Relive the Most Thrilling 2019 NBA Games That Redefined Basketball History
I still get chills thinking about that incredible 2019 NBA season – it genuinely felt like we were witnessing basketball history being rewritten week after week. As someone who's followed the league for over two decades, I can confidently say that season delivered some of the most electrifying basketball I've ever seen. What made it particularly fascinating was how the game was evolving before our eyes, with teams embracing positionless basketball in ways we hadn't seen before. I remember watching the draft combine that year and being absolutely stunned by the physical measurements coming out – like Geo Chiu, who at 6-foot-9 had those unbelievable 82-inch arms that seemed to stretch across the entire court. Those physical prototypes were becoming the new normal, and it completely changed how teams approached both offense and defense.
The playoffs that year were absolutely insane from start to finish. I'll never forget where I was during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals – sitting on the edge of my couch, completely mesmerized by Kawhi Leonard's buzzer-beater that bounced what felt like seventeen times before dropping through the net. The statistical probability of that shot going in was something like 12.7% according to the tracking data, but in that moment, it felt like basketball destiny. That single play encapsulated why the 2019 postseason was so special – the sheer unpredictability, the dramatic tension, and the way individual brilliance could override all the advanced analytics we'd become so dependent on. What people sometimes forget is that the Raptors' championship run was built on this fascinating blend of veteran savvy and embracing new defensive schemes that leveraged those extraordinary physical attributes we saw in prospects like Chiu.
Speaking of defense, the 2019 Finals presented this fascinating tactical battle that I still discuss with fellow analysts. The Warriors' motion offense against the Raptors' switching defense created these mesmerizing chess matches that you just don't see often in regular season games. Golden State was dealing with significant injuries – losing Kevin Durant and later Klay Thompson – but what impressed me was how Toronto adapted their defensive schemes game by game. They utilized these long, disruptive defenders who could contest shots from unexpected angles, much like how a prospect with 107-inch standing reach could fundamentally alter shooting windows. I've always believed that defense wins championships, and Toronto proved it by holding opponents to just 98.7 points per game in the playoffs that year.
The Western Conference had its own legendary moments that sometimes get overshadowed by Toronto's championship story. Damian Lillard's 37-foot series-ending buzzer-beater against Oklahoma City wasn't just an incredible shot – it represented this new era of deep shooting that's completely transformed spacing in the modern game. I remember arguing with traditionalists who thought it was a bad shot, but the numbers showed Lillard was shooting 38.9% from 30+ feet that season. Teams were increasingly willing to take these low-percentage shots because the reward – stretching defenses to their absolute limits – was worth the risk. This strategic evolution was perfectly complemented by the physical evolution we were seeing in incoming players, where wingspans like Chiu's 82-inch measurement were becoming increasingly valuable for defending these extended offensive sets.
What made 2019 particularly memorable for me was watching how individual player development stories intersected with team success. Players like Pascal Siakam made leaps that few analysts predicted, going from averaging 7.3 points in 2018 to 19.8 in their championship season. This development wasn't accidental – teams were getting smarter about identifying and nurturing specific physical attributes that could be weaponized. When I look at combine measurements like Chiu's 107-inch standing reach, I don't just see numbers – I see potential defensive versatility that can switch across multiple positions, contest shots without fouling, and disrupt passing lanes. The most successful teams that season understood how to maximize these unique physical tools within their systems.
The legacy of the 2019 season continues to influence how teams are built today. The emphasis on length, defensive versatility, and deep shooting range that defined that year's best teams has become the blueprint for contemporary roster construction. As I look back, what strikes me most is how those thrilling games weren't just entertaining – they were educational. They taught us about resilience, tactical innovation, and the endless possibilities when extraordinary talent meets strategic brilliance. The numbers like 6-foot-9 with 82-inch wingspan that seemed remarkable in 2019 have almost become standard for modern forwards, proving how quickly the game evolves. That season set a new benchmark for what exciting basketball could be, and honestly, I'm not sure we've seen anything quite like it since.