-1
1994 Conference Semis Vancouver Canucks Dallas Stars Vancouver Canucks 4-1
1994 Conference Semis Boston Bruins New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils 4-2
1993 Division Semis Buffalo Sabres Boston Bruins Buffalo Sabres 4-0
1993 Division Semis St. Louis Blues Chicago Blackhawks St. Louis Blues 4-0
1992 Division Finals Chicago Blackhawks Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks 4-0
1992 Division Finals Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins 4-0
1992 Division Semis Minnesota North Stars Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings 4-3
1990 Stanley Cup Finals Edmonton Oilers Boston Bruins Edmonton Oilers 4-1
1988 Division Finals Edmonton Oilers Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers 3-0
1987 Division Finals Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings 4-3
1987 Division Finals Quebec Nordiques Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens 4-3
1987 Division Semis Winnipeg Jets Calgary Flames Winnipeg Jets 4-2
1986 Division Semis Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0
1986 Division Semis Hartford Whalers Quebec Nordiques Hartford Whalers 3-0
1985 Division Semis Minnesota North Stars St. Louis Blues Minnesota North Stars 3-0
1984 Division Semis Quebec Nordiques Buffalo Sabres Quebec Nordiques 3-0
1984 Division Semis Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens 3-0
1983 Stanley Cup Finals New York Islanders Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders 4-0
1983 Division Semis New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers New York Rangers 3-0
1983 Division Semis Buffalo Sabres Montreal Canadiens Buffalo Sabres 3-0
1982 Division Semis Chicago Blackhawks Minnesota North Stars Chicago Blackhawks 3-1
1981 Quarterfinals Minnesota North Stars Buffalo Sabres Minnesota North Stars 4-1
1981 Preliminary Edmonton Oilers Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers 3-0
1981 Preliminary Minnesota North Stars Boston Bruins Minnesota North Stars 3-0
1980 Semifinals New York Islanders Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders 4-2
1980 Quarterfinals New York Islanders Boston Bruins New York Islanders 4-1
1980 Quarterfinals Minnesota North Stars Montreal Canadiens Minnesota North Stars 4-3
1973 Quarterfinals New York Rangers Boston Bruins New York Rangers 4-1
1977
1977
Semifinals
Quarterfinals
Boston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
Boston Bruins 4-0
Philadelphia Flyers 4-2
1972 Semifinals New York Rangers Chicago Blackhawks New York Rangers 4-0
1970 Stanley Cup Finals Boston Bruins St. Louis Blues Boston Bruins 4-0
1970 Semifinals Boston Bruins Chicago Blackhawks Boston Bruins 4-0
1968 Stanley Cup Finals Montreal Canadiens St. Louis Blues Montreal Canadiens 4-0
1966 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens 4-2
1952 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Detroit Red Wings 4-0
1951 Semifinals Montreal Canadiens Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens 4-2
1949 Stanley Cup Finals Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0
1949 Semifinals Toronto Maple Leafs Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs 4-1
1945 Stanley Cup Finals Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3
1945 Semifinals Boston Bruins Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings 4-3
1945 Semifinals Toronto Maple Leafs Montreal Canadiens Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2
1942 Stanley Cup Finals Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3
1936 Semifinals Detroit Red Wings Montreal Maroons Detroit Red Wings 3-0
1935 Stanley Cup Finals Montreal Maroons Toronto Maple Leafs Montreal Maroons 3-0
1934 Stanley Cup Finals Chicago Blackhawks Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks 3-1
1934 Semifinals Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings 3-2
1932 Stanley Cup Finals Toronto Maple Leafs New York Rangers Toronto Maple Leafs 3-0
1930 Semifinals Boston Bruins Montreal Maroons Boston Bruins 3-1

They say that home court/field/ice matters the least in hockey, and that bears out here as 18 of the 95 teams listed (18.9 percent) were able to come back. Compare that to the 4 of 26 mark in basketball (15.3 percent) and the 5 of 51 mark (9.8 percent) for baseball.

One of these comebacks includes the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals, in which the Maple Leafs were the first team in recover from an 0-3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series.

Also among this group are the 2011 Bruins, who came back to beat the Canadiens with this Game Seven overtime goal en route to the Stanley Cup:




And there's this memorable five-overtime game from 2000 that put the Flyers back in the series and keyed their win over the Penguins:

No comments:

Post a Comment