Crossover Chronicles is a relatively new blog, so we decided it was a good idea to introduce you to the crew. We’re doing that in a new feature called “Writer-Palooza.” For the next few days, we will feature one writer, introducing him to you via an original piece, his favorite basketball video, and a wildcard post on any topic that he wants.
Today we feature Surya Fernandez. You can find him on Twitter here.
This moment in NBA history may not be my favorite of all time and it’s probably not the most memorable moment of the 2006 NBA Finals. But it’s definitely amusing to watch again in case you’ve forgotten it.
But first a little history…
On August 3rd, 2005 the Heat participated in the largest trade in NBA history when they acquired Antoine Walker from the Boston Celtics, guard Jason Williams, forward James Posey, and guard Andre Emmett from the Memphis Grizzlies and the draft rights to center Roberto Duenas from the New Orleans Hornets in a five-team trade. The mega trade also included Eddie Jones going to the Memphis Grizzlies, Rasual Butler to the New Orleans Hornets, and a 2006 second round draft pick (Edin Bavcic), a conditional second round draft pick (in 2008, Nikola Pekovic), Qyntel Woods and the draft rights to Albert Miralles to the Boston Celtics. Additionally, Memphis sent Greg Ostertag to the Utah Jazz and the Jazz sent Curtis Borchardt to the Celtics, Raul Lopez to the Grizzlies and Kirk Snyder to the Hornets.
Got all that? Okay, you can forget it again.
Heat fans never really knew what to do with Walker. He was mostly infiuriating, shooting threes like there was no tomorrow and never fitting in with the Pat Riley “defensive-minded warrior” mentality like his teammates Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem embodied. As a third option behind Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal he could have acceptable offensive games here and there but usually gave up more points on the other end anyway. Regardless, Walker averaged a decent 12.2 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 2.0 APG for the 05-06 season while shooting 43.5% from the field (his “best” for a full NBA season) and 35.8% from beyond the arc.
Despite Riley’s best intentions to surround Shaq and Wade with a championship-caliber team, not many pundits would have thought a core featuring Walker and Jason Williams would be enough to win it all…
Fast forward to the all-important Game 6 of the NBA Finals at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The Heat have a razor-thin edge in the third quarter with the score 57-53 in the third quarter. Jerry Stackhouse is being guarded by Walker as he cuts to the paint. Walker swipes at the ball and it would have gone out of bounds if it wasn’t for referee Danny Crawford’s body. It ends up in the hands of Wade for a fast break opportunity where Walker gets the pass at the top of the key from Wade, collects the ball with two hands for a power dribble and heads towards the basket where Stackhouse spins around and attempts to take a charge but has his foot in the restricted area. The basket counts for his tenth point and the Heat’s largest lead of the game so far in the game. Walker falls to the floor, sees the foul has been called and he immediately pumps his fist twice in celebration. Then, it’s like his face and his shoulder suddenly become possessed…
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEhmJbZZ-60
Of course, Walker goes on to miss the ensuing free throw but he did finish with a double-double in the closeout game with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Riley would then go on to suspend him twice in his Heat career for being too, uh, “chubby” and then finally gave up and shipped him off to the Timberwolves for even more maligned players Ricky Davis and Mark Blount.
Heat fans may want to forget most of Walker’s tenure in Miami but the shoulder shimmy during the Heat’s most glorious time in their franchise history will live on forever in their hearts. Well, if it doesn’t already it should.
