Houston Rockets: The ten best shots in team history
The 13th point in 35 seconds
I’m going to start this slide off with Marv Albert’s call after Tracy McGrady gets control of the ball.
"Here comes McGrady, no timeouts remaining. McGrady, for the win? YES!! (Steve Kerr gasps) One point seven to go! San Antonio, with no timeouts remaining! Here’s Parker, and the Rockets steal a game, from the Spurs!"
As a sportswriter I made this list objectively because I know this was a regular season game. I know that this tag team of Yao Ming and McGrady never got past the second round of the playoffs. But the incredible level of what Tracy McGrady did is unfathomable and for that reason is top five on this list.
The Rockets were down 10 points in the fourth quarter of a regular season game in a season where they so far were disappointing. It was McGrady’s first year with the team and Rockets fans and media alike had started to question the trade for McGrady.
This is a moment I remember where I was when it happened. Because as the rally started down 74-64 I threw the remote and turned the TV off because I was so tired of watching the Rockets lose in what was supposed to be a season where we had championship aspirations.
I went to the kitchen to grab some food, I turn the TV on to watch the recap and suddenly I see McGrady running down the floor and Marv Albert making that call as McGrady pulls up and sinks it. I honestly just stood thinking “was this a highlight from a different game? This can’t be possible.”
I’ve never turned off a game, no matter what the score even if it is physically impossible for the team to win, since that happened.
Tracy McGrady went bananas as the team was down 74-64 with 52 seconds to go. Marv Albert and Steve Kerr were getting ready to send it back to Ernie Johnson as Yao made an innocent put back dunk off a missed lay up. Then a steal and dunk that made it 74-68 with 47 seconds to go. Ok, it’s possible we could come back.
The Spurs hit two free throws. 76-68 with 40 seconds left. Never mind. It’s not possible.
Tracy McGrady hits a three. Ok, he’ making the loss look more respectable. 76-71 with 35 seconds and the Spurs have the ball. The Spurs make two more free throws. We’re down seven with 24 seconds an-McGrady just got fouled on a three pointer and sank it. Makes the free throw. We’re down 78-75 with 24 seconds left. He can’t keep this going though.
And the Spurs make two more free throws and there’s 16 seconds left and we’re down five, it’s over an- McGrady just hit another three over one of the best defenders in the NBA and we’re down only two points. 11 seconds left. But the Spurs have the ball so we have to foul. Or do we?
Devin Brown loses the ball, McGrady brings the ball up court, pulls up from three and hits it for his 13th point in 35 seconds. It’s an incredible moment that starts at the 4:04 minute mark of the video above.
While this shot is number four on the list, it’s either top one or two for me personally. Everything about this shot, from the way the fans jump with pure joy and disbelief, from Marv Albert’s excited call to Steve Kerr only being able to say “Oh-” and not even finish the “My God” part because what McGrady had just done was that incredible, to McGrady’s fist pump as he hits the shot and then defends Tony Parker at half court to seal the win.
This is a video I watch probably once a week because it’s just mind boggling to think someone could be that good in that short of time and that a lead like that, which keeps increasing as the Spurs kept hitting free throws, could be overcome.