ESPN's Best NBA Plays of the Decade?

10. Chris Paul's 360 degree lay-up and 1 in game 3 of the 2008 Western Conference Semifinals against the Spurs. Vince Carter has 10 acrobatic lay-ups better than this by himself.

9. Tracy McGrady pulls up on the break and hits the game-winning three against the Spurs 12/09/04 on national television. McGrady scored 13 straight points-all on 3's (one and 1) without a miss in the final 33 seconds. If we're judging the shot, there are better shots. But if we're judging the shot within the context of the performance, as some of this list suggests (see No. 1), then it should be way higher.

8. Tayshaun Prince runs down Reggie Miller's lay-up attempt in game 2 of the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. Not only does Prince save a lay-up, he keeps the ball in play, turning it over to the Pistons. The Pacers were up 1-0 at this point and were poised to go up 2-0 until Prince's heroics. Indiana never recovered and Detroit went on to beat the Lakers in the Finals. So a dunk in a blowout second round playoff game is better than this (see no. 5)?

7. Allen Iverson crosses over Tyronn Lue, pulls back and hits the jumper, before stepping over him and staring him down. This capped a 48-point performance for AI as the Sixers ended the Lakers' 19-game winning streak in game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals. Iverson had a great year. He had a great game. It was a nice crossover. But is it the seventh-best play of the decade? No. Even if you're taking into consideration the circumstances, no. I understand if they felt they had to include AI on this list, but find a play that either fits the description or change the title.

6. Devin Harris hits a half court buzzer-beating game-winning 3 against Philadelphia earlier this year. Andre Iguodala puts Philly up one and then plays outstanding defense on Harris, forcing him to bobble the ball. Harris recovers and heaves the ball in from half court at the horn. Amazing. This play is right where it should be.

5. Baron Davis puts Andrei Kirilenko in the basket in the final minutes of game 3 of the 2007 Western Conference Semifinals. Great dunk. And one. But it was a blowout game and their only win of the series. Fifth best play of the decade? Please.

4. Robert Horry hit some HUGE shots in his career. This was the biggest. Down 2 in the closing seconds of game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals, Kobe Bryant takes the ball to the hoop in search of contact, maybe a basket. He misses. Shaq rebounds, he misses. Chris Webber bats the ball out the scrum, no doubt hoping the clock would run out. He hit it right to Horry, who drained a 3 at the buzzer, winning the game 100-99, and tying the series 2-2. The Lakers do not 3-peat without this shot. Period. It could definitely be higher on this list.

3. The Cavaliers won 66 games last season. Number one seed. Home-court advantage. MVP. After going up by 15 in game 1 of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland wastes Lebron's 49 points and relinquishes home court to Orlando. Game 2 looked eerily similar (23-point lead) until Lebron James hits this shot. At the time, reporters were comparing this to THE SHOT and even saying it was better because it was in the Conference Finals rather than the first round. This is the most amazing shot James has ever hit and, I admit, I thought this shot would propel them to the Finals. It didn't. Amazing shot. Not better than Horry's (because they went on to win) and not even close to MJ's.

2. If you want symbolic, this play should be No. 1. June 4, 2000: Kobe to Shaq, capping a 15-point fourth quarter comeback in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against Portland. The pass was high, but it had to be to get over the defense. Crossover. Penetration. Alley. Oop!
These two players owned the team that, more than any other, defined the decade.

1. Kobe Bryant controls the jump ball, finds his spot on the court, and hits the game-winner in game 4 of the 2006 Western Conference First Round. It wasn't even his most amazing shot of the game. His shot to force OT was much more difficult. However, this shot won the game, putting the Lakers up 3-1. The Suns came back and won the series. How is this that much better than what McGrady did? Yes this was a playoff game, but an April playoff game at that. They didn't even win the series.

If you want the best plays, Vince Carter should be on here. If you want the best players, Tim Duncan should be on here.

If you want the best performances, Lebron's dunk in game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals should be on here.

Where is Derek Fisher's game winner in game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals?

Where is Kobe Bryant scaling Dwight Howard two weeks into the rookie's career?

What about Kobe's backward dunk in game 3 of the 2001 Western Conference Finals?

Or Brandon Roy's game-winning turnaround 3 last season against Houston?

Or anytime Jamal Crawford got nasty and passed to himself off the backboard in traffic?

By having one dunk on the list (Baron Davis), you're saying, "this is the best dunk of the decade." And the context gives it no support. Give me a break. He had one over Garnett that could be better.

I hate these lists. They never do the concept justice.