Simmons Reflects On Ray's Shot

[Gurleyman]

Well, the whole ending to Game 6. He was a little harsh on Ray for not grabbing the rebound on the previous possession (which led to the LeBron three), but oh well. He made up for it.

http://grantland.com/features/nba-finals-game-6-heat-spurs/

Nobody in NBA history was better prepared for this moment. Ray moved backward quickly, knowing he needed six steps — he couldn’t take five, and he couldn’t take seven — because, again, Ray Allen is a brilliant obsessive who practices these things.

There’s never been a greater NBA shot. With all due respect to Jordan’s iconic jumper against the ’98 Jazz, Allen’s shot had similar clutchness, bigger stakes and a higher degree of difficulty. If you or I caught that pass as we were backpedaling, then launched a desperation 3 with someone running at us, we’d screw up every time.1 Only a few players could dream of making that shot with that footwork — Kobe, Durant, Bird, T-Mac, Reggie Miller, maybe Jamal Crawford with lower stakes — but the moment itself made it a different animal. You wouldn’t want anyone else shooting that shot other than Ray Allen. His whole career led to those three seconds. It really did.

This is the footnote:

When I played at Staples Center a few months ago, I kept trying Ray’s shot with Grantland’s Dave Jacoby playing the role of Bosh. It’s just about impossible to furiously backpedal and land perfectly between those two lines, much less launch a coherent 3-pointer. It’s a wildly unrealistic ask for normal NBA players, much less normal humans. Ray Allen is neither

 

[jibsey]

Sometimes when the replay is shown they don't show the whole backup he did but only the last step or so which is a serious injustice. He came from near the foul key line. Like watching Picasso paint....looks easy enough.

 

[junglehusky]

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[UConn9604]

Sometimes when the replay is shown they don't show the whole backup he did but only the last step or so which is a serious injustice. He came from near the foul key line. Like watching Picasso paint....looks easy enough.

Not to mention that the shot didn't come anywhere close to hitting the rim. It was one of the purest swishes I've ever seen. Nothing but net, and barely the net.

 

[jibsey]

My mistake, he was actually "inside" the key to start. I believe the practice part because one article documented that Ray sometimes practices shooting 3's blindfolded from selected spots so he can do them by feel without seeing. I don't really root for a team tonight, just For Ray to do well.

 

[GemParty]

@espn: Ray Allen’s shot transformed last year’s Finals.

Here is the play transformed into moving art. https://post original url/7OkkoETPeS

 

[Frank06830]

Pardon, if this was previously discussed, but Ray was fouled on that shot. Parker invaded his space by the fact he undercut where Ray landed....no?

 

[Gurleyman]

Pardon, if this was previously discussed, but Ray was fouled on that shot. Parker invaded his space by the fact he undercut where Ray landed....no?

Very well could have been if Ray sold it. Looked like Parker managed to avoid contact, but a simple little leg kick to create a little contact (not even a scissors kick, just a tiny one) and a flop to the ground might have forced a whistle. He was in Ray's landing space.

Ray was probably too locked in on the shot, though. He may not have even really noticed Parker.

 

[intlzncster]

Very well could have been if Ray sold it. Looked like Parker managed to avoid contact, but a simple little leg kick to create a little contact (not even a scissors kick, just a tiny one) and a flop to the ground might have forced a whistle. He was in Ray's landing space.

Ray was probably too locked in on the shot, though. He may not have even really noticed Parker.

Ray would rather bet on himself than on the ref.

 

[tzznandrew]

Ray would rather bet on himself than on the ref.

This. Too late in the game and too much on the line to mess with form. And Ray has his form down.

 

[Frank06830]

...my point was it should have been a 4 point play. Ray got robbed. ... Seriously Parker encroached his space where he started his shot....Parker knew what he was doing.IMO...it just didn't work

 

[husky91]

It will be known as one of the top 10 shots in NBA history, but I'm no fan. Hate the Heat and was rooting against Ray last night.

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