True or False: Flu Game is the Greatest Individual Playoff Performance Ever?

[Prometheus]

It could be called the most inspired/inspiring performance, but when you say "greatest" I think it has to be a game of brilliant production, with less regard for something like being sick. He got 38/7/5 on 13-27... a great game by any standard BUT MJ's, whereby it's really pretty average. He had many individual performances that were greater.

To be honest (and this is probably not a popular opinion), but I personally think Jordan's greatest individual performance was game two against the Lakers. Think of the context:

-Jordan's first time ever in the Finals
-Playing against an established 5x-champion and the greatest player of the preceding era
-Down 0-1 in the series facing a potential 0-2 start AT HOME (a near death-sentence if they had to go on the road for the next three)
-Just missed a potential game-winner in the previous contest.

And Jordan comes out and plays a PERFECT game. No, he didn't score much by his standards, but look at his actual line:

33/7/13 on 15-18 shooting

That is a performance of legendary efficiency. 33 points and 13 assists with only 3 missed shots and 4 turnovers.



And the stat line doesn't even do it justice. When one watches that game, they see Jordan's optimal style of efficacy. He spent the first half conserving his output, distributing the ball brilliantly, helping get all of his teammates in a rhythm - and in the second half, he took over - hitting THIRTEEN CONSECUTIVE FIELD GOALS as the Bulls' momentum just steamrolled the Lakers. He capped off that thirteen-fg streak with the most iconic move of his career:



If such a moment can be pinpointed, then this was exactly the moment that Michael Jordan ascended to claim the throne of the greatest player in the world. The stage was set for him to realize his potential on the game's biggest stage - and he grabbed it without hesitation. This was the greatest player in the world, in his first-ever appearance on the game's absolute grandest stage, providing EXACTLY what his team needed, dominating the game, and doing it in spectacular, mesmerizing, Air-Jordan fashion.



Anyway, as far as the greatest individual playoff performance ever, by ANYONE? I could dig up the archives and surely read about many great performances that took place before the 1990's, but as far as what I have personally witnessed, this title goes to LeBron James in game 5 vs. Detroit in 2007. Mother****er scored 29 of his team's last 30 points, including ALL OF THEIR POINTS IN BOTH OVERTIME PERIODS. On the road, with the series tied 2-2, as a 22 year-old in only his fourth NBA season and second playoff campaign. Everything about that night was just incredible.

[lilteapot]

That switch hands layup was cool but so fking unnecessary.