Philadelphia 76ers

Fan Teaser: Week 185 Solution

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We’re no longer on track for a repeat of this masterpiece but the image was too good not to use!

In 2019 the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers met in an Eastern Conference Semifinal and it went the distance to a deciding seventh game in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

And, befitting a seventh game, it went down to the wire.

With two minutes remaining, the game was tied at 85. The Raptors scored four straight points before Philly countered with three free throws of its own to make it 89-88 with 12 seconds left.

Kawhi Leonard made just one of two free throws with 10 seconds left before 76er Jimmy Butler’s jumper knotted the game at 90 with four seconds left.

The final moments of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
The final moments of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals are captured in Toronto. Note the 0.0 remaining on the clock. The emotion visible on all the faces each tell a story do they not? With his right foot on the ‘R’ is Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid. Squatting next to Embiid is the shot’s shooter, Kawhi Leonard. Raptors Fred VanVleet (23) seems to be willing the ball into the basket as be steps off the bench. Philly’s Ben Simmons (25) appears resigned to fact that his season is over. 76er Jimmy Butler (only his head visible) can only watch. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBA Entertainment via Getty Images)

With that as the backdrop, Leonard played the role of hero, nailing a fadeaway baseline jumper as the clock expired to not only give the Raptors the 92-90 victory (they went onto win the franchise’s only NBA Title), but also yielded this week’s epic #FanTeaser image.

Shot by NBA Entertainment’s Mark Blinch, it was described by The Guardian as a “Flemish masterpiece” (whatever that might mean) thanks to all of motion, emotion, and lighting found in the shot.

It went on to win a World Press Photo Sports Singles 2020 Award and, I must say, it seems for good reason.

The video of Leonard’s buzzer-beater from the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.

The Fan Teaser: Week 136 Solution

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You may not be familiar with this image
but you certainly are familiar with its soundtrack.

Sixty years ago, Boston Celtics’ forward John Havlicek anticipated a pass in the waning seconds of the Eastern Conference Championship, deflected the Philadelphia 76ers inbound pass made by Hal Greer intended for Chet Walker, and sealed the deal for Boston, 110-109. The Celtics went on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-1, in the NBA Finals.

John Havlicek steals the ball from Chet Walker
Leading 110-109, Boston Celtics guard John Havlicek stole the ball on the inbounds pass from the Philadelphia 76ers to secure the Celtics victory. The Celtics would go on to the NBA Finals, where they would defeat the Lakers in five games. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated)

The image used for this week’s Fan Teaser is another by the incomparable Walter Iooss Jr. who was shooting for Sports Illustrated.

Even more memorable than Iooss’ image is, of course, the Boston Celtics’ radio call by Johnny Most (heard in the first video below). Then, 22 years later, another famous post-season steal occurred and with Most again on the call. (Still too soon for this Pistons’ fan:-(

The Boston Celtics’ principles recall Havlicek’s steal.
Johnny Most was again on the call when Larry Bird ripped the hearts out of Detroit Pistons’ fans.

The Fan Teaser: Week 113 Solution

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Our early holiday gift:-) They say the NBA isn’t worth paying attention to until Christmas.
Well, this fella was always worth watching.

Another week and another classic photo from Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer. This one is of Doctor J doing what the Doctor does best … soaring to the rim.

Julius Erving began his career with the American Basketball Association’s Virginia Squires where he averaged 27.3 points and 15.9 rebounds per game which was only good for a runner-up in the ABA’s Rookie of the Year voting (Kentucky Colonel Artis Gilmore took the home the honor).

Julius Erving aka Dr. J
Julius Erving soars for a dunk against the Denver Nuggets in December 1976. (Photo by Neil Leifer/Sports Illustrated)

In total, Erving played professionally 16 seasons with the Squires, New York Nets, and the Philadelphia 76ers and was an All Star all 16 seasons! Along the way, he won four MVP awards – three in the ABA and one in the NBA (1980-81) – on his way to being enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Some of Dr. J’s career highlights in one 3-minute video.
Dr. J made his movie debut in 1979 as part of the ensemble cast in the campy disco-infused “The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh.”

Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.