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Adding a poll as the thread progresses. If a series is left off and you feel it should be added, mention it. General criteria for a great finals would be high stakes pertaining to the legacy of various players and/or coaches on both teams, one of the first 2 games being stolen on the road, close games, large comebacks, exciting finishes, and historically memorable plays that turned the momentum or saved/won games. Here's a few candidates to start off:
1984 finals (Lakers vs Celtics): The first meeting between the showtime Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics. Games 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 all not being decided until the final minutes. This series is remembered for the heat game, Magic Johnson setting a finals record with 21 assists in a game as well as his mistakes down the stretch of games 2, 4, and 7 that led to his being labeled "tragic Johnson". Larry Bird was named finals MVP for the first time in his career following the game 7 win. This was the Celtics' 8th straight finals victory over the Lakers, a skid that would end the following year.
1988 finals (Lakers vs Pistons): Games 2, 5, 6, and 7 were all separated by single digits after 3 quarters. This was the year the bad boys broke out of the east and made it to the finals for the first time, facing the defending champion Lakers in what was their 7th trip to the finals for the decade and aiming to become the first repeat champions since Bill Russell's Celtics. This series is best remembered for it's final 2 games, which have drawn comparisons to the 2013 finals. Game 6 saw Zeke turn in the highest scoring quarter in finals history with a 25 point third quarter as Detroit hoped to close out the Lakers and win their first title. The game would be decided by Kareem drawing a questionable foul call with 14 seconds left and hitting a pair of free throws as the Lakers win by 1. Game 7 was filled with back and forth drama from beginning to end, concluding with Thomas getting fouled on the game tying 3 at the buzzer while fans stormed the court at the same time. James Worthy turned in the only triple double of his career in game 7 on the way to being named MVP of the series and earning the moniker "big game James". The Lakers won the 5th title of the decade and successfully defended their title, making good on Pat Riley's promise during the 1987 championship parade. This would be showtime's final championship victory.
1990 Finals (Pistons vs Trailblazers): Game 3 was the only one decided by more than 6, with games 2, 4, and 5 all taking until the final 5 seconds to be decided. Portland got off the game tying shot just a moment too late in game 4 to fall behind 3-1 after stealing home court advantage, and Vinnie Johnson would hit the game and series winning shot with .7 seconds left on the clock to win 92-90 as Detroit repeated as champions. Isiah Thomas was named MVP of the series. In the post game, he would famously state "You can say what you want about me, but you can't say I'm not a winner".
1991 Finals (Lakers vs Bulls): In game 1, the bulls came storming back late after the lakers had taken a lead, only for their defense to fold in the final 24 seconds. Both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen would miss shots to take the lead in the final seconds as the lakers stole home court. The bulls won game 2 comfortably, which is a game best remembered for Phil Jackson switching Scottie onto Magic and Jordan converting a layup where he switched hands in midair to avoid the defender. Game 3 saw both teams go on massive runs while trading momentum back and forth into overtime, where the bulls would pull away. Game 5 was tied going into the fourth quarter and Los Angeles would take a 93-90 lead, but the bulls would eventually pull away to win the game 108-101 and take the series as the bulls won their first title, Jordan was named finals MVP for the first time and the torch was definitively passed to Jordan as he was collectively looked at now as the best in the NBA, and Magic would be forced to retire on the eve of the following season. This was also the last finals game played at the forum, as the lakers would not make it back until after moving into the staples center.
1997 finals (Bulls vs Jazz): Game 1 is remembered for Scottie reminding Karl Malone that the mailman doesn't deliver on Sunday just before he missed 2 free throws with the score tied in the final seconds. Jordan would hit a buzzer beater on the following possession. The series is best remembered for game 5 (the flu game) and Jordan hitting Steve Kerr for the game winning and championship clinching shot in game 6. This was the bull's final championship celebration at home.
1998 finals (Bulls vs Jazz): The final playoff series of Jordan and Pippen's tenure in Chicago was filled with late game theatrics. Games 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 would all be decided by 5 points or less. In game 1, the jazz did not secure the win until Pippen's 3 missed at the buzzer and in game 2 the bulls needed a massive rally to take the lead in the 4th, outscoring the Jazz by 8 in the quarter. Game 3 saw the jazz set a record for fewest points scored in a finals game with 54. Game 5 saw the Bulls attempt to close out the final home game of the Jordan era with a trademark 4th quarter rally from 7 points down in the final 2 minutes, but Jordan would miss a 3 at the buzzer and the Jazz held on for a 2 point win. Game 6 is maybe the most recognizable game in the history of the NBA, and final game Jordan played in a bulls uniform. It too, like many of the 1997 and 1998 finals, would not be decided until the clock hit 0:00. Stockton would hit a 3 to go up 86-83 with 41 seconds left. Jordan would convert a layup, and then strip the ball from Karl Malone to set up the most memorable sequence of his career, as he took Byron Russell one on one in the middle of the floor and hit a 20 foot shot to put the bulls ahead 87-86 with 5.2 seconds remaining. Stockton would miss the game winning 3 and the bulls celebrated their sixth championship of the decade, and third in a row. Michael would be named MVP of the series.
2001 finals (Lakers vs 76ers): Los Angeles was looking to run the table after sweeping the western conference, but led by Allen Iverson's 48 points in game 1, Philadelphia pulled off an overtime upset and stole home court. This game is best remembered for Iverson hitting a step back 2 over Tyron Lue to put Philadelphia up 4 in the final seconds and stepping over him on the way down the other end of the court afterwards. Los Angeles would take the following 4 games behind Shaq thoroughly crushing defensive player of the year Dikembe Mutombo to such an extent that the league would remove the illegal defense rule and allow zone defense the following season, as there seemed to be no other means of effectively guarding O'Neal. The Lakers were crowned champions for the second year in a row and Shaq was named MVP after posting averages of 33 points, 15.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 3.4 blocks while shooting 57% from the field.
2004 finals (Lakers vs Pistons): Detroit would pull off a massive upset, beating a Lakers team featuring Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton in 5 games on the strength of a historically great defense that was anchored by defensive player of the year Ben Wallace. This series is remembered for various poor shooting nights by Bryant (most notably in games 1, 4, and 5), being only the third time since the merger that a team won the finals without a past, present, or future league MVP winner on the team (the other two being the 1989 and 1990 pistons), being the final games of Karl Malone's career, and the final games that Shaq would play in a Lakers uniform, which would pave the way for the success the Miami Heat would enjoy from 2004-05 through 2013-14.
1984 finals (Lakers vs Celtics): The first meeting between the showtime Lakers and Larry Bird's Celtics. Games 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 all not being decided until the final minutes. This series is remembered for the heat game, Magic Johnson setting a finals record with 21 assists in a game as well as his mistakes down the stretch of games 2, 4, and 7 that led to his being labeled "tragic Johnson". Larry Bird was named finals MVP for the first time in his career following the game 7 win. This was the Celtics' 8th straight finals victory over the Lakers, a skid that would end the following year.
1988 finals (Lakers vs Pistons): Games 2, 5, 6, and 7 were all separated by single digits after 3 quarters. This was the year the bad boys broke out of the east and made it to the finals for the first time, facing the defending champion Lakers in what was their 7th trip to the finals for the decade and aiming to become the first repeat champions since Bill Russell's Celtics. This series is best remembered for it's final 2 games, which have drawn comparisons to the 2013 finals. Game 6 saw Zeke turn in the highest scoring quarter in finals history with a 25 point third quarter as Detroit hoped to close out the Lakers and win their first title. The game would be decided by Kareem drawing a questionable foul call with 14 seconds left and hitting a pair of free throws as the Lakers win by 1. Game 7 was filled with back and forth drama from beginning to end, concluding with Thomas getting fouled on the game tying 3 at the buzzer while fans stormed the court at the same time. James Worthy turned in the only triple double of his career in game 7 on the way to being named MVP of the series and earning the moniker "big game James". The Lakers won the 5th title of the decade and successfully defended their title, making good on Pat Riley's promise during the 1987 championship parade. This would be showtime's final championship victory.
1990 Finals (Pistons vs Trailblazers): Game 3 was the only one decided by more than 6, with games 2, 4, and 5 all taking until the final 5 seconds to be decided. Portland got off the game tying shot just a moment too late in game 4 to fall behind 3-1 after stealing home court advantage, and Vinnie Johnson would hit the game and series winning shot with .7 seconds left on the clock to win 92-90 as Detroit repeated as champions. Isiah Thomas was named MVP of the series. In the post game, he would famously state "You can say what you want about me, but you can't say I'm not a winner".
1991 Finals (Lakers vs Bulls): In game 1, the bulls came storming back late after the lakers had taken a lead, only for their defense to fold in the final 24 seconds. Both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen would miss shots to take the lead in the final seconds as the lakers stole home court. The bulls won game 2 comfortably, which is a game best remembered for Phil Jackson switching Scottie onto Magic and Jordan converting a layup where he switched hands in midair to avoid the defender. Game 3 saw both teams go on massive runs while trading momentum back and forth into overtime, where the bulls would pull away. Game 5 was tied going into the fourth quarter and Los Angeles would take a 93-90 lead, but the bulls would eventually pull away to win the game 108-101 and take the series as the bulls won their first title, Jordan was named finals MVP for the first time and the torch was definitively passed to Jordan as he was collectively looked at now as the best in the NBA, and Magic would be forced to retire on the eve of the following season. This was also the last finals game played at the forum, as the lakers would not make it back until after moving into the staples center.
1997 finals (Bulls vs Jazz): Game 1 is remembered for Scottie reminding Karl Malone that the mailman doesn't deliver on Sunday just before he missed 2 free throws with the score tied in the final seconds. Jordan would hit a buzzer beater on the following possession. The series is best remembered for game 5 (the flu game) and Jordan hitting Steve Kerr for the game winning and championship clinching shot in game 6. This was the bull's final championship celebration at home.
1998 finals (Bulls vs Jazz): The final playoff series of Jordan and Pippen's tenure in Chicago was filled with late game theatrics. Games 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 would all be decided by 5 points or less. In game 1, the jazz did not secure the win until Pippen's 3 missed at the buzzer and in game 2 the bulls needed a massive rally to take the lead in the 4th, outscoring the Jazz by 8 in the quarter. Game 3 saw the jazz set a record for fewest points scored in a finals game with 54. Game 5 saw the Bulls attempt to close out the final home game of the Jordan era with a trademark 4th quarter rally from 7 points down in the final 2 minutes, but Jordan would miss a 3 at the buzzer and the Jazz held on for a 2 point win. Game 6 is maybe the most recognizable game in the history of the NBA, and final game Jordan played in a bulls uniform. It too, like many of the 1997 and 1998 finals, would not be decided until the clock hit 0:00. Stockton would hit a 3 to go up 86-83 with 41 seconds left. Jordan would convert a layup, and then strip the ball from Karl Malone to set up the most memorable sequence of his career, as he took Byron Russell one on one in the middle of the floor and hit a 20 foot shot to put the bulls ahead 87-86 with 5.2 seconds remaining. Stockton would miss the game winning 3 and the bulls celebrated their sixth championship of the decade, and third in a row. Michael would be named MVP of the series.
2001 finals (Lakers vs 76ers): Los Angeles was looking to run the table after sweeping the western conference, but led by Allen Iverson's 48 points in game 1, Philadelphia pulled off an overtime upset and stole home court. This game is best remembered for Iverson hitting a step back 2 over Tyron Lue to put Philadelphia up 4 in the final seconds and stepping over him on the way down the other end of the court afterwards. Los Angeles would take the following 4 games behind Shaq thoroughly crushing defensive player of the year Dikembe Mutombo to such an extent that the league would remove the illegal defense rule and allow zone defense the following season, as there seemed to be no other means of effectively guarding O'Neal. The Lakers were crowned champions for the second year in a row and Shaq was named MVP after posting averages of 33 points, 15.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.4 steals, and 3.4 blocks while shooting 57% from the field.
2004 finals (Lakers vs Pistons): Detroit would pull off a massive upset, beating a Lakers team featuring Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton in 5 games on the strength of a historically great defense that was anchored by defensive player of the year Ben Wallace. This series is remembered for various poor shooting nights by Bryant (most notably in games 1, 4, and 5), being only the third time since the merger that a team won the finals without a past, present, or future league MVP winner on the team (the other two being the 1989 and 1990 pistons), being the final games of Karl Malone's career, and the final games that Shaq would play in a Lakers uniform, which would pave the way for the success the Miami Heat would enjoy from 2004-05 through 2013-14.
). Game 7 had all a fan could ask for as the Warriors repeatedly threatened to pull away, only for the Cavaliers to fight their way back in, most notably late in the 4th quarter while LeBron scored 6 straight points to keep the Cavaliers in it as all the momentum had swung to the Warriors. Both teams would go scoreless for the next several minutes as both teams would miss their chances to take the lead, with the most memorable sequence being LeBron's chasedown block of Andre Iguodala's layup to preserve an 89-89 tie. Kyrie Irving would hit the go ahead 3 with 54 seconds left, and Curry would miss the game tying 3 the following possession. James would hit one foul shot the next possession to stretch the lead to 4, and the Cavaliers held on for the win, becoming the first team in finals history to overcome a 3-1 deficit, and James would be named MVP of the series after leading both teams in every per game category, becoming the first player to do so. The 16 win gap during the season between the Warriors and Cavaliers (57-25 to 73-9) was also the largest gap in wins from finals winner to the runner up since the merger, making this arguably the biggest upset in finals history.
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