We’ve asked our stable of scribes to take one last look back at the 2011 NBA playoffs.
In 10 years, the one get-out-of-my-seat-and-scream-“Wow!” moment from the 2011 playoffs that I’ll remember:
Steve Aschburner: Derrick Rose put all his 2011 MVP wonderfulness on display in Game 3 of the Bulls’ Eastern Conference semifinals series against Atlanta. Rose scored a career-high 44 points, hit four of his seven 3-pointers on a night of 16-of-27 shooting and played at a higher sped than anyone else on the floor. No other Bulls starter scored more than seven points, all five Hawks starters reached double figures – and it didn’t matter with Rose seeking-and-attacking. “The first timeout I called, 49 seconds into the game, I saw an energy level that right away I knew we were in trouble,” Atlanta coach Larry Drew said.
Fran Blinebury: He does so much. He makes much of it look easy. But when LeBron James split Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki and zoomed in to throw down that vicious one-handed tomahawk dunk on Ian Mahinmi in Game 3 of the Finals, I could practically feel it down to my toes. And probably so could most of Mahinmi’s fellow countrymen back in France.
Shaun Powell: LeBron‘s closeout stretch in the clincher over the Bulls, where he dropped three-point daggers and then ran over and swatted Derrick Rose‘s game-tying attempt at the buzzer. Who knew he wouldn’t be able to duplicate that against Dallas?
John Schuhmann: Dirk Nowitzki hitting a wide-open three to put the Mavs up 93-90 with 26 seconds left in Game 2 of The Finals. Mario Chalmers tied the game back up and Dirk needed another bucket to get the win, but the Mavs’ comeback from 15 down was one of the most stunning things I’ve seen covering this league. It came against a team that had been putting runs like that on other teams and it quickly changed The Finals from possibly being a sweep to likely going six or seven games.
Sekou Smith: Since the Mavericks went home with the Larry O’Brien Trophy, you’d figure the top spot in this category would have to involve the champs. And it does. But it’s not anything that went on their six-game tilt against Miami in The Finals. With the two-time defending champion Lakers on the ropes, down 3-0 at American Airlines Center, the Mavericks’ shooters kicked their game into overdrive. They knocked down a record-tying 20 of 32 shots from beyond the 3-point line to blow the Lakers out in Game 4. Jason Terry nailed a record-tying nine of his 10 shots from deep and Peja Stojakovic went a perfect 6-fot-6. And Lakers center Andrew Bynum added injury to the insult by cheap-shotting J.J. Barea with a mid-air elbow to the ribs in the final minutes of the rout. The stunner wasn’t just that the Lakers were being swept out of the playoffs, it was how the Mavericks did it that really shocked the system.
No Love For Rondo??
if You are not gonna put rondo chasing and stealing ball while playing practically with only one arm, i don’t know which playoffs you are watching then.
Give some love to rondo cuz he really deserve it.
and this is coming one of Boston’s most hated rivals Knicks’ fan.
Amen.
Rondo was amazing, but I’d have to agree with Sekou. The way the Mavs absolutely dismantled the Lakers was shocking and a foreshadowing of things to come.
He did play with one arm. And didn’t play very well. West was doing way better and they should have benched rondo, considering he can’t shoot a jumper AND only had one arm. I know 13 year old kids who can stick a jumper better then he can. If rondo could shoot…. he would be the best all around point guard in the NBA.
That injury was sick. I felt queasy just watching it! Respect for him carrying on after they popped it back in! And i’m a Celtic hating Lakers fan
I agree dude, and I was in NY when we got swept. Respect to Rondo
dont forget carmelos performance in game 2 with billups and stoudmeire injured
Have to agree with Zar and say Rondo game 3 of the Eastern semi’s. Rondo’s elbow looked doomed for the rest of playoffs but to come back in the fourth and hustle the way he did, man that’s the heart of a champion in the making Lebron, even though your team beat Celtics you, yourself could learn from Rondo.
they forget so many, like neal’s game – tieing shot and gibson’s poster on wade and those things you guys mentioned
Looks like Shawn Marion and Mark Cuban are using alchemical water and ancient battle techniques in order to beat Miami on their home court. It apparently makes their body and mind operate at adrenalin enhanced speeds. Is this considered an illegal substance? Here is a webpage describing what they might be using: http://merkaba.org/audio/aids.html Please look at the bottom of the webpage for more information.
Lebron says: Haters gonna hate!
But Barkley says: Criers gonna cry!
Get a life Loser!
ya so, when are u gonna jump off the heat bandwagon?
Never saw a portland game when before roy was injured, so to watch him light it up in game 4 against dallas when he is supposedly crippled was awe inspiring
This was an awesome playoffs. AWESOME! So many great moments, games, and storylines. Love all the choices.
I would add one more memorable moment. Taj Gibson monster dunk over Dwyane Wade in Game 1 of Bulls vs Heat. The dunk itself was monster-licious. But in the context of the game, the Heat had been running over everyone in the playoffs. They had all the momentum. At this point I think many of us were wondering who’d stop the Heat and Game 1 was a “wake up” call that maybe the Bulls could stop them, and the moment that represented the game best to me was the monster dunk over Miami’s champion guard Wade.
Rondo’s dislocated elbow and Dirk’s 48 game performance are neck and neck in this category but I will give the edge to Rondo because I am a die-hard Celtic’s fan. Considering half of the Celtic’s roster was injured or under-performing, Rondo pulled a win out literally single-handed.
rondo’s moment was the best.
you are hearing this fron a heat fan.
You keep talking about Rondo, but Ginobili’s injury was worse and still played like the all-star he is. It’s a shame they lost, really
I think everyone is forgetting Brandon Roy’s insane 19 point 4th quarter to fuel the portland trailblazers back from that huge lead the mavericks held on them.
when lebron scored 10 straight to defeat the celtics?
LeChoke deffinetly did good against celtics .. but he isnt the king anymore … choked out big time against mavs … the best 5: Nowitzki,KD,cp3,wade,drose (not in order)
Kobe bryant still amazing and definately in the top 5. Also hate yhe lakers and have the sense to acknowledge this
Ha ha you know what’s funny?
I hear all these people talking about when lebron chocked, which he did.
But what about when kobe chocked? he couldn’t hit a shot to save his life, but everyone just wants to hate on lebron because he felt like he couldn’t win a championship in his hometown.
Bottom line is Lebron did have bad series, but don’t be bias just because you don’t respect what he did.
Kevin Durant also choked big time… LOL
I love all the things on here! Every one of them!
But one storyline i haven’t seen anybody on here talk about is the Memphis grizzlies lasting how long they did in the playoffs!
I mean Knockin off the 1 seed, and having that crazy 3ot game vs. Oklahoma city, and the whole oklahoma city series.
And while they did all of this, their 2nd best player and all-star in 2010, Rudy Gay, was injured.
That right there is a great storyline!!!!
You forgot about Jr smith in the first round hitting 7 3′s
Again they’re bringing up Rose when no one really cares. HOW MUCH DID ADIDAS PAY YOU GUYS FOR THIS? Bringing up hype to their endorser once again. 44 points, so what? FG % sucks really bad the whole playoffs. He’s like going 0/7, 1/9. 0/5 from beyond the from on consecutive games. Isn’t that enough to overshadow some lucky night? What’s difference does it make with Melo, Aldrige, and other players’ big games? Most non-deserving mvp all-time. fail!
You gonna say this now, but when next year comes his field goal is going to be a much better and everyone is gonna know why he is too good, too fast, and too strong.
Alright why is everyone hating on Rose? What has he done wrong? He deserved the MVP… Who did better than him in the regular season he lead a team that had only one all-star team to the best record in the league in just 3rd season. I don’t think many stars in the league have done that, He has a lot to improve on, he’s humble and never said he will win 8 championships, and never complained. Derrick Rose is always willing to improve and the only reason he failed in the playoffs is cause he is young, inexperienced, and has a lot to improve on. He also is teammates with Carlos Looser. So all you Rose haters better shut-up because he is one of the most humble and non-egoistic young players in the league who is always willing to improve!
@ Who’s Rose
Are you frickin’ kidding me..? And who do you think would make a better MVP? Lebron? Dwight? Puhleese.. Just let it go already. This season’s already over with, bulls lost. Whoopeedoo. At least he’s achieved so much the last 3 years. He’s young, and he’s human. He can make mistakes too you know. He’s making tons of people proud. And you..? If you’re gonna bash on other people just cause they’re successful and you’re jealous or whatever pathetic reason you have, then just keep it to yourself. I’m sure the world will be a much BETTER place to live in when people like you, yes, you, knew how to just accept reality and move on. Peace.
let’s put it in this way, what if! if your family in danger?huh!