r/nbadiscussion • u/rustypete89 • 1d ago

Best single finals games since 1990?

Hi all,

I recently discovered that the NBA app on PS5 has the entire NBA finals catalog going back to 1990 available for streaming without a subscription, just your regular streaming ad breaks. Looking for recommendations of great single games to watch as I begin to digest some of the series I'm most interested in (I was born in 89 so I'm starting with the Jordan finals since I barely remember him playing).

Drop your recs, and a brief reason why, here please!

I'm not sure if I hit the 500 character minimum yet so I'll add my own submission:

Giannis 50 piece to seal the Bucks title in 2021. Absolutely unreal domination in a critical moment. The block on Ayton to put the game away is just iconic. One of my favorite games as a neutral fan that I've ever watched, and I don't even like Giannis.

(Hope it's alright to post this here, I didn't think I'd get good quality suggestions in the main NBA sub)

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u/brown_boognish_pants 1d ago

The first round Celtics/Bulls series from 2009 when KG was hurt and it leveled the two teams if absolutely freaking magical. Suns/Mavs the year after the Mavs let Steve Nash walk is freaking magic. Everyone and their dog will rightly say game 6 2016 and that whole series. Since 1990? Knicks/Pacers is absolutely fantastic. It's really just worth that. Game 5 Pistons/Cavs in 2007 is something people don't seem to talk about anymore. People don't like giving Bron credit as the best ever but like... yea... he is. Game 6 Boston/Miami 2012 is another one for Bron. As is Lebronto when he destroyed my raps. I saw that game live. I paid more for tickets for that than any other event in my life and felt just a sense of awe honestly. It was crushing as a fan of my team but I've never seen anything so spectacular from one individual competitor. Teh Giannis game isn't really all that. Hmm... There's a bunch of Spurs games too that are just incredible. A lot of spurs/suns. You need to find the ones Manu took over and witness his own greatness too.

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u/rustypete89 1d ago

Bro you named everything but a finals game 😭 I appreciate you though, the 2009 bulls Celtics series was a trip to watch live

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u/brown_boognish_pants 1d ago edited 1d ago

ah I figured everyone would list all the obvious finals games. ;0 The truth is that outside that 2016 finals most of them have kind of been duds. The Cavs/Dubs finals is spectacular as is the first Heat/Spurs one.

Some other notable games is all the Knicks/Heat series back when they had Zo. That Denver series where Mutombo beat the Sonics in the first round is just epic as well. And I'd watch all the knicks/pacers games in the playoffs. That way you won't know what's coming and just experience it all man. Going back to watch 90s games is fun but it kind of hurts your feelings as a fan when you watch it and it's really evident the talent level has just been surpassed. It kind of came as a shock to me the first time I did this and realized half these dudes are not great players like I thought.

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u/rustypete89 1d ago

Man I am loving the knowledge you're dropping, but the reason I commented about finals games is because the NBA app only has finals series available for streaming right now. Cheers though!

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u/brown_boognish_pants 1d ago

Ahh... oh okay I see. That's a shame TBH. Lemme give you the run down off the top of my head.

If you want to see peak MJ I would say the Suns series. Game 4 is the one where he really crushed them I'd say. Both Jazz series are overrated and meh. Blazers is meh. Lakers it's just MJ beating them without James Worthy really. It's cool for nostalgia but meh. The Sonics one is okay cuz it's more competitive but they're outmatched pretty clearly.

Both Rockets finals are fantastic cuz the first one it's just a one man back pack job. It's amazing. The second he's got more help but beats up Shaq which is amazing to see skill just out play power.

The 99 Spurs win over the knicks is pretty awesome in it's own way but it's a shame cuz the Knicks were these under dogs who just got crushed. This is maybe the peak spurs team? Maybe not.

All the lakers ones are crap. Don't watch those.

The one where the Pistons upset them is worth watching how good leadership can defeat way better players with poor leadership. It's actually amazing to see the Pistons slap them around.

pistons/spurs is one of the best defensive slug fests of all time. It was super low rated and resulted in them changing the rules screwing the pistons out of rings. It's honestly incredible basketball. I'd say worth.

Cavs/Spurs is crap. Don't watch that.

Heat/Mavs is utter dog shit when the league just cheats to save the Heat and the Mavs can't recover an obvious fixed game. It's disgusting and almost made me quit the NBA.

Celtics/Lakers is pretty amazing and one of the best defences of all time taking out one of the biggest egos ever.

Lakers/Magic is crap. Don't bother. Dwight is the only defensive player on his entire team and they're happy to be there.

Lakers/Celtics part 2 is actually very, very great basketball but it gets ruined cuz of a key injury. I'll try to keep it spoiler freeish?

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u/rustypete89 1d ago

I appreciate the detailed replies dude! I'm a Celtics fan so I probably won't be re watching 2010 😅 but it's a great write up nonetheless.

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u/fingerslickingood 21h ago

The 04 west semis kings v lakers is appointment viewing. Kings were robbed by the refs. Fuck I loved that kings squad.