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Hardwood Paroxysm presents: The 5 NBA games you could watch for the rest of your life

By HP Basketball Network

Oct 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of a Spalding basketball with the signature of NBA commissioner Adam Silver (not pictured) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of a Spalding basketball with the signature of NBA commissioner Adam Silver (not pictured) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s a question that’s asked with an infinite amount of variations: if you could have one meal, one drink, listen to one song, talk to one person, read one book, for the rest of your life, what would it be? Today, Hardwood Paroxysm puts an NBA twist on the question and asks: If you could only watch one game for the rest of your life, which would it be?

5. 2013 NBA Finals, Game 7

by Philip Rossman-Reich (@OMagicDaily) — Orlando Magic Daily/Hardwood Paroxysm

If there is one game I think I could watch for the rest of my life it might be Game Seven of the 2013 NBA Finals. The easy answer would be Game Six of that series because it has “the moment” with the Ray Allen shot and the comeback and a thrilling overtime. For me, Game Seven was the true clash of the titans with both teams playing their gameplan and strategy to perfection.

It was simply incredible watching that game. There are so few Game Sevens that live up to their billing (Game Seven in 2010 was an ugly affair that ended up being close). This one did. It was the perfect cap to an amazing series.

To recap what happened, the Spurs were literally seconds away from winning the championship when they lost a five-point lead in regulation. Kawhi Leonard missed a pair of free throws, Tim Duncan was not in to rebound and Ray Allen stepped back just the right amount to drain the game-tying 3-pointer, sending those ushers back into position away from the court.

History might say the series ended that day. Certainly you could understand if the Spurs were downtrodden and did not have the emotion to come back in Game Seven.

They did though. This was a tightly contested game. The Spurs were up to the challenge and worthy of winning the title. They proved that the previous game and continued to prove it throughout Game Seven.

Tim Duncan put in a throwback performance with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Leonard bounced back with 19 points and 16 rebounds.

This game was all about LeBron James. When I think of quintessential LeBron James games through his career, I tend to think about this game more than some of his other great performances (certainly put 2012 Eastern Conference Finals Game Six on my all-time great scoring performances).

Here James was patient. He was trying so hard to keep his teammates involved. He was prodding and trying to break down Boris Diaw, hanging back three feet off him to prevent the drive. Finally James decided to shoot over him, taking those mid-range jumpers the analytics crowd hates.

It was exactly what the Spurs wanted. And James still beat them with it.

James scored 37 points on 12-for-23 shooting and 5-for-10 shooting from beyond the arc. He was so patient and unsure for much of the game. And then just got the confidence and go-ahead to keep shooting. He took what the defense gave him and won the game.

While the score was ultimately a seven-point spread, this was still a close game throughout. Tim Duncan missed a putback to tie the game in the final minute — a play, that was so out of character for the always sure Duncan.

It then set up the Spurs’ incredible run back to the Finals to defeat the Heat the following year.

This was a game that was completely out of the coach’s hands at the end. The players decided Game Seven. That is exactly how it should be.

And Gregg Popovich smiled. In a loss. What could be better?

Next: 4. 1995 NBA Finals, Game 1