Who are the Top 5 GOAT Playoff Performers?

[Wade's Rings]

Mike of course is on there but who are the other 4?

Kareem? Bird? Magic? West? Duncan? Shaq? Hakeem?


Wilt? :roll:

[JT123]

I have Lebron at number 2. Wade is somewhere in the 50s...

[Wade's Rings]

I have Lebron at number 2. Wade is somewhere in the 50s...

I didn't ask about Wade or anyone lower than #5 :confusedshrug:

[WayOfWade]

I have Lebron at number 2. Wade is somewhere in the 50s...
You actually have a list going to the 50's?! Impressive stuff.
As for my playoff performers
1. MJ
2. Magic
3. Shaq
4. Bird
5. LeBron
It's pretty close between Bird and LeBron, but I gave Bird the nod based only on how I'm feeling right now

[Fallen Angel]

such a small sample to choose from.

Just give me:

Michael Jordan
Shaquille O'Neal
Magic Johnson
Larry Bird
Tim Duncan

[Wade's Rings]

You actually have a list going to the 50's?! Impressive stuff.
As for my playoff performers
1. MJ
2. Magic
3. Shaq
4. Bird
5. LeBron
It's pretty close between Bird and LeBron, but I gave Bird the nod based only on how I'm feeling right now

Dude's a giant troll, don't take him seriously.


such a small sample to choose from.

Just give me:

Michael Jordan
Shaquille O'Neal
Magic Johnson
Larry Bird
Tim Duncan

Was just throwing some names out there, you don't have to only use the players I said.

[GrapeApe]

I have Lebron at number 2. Wade is somewhere in the 50s...

So there's 40+ players better than 23/5/5/1.6/1.0 on 48% in 152 playoff games with 3 titles and a FMVP?

I'd love to see that list.

:cheers:

[TheMarkMadsen]

how does somebody who got swept 6 times make this list

[Fallen Angel]

I don't like judging players solely on the postseason, the sample size isn't large enough for me.

[Wade's Rings]

how does somebody who got swept 6 times make this list

I just threw his name out there, I don't have a list.


I don't like judging players solely on the postseason, the sample size isn't large enough for me.

This is strictly based on Post Season play, not All-Time rank.

[Duffy Pratt]

So there's 40+ players better than 23/5/5/1.6/1.0 on 48% in 152 playoff games with 3 titles and a FMVP?

I'd love to see that list.

:cheers:

Bill Russell has 24.9 rebounds, 16 points and 4.7 assists per game, in 165 games, with a few more titles, but no FMVPs.

Havlicek had some numbers in the late sixties and early seventies that were otherworldly, like 27.4, 8.4 and 6.4 in 72. He also won more than a handful of rings (literally).

But I forgot, when we say GOAT, that means greatest since 1980 or later, depending on when folks were born.

[Mr. Jabbar]

lebron has played in the worst conference ever, he shouldnt be mentioned here sans his finals. and we know how those went :roll:

[Sarcastic]

Bill Russell has 24.9 rebounds, 16 points and 4.7 assists per game, in 165 games, with a few more titles, but no FMVPs.

Havlicek had some numbers in the late sixties and early seventies that were otherworldly, like 27.4, 8.4 and 6.4 in 72. He also won more than a handful of rings (literally).

But I forgot, when we say GOAT, that means greatest since 1980 or later, depending on when folks were born.

Russell has no FMVPs because it didn't exist when he played, however they named the award after him because of his postseason play.

MJ, Russell, and Magic are top 3. Jerry West is probably top 5 as well.

[Duffy Pratt]

Russell has no FMVPs because it didn't exist when he played, however they named the award after him because of his postseason play.

MJ, Russell, and Magic are top 3. Jerry West is probably top 5 as well.

Sarcastic, I was being sarcastic.

[inclinerator]

michael jordan
lebron james
shaq
hakeem
magic/bird

[robby712]

Funny how Kareem has avg 24/10 with 2.5 blocks over 19 years of playoff appearances and he isn't mentioned:coleman:

1)Jordan
2)Kareem
3)Bird
4)Magic
5)Lebron

[dubeta]

I have Lebron at number 2. Wade is somewhere in the 50s...

Good post, would have Wade at #49, but the 2014 Finals ruined that

[LAZERUSS]

Mike of course is on there but who are the other 4?

Kareem? Bird? Magic? West? Duncan? Shaq? Hakeem?


Wilt? :roll:

Yep. Laughing at Wilt.

I see you have Bird on your list. Are you going to ignore his multiple post-season choke jobs? His losing with HCA SEVEN times, and playing poorly in several of those?

Kareem ahead of Wilt? Interesting. A PEAK Kareem and an old Wilt, playing on a surgically repaired knee battled two straight years in the post-season...and by virtually all accounts, Chamberlain outplayed him in both. BTW, in their two series clinching games, Wilt outshot Kareem by a combined .545 to .383 margin (18-33 to 23-60.)

West? Chamberlain gets ripped for going "2-6" (despite the fact that he was the best player on the floor in four of them, and outplayed his opposing center in five), and yet West went "1-8." Oh, and in the one in which he did win, he can thank WILT, since it was WILT who carried that team to a title with a FMVP, all while West was puking all over the floor with a .325 FG%.

Hakeem? :roll: :roll: :roll: You mean Hakeem "King of the First Round Exits" Olajuwon? The man who won a ring in a season in which the best player, on the best team, took the year off? Or the Hakeem who won a ring by being brutalized by a 22 year old, and had to rely on his teammates badly outplaying Shaq's?

But, I'll play.

Find me your list of "GOAT" centers who were never outrebounded by an opposing center in any of their playoff H2H's. In fact, who were outrebounding their HOF peers by HUGE margins in nearly all of them.

Give me your list of "GOATS" who hung FOUR entire post-season runs of 33+-23+. Or SIX post-season runs of 28+-23+. How about your list of "GOATS" that had entire post-season runs of 33.2 ppg, 34.7 ppg, 35.0 ppg, and 37.0 ppg? How about a list of GOATs that put up playoff series of 37.0 ppg, 37.0 ppg, 38.6 ppg, and 38.7 ppg?

Give me your list of GOATS with FOUR playoff games of 50+, including the ONLY THREE by a GOAT in "must-win" games. And you can add a 46 and 45 point game in those "must win" games, as well. Oh, and BTW, that 45 point game came on 20-27 shooting, with 27 rebounds, in a MUST WIN FINALS game.

Give me your list of GOATS of who averaged a 23-25 in their entire post-season career.

How about your list of GOATS with a KNOWN 590 blocked shots, and in only a known 82 playoff games (out of his 160)?

Give me your list of GOATS that hung TWO straight playoff series of at least 20-20-10. Or put up a playoff game of 24-32-13-12 (and against a HOF center while you are at it.) And, how about a 22-29-9 .579 FG% entire post-season run?

And find me a GOAT who hung a 30-31 .555 FG% (and a full 13 percentage points above the post-season league FG%) against another HOF center. And maybe you can find a GOAT who hung a 29-28 series against a HOF center. Or maybe you can give us all here a list of GOATS who put up a 23-24 .625 FG% seven game Finals?

Give me your list of GOATS who averaged...get this... 30-27-5 .515 (and shot nearly a full 10 percentage points above the post-season league FG% mark) in...their first 67 post-season games... COMBINED! Hell, find me ONE SERIES in which they put up that stat-line.

And finally, give me your list of GOATS who put up MUST WIN GAMES of this:


Wilt's numbers in those 23 games...13 of which came against HOF starting centers.

12-11 W-L record

31.1 ppg (Regular season career average was 30.1 ppg)
26.1 rpg (Regular season career average was 22.9 rpg)
3.4 apg (Regular season career average was 4.4 apg)
.540 FG% (Regular season career average was .540 FG%) BTW, the post-season league eFG% in that same span was about .440.


3 games of 50+ points

5 games of 40+ points (including a Finals 40+ elimination game)

13 games of 30+ points

6 games of 30+ rebounds

20 games of 20+ rebounds


The "laughable" Wilt in the post-season.

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[AirFederer]

https://i.imgflip.com/qordx.gif

[LAZERUSS]

https://i.imgflip.com/qordx.gif

Two can play that game...


In their last 10 straight H2H games, a 25 year old PEAK Kareem shot ... get this... .434 from the field...against a 36 year old Wilt.

[LAZERUSS]

BTW...how about this footage...between a PEAK Kareem, and an old Wilt, playing on a surgically repaired knee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2U4JSrpO78

[Jameerthefear]

BTW...how about this footage...between a PEAK Kareem, and an old Wilt, playing on a surgically repaired knee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2U4JSrpO78
No one gives a shit old man

[LAZERUSS]

No one gives a shit old man

Oh contrare my friend.

You obviously do. Otherwise you wouldn't have taken the time to not only read the posts, but to waste even more of your time to comment on them. Valuable time that could be used for watching your anime porn.

[pauk]

MJ
Lebron
Hakeem
Shaq
Bird

[sdot_thadon]

michael jordan
lebron james
shaq
hakeem
magic/bird
This is basically my list.

[Dr Hawk]

1. Jordan
2. Kareem/Shaq
3. Shaq/Kareem
4. Hakeem
5. West

[HighFlyer23]

Oh contrare my friend.

You obviously do. Otherwise you wouldn't have taken the time to not only read the posts, but to waste even more of your time to comment on them. Valuable time that could be used for watching your anime porn.

Wilt 2/7 even with legends like West on his team :roll: :roll:

[Cold soul]

No order.

Jordan
Shaq
Hakeem
Magic
Bird

[Wade's Rings]

Good post, would have Wade at #49, but the 2014 Finals ruined that

I didn't ask about anyone lower than #5 :confusedshrug:

[ArbitraryWater]

we just had this thread :wtf:

It was either your or HeatSouthBeach or what he's called guy

[Marchesk]

Not sure why West is getting left off. His ppg average went up in the playoffs and finals. Isn't that part of the reason MJ is lauded so much?

[Dr Hawk]

Not sure why West is getting left off. His ppg average went up in the playoffs and finals. Isn't that part of the reason MJ is lauded so much?

True. I think I will go with him as my #5.

[Psileas]

Jordan-Wilt-Magic-Russell-Kareem-Shaq-West is my top 7. Always hard to cut it to top 5.

[Wade's Rings]

we just had this thread :wtf:

It was either your or HeatSouthBeach or what he's called guy

My threads were about the Top 5 GOAT Finals Performers & the Top 5 GOAT Playoff runs.

[72-10]

I'd say it's like this

1. Michael Jordan
2. Russell
3. Magic
4. Hakeem
5. Duncan
6. Shaq
7. West

[Young X]

Bird has too many disappointing performances/series/runs to be top 5. He definitely has his share of amazing moments and performances but he wasn't as consistent as some of the other greats in the postseason. He really only has 4 great runs (3 championship years and '87). Alot of it has to do with injuries though.

This is why Magic > Bird. Magic was extremely consistent in the playoffs and easily more reliable than Bird. The big blemish on Magic's career is his chokes in the '84 finals against Boston but that series is better than Bird's '85 and '87 finals against LA.

Lebron is also a better playoff performer than Bird, so was Jordan, so was Shaq, so was Duncan.

[mr4speed]

Bird has too many disappointing performances/series/runs to be top 5. He definitely has his share of amazing moments and performances but he wasn't as consistent as some of the other greats in the postseason. He really only has 4 great runs (3 championship years and '87). Alot of it has to do with injuries though.

This is why Magic > Bird. Magic was extremely consistent in the playoffs and easily more reliable than Bird. The big blemish on Magic's career is his chokes in the '84 finals against Boston but that series is better than Bird's '85 and '87 finals against LA.

Lebron is also a better playoff performer than Bird, so was Jordan, so was Shaq, so was Duncan.


Magic's 84 finals was better than Bird's 85 or 87 finals? Are you serious? Magic got that horrible nickname "Tragic Johnson" and was looked upon as the goat of that series. Magic "got his numbers" but made bad mistakes at crucial times in numerous games. Bird did not play that poorly in 85 or 87. And if you are looking at Magic's playoff career, you must consider how weak the Western conf was vs the beasts in the East. Bird drew the opponents best defender EVERY game and was the focus on how to stop Boston. The same could be said about Magic but from 87 on. Kareem was the finals MVP in 85! And FYI Magic set the NBA finals record for most turnovers in 3 different scenarios. 24 TO in 4 games in 83, 30 TO in 6 games in 80 and 31 TO in 7 games in 84. LA's win percentage vs the East in the NBA finals = 47% = 24 wins and 27 losses for the 51 games played. LA's win percentage in West playoffs was 75% = 103 wins and 33 losses. That is a 28% drop in win %!!
And Magic had other bad playoff performances that nobody wants to talk about - such as 81 vs Houston final game at the Forum. Magic had 10 points on 6 of 11 from the free throw line ( 2 late game missed FT) so he scored 2 baskets in 48 minutes + on the last possession shot an air-ball from 10 feet!
And in 83 Finals vs Philly shot 40.3 % for the series + had 6 turnovers per game. You are entitled to your opinion but I disagree.

[Odinn]

Russell, Jordan, Shaq. These 3 should be certain ones.
For remaining last 2 spots; Magic, Kareem, Duncan, Hakeem and West.

When I think of goat playoff performers, it's not just about playing at goat level. It's about how the one lifts his performance compared to his regular season performance.

[Young X]

Magic's 84 finals was better than Bird's 85 or 87 finals? Are you serious? Magic got that horrible nickname "Tragic Johnson" and was looked upon as the goat of that series. Magic "got his numbers" but made bad mistakes at crucial times in numerous games. Bird did not play that poorly in 85 or 87. And if you are looking at Magic's playoff career, you must consider how weak the Western conf was vs the beasts in the East. Bird drew the opponents best defender EVERY game and was the focus on how to stop Boston. The same could be said about Magic but from 87 on. Kareem was the finals MVP in 85! And FYI Magic set the NBA finals record for most turnovers in 3 different scenarios. 24 TO in 4 games in 83, 30 TO in 6 games in 80 and 31 TO in 7 games in 84. LA's win percentage vs the East in the NBA finals = 47% = 24 wins and 27 losses for the 51 games played. LA's win percentage in West playoffs was 75% = 103 wins and 33 losses. That is a 28% drop in win %!!
And Magic had other bad playoff performances that nobody wants to talk about - such as 81 vs Houston final game at the Forum. Magic had 10 points on 6 of 11 from the free throw line ( 2 late game missed FT) so he scored 2 baskets in 48 minutes + on the last possession shot an air-ball from 10 feet!
And in 83 Finals vs Philly shot 40.3 % for the series + had 6 turnovers per game. You are entitled to your opinion but I disagree.I know all about Magic's crucial mistakes in the '84 finals...besides those moments he had a solid series. Bird on the other hand, shot way below his regular %'s in his last 2 series against the Lakers. I'd rather have a guy who plays well but makes a couple crucial mistakes over a guy who plays inconsistently from game to game.

And I never said Magic didn't have any bad performances/series, he did, but he didn't have as many as Bird. For every one of those series you mentioned I can bring up Bird's '82 series against Philly, '83 series against the Bucks, '85 and '87 finals against LA, '88 series against the Pistons (shot 35% while averaging under 20 PPG - Magic destroyed the same team in the very next round) '90 series against the Knicks, etc.

Your point about Bird being his teams focal point doesn't make sense since Magic played BETTER after '86 when he became his team's focal point. He didn't have ONE bad series from '87-'91.

Also in terms of W/L record Bird faced the same caliber of teams as Magic. He also played worse against the West than Magic did against the East (the finals). So the competition argument doesn't apply unless you're looking at it for a specific season instead of the entire decade.

[Just2McFly]

Everyone that has hakeem on their lists need to go think about that for a second....there is no way he should be top 5 anything tbh.

You can't put him ahead of West/Russell/Baylor/Lebron/Jordan/Duncan/Kobe/Magic/Bird/etc... so stop it.

[Gileraracer]

Jordan
Magic
Kareem
Bird
Shaq

I had LeBron at 23 but his 39% Overall 27% outside 5ft Shooting ruined that. He is nr. 41 now.

[3ball]

Lebron's 36/13/9 from the 2015 Finals couldn't have won the Finals for any team in any year, because for him to get those stats, his team was forced to play a highly suboptimal, clearout/playground style that had no chance of beating any team good enough to make the Finals.. A lot of guys in history could've averaged 36 ppg on 39% if they weren't expected to win and were allowed to employ a stat-friendly, clearout, playground style.

But some guys prefer winning than stats - look at Kobe in 2010 - his 32/6/7 was enough to beat the 2010 Celtics because he got those stats within a strict, equal-opportunity, WINNING system, so the stats meant more and required more skill to get.. Otoh, Lebron's 36/13/9 were obtained in an easily-solved, playground/clearout style would never have beaten the Celtics - that's the only way he can get those numbers.. The reality is that Kobe, Jordan, Bird, and many others could've employed Lebron's clearout, playground style and averaged 40 ppg in any series if they just wanted to accumulate stats but not win.
.

[mr4speed]

I know all about Magic's crucial mistakes in the '84 finals...besides those moments he had a solid series. Bird on the other hand, shot way below his regular %'s in his last 2 series against the Lakers. I'd rather have a guy who plays well but makes a couple crucial mistakes over a guy who plays inconsistently from game to game.

And I never said Magic didn't have any bad performances/series, he did, but he didn't have as many as Bird. For every one of those series you mentioned I can bring up Bird's '82 series against Philly, '83 series against the Bucks, '85 and '87 finals against LA, '88 series against the Pistons (shot 35% while averaging under 20 PPG - Magic destroyed the same team in the very next round) '90 series against the Knicks, etc.

Your point about Bird being his teams focal point doesn't make sense since Magic played BETTER after '86 when he became his team's focal point. He didn't have ONE bad series from '87-'91.

Also in terms of W/L record Bird faced the same caliber of teams as Magic. He also played worse against the West than Magic did against the East (the finals). So the competition argument doesn't apply unless you're looking at it for a specific season instead of the entire decade.

Bird's Celtics fared better vs the west Than Magic's Lakers vs east if you look at win % for the decade. Boston played in 31 games winning 16 and 15 losses = 51.6%. LA was 24 wins and 27 losses for 47%. Also Bird was FMVP twice + really should have received the award in 81 averaging 15.3 pts, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists. Magic was FMVP 3 times and the 80 award was actually won by Kareem after game 6 - then "revoted" so Magic could win it because Kareem was absent. Magic was a much better player after 86 but that is after 7 seasons. Bird did have bad series 82 vs Phiily, 83 vs Bucks (he also had the flu) and 88 vs Pistons, but these are all eastern conf teams-better than west conf. teams. Did Rodman guard Magic in 88? No, my point is Bird is criticized for his shooting % but where is that same critical eye on Magic? Bird in 85 and 87 finals shot 44.99% and 44.5% both of which are better than Magic's 83 and 91 finals of 40.3% and 43.1%. Magic did not have a good 91 finals - he had plenty of assists, but LA needed him to score more to beat the bulls. When Pippen was put on Magic what happened? Magic's ability to score was hampered- the exact same scenario that Bird faced when guarded by Cooper or Rodman. Respect to you + Magic but Bird didn't make mistakes at the most crucial times. In 84 finals game 2 and 4 were on Magic's shoulders and in 85 game 4 Magic doubled Bird and left DJ wide open + DJ won the game. I feel Bird was more clutch in the finals.

[mr4speed]

I know all about Magic's crucial mistakes in the '84 finals...besides those moments he had a solid series. Bird on the other hand, shot way below his regular %'s in his last 2 series against the Lakers. I'd rather have a guy who plays well but makes a couple crucial mistakes over a guy who plays inconsistently from game to game.

And I never said Magic didn't have any bad performances/series, he did, but he didn't have as many as Bird. For every one of those series you mentioned I can bring up Bird's '82 series against Philly, '83 series against the Bucks, '85 and '87 finals against LA, '88 series against the Pistons (shot 35% while averaging under 20 PPG - Magic destroyed the same team in the very next round) '90 series against the Knicks, etc.

Your point about Bird being his teams focal point doesn't make sense since Magic played BETTER after '86 when he became his team's focal point. He didn't have ONE bad series from '87-'91.

Also in terms of W/L record Bird faced the same caliber of teams as Magic. He also played worse against the West than Magic did against the East (the finals). So the competition argument doesn't apply unless you're looking at it for a specific season instead of the entire decade.

Bird's Celtics fared better vs the west Than Magic's Lakers vs east if you look at win % for the decade. Boston played in 31 games winning 16 and 15 losses = 51.6%. LA was 24 wins and 27 losses for 47%. Also Bird was FMVP twice + really should have received the award in 81 averaging 15.3 pts, 15.3 rebounds and 7 assists. Magic was FMVP 3 times and the 80 award was actually won by Kareem after game 6 - then "revoted" so Magic could win it because Kareem was absent. Magic was a much better player after 86 but that is after 7 seasons. Bird did have bad series 82 vs Phiily, 83 vs Bucks (he also had the flu) and 88 vs Pistons, but these are all eastern conf teams-better than west conf. teams. Did Rodman guard Magic in 88? No, my point is Bird is criticized for his shooting % but where is that same critical eye on Magic? Bird in 85 and 87 finals shot 44.99% and 44.5% both of which are better than Magic's 83 and 91 finals of 40.3% and 43.1%. Magic did not have a good 91 finals - he had plenty of assists, but LA needed him to score more to beat the bulls. When Pippen was put on Magic what happened? Magic's ability to score was hampered- the exact same scenario that Bird faced when guarded by Cooper or Rodman. Respect to you + Magic but Bird didn't make mistakes at the most crucial times. In 84 finals game 2 and 4 were on Magic's shoulders and in 85 game 4 Magic doubled Bird and left DJ wide open + DJ won the game. I feel Bird was more clutch in the finals.

[Papaya Petee]

Lebron's 36/13/9 from the 2015 Finals couldn't have won the Finals for any team in any year, because for him to get those stats, his team was forced to play a highly suboptimal, clearout/playground style that had no chance of beating any team good enough to make the Finals.. A lot of guys in history could've averaged 36 ppg on 39% if they weren't expected to win and were allowed to employ a stat-friendly, clearout, playground style.

But some guys prefer winning than stats - look at Kobe in 2010 - his 32/6/7 was enough to beat the 2010 Celtics because he got those stats within a strict, equal-opportunity, WINNING system, so the stats meant more and required more skill to get.. Otoh, Lebron's 36/13/9 were obtained in an easily-solved, playground/clearout style would never have beaten the Celtics - that's the only way he can get those numbers.. The reality is that Kobe, Jordan, Bird, and many others could've employed Lebron's clearout, playground style and averaged 40 ppg in any series if they just wanted to accumulate stats but not win.
.

This is the 2nd time I'm going to call you on your bullshit Kobe statistics, maybe its time to change your copy and paste trash.

32/7/6 was Kobe in 09 vs Orlando

Kobe averaged 28/8/5 40% FG vs Boston...
LeBron averaged 36/13/9 40 FG vs Golden State

[Magic 32]

Losing with home court advantage...

Bird = 7 (1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991)

Duncan = 6 (2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012)

Kareem = 5 (1973, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1986)

Shaq = 5 (1994, 1995, 2004, 2005, 2010)

Wilt = 5 (1961, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973)

Oscar = 4 (1962, 1965, 1973, 1974)

Magic = 4 (1981, 1986, 1990, 1996)

Lebron = 3 (2009, 2010, 2011)

Hakeem = 2 (1985, 1987)

Kobe = 2 (2004, 2011)

Russell = 1 (1958)

MJ = 0

[Suguru101]

This is the 2nd time I'm going to call you on your bullshit Kobe statistics, maybe its time to change your copy and paste trash.

32/7/6 was Kobe in 09 vs Orlando

Kobe averaged 28/8/5 40% FG vs Boston...
LeBron averaged 36/13/9 40 FG vs Golden State

It's hopeless.