Top 15 Greatest Post Season Performances In NBA History

Hey Bleacher fans. I viewed an article yesterday about the top 10 greatest post season performances in NBA History. I thought it was a pretty good article, but like any other opinionated basketball fan, I disagreed with it a little bit.

After viewing this article, I felt it was necessary to only post what I thought were among the greatest post seasons performances, but to add 15 as opposed to 10. With that being said, here are my top 15 greatest post season performances in NBA History.

15. LeBron James takes over Game Five of the 2007 Western Conference Finals.

In this game, we witnessed the birth of an NBA superstar. Trailing by seven to the Detroit Pistons with three minutes and a couple of seconds left in the games, LeBron James shocked the world as pulled out one of the greatest late game heroics I have ever seen in my years watching the NBA.

LeBron scored 25 of the Cavaliers 29 points to bring the game into overtime and eventually win the game.

14. Allen Iverson's 48 points in Game One of the 2001 NBA Finals.

Following an amazing season in which he won scoring title and league MVP, Allen Iverson and the 'Sixers came into the NBA Finals as the underdogs to the dominant Lakers who had just came of a legendary playoff run.

There were many doubts that the 'Sixers would give the Lakers any kind of trouble in the 2001 Finals. Amazingly, Allen Iverson erased any doubts in anyone's mind as he shocked the Lakers by leading the 'Sixers to an overtime win with his astonishing 48 points.

It was also the most points scored by any player in a Finals debut.

13. Larry Bird's Triple-double in Game Six of the 1986 NBA Finals.

Everyone knew that Larry Bird was a fierce competitor, but the moment he shined the most in the post season in my opinion was Game Six of the 1986 finals in which he put up an amazing triple double against the Rockets. 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assist. Not only did he win finals MVP, but also won the Celtic's legendary 16th championship.

12. Bill Russell's ridiculous Double-double in Game Seven of the 1962 NBA Finals.

The legendary performance in Bill Russell had put up a ridiculous 30 points and 40 rebounds against the Los Angeles Lakers.

11. Kobe Bryant's dominating performance in Game Four of the 2001 NBA Western Conference Semifinals vs. the Sacramento Kings.

Now fans of late game heroics might say that Kobe's Game Four takeover in the 2000 NBA Finals should be placed on this list. Though it is one of the greatest clutch performances in NBA History, Kobe's most dominating performance in playoff history was in the deciding game of the 2001 Western conference semifinals against the Kings.

In this game, Kobe put up an amazing 48 points, 16 rebounds, 3 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block and shot about 50 percent from the field. The fact that he was only 22 made it that much greater.

In my opinion, this is not only Kobe's greatest post season performance (considering that the Western Conference Playoffs were much harder and competitive than the NBA Finals for the Lakers), but the most underrated playoff performance in NBA History.

10. James Worthy's Triple-double in Game Seven of the 1988 NBA Finals.

I always knew James Worthy was good, but I never realized how great he truly was until I saw this particular game. Big game James dropped 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assist to lead the Lakers to their second consecutive championship.

9. Elgin Baylor drops 61 points in Game Five of the 1962 NBA Finals.

Though the Celtic's won the series in Game Seven, there is no taking away this legendary performance by Elgin Baylor.

8. Hakeem Olajuwon dominates the 1995 Playoffs and NBA Finals.

Unlike the rest of my list, this pertains to the whole playoff series. Hakeem Olajuwon came off a competitive playoff matchup with the No. 3 seeded Utah Jazz and the No. 2 seeded Phoenix Suns.

David Robinson, who was coming off a spectacular MVP season led the Spurs to the best record in the league, came off a first round sweep of the Nuggets and a 4-2 win over the Lakers.

This, however, would not save him from being the tail-end receiver of one of the most dominating performances I had ever seen from an individual player in playoff history. Hakeem Olajuwon completely dominated David Robinson and the Spurs on both ends of the floor. Luckily, the Spurs were at least able to get two wins over the Rockets.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Shaq, Penny, and the rest of the Orlando Magics as Hakeem completely single-handedly destroyed the team and won the Rockets' second consecutive title.

Hakeem Olajuwon's average for the 1995 playoffs were 33.0 ppg on 53 percent shooting, 10.3 rebounds, 4.5 assist, 2.8 blocks. If this isn't domination, I really don't know what is.

7. Isiah Thomas scores 43 points on sprained ankle in Game Six of the 1988 NBA Finals.

Isiah Thomas definitely showed he was "the toughest little man to ever play the game" in this legendary performance. After going down hard in the third quarter with a bad ankle injury, Isiah Thomas showed what it meant to be tough by coming back in the fourth and dropping an NBA finals record for most points in a quarter with 25 points.

Although the Pistons lost in Game Seven, there is no denying Thomas' heart, competitiveness, and toughness after watching this game.

6.Tim Duncan's near Quadruple-double in Game Six of the 2003 NBA Finals.

22 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assist, and 8 blocks. TWO BLOCKS away from the first NBA Finals quadruple-double. These were the historic numbers Tim Duncan posted in the 88-77 win over the New Jersey Nets for the franchise's second championship. Simply amazing.

5. Jerry West Triple-double in Game Seven of the 1969 NBA Finals.

"Mr.Clutch" Jerry West had an amazing game in which he dropped an amazing 42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 assist. Unfortunately, the Lakers lost the NBA Finals. However, West made history by becoming the first and only player to win NBA Finals MVP on a losing team.

4. Reggie Miller lights up the Knicks and trash talks Spike Lee in Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.

The greatest clutch performance in NBA History. As the fourth quarter began, the Pacers were trailing the Knicks by 12. However, that would soon change when Reggie dropped five three-pointers contributing to a 14-0 run.

What made it even better was the constant trash talk to Spike Lee, who was sitting courtside witnessing history in the making. Reggie Miller scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Pacers to a 93-86 win over the Knicks and became known as the Knick Killer.

3. Michael Jordan's 63 points vs the Celtics in Game Two of the 1986 Eastern conference quarterfinals.

Honestly,I wish I could write about this game but I don't even know how to describe a legendary performance like this. Maybe Larry Bird's legendary comments on Mj's performance best sums it up. "I think he's God disguised as Michael Jordan."

2. Rookie Magic Johnson takes over Game Six of the 1980 NBA Finals.

A legend was definitely born in this game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suffered an ankle injury and could not perform in Game Six. Who took his place? A 20 year-old rookie from Michigan State by the name of Earvin Johnson. What were the results? The greatest performance by a rookie in NBA History.

Magic Johnson did not only fill in for the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as starting center, he dominated the position by dropping an astonishing 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assist, and 3 steals.

1. Michael Jordan's Flu Game Game Five of the 1997 NBA Finals.

The Greatest player of all time indeed. I still remember the report that Jordan had got sick overnight before the game. I can't begin to describe the disappointment and anger I felt that day. I really thought there was no chance the Bulls were going to win with MJ in the condition he was in.

Well, I was dead wrong.

To see Michael Jordan suffer the flu and drop 38 points against the Jazz was not only one of the happiest moments in NBA History, but was definitely the most heroic moment in NBA History.