Hakeem Olajuwon, who has more blocks than anyone else in nba history, gets posterized by Kevin Johnson in game 4 of 1994's western conference semi-finals. You gotta do something special to dunk with the greatest shot blocker ever guarding the paint and Johnson did just that going up high and finishing with the hoop and the harm. Extra credit for hitting the free throw.
Nothing is more special in sports than seeing two guys go at it, especially when the two guys in question would one day be inducted into the hall of fame. Ewing got the ball baseline and for half a second there was a pause as he looked at Mourning, both men aware that something spectacular was about to happen. Mourning thinking block of the year and Ewing thinking of the poster. To the disappointment of the crowd in Miami Patrick Ewing was victorious. If I was a kid growing up in New York during the 90's the image of Ewing dunking over Zo would plastered all over my bedroom.
The basketball player formerly known as Ron Artest (soon to be formerly known as Metta World Peace) was known for a lot of things. Being a hassle on the defensive end, getting into fights, and sometimes just downright hilarity. In a game between the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers Ron Artest got fed up with his defence not being as good as Paul Pierce's offence so he decided he needed to do what was necessary to get Pierce out his game. Pierce has to get pantsed. Pierce shook it off easily and drained a three pointer moments later right in Artest's face. Ron later apologized in the only way Ron knows how. Song.
This week in NBA Throwback Thursday we go back to game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics had possession with a one point lead with mere seconds to go in the game but Bill Russell slipped up and lost the ball off the stantion for the backboard during the inbounds. This gave Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers one last shot at the game and the series. Luckily for the Celtics however John Havlicek came to the rescue stealing the ball off the inbounds pass allowing for time to expire so Boston could win the series. Celtics commentator Johnny Most only raises excitement with his call on the play.
Havlicek played all 16 seasons of his career with the Boston Celtics scoring 26,395 points and he averaged 20.8ppg 6.3 rpg and 4.8 apg across that career. Those 26,395 points gives him the title of all time leading scorer for the Celtics, good for the 13th highest scorer ever in the NBA.
Havlicek's game saving steal is at the 2:00 minute mark but I'd implore you to watch the whole thing, Hondo deserves it.
