After Rockets stuff, my favorite team/teams/memories of the NBA have to start with Showtime vs. the Celts back in the 80's. I still remember Magic's hook shot to win game 4 in 1987 like it was yesterday. Also, I have vivid memories of Moses Malone and Dr. J tearing up the league in 1983; that was cool too. I had such a love/hate relationship with the lakers back then. For whatever reason, maybe becsue the competition was at such a higher level, those games seem 'greater' to me then most of the Jordan era. It just didn't have the same effect when Jordan was beating a Jazz team that I didn't think was that good (because I remember the rockets beating that same team in years past, hence they just didn't seem that good). What are yours?
i was happy for denver beating seattle in the 93-94 playoffs... mutombo laying on the court clutching the basketball. good for them.
Sam -- could not agree more about the Jordan era. seeing him school the likes of Craig Ehlo and Byron Russell just didn't do it for me,either. not his fault...but ultimately it is what it is. i freaking loved the Pistons in the late 80's/early 90's. loved the idea of a team that didn't have one player average over 20ppg winning a championship. truly a TEAM. i dug that. i loved watching the nuggets beat the sonics in 94...but that was mostly for selfish Rocket fan reasons.
Good thread SF. Lets see: Larry Bird and Chuck Person's classic duel in the 91 playoffs. Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins' classic duel in the 88 playoffs. Isiah Thomas scoring 43 against the Lakers in the 88 playoffs despite being able to play on only one leg (badly sprained ankle). BTW Sam. Ill give you $1 if you can tell me the nickname that Magic gave to that hook shot.
It was either the "junior sky hook" or the "baby sky hook" or something like that. I accept only travelers checks and diners club, btw.
Oh, one more: Chicago v. Portland in 1992. Jordan hits a whole bunch of 3s in a row in the 1st half to everyone's amazement. Famoust shot of Jordan shrugging his shoulders in disbelief.
Close. "The real, real, junior sky hook." The "real" part of the nickname is pretty important, so no soup for you.
I thought I didn't have any favorite basketball moments outside of the Rockets, but you reminded me that I did love to watch Reggie when he was shooting lights out. I especially loved the game where Reggie scored something like 10 points in the last 12 seconds to win a game that had seemed hopelessly lost.
i kno this isnt old schoo but i thought vince carter jumping over that 7 foot guy in the olympics and dunking was pretty crazy
yeah...but that game went into overtime and delayed the game i really wanted to see...Rockets v. Jazz!! it all comes back to the rockets in the end, really.
Sam, Hmmmmmm. I am skeptical. I could have sworn he first labeled it the "real, real junior sky hook". I have seen "junior junior sky hook" too, but always thought it was just a take off from the original label. I remember he called it "real" because Fat Lever, who layed for Denver in the late 80s, also had a skyhook, that he called the junior version and Magic inserted the "real" to rib him. I may have to go into enemy territory (Laker BBS) in order to find the real answer. Heh.
Lamely enough, I just did a lexis search and skimmed a few of the contemporaneous newspaper accounts from 1987; they all had te same "junior junior" quote. Yes, I have too much time on my hands.
One of my favs was when Shaq broke the goal when Orlando was playing Phoenix. I also used to love watching the Bulls vs Knicks on Christmas day on NBC.
Well, this isn't really a *moment* but more like a stretch in a game. I loved it when Steve Kerr came off the bench against Dallas last year and single-handedly brought San Antonio back in the game with 4 consecutive 3 pointers. I think it was game 6 or something, IN DALLAS too. I hated San Antonio for winning, but I loved seeing what Steve Kerr could do. That guy can shoot anytime, anywhere, period.
