If you could witness 3 moments in NBA history live, which would they be and why?
For me it would be when the Bucks won their first and only championship in 1971 against the Baltimore Bullets. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) got his first Finals MVP and Oscar Robertson finally got his long awaited ring.
Wilt Chamberlain's 100 pt game. He shot 36 out of 63 with 28 out of 32 free throws. No video footage only the radio call. I'm not saying I don't believe it, but it must have been amazing to have been there and witnessing history unfold.
1995 WCF Game 2. Hakeem Olajuwon reduced David Robinson to a spectator of his offense. The Dream irritating the Admiral since Robinson bit so many of Olajuwon's fakes. Olajuwon showed his entire arsenal in this game: turnaround shots, fakes, blocks, rebounding, dream shakes, finishing at the rim, everything. Pure poetry in motion.
2010-01-05T22:27:01Z
I know Kobe's 81 game would be one for many users and for good reason.
Rob K2010-01-06T08:08:29Z
Favorite Answer
1. Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals -- Boston Celtics vs Phoenix Suns - 3 Overtimes. (aka the "Greatest Game Ever Played".) --
Starting in the second overtime the Suns took a one point lead with 4 seconds to play, this is when John Havlicek took the in-bounds pass and raced the length of the court to score on a 15 foot shot that brought hundreds of fans racing out on the court. However the referee's ruled that there was still 1 second remaining on the clock. The Suns, trailing by 1 with no time out's remaining called one, which did result in a technical foul, which was made and gave Boston a 2 point lead. But this strategy also allowed the Suns to move the ball to mid-court for the inbounds play. Garfield Heard caught the pass, turned and calmly sank a shot at the buzzer to send the game to a third overtime. During the 3rd overtime, with key players from both teams on the bench due to fouls, seldom-used Glen McDonald of the Celtics scored 6 points in the 3rd overtime leading the exhausted Celtics to a 128-126 victory, Jo-Jo White proclaimed after the game that it was as close to death as he ever wanted to come to. Two days later the Celtics playing game 6 in Phoenix, beat the Suns 87-80 to win their 13th NBA title. Rick Barry who called the game says it was "the most exciting game he's ever seen."
2. Game 2 of the 1986 1st Round Playoffs -- Bulls vs Celtics -- Jordan goes off for playoff record 63 points in a loss.
The Celtics simply destroyed the Bulls in game one winning by 19, but game 2 would prove to be a different story. Inspired by the Rowdy Boston Garden Crowd Jordan played like a man possessed. He willed his Bulls to not one but two overtimes, before finally succumbing in the second overtime 135-131 as Jordan was completely unstoppable going for a still NBA playoff record 63 points breaking Elgin Baylor's 24 year old record. Jordan scored a record 131 points for the 3 game series. But as NBA history has always told the story, one player cannot beat a team and the Celtics proved this to be the case. Larry Bird remarks after the game "That was God in the form of Michael Jordan."
3. Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals -- Celtics vs Lakers --
Game 4 started the same way game 3 had ended, but then Kevin McHale cloths-lined Curt Rambis, which raised the tension in the game. The move prompted Laker coach Pat Riley to say that the Celtics were a bunch of thugs, while Cedric Maxwell said of the move "Before Kevin McHale hit Kurt Rambis, the Lakers were just running across the street whenever they wanted," he said. "Now they stop at the corner, push the button, wait for the light, and look both ways." Still the Lakers held a 5-point lead with a minute to play, that's when a steal from Magic, plus Magic missed 2 critical free throws and the game went into overtime. In overtime James Worthy also missed a free throw and the Celtics went on the win the game in overtime 129-125. This game changed the complete complexion of the series as at the end of game three it appeared that the Lakers were in complete control of the series. The Celtics went on to win game 7 in Boston, extending their domination of the Lakers to 8 straight.
Others: Wilt's 100, Bryant's 81, Jerry West's half-court game winner, the Jordan/Nique Slam Dunk Contest, Bird's "point before it goes in" 3 point title win, Reggie Miller and the "choke signal" game to Spike Lee, Jordan and "The Shot", Jordan "over Ehlo for the win", Hakeem destroying Robinson on the night he was given the MVP award, When Moses Malone said "Fo, Fo, Fo", Iverson for 48 in an OT upset win Game 1 of the 2001 Finals and many many more.
Eeek, I'm not even a Celtics fan but they ended up in all 3 of my top moments, I'm a Sixers fan. Shame on me...
I don't know if you would consider the last two, one moment; its over a period of time but I still wish I could've been alive to see it.....
1.) Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point, 25 rebound performance
2.) Bill Russell's Era 1956-1969 during his Boston Celtics' 11 Championships (an achievement that will NEVER be reached again in the NBA)
3.) Oscar Robertson's 1961-1962 NBA season which was his 2nd season in the NBA when he averaged a triple double for the entire season: 30.8pts, 12.5reb, 11.4ast (another achievement that may never reached again in the NBA, this is the definition of consistency)
I've seen just about everything of what everybody else is talking about from the Jordan era to the present era.....
1. Would be when the Lakers finally got over the hump and won the championship against Boston, in Boston in the 80s.
2. Would be when the Bulls got the 70th win in Milwaulkee...nobody wanted to be the team to give the Bulls the 70th win and Milwaulkee played like it...they fought hard but the Bulls just prevailed, but I remember what kind of atmosphere it was so I would have liked to be a part of that.
3. I would have to say back in 2002 I believe when Kobe scored 56 points agains Jordan when he played for the Wizards. He was making Reggie Miller type 3 pointers, it was ridiculous. The thing is he could've scored more, he got those 56 points through 3 quarters! I remember Phil taking him out because Jordan got him in foul trouble plus it was a blowout at that point, so he didn't play in the 4th. That was the last Kobe vs Jordan game I believe.
Simple question, If you were lucky enough to watch the Lakers with Magic Johnson, then you would agree that you could pick just about any 3 games he played in would be the most exciting moments ever. That's NBA action at it's best! Laker fast break! Magic dazzled the crowd! He was inspiring!