Post your fav. single game individual performances

[LiLharvard]

i'll start it off

Paul Pierce 32 pts and game winner game 3 heat 2010 playoffs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZOdHZhE3ls

[Nowitness]

KG, Game 7, WCF v the super stacked Sac.

41/27/5/5/5

[LiLharvard]

KG, Game 7, WCF v the super stacked Sac.

41/27/5/5/5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhCOECOX_-M

[RightTwoCensor]

Harden vs. 2014 Pacers

Harden went Super Sayain and punked Evan Turner.

[LiLharvard]

Harden vs. 2014 Pacers

Harden went Super Sayain and punked Evan Turner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUi8zDXaIlE

[KembaWalker]

David Robinson 1994

34pts 10blks 10asts 10rebs 2stls 1to

[kurple]

Gallo vs Knicks. First game between the two teams since the Melo trade, in MSG. Think the game went to double OT with Gallo hitting the game winner or iceing the game. In mashmello's face

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYBBa5I9xMI

37pts/11reb

[pudman13]

In my mind there's never been anything to match the Sleepy Floyd game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNfBUHt99dE

[pudman13]

In my mind there's never been anything to match this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNfBUHt99dE


Second is Maravich scoring 68:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPqnpxhFWhw

[Gotterdammerung]

Most memorable games:

Michael Jordan's six three pointers in the first half of Game 1, against Portland in the 1992 Finals. The moment I realized Jordan was the greatest player I've ever seen.

Hakeem Olajuwon's double ball fake vs. David Robinson in the 1995 West Conference Finals.

Michael Jordan's 45 point Flu game in the 1997 NBA Finals.

Allen Iverson's 48 points in Game 1 of the 2001 Finals.

Tim Duncan's 34 points and 25 rebounds in the playoffs against the Lakers.

Shaquille O'Neal's wasted 40 and 20 game in the 2004 NBA finals.

The Robert Horry game, during Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant's 81 point explosion in the 2006 regular season.

LBJ's 25 point fourth quarter in the 2007 East Conference finals.

Dirk Nowitzki's redemption in the 2011 NBA Finals, that herky herky clutch move to the basket in Game 5.

Ray Allen' nearly impossible backwards shuffle into three, saving the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals.
:biggums:

[sportjames23]

MJ 69 pts, 18 rebs, 6 asst vs Cleveland
March 28, 1990

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unpVgfDL8j0

Check out that first year TNT broadcast.

[T_L_P]

Duncan's first Playoff game as a rookie (went off in the second half, very entertaining)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB7XD8km7L0

Tim's career high game (53 points vs. Mavs, absolutely destroyed Dirk in the post)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_zNuYK5ESg

Duncan's best Playoff game (game 1 vs. Nets, 32/20/7/3/7, had a mediocre first half and then took over)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwWqsbANx6g

My favourite game of all time (game 7 Spurs/Mavs, Tim goes for 41/15/6, series still hurts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbEWxeenR84

Manu's 33-12-7 vs. Lakers in 03-04, without Duncan (iirc he was resting because of an ankle injury)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8zhDrzorXs

The start of the Big 2 era. :bowdown:

Robert Horry's game 5 vs. the Pistons (hated him as a Laker, became one of my all time favourites as a Spur)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZdik09RGJI

Also game 6 Spurs/Nets. Duncan had a dominant game, playing the best defense I've ever seen live (the footage I've seen from Hakeem is better). But to see David go out on top, with a fantastic game was beautiful.

[Practice?]

LeBron vs Pistons 2007.

Reggie vs Knicks (11 points in 8 seconds or whatever it was)

[kshutts1]

That I was alive for? Kobe's 81.

Ever? Wilt's 100, mostly because he hit 28 of 32 FTs. Hilarious.

[Prometheus]

I've got two from Jordan and two from LeBron.

Jordan's game two of the 1991 Finals, to me, defined the perfect version of MJ. He played the role of facilitator flawlessly in the first half, getting everyone in rhythm. Then in the second half, he completely took over and dominated the game with 13 consecutive makes, capped off by the legendary switch-hands move. The Bulls ran away with the game because of their smothering defense and Jordan's offensive brilliance. He finished the game 15-18 shooting. The context is what does it for me too - they had lost game one as Jordan missed a potential game-winner. Game two was at home, and they were still in the 2-3-2 format. So if Chicago had lost, they would have been down 0-2 heading to Los Angeles for three straight games. Their odds of winning would have been awfully slim. And this was Jordan's first trip to the Finals, with all the spotlight on "Michael vs. Magic", where Magic had already won five rings. This was Jordan's ULTIMATE opportunity to prove himself, and he played a nearly flawless game. Pure excellence.

The context of needing to prove oneself leads me to LeBron's game six vs. Boston. We all know the story. His legacy would have NEVER recovered from a loss or a poor performance. I doubt any athlete in any sport, ever, has had their back against the wall to the extent that LeBron had his in that game. I personally had no faith in him at the time, and expected another disappointing performance. Yet he obviously dug deep and evoked a competitive fire that no one knew he had. It still gives me chills to watch that game. It reminds me of watching one of those youtube videos where a big, fat, dorky kid is getting bullied and finally reaches his breaking point - slams the shit out of the bully and walks off like a boss. That was LeBron in that game. Dude was just ****ing sick of it.

Then of course you've got game five vs. Detroit in 2007. Again, the context is important to me - this was LeBron as a 22-year-old, in only his second trip to the playoffs. More importantly, it was game five in a 2-2 series... on the road. It's the only performance I've ever seen where the phrase "he went super-saiyan" was truly appropriate. I doubt anyone can ever explain how he went off at the end of that game... All of Clevelands points in BOTH overtimes, hitting fadeaway threes over double and triple-teams, shaking Billups with a behind-the-back to nail the long deuce, driving, dunking... he was just scorching. Breathtaking. GOAT clutch performance, ever. Period.

And finally, the flu game. The flu game needs no explanation.

[ClipperRevival]

Gotta be Kobe's 81. Saw that game live. We needed almost every one of those points too and that's what makes this game special. He didn't just go out and try to get 81. It came within the flow of the game. Sure, when he started hitting shots, he kind of got into heat check mode in the 2nd half but this was a game where we needed most of those points.

[Magic 32]

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

14 of 16 FG at one point. 40 points with 4 minutes to go in the half.

5-10 heat checks.

[Gotterdammerung]

Prometheus,
You nailed the game I should've mentioned. The LBJ game vs Boston, Game 6. :cheers:

[KirbyPls]

Lebron Game 6 2012,

By then he was probably my favorite player ever, and some of that due to the incessant criticism and standards applied to him (although some of it was deserved). Very few, if any, in the media gave Lebron a chance to win the game, and the premature eulogies were being happily written. If he fails, he probably never gets over the hump and goes down as the biggest disappointment in NBA history.

Instead, he played one of the greatest games ever, and he won his first title two weeks later.

Full disclosure: I was so nervous for the game, and had such genuine fear that he would fail and choke, that I didn't watch it. Stupid I know, but that is where my head was at, I couldn't take another let down. So I got drunk and watched movies. Then my bro texts me "Your boy has 30 at the half."

[KirbyPls]

Slightly off topic.

I'm not a fan of MJ, and I always rooted against him, as his greatness was boring to me back then, but this is why he is GOAT to me.

My best friend and I were in Rome that summer (1998) for six weeks after graduating high school. We knew the Finals were going on, but we couldn't find anywhere to watch it, and honestly, it's Rome, so there was plenty to do.

Anyway, we go to a little kiosk the morning after Game 6 and get a USA Today. We see the headline and read the article. 45 points and the title clinching, game-winning jumper. Neither one of us was even surprised. :biggums:

If Lebron, Kobe or any other player did that today, ISH would melt, and talking heads would orgasm on ESPN for weeks. With MJ, at least for us, it was like "Of course he did, it's MJ."

[LiLharvard]

The night deron williams dropped 57 on the bobcats, this ones for you its a VC 3!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVmlQX-Avao

[Prometheus]

Slightly off topic.

I'm not a fan of MJ, and I always rooted against him, as his greatness was boring to me back then, but this is why he is GOAT to me.

My best friend and I were in Rome that summer (1998) for six weeks after graduating high school. We knew the Finals were going on, but we couldn't find anywhere to watch it, and honestly, it's Rome, so there was plenty to do.

Anyway, we go to a little kiosk the morning after Game 6 and get a USA Today. We see the headline and read the article. 45 points and the title clinching, game-winning jumper. Neither one of us was even surprised. :biggums:

If Lebron, Kobe or any other player did that today, ISH would melt, and talking heads would orgasm on ESPN for weeks. With MJ, at least for us, it was like "Of course he did, it's MJ."

Bolded is so true. I have friends a few years younger than me who never watched ball in the 90s... they have highlights, stats, and whatnot to gauge Jordan. Of course there's still 6/6, all the scoring titles, MVPs and all... so still, most of them recognize him as GOAT anyway. But they can NEVER truly grasp his excellence in the way that we can. The way he had proven himself to the point that we all just... expected him to do it again... Kobe and LeBron really don't even compare.

[LiLharvard]

would you compare michael jordan to pete sampras?

[G0ATbe]

81, 62 in 3 quarters, 36be's 30 point triple double, that one game where he had like 20 assists against the Cavs this season, dropping 55 on MJ.

[TheMarkMadsen]

81 doe

[LiLharvard]

This is my all time Kobe game.
Every once in a while someone comes along with an ability that seems beyond human. Most memorable moment, kobe is in the corner he steps back and swooshes a 3 over ray allen and looks at the crowd in the boston garden and nods yes i have Human ability that defies the known laws of physics



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7lpYWRMOy4

[blablabla]

Probably Kobe vs. Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzEkagNYwbM

and as already mentioned Lebron vs. Boston 2012

[K Xerxes]

would you compare michael jordan to pete sampras?

Well Michael Jordan is the basketball GOAT. Federer and probably Nadal are greater than Sampras, so what's the comparison?

[3ball]

1992 Eastern Conference First Round Game 1 - in this game, the Heat show they are a horrific defensive team - some of the Heat players don't take advantage of their ability to stand right in the middle of the paint for as long as they want when their man is on the block or slighly outside the block (something the armslength rule prevents defenders from doing today).

Instead, they hug their man on the block like defenders must do today, and are late coming over when Jordan beats his man, which is one of the reasons Jordan gets so many dunks in this game (along with 46, 12, and 9) - a good example is the 6:37 mark - the announcer talks about it immediately after.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpcS5DqUOek

[LiLharvard]

Well Michael Jordan is the basketball GOAT. Federer and probably Nadal are greater than Sampras, so what's the comparison?


Hmm the comparison was more for the time/era and the sentiment that "everything Jordan did was expected"
For many years there was nobody else in US mens tennis... Sampras won 7 Wimbledon's in a row or something/ very comparable to a championship and for many years people were expecting him to just win all the tournaments i can definitely recall that.

[upside24]

Wade's 46 point game in the Heat/Celtics series in 2010. Amazing game.

[rmt]

Hmm the comparison was more for the time/era and the sentiment that "everything Jordan did was expected"
For many years there was nobody else in US mens tennis... Sampras won 7 Wimbledon's in a row or something/ very comparable to a championship and for many years people were expecting him to just win all the tournaments i can definitely recall that.

Sampras never won the French - never even reached the Finals. Federer won once and lost to clay GOAT 5 times at the French. Federer is the much better all-round, all-surface player. Federer won 7 Wimbledons too.

[LiLharvard]

hmm yea i guess if we were talking about sampras and fed 5 or 6 years ago.. could be a different story... Fed is the goat now

[ArbitraryWater]

I've got two from Jordan and two from LeBron.

Jordan's game two of the 1991 Finals, to me, defined the perfect version of MJ. He played the role of facilitator flawlessly in the first half, getting everyone in rhythm. Then in the second half, he completely took over and dominated the game with 13 consecutive makes, capped off by the legendary switch-hands move. The Bulls ran away with the game because of their smothering defense and Jordan's offensive brilliance. He finished the game 15-18 shooting. The context is what does it for me too - they had lost game one as Jordan missed a potential game-winner. Game two was at home, and they were still in the 2-3-2 format. So if Chicago had lost, they would have been down 0-2 heading to Los Angeles for three straight games. Their odds of winning would have been awfully slim. And this was Jordan's first trip to the Finals, with all the spotlight on "Michael vs. Magic", where Magic had already won five rings. This was Jordan's ULTIMATE opportunity to prove himself, and he played a nearly flawless game. Pure excellence.

The context of needing to prove oneself leads me to LeBron's game six vs. Boston. We all know the story. His legacy would have NEVER recovered from a loss or a poor performance. I doubt any athlete in any sport, ever, has had their back against the wall to the extent that LeBron had his in that game. I personally had no faith in him at the time, and expected another disappointing performance. Yet he obviously dug deep and evoked a competitive fire that no one knew he had. It still gives me chills to watch that game. It reminds me of watching one of those youtube videos where a big, fat, dorky kid is getting bullied and finally reaches his breaking point - slams the shit out of the bully and walks off like a boss. That was LeBron in that game. Dude was just ****ing sick of it.

Then of course you've got game five vs. Detroit in 2007. Again, the context is important to me - this was LeBron as a 22-year-old, in only his second trip to the playoffs. More importantly, it was game five in a 2-2 series... on the road. It's the only performance I've ever seen where the phrase "he went super-saiyan" was truly appropriate. I doubt anyone can ever explain how he went off at the end of that game... All of Clevelands points in BOTH overtimes, hitting fadeaway threes over double and triple-teams, shaking Billups with a behind-the-back to nail the long deuce, driving, dunking... he was just scorching. Breathtaking. GOAT clutch performance, ever. Period.

And finally, the flu game. The flu game needs no explanation.

Great post.. also, you ever try to explain the flu game? I mean, you say "flu game" and everyone already knows... what can you explain? MJ had the flu, still played and was great.. can't go into any sick references like the bully one with LeBron :oldlol:

[Joyner82reload]

MJ 69 pts, 18 rebs, 6 asst vs Cleveland
March 28, 1990

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unpVgfDL8j0

Check out that first year TNT broadcast.

LOL @ Doug Collins before the game

"Jordan's been averaging 32 shots against Cleveland the past few years, they're going to force someone else to beat them"

Jordan drops 69 :roll:

And the best accomplishment in sports history is WITHOUT question Don Larsen's perfect game in the world series. There is nothing greater than that accomplishment, for a human at least. Secretariat's Belmont stakes has an argument.

[Joyner82reload]

Also Millsap going ham and draining 3 3's, after being 0-0 on the season, against the Heat in route to scoring 11 points in 28 seconds might be tops for me. That was unbelievable.

[sportjames23]

LOL @ Doug Collins before the game

"Jordan's been averaging 32 shots against Cleveland the past few years, they're going to force someone else to beat them"

Jordan drops 69 :roll:

And the best accomplishment in sports history is WITHOUT question Don Larsen's perfect game in the world series. There is nothing greater than that accomplishment, for a human at least. Secretariat's Belmont stakes has an argument.


Heh, the funny thing about MJ's 69-point game for me is, it was the first NBA game on TNT I ever watched. I lived in MD back then and our cable company didn't get TNT when it first aired, so I missed a few NBA games that season (prior to that, Turner aired all their NBA games on TBS). I had to have my uncle, who lived in Northern VA, tape the games for me so I could check them out later.

Anyways, mid-season, our cable company finally got TNT and like I said, this was the first NBA game I ever watched on TNT. I got a treat that night. When I saw that MJ was heading for a big night, I started to tape the game. :oldlol:

[ILLsmak]

Damon Stoudamire vs Bulls.

AI vs LA in Finals.

Hmm...

Dirk in the playoffs vs Thunder.

Mainly unexpected shit where people just went ape and it was obvious they weren't losing to what seemed, at the time, like the better team.

-Smak

[RedBlackAttack]

I don't feel that Glen Rice gets enough due for how great a scorer he was in his prime. When he was on, his range was basically anywhere across halfcourt.

He had a 56-point game against the Magic in the mid-90s that I just happened to be watching live. It was a joy to watch.

EDIT: Here it is!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dNQ2XA4AFE

[Mr Feeny]

Hmm the comparison was more for the time/era and the sentiment that "everything Jordan did was expected"
For many years there was nobody else in US mens tennis... Sampras won 7 Wimbledon's in a row or something/ very comparable to a championship and for many years people were expecting him to just win all the tournaments i can definitely recall that.

Tbf Wimbledon is just one of the four slams. Sampras's best career result at the French was a semi and he was routinely demolished by journeymen. Why aren't we including the other slams?

In that sense, his "domination" didn't come close to Jordan's and the analogy is a bit off. On grass, you have a point.

[RoseCity07]

When McGrady brought Houston back against the Spurs. That is the craziest come back I have ever seen.

[upside24]

Also Millsap going ham and draining 3 3's, after being 0-0 on the season, against the Heat in route to scoring 11 points in 28 seconds might be tops for me. That was unbelievable.
He did put on a show.

[Prime_Shaq]

Shaq's 61/23
Shaq's 53/18
Shaq's 48/20

Most dominant player of all time

[LiLharvard]

Also Millsap going ham and draining 3 3's, after being 0-0 on the season, against the Heat in route to scoring 11 points in 28 seconds might be tops for me. That was unbelievable.

this was pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXLz-a26oPc

[dynasty1978]

Kobe's 81 and 60+ performances are obviously impressive, but his 45 and 10 in game 1 vs SA in the 01 WCF is tops to me.

Ask anyone who was around then and it was a toss up as to which team would win the series. That changed after Kobe layed waste to the top D in the league.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCdhA41wgms

Considering him being 22, the variety in his game, the stakes/opponent.....awesome stuff.

[Prime_Shaq]

Kobe's 81 and 60+ performances are obviously impressive, but his 45 and 10 in game 1 vs SA in the 01 WCF is tops to me.

Ask anyone who was around then and it was a toss up as to which team would win the series. That changed after Kobe layed waste to the top D in the league.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCdhA41wgms

Considering him being 22, the variety in his game, the stakes/opponent.....awesome stuff.
Great year for the Lakers :applause:

[dynasty1978]

Great year for the Lakers :applause:

Great time to be a Lakers fan. Now? not so much :lol

[LiLharvard]

kyrie & kobe duel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQnnBkj8lro

[Sakkreth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPAyKSE9q3I

:bowdown:

[Badazzwriter]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0HtbJFEzJM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8ocKWSBBho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99ptwYqwYAQ
:bowdown: :bowdown: I mean cmon, when your speaking in terms of individual performances your speaking Goatbe Bryant.

[SHAQisGOAT]

Shaq's 61/23
Shaq's 53/18
Shaq's 48/20

Most dominant player of all time

:applause: :applause:




Second is Maravich scoring 68:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPqnpxhFWhw

Always loved that one, too.

[LiLharvard]

No better stage than game 7 Ecf finals "winner takes all"
2 big time scorers going at in Pierce V Lebron at the garden.. shades of nique and bird were present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66FNMqAAmX4

[Milbuck]

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

[JohnFreeman]

Elfrid Payton
22/12/4 9-16 shooting vs Memphis

[Mr Feeny]

No better stage than game 7 Ecf finals "winner takes all"
2 big time scorers going at in Pierce V Lebron at the garden.. shades of nique and bird were present.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66FNMqAAmX4

Yeah that was a ridiculous game. They were going directly for each other's throats in that fourth. The Cavs hung in until the last minute and the Celtics just hung on. Huge games for both Lebron and Pierce.