In the NBA playoffs, there are some games that are almost overlooked, but have a huge impact on the final outcome. Here are three of the most underrated NBA playoff games of all time.
The NBA Playoffs are an event that brings tens of thousands of fans to their televisions every night, and all of them expect a great game. But what if there is a terrible game? Or a game that is so one sided that it is hardly worth watching. These are the games that get forgotten about because fans become distracted by the great games. In the below article I will look at the 3 most underappreciated NBA playoff games of all time.
It’s always a special feeling when the NBA playoffs come around. With 16 teams competing for the championship, fans witnessed historic performances by teams and players. Some playoffs are always one-sided, with the top team advancing to the next round after being swept. But the games that make it to the seventh are always the most admired.
When you think of the NBA playoffs, several things come to mind. In Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, LeBron James blocks Andre Iguodala before Kyrie Irving hits the game-winning three-pointer to end the game.
Like Michael Jordan’s winning jumper over Byron Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals and even Reggie Miller’s eight points with eight seconds left in a game against the New York Knicks.
These big moments have simplified the excitement of the NBA playoffs over the years, and that’s why these players have become huge generational talents.
But there are also great playoff games that don’t get the recognition they deserve. The NBA Finals shouldn’t always be a time for the league to cherish its greatest moments. After all, the road to the NBA championship isn’t finished yet. Teams looking to win four games in each series don’t have it easy. They have to fight every round to keep their hopes of the championship alive and prepare for the next race. Let’s take a look at some underrated playoff games in NBA history.
Lakers – Celtics 2010 NBA Finals : Game 7
After losing the series 3-2, the Lakers won 89-67 in Game 6. After losing to the same team in the 2008 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant had no intention of letting his team lose to Boston again. Game 7 was perhaps the most frustrating statistically, but the defense on both sides showed that winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy meant everything to them.
The Celtics led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter and moved closer to the NBA title they had hoped for, but couldn’t get. With Bryant unable to score, he and his team had to find a way to build a rhythm of play on both ends. At the same time, other factors began to emerge. Ron Artest scored 20 points and Pau Gasol 19.
In the end, the Celtics were unable to slow down the Lakers’ momentum and came up just short late in the fourth period. Artest’s three-pointer was followed by free throws from Sasha Vujacic. Bryant scored 23 points on 6-24 shooting, but collected 15 rebounds and controlled the glass. Bryant will win his fifth NBA championship and the Lakers their 16th.
Celtics-Bulls 2009 NBA First Round Game 6
Although the Boston Celtics are the defending NBA titleholders, the young Chicago Bulls did not shy away from the challenge. Derrick Rose set the tone and led the Bulls to a victory in extension in Game 1, scoring 36 points. The Bulls had to play in the minority twice in Game 4 and again in Game 5. With both teams playing great basketball in their last two games, Game 6 was a preview of what was to come at the United Center.
The Celtics were hoping to end the series with a win in Game 5. But they knew it would be tough in a hostile NBA environment. The Bulls led for most of the game and tried to even the series. It was Ray Allen’s shot that kept the Celtics afloat. Boston gained ground and was on the verge of ending the series before Chicago made a late comeback and threw the game into extension.
Allen would be the first option with the Celtics with Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, etc. Chicago was led by Derrick Rose and John Salmons. At the end of the third extension, the Bulls kept their NBA season alive with a 128-127 win thanks to great defensive play and key steals. Ray Allen scored 51 points, Salmons had 35 and Rose 28.
Blazers – Nuggets 2019 Conference Semifinals Game 3
The Portland Trail Blazers are on the right track after their first-round NBA series victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the start of the series against a very young Denver Nuggets team, Portland thought they could beat them in a seven game series. The Blazers won Game 2 in Denver and evened the series, leading to a historic Game 3.
This game went to four overtimes, the second in NBA playoff history. It was a matter of which team could do the job well and show more communication. The Blazers have received significant contributions from role players in the lineup: Rodney Hood scored 19 points and Enes Kanter 18. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum will need the support of role players in Game 3. Without their ability to make shots, the Blazers had no chance to win this game.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 33 points, 18 rebounds and 14 assists. Jamal Murray also had his dominant game against Lillard, scoring 34 points. The Nuggets did not give up after an evenly matched battle. They thought they were the better team and played like it.
Four exciting overtime games in the NBA have gone to plan. They were tenacious, intense, competitive, etc. The stars of both teams played over 50 minutes and set the tone even when things looked shaky. But in the end, it was the Blazers who took a 2-1 lead in the series thanks to McCollum’s 41 points and Lillard’s 28.
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