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NBA Finals: The 10 Most Dominant Finals Performances

By Brandon Jennings

Jun 5, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; A view of the NBA Finals logo on the floor before game one of the 2014 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 5, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; A view of the NBA Finals logo on the floor before game one of the 2014 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 26, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives the ball inside against Charlotte Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts (11) during the first half in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives the ball inside against Charlotte Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts (11) during the first half in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Dwyane Wade, 2006 vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Miami Heat were down 2-0 to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals and trailed the Mavs by 13 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3. The rest of the Heat appeared ready to fold it up and begin their summer vacation, but not Dwyane Wade.

Miami’s star shooting guard began relentlessly attacking the basket and scored 12 points in the final seven minutes to send the game to overtime. The Heat went on to win that game and the next three led by Wade’s aggressive play. Wade went to the free-throw line 97 times in the six-game series.

The total amount of free throw attempts by Wade in the six-game series is the most in NBA Finals history. Wade benefited from referees blowing their whistle at a historic pace (Wade shot 25 free throws in Game 5 alone) but he deserves credit for his aggressive play. Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game to lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA championship.