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| Big buckets The Arizona Republic June 3, 2001 There have been many big baskets in Suns history. Arizona Republic Suns writer Bob Young picks his 10 most memorable: * 1. Gar Heard hit a high-arching jumper (right) at the buzzer in the second overtime to send Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals between the Suns and Boston into a third overtime. "There was one tick left on the clock, and it turned out to be a great tick," teammate Ricky Sobers said. Watch highlites from whats often called, "The Greatest Game Ever" Game 5 of the 1976 NBA Finals between Boston and Phoenix. HERE * 2. Charles Barkley nailed a step-back shot from the top of the key over David Robinson to eliminate the San Antonio Spurs and send the Suns to the Western Conference finals in 1993. * 3. Rex Chapman made a catch-and-shoot three-pointer on the run (right) to send Game 4 of a 1997 first-round series against Seattle into overtime. The Suns, as a No. 7 seed, could have eliminated second-seeded Seattle with a win, but they fell in overtime and lost Game 5 in Seattle. * 4. Walter Davis hit a three-point shot with one second to go in regulation, sending the Suns into overtime against Utah in the 1984 playoffs. The Suns won that game 111-110 in overtime to take a 3-1 series lead and went on to the Western Conference finals, where they ost to the Lakers in six games. * 5. Keith Erickson popped a 25-foot shot with two seconds to go in regulation in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals in 1976. The Suns went on to win the game 133-129 in two overtimes to even the series at 2, and they eventually beat the defending NBA champs to reach the Finals. * 6. Connie Hawkins wrapped a "dipsy do" shot around Lakers star Wilt Chamberlain (right) in Game 2 of the first round in 1970, the first playoff series the Suns ever played. Phoenix won that game on Hawkins' 34 points and led that series 3-1 before the Lakers recovered to win in seven. "Two of those points will be entered with an asterisk," Dave Hicks wrote of Hawkins' night, "because nobody really believes he twisted in a lunging baseline drive, but, officially, it is believed he did." * 7. Dick Van Arsdale made what Suns fans later would realize was a patented driving layup on Oct. 18, 1968. It was the first basket in Suns history (left). * 8. Tom Chambers scored on a full-speed, stretched-out dunk over Mark Jackson of the Knicks (right) on Jan. 27, 1989, a remarkable shot that is replayed often and was immortalized in bronze when Chambers' name was added to the Suns' Ring of Honor. * 9. Kevin Johnson, a 6-foot-1 guard, dunked over 7-foot Hakeem Olajuwon of the Houston Rockets (video on right) in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. It left a lasting impression, even though the Suns lost that day and lost the series in seven games. Amazing KJ Carrer Tribute, click here to watch. Recommended high speed connection, and REALPLAYER software required. It's free, click here to get it. * 10. Dan Majerle's walk-off three-point bomb (left) from 33 feet beat the Lakers 115-114 late in the 1992-93 season. It kept alive a winning streak that reached 11 games. |
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| Watch Chapman's shot, click HERE Quicktime software required, high speed connection reccommended. Get free Quicktime software HERE |
| Watch Heard's shot, click HERE Quicktime software required, available free HERE. High speed connection recommended |