duncan228
05-26-2009, 01:29 PM
Full-court press: A tale of two miracles (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Full-court_press_A_tale_of_two_miracles.html)
By Jay Nanda - Express-News
As San Antonio marked the 10-year anniversary of Sean Elliott's “Memorial Day Miracle,” memories flooded back to me of arguably the original NBA “Memorial Day Miracle.” I had the good fortune to be on press row during Game 4 of the 1995 Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Here's a synopsis of how that thriller turned out and how it stacks up with the Spurs' version.
Background
Orlando led the series 2-1 before a crowd of 16,477 witnessed several potential game-winners in the final frantic seconds.
With the Pacers leading 89-87, Orlando guard Brian Shaw connected on a 3-pointer for a 90-89 Magic lead with 13.3 seconds left. Curling off a screen with 5.2 to go, sharpshooter Reggie Miller responded with his own trey, reclaiming a 92-90 Indiana lead. But that left enough time for the Magic’s Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway to swish a 3-pointer over point guard Haywoode Workman for a 93-92 Orlando edge with 1.3 remaining.
That’s three lead changes on a trio of 3-pointers when only a deuce was needed to tie or take the lead each time.
Shaquille O’Neal had fouled out with 1:27 left for Orlando. So instead of going back to the clutch-shooting Miller, Pacers coach (and former Spurs coach) Larry Brown diagrammed a play for 7-foot-4 Dutch center Rik Smits, who caught the inbounds pass from forward Derrick McKey and up-faked on Shaq’s backup, Wayne “Tree” Rollins. As Rollins flew by, Smits calmly drained the jumper from the left elbow as the horn sounded, and bedlam broke loose. The series was tied 2-2 on Indiana’s 94-93 victory.
The verdict
For single-game excitement, I’m partial to the 1995 miracle, and not just because I was there. The ebb and flow of silence and deafening roars occurring four times in such a short span is unthinkable.
In terms of what each game led to for both franchises, well, there’s no contest. Both are former ABA franchises, but the Pacers lost the 2000 NBA Finals in six games to the Lakers (after which Smits retired and turned to his love of racing motocross motorcycles). They still haven’t won an NBA championship. The Spurs and Elliott? Well, you know the rest.
So both are great in their own right.
Final Shot
Jose Canseco is a well-spoken, strong guy who can be more likeable than you might think. Having stood at his locker during his days with the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays, I can vouch that his arms are as big as my head. Though we all know how he got those arms, it was impressive at the time.
His admissions of steroid usage and his books detailing such practices by him and other big-leaguers threatened to make his career a farce, but it's his off-field activities that have allowed the 1988 AL MVP to sink lower.
There was the celebrity boxing match he lost to former Philadelphia Eagles player Vai Sikahema. In January, he shamefully boxed former “Partridge Family” star Danny Bonaduce to a draw.
But now Canseco, 44, isreally in over his head. Admitting that he's “scared,” Canseco is on a mixed martial arts card tonight in Japan against Hong Man Choi — who's 7-foot-2 and 330 pounds. Choi's pro record is 1-2, but that was against other legitimate MMA pros.
It's all about the Benjamins for Canseco. But even so, he better hope he makes it back to the States with his head attached to the rest of his body. Though it's arguable it became detached long ago.
By Jay Nanda - Express-News
As San Antonio marked the 10-year anniversary of Sean Elliott's “Memorial Day Miracle,” memories flooded back to me of arguably the original NBA “Memorial Day Miracle.” I had the good fortune to be on press row during Game 4 of the 1995 Eastern Conference finals between the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. Here's a synopsis of how that thriller turned out and how it stacks up with the Spurs' version.
Background
Orlando led the series 2-1 before a crowd of 16,477 witnessed several potential game-winners in the final frantic seconds.
With the Pacers leading 89-87, Orlando guard Brian Shaw connected on a 3-pointer for a 90-89 Magic lead with 13.3 seconds left. Curling off a screen with 5.2 to go, sharpshooter Reggie Miller responded with his own trey, reclaiming a 92-90 Indiana lead. But that left enough time for the Magic’s Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway to swish a 3-pointer over point guard Haywoode Workman for a 93-92 Orlando edge with 1.3 remaining.
That’s three lead changes on a trio of 3-pointers when only a deuce was needed to tie or take the lead each time.
Shaquille O’Neal had fouled out with 1:27 left for Orlando. So instead of going back to the clutch-shooting Miller, Pacers coach (and former Spurs coach) Larry Brown diagrammed a play for 7-foot-4 Dutch center Rik Smits, who caught the inbounds pass from forward Derrick McKey and up-faked on Shaq’s backup, Wayne “Tree” Rollins. As Rollins flew by, Smits calmly drained the jumper from the left elbow as the horn sounded, and bedlam broke loose. The series was tied 2-2 on Indiana’s 94-93 victory.
The verdict
For single-game excitement, I’m partial to the 1995 miracle, and not just because I was there. The ebb and flow of silence and deafening roars occurring four times in such a short span is unthinkable.
In terms of what each game led to for both franchises, well, there’s no contest. Both are former ABA franchises, but the Pacers lost the 2000 NBA Finals in six games to the Lakers (after which Smits retired and turned to his love of racing motocross motorcycles). They still haven’t won an NBA championship. The Spurs and Elliott? Well, you know the rest.
So both are great in their own right.
Final Shot
Jose Canseco is a well-spoken, strong guy who can be more likeable than you might think. Having stood at his locker during his days with the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays, I can vouch that his arms are as big as my head. Though we all know how he got those arms, it was impressive at the time.
His admissions of steroid usage and his books detailing such practices by him and other big-leaguers threatened to make his career a farce, but it's his off-field activities that have allowed the 1988 AL MVP to sink lower.
There was the celebrity boxing match he lost to former Philadelphia Eagles player Vai Sikahema. In January, he shamefully boxed former “Partridge Family” star Danny Bonaduce to a draw.
But now Canseco, 44, isreally in over his head. Admitting that he's “scared,” Canseco is on a mixed martial arts card tonight in Japan against Hong Man Choi — who's 7-foot-2 and 330 pounds. Choi's pro record is 1-2, but that was against other legitimate MMA pros.
It's all about the Benjamins for Canseco. But even so, he better hope he makes it back to the States with his head attached to the rest of his body. Though it's arguable it became detached long ago.