Game-Saving Defensive Plays in Playoff History

[IllegalD]

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.]

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]

Pippen with the consecutive blocks on Charles Smith at the end of Game 5 '93 ECF.

http://youtu.be/Aai_dFuhNbQ?t=4m

[ProfessorMurder]

I still can't believe Tayshaun blocked that layup. That ruined my life for a while.

[BlkMambaGOAT]

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]

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!!!]

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]

MJ steals from Malone in 98 Finals.

THEN

hits game winner.

[IllegalD]

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]

Hedo blocks Kobe to send it to OT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE69d0H9bz0

[andgar923]

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]

Hedo blocks Kobe to send it to OT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE69d0H9bz0

Lakers won that game....:facepalm

Troll harder. :lol

[SHAQisGOAT]

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]

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]

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]

How about Bird's steal in the 1985 ECF? (posted above)

Added.

Didn't see it the first time.

[ArbitraryWater]

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]

How much time needs to be on the clock? what can be considered "game saving" exactly?

[IllegalD]

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]

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]

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]

Why didn't op add mine? Is he mad that Turk blocked the shit out of Kobe?

[JohnFreeman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSe80qSgXVA

defensive scheme: let Kobe shoot

[97 bulls]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SxdSVT1UXXA

Horace Grant blocks Kevin Johnson game 6 1993 NBA Finals

[IllegalD]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Wade game 2 vs Cats

[OldSchoolBBall]

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