A week ago, I asked Hoops Rumors readers which team down 2-0 in its first round series had the best chance at a comeback. Over 51% of you picked the Grizzlies, and that's certainly looking like the right choice at the moment. The Grizz haven't lost a game since then, taking a 3-2 lead on L.A. with a chance to eliminate the Clippers in Memphis tomorrow night.
The Celtics and Rockets each received some votes in that poll, but both teams' odds of a comeback dwindled significantly when they fell behind 3-0 in their respective series. While there have been plenty of comebacks from a 2-0 deficit in NBA history, no team has ever come back from down 3-0 to win a playoff series. Last night though, Boston and Houston each won its second straight contest to force a pair of Game Sixes.
As Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida (Sulia link) notes, only three teams in NBA history have even forced a Game Seven after being down 3-0, but there are some reasons to believe the Celtics and Rockets have a chance to become the fourth and fifth teams to do so. Boston isn't a typical No. 7 seed, given the significant amount of postseason experience on the roster, and the C's were provided with some extra motivation yesterday when the Knicks dressed all in black in preparation for Boston's "funeral."
Meanwhile, Houston has been much more competitive against the Thunder since Russell Westbrook went down with a knee injury earlier in the series, winning two of the three games Westbrook has missed. Additionally, both the C's and Rockets will be heading back to their home court for Game Six.
It's still a long road to the second round for both Boston and Houston, but not many of us predicted either team would even force a Game Six, so I'm not about to write them off quite yet. What do you think? Will either team make history, becoming the first club to erase a 3-0 deficit to advance in the postseason?
celtics have best chance but id say neither
It’ll only ever happen if there’s a major injury, a team doesn’t simply “will” themselves to winning the first 3 – they’re always the better team. That being said, OKC DOES have a major injury…