Man, if you watched the last year nba finals, you'd agree it was something special. It was like watching a basketball symphony with so many crescendos. Take the first game, for instance. Jayson Tatum dominated the court. He dropped a staggering 41 points, with a shooting efficiency of 60%. That kind of accuracy is just off the charts, and it really set the tone for the rest of the series. Imagine dropping 41 points against some of the best defenders in the league. It's like watching an artist at work, each shot meticulously calculated. In the world of the NBA, where average shooting percentages hover around 45%, hitting 60% consistently in a Finals game is nothing short of miraculous.
And then, of course, there's Steph Curry. His performance in Game 4 was one for the books. Dropping 43 points, Curry reminded everyone why he's considered one of the greatest shooters of all time. Imagine making 8 three-pointers in a single game! The man was playing like he had a cheat code activated. His shooting efficiency from beyond the arc was 53%, unheard of in a Finals game. What I love about Curry's game is his ability to pull up from anywhere and drain it. It’s almost supernatural.
Let's not forget about the towering presence of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 6. He scored 50 points, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their first championship in 50 years. His field goal percentage was an insane 64%. At 6-foot-11 and with a wingspan of 7-foot-3, The Greek Freak, as they call him, utilized his physical advantages to plow through defenders. Giannis was a force of nature, almost unstoppable. His relentless drives to the basket and his rebounds were as crucial as his scoring. It's rare to see players like him, with his combination of size, speed, and agility.
The defense wasn’t slacking either. Kawhi Leonard's contribution as a two-way player stood out. He guarded the opposing team's best players while still managing to average 25 points per game. Kawhi's hands are ginormous – his hand size is 9.75 inches by 11.25 inches, just a terrific asset for his defensive game. His steals and blocks were game-changers, swaying momentum in crucial moments. I remember reading a stats report stating that his defensive win shares were some of the highest the Finals have ever seen.
One storyline that caught everyone's attention was CP3's playoff run. Chris Paul was a maestro orchestrating the Phoenix Suns' offense. Even at 36 years old, CP3 made everything look easy. In Game 2, he had 15 assists, demonstrating his superb court vision and ability to make split-second decisions. There's something remarkable about a player who can control the pace of the game as well as Chris Paul can. His assist-to-turnover ratio was an astounding 8:1 during the series, showing just how careful and precise he was with the ball.
Talking about big names, LeBron James wasn’t going to be left out. At the age of 37, he managed to post a triple-double in Game 5. Scoring 28 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists, LeBron showed why he's in the GOAT conversation. His game IQ is out of this world – think about it. He sees plays unfolding before they even happen. LeBron's versatility allows him to fill any role on the court, whether it's playmaking, scoring, or locking down an opponent on defense. I read somewhere that his player efficiency rating (PER) was the highest of anyone over 35 years old in the Finals history.
Then there was Luka Dončić, the young prodigy who many are calling the next big thing. He was going toe-to-toe with veterans and holding his ground. In Game 3, Luka dropped 30 points along with 10 assists and 12 rebounds. At just 23 years old, he's already one of the most complete players in the league. Lightweight for his age, not in terms of physical weight, but experience weight. His father was a basketball player too, perhaps it runs in his veins. Luka’s advanced stats, especially his usage rate, were through the roof, showing just how pivotal he was for his team.
The Finals also saw some spectacular bench performances. Players like Jordan Poole came off the bench and made significant impacts. In Game 5, Poole scored 20 points in just 22 minutes, hitting 6 out of 9 shots from beyond the arc. The ability for a bench player to spark such an offensive outburst speaks volumes about the depth of talent in the league today. His true shooting percentage for that game was above 70%, an astronomical number for any player, let alone someone coming off the bench.
And of course, no finals conversation is complete without mentioning the role players who stepped up big-time. Guys like P.J. Tucker who, despite not scoring much, put on a defensive clinic. He played around 38 minutes per game and was crucial in stopping some of the league's top scorers. P.J.'s defensive rating metrics and screen assists per game were pivotal. It's always impressive how some players impact the game so significantly without filling up the stat sheet with points.
Looking at historical performances, there’s always the tendency to compare with greats from the past. Whenever someone says Giannis is the new Shaq or LeBron is the new Magic, you think about how each player adds their own unique spin to their games. That's what makes the NBA Finals so consistently thrilling year after year. Each superstar, each breakout role player, each strategic maneuver becomes part of a larger tapestry of basketball history.
Overall, what made last year’s finals unforgettable was the sheer number of standout performances. From veterans proving why they’re still in the league to young guns showing they belong, it was a showcase of basketball mastery. Each game felt like a new chapter in a blockbuster novel, with players giving it their all on the biggest stage. The electrifying moments, the unexpected turns, and the fantastic clutch performances—this is what basketball is all about. If you missed it, you missed out on a historic series of thrilling, edge-of-your-seat moments that will be talked about for years to come.