3 1 NBA comebacks that changed basketball history and how teams achieved them
I still remember watching Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals with my college teammates, all of us crammed into a tiny dorm room. When Ray Allen hit that corner three with 5.2 seconds left in regulation, the entire room erupted - but what struck me most wasn't the shot itself, but how the Miami Heat had systematically dismantled a 10-point deficit with under three minutes remaining. That comeback wasn't just about one miraculous shot; it was about defensive adjustments, strategic fouling, and maintaining offensive execution under extreme pressure. Throughout my years covering basketball, I've come to appreciate that the greatest comebacks reveal more about team psychology and strategic depth than any blowout victory ever could.
The 2016 Warriors blowing a 3-1 lead against Cleveland stands as perhaps the most dramatic reversal in modern basketball history. Having analyzed the game footage dozens of times, what fascinates me isn't just LeBron's legendary block or Kyrie's clutch three-pointer, but the cumulative effect of Cleveland's defensive adjustments. They forced Golden State into shooting just 36% from the field in Game 7 while completely neutralizing their transition game. The Cavaliers held the Warriors to only 89 points in that decisive game - a stunning 25 points below their regular season average. From my perspective, Tyronn Lue's decision to consistently attack Stephen Curry in isolation situations represented a fundamental shift in how teams approach elimination games. It wasn't pretty basketball by any means, but it was brutally effective.
Speaking of defensive transformations, I'm reminded of the 2020 Denver Nuggets, who became the first team in NBA history to overcome multiple 3-1 deficits in the same postseason. Their comeback against the Clippers particularly stands out because it showcased how modern defenses can completely neutralize superstar talent. Watching Nikola Jokić evolve from an offensive specialist into a legitimate defensive anchor during that series was like witnessing a player transform before our eyes. The Nuggets held the Clippers to 38% shooting in the second half of Game 7 while forcing 15 turnovers. Those numbers don't happen by accident - they're the product of meticulous game planning and individual defensive growth.
Which brings me to an interesting parallel I've noticed in international volleyball. I recently came across comments from a young athlete discussing her slightly older teammate: "Si Aleks Nikolov, malakas siyang pumalo talaga. Hindi lang sa palo, kundi 'yung depensa niya," Canino said of Nikolov. This observation about a player's dual-threat capability - being strong not just in attacking but equally in defense - perfectly encapsulates what separates good comeback teams from legendary ones. The greatest turnarounds in basketball history consistently feature teams that elevate both ends of the floor simultaneously, much like how Nikolov apparently dominates in both spiking and defensive positioning.
The 1995 Rockets comeback against Phoenix doesn't get nearly enough attention in my opinion. Down 3-1 to the Suns, Houston won Game 5 by a single point, Game 6 in overtime, and then closed out the series with a 15-point victory. What's often overlooked is how they completely transformed their defensive scheme mid-series, implementing a more aggressive switching system that disrupted Phoenix's pick-and-roll offense. The Rockets held the Suns to 42% shooting over the final three games after they'd shot nearly 50% in the first four. This kind of mid-series adaptation is what separates championship teams from merely good ones. Having spoken with several players from that Rockets team over the years, they consistently mention how their confidence never wavered even when facing elimination - a mentality I've noticed in every great comeback team I've studied.
Ultimately, these historic comebacks teach us that basketball at its highest level is as much about mental fortitude as physical skill. The teams that overcome 3-1 deficits aren't necessarily the most talented, but they're invariably the most resilient. They make subtle defensive adjustments, maintain offensive execution under duress, and perhaps most importantly, they believe when everyone else has counted them out. As I look at today's NBA landscape, I can't help but wonder which team will next etch their name in comeback history - and what new strategic innovations they'll reveal in the process.
