Greatest/Best NBA Finals

[Shame94]

In my opinion when it comes to basketball there's nothing greater then the NBA Finals. For all those who support college basketball and the March Madness, that's fine, but I believe one game really can't measure the testament of a champion in the same way as a drawn out knock down seven game series can. With that, here are some of my favorite NBA Finals of all time. Name yours as well and feel free to disagree.

1993: Bulls vs. Suns
- This was an NBA Finals that I believe was one of the all time greats. In terms of matchups you had Barkley vs. Jordan, Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle of the Suns going up against Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and the rest of the Bulls. Barkley had been the MVP that season and Jordan was going for his 3rd ring. After losing the opening 2 games at home, the Suns had that memorable triple overtime victory in Chicago in game 3 in what was nothing short of legendary. After winning 2 of 3 in Chicago the teams went back to Phoenix for Game 6 where the Bulls beat Phoenix 99-98 on Jim Paxson’s 3 point shot for the win. Jordan would go on to win 3 more titles, while Barkley made his first and only Finals appearance of his career.

1994: Rockets vs. Knicks
- In a matchup of two of the leagues premier big men, in Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, the Houston Rockets would win their first NBA Title. I saw this game a few months back on ESPN Classic and was amazed at just how good Hakeem was and how skinny Robert Horry was back then. Otherwise a great series by some of the best centers of all time.

1998: Jazz vs. Bulls
- Jordan’s shot over Byron Russell to seal the championship for the Bulls. Nuff
said.


2002: Nets vs. Lakers
- Yes I know the Nets got swept and Shaq ate them alive with around 35ppg I think, but as a die hard Nets fan just getting to the finals was amazing. After witnessing back-to-back 31 and 26 win seasons, I didn’t expect much in the 2001-2002 year. However, what Jason Kidd and company were able to do, at least in the realm of sports, was nothing short of a miracle in my eyes. It’s worth noting that J-Kidd averaged a triple double over the six game series with the Celts, becoming just the 2nd player in NBA history to average a triple double over a six game playoff series or longer (the other was Magic Johnson).

2005: Spurs vs. Pistons
- I was one of those people who was skeptical of the Pistons’ run to the finals in 04’ and 05’. Where everyone saw a great defensive team just out hustle everyone to the finals, I saw a team that quite honestly was blessed that it played Jason Kidd while he had a busted knee and Dwayne Wade the following year when he had a severe rib injury. The Spurs meanwhile took them out and the highlight of that series had to be Big Shot Rob (or Bob) hitting the game winning 3 against the Pistons in Game 5. Simply classic Robert Horry at his best.

[Chris_23]

Call me weird but I loved 99 finals Spurs versae Knicks. It was sort of a year after my favorite player had retired and I could enjoy the NBA, as I have every year since, from a neutral standpoint without being a fan of any teams or players (though obviously I have/had my favorites).

It was amazing to see the Knicks explosion through Latrell Sprewell, and those sweet threepointers with MSG going wild with announcer yelling out loud LATRELLLL SPREEEEEWELLLL!! Yeah, San Antonio dominated the series, but it was still something unique.

Sweet times.

Definite favorite is the 98 finals series though. It had couple of Jordans amazing perfomances as well as the recordbreaking 96-54 game.

[Lamrock]

I actually really loved this year's Mavs vs. Heat Finals. A matchup that few could have predicted. The Heat rising from the dead in Game 3 and superstar play by D-Wade. What an exciting series!

[scrub]

I honestly didn't really like the 05 Finals. Pheonix-Miami would have been the perfect finals that year. I'm sorry but the Spurs and Pistons are just boring to watch.

[Oznogrd]

Didnt like '05 or '06. I dont agree with '05 being "boring" to watch; it just seemed to me that the teams were faceless. No one person stood out for me that year: not even duncan for the spurs or Big ben/'Sheed for the Pistons. I felt no reason to pull for either team and wastherefore bored by it. Last year; i'm not sure why although i'm sure many will disagree: once again i was bored. I like D-wade as a player, Dirks one of my favs, but i just didnt like the matchup. Probably because i had my roommate in my ear the whole goddamn time pretending to be a heat fan cuz wade went to marquette and so did his sis. He also likes shaq (as long as he's not on the lakers) and zo walker and payton dont need to retire to give an idea how much he knows about the NBA.

My faves: i certainly agree with the '98 Bulls-Jazz; i was young but will always be in my memory for the Jordan highlights. And although i realized it sucked; The '01 lakers-76ers finals. It will be carved in my memory watching AI dominate and then lose 4 games straight to lose the series. Especially since i lost 5 bucks on it. It was the first time i watched the NBA closely (just glanced at it as a kid) and i think it will be in my head for awhile for that reason

[Joe']

1991, 92, 93 and 98 were the best for me... I also liked the 2000 and 2001 series but I don't like the way the NBA developed in the 2000's. I mean, the way players play today it's not the same the players played in the 90's and, from my point of view, it's not a good thing. Call me weird but I don't even like those stupid baggy shorts that started being used in the late 90's.

[Laxation]

the highlight of that series had to be Big Shot Rob (or Bob) hitting the game winning 3 against the Pistons in Game 5. Simply classic Robert Horry at his best.

Highlight? get fucked...

[shadowgrin]

Call me weird but I don't even like those stupid baggy shorts that started being used in the late 90's.

You like them tight short shorts huh?

[NBA KYD3]

Although the finals were somewhat dominated win-wise, for the 76ers that 01' playoffs run was some of the best basketball I've ever seen.

[Shi]

Did not witness this one,becuase my parents were only kids back then,however,this one is a legendary one,no doubt about it.
I am talking about the 1970 Finals between the Knicks and the lakers,and this can't be done without mentioning the 60-footer Jerry west nalied in the beginning(though they lost that one)and Willis reed's heroics in game 7,playing injured,winning the game and getting the Trifecta-finals,season and allstar MVP,something that only Shaq and MJ would get,decades later.

[Indy]

Shi, wasn't the 60 footer Jerry West hit the game winner? Dave Debusschere hits the free throw line jumper to give them the 2 point lead, and West drills it from behind half court to win. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

The 2000 finals was the only one I watched and cared about. Every other year I'm still in pain from the Pacers being knocked out, its too hard to watch much basketball.

04 was especially painful. If Jermaine, Jamaal and Ron Artest weren't hurt in the ECF that year we would have gone to the finals and beat the Lakers.

98 was the most painful. I didn't even know the Bulls won it again and I live in Chicago. I didn't pay any attention at all, because I felt like shit.

[cklitsie]

The Jerry West 60-footer probably tied it and then the Knicks won it in OT.

[The X]

sorry, but those 93-94 Rockets-Knicks' Finals were horrible....can't think of a worse one....Rockets-Magic 94-95 was pretty bad....

[Mayerhendrix]

Overall, last years' playoffs were the best in a long time. There were just so many things that made it great to follow all the way:

There was the amazing Lakers/Suns showdown, with Phoenix making a huge comeback.

Thrilling Mavs/Spurs series that was deadlocked right to the end.

Lebron James singlehandedly taking the NBA's best team to a Game 7.

Kobe and Raja Bell clashing in a fierce rivalry.

[KIG1]

Any finals that MJ was in...

[dada]

Lebron James singlehandedly taking the NBA's best team to a Game 7.

I wouldnt really say singlehandedly considering that they reached that far in their playoff run as a result of a couple questionable calls (non calls actually) on his game winning shots.

[Rip]

wasn't the 60 footer Jerry West hit the game winner?

nah the shot sent the game into overtime, there was no 3 point line in 1970

[ThaLiveKing]

Jazz vs the Bulls!! And The Pacers Vs The Lakers were pretty nyce!!

[air gordon]

perhaps this thread should be best finals since the 90's??

from the ones i remember watching live, from the comforts of someone's home or bar...
all the Bulls finals
87 lakers vs pistons
88 lakers vs pistons
95 rockets vs Orlando

i didn't like the Pistons or Lakers that much (why couldn't Magic wear a purple leg brace anyway? i mean he's got all that $ and slept with all those women but he couldn't be bothered to wear a brace that matched his team colors!).

Zeke's heroic game 6 performance I'll never forget. i hated the Pistons since they would always beat the brains in of the bulls but you had to respect/admire what he did in that game

in '88 i wanted the Pistons to win. at that point- i was tired of Lakers showtime, they shouldn't even had made the finals. if anything, it was funny to hear NBC's team call the game where the Pistons clinched. it was quite obvious they were for the Lakers and to hear the tone in their voices when they announced the Pistons were the champs was hilarious

the 95 finals was somewhat a stinker but the playoff run the Rockets made was awesome. they were the 6th seed and upset the suns, jazz, and Spurs en route to their title repeat. "never underestimate the heart of a champion"

[bigh0rt]

why couldn't Magic wear a purple leg brace anyway? i mean he's got all that $ and slept with all those women but he couldn't be bothered to wear a brace that matched his team colors!).

I long for the days when everybody wore the generic royal blue brace

[Shi]

Shi, wasn't the 60 footer Jerry West hit the game winner? Dave Debusschere hits the free throw line jumper to give them the 2 point lead, and West drills it from behind half court to win. Maybe I'm wrong about that.

There were no 3pts back then,so it was a game tier not winner,and the knicks won that game,so that 60 footer didn't help.

[Rip]

hmm, why didn't i think of that

[benji]

Can't see it, but I assume 1957's NBA Finals is the best. Game Seven ends in double OT. And it ends like this:

With only one chance to tie, the Hawks had to take the ball inbounds with a full-court pass to Pettit. Player-coach Alex Hannum, the last eligible player on the Hawks' bench, entered the competition for the first time in the series. He planned to bounce the pass off the backboard in the hope that Pettit could tip it in. Incredibly, Hannum banked the pass off the board to Pettit, but the final shot rolled off the rim as time ran out.

probably include: '62, '66, '69, '70, '84, '88...'94 is icky, but still better than the blowouts of the last decade...same with '74 and '78...

Unless you're rooting for a team, the lopsided affairs of 1999-2004, 2006 have been pretty boring...

Well, 2003 wasn't boring in the long run. It sparked Stephen Jackson's career and allowed him to claim the title of "Most Insane NBA Player" but that's really just the wake of the Finals, not the Finals itself.

[Sauru]

pretty much all of the recent finals have been junk, specially last years

[Lamrock]

I've only been watching the NBA since the 2000 season, but there were a couple NBA Finals that I enjoyed.

Until the 2004 finals, I always considered the West Conference Finals to be the real Finals. The West always dominated the East by winning in 6 or less games.

I loved 2004's just because it was such a surprise, and the Pistons are my favorite teams. I thought the Lakers had that series in the bag but I was wrong.

The following year was also an entertaining finals. Detroit and San Antonio aren't the most entertaining teams to watch, but it went to 7 games, being the closest Finals in over a decade.

The 2006 finals were also great. As I said earlier, it was just an epic battle.

Overall, the 7 finals I watched ranked from best to worst are:

2006, 2005, 2004, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2002