For nine decades, the NBA Finals has provided some of the greatest cinema in sports. Virtually every notable dynasty in NBA history was part of an iconic Finals series that shaped not only their legacy but the legacy of the team they faced. No two teams have exemplified this more than the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, who have faced off 12 times with the Larry O’Brien Trophy at stake.
While legendary, the Celtics-Lakers rivalry is just one of many riveting Finals matchups the NBA has had over the decades. Michael Jordan’s Bulls, for example, found themselves in more than a few highly-competitive Finals series during their 1990s dynasty. The Kobe-Shaq Lakers had a tough matchup during their first Finals. And who can forget some of the Finals LeBron James has been part of, including the greatest comeback in Finals history?
As we gear up for this year’s showdown between the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, we decided to rank each previous series in NBA Finals history. Before we get to the rankings, here’s a quick look at the criteria used when making the list.
Overall competitiveness Great individual performances Memorable moments Lasting legacy
Without further ado, let’s get started by naming the greatest series in NBA Finals history.
After Bird called out his teammates, Kevin McHale changed the tone of the series when he clotheslined Kurt Rambis in Game 4. Down 2-1 at the time, the Celtics evened the series, then took a 3-2 lead following Bird’s 34-point, 17-rebound performance in Game 5. The Lakers held serve at home, but they were unable to win on Boston’s fabled parquet in Game 7. Robert Parrish crashed the boards for 16 rebounds, while Bird tallied 20 points and 12 boards in Boston’s 111-102 win.
While the series was a rocky one for Lakers star Magic Johnson, the Laker who committed the series’ biggest error was James Worthy, whose nonchalant pass at the end of Game 2 (which was intercepted by Gerald Henderson) prevented the Lakers from taking a commanding 2-0 series lead. …
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