It just has a special ring to it. And no we aren't talking about a 1st round series, Conference Finals or a League Championship Series. A Game Seven in the Stanley Cup Finals, World Series or NBA Finals is truly a spectacle. It is Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, St Patrick's Day and your birthday all rolled into one. In any game seven, in a finals setting, both teams have had two weeks of constant back and forth struggles, ups and downs, controversy and craziness, and still we have "1" game to decide who wins, who loses and who becomes the next 'great' or the forever referenced 'goat'.
In honor of a Game 7, in the NBA Finals, for only the third time since the late 1980's I have compiled a run down of the "Seven Greatest Game 7's in Championship Series" over the last 25 years. There are Five Factors I took into consideration. How often is it referenced in its particular sport, how often is it referenced in all sports, how many defining moments took place, how many career defining moments occurred, and will we be talking about it 25 years from now?
Let's blast off....
7. Stanley Cup Finals 2001
{New Jersey Devils vs. Colorado Avalanche}
Final Score 3-1
Ray Bourque spent 21 years in a Boston Bruins uniform and never got to hoist to the Silver Chalice. So when the Colorado Avalanche needed a shot in the arm to help in their pursuit of Lord Stanley in the late 90's Boston, realizing that Bourque's career was about to strike midnight, dealt him to the Avs. Colorado would defeat Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in Game 7, 3-1. When presented the Stanley Cup Avs Captain Joe Sakic immediately turned and handed it to Bourque. It would be the last game of Ray Bourque's career. He had waited 1,826 games to win his first and only title.
{New Jersey Devils vs. Colorado Avalanche}
Final Score 3-1
Ray Bourque spent 21 years in a Boston Bruins uniform and never got to hoist to the Silver Chalice. So when the Colorado Avalanche needed a shot in the arm to help in their pursuit of Lord Stanley in the late 90's Boston, realizing that Bourque's career was about to strike midnight, dealt him to the Avs. Colorado would defeat Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in Game 7, 3-1. When presented the Stanley Cup Avs Captain Joe Sakic immediately turned and handed it to Bourque. It would be the last game of Ray Bourque's career. He had waited 1,826 games to win his first and only title.
6. World Series 1997
{Florida Marlins vs. Cleveland Indians}
Final Score: 3-2
Usually you would think that a base hit to win Game 7 of the World Series would be the best moment on a list like this. But it is not even in the top 5. What a classic Game 7. 19 year old Jaret Wright on the hill for the Indians and Al Leiter on the mound for the Marlins. A Tony Fernandez two run single gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the 3rd. The Marlins didn't get on the board until Bobby Bonilla went deep against Wright in the 7th. Jose Mesa blew the save in the 9th and Edgar Renteria would single home Craig Counsell in the 11th to give Florida, not even seven years into existence, their first World Series Title.
5. NBA Finals 1988
{Detroit Pistons vs. LA Lakers}
Final Score: 108-105
The last title of the Magic-Jabar Dynasty.... The Lakers were getting old and the Pistons had dethroned the Celtics in the East and had set their sights on Showtime. After a split in LA, the Pistons took two of three at the Palace. After a one point loss in game six the Pistons came out guns a blazing. Chuck Daly's squad led at the half but the Lakers poured it on in the 3rd and 4th quarters taking a 90-75 lead late in the 4th. The Pistons would rally and after a Bill Lambeer bomb went in with six seconds remaining the lead was cut to 106-105. A.C. Green would make a lay-up to extend the lead to 3 for LA. Isiah Thomas would get the ball at mid court with seconds remaining...Magic Johnson knocked Zeke to the floor and fans stormed the floor with time running out.
4. Stanley Cup Finals 1994
{Vancouver Canucks vs. New York Rangers}
Final Score: 3-2
Mark Messier vs. Trevor Linden. Madison Square Garden. Only the second Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals since 1971 was electric. The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Vancouver captain Trevor Linden would answer in the 2nd to make it 2-1. Mark Messier would respond making it 3-1. Linden would then counter early in the 3rd to close the gap to 3-2. Mike Richter would become a stone wall in net and give the Rangers their 1st Cup Win since 1940. Mark Messier's exuberance and joy while hoisting Lord Stanley is still one of the sports greatest images to this day.
3. NBA Finals 1994
{NY Knicks vs. Houston Rockets}
Final Score: 90-84
See Goat: The John Starks Nightmare. The Pistons of the late 80's past the bad boy torch to the Knicks and Pat Riley in the 90's. They were big, brash and bold. They also couldn't get past Jordan and the Bulls. When Michael retired and started playing baseball it seemed destined that the Knicks would finally get their title. They and the Houston Rockets would hook up in a series remember more for the OJ Simpson Bronco chase than the play on the floor (Game 5 split screened to show OJ). John Starks had his last second shot blocked, in Game 6, by Hakeem Olajuwan. That was only the beginning...Starks would shoot 2 of 18 from the field and 0 of 11 from behind the arc in Game 7 as the Houston Rockets won the first of their back to back titles.
2. World Series 2001
{Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees}
Final Score: 3-2
9-11, Mr. November, Byung-Hun Kim....This series was a whirlwind. Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson headed up the rotation for the D-Backs and the Yankees and their cast was going for their 5th World Series in 6 years. With a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 9th Mariano Rivera toed the rubber for the Yankees. The greatest closer ever was about to have a meltdown. Mark Grace singled to start the inning. Riviera would throw Damian Miller's bunt attempt away trying to force David Dellucci who had come in to run for Grace. Rivera would throw out Dellucci, at third, on Jay Bell's bunt attempt. Tony Womack's double would then tie the score at 2-2. Rivera would then hit Craig Counsell to load the bases. Luis Gonzalez would then single to center over the outstretched glove of Derek Jeter giving the Arizona Diamondbacks their first World Series title just four years into their existence.
{Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Yankees}
Final Score: 3-2
9-11, Mr. November, Byung-Hun Kim....This series was a whirlwind. Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson headed up the rotation for the D-Backs and the Yankees and their cast was going for their 5th World Series in 6 years. With a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 9th Mariano Rivera toed the rubber for the Yankees. The greatest closer ever was about to have a meltdown. Mark Grace singled to start the inning. Riviera would throw Damian Miller's bunt attempt away trying to force David Dellucci who had come in to run for Grace. Rivera would throw out Dellucci, at third, on Jay Bell's bunt attempt. Tony Womack's double would then tie the score at 2-2. Rivera would then hit Craig Counsell to load the bases. Luis Gonzalez would then single to center over the outstretched glove of Derek Jeter giving the Arizona Diamondbacks their first World Series title just four years into their existence.
1. World Series 1991
{Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins}
Final Score: 1-0
Game 7's in World Series tend to raise the bar when it comes to ending a Championship Series. The Braves and Twins would give us the greatest Game 7 of the last 25 years in the 1991 World Series. The stat line for the starting pitchers in this game reads like something out of the first decade of the 20th century not the last.
Jack Morris - 10 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (W)
John Smoltz - 7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB. 4 K (ND)
What is crazy about this game is that most people can't tell you who the losing pitcher was (Alejandro Pena) and who drove in the winning run! Dan Gladden would score on a Gene Larkin base hit over a drawn in outfield. It is remembered for Jack Morris and John Smoltz going blow for blow. It was a prize fight. Ali vs. Frazier, Lewis vs. Holyfield, Creed vs. Balboa. The likes of which will never be matched.
{Atlanta Braves vs. Minnesota Twins}
Final Score: 1-0
Game 7's in World Series tend to raise the bar when it comes to ending a Championship Series. The Braves and Twins would give us the greatest Game 7 of the last 25 years in the 1991 World Series. The stat line for the starting pitchers in this game reads like something out of the first decade of the 20th century not the last.
Jack Morris - 10 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (W)
John Smoltz - 7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 1 BB. 4 K (ND)
What is crazy about this game is that most people can't tell you who the losing pitcher was (Alejandro Pena) and who drove in the winning run! Dan Gladden would score on a Gene Larkin base hit over a drawn in outfield. It is remembered for Jack Morris and John Smoltz going blow for blow. It was a prize fight. Ali vs. Frazier, Lewis vs. Holyfield, Creed vs. Balboa. The likes of which will never be matched.
