To try and gauge the historical magnitude of tonight's game I looked back at the most anticipated NBA finals games ever. These are not necessarily the best finals games ever played, just the games that may have been as anticipated or as big on a historical level as tonight's game. Here's a list of 9 games that I thought compared:
1962 - Game 7
LA @ Boston
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor took the Lakers back to the finals for the first time since leaving Minneapolis to face Bill Russell and the Celtics who were going for their 4th straight NBA Championship (No team had ever won 4 in a row).
RESULT: Boston 110 Los Angeles 107 in overtime
1966 - Game 7
LA @ Boston
4 years later, with mostly the same cast, LA returned to the finals to face Boston, who was going for their 8th consecutive NBA Championship. This was legendary Celtics coach, Red Auerbach's final game.
RESULT: Boston 95 Los Angeles 93
1969 - Game 7
Boston @ LA
A much older Boston team limped through the regular season, earning a 4th seed in the East, but turned it on in the playoffs, reaching the finals and a shot at their 11th title in 12 seasons. Game 7 was in LA with West, Chamberlain and the Lakers heavily favored. This was Bill Russell's final game.
RESULT: Boston 108 Los Angeles 106
1970 - Game 7
LA @ New York
Game 7 in Madison Square Garden. Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain against the Knicks, going for the franchise's 1st ever title. Willis Reed, who was not supposed to play because of injury, emerged from the locker room right before tip-off, scoring the game's first basket.
RESULT: New York 113 Los Angeles 99
1984 - Game 7
LA @ Boston
This was the first meeting between Bird and Magic in the NBA Finals. The Lakers were trying to avoid going 0-8 against Boston in the finals.
RESULT: Boston 111 Los Angeles 102
1994 - Game 7
New York @ Houston
In the first year without MJ, Patrick Ewing faced Hakeem Olajuwon in the finals with the Knicks going for their first championship in 21 years and the Rockets going for their first ever championship.
RESULT: Houston 90 New York 84
1998 - Game 6
Chicago @ Utah
In a rematch of the '97 finals the Bulls were going for their 2nd 3 peat and 6th championship in 8 seasons. The Jazz going for the 1st championship in franchise history. It was believed to be Jordan's last game.
RESULT: Chicago 87 Utah 86
2010 - Game 7
Boston @ LA
In a rematch of the '08 finals, LA was going for their 2nd straight title while Boston was trying for their 2nd in 3 seasons and another defeat of the hated Lakers. Kobe was going for his 5th and Phil Jackson his 11th.
RESULT: Los Angeles 83 Boston 79
2013 - Game 7
San Antonio @ Miami
Lebron and the Heat were going for their 2nd straight title while Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich were going for their 5th. The series was all but over until Ray Allen's heart breaking 3 in the closing seconds of game 6.
RESULT: Miami 95 San Antonio 88
I know we've got some great basketball historians on the board. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
1962 - Game 7
LA @ Boston
Jerry West and Elgin Baylor took the Lakers back to the finals for the first time since leaving Minneapolis to face Bill Russell and the Celtics who were going for their 4th straight NBA Championship (No team had ever won 4 in a row).
RESULT: Boston 110 Los Angeles 107 in overtime
1966 - Game 7
LA @ Boston
4 years later, with mostly the same cast, LA returned to the finals to face Boston, who was going for their 8th consecutive NBA Championship. This was legendary Celtics coach, Red Auerbach's final game.
RESULT: Boston 95 Los Angeles 93
1969 - Game 7
Boston @ LA
A much older Boston team limped through the regular season, earning a 4th seed in the East, but turned it on in the playoffs, reaching the finals and a shot at their 11th title in 12 seasons. Game 7 was in LA with West, Chamberlain and the Lakers heavily favored. This was Bill Russell's final game.
RESULT: Boston 108 Los Angeles 106
1970 - Game 7
LA @ New York
Game 7 in Madison Square Garden. Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain against the Knicks, going for the franchise's 1st ever title. Willis Reed, who was not supposed to play because of injury, emerged from the locker room right before tip-off, scoring the game's first basket.
RESULT: New York 113 Los Angeles 99
1984 - Game 7
LA @ Boston
This was the first meeting between Bird and Magic in the NBA Finals. The Lakers were trying to avoid going 0-8 against Boston in the finals.
RESULT: Boston 111 Los Angeles 102
1994 - Game 7
New York @ Houston
In the first year without MJ, Patrick Ewing faced Hakeem Olajuwon in the finals with the Knicks going for their first championship in 21 years and the Rockets going for their first ever championship.
RESULT: Houston 90 New York 84
1998 - Game 6
Chicago @ Utah
In a rematch of the '97 finals the Bulls were going for their 2nd 3 peat and 6th championship in 8 seasons. The Jazz going for the 1st championship in franchise history. It was believed to be Jordan's last game.
RESULT: Chicago 87 Utah 86
2010 - Game 7
Boston @ LA
In a rematch of the '08 finals, LA was going for their 2nd straight title while Boston was trying for their 2nd in 3 seasons and another defeat of the hated Lakers. Kobe was going for his 5th and Phil Jackson his 11th.
RESULT: Los Angeles 83 Boston 79
2013 - Game 7
San Antonio @ Miami
Lebron and the Heat were going for their 2nd straight title while Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich were going for their 5th. The series was all but over until Ray Allen's heart breaking 3 in the closing seconds of game 6.
RESULT: Miami 95 San Antonio 88
I know we've got some great basketball historians on the board. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
