If your a big sports fan you know all about Top 10s. Probably the most well known Top 10 in the sports world is ESPNs top 10 plays. My top 10 is going to be similar in the same way that I will be analyzing sports, but unlike ESPN I will be looking at the top 10 games of the 2014-2015 NBA season.
The NBA is by far my favorite sport at this time in my life. I can trace back my basketball fanship to the 2011-2012 season. Ever since then I have been hooked and haven’t looked back since.
The players who make up the NBA are some of the most skilled athletes in the world, and because of this I believe that they create some of the most impressive highlights in all of sports. From highflying dunks, flashy dribbling, and the smoothest shooting in the world, they can do it all. Some would even say they are artists on the court and every time they step on the floor they are creating masterpieces.
This particular season NBA fans have been witnesses to a multitude of great games that it’s impossible to judge which one is greater as they all showcase greatness in many different ways. Now on to the list. ENJOY
#10 Pau Gasol: 46 points and 18 rebounds
On January 15th Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls had a career game. He put up a career high of 46 points in 38 minutes. In my opinion this game is one of the most underrated games of this year. Being a power forward and almost putting up 50 points is a very impressive feat. One reason for this is that if you go back in the history of the NBA centers and forwards dominated the game and were generally more important to the game than guards. In the the last 5 years or so basketball fans have seen a change of guard as teams have started to shift their strategies. For example old school NBA was a grit and grind type of game where defense ruled the courts and offenses game plans were centered around post ups and isolations. Nowadays the game has gone more to analytics where the 3 pt shot is valued more than a 2 pt shot, and in turn the big men that once ruled the game have had to adapt to the new age NBA. For these reasons Pau Gasol’s monster 46 pt 18 reb game is so much more amazing.
#9 Anthony Davis: 41 points 10 rebounds and one game winning shot
On February 6th the New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis played one of his best games of season, he put up 40 pts and 10 rebs and scored the game winning shot against the reigning MVP Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This game could easily be interchanged with the previous one but the reason that this one gets the nod is for the outrageous shot to win the game. If you don’t know who Anthony Davis then here is a two words to describe him: Athletic Freak. He is 6’10 with a 7’5 wingspan. With this size he has the uncanny ability to alter shots and finish shots around the rim that others players wish they could. This game in particular highlights every aspect of his game that makes him an MVP candidate. The parts of his game that you see is his silky smooth jump shot, his crazy length and athleticism and his defensive prowess around the basket. This will be a game to remember when looking back on his career.
#8 Hassan Whiteside: 14 points 13 rebounds & 12 blocks
At first glance this game might not look like it belongs here, but thats wrong, because this game is goes beyond the stats. In basketball speak this is game is a triple double. As its a defined a triple double is when a player records double digit number totals in three of five statistical categories—points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots—in a game. The most common way this is accomplished is in points, rebounds and assists, and as you can see Hassan Whiteside achieved it with points, rebounds, and blocks. If your still not impressed then listen to this: he did all this is 25 minutes coming off the bench. If not your still not impressed then I’ll just leave this article from the San Francisco Chronicle which tells a nice story about his ascension to relevance this season.
#7 Russell Westbrook: 21 points 17 assists & 8 rebounds in 3 QUARTERS!!
FULL DISCLOSURE: There are multiple Russell Westbrook games in this post.
This first paragraph doesn’t relate to his game but to truly understand the greatness of this game and his upcoming ones you need a background on Westbrook. Russell Westbrook is a freak of nature, when watching him play you may ask yourself does he have a jetpack strapped to his back? The answer is no, he is just that freaking fast and explosive! What’s even more amazing is that two seasons ago he suffered a tear in his meniscus and coming back he probably was more explosive then before, but it doesn’t end there. Not too long after his return he suffered another setback and required surgery for a second time. That must be the end of it right? No. Yet again he suffered another setback and went under the knife again. After this it was questioned by the NBA world if he would be the same player that has defined his greatness. No worries, Westbrook has came back even better then ever.
Now we can get to his remarkable game that he gave us. On February 22nd Westbrook put up just a ridiculous stat line with 21 pts 17 ast and 8 rebs in 3 QUARTERS! Most players never even come close to that in their entire career and this freak did it in 3 quarters. To be fair the opposing team is one of the worst teams in the league, but that shouldn’t take away from this game. Another point to bring up is in that game Westbrook’s sidekick Kevin “Reigning MVP” Durant was out. So this meant he had to carry the team, and that he did which further enforces his case for MVP.
#6 James Harden: 40 points 12 assists & 9 rebounds
James Harden of the Houston Rockets is an MVP candidate this year and this game is a prime example of why. Nearly a triple double, he dominated in every facet of the game. Being the MVP candidate he is this is not an unusual game for him and when he has them he makes it look so easy. What you might try to do is go to the gym to try what he does and you quickly realize that what he pulls off in games is truly remarkable and something that took him years to master. From his pull-up 3s off the dribble to his spectacular vision in the passing game and lastly his ability to draw contact and get to the charity stripe, he is truly the definition of an NBA superstar.
#5 Russell Westbrook: 17 points 17 assists & 15 rebounds
Surprise surprise Russell Westbrook has another top game. This game while is very comparable to his previous mentioned game, but what set that one back was the worse opponent. This game was played against the team with the best record in the league, the Golden State Warriors. This game I watched live on TV so I can appreciate it more than others. Its tough for me put this game on here for the the simple fact that the team that had to endure this spectacular game is my favorite team but enough about that. Im here to talk about the gaudy stat line and the impressive showing by the emerging MVP candidate. In this game Westbrook took over, he showed his critics who think he can’t be a true point guard, that he can. Even more he showed his all around game and ability to stuff the stat sheet in a way that most players only dream about. This was truly a impressive performance that not only wowed but also proved his critics wrong.
#4 Stephen Curry aka The Baby Faced Assassin: 51 points with 10 THREE POINTERS!
Because Stephen Curry is my favorite player I feel I should give some background on him.
Stephen Curry attended Davidson College and played basketball there for 3 years before moving on to the NBA. In the 2009 NBA draft Curry was selected 7th overall to the Golden State Warriors(my favorite team as well). There were lots of concerns about his physical attributes which were valid as he was 6’3 and only 180 lbs coming out of college. The one thing that set him apart from others was boy he could shoot the lights out! He is one of those players who when they step into the gym they are in range. His first few years were plagued with ankle injuries which made people wonder if he would ever be healthy enough to make it in the league, because there was no doubt he had the talent. Fast forward to the 2013-2014 season and Curry broke out and became a star. Now in his 6th NBA season he has become one of the biggest rising stars in this league and one of the top players at his position. Along with this he is an MVP candidate and on the team with the best record in the league.
Ok now that I’ve gotten that out there we can look into this spectacular game he put up against the Dallas Mavericks on February 4th. This game is the perfect showcase of Curry’s beautiful jumper, as he hit 10 three pointers(no that is not a typo). This wasn’t all he did, along with the 10 three pointers he also showed his ability to get into the paint and finish amongst the trees(centers). In this game he did most of his damage in the 3rd and 4th quarter which for him is common. I can remember sitting at home watching this game and whenever he shot you just knew it had to be going in, because when he gets in a rhythm you better hope he either gets subbed out or the quarter ends because if not, your going to get buried.
P.S. If you want more Steph Curry on fire check this video out.
#3 LeBron James: 42 points 11 rebounds & 5 assists
Did you think LeBron I forgot about LeBron? Nope. This season has been full of ups and downs for the King of the NBA. After leaving his super team in Miami to come home to Cleveland there were a lot of questions. Can this Cavs team win a title this year? How will Kevin Love fit? How will the Cavs fare with a rookie head coach? These are all good questions. The one thing that never was questioned was if LeBron would still be as dominant as he was in his 20s. Turning 30 for most NBA players can mean your career is winding down. LeBron isn’t most players, he is going to continue to be a dominate player for at most 5-7 years. I could list all of his accolades but that could take me all day. I’ll just simplify it by saying LeBron James is easily a top 10 player all time and maybe even top 5 when he decides to retire.
This season for him has seen him take a back seat to some of the rising stars in the league such as James Harden, Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook. This game against the Golden State Warriors was a statement game and coincidently took place the same day I’m writing this post. Its a reminder to everyone else in the league that LeBron is out for blood and will go through anyone. LeBron knew the significance of this game and what you saw was probably one of the most dominant games this season. LeBron did it all in this game. He attacked the basket in the way only he can, he hit impossible jumpers, he played strong in the post, and played spectacular defense. Even if you don’t like LeBron you can’t help but be dazzled by how great he is and how great he has been consistently throughout his career.
#2 Russell Westbrook: 48 points 11 assists & 9 rebounds
If you thought those last games from Westbrook were awesome then sit back and enjoy this because its truly amazing.
WOW
That was my immediate though after watching this game from Russell Westbrook.
This game by Westbrook is something special. Unfortunately he couldn’t complete the triple double but still that should not take away from what was accomplished by him. In the first half alone he had already scored 20 points and you could tell he was on track for a monster game. He didn’t disappoint. He scored 28 more points in the second half and dominated more than ever. I may just be restating points from earlier but I love watching Russell Westbrook. He plays with such passion that even if he is killing your favorite team you still root for him. Not everyone has his fire and attitude that make him such a unique athlete. It may seem crazy but I’ll say it anyway: Russell Westbrook is the closest comparison the NBA has to Kobe Bean Bryant right now. He plays with the same fire and passion and its a great sight to see.
#1 Klay Thompson: 52 points, 37 POINTS IN THE 3RD QUARTER
If you only watched the video once I suggest you watch it again. Now before I try to even put this performance into words I’ll give you some stats from this night:
52 points, 16-25 from the field, 11-15 from 3, 9-10 FTM
37 points in the third quarter, 13-13 from the field, 9-9 from 3
This performance still gives me chills. To see a player in such a zone is truly a sight to see. Not many other players get to the same level Klay Thompson was in. The only other players to score 30+ points in a quarter are George “The Iceman” Gervin, Carmelo Anthony and Wilt Chamberlain. To be in the company of players like this gives this game instant credibility. After a solid first half of 13 points it looked like Thompson was on track for a good game but I don’t think anyone, even him, expected him to score 37 points in one quarter and to do it without missing a single shot when 70% of those shots were from the 3pt line. You can be sure this game is one that will go down in the NBA history and won’t be forgotten anytime soon, and may even be the breakout game of a potential Hall of Fame player.
Jacobs Blog 