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GREATEST PLAY-BY-PLAY CALLS - BRACKET CREATION PHASE -
NBA BASKETBALL (RADIO)

INSTRUCTIONS

Listed below are 23 of the greatest NBA basketball radio play-by-play calls of the last 50 years.

They are ordered randomly; the numbers have no meaning and vary from survey to survey.

You may rate as many calls as you like. You can exit whenever you want.

Although videos accompany most all of these radio calls, keep in mind that you are assessing the quality of the Play-by-Play Call, not the quality of the video. Also remember that you ARE NOT rating the greatest sports MOMENTS; you are rating the greatest sports CALLS.

Your input is critical to formulating the "Greatest Play-by-Play Calls of All Time" bracket. (This is not the bracket.)

Listen to each call below and rate where you think it ranks as one of the greatest radio Play-by-Play calls of the last 50 years.  Use your best judgment.
1.Mike Inglis - Heat Radio - 2013 NBA Finals - Game 7 - Heat vs. Spurs

Final seconds as the Heat win their second consecutive championship



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
2.Neil Funk - Bulls Radio - 1993 NBA Finals - Game 6
Bulls at Suns

John Paxson hits the go-ahead three pointer to clinch the Bulls' third straight championship



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
3.Brian Wheeler - Blazers Radio - 2014 West First Round - Game 6 - Blazers vs. Rockets

Damian Lillard hits a buzzer beating three pointer to clinch Blazers first playoff series win in 14 years



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
4.Marc Kestecher - ESPN Radio - 2015 East Semis
- Cavaliers at Bulls

LeBron James hits the game winning jumper from the corner at the buzzer to even the series

***Note- Audio link will open in new tab in soundcloud. Pause audio player or close tab when done listening.
Marc Kestecher - "LeBron James' Game Winner"

Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
5.Brian Wheeler - Blazers Radio - 2019 West First Round - Game 5 - Blazers vs. Thunder

Damian Lillard hits 37-foot three pointer to clinch series win for the Blazers



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
6.Mike Inglis - Heat Radio - Heat at Warriors (2014)

LeBron James makes a difficult off balance three pointer to win the game for Miami



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
7.Gene Peterson - Rockets Radio - 1997 West Finals - Game 4
Rockets vs. Jazz

Eddie Johnson drills a clutch shot at the buzzer to tie the series a two games apiece



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
8.
Chick Hearn- Lakers Radio - 1987 NBA Finals - Game 4
- Lakers at Celtics
"Junior, Junior"

Magic Johnson hits a sky hook to put the Lakers ahead with two seconds left



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
9.Mark Boyle - Pacers Radio - 1995 East Semis - Game 1 - Pacers vs. Knicks

Reggie Miller hits two threes in quick succession to tie the game on the way to scoring eight points in nine seconds



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
10.Jim Durham - ESPN Radio - 1998 NBA Finals - Game 6 - Bulls vs. Jazz 

Michael Jordan hits the go-ahead jumper with 5 seconds left to seal the Bulls' 2nd 3-peat and 6th championship



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
11.Marv Albert - Knicks Radio - 1999 East Finals - Game 3
- Knicks vs. Pacers 

Larry Johnson knocks down a three-pointer and is fouled with just over 5 seconds left as the Knicks steal a win from Indiana



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
12.Spero Dedes -  Lakers Radio - Lakers vs. Heat (2009)

Kobe Bryant hits an incredible bank shot from three point range over Dwyane Wade at the buzzer to give the Lakers the win



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
13.Marc Kestecher - ESPN Radio - 2018 NBA Finals - Game 3
- Warriors at Cavaliers

Kevin Durant knocks down a deep three pointer to stretch the Warriors' lead to six points and seal a 3-0 series lead

***Note- Audio link will open in new tab in soundcloud. Pause audio player or close tab when done listening.
Marc Kestecher - "Durant's Clutch Three"

Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
14.Johnny Most - Celtics Radio - Celtics vs. Blazers (1985)

Larry Bird hits a three-pointer from the corner at the buzzer.



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
15.
Johnny Most - Celtics Radio - 1987 Eastern Conference Finals - Game 5 -
Celtics vs. Pistons

Larry Bird steals the inbounds pass and feeds Dennis Johnson for the winning layup

Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
16.John Michael - Cavs Radio - 2016 NBA Finals - Game 7
Cavaliers at Warriors
"Final Call"

The Cavaliers win their first NBA Championship and bring Cleveland its first title as a city since 1964



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
17.Mark Boyle - Pacers Radio - 1995 East Semis - Game 7 - Pacers vs. Knicks

Patrick Ewing misses a finger roll and the Pacers beat the Knicks at MSG to advance



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
18.Tim Roye - Warriors Radio - 2015 NBA Finals - Game 6
Warriors at Cavaliers
"Final Call"

The Golden State Warriors win their first NBA Championship in 40 years

***Note- Audio link will open in new tab in soundcloud. Pause audio player or close tab when done listening.
Tim Roye - "Warriors Win 2015 Title"

Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
19.Jim Durham -  2002 Western Conference Finals - Game 4 - Lakers vs. Kings

Robert Horry hits a  three pointer at the buzzer to even the series



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
20.Jim Durham - Bulls Radio - 1989 East First Round - Game 5 - Bulls vs. Cavs
"The Shot - 1989"

Michael Jordan hits buzzer beater over Craig Ehlo to send the Bulls to the second round



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
21.Kevin Calabro - Supersonics Radio - 1992 West 1st Round - Game 4 - Sonics vs. Warriors
"Lister Blister"

Shawn Kemp throws down a vicious dunk on Alton Lister



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
22.Tim Roye - Warriors Radio - 2017 NBA Finals - Game 3
- Warriors at Cavaliers

Kevin Durant knocks down the go-ahead three pointer as the Warriors go on to take a 3-0 series lead

***Note- Audio link will open in new tab in soundcloud. Pause audio player or close tab when done listening.
Tim Roye - "Durant's Go-Ahead Three Pointer"

Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
23.Tim Roye - Warriors Radio - 2015 West First Round - Game 3
Warriors at Pelicans

Steph Curry sends the game to overtime with an incredible shot



Definitely one of the Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls
Worthy of Consideration as one of the Greatest
Maybe/Maybe Not one of the Greatest
Probably Not one of the Greatest
Definitely Not one of the Greatest
24.Do you have any other suggestions for NBA radio play-by-play calls that are worthy of consideration as the GREATEST of the last 50 years?  If so, please provide the name of the broadcaster and a description of the event and the call.
25.Thank you for completing this survey and helping us to determine the entrants and seedings for our Greatest Radio Play-by-Play Calls bracket. Please feel free to complete as many sports-specific surveys as you like.

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Copyright 2020 - Jack Benjamin      

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