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Golden State Warriors 3-1 blunder was worst choke of the decade

By Tony Pesta

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- MAY 28: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors stands for the national anthem before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2016 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- MAY 28: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors stands for the national anthem before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2016 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors collapse in 2016 will go down as the biggest sports choke of the decade.

The decade was filled with historic downfalls but none were worse than the Golden State Warriors collapse to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Warriors were so close to perfection in 2016. Fresh off an unexpected championship season, the Dubs improved exponentially as they looked to defend their title.

Stephen Curry, the reigning MVP, was getting serious consideration for the Most Improved Player Award. The unanimous MVP averaged 30.1 points on 50/45/90 shooting to cap off a revolutionary season from the 3-point line.

Curry wasn’t the only one succeeding. The entire team was clicking in every way imaginable. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green broke out as legitimate stars while bench players such as Andre Iguodala, Leandro Barbosa and Shaun Livingston had great seasons.

Golden State jumped out to a record-breaking 24-0 start and finished the regular season with the most wins in regular-season history.

The Dubs nearly blew their perfect season in the Western Conference Finals when they fell down 3-1 to the Oklahoma City Thunder. An incredible performance from Thompson in Game 6 kept the Warriors alive while Curry brought it home in Game 7 to advance to the Finals.

After narrowly avoiding defeat in the Conference Finals, the Warriors were one game shy of completing the greatest season in NBA history. Taking a commanding 3-1 lead over the reeling Cavaliers, the Dubs had this one in the bag.

We all know what happened next. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving led perhaps the most iconic comeback in sports history to deliver a championship to the city of Cleveland.

Curry finished the series with more turnovers than assists and shot an ugly 36.7 percent from the field in the final three games. Meanwhile, Thompson shot 2-10 from the 3-point line in the decisive Game 7.

The Warriors became the first team in Finals history to blow a 3-1 lead and one of only a few teams to drop Game 7 at home.

Next. Top 25 Warriors in history. dark

Other choke jobs such as the Atlanta Falcons coughing up a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl may be more shocking, but the fact that the Warriors were one game short of forever being remembered as the greatest team ever assembled is a pain that will never go away for Dubs fans.

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