It seems only fitting that the NBA's 2007-08 renaissance season ends with a familiar result:
The Boston Celtics vs. The Los Angeles Lakers
Pro basketball's most storied rivalry between its two most successful franchises has been restored during a season which has rapidly drawn casual observers and fans back to its base.
No longer is the NBA the red-headed stepchild (I apologize ahead of time to any gingers from nontraditional families...just turning a phrase) of the American professional sports family...that honor is saved for the NHL.
Obviously, this Finals matchup between a Celtics team that has made the greatest single-season turnaround in history and a Lakers team featuring one of the best all-around players of all time is going to create many memorable highlights that we'll remember for years to come.
Thanks to the NBA Store's new Finals-specific merchandise and its lucrative contract with ABC, we have to wait until Thursday for the first of these highly-anticipated moments.
So this is the perfect time for all of YOU to add YOUR favorite NBA Finals moments!
Anything is fair game, where you were when it happened, what your reaction was, etc.
Just like the previous "YOUR Favorite Moment" articles, I hope that your comments and memories will drive the material and I will pop-in from time to time with rebuttals or relevant links.
If possible, post a link to a YouTube (or other video host) clip that displays your favorite moment. Also, since I know it can be hard to narrow your choice to just one moment, please feel free to post early and often.
Now it's time to post YOUR favorite NBA Finals moment...
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4 months ago
I'll start the discussion off with an easy one:
Celtics v. Lakers
1983-84 Finals
Game 4
Kevin McHale... Kurt Rambis... hard foul... NBA Finals... a rivalry is solidified through a brutal foul.
This moment represents, to me, what basketball was like in its heyday. If you wanted to score in the paint on a breakaway, you had to earn it in the Finals. Today, all it takes is a Ginobili-esque flop with no contact at all to get a possible Flagrant Foul call. Even LeBron James, the game's most phyiscal player in current times, embarassingly flopped his way through his two playoff series this year (most notably faking multiple eye/face injuries when no one touched him) and even earned a Flagrant against Cassell which was so eggregious that it had to be overturned after the game. The following clip shows what a basket was worth and how far a foul could go in the NBA's glory days in the 1980s.
Did Kurt Rambis roll around faking agony or act as if he couldn't move in order to get a harsher call? Hell, no! He was up so fast it looked as if he practically bounced off of the hardwood floor. He made a b-line right for McHale until he was restrained. The whole place descended into chaos for a couple minutes all the while the L.A. fans were chanting "Boston Sucks" in a loud and clear collective voice which makes you remember what it was like before arenas starting pumping in classic rock and rap "songs" like "Superman" that actually make you wish you WEREN'T at the game so you could press the mute button.
When McHale closelined Rambis he was letting Kurt and the rest of the Lakers know, "You're not getting any freebies". Did the Lakers bitch and moan? Nope... they just focused themselves and put this moment in the back of their heads as motivation. This is what the Celtics-Lakers rivalry was all about. Respecting another team's talent and ability so much that you transcend the momentary temptation to lose your cool and negatively affect your team's chances to win the game. It was all about playing the game and winning the game.
Somewhere along the way, the NBA got lost and its product oftentimes resembles a Disney movie more than the Finals of the 1980s... thanks ABC!
Oh, I forgot to mention... this play happened in the 3rd quarter! It wasn't even a last-second effort.
The beauty of this clip is that McHale can watch this and be proud that he made Rambis earn those points. He didn't give anything to anyone, they had to take it. On the flip side, Rambis can view this moment and realize that, although he didn't have the name recognition of a Magic or Bird or McHale, for one moment in time he was the biggest badass in Lakers gold. He didn't feign injury like players today. He didn't want anything handed to him, but he was ready to go get what he wanted (a pound of flesh of the nearest person in green).
The reason it's my favorite moment? Despite the heated rivalry, the hard foul, Rambis' reaction, and the extreme emotion pumping through players and fans alike... McHale pats Rambis' leg as he passes by just seconds after the foul as if to say "No harm man, you were the one with the ball." Rambis just took it in stride. Now THAT's the NBA Finals!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7r6vXeOfyQ&feature=related
from 4 months ago
Oops, I guess my comment was longer than the article. Clearly I'm a bit passionate about that moment
4 months ago
2001 AI vs the Lakers.. wait sorry. Sixers vs Lakers... Game One.. the whole game was a classic. But AI's step back jumper over Lue is just timeless. Every time i watch that, i get goosebumps. Good article btw.. makes everyone reminiscence
4 months ago
Here's two: number one, Willis Reed's broken leg game against LA, which I mentioned in your last favorite moment article but deserves another mention for the sheer guts it took Reed to go out there and defend Wilt Chamberlain on one leg.
Two: The greatest shot of all time, Jerry West's 65 footer against the Knicks in game 3 I believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bagji_0htz0
4 months ago
My favorite moment is from Game Six in 1986 when the Celtics finished off the Rockets - Larry Bird called this the best game he ever played, and there was a point with the shot clock running down - Bird got the ball on the block, then dribbled all the way out to the corner, turned around, and nailed a three. I've never seen anything like that before or after.
4 months ago
My favorite is definitely Magic Johnsons baby hook against Kevin McHale.
In a non-Lakers-Celtics Finals, I would say Jordans shot against Bryon Russell.
4 months ago
Game 3 of the 1993 NBA Finals. Bulls-Suns, triple overtime.
I still watch that game on tape every once in a while.
4 months ago
Reed coming onto the court for game 7 in the '70 finals, nothing can beat that drama. The Lakers visibly shrank when he can out for the tap and then hit his first couple of shots.
4 months ago
Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.... Jordan's game winning shot. I'll never forget the pose as the ball hit net, or the faces on all the Jazz fans.
4 months ago
My favourite moment has to be T-mac's 13 points in the last 33 seconds against Spurs in 2004.
It included 4 consecutive 3 pointers and one of them was a 4 point play.
1.7 seconds left and Spurs has to ball in their hands. T-mac steals, dribbles up to the center circle and RIGHT on the buzzer he steps inside the Spurs half and throws the ball. Amazingly it bounced right in the hoop and Rockets win the game..
I still cherish that moment..
I'm a football (soccer) fan from the UK, so i dont know most of the things mentioned before me......
I still follow the NBA from here ...
Btw, be sure to check out my first ever NBA article, on this years finals. Let me know what you think bruv.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27602-NBA-Finals-Celtics-Or-Lakers-
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