View Full Version : Game-Saving Defensive Plays in Playoff History
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 06:25 PM
As a companion to that "Series Winning Buzzerbeaters/Game winners" thread I decided to make one about Game/Series-saving defensive plays.
West Steal and Game-winner, 1962 Finals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn4H_zMFm7A
Havlicek Stole the Ball, 1965 Finals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4fTjcJwImw
Bird's Series-Winning Steal vs 76ers, 1985 ECF's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LiNw3aOdQ
Bird's Steal vs Pistons, 1987 ECF's:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bird+steal+pistons
Pippen's Block Party on Charles Smith, 1993 ECF's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aai_dFuhNbQ&feature=youtu.be&t=4m
Horace Grant Blocks KJ, 1993 Finals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxdSVT1UXXA&app=desktop
Olajuwon Blocks Starks, 1994 Finals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUv5_YFhPI
Pippen's Steal vs Jazz, 1997 Finals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTWdhAeCKYs
Jordan Steal on Malone + Game-winner, 1998 Finals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URC5utkbGds
Kobe Blocks Sabonis, 2000 WCF's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-xmHcgoTdw
Prince Blocks Reggie, 2004 ECF's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QJ4iwqnLKc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJTgSlD7i4U
Bosh Blocks Danny Green, 2013 Finals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwMpbS36OU0
Pierce Blocks Lowry, 2014 ECQF's:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkj1dYFlWao
Smook A.
05-04-2014, 06:28 PM
Paul "The Truth" Pierce http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/images/smilies/clap.gif
Gotta give credit to the Toronto Raptors though. They fought hard and were very very close. I think next year they'll make a playoff run.
Also I think Toronto has the best fans. It was PACKED inside the stadium and outside too. Crazy crazy.
hitmanyr2k
05-04-2014, 06:32 PM
Pippen with the consecutive blocks on Charles Smith at the end of Game 5 '93 ECF.
http://youtu.be/Aai_dFuhNbQ?t=4m
ProfessorMurder
05-04-2014, 06:33 PM
I still can't believe Tayshaun blocked that layup. That ruined my life for a while.
BlkMambaGOAT
05-04-2014, 06:33 PM
Lebron's defense against the Heat during the 2011 finals:rockon:
Prevented Prime Wade from getting his 2nd FMVP.
Suck it Michael Jordan :banana:
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 06:36 PM
Pippen with the consecutive blocks on Charles Smith at the end of Game 5 '93 ECF.
http://youtu.be/Aai_dFuhNbQ?t=4m
:applause:
Added
It's A VC3!!!
05-04-2014, 06:36 PM
Paul "The Truth" Pierce http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/images/smilies/clap.gif
Also I think Toronto has the best fans. It was PACKED inside the stadium and outside too. Crazy crazy.
I think they could've been louder today given that it was a game 7 but in today's post-game Garnett and Williams did proceed to call them the best atmosphere they have ever seen.
andgar923
05-04-2014, 07:16 PM
MJ steals from Malone in 98 Finals.
THEN
hits game winner.
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 07:18 PM
MJ steals from Malone in 98 Finals.
THEN
hits game winner.
Great play.
But I guess I meant more instances where the defensive play was the final/deciding play of the game/series. In this case it was Jordan's game-winner that sealed the win.
Jameerthefear
05-04-2014, 07:19 PM
Hedo blocks Kobe to send it to OT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE69d0H9bz0
andgar923
05-04-2014, 07:20 PM
Great play.
But I guess I meant more instances where the defensive play was the final/deciding play of the game/series. In this case it was Jordan's game-winner that sealed the win.
Gotcha.
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 07:23 PM
Hedo blocks Kobe to send it to OT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE69d0H9bz0
Lakers won that game....:facepalm
Troll harder. :lol
SHAQisGOAT
05-04-2014, 07:27 PM
Adding to those....
West's steal and game-winning layup, 1962 Finals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn4H_zMFm7A
"Havlicek stole the ball", 1965 EF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4fTjcJwImw
Gerald Henderson's steal vs Lakers, 1984 Finals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJStJ9p_T0
Bird's series-winning steal vs 76ers, 1985 ECF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LiNw3aOdQ
Hakeem block on Starks, 1994 Finals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUv5_YFhPI
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 07:42 PM
Allright.
After thinking it through I added the Jordan steal on Malone, even though technically I was thinking more "walk-off" defensive plays where the defensive play actually ends the game. But then I realized that Bird's steal on the Pistons is followed by a game-winning layup by DJ.
So I included West's as well, even though its similar to Jordan's (a defensive play which in turn leads to the game-winning field goal).
But I don't think I can count the Gerald Henderson one, as memorable as it is, since the play didn't win the game per-se since they played an extra OT period.
SHAQisGOAT
05-04-2014, 07:50 PM
Allright.
After thinking it through I added the Jordan steal on Malone, even though technically I was thinking more "walk-off" defensive plays where the defensive play actually ends the game. But then I realized that Bird's steal on the Pistons is followed by a game-winning layup by DJ.
So I included West's as well, even though its similar to Jordan's (a defensive play which in turn leads to the game-winning field goal).
But I don't think I can count the Gerald Henderson one, as memorable as it is, since the play didn't win the game per-se since they played an extra OT period.
How about Bird's steal in the 1985 ECF? (posted above)
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 07:52 PM
How about Bird's steal in the 1985 ECF? (posted above)
Added.
Didn't see it the first time.
ArbitraryWater
05-04-2014, 08:51 PM
http://www.inflexwetrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Screen-shot-2011-05-27-at-8.17.01-AM.jpg
http://thekobebeef.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lebron_dunk_celtics.jpg
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/718865/109325_boston_celtics_v_miami_heat___game_five.jpg
andgar923
05-04-2014, 09:15 PM
How much time needs to be on the clock? what can be considered "game saving" exactly?
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 09:20 PM
How much time needs to be on the clock? what can be considered "game saving" exactly?
To me it's the defensive equivalent of a game-winner.
So ideally the defensive play would be the last play of the game and would keep the opposing team from winning the game by preventing a score.
A "walk-off" defensive play if you will.
I bent the criteria a bit since there were some instances where the defensive play wasn't the final/deciding play, but instead lead to the go-ahead field goal (see: Bird's steal on Pistons, Jordan's steal on Malone, West's steal).
But if I bend the criteria any more (like including Gerald Henderson's steal) then it would open up the list to too many plays, thus making it less unique.
andgar923
05-04-2014, 09:31 PM
To me it's the defensive equivalent of a game-winner.
So ideally the defensive play would be the last play of the game and would keep the opposing team from winning the game by preventing a score.
A "walk-off" defensive play if you will.
I bent the criteria a bit since there were some instances where the defensive play wasn't the final/deciding play, but instead lead to the go-ahead field goal (see: Bird's steal on Pistons, Jordan's steal on Malone, West's steal).
But if I bend the criteria any more (like including Gerald Henderson's steal) then it would open up the list to too many plays, thus making it less unique.
cool
KevinNYC
05-04-2014, 10:52 PM
The first thing I thought of was Mutombo making the block and ending up with the ball in his hands-Nuggets Sonics 1994. But he didn't make the block he just secured the a loose ball. Iconic moment though.
He made a great block on Kemp the play before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxW8yN3QT2o
Jameerthefear
05-04-2014, 10:57 PM
Why didn't op add mine? Is he mad that Turk blocked the shit out of Kobe?
JohnFreeman
05-04-2014, 10:59 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSe80qSgXVA
defensive scheme: let Kobe shoot
97 bulls
05-04-2014, 11:18 PM
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SxdSVT1UXXA
Horace Grant blocks Kevin Johnson game 6 1993 NBA Finals
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 11:21 PM
Why didn't op add mine? Is he mad that Turk blocked the shit out of Kobe?
:facepalm
Because the Magic lost that game in OT.
What part of "game-saving" defensive play to end the game do you not understand?
Why don't you stick to the number of lame threads you've already got in the first couple of pages and let the grownups have legit basketball discussions?
Jameerthefear
05-04-2014, 11:26 PM
Putting OP on my neg list for trying to troll real fans of the game. We thought you wanted game saving defensive plays but I guess not. You will be earning another red here soon, don't worry.
Rake2204
05-04-2014, 11:27 PM
I still can't believe Tayshaun blocked that layup. That ruined my life for a while.It's too bad a team had to lose that one. It worked out in my favor, but man, I went through a roller coast of emotions from the time Chauncey was stripped until Tayshaun emerged from the depths for that block. It's kind of crazy how many places our mind can go in such a short period of time.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SxdSVT1UXXA
Horace Grant blocks Kevin Johnson game 6 1993 NBA FinalsUnderrated play. Tough block to do so cleanly. As a 3rd grade Michigander who still hadn't gotten over the Pistons-Bulls rivalry, I wanted so badly to believe that was a foul. I did not handle that well. Just wasn't my year, what with the Fab Five losing in dramatic fashion to UNC and whatnot just a few months earlier.
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 11:29 PM
Putting OP on my neg list for trying to troll real fans of the game. We thought you wanted game saving defensive plays but I guess not. You will be earning another red here soon, don't worry.
Actually what I wanted was discussed in the initial page, you just conveniently chose to ignore the criteria in order to further your pathetic Kobe-hating agenda. Get a life, loser. Don't you have school tomorrow?
IllegalD
05-04-2014, 11:30 PM
Putting OP on my neg list for trying to troll real fans of the game. We thought you wanted game saving defensive plays but I guess not. You will be earning another red here soon, don't worry.
How is the Turk block a game-saving defensive play if they ended up losing the game in OT?
Dumbass
:lol
HiphopRelated
05-04-2014, 11:31 PM
Wade game 2 vs Cats
OldSchoolBBall
05-05-2014, 12:48 AM
Jordan strips Kittles and takes it in for the go-ahead dunk in OT, 1998 first round: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZquLVr3MeGk#t=0m48s
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