NBA finals kicked off last week with two of the biggest franchises squaring up in what has the potential to become a great series, know about the best games of all time
The Warriors returned to the NBA finals this year as they look to win their fourth title in eight years and seventh in franchise history. On the other hand, the Celtics make their first trip to the finals since 2010 and would be hoping to win their 18th championship, breaking the tie with the Lakers as the most crowned franchise in NBA history.
The Warriors, led by Steph Curry and his ever-reliable cast of Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, finished the regular season with a 53-31 record, enough to earn them the 3rd seed. They saw off the Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Mavericks en route to the finals and are yet to play a 7-game series this postseason.
Best NBA Finals Moments: Ranked the Most Thrilling 7 Game Series of All Time
The Cs started the year in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference but were able to turn things around, finishing the regular season with 52 wins and clinching the second seed. But it’s their postseason run that has got everyone talking. The Celtics swept a Nets team led by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, saw off a stubborn Bucks team looking to defend their championship, and outlasted the Miami Heat, who finished as the No. 1 seed in the East.
The Warriors-Celtics series, currently tied at 1-1, is already shaping to be an all-time classic, with many pundits predicting a 7-game series. Fans across the world have enjoyed many memorable collective and individual-best of seven final performances over the years. We take a look back at three of the most thrilling seven-game series of all time marked by a collective team effort, individual brilliance, and lasting legacy. But before we begin, you might want to look at NBA finals betting odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.
1984 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs LA Lakers
The 80s will always be remembered for the Lakers/Celtics rivalry, as these two teams were by far the best in the league in that era. The Lakers had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, while the Celtics had Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.
1984 was the seventh time the Celtics and Lakers faced off in the finals, with the Cs maintaining a perfect record against LA. The Lakers were looking to finally snatch a championship from their storied rivals, but that wouldn’t be the case.
With the series at 2-1 in favor of the Lakers, Larry Bird called out his teammates in the public eye, a move that would change the dynamics of the series. Bird’s comments were enough to motivate his teammates to make a comeback.
His 34 points and 17 rebounds in Game 5 were enough to help his team regain the home-court advantage, and while the Lakers were able to tie the series at home, they came up short at the Boston Garden in Game 7. The Celtics clinched their 15th title with a 111-102 win; Bird led the Celtics with 20 points and added 12 rebounds, Robert Parish recorded 16 rebounds, and Cedric Maxwell recorded 24 points in that game.
The bird was named the Finals MVP after finishing the series with 27.4 PPG and 14.0 RPG.
2013 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs San Antonio Spurs
This series was historic in many ways. It was the first time since 1987 that four Finals MVPs played in the same finals match: Tim Duncan, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Tony Parker. Duncan also became the first player to make a final appearance in three separate decades.
The Miami Heat were the defending champions and came into the series as favorites to win, but Greg Popovic’s Spurs drew first blood in a thriller game 1. Both teams would go on to trade wins over the next four games.
The Spurs took a 3-2 lead to Miami in hopes of closing out the series, and with a 13-point lead late in the third quarter of Game 6, the Spurs were on the verge of handing James his third finals loss. But he rose to the occasion.
James led the charge to inspire a comeback late in the fourth quarter. Miami took the lead with six minutes left on the game clock, but Parker helped restore San Antonio’s lead with under 40 seconds left. Manu sank a free throw with less than 28 seconds remaining, and the Spurs were on the verge of celebrating what would have been their 5th championship in franchise history.
With less than 22 seconds left, James restored some hope after he buried a 3-pointer to cut the lead to two points. Kawhi Leonard got fouled on the Spurs attack and sank one of his free throws, pushing the lead back to three.
James took up the responsibility to hit the game-tying shot but missed. However, Chris Bosh was able to make the critical offensive rebound and passed the ball to Ray Allen, who sunk in the greatest shot of his illustrious Hall of Fame career to take the series to overtime. The Heat took game 6 in overtime, and James would lead them to back-to-back championships in Game 7 with his stellar 37-point closeout performance.
James was named the 2013 Finals MVP after registering 25.3 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 7.0 APG throughout the series.
2016 NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Golden State Warriors
Lebron James is no stranger to having iconic finals moments, and this series was no exception.
Cleveland became a city of Champions for the first time in 52 years after the Cavs historically saw off the Warriors. The Warriors came into the series on the back of a record-breaking 73-win regular season and stellar playoff performances leading up to the finals.
Everything appeared to be going according to plan for Head Coach Steve Kerr’s team as they led the series 3-1. The Dubs had it all in the bag and looked to seal back-to-back NBA finals against the Cavs. But Lebron James’ Cavs had other plans.
The comeback began in Game 5 when James and Kyrie Irving tallied 40 points each. James championed another win after dropping 41-8-11 in Game 6.
The two teams had to endure a stint of scoreless possessions with some razzle-dazzle defensive plays, most notably James’ iconic block on Andre Iguodala in the 4th quarter. With 53 seconds left on the clock, Irving drained a crucial shot from beyond the arc to seal the deal for the Cavs and earn them their first-ever NBA championship. Lebron James delivered on his promise to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy to Cleveland, winning his third ring and third Finals MVP in the process.
Before the 2016 NBA finals, no team had ever come back from a 3-1 NBA finals deficit. This loss will forever leave a bittersweet memory in the minds of Dub Nation, and Draymond Green’s controversial suspension in game 5 is one decision they may never get over.
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