But the moment was crazier, as West sprained his hand, missed all five attempts in overtime, and the Lakers lost the game. Later, Willis Reed scored his heroic four points in Game 7 and the Lakers lost the series.
To this day, Lakers fans are quick to remind that if there were a three-point line back then, West's shot would have been the game-winner and changed history.
Of course, to this day, San Antonio Spurs fans are quick to remind that there is no way a human being can catch a ball and drain a shot in four-tenths of a second.
Fisher's winning toss in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference semifinals was amazing in its sheer physical improbability, although it eventually led only to Finals defeat against Detroit.
Some would argue that Michael Cooper's jumper to beat Utah in the final seconds of the 1988 conference semifinals belongs here, especially because it was his only basket of the game and eventually led to a title. But there were seven seconds left when Cooper flung his shot, a lifetime by Lakers standards.
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4 Big Shot Bob's biggest.
I remember standing at my courtside media seat in stunned awe after Robert Horry made his buzzer-beating three-pointer in Game 4 against the Sacramento Kings in the 2002 conference championship.
The series had just been tied. The postseason had just been kept alive. Arguably a championship had just been won.
Horry incredibly hitting from the top of the key? After luckily catching a ball batted out by Vlade Divac? With the red light glowing around the basket?
Around me, Staples Center fans were hugging and screaming and crying.
In front of me, Horry had just stuck his hands behind his back and strutted downcourt in probably the most famous celebration dance in Lakers history.
Besides me, suddenly, there appeared Glenn Frey, one of the founding members of one of my favorite bands.
He slapped his hand on the press table.
"The Eagles never wrote a song this good!" he shouted.
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3 Kobe to Shaq to dynasty.
There was no way they could win. The Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant marriage was officially doomed. The Phil Jackson era was over before it started.
The Lakers trailed by 15 points with 10:28 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.
