not sure if it's the same thing but that game where the pacers and magic hit 4 shots in the last 13 seconds of the game was amazing. orlando drains a shot. indy hits one, probably a 3. then orlando responds and hits with like 1.4 remaining. the smits gets it and pump fakes and scores the game winner as time expires. never seen that before. kobe's 3 to win the division at the buzzer last year was amazing. turning to his offhand from 25 feet fading away, perfect swish for the division crown on the last day of the season. clutch. even though i don't like him, jordan's little tightrope on the baseline past oakley and then throwing it down on ewing is awesome. so much power in that dunk. vince carter posterizing mutombo was also pretty amazing.
Other wise known as "the shot blown on by god himself." The one that sticks in my mind right now for some reason because people have mentioned it is the Kobe 3 to win the division. I love shots that just tickle the net. I've been trying to do it just shooting around and it's tough. Btw, did he really use his offhand on that?? Other memories, of course, include the Dream when he abused Robinson, Shaq, etc. The Dream-Robinson matchup was totally awesome to watch since Robinson kept biting on all those fakes. DR was completely owned.
I can think as recent as last season for the rockets. When they finally got a win against the Lakers at home in the playoffs last year. It was so awesome to see everything go the rockets way late in the game and finally see the heart/emotions of the players after their first playoff win/first playoffs period (SF...Yao) remember the and 1 plays by SF to seal the deal.
Great Spurs moments, off the top of my head: Elie burns the Rockets. I was excited when we got Mario Elie for the 1999 season. He could still play, of course, but also I knew he would be great in the locker room and light a fire under some of our guys. A game in San Antonio saw the Rockets ahead most of the game, but in the fourth quarter the Spurs pushed back and that lead got smaller and smaller. The Spurs tied it, and could play for the last shot. On that final play, the ball moved around, sending the Rocket defense scrambling. The ball found Robinson at the top of the key. With a Rocket closing him out, Robinson pitched it out to Mario Elie standing wide open at the three point line. As he had done in big situations before, Elie nailed it. I've said it before - the best Rockets are ex-Rockets. The Memorial Day Miracle. I actually wasn't pissed during the game, despite Portland's 18-point lead. Talking to my brother at the half, I said to him with all honesty that the Spurs deserved to lose the game with the subpar play they were exhibiting. My brother couldn't believe my calm. This wasn't the Spurs fan he grew up with. As if to reward my objectivity, the Spurs came out in a rage in the third quarter, slapping a 17-2 run on the Blazers. Although game 2 of the Western Conference Finals was a contest again, the Blazers looked as though they had kept the Spurs at bay for good. Then Damon Stoudamire stepped to the free throw line with 13 seconds left and a 2 point Blazers lead. A chance for Damon "SA will never win the title with Avery Johnson" Stoudamire to ice the game in front of Avery's home fans. I don't know if it was the pressure or karma, but Stoudamire missed both free throws. After a timeout, Mario Elie inbounded the ball to Sean Elliott, who Baryshnikoved his way behind the three point line, heels hovering over the out of bounds line. He even took a dribble in this ridiculous position. With a flying Rasheed Wallace closing fast, Elliott let one fly just out of Wallace's reach. Bang. I couldn't believe the scene. Every Portland player looked like Haley Joel Osment seeing a deceased little girl crawl into his tent. The Alamodome erupted. Raw emotion poured out of Spurs players on the floor and on the bench. Portland had nine seconds left, but they could have had nine days left and it wouldn't have mattered. They were eliminated de facto right then and there. Two games later, Portland was eliminated de jure, and my team was going to the NBA Finals for the first time in its history. Game 1, 1999 NBA Finals. I won't say much about it, but I was there. It was everything and more that you would expect. Game 5, 1999 NBA Finals. Finally. The San Antonio Spurs are World Champions. I can't believe I ever witnessed that. I'm sorry the Rockets got there first, but it was a beautiful thing for my team - the only team I give a damn about - to be in that exclusive club. Game 1, 2003 West first Round. This was the greatest defeat my team was ever a part of. Every possession was vital. Every play was huge. Every mistake could be fatal. Most of the specifics have faded from memory, but I remember certain things: Robinson 8-8 on FG's. The Suns hounding Duncan, forcing the ball out of his hands time and again with double and triple teams. David Robinson making a huge block of an Amare Stoudamire dunk late in the fourth. Stoudamire later coming back with a banked in three pointer to force overtime. Every mistake could be fatal, and the last one was. Duncan missed a free throw in overtime, and the rebound found Stephon Marbury, the Suns one-man torture chamber from the Spurs perspective. Marbury raced up the court and let fly with a three pointer which banked in at the buzzer. Suns win by a point. Yes, the Suns banked in two critical threes in one game. Despite the result, I was glad to have watched such an epic contest. It felt like the Super Bowl of basketball. Fortunately for the Spurs, this was series play. Game 6, 2003 West Semis. Ending the Laker threepeat in Staples center, hearing Jack Nicholson admit that the Spurs were the best team, avenging the 2001 and 2002 playoff eliminations, and watching Tim Duncan hang 37 on Shaquille O'Neal...how do you suppose that felt? Game 6, 2003 NBA Finals. A perfect day. The Spurs made a huge 4th quarter comeback and won their second NBA title. Also, the great David Robinson ended his magnificent career in grand fashion, scoring 13 points and collaring 17 rebounds in his last NBA game. 2-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan was even better: 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, and 8 blocks. Not a bad clinching game, is it?
It's been 7 years since basketball in Houston was meaningful. It feels like ages. Every time I see Sam hit a clutch shot for the Wolves, I picture him on the Summit Floor, confetti pouring down upon him, holding up the 'Clutch City!" Houston Chronicle and saying into the camera, "we got 2 and we're gona win it again next year." Will basketball ever come back to Houston?
"He's got Robsinon absolutely bamboozled..." I just loved the way Fisher ran off the court afterwards..
If i exclude rockets moments. -The four point play of LJ (i hated the Pacers back then). -The Last shot of Jordan. -all of Horry's clutch 3pointers. -Hearing the lakers lost last years final(i was on a 2 week excursion for school)
-Dream torching the Admiral after the 1995 MVP presentation (and effectively finishing his career). -Game 1 of the 95 Finals (effectively ending Nick Anderson's career). -Kiss of Death game. -Ewing blowing what would have been the game winning layup against the Pacers (Game 7 East SemiFinals 1997, end of Riley era). -Miller's 8 points in 11 seconds against the Knicks in the 95 playoffs, and his fight with Spike Lee. -Jordan dunking and finger waving on Mutombo in the Bulls-Hawks playoffs in 1997. -Pippen on Ewing with the staredown in 1994. -Vince Carter teabagging Fredrick Weis in the Olympics (if we can count that). -Any of the Knick-Heat brawls. The Charlie Ward throwdown (PJ Brown) may have been the best. -"I guess the Jordan-Stopper Had a Bad Day" - MJ torching Gerald Wilkins in the 1993 playoffs. -Shaq putting the Admiral on his back for trying to block his dunk in the All-Star game. One of the nastiest dunks ever. Adding insult, it was in San Antonio. -Dream on Malone's undeserved MVP: "That man is not an MVP. MVP's don't flop or whine to get calls. MVPs just play." _______________________________________________ Crappiest Moments: -NBA Greatest 50 are announced and Dominique is snubbed. -Kemp and LJ embarass the US with their antics in the 1994 World Championships. -Mailman decking Robinson, and injuring numerous others. -Malone getting the MVP because the voters didn't want to give them all to MJ and they felt like he needed a lifetime achievment award. Evan
i just meant he was spinning to his right, which as a righthander meant he was going against the momentum of his body when he shot it (as opposed to spinning left and gaining momentum for the shot). which means he had to get that much more on it considering he was already 25 feet out and fading away a little. if that had been me the shot would've come up 10 feet short. Every time I see Sam hit a clutch shot for the Wolves, I picture him on the Summit Floor, confetti pouring down upon him, holding up the 'Clutch City!" Houston Chronicle and saying into the camera, "we got 2 and we're gona win it again next year." i either think of that or the 3 against the knicks. sam will always be a rocket.
eddie johnson game winner vs. the jazz in the 98 playoffs its always a special moment if your actually at the game
When David Robinsion got schooled by Hakeem after he won his MVP. The expression by David Robision on the bench. Later, the media asked him about playing Olajuwon. He said he thought he played him well, it is just the man played incredible as he has ever seen someone play. Watching the Dream Team 92 play. Man that was the greatest team ever assembled. All the houston rockets championship moments: Cassels clutch shooing, Roberts cluch shooting. Mario elies Three pointer kiss of death. OH man, that shot was great. Michael Jordans shot against the lakers where he switched hands in mid-air. Oh-Man!!! Any Magic Johnson game. The game in the Olympics where Yao pushed the other guy!! Nick the brick - need I say more...Thanks Nick Anderson
Two funny Barkley memories: When he gave Kenny Thomas a wet willie while one of the Grizzlies was shooting FTs. When he threw his mouthpiece on the floor, stomped on it, and then picked it up and put it back in his mouth. Greatest basketball memory: Charles Barkley walks back onto the court months after a basically career ending injury, grabs an offensive rebound and gets the put back and the foul. Sir Charles gets to leave the game on his own terms, and on his own two feet.
favorite live memories: the vancouver grizzlies inaugural home game vs the timberwolves - win at the buzzer with a tip in. improved them to 2-0. getting to go into the grizzlies locker room after a loss to houston in 2000...got to meet lots of houston players coming through the shuttle as well. magic johnson - michael jordan - the dream...incredible games. grizzlies last game in vancouver vs the houston rockets. "Heisley sucks...heisley sucks......" houston won...i got cuttino mobleys wrist band.
one series i really enjoyed watching was in 2003 when the blazers streched out the series against the mavs in which they were down 0-3 to seven games. Arvydas Sabonis really played his heart out in that series, especially that tip-in at the end of game 4 which helped seal it for the blazers. Sabonis was the man. Steve kerrs three point barrage that same year was amazing. Something about the veterans schooling the young guns, its very refreshing to watch the old veterans come out of nowhere and show the new kids a thing or two.
