First Impression: Buck Harvey’s Take On Elliott’s Shot

[duncan228]

First impression: Buck Harvey’s take on Elliott’s shot
Buck Harvey

Here is the start of his Express-News column from our June 1, 1999, editions, where he was credited for first using the phrase “Memorial Day Miracle” in reference to Sean Elliott’s game-winning 3-pointer for the Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals against Portland:

About the time Stacey Augmon flew by, something came from the other direction. It wasn’t wind exactly, but if you held up a forefinger, you could feel it. As Sean Elliott tight roped without a net, something pushed him back on balance.

It was a power created over years of pain. It came from Johnny Moore’s Desert Fever and Dennis Rodman’s deserted sneakers. It came from Rod Strickland’s over- the-head turnover, the Dream Shake and a long-ago phantom foul on Billy Paultz.

From bad memories, then, to the Memorial Day Miracle. A franchise snake-bit at everything but lotteries bit back with the mother of all makeup calls. Elliott somehow teetered the other way and stayed inbounds.

Then it got weird. The Spur least known for last-second toughness acted like Reggie (Miller) or (Michael) Jordan. And when Elliott stood as he never has — when this franchise stood as it never has — the Spurs looked around and hailed the power that had blessed them.

This has to be their year, doesn’t it?

[Sean Cagney]

You could tell when that shot fell it was their year!

Like D Rob said in 03 when Horry's shot did not fall, he said he just knew then it had to be their time again!

One play in the playoffs, one shot that falls and doesn't fall, thats the difference and all the difference in the world!