MY TOP FIVE - GAME 7'S
Tonight it's time for the best thing we have with the NBA, a Game 7. There's few things I enjoy more than them, since it's do or die for both teams and every possession matters. As everybody counted the Celtics out, they won three straight to force a Game 7. At home. Tonight history could be made. Here's a list of my favorite Game 7, that I've seen. Not the best, but my favorites.
5. 2000 WCF Blazers-Lakers
One of the most iconic games ever. We all seen the play where Kobe drives past Pippen and throws the lob to Shaq after storming back after trailing by 15 heading into the 4th quarter. That run changed the NBA forever. If the Blazers would've hold off and won, there's no way they wouldn't win the Finals against the Pacers. That Portland team was stacked. And that double team scheme to leave Brian Shaw was the worst idea they could have, since he drained a couple of threes to open the fourth. If the Lakers would've got bounced in Game 7 at home, they probably would've broken up the team after 4 years off Shaq-Kobe.
4. 1998 ECF Pacers-Bulls
We all saw The Last Dance, and how the Pacers were one of two teams to take the Jordan led Bulls to a Game 7. And they really came close to beat them, and end Jordans run with a Conference Finals loss instead of that great Finals victory against the Jazz two weeks later. And if it wasn't for Toni Kukoc, it probably would've been just that. Kukoc had a 14 point 3rd quarter and ended with 21 points off the bench in a 88-83 win to advance to their third straight Finals.
3. 2013 NBA Finals Spurs-Heat
After Ray Allen made that crazy 3 to force OT and then win Game 6 after the security had already started to bring out the ropes to seal off the floor, I couldn't imagine the Spurs losing Game 7. But in the last minute, as they trailed by 2 points, Tim Duncan got the ball on the post, turned to the middle and drove for a hook shot, missed it and then got his own rebound for the put back and missed it again. As he ran back on defense he pulled his jersey over his face, and then he slapped to hardwood out of anger. I've never seen him show emotions like that before. This loss did set up a revenge series the next season as the Spurs took care of the Heat in 5, as Kawhi was the Finals MVP. If he had a bigger role in 2013, maybe the outcome would've been different.
2. 1994 ECF Pacers-Knicks
Jordan was out of the league. My Knicks had just beat the Bulls with Pippen as the new go-to guy. A new Champion was going to be crowned. Reggie Miller was the villain in New York, 1000x time more than Trae Young is now days. The Pacers forced a Game 7, and it was in Madison Square Garden, with the winner going to the Finals to face the MVP of the league in Hakeem Olajuwon. Patrick Ewing always gets a knock for not winning, but in this game he stepped up, as he scored 24 points to seal the win with a put back slam after a John Starks miss. The Knicks won 88-84 and the as the buzzer sounded, Ewing walked along the sidelines waiving his arms to the crowd. This moment was so big for us, and it felt like we won it all. And if it wasn't for Hakeems fingertips, Starks would've made that three in Game 6, at the Garden. Imagine how much more of a legend he would've been. His jersey would be in the rafters, which it should.
1. 2016 NBA Finals Cavs-Warriors
Yes, this is it. The greatest Game 7 I've seen. It had it all, the rematch from the Finals of 2015, a historic comeback by the Cavaliers after being down 1-3, and the two biggest stars in the league facing off in Steph and LeBron. And down the stretch no team could score, as LeBron had that great chase down block on Iguodala, and then Kyrie dropped a step back three to bring Cleveland their first title.
Let's hope tonight can make this list too.