Ranking Doc Rivers' 5 worst NBA playoff collapses

#3 Doc Rivers' Orlando Magic blew a 3-1 lead in 2003

Tracy McGrady

Doc Rivers was in his fourth season with the Orlando Magic and was making his third appearance in the NBA playoffs as a head coach. Although the Magic were the 8th seed in the East, they had superstar Tracy McGrady in their roster.

While much was not expected from the Orlando Magic against the no. 1 seed in the East, the Detroit Pistons, Doc Rivers' team were well on his way to pulling off an upset. McGrady lived up to the occasion and dropped 43 points to power the Magic to victory in Game 1.

Doc Rivers' 2003 Orlando Magic blew a 3-1 series lead after losing 3-straight games in the first round vs. the Detroit Pistons.

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 17, 2015

The Detroit Pistons hit back in Game 2 but lost Games 3 and 4. Despite the Orlando Magic being the underdogs, Doc Rivers' team was favored to pull off the upset, based on proceedings but collapsed

Pistons coach Rick Carlisle made adjustments heading into Game 5 that immensely benefitted his team. Doc Rivers failed to respond tactically and saw his team ending up bottling their significant lead.

#2 The LA Clippers blew a 3-1 lead in 2015

Head coach Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Chris Paul (#3) and Blake Griffin (#32)

The LA Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs after a riveting Game 7 in the 2015 NBA playoffs. Chris Paul, who has been unlucky in the playoffs, sustained a hamstring injury in that game. But that did not deter him from making the game-winning shot to help his team advance to the Western Conference Semi-finals.

Although Chris Paul missed the first two games of the second round against the Houston Rockets, the Clippers produced decent performances. The Clippers won Game 1 but were inconsistent in Game 2. Paul's return led Doc Rivers' side to victories in Games 3 and 4. The Clippers, though, failed to capitalize on their 3-1 lead and lost Game 5.

Despite the loss in Game 5, things were starting to look up for the Clippers, as they had a commanding 87-68 lead late in the second quarter in Game 6. They looked on course to close out the series. But the Rockets coach changed things around with his decision to bench James Harden for the better part of the fourth quarter.

Again, it was the better tactician that won, as Doc Rivers had no answers for the Rockets' change. The Rockets bench orchestrated an inspiring comeback, resulting in one of the most shocking comebacks in NBA playoffs history. The Rockets tied the series at the end of the night and secured victory in Game 7.

#1 Doc Rivers' LA Clippers blew a 3-1 lead in 2020

The Denver Nuggets celebrate during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers.

One would think that a coach of Doc Rivers' caliber would have learned from his numerous mistakes and close out series better. But that was not the case, as he was once again at the receiving end of another NBA playoffs comeback.

With Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Patrick Beverley and the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, Montrezl Harrell, the Clippers were one of the favorites to win the 2020 NBA championship. But that did not come to fruition, as Doc Rivers and the Clippers endured another collapse.

Nuggets Win Game 7! Clippers Blew 3-1 Lead! 2020 NBA Playoffs https://t.co/ErZQ91WEML via @YouTube

— Chris Smoove (@Chris_Smoove) September 16, 2020

The LA Clippers managed another 3-1 lead in the series, but things panned out like in the 2015 second round. Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets crawled their way out of the deficit before completed the comeback.

It was an all-around horrendous display from the LA Clippers. Their highly praised bench was unable to deliver the goods, while their superstars also choked. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George went scoreless in the fourth quarter of a make-or-mar Game 7.

The Denver Nuggets clinched the victory and went on to face eventual champions LA Lakers in the Conference Finals.