By Simon Fishler
SportsLine NBA Editor

They’re calling it "The Shot." The "Memorial Day Miracle."

The Spurs' Sean Elliott’s tip-toe dance on the sidelines and rainbow 3-pointer somehow went in.

And even Elliott said: "I don’t know how I did it."

Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy said he’d pay $100 to see it again. Sure about that, Mike?

Even the Blazers players were so enamored with the shot that they spent some time after practice on Wednesday trying to replicate it, heels hovering over the sidelines and all. None could hit it.

Elliott’s bomb dropped the Blazers into a 2-0 hole in the Western Conference Finals. But more than that it was a demoralizing loss for Portland because the Blazers had led the entire game. After Elliott’s magical shot, the Blazers have to be thinking that fate just isn’t smiling on them.

It isn’t like we’re crowning Elliott our sizzler just for that shot (although it is deserving). The jumper was Elliott’s sixth consecutive 3-pointer in the game. He finished with 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

As Elliott was carving his name into NBA playoffs lore, Blazers guard Isaiah Rider went back to his sullen ways as Dunleavy pulled him from the game after noticing he was gimpy on a hurt knee. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter.

In a nip-and-tuck game, Rider stood away from his teammates during timeout huddles, then after the game Rider said the team "choked" at the end. Nice touch from a guy that wasn’t even in the game. The "I" in Isaiah is bigger than ever.

Rider wasn’t the only guy to spout off. Blazers starting point guard Damon Stoudamire reportedly whimpered about being benched in fourth quarters during the playoffs. Stoudamire said he is "never going to forget" the way Dunleavy has played Greg Anthony instead of him.

He even hinted that signing with the Blazers (7 year, $81 million contract) was a mistake.

Meanwhile, in New York, Latrell Sprewell made it known that he’s not entirely happy about coming off the bench for the Knicks.

And pro athletes wonder why they have a bad rap?

Sizzlin’ -- the countdown

5. Mr. Steady

Tim Duncan will continue to make this list as long as he’s putting up the numbers he has. Against Portland, Duncan has averaged 22 points and 11.5 rebounds.

4. Knick killer?

The Knicks have swarmed Reggie Miller, vowing not to let the shooter beat them. So ex-Knick Mark Jackson might have the honors. He came up big in Game 2, hitting 5 of 6 shots, finishing with 17 points and eight assists.

3. Big guy gone

Indiana scores big with Patrick Ewing lost for the playoffs. C’mon who would you rather face: A gimpy Ewing or a healthy Chris Dudley?

2. MVP delivery

Karl Malone may not have led the Jazz deep into the playoffs but his sparkling play in the regular season (23.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 4.1 apg) earned him his second MVP award.

1. Miracle man

Sean Elliott now has the most famous heels in NBA

Fizzlin’ -- the countdown

5. No production

The Spurs bench made just 1 of 15 shots and scored six points against the Blazers in Game 2. Can San Antonio keep winning without some production from the bench?

4. Old guys buried

The aging Jazz trio of John Stockton, Karl Malone and Jeff Hornacek might have seen their best shot at a title ended by the youthful Blazers.

3. Checketts revisited

This just in: Knicks president Dave Checketts more interested in learning finer points of lotus position from the zen man than winning an NBA championship with Jeff Van Gundy.

2. See ya

Mike Fratello came close to getting the Cavs into the playoffs despite being without three starters (Shawn Kemp, Brevin Knight and Zydrunas Ilgauskas) down the stretch. Still, the Cavs canned one of the most respected coaches in the league.

1. Whiners

Stoudamire, Rider and Sprewell. Have a chance to hold an NBA title trophy in a couple of weeks. Instead, more content to firmly grip pacifier.