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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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UNITED STATES – JUNE 03: Basketball: NBA Finals, Portland Trail Blazers Bill Walton (32) in action, playing defense vs Philadelphia 76ers Doug Collines (20), Game 5, Cover, Philadelphia, PA 6/3/1977 (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X21526)
UNITED STATES – JUNE 03: Basketball: NBA Finals, Portland Trail Blazers Bill Walton (32) in action, playing defense vs Philadelphia 76ers Doug Collines (20), Game 5, Cover, Philadelphia, PA 6/3/1977 (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X21526) /

13. Bill Walton, Portland vs. Philadelphia, Game 6 (1977)

The NBA’s history is highlighted by certain periods of dominance. The Boston Celtics owned the 1960s. The Celtics and Lakers slugged it out for supremacy in the 1980s, with the Lakers taking five titles to Boston’s three.

The 1990s belonged to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. The Lakers got themselves a three-peat in the early 2000s. The Spurs have filled in the gaps throughout the rest of this century. The 1970s, however, were wide-open, especially until the ABA and NBA finally merged in 1976.

Among the one-shot wonders to take advantage of this chaos was the Portland Trail Blazers. In 1977, the Blazers reached the Finals in their first-ever playoff appearance. Their inexperience showed as Philadelphia won the first two games.

Bill Walton finally was able to assert his dominance on both the glass and offensive and the Blazers fought back to sweep their way to victory. Walton reached his NBA peak as a player and team-leader in this season.

He finished off Philly with a 20-point, 23-rebound performance in Game 6, adding seven assists and eight blocks for good measure. The Blazers won Game 6 109-107 and Walton was named Finals MVP.

His career would be be-set by constant foot injuries and he would never be the leading man on a championship team again. Walton was a part of Boston’s epic 1986 team as the sixth man.

"“Bill Walton is the best player, best competitor, best person I have ever coached,” Blazers coach Jack Ramsay said."

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