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Warner Home Video presents
NBA Furious Finishes (1996)

"Just an outstanding shooting exhibition being put on by Reggie Miller."
- Marv Albert

Review By: Chuck Aliaga   
Published: September 02, 2005

Stars: Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, Derek Fisher
Other Stars: Dwyane Wade, Steve Francis
Director: various

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (nothing objectionable)
Run Time: 00h:50m:00s
Release Date: May 17, 2005
UPC: 012569598768
Genre: sports

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
C+	B	C-	C	C+

DVD Review

Since the NBA playoffs aren't hot and heavy right now, with night after night of dunks, sweet moves, and buzzer-beaters filling up the TV airwaves, what better way to get yourself hyped-up for the new season of action than by viewing a collection of clips showing some of the best game ending shots and finishes in NBA history?

NBA Furious Finishes compiles these memorable moments, from last-second shots, to miraculous comebacks, to just plain goofy plays. Almost every legendary NBA star of the 1970s, '80s, and '90s makes an appearance in this collection, which was originally compiled and released on home video in 1996. This new DVD edition of the program allows you to revisit the heroics of Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller (whom I've seen beat my beloved Celtics in person, countless times), Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson, among many others.

The best segments are those that are devoted to individual players and their storied flair for the dramatic. Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller are the subjects of these pieces, and it's great to see footage of these amazing athletes in action. Particularly compelling are the clips of Miller single-handedly beating the Knicks in the 1995 playoffs. His eight points in the last 10 seconds of Game 1 of that year's Eastern Conference semifinals gave his Indiana Pacers a miraculous win in that game, and eventually the series.

Tight editing and raucous music are standard in any sports-oriented clip show, and this is no exception. Sure, some of the music might seem a little dated, along with the footage, but reliving these memorable moments will never get old, and having them all in one nice package is a plus.

Aside from the main program, two bonus segments have been included, both of which feature NBA footage from 2000 and beyond. Many of these clips are culled from the most recent 2004-2005 season, including the most memorable comeback performance of the year. On Dec. 9, 2004, Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in the last 33 seconds of a game against the rival San Antonio Spurs, leading the Houston Rockets back from a huge, late deficit, and to an 81-80 victory.

Rating for Style: C+
Rating for Substance: B

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: The footage in this full-frame presentation is at least nine years old, so, naturally, images aren't going to be as sharp and detailed as they are in these days of HDTV NBA broadcasts. The grain increases and the specks of dirt fill the screen the older the footage gets, but in general everything looks as good as can be expected for such a mixture of footage. Colors are generally good, with contrast and black levels being handled as well as can be expected.

Image Transfer Grade: C-

 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English	yes

Audio Transfer Review: The only available audio is Dolby Digital 2.0, and this track is about what one would expect from a sports-oriented compilation of clips from various TV sources. Everything stays up front for the most part, with the occasional music cue traveling to the rear speakers for some of the newer footage. The announcers' speech comes across loud and clear, blending in perfectly with the various arena sounds and crowd noise.

Audio Transfer Grade: C

 

Disc Extras

Static menu
Scene Access with 13 cues and remote access
Packaging: Keep Case
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extra Extras:

1. More Furious Finishes - nine more minutes of classic buzzer-beaters.
2. T-Mac's Comeback - 14-minutes of footage from the miracle finish in a 2004 game between San Antonio and Houston

Extras Review: There are only a couple of extras, but they are sure to be loved by NBA fans. The first, More Furious Finishes, stockpiles more recent footage of great finishes, some as recent as the 2004-2005 NBA season.

T-Mac's Comeback is the entire final two minutes and change of a simply unbelievable comeback by the Houston Rockets, spearheaded by Tracy McGrady.

Extras Grade: C+

 

Final Comments

There are much more comprehensive NBA sets on the DVD market right now, but few of them are more exciting than NBA Furious Finishes. The solid audio and video presentations pack a nice punch, with wall-to-wall excitement, and a few extra features that NBA fans are sure to love.

 

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