Every year a new NBA Champion is crowned. Every year a Finals’ MVP is named. Every year a city throws a tickertape parade for their championship team. However, every year is not this year in the NBA. In a clash of titans between the last two champions, the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs square off in the finals’ first winner-take-all game since 1994. Will tonight’s game crack the top 5? It’s got some stiff competition; take a look at my list.
5. 1955: Syracuse Nationals 92, Fort Wayne Pistons 91
At a time when grown men wore shorts far above their knees and a three point line wasn’t even thought about, a man named George King emerged as a hero. The guard ,who only averaged 8.9 points during the season, hit a free throw with 12 seconds left to give the Nationals a one point lead, then stole the ball on the defensive end securing the Nationals their first ever NBA Championship.
4. 1966: Boston Celtics 95, Los Angeles Lakers 93
The Lakers, who had never beaten the Celtics in three previous Finals’ series, go to 0-4 as the Celtics won the last of its record eight consecutive titles in coaching legend Red Auerbach’s final game as a coach.
3. 1957: Boston Celtics 125, St. Louis Hawks 123
In a game that saw the Celtics backcourt shoot a dismal 12%, only to be bailed out by a 19 point and 32 rebound performance from NBA Legend Bill Russell, the Celtics went on to win their first of 16 NBA championships. Hawks star Bob Pettit missed a shot at the buzzer in double overtime which would have tied the game. (Pettit would have his revenge a year later as his 50-point game, matching what was then the NBA Finals’ record, led the Hawks to title clinching win in game 6.)
2. 1984: Boston Celtics 111, Los Angeles Lakers 102
In a series that featured the first Finals match up between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, a little known Celtic player by the name of Cedric Maxwell proved to be the difference in game 7– scoring 24 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out 8 assists as the Celtics won their 15th title in franchise history and seventh over the Lakers.
1. 1970: New York Knicks 113, Los Angeles Lakers 99
A hobbled Willis Reed marched out of the Knicks’ locker room 10 minutes before game time igniting the Madison Square Garden crowd and giving his Knicks teammates a much-needed psychological boost. Willis started the game well, hitting his first two shots, but it was Knick guard Walt Frazier who led New York to its first title with 36 points and 19 assists.
So as tonight’s game inches closer, I look for Ben and Rasheed Wallace to take control of the paint and the masked man Rip Hamilton to put the dagger in the heart of the Spurs. Though it will be an exciting game 7, it can’t hold a candle to the classic duels that are the top 5.
6 replies on “Top 5 NBA Finals Game Sevens of All-Time”
Perfect This is exactly how i ranked the games. i like your insight.
grammar “The guard ,who only averaged”
fix the comma.
“Celtics won the last of its record”
Celtics is plural and its is singular.
“double overtime which would have tied the game.”
You need a comma after overtime or the word “which” should be changed to that.
“Finals’ series”
I could be wrong, but I don’t believe the apostrophe is needed.
Good job, but make the changes and I will reconsider.
Nice I always like learning about history of any sport.
The LIst I might have added the Lakers-Pistons Game 7 back in the 88-89 season, as I think that one was better than a couple you have listed.
However, anyone that makes a list on a controversial topic deserves credit. Good job.
How did this game 7 stack up? prob #18…
it was actually quite boring after the third period.
Horry and Bowen came up big though.
Thanks Thanks for the tips. I would have made the changes but I wanted to make sure the story was timely. Next time i will be more careful and submit for editorial review. Thanks again.