Monday, February 25, 2013

Time Machine: 1982 - Is This The Best Pick in NBA History?

Great game I stumbled upon here. 1982 NBA Playoffs, Washington at Boston, Game 5, Bullets facing elimination. Celtics blow a 5-point lead with a minute left in regulation, Bullets blow a 5-point lead with a minute left in the first overtime.

Full disclosure: Yes, I was a Bullets fan. Not that you can tell from this write-up.

Some highlights:

1. Frankie Johnson drops three 3-balls to rally the Bullets from an 18-point deficit, the last one being an absolute bomb.

2. Frankie Johnson in first OT is blanketed with the shot clock running down and ducks underneath Cornbread Maxwell, who's like 4 times his size, and makes a gorgeous, gorgeous pass to Greg Ballard, who screened and rolled for the wide open jumper. GREAT play. 1:33 mark of First OT video.

3. Rick Mahorn with 30 seconds left in the first OT knocks Tiny Archibald into 2013 with a devastating pick that is vintage Bruise Brothers. I'm not kidding, Tiny just woke up last week and said "Whoa, what happened?" Mahorn then makes the open jumper while Archibald lies crushed at his feet. Honestly, the fact that it occurred during a crucial possession in overtime of a playoff game has to put it in the running for greatest NBA pick of all time. Love how he primed his brick wall of a body as his unwitting victim approached. So sweet. 6:27 mark of First OT video.

4. The last 10 seconds of that first OT are why I hated those Celtics teams with a white-hot intensity. Not saying it was a bad call but, damn, that ref couldn't wait to blow the whistle on that jump ball (1 second into play? c'mon!) and then the absolute BS at the buzzer. Could not stand those Celtics teams.



NBA on USA - 1982 Eastern Semis: Washington @ Boston, Game five, end of the 4th Quarter










P.S.: How long has Hubie Brown been alive, anyway?

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