Maurice Lucas Takes on Phil Smith in H-O-R-S-E (1977-78)
18Aired March 26, 1978 - Portland Trail Blazers bruiser Maurice Lucas took care of Golden State's Phil Smith during the NBA 1977-78 season-long competition of H-O-R-S-E. Lucas would go on to face Ron Boone, who he'd also defeat. That battle can be seen here: • Maurice Lucas Battles Ron Boone in a Rapid...
One year following a season-long dunk contest (won by Darnell Hillman), the NBA moved on to their next big idea for the 1977-78 campaign: a season-long H-O-R-S-E contest. As for why these events were season-long: the tourney-style format usually hinged on waiting until the teams of individual matchups met each other in the regular season. It was the "we'll play whenever we get around to it" technique.
Interestingly, there was no official H-O-R-S-E championship, with an injury knocking Pete Maravich out of the finals, leading to Paul Westphal winning by burying a blindfolded free throw during halftime of Game 4 of the 1978 NBA Finals to defeat "The Unknown Bag Man" (it was Rick Barry). • Paul Westphal - Rick Barry - John Havlicek...