Whether you’re a fan or a hater, nobody wishes for an injury to happen to a player, especially during the playoffs. The course of the series will dramatically shift when it happens to key players.
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| Image source: Bleacherreport.net |
Let’s take a look at the most devastating injuries in NBA playoff history:
Kyrie Irving, 2015
When Irving went down in the in Cleveland’s first game of the NBA finals against Golden State, the Cavs had to face the Warriors without their key players Irving and Kevin Love. The Warriors went on to win the championship, and the Cavs had to wait another year to get their first title.
Derrick Rose, 2012
Rose was the reigning MVP, and the Bulls were the top-seeded team in the East. It seemed possible for Derrick Rose, the youngest ever to be named MVP, to lead the Bulls to their 7th championship. That hope was shattered when Derrick Rose injured his knee. He recovered from that injury, but his explosiveness and agility were never the same.
Kahwi Leonard, 2017
Warriors vs. Spurs was a matchup that fans have been waiting for all season long, and it finally happened in the Western Conference Finals of the 2017 Playoffs. The Spurs had the early lead of 20 points in the first game and Leonard was a force on both ends of the floor. He injured his ankle when he landed on Zaza Pachulia’s foot.
He was taken off the floor never to return for the rest of the series, and the Warriors rallied on and swept the series.
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| Image source : bleacherreport.net |
