1. Pistons-Lakers, 1988: This is the best Finals Game 7 of my viewing lifetime. The Lakers were trying to repeat, which no team had done since the 1968-69 Celtics. The Pistons were the brash new kids on the block who later became known as the “Bad Boys.” The series also featured the game’s two best point guards in Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas, who 
were such good friends they kissed each other before the start of each game.
But a kiss from his buddy wasn’t going to make Thomas’ ankle feel any better. He had badly sprained it in Game 6, when he scored 25 of his 43 points in the third quarter of a narrow loss. He left the arena on crutches and gallantly tried to play in Game 7, visibly hobbling his way to 10 points in the first half before packing it in.
With Thomas out, the Lakers pounced in the third quarter, turning a five-point halftime deficit into an 83-73 lead entering the final period. LA extended the margin to 94-79 with just over seven minutes to go and The Forum crowd, sensing a blowout, began celebrating. It was quickly silenced by the Pistons, who made a stunning late push without their superstar.
The comeback was stalled by two brain farts by Dennis Rodman. First, he committed a backcourt foul after Joe Dumars had made a jumper to cut the deficit to 102-100 with 1:14 to play. Then with Detroit trailing by three and in transition with under 45 seconds left, Rodman – who couldn’t shoot dice – pulled up for a 15-footer.
Then chaos ensued.
In the scramble for the weakside rebound, Lakers guard Byron Scott corraled the ball. But his foot was out of bounds, which should have given the Pistons possession.
After a deep 3-pointer by Bill Laimbeer made it 106-105 with five seconds left, Johnson threw a baseball pass to a wide-open A.C. Green, who could have dribbled out the clock but inexplicably went in for a layup that kept Detroit’s slim hopes alive. As Laimbeer looks to make a long inbounds pass, LAKERS PLAYERS, FANS AND EVEN A CBS CAMERAMAN ARE CLEARLY ON THE COURT. EVERYWHERE.
Laimbeer should have thrown the ball off a player or fan to steal a point with a technical foul. But he threw a baseball pass to Thomas – reinserted in the final seconds – who was body-blocked to the floor by Johnson with no call.
The utterly bizarre finish left the Lakers with a 108-105 win and somewhat overshadowed what may have been the best game of James Worthy’s career. “Big Game James” had his first and only career triple-double with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists and was named Finals MVP. That was enough to offset seven Pistons in double figures.
Let’s hope we have a game like that tonight. Somebody order the pizza.
Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.
Bird is a better shooter and scorer (if Bird shot as much as lebron he’d have more points) and he’s a better passer but again he doesn’t have the ball in his had as much so he has less assist. Bird is a better teammate because he doesn’t have to be involved with everything he plays off the ball better. You ever notice how lebron lead teams live and die with him? Because he is involved with every play. He doesn’t let his teammates take over. Also those stats are stuffed. Lebron plays bell to bell and even if it’s a blowout he will continue to build up stats. As soon as he realizes he can’t win he goes to hero ball which fills up his score sheet. So bird is a better rebounder, passer, shooter and scorer. So explain how is lebron better? Because I’d take bird over bron any day.
James Worthy with a triple double in the NBA Finals game 7. I remember that so vividly.
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that the severity of his ijruny is being fabricated in an attempt to scare off would-be bidders. Sources tell me Davis hopes to end up with the Knicks, and if he does, he could be available to go w And all of that explains why the Knicks were so hopeful that Jamal Crawford would accept their $2.5
1984 Game 7:Boston 111, Los Angeles 102: This seven game slugfest, the first of 3 featuring Bird vs. Magic culminated in a Boston Victory that set a competitive standard for the rest of the Decade, and may have saved the NBA. Bird drew first blood by winning MVP honors, but Magic and Kareem would pay him back the favor 12 months later. 7 Hall of Fame Players and Two Coaches both in the Hall.