Gary Payton

Described before the game as being “one heartbeat away” from its first NBA Finals appearance since 1979, the Seattle SuperSonics, ahead 3-1, knew the likelihood of the Utah Jazz responding to their early-game energy with a workman-like run of their own. For Gary Payton, understanding that simply meant incorporating a few deceptive stops in between. Preferring craftiness in the open floor, the Hall of Fame point guard slows his pace to a complete halt, freezing Jeff Hornacek with a delayed, in-and-out hesitation combo before hanging a sky-high finger roll ahead of Karl Malone’s reach. In an absolute zone during what could be cataloged as the most productive offensive performance of his playoff career to date, Payton delivered high-IQ plays throughout, even during a narrow, three-point loss. The 1995-96’s Defensive Player of the Year used a two-way effort that prompted 31 points (on 11-of-17 shooting), five rebounds, six assists, two steals, and four 3-pointers on May 28, 1996. Five days later, Payton’s excellence would go rewarded with a trip to the championship round against a mighty, 72-win Eastern Conference foe.

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