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1/ The greatest shot in NBA history is Ray Allen’s game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of Game 6 of the 2013 Finals...
...the shot is also my favourite example of a lifetime of work meeting a single moment.
Thread
...the shot is also my favourite example of a lifetime of work meeting a single moment.
Thread
2/ Prior to this shot, the 37-year old Allen had hit 3,409 in-game NBA three-pointers.
And spent decades honing his craft, likely hitting more than a million 3-pointers in practice.
Let’s do the math.
And spent decades honing his craft, likely hitting more than a million 3-pointers in practice.
Let’s do the math.
3/ According to reports, Allen would take 200 shots an hour (and practice ran multiple hours).
Practicing every day from 17 to 37, he only had to make 140 made threes a day to break 7 figures over 20yrs.
140 threes / day * 365 days / year * 20 years = 1,022,000 total threes.
Practicing every day from 17 to 37, he only had to make 140 made threes a day to break 7 figures over 20yrs.
140 threes / day * 365 days / year * 20 years = 1,022,000 total threes.
4/ We can be pretty sure Allen is in the ballpark of those numbers as he was maniacally consistent about his practice and prep.
A self-diagnosed obsessive compulsive, Allen kept the EXACT same routine on every game day.
Per Bleacher Report
A self-diagnosed obsessive compulsive, Allen kept the EXACT same routine on every game day.
Per Bleacher Report
5/ Literally, nothing could knock him off his routine.
Here's an amazing video of Allen getting in his reps even as the stadium lights go out during his pre-game prep.
Here's an amazing video of Allen getting in his reps even as the stadium lights go out during his pre-game prep.
6/ Where did Allen get this insane discipline?
He was a military child, born on an air force base in Cali. He also lived on bases in OK, UK and Germany before taking up hoops in high school in S. Carolina.
(Earliest high school vid I could find)
He was a military child, born on an air force base in Cali. He also lived on bases in OK, UK and Germany before taking up hoops in high school in S. Carolina.
(Earliest high school vid I could find
)
7/ As he progressed in his basketball career -- from UConn to Milwaukee to Seattle to Boston to Miami -- his work ethic never wavered.
8/ His steady consistency was only part of the equation, though.
Allen readily mixed in creativity. He was known to practice shots of all sorts.
Pump fakes. Off the dribble. On the move. A quick catch. Falling backwards. Leaning forward.
Allen readily mixed in creativity. He was known to practice shots of all sorts.
Pump fakes. Off the dribble. On the move. A quick catch. Falling backwards. Leaning forward.
9/ One shot in particular confused many of his peers/coaches.
According to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: “[Allen] would lay on the floor, pop up, backpedal, have the presence of mind to have his feet set and not out of bounds and have a coach throw him the ball” before shooting.
According to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: “[Allen] would lay on the floor, pop up, backpedal, have the presence of mind to have his feet set and not out of bounds and have a coach throw him the ball” before shooting.
10/ Allen explained to Spoelstra: "It’s extreme, but I want to prepare myself for when I’m in the lane and hit the floor, or I’m on the ground and there's an offensive rebound so I have the fundamentals to be able to back pedal, stay in bounds and be able to knock down shots."
11/ Back to Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals. The Miami Heat are trailing the San Antonio Spurs 3-2 in the series.
Lose Game 6 and they lose the championship.
For Allen, the day begins like any other.
With his routine. https://twitter.com/thatgonzalez/status/347111134526066688
Lose Game 6 and they lose the championship.
For Allen, the day begins like any other.
With his routine. https://twitter.com/thatgonzalez/status/347111134526066688
12/ After a back-and-forth affair, the Spurs hold a seemingly insurmountable 94-89 lead with 28 seconds left in the game.
13/ The outcome seems so certain that NBA staff cart the championship trophy out to the court and set up yellow rope to block off the area in preparation for a "celebration".
According to Allen, "the yellow rope pissed me off."
According to Allen, "the yellow rope pissed me off."
14/ From that moment, the game gets weird.
• Lebron James hits a 3 (score: 94-92)
• San Antoni's Kawhai Leonard misses one of two FTs (score: 95-92)
• Spurs coach Greg Poppovich pulls Tim Duncan (one of the greatest rebounders ever) from the game
• Lebron James hits a 3 (score: 94-92)
• San Antoni's Kawhai Leonard misses one of two FTs (score: 95-92)
• Spurs coach Greg Poppovich pulls Tim Duncan (one of the greatest rebounders ever) from the game
15/ With 19 seconds left, the Heat have the ball with a chance to tie.
Lebron badly misses a 3.
And -- with no Duncan in sight -- Chris Bosh gets the offensive rebound..
...and spots Allen...
...who is backpedaling...
...needs to hit a three...
...while staying in bounds.
Lebron badly misses a 3.
And -- with no Duncan in sight -- Chris Bosh gets the offensive rebound..
...and spots Allen...
...who is backpedaling...
...needs to hit a three...
...while staying in bounds.
16/ Legacies of countless NBA legends are on the line:
• Tim Duncan going for his 5th title
• Lebron going for back-to-back titles (needed for GOAT convos)
• Wade going for his 3rd title (and all-time great SG)
• Parker, Ginobili & Poppovich solidifying the Spurs Dynasty
• Tim Duncan going for his 5th title
• Lebron going for back-to-back titles (needed for GOAT convos)
• Wade going for his 3rd title (and all-time great SG)
• Parker, Ginobili & Poppovich solidifying the Spurs Dynasty
17/ Bosh ( @chrisbosh) passes the ball to the backpedaling Allen, who recalls: “My body wasn’t unfamiliar with that situation. It was just a blank thought, like you black out...You get the ball in the air, and you don’t know what happens. You just become numb.”
(Feet JUST in)
(Feet JUST in)
18/ Bang! Tied Game.
19/ I always loved Allen’s post-shot first pump. Dude is HYPED!
20/ The Heat go on to win in overtime.
Who hits the game-clinching FTs?
Allen of course.
Who hits the game-clinching FTs?
Allen of course.
21/ Per @BillSimmons : "Ray Allen saved Miami’s season and swung the title. 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."
22/ Two days later, the Heat win Game 7 and the NBA title behind a monster Lebron performance.
In 20 minute, Allen takes 4 shots. He misses all of them and scores zero points.
It doesn’t matter.
The moment he prepared his entire life for already came ... and he delivered. https://twitter.com/IsiahThomas/status/347324368067649536
In 20 minute, Allen takes 4 shots. He misses all of them and scores zero points.
It doesn’t matter.
The moment he prepared his entire life for already came ... and he delivered. https://twitter.com/IsiahThomas/status/347324368067649536
23/ Allen hasn't tweeted in over a decade, but his 5th final tweet pretty much sums up this story and his life's journey that prepared him for a single improbable moment. https://twitter.com/greenrayn20/status/13976034041
24/ [POSTCRIPT] @chrisbosh recently blew up the inter with this tweet: https://twitter.com/chrisbosh/status/1280678208765980672
