All Time Top Five Conference Final Performances

Lebron James ' buzzer beater in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals got me to thinking about the greatest moments in the history of the NBA Conference Finals.

5. Lakers vs. Blazers 2000 Western Conference Finals.

Aside from being one of the all time great games in NBA playoff history, this will also go down as one of the all time choke jobs. Portland up 15 with seven minutes to go completely implodes, which is now easy to figure out considering that guys like Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudemire were on that team. This is also the game which featured the now famous Kobe to Shaq alley oop. In the famous words of Bob Costas "From the brink of elimination to the brink of the finals."

4.Bulls vs. Pacers 1998 Eastern Conference Finals.

Looking back at the run of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls there was never really a time when they were pushed. However Reggie Miller and Indiana Pacers gave them all they wanted in the 98 Conference Finals. Everybody remembers Miller coming off of a pick, pushing of Jordan and draining a go ahead three in Game 4, and then Jordan's attempt at a game winning three rattling out at the buzzer. Despite those heroics Jordan and the Bulls would outlast the Pacers in seven games.

3.Lakers vs. Kings 2002 Western Conference Finals

Without question one of the best playoff series in the history of the NBA . The Lakers were a juggernaut, and the Kings were their only competition. Robert Horry beat the Kings with a game winning shot at the buzzer in Game 4, only to have Mike Bibby beat the Lakers on a late 4^th quarter jump shot in Game 5 it all culminated in a Game 7 overtime win for the Lakers.

2.Pistons vs. Cavaliers 2007 Eastern Conference Finals

In a classic battle between the old dogs trying to make one more championship run and the new kids on the block, Lebron James announced his presence on the NBA playoff stage. With the series the series tied at two games apiece. The King put on one of the all time performances scoring 48 points, including the last 25 for Cleveland in an exciting overtime win.

1.Knicks vs. Pacers 1999 Eastern Conference Finals

Let me just say I'm biased being an old New York Knick fan, but this really is the greatest conference finals series in NBA history. Larry Johnson only had the most memorable four point play in history in Game 3 of the series, Then after losing Game 4 at home The Knicks came back with a huge win in Game 5 on the road, and closed out the Pacers at home in Game 6. There is nothing like that wide shot of Madison Square Garden as LJ's four point play is happening. The roof came off the place.