There are tons and tons of memorable NBA final games no doubt about it. But to choose the top five title clinching games of all time is not an easy task even for someone who consider himself an NBA junkie. It requires great nostalgic recollection of games as it happens.
Herewith are my top five most memorable NBA title game clinchers of all-time:
5. Game 6 of the 1977 NBA finals, Portland vs. Philadelphia. The Philadelphia 76ers, led by former ABA legend Julius "Doctor J" Erving and George McGinnis won the first two games of the series. The Portland Trailblazers had their backs against the wall as the series heads back to their homecourt, the Memorial Coliseum for games three and four. Cage pundits had already written off the Rain City squad, who is led by a sensational readhead center named Bill Walton. The Blazers shock the Sixers as they swept the next four games, clinching it all in game six, 109-107.
4. Game 6 of the 1980 NBA finals, Los Angeles vs. Philadelphia. With the Lakers leading the series, 3 games to 2, Lakers captain Kareem Abdul Jabbar was left behind in LA due to severe migraine and will miss the crucial game six at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Without the 7-2 center, everybody had began talking of a game seven. A rookie pointguard named Earvin "Magic" Johnson started at center for the Lakers and the rest is history. Johnson played one of the most memorable games in finals history as he poured in 42 big points, hauled down 15 rebounds and dished out 7 assists as the Lakers clinched the diadem with a stunning 123-107 rout of the 76ers in game six.
3. Game 7 of the 1978 NBA finals, Washington vs. Seattle. I can still vividly remember that the deciding game seven of this championship series was shown live on local theaters in Metro Manila. The Washington Bullets had just demolished the Seattle Supersonics in game six, 117-82, to send the series back to Emerald City for game seven. But despite the lopsided win, the Bullets enter the deciding game as underdogs, as the Sonics host the decider at the Kingdome. And then came the shocker, the Bullets defied the odds as Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld took charge in leading them to a 105-99 upset victory over the Sonics.
2. Game 4 of the 1975 NBA finals, Golden State vs. Washington. A story of rags to riches, a Cinderella-like finish for the Golden State Warriors as they swept the heavily-favored Washington Bullets, 4-0 to win the NBA tiara. Rick Barry displayed his legendary wares in leading the Warriors to game four win, 96-95.
1. Game 5 of the 2004 NBA finals, Detroit vs. LA Lakers. The Detroit Pistons entered the series as longshots to win the title. The LA Lakers paraded a star-studded squad in Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton and the so-called experts are predicting a sweep by the powerful Tinseltown outfit. But Detroit coach Larry Brown and his bunch of gritty "Bad Boys II" had other plans as they manhandled the Lakers in five games, capped by an 87-75 win in game five.
Herewith are my top five most memorable NBA title game clinchers of all-time:
5. Game 6 of the 1977 NBA finals, Portland vs. Philadelphia. The Philadelphia 76ers, led by former ABA legend Julius "Doctor J" Erving and George McGinnis won the first two games of the series. The Portland Trailblazers had their backs against the wall as the series heads back to their homecourt, the Memorial Coliseum for games three and four. Cage pundits had already written off the Rain City squad, who is led by a sensational readhead center named Bill Walton. The Blazers shock the Sixers as they swept the next four games, clinching it all in game six, 109-107.
4. Game 6 of the 1980 NBA finals, Los Angeles vs. Philadelphia. With the Lakers leading the series, 3 games to 2, Lakers captain Kareem Abdul Jabbar was left behind in LA due to severe migraine and will miss the crucial game six at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Without the 7-2 center, everybody had began talking of a game seven. A rookie pointguard named Earvin "Magic" Johnson started at center for the Lakers and the rest is history. Johnson played one of the most memorable games in finals history as he poured in 42 big points, hauled down 15 rebounds and dished out 7 assists as the Lakers clinched the diadem with a stunning 123-107 rout of the 76ers in game six.
3. Game 7 of the 1978 NBA finals, Washington vs. Seattle. I can still vividly remember that the deciding game seven of this championship series was shown live on local theaters in Metro Manila. The Washington Bullets had just demolished the Seattle Supersonics in game six, 117-82, to send the series back to Emerald City for game seven. But despite the lopsided win, the Bullets enter the deciding game as underdogs, as the Sonics host the decider at the Kingdome. And then came the shocker, the Bullets defied the odds as Elvin Hayes and Wes Unseld took charge in leading them to a 105-99 upset victory over the Sonics.
2. Game 4 of the 1975 NBA finals, Golden State vs. Washington. A story of rags to riches, a Cinderella-like finish for the Golden State Warriors as they swept the heavily-favored Washington Bullets, 4-0 to win the NBA tiara. Rick Barry displayed his legendary wares in leading the Warriors to game four win, 96-95.
1. Game 5 of the 2004 NBA finals, Detroit vs. LA Lakers. The Detroit Pistons entered the series as longshots to win the title. The LA Lakers paraded a star-studded squad in Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone and Gary Payton and the so-called experts are predicting a sweep by the powerful Tinseltown outfit. But Detroit coach Larry Brown and his bunch of gritty "Bad Boys II" had other plans as they manhandled the Lakers in five games, capped by an 87-75 win in game five.
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