Best NBA Games Of 2011: Heat, Mavericks, Lakers, Knicks Play In Greatest Games Of Year (VIDEO)

Remember when it seemed like the "Will He? Won't He?" drama leading up to the "Summer of 2010" was the most divisive, dramatic and distracting thing that could ever have happened to the NBA?

Gosh, those seem like innocent, low-stakes days as we close out a 2011 that was filled with heated vitriol, an enervating playoff run, offseason labor strife, and behind-the-scenes intrigue. Looking back, the notion of New Yorkers hand-sewing LeBron's name on to Knicks jerseys seems like a too-cutesy Etsy promotion compared to the reaction that greeted the Miami Heat in every road game. I mean, have you read "Whore Of Akron" by Scott Raab?

Whether you prefer the Miami Heat schadenfreude of the NBA Finals or were actually pulling for the South Beach Superfriends, 2011 was a year with plenty to keep you mesmerized. If you liked buzzer beaters (paging Mr. Durant), upsets (table reserved for the Grizzlies, party of Z-Bo), validation (this way, Herr Nowitzki) or a poignant farewell (safe travels, Brandon) then there was also plenty to enjoy this year.

Here are more than a dozen of the greatest NBA games from 2011. Help us decide which was the BEST NBA GAME OF 2011. We know these games are just the tip of the ice berg. So let us know the other great games that took place this year by clicking 'Add A Slide' and submitting a YouTube highlight of your favorite game.

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Comments

[reklaw78]

11:38 PM on 01/02/2012

With so few games this season, even the Clippers have a shot at the title!

[Tater Salad]

04:03 PM on 01/01/2012

I loved when Amare blocked LeBron. Was a beautiful sight.

[henrypapillon]

02:54 PM on 01/01/2012

Best NBA games of 2011? The ones that weren't played. Bo-ring!

[TBrennan]

02:36 PM on 01/01/2012

f the NBA

[tnlcallen]

05:15 AM on 01/01/2012

I'm going to my first NBA game in Miami in a little over 2 weeks from now. I'm pretty excited about it. Miami plays the Spurs. It should be a great game.

[bridgeman]

05:03 AM on 01/01/2012

I'm on a "no NBA strike" until further notice...greed sucks and i am not that forgiving.

[NatTurner1]

09:13 AM on 01/01/2012

I am sure they are going to really miss you!

[bridgeman]

09:18 AM on 01/01/2012

Who cares if they do or not.

Are you under the assumption that they care about you?

[TBrennan]

02:37 PM on 01/01/2012

May you waste a pile of your own money going to games and buying crap.

[OH canada]

12:43 AM on 01/01/2012

this guy is simply where amazing happens, too bad to see b.roy go the way he did. we can fly to the moon but we can't fix his knees???

[Dick Cobble]

11:00 PM on 12/31/2011

Does anyone really care?

I ask - " Why do 6' 5" adults shoot or drop a ball into a hoop measured at 10' high from the floor ~ when - children and everyone else, have to participate on the same height regulation as they? In the NFL they sometimes change the rules - as to the the yard lines as to which - the kick off's occur. Furthermore - they have moved the goal posts back 10 yards and have implemented a concise way for instant replay - to be reviewed with no, or little doubt remaining for anyone. They even narrowed the goal posts some.

Doesn't everyone - remember going to high school basketball games & screaming your lungs out for your team, and wound up - Horse - for the next 4 days.

I say for Pro Basketball ~ raise the hoop to 12 feet.

Then - I'll consider watching these Prima~Donna's as long as they behave themselves.

After all - what would Wilt C. or Bill R. say??

[bhrandon]

11:50 PM on 12/31/2011

yea because hitting the ball is so hard, or throwing a ball is so hard... cmon do they shorten the football field? do they enlarge the baseball?

please what a lame comment

[NatTurner1]

09:16 AM on 01/01/2012

You asked if anyone really cared but you took time out of your life to craft and pretty long winded retort.

Sports, music and acting have entertained cultures for centuries. The fact that these genres do not entertain you, but writing extensively about it on a blog does is very sad.

You care non sports fan, you care..otherwise your time would have been spent on something else or you would have ignored this sports article.

I say make the hockey court 20 feet longer, then maybe they will behave themselves.

[greenToBlue]

10:24 PM on 12/31/2011

Too bad he is no longer playing. What a game. And he did it against eventual Champs....It's a game for the memory.

[rigormrtis]

09:10 PM on 12/31/2011

Sad to see BRoy retire.

[LORNADOONS]

07:06 PM on 12/31/2011

Who watches NBA games any more?

[abuja19]

09:27 PM on 12/31/2011

I do. And millions of people, in fact I believe certain NBA christmas games pulled in 6+millions views last week.

[bhrandon]

11:50 PM on 12/31/2011

the bigger question, who watches baseball anymore

[Brautigan]

06:50 PM on 12/31/2011

Well, as a Blazer fan, of course my favorite game of the year was...

Lakers vs. Mavericks, game 4, lol.

That was gold, period. I still have it on Tivo.