LeBron James with an All Time Great Playoff Performance

[-Slap-]

He carried Cleveland to a 109-107 double OT victory at the Palace with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He scored 29 of the Cavs final 30 points and he drove the lane for the game winner with 2.2 left on the clock.

This performance was on a par with anything Magic, Michael, Larry or anybody else has ever done in a playoff game.

[Killericon]

That pass he made to Varejao(I think) was insane.

[epicSocialism4tw]

He carried Cleveland to a 109-107 double OT victory at the Palace with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He scored 29 of the Cavs final 30 points and he drove the lane for the game winner with 2.2 left on the clock.

This performance was on a par with anything Magic, Michael, Larry or anybody else has ever done in a playoff game.

Yeah it was a good one. It looked like Nowitzki's game 7 against the Spurs and his game 6 against the Suns in last year's playoffs. It's been the one true transcendant performance in this year's playoffs by a single player.

It was just a matter of time with James.

[Nuggets4]

That was unbelievable. But ultimately, it just pisses me off even more. I love LeBron, but this just proves that he should be putting it together more consistently. I'm not asking for this every night obviously, but he should be putting up numbers like Magic did. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to coast.

Good news for NBA fans, he's at a point where he won't coast for the rest of the season at least.

[Requiem]

I'm a witness, and I want one of those t-shirts.

[RhymesayersDU]

The light bulb went off I guess. We've been waiting for this.

And now the Finals (hopefully) won't be completely unwatchable.

Good for him.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The light bulb went off I guess. We've been waiting for this.
And now the Finals (hopefully) won't be completely unwatchable.
Good for him.

Well, the Cavs still have to beat the Pistons, which isnt going to be easy.

It's amazing how fickle the media is. One day he's the biggest goat in the history of the league, and the next he's the best player ever.
Hyperbole sells papers, so it shouldnt be surprising.

When LeBron figures out that he wants to win the whole thing, nobody will be able to stop him. He's just too good of an athlete to stop. He stands out when compared against the best of the world as far as his athletic skills go. If there ever has been a complete package of a player, its James.

LeBron James - The Complete Package

[rbackfactory80]

He carried Cleveland to a 109-107 double OT victory at the Palace with 48 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He scored 29 of the Cavs final 30 points and he drove the lane for the game winner with 2.2 left on the clock.

This performance was on a par with anything Magic, Michael, Larry or anybody else has ever done in a playoff game.

lol, you forgot Nowitzki

[RhymesayersDU]

lol, you forgot Nowitzki

Well, that comment ought to be good for about 3 more pages...

[epicSocialism4tw]

Well, that comment ought to be good for about 3 more pages...

50 points v. Suns, baby! ;D

Game 7 v. Spurs!

Nah...I got my blurb in. I like LeBron. Let him have his moment of glory. If nothing else so that his detractors will realize that he's only what, 22?

[SouthStndJunkie]

Scoring your team's last 25 points is insane.

[-Slap-]

That was unbelievable. But ultimately, it just pisses me off even more. I love LeBron, but this just proves that he should be putting it together more consistently. I'm not asking for this every night obviously, but he should be putting up numbers like Magic did. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to coast.

Good news for NBA fans, he's at a point where he won't coast for the rest of the season at least.

I don't watch the Association closely enough during the regular season anymore to give a qualified opinion. I defer to your judgement on all things NBA anyway.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Scoring your team's last 25 points is insane.

When that guy decides that he wants to win, there is no denying him. He's too quick to put a big guy on, he can shoot, he's too strong to defend at the rim, he's too fast to keep out of the lane, he's too smart to force into a bad play, his court vision is impeccable, his capacity for defensive proficiency is through the roof, he can jump out of the gym, run the floor like a deer, block your shot, swipe your dribble, and throw down a monster dunk from any contortion at any trajectory at any speed flying towards the rim.

Get out of the way. From here forward is LeBron James' time. I'm glad Nowitzki finally got his MVP this season, becaues the next what, 8 years should be the time that the league media spends either giving James the trophy or rationalizing why they need someone else to win it.

[freak6]

I love LeBron, but this just proves that he should be putting it together more consistently. I'm not asking for this every night obviously, but he should be putting up numbers like Magic did. Unfortunately, he has a tendency to coast.


Get the f outta here. He's 22 years young. He just played above any 4th Quarter and OTs I ever saw Magic have. It pisses you off???

I don't even think I saw Mike takeover a game like Lebron did outside of his 63 in Boston. This was more epic as he scored thier last 25 straight.

He should be putting up numbers like Magic did?

How is gonna get as many triple doubles /#s as Magic without a HOF C, and Forward running with him?

Lebron is a one man team and showed it tonite.
__________________________________________________ _

What the FK is wrong with Flip Saunders?

He is a terrible coach. Where was the double team of Lebron, or the zone. When they did those two things, they stopped him for the most part. When they didn't, he went isolation and either dunked on them, or hit a step back jumper.

Lebron was fabolous, but I think Flip Saunders enabled him to do it by going away from the 2-3 zone or the straight up double team in which Lebron passed to teammates who CHOKED over and over again.

[freak6]

Where is the double team Flip?

This guy went into the zone, and every time they went zone or doubled him, they got a stop. When they didn't, he got into the lane at will with that hesistation dribble or jab stepped and then hit a step back J.

What impressed me the most was his deep Js, and the 3 after Webber got the Pistons up by 3.

Insane.

GET OUTTA THE WAY!!!!!!!

[wolf754life]

Go Spurs 4 titles in 9 years

[spdirty]

what pisses me off is that he should be a Nugget.

[freak6]

The west is best though. Lebron would have alot more trouble in the west. And it will stay that way with the recent lottery!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Go Spurs 4 titles in 9 years

Timmy is pretty good himself, when he's not going palms-up.

[DeusExManning]

The reason Lebron is special is his size, he is Kobe with Malone size. How old is he?

[DeusExManning]

The west is best though. Lebron would have alot more trouble in the west. And it will stay that way with the recent lottery!

It just means he won't wear himself out during the regular season.

[Garcia Bronco]

He got lucky..Pistons in 7. :)

[Nuggets4]

Get the f outta here. He's 22 years young. He just played above any 4th Quarter and OTs I ever saw Magic have. It pisses you off???

I don't even think I saw Mike takeover a game like Lebron did outside of his 63 in Boston. This was more epic as he scored thier last 25 straight.

He should be putting up numbers like Magic did?

How is gonna get as many triple doubles /#s as Magic without a HOF C, and Forward running with him?

Lebron is a one man team and showed it tonite.

Oh come on, even you have to admit that there are times that it appears that LeBron is just going through the motions in games. Magic, Bird, the Big O -- they never did that. I'd LOVE to see the numbers Bron would put up if he would give his all every game. I'm not talking KG and his insane levels, I'm just talking playing hard every game (a la Duncan).

[Los Broncos]

I didnt watch the game, but dam wtg James.

[ward63]

That's easily the most spectacular performance I've seen since Jordan. They would double, even triple team him in the second half and overtime and he still put up numbers. Every other player on the Cavs would just give him the ball and when Gooden and Ilgaskus fouled out, Lebron knew he had to take over for sure.

[NaptownChief]

I wonder if all those fools that just a few days ago that were being critical of James disappearing late in games pulled their heads out of their ass long enough to watch last night?

[bronco militia]

I wonder if all those fools that just a few days ago that were being critical of James disappearing late in games pulled their heads out of their ass long enough to watch last night?


yeah...what ever happened to watermock?

Ha!

[Garcia Bronco]

The ridiculous claim on this board was that Carmello Anthony is anywhere close to the level of LeBron in skill. Obviously not

[bronco militia]

The ridiculous claim on this board was that Carmello Anthony is anywhere close to the level of LeBron in skill. Obviously not


Melo throws a better sucker punch

:giggle:

[Garcia Bronco]

Melo throws a better sucker punch

:giggle:

LOL

[BroncoBuff]

Scoring your team's last 25 points is insane.

29 of last 30 is insane too ... that means a teammate made just 1 of 2 free throw chances. Geez - critical swing-5th game, on the road, conference finals, 2-OT, and last second shot to win it?! And 29 of their last 30?! He must've been going against triple-teams in both overtimes!

Can't quite judge the game historically yet though. If the Cavs win the series, and especially if they bag the finals, it will be #1 all-time for me. Jordan's flu-game performance vs. the Jazz was not this dominant.

[Garcia Bronco]

Jordon has many games like this and in the playoffs.

[OrangeShadow]

i made sure i stayed up to watch that game, it was a mind boggling displayand im not even a huge nba fan

[Northman]

He got lucky..Pistons in 7. :)

48 points at the Palace is lucky? :D

[Inkana7]

Yeah, look at my avatar. I know.

But still, that was the single greatest individual performance I've ever seen. I'm not old enough to have seen much of Jordan, but I did get to witness his last two championship seasons with the Bulls, and James just trumped anything he did in those games.

From 6 minutes left in regulation onward, there were no Cavaliers, there was Lebron. As soon as any other Cav player got the ball, they were looking for Lebron. He cound not be stopped. Lebron normall isn't a great shooter, but he was spectacular last night. That three to tie it at 107? What's more clutch than that? And as if that wasn't enough, he then drove through pretty much all 5 Pistons to make the game winning basket.

Incredible. Simply incredible. If James can keep this up for the rest of the playoffs, I really like our shot at the title.

Now proceed to tell me how anyone from the west, even the Sonics, would be able to dismantle the Cavs in 5.

[Garcia Bronco]

48 points at the Palace is lucky? :D

Extremely lucky.

[Northman]

Yeah, look at my avatar. I know.

But still, that was the single greatest individual performance I've ever seen. I'm not old enough to have seen much of Jordan, but I did get to witness his last two championship seasons with the Bulls, and James just trumped anything he did in those games.

From 6 minutes left in regulation onward, there were no Cavaliers, there was Lebron. As soon as any other Cav player got the ball, they were looking for Lebron. He cound not be stopped. Lebron normall isn't a great shooter, but he was spectacular last night. That three to tie it at 107? What's more clutch than that? And as if that wasn't enough, he then drove through pretty much all 5 Pistons to make the game winning basket.

Incredible. Simply incredible. If James can keep this up for the rest of the playoffs, I really like our shot at the title.

Now proceed to tell me how anyone from the west, even the Sonics, would be able to dismantle the Cavs in 5.



If the Cavs somehow make it too the finals the Spurs will have no problem with them. Lebron still doesnt have enough help to get the done and he wont be able to pull out 48 of his own every game of the series to win it.

[freak6]

Oh come on, even you have to admit that there are times that it appears that LeBron is just going through the motions in games. I'm just talking playing hard every game (a la Duncan).


I've heard he coasts some times, but look at thier record, and the demand on him. He is everything to that team, so when he isn't doing anything, I think it gives the perception that he is coasting, when really he is just playing in the flow of the game.

I just don't see why you said it "pisses you off" etc... I think that is going a bit far. They are in the Eastern Conference Finals. If he cruises to 20 -5-5 some regular season games, so be it.

[Northman]

Extremely lucky.


Your on crack. But again, we all know that. :P

[maven]

. Lebron normall isn't a great shooter, but he was spectacular last night. That three to tie it at 107? What's more clutch than that? And as if that wasn't enough, he then drove through pretty much all 5 Pistons to make the game winning basket.



The 3 ball to tie it was a great shot! Went left, and launched it. A great performance that is for sure by Lebron.

[Clockwork Orange]

The ridiculous claim on this board was that Carmello Anthony is anywhere close to the level of LeBron in skill. Obviously not

What's really ridiculous is that a dickhead like yourself, who says he hates the NBA and never watches it, always comments on it as if his opinion is worth a squirt of piss.

[bronco militia]

What's really ridiculous is that a dickhead like yourself, who says he hates the NBA and never watches it, always comments on it as if his opinion is worth a squirt of piss.


some posters seem to think Garcia has tasty bait Hilarious!

[Garcia Bronco]

What's really ridiculous is that a dickhead like yourself, who says he hates the NBA and never watches it, always comments on it as if his opinion is worth a squirt of piss.

:kiss:

[Maximus]

Jordon has many games like this and in the playoffs.

Agreed... too much hype surrounding this... 25 points is only 10 baskets... hell Reggie Millers back to back 3 pointers in less than 3 seconds against the Knicks is a better performance!

Michael Jordan consistently lit people up... Magic and Bird controlled entire games... "F" lebron!

[Dedhed]

Agreed... too much hype surrounding this... 25 points is only 10 baskets... hell Reggie Millers back to back 3 pointers in less than 3 seconds against the Knicks is a better performance!

Michael Jordan consistently lit people up... Magic and Bird controlled entire games... "F" lebron!
Ridiculous. If he misses one of those 10, they lose that game. They needed every single bucket that Lebron made, and there wasn't another player on the Cavs to help. It was an utterly sublime performance, and ranks easily in the top 3 of all time. Reggie Miller's entire career doesn't amount to Lebron's 2nd overtime last night.

[freak6]

Ridiculous. If he misses one of those 10, they lose that game. They needed every single bucket that Lebron made, and there wasn't another player on the Cavs to help. It was an utterly sublime performance, and ranks easily in the top 3 of all time. Reggie Miller's entire career doesn't amount to Lebron's 2nd overtime last night.

Yep, Lebron shot 9/11 while his teammates went 0/7!!!

He took over with NO HELP!!!

[Maximus]

Ridiculous. If he misses one of those 10, they lose that game. They needed every single bucket that Lebron made, and there wasn't another player on the Cavs to help. It was an utterly sublime performance, and ranks easily in the top 3 of all time. Reggie Miller's entire career doesn't amount to Lebron's 2nd overtime last night.

Top 3... Mularkey!

1. Magic Johnson to win the Championship ( Kareem had a migrane )finals against Philly 42 points 15 Rebounds 7 Assists

2. Michael Jordan torches Boston for 63. (Bird, McHale, Parrish, Johnson) All on the team

3. I hate to mention this one... Isiah Thomas on one leg against the Lakers 25 points in the 4th quarter scored only 33

4. Dominique and Bird

5. Reggie miller against boston

[-Slap-]

Top 3... Mularkey!

1. Magic Johnson to win the Championship ( Kareem had a migrane )finals against Philly 42 points 15 Rebounds 7 Assists

2. Michael Jordan torches Boston for 63. (Bird, McHale, Parrish, Johnson) All on the team

3. I hate to mention this one... Isiah Thomas on one leg against the Lakers 25 points in the 4th quarter scored only 33

4. Dominique and Bird

5. Reggie miller against boston

Even though you're acting like an idiot, that's a strong list you put up. I would also rank Magic's performance higher, him being a rookie and his amazing performance occured in the sixth game of The Finals. Even so, Magic got 37 points from Jamaal Wilkes that night. LeBron was basically all by himself out there.

[Maximus]

6. Jerry West vs the knicks 1970 ( Half court )

7. Bill Russell 30 points 40 Rebounds

Lebron doesn't even rank and I haven't got to wilt or Kareem yet!

[Maximus]

Even though you're acting like an idiot, that's a strong list you put up. I would also rank Magic's performance higher, him being a rookie and his amazing performance occured in the sixth game of The Finals. Even so, Magic got 37 points from Jamaal Wilkes that night. LeBron was basically all by himself out there.

Good point Slap... Wilkes had a huge game magic also had Norm Nixon but... the biggest factor is Magic played almost every position that night. Center, Point, Forward, and Power Forward.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

The fact that Lebron somehow had those two dunks at the end of regulation when every pistons shoulder was pointed at him was simply amazing. He would not lose that game, he just wouldnt let it happen. Can you imagine if Cleveland had signed Michael Redd like they tried to do a couple years ago? Forget it.

[Inkana7]

Good point Slap... Wilkes had a huge game magic also had Norm Nixon but... the biggest factor is Magic played almost every position that night. Center, Point, Forward, and Power Forward.

And Lebron was a one man team. It was Lebron vs. 5 and Lebron won.

[-Slap-]

That win gave Magic the NBA Championship, the NCAA Championship and the Michigan High School State Championship. He led his team to the top in all three levels of competition and he did it in a four year span. I don't think he ever gets enough credit for this amazing accomplishment.

[Nuggets4]

I've heard he coasts some times, but look at thier record, and the demand on him. He is everything to that team, so when he isn't doing anything, I think it gives the perception that he is coasting, when really he is just playing in the flow of the game.

I just don't see why you said it "pisses you off" etc... I think that is going a bit far. They are in the Eastern Conference Finals. If he cruises to 20 -5-5 some regular season games, so be it.

Pisses off was probably too strong of language. Just frustrating. I just got tired of seeing the Cavs on national TV and having it be a boring game. To know that he's capable of stuff like this just aggrevates me that we don't see it more often.

I honestly think Mike Brown is more of a problem than LeBron's teammates. His teammates suck, but Brown is a disaster as a coach. He's the only coach that makes Flip Saunders look somewhat competent in the playoffs.

[Maximus]

The fact that Lebron somehow had those two dunks at the end of regulation when every pistons shoulder was pointed at him was simply amazing. He would not lose that game, he just wouldnt let it happen. Can you imagine if Cleveland had signed Michael Redd like they tried to do a couple years ago? Forget it.

While we're imagining things... imagine Lebron trying to get to the hole against Detroit with Ben Wallace still on the team!

[Inkana7]

While we're imagining things... imagine Lebron trying to get to the hole against Detroit with Ben Wallace still on the team!

If Chris Webber can do it, why can't Lebron?

[epicSocialism4tw]

You have to put Nowitzki's game 7 at San Antonio on that list.

That was the greatest play made on top of a mountain of great plays in one of the greatest playoff series of all time. Nowitzki was unstoppable in that series, and particularly in that game.

[Maximus]

And Lebron was a one man team. It was Lebron vs. 5 and Lebron won.

Michael Jordan was a one man team against The BOSTON CELTICS 63

[freak6]

Well ESPNs consensus among thier experts, is that Lebrons performance is in the top 20 all-time, some say top 10.

I would rank it right in the top 3 because Lebron had no help. His teammates were awful. Detroit knew that only Lebron was going to beat them, and they could not stop him.

This dumbass is saying Doug Williams vs the Broncos is the best all-time playoff sports performance, and justifying with "He went against Elway", as if they were on the field at the same time, as if Timmy Smith running wild had nothing to do with Sanders single coverage deep. Idiot.

[-Slap-]

Michael Jordan was a one man team against The BOSTON CELTICS 63

And he lost.

[Maximus]

That win gave Magic the NBA Championship, the NCAA Championship and the Michigan High School State Championship. He led his team to the top in all three levels of competition and he did it in a four year span. I don't think he ever gets enough credit for this amazing accomplishment.

Outstanding point... No refuting that... I totally forgot about that one.

[epicSocialism4tw]

And he lost.

Yeah...I am a big Jordan fan, and I wouldnt put that performance in his own top 5, much less the top 5 of all time.

There are alot of guards who could score a pile of points if they decided that they were the only player to take the shots.

That's essentially what Jordan did in that game.

[-Slap-]

Well ESPNs consensus among thier experts, is that Lebrons performance is in the top 20 all-time, some say top 10.

I would rank it right in the top 3 because Lebron had no help. His teammates were awful. Detroit knew that only Lebron was going to beat them, and they could not stop him.

This dumbass is saying Doug Williams vs the Broncos is the best all-time playoff sports performance, and justifying with "He went against Elway", as if they were on the field at the same time, as if Timmy Smith running wild had nothing to do with Sanders single coverage deep. Idiot.

Crap like this makes me want to go through the picture screen and smack someone.

[Maximus]

And he lost.
He lost because his team was crappier and He was playing against The Boston Celtics of the 80's... I can't stress that point enough... If that team didn't exist... the Lakers would have run roughshod over the league for years!!!

[Maximus]

Crap like this makes me want to go through the picture screen and smack someone.


Who said that?

[-Slap-]

Who said that?

Ask Freak. I only watch ESPN accidentally anymore.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Tim Duncan had some pretty ridiculous games last season against Dallas in the Conference Semis. I dont think I've ever seen him play so well. Duncan v. Nowitzki in that series is as good as it gets. Nowitzki made the last two plays (the and-1 and the block of Duncan's layup) and the Mavs closed them out on their own floor. That was one heck of a game.

Jordan had several awesome performances, none of which had anything to do with 63 points.

Shaq had some awesome performances with the Lakers.

Duncan is a playoffs master. He had some classic bouts with the Lakers long before Mavs/Spurs.

[Maximus]

You have to put Nowitzki's game 7 at San Antonio on that list.

That was the greatest play made on top of a mountain of great plays in one of the greatest playoff series of all time. Nowitzki was unstoppable in that series, and particularly in that game.

You can't be serious... Dirk's name will always be related to choke artists... If you want to talk game sevens talk about one of the most forgotten performances by one of the most deadly playoff players ever

36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists along with a playoff Mvp in 1988 (vs the pistons) to James Worthy... They didn't call him Big Game James for nothing!

[azbroncfan]

Yeah it was a good one. It looked like Nowitzki's game 7 against the Spurs and his game 6 against the Suns in last year's playoffs. It's been the one true transcendant performance in this year's playoffs by a single player.

It was just a matter of time with James.

Shut up you babbling spineless idiot. If you aren't going to show up thick and thin don't talk about the NBA. As far as Dirk goes everyone has forgot about that except you in the NBA world. All Dirk has done yet is lead his team to couple of records such as most wins in regular season to not win it, first team to lose to 8 seed in 7 game series. Dirk was not getting double and triple teamed like LeBron last night and proved he is just a soft european player.

[Maximus]

Ask Freak. I only watch ESPN accidentally anymore.


Espin... never mind! Doug williams had a great performance however, I can name at least 30 or 40 that are better. Football is too much of a team sport to pick out a single player as the most valuable or best performer. I think football should get past the MVP and have the MVU ( Most Valuable Unit )

[Inkana7]

Espin... never mind! Doug williams had a great performance however, I can name at least 30 or 40 that are better. Football is too much of a team sport to pick out a single player as the most valuable or best performer. I think football should get past the MVP and have the MVU ( Most Valuable Unit )

Vince Young, 2006 Rose Bowl.

[freak6]

Espin...

Dude was saying that Doug Williams was opening up the door for McNabb and all the other black quarterbacks, and playing for all blacks. And because he beat John Elway (white superstar) it made it so great.

He was probably 18 at the time listening to X-clan <img src="http://www.discogs.com/image/A-150-30019-1098567362.jpg">and it made a huge impact on him. Everyone is entitled to thier opinion, his is just wrong.

The greatest playoff RUN ever was executed by...

WHOM??????

<------------------

[Rock Chalk]

Crap like this makes me want to go through the picture screen and smack someone.

Welcome to my world Jim.

[Rock Chalk]

This thread is fun.

Mock is nowhere to be found after teh gang of **** he talked, essentially pulling a Mad Yak on us.

Maximus makes some great points interspersed with idiocy.

Jim is, well Jim.

The Mad Yak cant get Nowinski's European dick out of his mouth.

And pretty much everyone has been called an idiot.

I mean really, for a ****ty offseason, this is probably as good as it gets.

[epicSocialism4tw]

You can't be serious... Dirk's name will always be related to choke artists... If you want to talk game sevens talk about one of the most forgotten performances by one of the most deadly playoff players ever36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists along with a playoff Mvp in 1988 (vs the pistons) to James Worthy... They didn't call him Big Game James for nothing!

Heck yeah I'm serious. Nowitzki was easily as good as yesterday's version of Lebron James in that game, and in the game 5 vs. the Suns in the Conference Finals where he scored 50 points, over half of them in the latter part of the third quarter and the fourth quarter to pull Dallas from behind.

Here ya go, since it seems that the dope has effected your memory:


From Stein's Daily Dime
"DALLAS (AP) -- Down by seven and feeling as if a tremendous season might be slipping away, Dirk Nowitzki turned to his Dallas Mavericks teammates during a timeout and simply said, "Let's go."

They went all right -- all the way to the brink of the NBA Finals.

Daily Dime
It was a nervy wait for the Mavs until Dirk Nowitzki got hot. They blew their first double-digit lead of the series (32-18) in the first half and fell behind 77-70 in the third...

Nowitzki scored 50 points to carry the Mavericks to a 117-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night and a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals.

"I tried to make something happen," Nowitzki said.

Did he ever.

The 7-footer led Dallas on an immediate 10-0 run following his third-quarter declaration, then personally outscored the Phoenix Suns 22-20 in the final period.

"Pretty special," Dallas coach Avery Johnson said.

Nowitzki scored 15 straight Mavericks points during the fourth quarter and finished with 50."






That game 7 vs. SA was also a great one. 37 and 15 including several monster plays down the stretch, highlighted by an and-1 on Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili followed by a block of a Tim Duncan last-second layup attempt. You can begrudge Dirk all you want for falling victim to Nellie and the 8 seed this year, but last season's playoffs were all Dirk until game 4 of the NBA finals. No amount of trash talk can change that.

[epicSocialism4tw]

The Mad Yak cant get Nowinski's European ********* his mouth.


A little jealousy I suppose?

This coming from a fan of the biggest choker in NBA history.

Why is it that McGrady cant seem to GET OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND? EVER.

That's right. We're talking an 0-fer in the playoffs for his entire 10 year career. He has never won a series. That's what they mean by "clutch city".

I'll take Nowitzki and the Mavs' triumphs and failures over that every time.

[-Slap-]

6. Jerry West vs the knicks 1970 ( Half court )

7. Bill Russell 30 points 40 Rebounds

Lebron doesn't even rank and I haven't got to wilt or Kareem yet!

As a Laker fan, I'm surprised you didn't mention Sleepy Floyd's 29 point fourth quarter against the Lakers in 1987. Most of that happened right in Michael Cooper's face. One thing I wanted to point out, was Coop had a brilliant series, except for those 12 minutes - the only ones most people remember. Coop had a young George Karl ready to pull his hair out in frustration early in the series, so disruptive was he to the Warriors offense.

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/magazine/new/eric_floyd.jpg
If we're talking moments, and not
career, you can't forget about Sleepy.

Bill Simmons went into excessive detail about it in this column (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/040511) from a few years back. Its loaded with brainless Kareem hate, but otherwise well recalled.

And then there's No. 12, forever known as the Sleepy Floyd Game, as well as the reason for this column. A few things you need to know:

Sleepy Floyd had a good career. Not great, but good. He played in an All-Star Game but never averaged 20 in a season. He had a herky-jerky style handling the ball -- high dribble, stutter steps, dangerous first step -- so he was tough to guard and nearly unstoppable in transition. But there's a reason they called him "Sleepy" -- he had a reputation of drifting in games and only intermittently giving a crap. He always left you with the nagging feeling that he should have been better.

Meanwhile, the '87 Lakers were one of the best teams of that decade. Worthy and Magic were in their primes. Kareem still had something left in the tank; this was the final season before he shaved his head and calcified. They had the best defensive player in the league (Michael Cooper), as well as quality role players (Mychal Thompson, Kurt Rambis, Byron Scott) who would have started for just about anyone else. So this wasn't exactly the 2001 Raptors.

Sleepy's teammates included Joe Barry Carroll, Larry Smith, Greg Ballard, Jerome Whitehead and Terry Teagle. Chris Mullin was riding the bench because he was still boozing. Even the immortal Chris Washburn was involved. These guys weren't exactly the '83 Sixers. They were down 3-0 in the series and headed for a sweep. On the bright side, they were playing Game 4 at home, and you couldn't ask for a more loyal, knowledgeable, appreciative group of fans than the ones in Golden State. So if somebody randomly decided to spring for 34 points in 11 minutes against the future champs ... well, let's just say we're in the right place here.

If we're talking moments, and not career, you can't forget about Sleepy.Fast-forward to the end of the third quarter. The Warriors are trailing by fifteen, 98-83, with one minute remaining. Sleepy has 17 points. He's playing with Ballard, Whitehead, Teagle and Carroll. He's being guarded by Byron Scott, who's playing with Magic, Worthy, Kareem and A.C. Green. If this were a pickup game, somebody would have uttered the words "Let's switch 'em up" by now.

G-State spreads the floor. Sleepy blows past Scott and scoops in a righty lay-up in traffic. Three-point play. On the next possession, he beats Scott again and makes two free throws. 22 points. The Warriors still trail by 14 heading into the fourth. There is no reason to believe that anything memorable is about to happen.

The fourth quarter starts. Sleepy misses a running floater over Green. He won't miss again for the entire fourth quarter. We don't know this yet. Coming back down, he beats Cooper off the dribble and sinks a running one-handed scoop shot. Then he beats Cooper again, executes a gorgeous spin move in traffic, draws a goaltending call AND a foul. Three-point play. Sleepy has 27 points. Suddenly it's 102-93. And by the way, nobody goes by Michael Cooper like that. And it just happened twice.

Now the crowd is involved. After a Magic turnover, Sleepy cherry-picks the other direction for a fast-break dunk. Timeout, L.A.. Sleepy just tied his playoff career high. 29. Remember that number.

After the timeout, Sleepy drives left on Cooper, stutter-steps, beats him baseline -- repeat: beats Michael Cooper baseline -- and lays it in. Seconds later, he converts a fast-break layup off an LA turnover. 33 points. The Warriors are down by three, nine minutes remaining. And yes, Sleepy has just scored 16 points in less than four minutes, none from more than six feet.

He's just killing Cooper at this point. It's unfathomable. This time, he beats him off the dribble yet again, glides down the middle and lays it in. You would think Kareem would be helping out at this point, but that was always the thing about Kareem -- he was a giant ninny who didn't play defense. Don't forget this. Not for a second. There's a reason they joked about it in "Airplane." It was true.

Next possession: Sleepy zips downcourt in transition, never changes speed, crosses over on a backpedaling Green and gets another layup. 37 points. Then he outhustles Magic to a loose ball, gets fouled and makes both free throws. 39 points. The Warriors take the lead.

Sleepy isn't done. He steals an entry pass, goes coast-to-coast, beats Scott off the dribble and somehow makes a one-legged, 10-foot fall-away over Kareem (who may or may not be awake). 41 points. On their next possession, he beats Scott again -- notice how many times I keep writing that -- slices down the middle, changes hands in mid-air to avoid Kareem and somehow makes a twisting lefty layup. Incredible. The crowd is ready to charge the court. 43 points for Sleepy.

Let's take a breath. With 6:49 remaining and the Warriors leading 111-108, Sleepy just scored 26 of the last 28 Golden State points, all on layups, scoop shots, dunks and one-legged fall-aways ... and he did it in six minutes.

Sadly, Sleepy is now exhausted. It's tough to score on every possession for a solid half-hour. He doesn't shoot the next two times down, then gets called for an offensive foul. Looks like the run is over.

Nope.

On the ensuing possession, Sleepy beats Cooper in transition, takes him to the rack and makes a double-clutch layup in traffic. 45 points. Now he's feeling it again. Next time down, he stutter-steps Cooper, stutter-steps him some more, then buries a step-back jumper at the foul line. His longest basket of the streak. 47 points. That one also ties Isiah for most points in a quarter -- 25 -- which just happened two days before. Go figure.

Sleepy is now running on fumes and solar power. He can barely get up and down the court. OK, I'm exaggerating. But he's tired. No points the next three possessions. Sensing a window, the Lakers climb within two points with just under three minutes to play. So Sleepy takes over. Again. Carroll sets him a pick and Sleepy drains a 15-footer. 49 points. The crowd has officially run out of new ways to make noise.

Following a Warriors offensive rebound, Sleepy drives full-speed into a terrified Kareem and gets fouled. My favorite play of the game. Kareem may have been 15 inches taller than Sleepy, but that didn't stop him from looking like a guy jumping on a counter to avoid a mouse. What a wuss. God, it's fun to hate Kareem. Anyway, Sleepy makes both free throws, giving him 29 points in the quarter and 51 for the game. And there's still 1:58 to play.

Worthy and Co. won the title, but they couldn't stop Sleepy. Now here's the weird thing ...

Sleepy never shoots again. He gets a couple of assists, gives the ball up on one 2-on-1 fast break, leaves the game with 13 seconds remaining, hugs a chubby Mullin and soaks in the heart-felt ovation from the fans. He could have gone for 55, maybe even 60. But he just wanted to win the game and go home. That's why they call him "Sleepy."

To recap: Sleepy scored 34 points in 11 minutes. During that stretch he went 13 for 14 from the field and 8 for 8 from the line. He didn't shoot a single three or anything from more than 15 feet. He made eight shots from inside three feet, six of them in traffic. He single-handedly brought his team back from 15 down and saved their season. And he did it against Cooper (the best defender in the league) and Scott (one of the top five or six), the two stoppers on a team that would eventually win back-to-back titles.

Seventeen years later, he gets honorable mention. And you wonder why I hate lists.

[maven]

Aside from all this garbage talk about the best all-time performances, blah blah blah, comparing this & that blah blah blah.

Good to see Lebron hitting free throws and making jumpshots.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Aside from all this garbage talk about the best all-time performances, blah blah blah, comparing this & that blah blah blah.

Good to see Lebron hitting free throws and making jumpshots.

Not bad for a 22 year old kid.

[holygreen]

Just been standin' on the corner sucking a big ol' chilidog!

[Maximus]

As a Laker fan, I'm surprised you didn't mention Sleepy Floyd's 29 point fourth quarter against the Lakers in 1987. Most of that happened right in Michael Cooper's face. One thing I wanted to point out, was Coop had a brilliant series, except for those 12 minutes - the only ones most people remember. Coop had a young George Karl ready to pull his hair out in frustration early in the series, so disruptive was he to the Warriors offense.

You would bring that one up... This one is more painful than Isiah Thomas. Floyd destroyed us in that game. I remember thinking how he made Cooper look overrated as a defensive stopper. I was hollering for TR Dunn!!! Floyd was totally unstoppable. This performance should be in the top 10.

[Dedhed]

Top 3... Mularkey!

1. Magic Johnson to win the Championship ( Kareem had a migrane )finals against Philly 42 points 15 Rebounds 7 Assists Okay, but what was the score of that game? It wasn't a double OT thriller in which every point Magic scored was needed. It was a blowout pretty much from the beginning.

2. Michael Jordan torches Boston for 63. (Bird, McHale, Parrish, Johnson) All on the teamAn all-time performance in a loss.

3. I hate to mention this one... Isiah Thomas on one leg against the Lakers 25 points in the 4th quarter scored only 33Another great performance with a great supporting cast. 29 of the teams last 30 points with no support is more impressive.

4. Dominique and BirdAnother great performance, but more so because there were 2 players trading punches. It was a one on one battle. Lebron's was a a 1 on 5.


5. Reggie miller against bostonYou've clearly got a Reggie Miller fetish, but nothing that one trick pony ever did on a basketball court should be mentioned with any of the above.


I'd probably give you Magic, but I'd put Lebron in a dead heat with Jordan's 63. It was better than Isaiah, and Nique/Bird. Miller doesn't deserve mention.

[Maximus]

1. The game was a blowout from the beginning because Magic dictated the tempo from the beginning. You cannot compare the measily performance of Lebron James playing 1 position to Magic playing center and 3 other positions in one game. Filling Kareems shoes was a legendary feat alone. In Kareems absence... Magic took the lakers to a different level against legends like George McGinnis, Dr J and defensive specialist Bobby Jones!

2. You are correct. It was a legendary performance that ended in a loss. However, the performance occured against one of the greatest teams ever assembled. It also occured when the rules allowed players to hand check and use techniques that are not allowed right now. Jordan had less help than Lebron compare the teams.

3. An injured player going against one of the greatest defenders on one of the greatest teams ever assembled and at their peak. Lebron is playing against a team that will never be considered legendary because they aren't... San Antonio will add another championship in 6 games againt detroit or will sweep cleveland... take that to the bank!

4. I have this ranked 4th but it could easily be ranked 2 or 3.
the greatest playoff duel ever. The only duel that comes close happened in the regular season and the two players didn't match up... David Thompson vs The Iceman for the scoring championship.

5. You clearly underestimate Millers status as a legend! For the record I never liked Miller, but the truth is... Miller would destroy teams in the clutch. I hate to use the same terminology again but.... Against the Celtics of the 80's!!! Miller scored 25 points in the 4th quarter... Nobody in their right mind would ever think Miller would ever do that against that celtic team... and in the 4th Quarter... Against Dennis Johnson!!!

[Dedhed]

1. The game was a blowout from the beginning because Magic dictated the tempo from the beginning. You cannot compare the measily performance of Lebron James playing 1 position to Magic playing center and 3 other positions in one game. Filling Kareems shoes was a legendary feat alone. In Kareems absence... Magic took the lakers to a different level against legends like George McGinnis, Dr J and defensive specialist Bobby Jones!

2. You are correct. It was a legendary performance that ended in a loss. However, the performance occured against one of the greatest teams ever assembled. It also occured when the rules allowed players to hand check and use techniques that are not allowed right now. Jordan had less help than Lebron compare the teams.

3. An injured player going against one of the greatest defenders on one of the greatest teams ever assembled and at their peak. Lebron is playing against a team that will never be considered legendary because they aren't... San Antonio will add another championship in 6 games againt detroit or will sweep cleveland... take that to the bank!

4. I have this ranked 4th but it could easily be ranked 2 or 3.
the greatest playoff duel ever. The only duel that comes close happened in the regular season and the two players didn't match up... David Thompson vs The Iceman for the scoring championship.

5. You clearly underestimate Millers status as a legend! For the record I never liked Miller, but the truth is... Miller would destroy teams in the clutch. I hate to use the same terminology again but.... Against the Celtics of the 80's!!! Miller scored 25 points in the 4th quarter... Nobody in their right mind would ever think Miller would ever do that against that celtic team... and in the 4th Quarter... Against Dennis Johnson!!!

You're using what is called "historical fallacy". Using the opponents to define the performance instead of looking at the performance itself. The fact of the matter is that Lebron did as much as any and more than most of the above players to single handedly carry his team to a win. And as for that "One position" take; Lebron was every position at the same time in game 5.

Miller is a one trick pony who doesn't deserve mention: Period.

[Atwater His Ass]

i still find it hard to wrap my brain around the fact that is his only 22. it's truely amazing what some people are capable of atheltically.

i can't imagine being so yound and talented at anything, not just sports.

[Maximus]

You're using what is called "historical fallacy". Using the opponents to define the performance instead of looking at the performance itself. The fact of the matter is that Lebron did as much as any and more than most of the above players to single handedly carry his team to a win. And as for that "One position" take; Lebron was every position at the same time in game 5.

Miller is a one trick pony who doesn't deserve mention: Period.

Historical fallacy... Where did you find that bull****!!! ( just make some **** up and hope it won't be challenged ) If anyone is guilty of making a flaw in logic in this conversation it is you. Your comments about Reggie Miller represent classic Circumstantial Ad Hominem fallacy.

You've clearly got a Reggie Miller fetish but nothing that one trick pony ever did on a basketball court should be mentioned with any of the above.


Anywho....

We're talking team sports here and Lebron was not the only player on the court. Therefore, his performance must be jugded against the competition... Just as a boxer must be judged against his opponent!