Recommend some classic games

[Nick]

As my obsession for basketball swells but the lockout continuing to withhold my fix, i'm looking to watch some classic games of the recent era (2000 - present). There's nothing better than an intense game that goes down to the wire, a game with heaps of momentum shifts, great team performances, amazing atmospheres, player takeovers, stuff like that. It's so entertaining and interesting for a basketball nut.

Lucky for me, being an aussie, i haven't really SEEN many basketball games (i've seen just about every box score though lol), so there's a vast catalogue for me to dive into and witness some great games. The only problem is that the only way i can find these classic games (i.e. games that go down to the wire) is by looking at the score. But knowing the end result ruins the entertainment/interest value of watching the game.

Anyway, so what i'm asking is, what are some of the classic games over the past 10 years?

Kindly recommend me some great games i can go and lookup and watch without telling me the result!

(it can be regular season or playoffs)

[shadowgrin]

2001 Playoffs Sixers vs Raptors all seven games.
2001 All-Star game.
1997 Playoffs Heat vs Magic games 3 to 5 to see Penny tearing it up. What, only 2000-present? Screw you Nick, you're not the boss of me.
2005 Finals.
2007 Playoffs Cavs vs Pistons game 5 where LeBron went apeshite on the Pistons.
Kobe's 81-point game.
2008 Finals game 4.
2009 Playoffs Celtics vs Bulls games 1 and 4 to 6.
2011 Playoffs Mavs vs Lakers game 4.
Any Orlando T-Mac playoff game.

[The X]

1995 Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 Magic vs Pacers. I know it's pre-2000, but a great game nonetheless.

I can't help you much with post-2000. Andrew might have some good ideas.

[[Q]]

late 90's knicks vs heat playoff series (i think 97 & 98)
94 & 95 & 99 Knicks vs Pacers playoff series
2000 Lakers vs Blazers series
2001 & 02 Lakers vs Kings series

pretty much any of the finals in the spurs/pistons era sucked ass. really boring.

06 Finals, Game 3. Mavs vs Heat
Heat vs Bulls 3-9-09
well, not really classic, but some of Dirk's performances in the playoff comebacks this year were ridiculous.

2007 Playoffs Cavs vs Pistons game 5 where LeBron went apeshite on the Pistons.

i agree on this one

[Andrew]

How much of the 2011 Finals did you see? I reckon it's worth another look.

I'd agree with the 2002 Lakers/Kings series and Game 4 of the 2008 Finals. Bulls/Celtics in 2009 was one of the best first round series in a while and arguably one of the best first round series of all-time. There's been some triple overtime regular season games in recent years that are probably worth a look.

[Murat]

2004 Playoffs, Kings vs T-Wolves Game 7. KG had a career performance.
shadowgrin mentioned the 4TH QUARTER performance of LeBron against Detroit, that was the best of LeBron.

[koberulz]

2002 ECF Game 3
2011 Mavs-Blazers, Game 4
2001 Finals, Game 4
Suns-Sonics, Jan 22 2006

[Mavs4Life]

2003 Mavs Vs Kings Game 3
2002 Lakers/Kings (MUST WATCH)
2010 Finals
2011 Finals
2008 Finals
2000 Lakers/Blazers
Kobe's 81 (MUST WATCH)
2009 Bulls/ Celtics (MUST WATCH)
2001 Mavs/Jazz Game 5 Round 1

[Nick]

Wow, epic list of suggestions here. Exactly what i needed, thanks chaps.

Feel free to keep 'em coming if you feel compelled to do so.

How much of the 2011 Finals did you see? I reckon it's worth another look.

All of the games. The 2010/2011 season was my most watched season, since ONE started televising games.

[Andrew]

Fair enough then. Still worth another look I'd say but probably not the kind of recommendation you were after.

[kAmilli LakeShow]

Game 4 of the 2008 Finals

No. NOOO. NOOOOOOOOOOO. I still see this game in my nightmares XD

[bowdown]

http://www.youtube.com/user/lbarron25

This dude has a crap load of full Jordan era playoff games and some 00' playoff games as well.

[Andrew]

Awesome, thanks for the heads up.

[Nick]

Fuck yeh bowdown! Great resource, thanks.

Edit: Except that the guy puts the score in the title and spoils it.

[deihatein]

The only playoff series that I can recall is classic is the 2006 Western Conference Semifinals between the Spurs and the Mavericks. I remember seeing some epic regular season games that went to OT/2OT but I can't remember the date and the only thing I know is that Steve Nash was the one who hits the clutch shots in those games.

[Mavs4Life]

Some good NBA YT:


LBJ's first game & many other 2000s playoffs:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ShaqAttack71

Alot of 2000s:
http://www.youtube.com/user/jjunn01001010

Pretty much all A.I.:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MrArtemflash

[Lamrock]

Fuck yeh bowdown! Great resource, thanks.

Edit: Except that the guy puts the score in the title and spoils it.

Why in the world does NBA TV do that?

[benji]

The only playoff series that I can recall is classic is the 2006 Western Conference Semifinals between the Spurs and the Mavericks.

THIS is truly one of the classic series that will wind up ignored because of the stupid seeding before they fixed it and because of the Heat in the Finals.

If I have to pick one game it's LeBron vs. the Pistons.

No idea if the 2001 All-Star Game can stand up today.

[Lamrock]

Those were the real NBA Finals that year. That game 7 with Bowen fucking up and then Diop owning in OT was incredible.

[Mavs4Life]

I completely forgot the 06 semis. One of the best series in Mavs history. Though I just recently found Game 7 on Youtube.

[benji]

That series is what everyone wants when they talk about a great series, the two best teams in the league going at it. Game Seven. OT.

With the stars battling to the death:
Dirk: 37pts 15rebs
Duncan: 41pts 15rebs 6asts 3blks

Basically everyone (Terry, Howard, Manu, Parker) delivers and yet almost nobody ever talks about the game or the series because it was in the second round with "two boring teams" it seems like.

I'm struggling to think of a great playoff duel between two superstars with the rest of the team delivering holding an importance like that in the last decade.

Hell, the storyline, Dirk without Nash, at his peak, challenging Duncan the former god coming down from the peak for the rights to Texas and the league.

The Spurs built around oppressive defense and control, the Mavericks around blistering offense and efficiency.

And FINLEY, THE JUDAS!

[deihatein]

I just wish they show that here every now and then. The only Mavs series I managed to watch is that Kings - Mavs series from the early 2000's which is also epic.

[Nick]

Anybody know any good websites to watch NCAA ball (2011/12 season)?

[bowdown]

Anybody know any good websites to watch NCAA ball (2011/12 season)?

http://www.firstrowsports.tv/sport/basketball.html

this page. Has all available basketball games from leagues around the world that they have access to

[Nick]

*vomits with joy*

Edit: What about games that have already been played? I.e. i want to watch that double header college game that was played at MSG the other day. Kentucky vs someone and Duke vs someone..