"I know, if I let you practice now, who knows, it might come in handy later."
Sam Perkins looked utterly baffled—this was the Western Conference semifinals, lose and you're out.
Coach, you really want me to shoot a three-pointer? Is that even appropriate?
At that moment, Magic Johnson chimed in, "Give it a try, Sam. We need some unconventional strategies to win. I'll pass the ball to you."
Sam Perkins swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and said he could give it a shot, but warned not to blame him if he missed—he's no shooter.
And so, after laying out this strategy, the Lakers executed the crucial play.
Sam Perkins, Byron Scott, and James Worthy ran consecutive screens and cuts.
The Trail Blazers defenders naturally focused all their attention on Worthy cutting inside and Scott heading for the corner.
They completely ignored Sam Perkins standing beyond the three-point line, as Perkins had no record of shooting threes.
