Greatest Finals performances in NBA History?

[PTB Fan]

For players only..

This isn't for one game, but for entire series.

Which player performed the best in the Finals?

Example.. '00 Shaq etc.

[G-Funk]

For players only..

This isn't for one game, but for entire series.

Which player performed the best in the Finals?

Example.. '00 Shaq etc.

Lebron James 2011

[guy]

Any of Jordan's first 3. Really hard to pick between them.

[inclinerator]

jordan against suns
jordan against 97
jordan 98

[1987_Lakers]

Jordan in '91
Shaq in '00
Wade in '06

[Odinn]

It's hard to rank.

Jordan's 1st threepeat
Shaq's threepeat
Duncan's 2003
Bird's 1986
Magic's 1987
Hakeem's 1995
Kareem's 1980

[caliman]

Shaq 2000, 2001

[Odinn]

Lebron James 2011
Kobe Bryant 2004.

[frmsea2okc]

Bob pettit beating russells celtics by scoring a then record 50 points including 18 of st. Louis's last 21 as well as the clinching jumper in the last 20 seconds.

Moses in 83 outrebounding kareem 70-30 and averaging 26-18

Shaq in 2000 38/17

Hakeem raping ewing and shaq in b2b years. (Not to mention eviservating Robinson en route

Walt frazier in game 7 of 70 36/19/7/5

[pauk]

Kobe 2000 .. 15-3-3... :bowdown:

or Kobe 2004

[Heavincent]

Kobe 2000

Yeah his game 4 takeover on a bad ankle was sick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Lp5aQq4zI

:bowdown:

[Phong]

LeBron 2011... :bowdown:

In his 8th season, in his prime, flanked by two elite players, he made history. :applause:

[pauk]

Just retaliating G-Funk, Heavincent... not trying to bash Kobe, just cant let G-Funk run around with his fantasy as a Kobetard and act like he was awesome in his Finals and bash everybody else... all superstars in NBA history have underperfomed in a Finals series for at least one game or some even entire series, its only 4-7 games for gods sake.... one of the few superstars i cant remember ever underperforming in a Finals series or a single game was Michael Jordan... every other all-star/superstar have at least one horrible game there in his resume and most of them underperformed in at least one Finals series in a way...

So.. only Jordan fans can bash anybodys Finals performance with full comfort, Jordan was the most talented-skilled overall player ever afterall...

Damn Kobetards, stop ruining this thread with your Lebron butthurtedness...

[Big#50]

Just retaliating G-Funk, Heavincent... not trying to bash Kobe, just cant let G-Funk run around with his fantasy as a Kobetard and act like he was awesome in his Finals and bash everybody else... all superstars in NBA history have underperfomed in a Finals series for at least one game or some even entire series, its only 4-7 games for gods sake.... one of the few superstars i cant remember ever underperforming in a Finals series or a single game was Michael Jordan... every other all-star/superstar have at least one horrible game there in his resume and most of them underperformed in at least one Finals series in a way...

So.. only Jordan fans can bash anybodys Finals performance with full comfort, Jordan was the most talented-skilled overall player ever afterall...

Damn Kobetards, stop ruining this thread with your Lebron butthurtedness...
Wtf are you 14? None of us have the right to come and bash another person on what our favorite player did. MJ can come in and bash everyone. Not his ****ing Stans. We are all here to support our teams, talk a little shit, but none of us had anything to do with what an NBA player did. And its pretty sad that one can live vicariously through player on a ****ing internet forum.
MJ played so-so against the Sonics BTW.
Lebron has played like shit.
Kobe has played like shit.
Shaq never had a bad finals. He was old with the Heat.
Duncan had so-so NBA finals.

MJ vs the Suns was the best I have ever seen. Duncan and Shaq had the others.

[Bladers]

The last great finals performance was wade at the freethrow line in 06.

[D-Wade316]

'06

[The Iron Sheik]

Kobe 2009
Wade 2011
Barkley 1993

[shortsoptional]

Bennett Salvatore 06

[Duncan21formvp]

Jordan's first three. Not only that all of them was against the guy who finished 2nd in MVP voting or won the MVP.

[305Baller]

Wade. Need I say more?

[The Macho Man]

Kobe 2009
Wade 2011
Barkley 1993

What a weird thing to post with this gimmick.

[L.Kizzle]

Elgin Baylor from 63 averaged over 40 a game including a 61 point game.
Jerry West got Finals MVP in 69 avg iver 38 a game, I believe.

[LABean]

Bennett Salvatore 06
:lol

[Heilige]

Jordan 93

[Horatio33]

Duncan 03.

[Scholar]

I can't believe Dirk Nowitzki's 2011 Finals performance isn't even getting an honorable mention.

[RaininTwos]

I can't believe Dirk Nowitzki's 2011 Finals performance isn't even getting an honorable mention.
....you serious?

There are losing performances better than his.

[shortsoptional]

I can't believe Dirk Nowitzki's 2011 Finals performance isn't even getting an honorable mention.

He had some great moments in the Finals, but his overall performance was about par for his standards. About 25 & 10.

He probably had one of the all time best WCF's performances though.

[NumberSix]

Shaq

[jlauber]

Shaq

Agreed. I would take Shaq's "three-peat" performances over any other in history. He even shelled DPOY Mutombo in the '01 Finals.

Russell's '62, '65 and '66 Finals deserve consideration, too...especially his '65 effort. In that series he averaged 18 ppg, 29 rpg, and shot an eye-popping .702 from the floor.

Obviously, MJ had several great performances, as well, as did Magic.

[Odinn]

Agreed. I would take Shaq's "three-peat" performances over any other in history. He even shelled DPOY Mutombo in the '01 Finals.

Actually I made a thread about this before.
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240213

[LEFT4DEAD]

Wade '06 (mostly because his team trailed 0-2 and Heat were actually worse than Dallas that year. It was historic)

Shaq '00
Jordan '91
Duncan '03

[OldSchoolBBall]

MJ played so-so against the Sonics BTW.
Lebron has played like shit.
Kobe has played like shit.
Shaq never had a bad finals. He was old with the Heat.
Duncan had so-so NBA finals.


Shaq was 33 in the 2006 Finals, same as MJ in 1996.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Since the 80's:

Jordan '91 > Shaq '00 >= Jordan '93 >= Shaq '01 > Jordan '92 >= Duncan '03 >= KAJ '80 = Bird '86 = Magic '87 >= Shaq '02

Very hard to decide among some of these, but at least two of MJ and Shaq's are the 4 best imo ('00/'01 and '91/'93).

[Odinn]

Since the 80's:

Jordan '91 > Shaq '00 >= Jordan '93 >= Shaq '01 > Jordan '92 >= Duncan '03 >= KAJ '80 = Bird '86 = Magic '87 >= Shaq '02

Very hard to decide among some of these, but at least two of MJ and Shaq's are the 4 best imo ('00/'01 and '91/'93).
If we consider his age, Kareem in 1985 Finals can crack into that list.:cheers:

[Doranku]

Since the 80's:

Jordan '91 > Shaq '00 >= Jordan '93 >= Shaq '01 > Jordan '92 >= Duncan '03 >= KAJ '80 = Bird '86 = Magic '87 >= Shaq '02

Very hard to decide among some of these, but at least two of MJ and Shaq's are the 4 best imo ('00/'01 and '91/'93).
No love for Wade?

[OldSchoolBBall]

No love for Wade?

Not better than any of those, no. Prob right after those mixed with Hakeem's Finals and Magic's '85 Finals.

[brownmamba00]

Yeah his game 4 takeover on a bad ankle was sick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Lp5aQq4zI

:bowdown:
gotdamn frobe swaggin all over the place

[Big#50]

Shaq was 33 in the 2006 Finals, same as MJ in 1996.
I know. What is your point?

[OldSchoolBBall]

I know. What is your point?

You said MJ was "so-so" against the Sonics (which he was, by his standards), but then said that Shaq never had a bad Finals and that we shouldn't count the '06 Finals because he was old. Jordan was the same age as him in the '96 Finals, and then still went on to have two stellar Finals the two years after that. I'm just saying that we can't have double standards.

[Brickz187]

Wade. 06. One of the greatest performances ever.

[iDunk]

Walt Frazier

STYLIN N PROFILIN

[LEFT4DEAD]

Since the 80's:

Jordan '91 > Shaq '00 >= Jordan '93 >= Shaq '01 > Jordan '92 >= Duncan '03 >= KAJ '80 = Bird '86 = Magic '87 >= Shaq '02

Very hard to decide among some of these, but at least two of MJ and Shaq's are the 4 best imo ('00/'01 and '91/'93).
And which player among these actually played against better team than his own and made some historic comeback like Wade after 0-2? Lot of Wade' haters here I can see.
Everyone of mentioned players played on stacked teams and mostly against opponents who had no business playing in the finals.
Wade led old ass' Shaq+2 good role players to the title against easily the best team that season averaging 40+ 8+ 5+ in 4 wins. GTFOH

[Rysio]

lebron 2012 40/9/9

[OldSchoolBBall]

And which player among these actually played against better team than his own and made some historic comeback like Wade after 0-2? Lot of Wade' haters here I can see.
Everyone of mentioned players played on stacked teams and mostly against opponents who had no business playing in the finals.
Wade led old ass' Shaq+2 good role players to the title against easily the best team that season averaging 40+ 8+ 5+ in 4 wins. GTFOH

Wade's '06 Finals isn't even better than MJ's '97 Finals - 32.3 pts/7 reb/6 ast/46% FG, a near triple double (38/13/9 - should have been 12 assists if guys weren't blowing wide open layups in the 4th), two game-winning shots AND a game-winning assist in one series, plus the entire "flu game." Never mind being better than any of the Finals I mentioned, all of which were on another level from Wade's - a performance which was aided mightily by the refs, I might add. 16+ FTA/gm for a series? 25 followed by 21 FT's in the final two games? 18+ FTA over the last four games? :oldlol:

[D-Wade316]

Wade's '06 Finals isn't even better than MJ's '97 Finals - 32.3 pts/7 reb/6 ast/46% FG, a near triple double (38/13/9 - should have been 12 assists if guys weren't blowing wide open layups in the 4th), two game-winning shots AND a game-winning assist in one series, plus the entire "flu game." Never mind being better than any of the Finals I mentioned, all of which were on another level from Wade's - a performance which was aided mightily by the refs, I might add. 16+ FTA/gm for a series? 25 followed by 21 FT's in the final two games? 18+ FTA over the last four games? :oldlol:
LOL just another statwhore.

[D-Wade316]

It's funny how all these old morons use statistics, which they most often refuse to use. How about all the intangibles aspect? Carrying his team single-handedly from what was once a 2-0 series? :oldlol:

[OldSchoolBBall]

LOL just another statwhore.

Nothing to do with stats at all. First off, MJ's '97 and Wade's '06 Finals are comparable stats-wise. Could go either way. I give MJ the slight edge because he averaged significantly more assists and was playing within the team concept more. More than that, though, as I said it was about what Jordan actually DID that series: two game-winning shots, a game-winning assist, a near trip-dub, and the legendary flu game...all in one series. Sorry, but Wade's '06 Finals isn't better than that. That series alone gave the NBA like 3-4 moments that will be remembered forever. Give me a break. :oldlol:

[D-Wade316]

Nothing to do with stats at all. First off, MJ's '97 and Wade's '06 Finals are comparable stats-wise. Could go either way. I give MJ the slight edge because he averaged significantly more assists and was playing within the team concept more. More than that, though, as I said it was about what Jordan actually DID that series: two game-winning shots, a game-winning assist, a near trip-dub, and the legendary flu game...all in one series. Sorry, but Wade's '06 Finals isn't better than that. That series alone gave the NBA like 3-4 moments that will be remembered forever. Give me a break. :oldlol:
:oldlol:

Wade made loads of them. 15pts in the 4th qtr of game 3, 21pts in the 4th qtr and overtime of game 5, blocking an alley-oop attempt that would have force an overtime during game 3, gametying bankshot that sent game game 5 to overtime. All of those in his 3rd year. Underdogs coming into the series. 39.3ppg in the last 4 games.

Fukk outta here.

[jlauber]

Chamberlain crushed Thurmond in the '67 Finals, which included pounding him in the clinching game six win. He "only" averaged 17.5 ppg, but also averaged 28.5 rpg, and shot a mind-numbing .560 against Thurmond (Wilt was probably the only center to ever shoot over 50% against Nate in the post-season, and he did it in all three of their H2H series.) And he held Thurmond to an unthinkable .343 shooting performance.

He also overwhelmed NY in the '72 Finals...en route to a Finals MVP (19-23 .600 series.) In the clinching game five win, and with two badly injured wrists (one fractured BTW), Chamberlain scored 24 points, on 10-14 shooting, with 29 rebounds (the entire Knick TEAM only had 39 BTW), with nine blocked shots.

Even in defeat in the '64 Finals, he dominated Russell...outscoring him, per game, 29.2 ppg to 11.2 ppg, while outrebounding him, 27-25 per game. He also shot .517 in that series...and while I don't have Russell's FG% in that series, Russell shot .356 in that post-season, and five of his ten games came against Wilt.

And, just four months removed from major knee surgery, Chamberlain hung the only 20-20 .600 Finals in NBA history, with a seven game series mark of 23.2 ppg, 24.1 rpg, and .625 from the floor in the '70 Finals. Included was a "must-win" game six of 45 points, on 20-27 shooting, with 27 rebounds.

Of course, with Wilt, most observers forget to take into account on the fact that he was routinely reducing his opposing centers to way below their normal numbers.

[Ketchup]

Nothing to do with stats at all. First off, MJ's '97 and Wade's '06 Finals are comparable stats-wise. Could go either way. I give MJ the slight edge because he averaged significantly more assists and was playing within the team concept more. More than that, though, as I said it was about what Jordan actually DID that series: two game-winning shots, a game-winning assist, a near trip-dub, and the legendary flu game...all in one series. Sorry, but Wade's '06 Finals isn't better than that. That series alone gave the NBA like 3-4 moments that will be remembered forever. Give me a break. :oldlol:

If Wade played within the team concept they would have lost. Did you not watch the first two games? The second best scorer on his team was Antoine Walker in the finals. An amazing 13ppg on 39% shooting. That was his second best scorer...

Not to mention Wade put up 40ppg over the last 4 games, and in those 4 games, neither team scored more than 100 points each in regulation. A slowed down pace, and hes still putting up 40 points... Crazy.

The stats are crazy, due to the slow pace of the game. Not to mention being down 2-0, and single handily bringing your team back into the series then going onto win it, trumps anything anyone has ever done in the finals.

[OldSchoolBBall]

:oldlol:

Wade made loads of them. 15pts in the 4th qtr of game 3, 21pts in the 4th qtr and overtime of game 5, blocking an alley-oop attempt that would have force an overtime during game 3, gametying bankshot that sent game game 5 to overtime. All of those in his 3rd year. Underdogs coming into the series. 39.3ppg in the last 4 games.

Fukk outta here.

And how many of those do people remember? Precisely zero. What they DO remember is the atrocious ref-help Wade received throughout that series, especially the last several games.

Like I said...not better than MJ's '97 Finals, much less the ones I mentioned earlier.

[D-Wade316]

And how many of those do people remember? Precisely zero. What they DO remember is the atrocious ref-help Wade received throughout that series, especially the last several games.

Like I said...not better than MJ's '97 Finals, much less the ones I mentioned earlier.
:oldlol: I wouldn't bother to argue with you if you believe such BS. Dirk sucked epically that series. 22.8ppg on 53ts%. Howard, Stackhouse, and Harris were shit too. Only Jason Terry played above his normal.

So of Dallas' 5 primary scorers, 4 went shit only 1 played above his standards.

Do you really expect them to win? :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Ketchup]

And how many of those do people remember? Precisely zero. What they DO remember is the atrocious ref-help Wade received throughout that series, especially the last several games.

Like I said...not better than MJ's '97 Finals, much less the ones I mentioned earlier.

Can't make a decent argument so you resort to the referee excuse. You're no worse than the retards in the game threads that cry ref before the game has even started.

Stay mad douchebag.

[D-Wade316]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=126843

Eat shit. :pimp:

[f0und]

You're never gonna convince those that think wade had ref rigging help that it was a great finals performance. You might as well ignore them. Those that are reasonable knows that it was one of the best.

[gengiskhan]

Kobe Bryant 2004.

:lol :lol

talk about deliberately destroying Shaq's legacy by costing him his 4th FMVP & then running him out of town by blaming the loss on him.

This beats all. :oldlol:

[OldSchoolBBall]

You're never gonna convince those that think wade had ref rigging help that it was a great finals performance. You might as well ignore them. Those that are reasonable knows that it was one of the best.

No question it was one of the best. You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm saying two things:

1) That it unquestionably was NOT better than any of the Finals I listed earlier.

2) That MJ's '97 Finals was better due to equal/better numbers plus two game-winning shots, a game-winning assist, the flu game, a near trip-dub (38/13/9) etc. That one series provided us with several iconic moments. When you add all that into the equation along with the fact that Wade definitely had help from the refs (though the refs did NOT make his series - they HELPED it, though) MJ's series was better.

No one said that Wade didn't likely have one of the 10-15 greatest Finals series of all time. Just not anywhere near the best.

[D-Wade316]

No question it was one of the best. You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm saying two things:

1) That it unquestionably was NOT better than any of the Finals I listed earlier.

2) That MJ's '97 Finals was better due to equal/better numbers plus two game-winning shots, a game-winning assist, the flu game, a near trip-dub (38/13/9) etc. That one series provided us with several iconic moments. When you add all that into the equation along with the fact that Wade definitely had help from the refs (though the refs did NOT make his series - they HELPED it, though) MJ's series was better.

No one said that Wade didn't likely have one of the 10-15 greatest Finals series of all time. Just not anywhere near the best.
It's the best.

[OldSchoolBBall]

It's the best.

lmao :roll: :roll: :hammerhead:

[f0und]

No question it was one of the best. You're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm saying two things:

1) That it unquestionably was NOT better than any of the Finals I listed earlier.

2) That MJ's '97 Finals was better due to equal/better numbers plus two game-winning shots, a game-winning assist, the flu game, a near trip-dub (38/13/9) etc. That one series provided us with several iconic moments. When you add all that into the equation along with the fact that Wade definitely had help from the refs (though the refs did NOT make his series - they HELPED it, though) MJ's series was better.

No one said that Wade didn't likely have one of the 10-15 greatest Finals series of all time. Just not anywhere near the best.


Statwise its pretty good. But add the fact that it was the most heroic finals performance and its easily top 5 in my book.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Statwise its pretty good. But add the fact that it was the most heroic finals performance and its easily top 5 in my book.

It was not even the most heroic finals of the last 15 years. That would be MJ's '97 and '98 Finals (MJ's '98 Finals were NOT better than Wade's '06 Finals, but it was more heroic).

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

It was not even the most heroic finals of the last 15 years. That would be MJ's '97 and '98 Finals (MJ's '98 Finals were NOT better than Wade's '06 Finals, but it was more heroic).

Apparently living at the charity stripe is some heroic feat. :oldlol:

[f0und]

It was not even the most heroic finals of the last 15 years. That would be MJ's '97 and '98 Finals (MJ's '98 Finals were NOT better than Wade's '06 Finals, but it was more heroic).

The heat were down 0-2 and were alrrady buried in the grave. Wade busts out kill bill style, drags himself and his teammates out, clawing through the dirt and rising from the grave to get themselves nack into the fight and ultimately win it. If thats not epic heroism, i dont know what is.

[LEFT4DEAD]

This d!ckhead doesn't deserve even to be quoted.

[Odinn]

Apparently living at the charity stripe is some heroic feat. :oldlol:
:oldlol: :oldlol:

[bwink23]

98 Jordan was definately more heroic. 35 years old, slowed down....Played with a torn ligament on his shooting hand all year with chronic tendinitis. Put that team on his back with a Pippen at 60% power due to back problems. And the last 3 crucial plays of game 6 with a score, steal, score to win it.

[Deuce Bigalow]

98 Jordan was definately more heroic. 35 years old, slowed down....Played with a torn ligament on his shooting hand all year with chronic tendinitis. Put that team on his back with a Pippen at 60% power due to back problems. And the last 3 crucial plays of game 6 with a score, steal, score to win it.
Also an offensive foul that wasn't called because he was Michael Jordan.

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/GLOB/resize/550x600/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.mandatory.com/media/2012/04/mensnba-moments04michael-jordangetty8130033510.jpg

[jlauber]

Also an offensive foul that wasn't called because he was Michael Jordan.

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/GLOB/resize/550x600/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.mandatory.com/media/2012/04/mensnba-moments04michael-jordangetty8130033510.jpg

Yeah...let's discredit everything Bwink just pointed out about MJ's performance in that series, based on one controversial play.

[SuperPippen]

Yeah...let's discredit everything Bwink just pointed out about MJ's performance in that series, based on one controversial play.

Indeed. MJ got away with an offensive foul that, had he gotten called for it, the Bulls still would've won the series anyway? That means all of his accomplishments aren't worth shit!!!

[bwink23]

Indeed. MJ got away with an offensive foul that, had he gotten called for it, the Bulls still would've won the series anyway? That means all of his accomplishments aren't worth shit!!!


If that was an "offensive foul", then the refs missed it 9 TIMES (same move, same result) in this video:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW_SrjKVxIo#t=06m28s

Besides, per rules, Russell should have been called for a handcheck FIRST.

But in the 90's, MEN PLAY BALL.

[Da_Realist]

Also an offensive foul that wasn't called because he was Michael Jordan.

http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-global/dims3/GLOB/resize/550x600/http://www.blogcdn.com/www.mandatory.com/media/2012/04/mensnba-moments04michael-jordangetty8130033510.jpg

Replay --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd02qVKLxaw&t=2h08m58s

Stop whining

[Roundball_Rock]

98 Jordan was definately more heroic. 35 years old, slowed down....Played with a torn ligament on his shooting hand all year with chronic tendinitis. Put that team on his back with a Pippen at 60% power due to back problems. And the last 3 crucial plays of game 6 with a score, steal, score to win it.

I agree that MJ's 97' and 98' finals were more heroic than Wade's free throw shooting contest :oldlol: but regarding 98' keep in mind Pippen defensively dominated the Jazz (the #1 offense that year) in a way perhaps no perimeter player ever has in a series for 3 of the Bulls' 4 wins. He then got hurt badly at the end of the series--and never recovered from that injury--and MJ had to carry the load but through 4 games he was viewed as the front-runner for FMVP.

[D-Wade316]

98 Jordan was definately more heroic. 35 years old, slowed down....Played with a torn ligament on his shooting hand all year with chronic tendinitis. Put that team on his back with a Pippen at 60% power due to back problems. And the last 3 crucial plays of game 6 with a score, steal, score to win it.
Jocker.