Every NBA team’s greatest playoff moment

Boston Celtics: ‘Havlicek stole the ball’ (1965 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 7)

Despite the fact that no NBA franchise has won more titles than the Boston Celtics, it’s not hard to narrow down the list of the greatest moments in their playoff history. Ultimately, it comes down to Larry Bird’s steal and assist to Dennis Scott in the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons or John Havlicek’s steal sealing the 1965 Eastern Division Finals win in Game 7 for the Celtics. Both are classic NBA moments, but the latter gets the nod on this list.

In a classic matchup between Bill Russell and the Celtics and Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers, the series was back-and-forth in the East Finals. The two teams alternated wins through the first six games of the series, leading up to the finale, a Game 7 in Boston. With such a classic rivalry playing out, it was only fitting that it would end on a historically dramatic moment.

With the Celtics up by one, Russell’s inbound pass to essentially run out the rest of the clock hit a wire in the Boston Garden, thus giving the ball to the Sixers for a chance to win. Hal Greer was set to inbound the ball, but Havlicek read the play to perfection and got a hand on the pass for a steal that went to Sam Jones, who took possession as time expired.

There’s no question that the moment would go down in history regardless of anything else. However, what might put it over the top as the greatest is simply the call of the play. The “Havlicek stole the ball” line is simple, but ingrained in the history of the NBA. And it solidifies the moment’s place on this list.