Fast Break

Fast Break

Year: 1978

Runtime: 105 mins

Language: English

Documentary

Using a cinema‑verité approach, the documentary follows the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers’ NBA championship and the players’ lives off the court. The film weaves game footage with moments like Bill Walton biking the Oregon coast, Dave Twardzik hosting a kids’ camp, Maurice Lucas lounging by the pool, and coach Jack Ramsay’s everyday routine, letting the team speak about basketball, Portland, and the larger lessons of their season.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Fast Break (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Fast Break (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late 1970s

The events unfold in the late 1970s, a period when college basketball cultivated regional followings and coaching gigs could be precarious. The plot hinges on the economics of the era, including modest pay per win and the long odds of scheduling a game against a top program. Road trips, recruiting letters, and streetwise pragmatism define the pace of this era-specific basketball quest.

Location

Brooklyn, New York, Cadwallader University, Nevada, Nevada State

The story begins in Brooklyn, capturing a basketball-obsessed neighborhood atmosphere. It then follows a cross-country quest to Cadwallader University in Nevada, a fictional college that becomes the team’s battleground. The settings shift from urban gyms to a rural campus and the road-heavy schedule, highlighting the contrast between everyday life and the dream of coaching at the college level.

🏙️ Brooklyn 🗺️ Road trip 🏫 Campus life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:34

Main Characters – Fast Break (1978)

Meet the key characters of Fast Break (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

David Greene

A basketball fanatic living in Brooklyn who longs to coach at the collegiate level. He seeds a plan to turn Cadwallader University into a contender, balancing his dream against a strained marriage and the realities of cross-country recruitment.

🎯 Dreamer 💔 Marriage strain 🏀 Leader

Hustler

David’s friend, a talented pool player whose fortunes sour when his schemes catch up with him. He becomes a key recruiter and strategist, using street smarts to assemble the team.

💪 Loyal teammate 🎭 Schemer

Preacher

A player with a dangerous past who must escape a powerful cult connection. He joins the team while fearing pursuit, adding tension and urgency to the quest.

💔 Fugitive 🧭 Risk-taker

D.C.

A former high-school star who has turned to illicit activities and now gravitates toward the team. His legal troubles loom as the season progresses, complicating the journey.

🧮 Numbers man 💥 Criminal past

Swish

A finesse player with a great jump shot who is forced to pose as male to join the squad, highlighting issues of gender and opportunity within the team.

🎭 Identity swap 🏀 Skillful

Sam Newton, 'Bull'

The team's lane-clearing muscle who brings power and presence but lacks finesse, rounding out a diverse and imperfect lineup.

💪 Muscle 🏁 Power

Bo Winnegar

Head coach of the elite team, whose match-up with Cadwallader becomes the central obstacle. He enjoys billiards, a detail that helps the protagonists devise a plan to win his consent to play.

🏀 Rival 🎱 Billiards

Howard

The team manager who handles recruitment logistics and orchestrates the plan to secure the big game against the top team.

🗺️ Organizer 🤝 Negotiator

Self (Bill Walton)

Bill Walton appears as himself, lending authenticity to the basketball-heavy tone of the film and providing a moment of meta-cameo appeal.

🎬 Cameo

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:34

Major Themes – Fast Break (1978)

Explore the central themes of Fast Break (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🏀 Underdog Rise

A determined coach assembles a ragtag group to challenge a top Nevada program, illustrating how belief and teamwork can overcome talent gaps. The road trip and the big game become the crucibles where the team forges cohesion. The film emphasizes resilience, improvisation, and the grit required to pursue an unlikely victory.

💔 Dream vs Reality

David’s coaching dream clashes with his wife’s desire for stability, highlighting the personal costs of ambition. The narrative explores the tension between pursuing a career goal and maintaining family life. It uses this conflict to ground the high-stakes basketball plot in human consequences.

🎭 Deception and Risk

To compete, the team relies on disguises and strategic deception, including Swish posing as male. This element raises the stakes as exposure could derail the entire quest. The theme probes identity, integrity, and what people will risk to win.

🔎 Danger and Law

Preacher’s peril—being hunted by a hitman—introduces real-world danger beyond the court. David negotiates with a police officer to allow D.C. to play, showing how pursuing a dream can collide with criminal and legal realities. The looming threat intensifies the drama surrounding the championship run.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:34

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Fast Break Summary

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Fast Break Summary

Fast Break Timeline

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Fast Break Timeline

More About Fast Break

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