AboveLegit Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Use one game to define/represent a player's entire career. It doesn't have to be their best game, but a game that represents that specific player the best. Example being Game 5 of the '97 Finals aka "The Flu Game" for Michael Jordan. For Kobe I would probably choose the 81 point game, the second highest scoring output for a player in a single game. But I'm sure someone can make a good argument for his 62 point outburst against Dallas in only 3 quarters. How about Shaq? Duncan? LeBron? Feel free to name any other players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted September 15, 2011 Owner Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Shaq dropped his career high of 61 points (and also had 23 rebounds) on the Clippers...on his birthday. I remember the game. You can just tell he was going after it. "He said, `Man, can a brother get 60 on his birthday?' and sure enough, he did," guard Derek Fisher said. "The first 40 points came kind of fast. I didn't realize that he had 26 at halftime. That's when I kind of knew that it was about to be a big night."Hilarious. He basically said he would. LeBron's game would probably be his MSG triple-double...I don't know. His playoff outburst against the Pistons was crazy, too. McGrady will always be known for the 13 in 33, both because it was in less than a minute AND it won the game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazed49 Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Reggie at MSG. Nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted September 15, 2011 Owner Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 By the way, Jordan's 63 against Boston (1986 Playoffs) has to be his defining game. The Flu Game was amazing, nonetheless, but the 63 in Boston was basically him telling everyone, "I'm here, and I'm doing it against one of the greatest teams of all time." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Lighting the world on fire and still coming up short; the Carmelo Anthony story. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted September 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 By the way, Jordan's 63 against Boston (1986 Playoffs) has to be his defining game. The Flu Game was amazing, nonetheless, but the 63 in Boston was basically him telling everyone, "I'm here, and I'm doing it against one of the greatest teams of all time."Yeah I was thinking about this one for a while, but decided to go with the Flu game for several reasons. For one, it was essentially the clincher for Chicago in that series. Let's not forget, the Bulls were down by 16 at one point in that game, and Jordan scored 15 points in the fourth quarter alone. He also played stellar defense, and had a clutch three pointer to seal the victory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 LeBron's would be the 48 point, 29 of the teams last 30 performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons. His triple double at MSG was spectacular and all, but I just don't see the argument for his defining game, at least as of right now, to be anything other than the game against the Pistons. The Cavs were huge underdogs in the series to start off with.They fall down 0-2 to start the series.They look like they will be going down 3-1 heading back to Detroit. And then LeBron just goes off. Not only does he go on the absurd hot streak, but he also hits the game winner with 2 seconds left in double overtime against the premier team in the Eastern Conference for basically the entire 2000's. That single performance was the turning point of that entire series. Taking everything into account, I would have to say that was his defining game. For Vince Carter, it would be Game 7 of the Eastern Semi-Finals in 2001, but not for the right reasons. He had an amazing series and his 50 point, 6 rebound, 7 assist, 4 block and 9 3's in game 3 of that series is the one that would normally be the type of game that you would expect to be mentioned, but it has to be Game 7 of that series. He didn't play terribly in that game as he did finish with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals, but with all of the controversy surrounding him flying to his college graduation prior to the game combined with his poor shooting (6-18) and missing the game winner at the buzzer it has to be that one. He makes that shot the Raptors likely make it to the NBA Finals that season but instead he misses it and, to be honest, Carter doesn't get back to that level of play for pretty much the rest of his career. I can't help but wonder how not only his career, but the Raptors as a franchise, would be different if that shot goes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted September 15, 2011 Owner Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 LeBron's would be the 48 point, 29 of the teams last 30 performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against the Pistons. His triple double at MSG was spectacular and all, but I just don't see the argument for his defining game, at least as of right now, to be anything other than the game against the Pistons. The Cavs were huge underdogs in the series to start off with.They fall down 0-2 to start the series.They look like they will be going down 3-1 heading back to Detroit. And then LeBron just goes off. Not only does he go on the absurd hot streak, but he also hits the game winner with 2 seconds left in double overtime against the premier team in the Eastern Conference for basically the entire 2000's. That single performance was the turning point of that entire series. Taking everything into account, I would have to say that was his defining game.Yeah, I have to agree. That was my initial pick, but the triple-double looked nice as well. The importance would be what separates the two, I guess. I mean, he did obliterate Detroit in that stretch...but make no mistake about it, while the Pistons were the 6th or 7th best defense in the NBA at that time, they weren't the best, and they weren't on the level they were at in 2004 (with Larry instead of Flip). Plus, you said they looked to be going down 3-1 heading back to Detroit when LeBron went ballistic. That was Game 4, that Cleveland won, and LeBron shot poorly and had 25 points, 11 assists. They were tied up, 2-2, going into Game 5 (the game LeBron went off, as you said). I'm not really sure the Cavs were going in there as underdogs, anyway. They were a better defensive team, and they only had three less wins. There was no Ben Wallace (instead, we had an old Chris Webber), and Detroit had Flip Saunders, a coach that not only doesn't know how to coach defense, but has been notorious for not being able to stop superstars from scoring, relying solely on individual defenders. Not to say LeBron's feat wasn't amazing, because it was (one of the best I've seen in the playoffs), but saying it's in the same boat as his MSG triple-double is no reach, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Feelgood Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 McGrady will always be known for the 13 in 33, both because it was in less than a minute AND it won the game. Watching this still amazes me. It was just...incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newman Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 In more recent history, Goran Dragic's 23-point 4th quarter against the Spurs last year and Roy's 18 points in the 4th quarter against the Mavs this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NomarFachix Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 I don't think a 23 point 4th defines Dragic's career at all. Was an anamoly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newman Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Ah didn't look at OP's post properly. My bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Yeah, I have to agree. That was my initial pick, but the triple-double looked nice as well. The importance would be what separates the two, I guess. I mean, he did obliterate Detroit in that stretch...but make no mistake about it, while the Pistons were the 6th or 7th best defense in the NBA at that time, they weren't the best, and they weren't on the level they were at in 2004 (with Larry instead of Flip). Plus, you said they looked to be going down 3-1 heading back to Detroit when LeBron went ballistic. That was Game 4, that Cleveland won, and LeBron shot poorly and had 25 points, 11 assists. They were tied up, 2-2, going into Game 5 (the game LeBron went off, as you said). I'm not really sure the Cavs were going in there as underdogs, anyway. They were a better defensive team, and they only had three less wins. There was no Ben Wallace (instead, we had an old Chris Webber), and Detroit had Flip Saunders, a coach that not only doesn't know how to coach defense, but has been notorious for not being able to stop superstars from scoring, relying solely on individual defenders. Not to say LeBron's feat wasn't amazing, because it was (one of the best I've seen in the playoffs), but saying it's in the same boat as his MSG triple-double is no reach, lol. I'm not saying that his MSG triple-double wasn't a phenomenal game and one of the biggest in his career, but I just can't put it with the 48 point game because the 48 point game was so much more meaningful and against a vastly superior team. Putting up a triple double on the Knicks isn't nearly as impressive as dropping one on a team like Boston or Chicago. The biggest reason why it was so talked about is because it was at MSG and because Kobe dropped 60 on them the week before (or was it the week after?). I'd definitely say the Cavs were underdogs. Maybe they weren't "huge underdogs" like I posted above, but I don't believe for a second that many people were predicting the Cavs to make the Finals over the Pistons that season. Regardless of the regular season records being close, the Pistons were looked at as a team who the regular season didn't matter to, much like the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs for the past 5 or so seasons. As far as I remember, basically everybody expected the Pistons to win that series and make the Finals. Just taking everything into consideration in terms of it being in the playoffs, against the beasts of the East, the game being basically the deciding game of the series and him going absolutely putting his team on his back like few have ever done in playoff history you just have to use that game. Other than the aura of MSG, his triple double wasn't that defining considering we have seen him flirt with some godly numbers like that before. At least that is the way I see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted September 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Kevin Garnett:Game 7 of 2004 West Semis against Kings46 mins, 32 points, 21 rebs, 4 stls, 5 blksI'll always remember KG for his days in Minnesota when he literally had to carry his team. This game in particular was amazing, his stat line was absurd, but best of all it happened in a pivotal game 7. This was KG at his best and it was his MVP season. Tim Duncan: Game 6 of 2003 Finals21 points, 20 rebs, 10 assists, and wins the championship. Allen Iverson: Game 1 win over the Lakers in 2001 Finals48 points, 6 asts, 5 stls. Despite being heavily outmatched, talent wise, and being on the road to the clear favorites (and eventual champs), Iverson came into Staples Center and managed to pull of a game 1 upset. This definitely defines his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Feelgood Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Roy's 18 points in the 4th quarter against the Mavs this year. This or his raping of the Suns for 52 during the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted September 16, 2011 Owner Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Allen Iverson: Game 1 win over the Lakers in 2001 Finals48 points, 6 asts, 5 stls. Despite being heavily outmatched, talent wise, and being on the road to the clear favorites (and eventual champs), Iverson came into Staples Center and managed to pull of a game 1 upset. This definitely defines his career.Easy answer (no pun intended). That game against the Lakers was amazing, not to mention the fact that LA would've swept the entire playoff run if they didn't lose that game, which is jaw-dropping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
?QuestionMark? Posted September 16, 2011 Report Share Posted September 16, 2011 Chris Webber Michigan vs UNC: The Timeout. Pretty much summed up his career. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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