It’s funny, the Memphis commentators had the distinct tone of “let’s wrap up this game with some statistical tidbits because there’s no way we’re going to win this one” which switched right into “frenzied excitement due to the un-freaking-believable nature of the happenings occurring before our eyes” as Jaren Jackson hit a three while getting fouled to make it a one-possession game with 30 seconds left.
Right now I’m imagining Rondae Hollis-Jefferson being told by his coaches over and over “don’t foul on a three, don’t foul on a three whatever you do”, and he’s like “yeah, yeah, I got it, no fouling on the three, no problem”. Then Atkinson is yelling it while the play is going on “DON’T FOUL THE THREE!” and he’s thinking “but I can’t just let him shoot it I’ve got to contest this shot!” so he does and he fouls and the shot goes in. And Atkinson is yelling at him and all his teammates are shaking their heads while looking sidelong at him like he’s got some sort of mental disability. That is the imaginary scenario I have made for myself. It makes me happy to think about.
Jackson then hit ANOTHER super-duper-ultra clutch three with 18 seconds left to tie it. That’s 7 points in less than 10 seconds to turn a sure defeat into an eventual (after a couple of bland-in-comparison overtimes) win. And when you think of “tons of points in a short time span to snatch victory from the fearsome jaws of defeat”, who do you think of? If you answered Reggie Miller, you need to go back the retirement home you escaped from. If you answered “Rodney Rogers”, you need to not watch some many obscure vintage highlights. The correct answer is “T-Mac”, and I’m just going to say that I saw a lot of T-Mac in Jackson’s game tonight.
Also I saw a lot of Shaq, some Curry, a bit of Magic, but no Jaren Jackson Sr.