What is the signature play in the history of each NBA franchise?
Boston Celtics: Havlicek steals the ball
Six games weren’t enough to decide a winner in the 1965 Eastern Divison Finals matchup between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. Neither team had claimed consecutive victories, but just one more would secure a spot in the Finals.
Despite a 40-40 regular-season record, the Sixers had gotten to this point after a mid-season trade brought in Wilt Chamberlain, maybe the most statistically imposing player ever. Opposing him was his antithesis, Bill Russell. A man more concerned with the final results than his individual stat line flanked leading scorer Sam Jones and do-everything forward John Havlicek.
A win for the Celtics would mark their seventh consecutive Finals appearance and their eighth in nine years. Philly hadn’t been since 1955 when they were the Warriors.
The momentum in Game 7 swung from quarter to quarter, as Boston jumped out to a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter only to head into halftime down one. 12 minutes later, the Cs found themselves up by eight heading into the final quarter.
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Chamberlain had dunked the ball in the game’s final seconds to cut the deficit to one. Normally as reliable an inbounds passer as there was, it was Russell who turned the ball over after tossing it into one of the beams supporting the basket.
In about five seconds, Boston’s chances at a win rapidly sunk. Another basket by Philly and a string of six straight titles was snapped, forcing the always-competitive Russell to live with that epic blunder for the rest of his life.
Sixers guard Hal Greer inbounded the ball underneath Boston’s basket with five seconds remaining, trying to get the ball to Chet Walker near the right wing.
Havlicek was guarding Walker with his back to the basket. But as Greer’s pass sailed to Walker, the corner of Havlicek’s eye allowed him to intercept the ball, tipping it to Jones who dribbled out the clock to seal the win.
The play propelled the Celtics to the NBA Finals where they’d defeated the Lakers 4-1, keeping alive a championship streak that would reach eight the following season.