The Shot

The Shot is a game-winning basket made by Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls in the fifth game of the first round of the 1989 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, on May 7, 1989, on Cleveland's home floor in Richfield, Ohio.nba.com/history, [http://www.nba.com/history/jordancav_moments.html The Shot] , accessed February 14, 2007.] The buzzer-beater gave Chicago the best-of-five series, 3-2. It was both a game and series winner. The Shot is considered one of Jordan's greatest clutch moments, and the game itself a classic. ]

It was the first among many game winning shots Jordan would make in his playoff career. In Game 4 during the second round of the 1993 Playoffs Jordan would make another series winning buzzer beater on the same end of the court, in the same building giving the Bulls their 4th playoff series win over the Cavaliers, that time a four game sweep.

The Bulls were winless in six games against the Cavaliers in the regular season, including a 6-point loss in the final regular-season game in which the Cavaliers rested their four best players (Ron Harper, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and Larry Nance). The Bulls' playoff victory was considered an upset. In retrospect, it symbolized the beginning of a dynasty in Jordan's Bulls.

It is one of several dramatic sports moments — Red Right 88, The Catch, The Drive, and The Fumble — at the expense of Cleveland teams.

The play

Jordan hit a jumper with six seconds left to give the Bulls their first lead at 99-98. Following a Cleveland timeout, Craig Ehlo inbounded the ball, received a return pass, and scored on a driving layup to retake the lead with 3.2 seconds left, 100-99. Chicago then called a timeout.

The ball was inbounded to Jordan, now being guarded by Ehlo. Jim Durham, calling the game on the Bulls' Radio Network, narrates what happened next:

=Lasting

The lasting image of this moment is Jordan's wild and emphatic celebration: a leap into the air, fist pumping, shouting at the visiting crowd, as Ehlo crumpled to the ground in agony a short distance away. This scene has become part of many fans' recollection of The Shot, but it was not shown to viewers of the televised game (which was broadcast on CBS with Dick Stockton and Hubie Brown as well as sideline reporter, James Brown calling the action). CBS never aired this replay during the game telecast, nor was Jordan's celebration caught by the sideline pressbox camera used for most game action. Instead, fans saw the celebration of Bulls coach Doug Collins.

Dick Stockton's call on CBS

The plan of the play

At the post-game news conference, Chicago head coach Doug Collins said the plan of the play was "Give the ball to Michael and everyone else get the fuck out of the way." [Basketball Digest, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCJ/is_5_31/ai_114923305 Heartstoppers; we take a look at the top 30 playoff moments of pro basketball's last 30 years - 2004 Postseason Preview] , May-June 2004 ]

In popular culture

In "The Boondocks" episode "Ballin'," Riley Freeman's celebration after making his first basket is modeled on Jordan's celebration.

Gatorade advertisement

In 2005, Gatorade produced an advertisement featuring The Shot. Its premise was, "What if great moments in sports history were a fraction off?" The ad featured edited footage of The Shot, altered to a miss by Jordan, causing the Cleveland team and home crowd to celebrate. Later in the ad, the real version of the telecast (in which Jordan makes the shot and leaps in the air to pump his fist, while Ehlo crumples at the sideline) is shown.

References

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/history/jordancav_moments.html The shot at nba.com/history]