Addy Dports > Basketball > Since 2019, every team that eliminated the defending champion has failed to win the championship
Since 2019, every team that eliminated the defending champion has failed to win the championship
According to an article written by F/W reporter Vishvisha Kumar. In the beginning of feeling more like a weird NBA hexagon than coincidence, the “Defensive Champion Curse” continues to haunt the team that overturned the previous year’s championship. This playoff, the New York Knicks became the latest victim, eliminating defending champion Boston Celtics in the second round of the 2025 playoffs, but losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. For the sixth straight season, the team that eliminated the defending champion failed to win the championship.
It all started in the 2020 NBA playoffs. The Boston Celtics eliminated defending champion Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals. At the time, the Raptors were still riding the wind and waves at the historic climax of 2019, but lacked Kawhi Leonard. Boston blocked them in seven games but couldn't keep the momentum going. They lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals and missed the chance to win the championship.
The following year, the Phoenix Suns looked ready to end the drought. In the 2021 playoffs, the Phoenix eliminated the injury-ridden defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. As both LeBron James and Anthony Davis deal with health issues, the Suns took advantage of it and soared all the way to the Finals. However, just when the curse seemed to be about to break, they lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in six games.
and then 2022. This time, Boston is back. The Celtics struggled to beat defending champion Milwaukee Bucks in a seven-game series in the second round. Led by Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they advanced all the way to the NBA Finals. However, their championship dream was crushed by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, who beat them in six games.
In 2023, the Los Angeles Lakers also became a believer in the curse. After defeating the Golden State Warriors in the second round six games, many believe LeBron and Anthony Davis have won the championship again among them. But the Denver Nuggets swept them in the Western Conference Finals under the excellent leadership of Nikola Jokic. Once again, the team that eliminated the championship returned empty-handed.
In 2024, the Minnesota Timberwolves ended the Denver Nuggets dominance in seven games. Anthony Edwards leads a gritty, defensive team, and the Wolves look like a destined team. But they met Luca Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks in the league finals and fell in five games.
And now, in 2025, the Knicks beat the Celtics in six games in the second round, ending with Jaylen Brunson’s heroic series, leaving fans dreaming of a return in the Finals. However, like the previous five teams, they ran out of gas and lost to the Pacers in six games.
So who is the last team to eliminate the defending champion and win the championship? 2019 Toronto Raptors. They beat the Warriors in the finals and raised the championship trophy 4-2. Since then, every team that overturned the previous year's championship has failed. Whether it is fatigue, stress or fate, the "Defensive Champion Curse" is very real and has been around for six consecutive years.
Related Posts
" "Selected Grassroots" counterattack myth! The Pacers four great scripts against the sky, can they reproduce the miracle of the 19th Raptors championship?
BasketballThe Thunder have won 80 wins in the 24-25 season (regular season + playoffs), which is not the reason why the outside world is most optimistic about winning the championship. It is an epic defense (regular season + playoff defensive efficiency is bo...
moreKobe s widow Vanessa was accused of "favoring other people with 27-year-old stars". I responded: I m not pregnant, I m not a bad person
BasketballRecently, some media said that Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the late NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, is pregnant again, and there are even reports that the other party is "a basketball star 16 years younger." To this end, many Kobe fans left me...
moreAlso at the age of 26, Alexander scored 11,294 points, Nash scored 2,792 points, Paul Westbrook and Curry?
BasketballAlexander is the big winner of the NBA this year. In the regular season, he led the Thunder to win the league's first record. He was also crowned the scoring leader with his explosive performance of 32.7 points per game. On the playoff stage, Al...
more
Hot Posts
- Thunder Wolf G2 - Alexander s offense and Thunder s defense
- Westbrook, keep it steady! G6 can win: just because one player played 0 minutes in the fourth quarter!
- Commentary on Yangwu: Sometimes the prejudice in people’s hearts is a big mountain. Today Westbrook pushed the mountain down
- Former NBA player: Jokic s foul moves are too big when he loses control of his emotions. There is no need to be a rider behind 40 points
- Iverson: Only 4 people in the NBA have really influenced the whole world
- 1 out of 10! The Warriors are not selling! Cole responded: Let him continue to invest
- Payton is famous for limiting Jordan in the finals? Not so, Jordan is just in a state of sluggishness
- Alas! The Lakers management s speech was very hurtful, I hope it will be a Caruso-like tragedy
- Caruso: My task is to limit the opponent s score regardless of likes or dislikes, and I don t have time to consider whether I m tired or not
- James ranks first! US media shows NBA tiebreaker scorer: Durant 11 Curry 10 Bird ranks 6th
Recent Posts
-
Antetokounmpo is rated as the strongest lineup in history. Netizens: He can win 82 in the regular season and has a guaranteed ten consecutive championships!
-
Media Reviews Downs Randall Swap: This is a win-win for the Timberwolves and the Knicks
-
Tatum, Kobe and Durant: Different trajectories and unknown ways after the Achilles tendon tear
-
Lakers reporter revealed that James was sprained in his left knee and would be absent when he was delayed until G6
-
MVP odds are released next season! Jokic Alexander leads Doncic third place, and Jamdoku ties for 11th place
-
After the Nuggets Series 1-0, how many of these indisputable facts do you know?
-
We will enter the Western Conference Finals for two consecutive years! Huazirandel scored 30+ with a net win of 22 points in a single quarter, leading 3-1
-
Scoring King? Dulin: If the Warriors trade Kumingga, it will be the same as the Raptors letting McGrady away
-
1 out of 10! The Warriors are not selling! Cole responded: Let him continue to invest
-
The defending champion fell down! The Knicks reversed 20 points, Tatum scored 23+16+6