Here are the last ten NBA Finals ranked, and where the Knicks-Spurs showdown falls among the recent championship series.
10: 2017 Warriors VS Cavs
The predominant rivalry of the late 2010s featured four matchups, two classics followed by two stinkers, and 2017 was one of the latter. While these finals featured an abundance of all-time talent, they did not offer anything else.
Only one game was a contest, and the lone game that Cleveland did manage to win was another blowout in a meaningless game 4. This was the conclusion to a season that was all but decided before it began, with the outcome that we all saw coming from miles away
9: 2018 Warriors VS Cavs
Much like the previous year, this series was basically just a formality. The Warriors swept the Cavs despite LeBron’s superhuman efforts of 34, 8.5, and 10, but unlike the previous year, there was a glimpse of hope for Cleveland.
The Cavs fought hard in game 1 and had the chance to take the lead in the waning seconds with a George Hill free throw, but they eventually fell in overtime after the infamous JR Smith mistake.
While this series itself wasn’t particularly competitive, the timelessness of game one (slash the LBJ/JR meme) and the fact that LeBron somehow managed to drag that roster to the finals make this series more memorable than a typical 4-gamer.
8) 2024 Celtics VS Mavericks
The Mavs’ playoff run had every NBA fan on the edge of their seats. The duo of Luka and Kyrie was absolutely mesmerizing. The dynamic lob threats of Daniel Gafford, rookie Derrick Lively, and Derrick Jones Jr. provided constant above-the-rim highlights, and players like Dorian FInney-Smith and PJ Washington were playing their roles to perfection.
That was until they met the Celtics. It seemed like all the momentum that Dallas had built dried up when it mattered most. The Cs went up 3-0 before the Mavericks mustered a win, but by then it was too late. This series is remembered for the “Jayson Tatum is corny” narrative, and the Jaylen Brown > Tatum debate more than the actual basketball.
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