The Shot

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For other uses, see The Shot (disambiguation).

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.^[1]

1 The play
2 Lasting images
- 2.1 Dick Stockton's call on CBS
3 The plan of the play
4 Trivia
5 Gatorade advertisement
6 References
7 External links

[edit] 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:

“

The inbounds pass comes in to Jordan. Here's Michael at the foul line, the shot on Ehlo...good! The Bulls win! They win! They beat Cleveland Cavaliers! Michael Jordan hits at the foul line! 101-100! 20,273 in stunned silence here in the Coliseum. Michael Jordan with 44 points in a game hit the shot over Craig Ehlo. What tremendous heroics we have had in Game 5. From both teams, what a spectacular series this has been. In my days in the NBA, 16 years, greatest series I've ever seen. Superman was Superman and no one is going to talk about that missed free throw in Game 4 now!

”

[edit] Lasting images

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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.

[edit] Dick Stockton's call on CBS

“

Sellers has Jordan. Jordan with two seconds to go, puts it up and scores at the buzzer! Michael Jordan has won it for Chicago!!! Michael Jordan hit the basket at the buzzer as a disconsolate Lenny Wilkens leaves the floor. And for the second time today, the visiting team has won a deciding game in an opening round series. And the Chicago Bulls will move on to play the New York Knicks in a best-of-seven.

”

[edit] 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 &$*# out of the way" ^[2]

[edit] Trivia

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The buzzer-beater gave Chicago the best-of-five series, 3-2. It was both a game and series winner.
It was the first among many game winning shots Jordan would make in his playoff career.
The Shot is considered one of Jordan's greatest clutch moments, and the game itself a classic.^[1]
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 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.
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 this time a four game sweep.

[edit] 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.