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25 Greatest Performances In NBA Finals History

By Bill Speros

PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - May 16: Earvin Magic Johnson #32 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with team owner Jerry Buss after they defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980 NBA finals 4 games to 2 on May 16, 1980 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Johnson played for the Lakers from 1979 - 91, 96. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Cedric Maxwell (31) during Game 1 vs Los Angeles Lakers. Boston, MA 5/27/1984 CREDIT: Richard Mackson (Photo by Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X30076 TK2 )
Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Cedric Maxwell (31) during Game 1 vs Los Angeles Lakers. Boston, MA 5/27/1984 CREDIT: Richard Mackson (Photo by Richard Mackson /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X30076 TK2 ) /

15. Cedric Maxwell, Boston vs. Los Angeles, Game 7 (1984)

The seven-game 1984 Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers remains one of the greatest NBA Finals of all time considering the litany of legends who appeared in it.

The series was the first of three Finals meetings between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Robert Parish and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were matched up at center. Dennis Johnson and Magic Johnson often battled each other at the point. James Worthy keyed the “Show-Time” fast break.

Kevin McHale came off the bench for Boston. The coaches were K.C. Jones and Pat Riley. All are in the Naismith Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Celtics would win the series. Bird averaged 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and won series MVP honors. All of this makes Maxwell’s 24-point all-around performance in Game 7 that much more remarkable.

Unheralded by history, expect when he’s offering commentary on Celtics’ radio broadcasts, Maxwell was a key member of Boston’s frontcourt. Game 7 in Boston came less than 48 hours after a tough Game 6 loss in Los Angeles.

Maxwell had enough gas left in his tank to tell his Celtics teammates before the deciding game to “get on my back.” They did. The Lakers needed a police escort, which may or may not have gotten them lost, to get from their hotel to the Garden.

Maxwell “presented a high-action, low-post puzzle that the Lakers never solved.” He crushed them on the offensive boards. He drew fouls. He made 11 of 13 free throws in the first half.

And when the Lakers shifted to a double team, he fed the ball to an open Bird or McHale. Maxwell stunned the Lakers and the world, adding eight assists and eight rebounds.

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