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30 best shots in NBA Playoffs history

By John Buhler

June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) moves the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the second half in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NBA Playoffs have given us some of the best moments in the league’s history. Here are the 30 biggest shots to have gone in during the NBA Playoffs.

What makes the NBA Playoffs so exciting is that the game slows down, becomes more physical and the half-court game becomes all the more crucial. This allows these high-stakes playoff games to go down to the wire. Everybody loves close, competitive games, especially when they yield iconic, last-minute shots.

While the NBA regular season can be a little also-ran, the NBA Playoffs always find a way to deliver. Here are the 30 best shots in NBA Playoffs history.

Apr 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after a call in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) reacts after a call in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

30. Kobe Bryant’s fadeaway against the Phoenix Suns: 2010 Western Conference Finals, Game 6

Kobe Bryant won five NBA Championships with the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring at the end of the 2015-16 NBA season. He was a lethal, go-to scorer for 20 years with the Lakers, emerging as the closest thing to Michael Jordan we’ve seen since his second retirement from the game in 1998.

Bryant’s greatest moment in his multiple playoff runs came against the Pacific Division rival Phoenix Suns in Game 6 of the 2010 Western Conference Finals. Up by five points with under a minute to play, Bryant drains a ridiculous fadeaway over Suns small forward Grant Hill to seal the deal for the Lakers to advance to the 2010 NBA Finals.

Hill was all over Bryant in that moment of immense desperation for the Suns down 105-100 at home facing elimination. Bryant got open on a great pump fake to the outside. He corralled the ball near the three-point line and went to work in isolation like he did for so many years.

Again, Hill gave everything he had to keep Bryant from icing the game, but came up short on Bryant’s most impactful shot of his career. Bryant would flex his dominance after that smooth stroke from just inside the three-point line by giving Suns head coach Alvin Gentry by giving him the playful butt-tap.

The Black Mamba was a bona fide assassin for years in the NBA. His shot over Hill was pure venom to kill the Suns’ hopes at playing for an NBA Championship. This is the good stuff that happens when you go into your Musecage.

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