5 Greatest Playoff performances of Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, & LeBron's career

[SouBeachTalents]

Certainly wasn't an easy task to try to narrow these down to 5, but some of the factors I used were

1. Their statistical output
2. The significance of the game
3. I used no games from the first round
4. I tried not to use any games that they lost (included only one)

Duncan's 5 Greatest Games

2003 WCSF Game 6 vs. Lakers: 37/16/4 on 64%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_iN6qwvoS8

2003 WCF Game 3 vs. Mavericks: 34/24/6/6 on 63%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inR1UKJk2dI

2003 Finals Game 1 vs. Nets: 32/20/6/3/7 on 65%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OqnNeHVR9k

2003 Finals Game 6 vs. Nets: 21/20/10/8 on 47%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWfjRz8yBuQ

2006 WCSF Game 7 vs. Mavericks: 41/15/6/3 on 50%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbEWxeenR84


Shaq's 5 Greatest Games

2000 WCF Game 1 vs. Trail Blazers: 41/11/7/5 on 56%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XCspEBQVo

2000 Finals Game 1 vs. Pacers: 43/19/4/3 on 68%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtmXpAeWeH4

2000 Finals Game 2 vs. Pacers: 40/24/4/3 on 61%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPUbzUJZDI0

2001 WCSF Game 1 vs. Kings: 44/21/4/7 on 53%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW-4VSxCxFA

2001 Finals Game 2 vs. 76ers: 28/20/9/8 on 63%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzP2lUeIMC8


Kobe's 5 Greatest Games

2001 WCSF Game 4 vs. Kings: 48/16/3 on 52%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7QZaZJu2yM

2001 WCF Game 1 vs. Spurs: 45/10/3 on 54%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qawbo3NOmR4

2004 WCSF Game 4 vs. Spurs: 42/6/5/3 on 56%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0PmB22MFKw

2009 WCF Game 3 vs. Nuggets: 41/6/5 on 50%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wVwztfmNVI

2009 Finals Game 1 vs. Magic: 40/8/8 on 47%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQhhYPc0MCY


LeBron's 5 Greatest Games

2007 ECF Game 5 vs. Pistons: 48/9/7 on 55%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHaSiWClteQ

2012 ECF Game 6 vs. Celtics: 45/15/5 on 73%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13OBvylyGsM

2013 Finals Game 7 vs. Spurs: 37/12/4 on 52%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhNIKCV1uMc

2016 Finals Game 5 vs. Warriors: 41/16/7/3/3 on 53%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q76in4JZgoM

2016 Finals Game 6 vs. Warriors: 41/8/11/4/3 on 59%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJEG7fcUn-s


Bonus: KG, Dirk, & Wade


KG's 5 Greatest Games

2003 FR Game 2 vs. Lakers: 35/20/7 on 71%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwpcIazbkzo

2004 WCSF Game 3 vs. Kings: 30/15/3/3/5 on 48%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Bn5cpO4LA

2004 WCSF Game 7 vs. Kings: 32/21/2/4/5 on 52%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1VtZht_8t4

2004 WCF Game 5 vs. Lakers: 30/19/4 on 44%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZdXQIezguo

2008 ECF Game 5 vs. Pistons: 33/7/2 on 65%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4edE1DBzp88


Dirk's 5 Greatest Games

2003 WCSF Game 7 vs. Kings: 30/19/2 on 60%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Ut5jfA_Sw

2006 WCSF Game 7 vs. Spurs: 37/15/3 on 55%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w35ZBUyFwAE

2006 WCF Game 5 vs. Suns: 50/12/3 on 54%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhvkoNvHcwY

2011 WCF Game 1 vs. Thunder: 48/6/4/4 on 80%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM9MYvoQn8M

2011 WCF Game 4 vs. Thunder: 40/5/3 on 60%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcRxWV_de4c


Wade's 5 Greatest Games

2005 ECF Game 2 vs. Pistons: 40/8/6 on 54%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9-MrsN5vRw

2006 Finals Game 3 vs. Mavericks: 42/13/2 on 54%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVFaomOg12o

2006 Finals Game 6 vs. Mavericks: 36/10/5/4/3 on 56%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwa049N8AHk

2012 ECSF Game 6 vs. Pacers: 41/10/3 on 68%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfWCVEDwE5I

2013 Finals Game 4 vs. Spurs: 32/6/4/6 on 56%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKul1k36qm4


Any games I missed that you feel deserved to be included?

[SpaceJam]

What an ERA

[Bankaii]

That's ridiculous for all 4. The fact that all of them had at least one great Finals game is crazy too.

One thing I noticed though, Duncan and Shaq had mostly all there best games at there absolute peaks, while Kobe and Lebron were more spread out. That longevity.

GOAT era

[NBAGOAT]

great choices and can't say I really disagree with anything. Don't know if it means anything but the 5 games for Lebron seem really obvious but there might be ones up for debate for the other guys.

[Prime_Shaq]

Damn Shaq was good.

[plowking]

Interesting you didn't include either of Bron's 49 point performances.

[Mr Feeny]

It's amazing how Lebron has had so many insane games that his 49 points games won't make it.
His 37, 14, 13 game wouldn't make the cut. 49, 8, 6 wouldn't make the cut.

If we extended this to a top 10 for each, it would be better.

Here are some of Lebron's memorable playoff performances:

Boston in an elimination game 6 of the 2012 ECF:

45 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists on 70%fg while holding Pierce to 4-18 shooting.
The only other heat player with double digit points was Wade who shot 6-18.

2007 ECF Game 5 vs Detroit (series was tied at 2-2)

48 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists including scoring the last 25 consecutive points to end the game (including the game winner). He also scored 29 of the last 30 points for the Cavs and was the only cav to score from the 4 minute mark of the 4th quarter onwards.
This was truly mind-boggling. He resembled a playstation player with a cheat code.

2016 NBA finals game 6 against GSW (was down 3-2)
41 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks on 59%fg including a stretch where he scored 18 straight points in the 3rd quarter to blow the game wide open. This, in an elimination finals game!

2013 NBA finals game 7 against the Spurs
37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists on 》 50%fg including the championship clinching jump shot.
Shooting clinic here as he scored 5 threes and several in your face jumpers.

2014 ECSF Game 4against brooklyn:
49 points on 16-24 shooting to all but close the series.

2009 ECF Game 1 vs Orlando
49 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks on 67%fg

2009 ECSF game 3 vs Atlanta:
47 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists on 60%fg (on just 25 shots)

2016 Nba finals game 5
41 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks on 53%fg in an elimination finals game

2012 ECSF game 4 vs Indiana trailing 2-1
40 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks on 52%fg
HUGE game on the road to avoid letting Miami fall into a 3-1 deficit

2006 1st rd Game 5 vs Washington (tied at 2-2)
45 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals on 61%fg including the game winner

2015 ECF game 3 vs Atlanta
Horrible start missing his first 10 shots. Then goes ballistic and recovers to put up:
37 points, 18 rebounds, 13 assists and some HUGE baskets down the stretch.

2013 nba finals game 6
32 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 16 4th quarter points in this title elimination game to keep miami alive. Also held Tony Parker to 6-23 shooting and caused him to shoot an airball on what would have been the title winning basket at the end of the 4th.

2010 game 4 vs Chicago
37 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists on 65%fg to all but seal the series and cause endless pain to kamil.

2015 ECSF game 5 vs Chicago (tied at 2-2)
38 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks on 59%fg while holding Rose to 7-24 shooting.

2009 ECSF game 5 against Orlando
37 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists.
Scored or assisted 32 straight points in this elimination game.

2012 nba finals game 5 vs OkC
26 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists and 2 blocks to clinch his first championship.
Fudge joins lebron fam after this.

2013 ECF game 1vs Indiana
30 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and the game winner.
Only instance in nba playoff history of someone getting a 3D and the game winner.

[Papaya Petee]

Since we are doing champions of our era, do top 5 for Wade, Dirk, Garnett and I guess Curry

[Big164]

Shaq was too damn good.

In an all time draft is be tempted very tempted to select him over MJ.

[SwayDizzle]

Shaq was too damn good.

In an all time draft is be tempted very tempted to select him over MJ.

if only he didn't get fat and lazy.

[Annyong!]

It should be noted that Kobe's best games don't have comparable fg percentages to the others on the list.

[Prime_Shaq]

if only he didn't get fat and lazy.

Yep

[hold this L]

What legacies for all

[jlip]

Duncan's 2003 playoff run...

[SamuraiSWISH]

There has to be a game in there from the 2010 WCF from Kobe. Dude went ape shit vengeance style, seeking retribution for 2006, and 2007. At one point hitting an insane jumper over a great contest from Grant Hill, on the road, smack Alvin Gentry on the ass ... And even made a Suns fan in the crowd pumped to root for him.