r/washingtonwizards • u/gaddsaa • 17h ago
Asking Wizards fans of all generations!
Hey Wizards fans, so I’m making a video on each franchise’s biggest upset (when they were not expected to win) and each franchise’s biggest choke (sorry if that strikes a chord). I have my guesses for each but I wanted to ask actual Wizards fans to see what you guys think and if you have better answers that I should look at.
I'm considering an upset strictly as when that team was not supposed to win or were big underdogs and won. A choke can either be when your team was expected to win and underperformed, or blew a big lead in an important game or in the playoffs (something around those lines). It can also be a blown playoff lead (example: 3-1 lead)
Let me know what you guys think, I will link the video here when it’s done. Good luck to you guys this season!!
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u/DCBullets202 Gilbert Arenas 16h ago
Gilbert's free throws come to mind for "choke" - though I still blame Lebron a little for that one. The crab-dribble and John fracturing his wrist the playoffs also sucked, but not really "chokes".
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u/AgentSeaRoe 16h ago
Upset: First round of the 2015 playoffs against the Raptors. All expert analysts favored the raptors, but the Wizards ended up sweeping.
Choke: First round of the 2006 playoffs against the Cavs.
Game 3 - LeBron scores the game winner on a no-call travel.
Game 6 - Wizards are up by 1, Gilbert Arenas misses both free throws, Damon Jones hits the game winner to clinch the series.
Admittedly, the stakes weren’t the highest in either of these since they were only the first round, but those Arenas FTs still strike a chord.
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u/RedskinPanther 16h ago
I remember that we were not picked to beat the Bulls, even when Rose was out and the Raptors (that were swept) in the Wall/Beal era. I do not think there was a time in my life where the Wizards were "supposed" to beat anyone lol
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u/cartierboy25 John Wall 16h ago
It was a pretty meaningless regular season game but we did blow a 35 point lead to the clippers a few years ago. Tied for the second biggest blown lead in nba history.
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u/Jolly-Method-3111 Agent Zero 16h ago
I think maybe our biggest upsets were Gil going ham against the Blazers and Suns after the “in the bubble” comment for Team USA.
Maybe. Pretty slim pickings.
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u/IUsedToMakeMaps 17h ago
We've probably had like 5 meaningful games over the past 3 decades. There's been no critical situation to "choke in." Any "upsets" likely meant nothing to us other than momentary enjoyment.
This video would likely just be embarrassing to the franchies. It would just highlight how much of an afterthought this organization is.
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u/kgallo19 17h ago
Maybe that John Wall winner to force game 7 against, was it Boston? Yeah kind of sad if thats the biggest upset lmao. That's the big one that I can remember in 20 years or so of being a fan.
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u/reelieuglie 14h ago
I don't think it was an upset on either, but the game against the Bulls with Gil's chase down block on Hinrich and Paul Pierce's "I called game" game-winning-shot were good.
Maybe Irene Pollin getting excited at us getting the #1 pick to draft Wall?
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u/danman315 11h ago
Doesn’t qualify as a choke, but the 2014 playoff series against the Pacers was a big missed opportunity that I think about often. We should’ve beat them for sure.
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u/COACHREEVES 5h ago
Choke maybe the 1979 Finals? The Bulletts were the defending NBA Champs and had the League's best record. They had an exciting and spectacular playoff run, met the Sonics who they had beat in 7 games the year before with home court advantage yet, won the first game of the Series annnnd .... loss the next 4 games straight.
I would say "upset" maybe the year before (1978) when they entered the playoffs as a heavy underdog in every series past the first round (Dr. J and 76ers, Spurs with Gervin) and then winning the finals against the Sonics.
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u/cynicallogic 17h ago
Just make an hour long hate video on Kelly Olynyk and call it a day