MAN-TO-MAN

“Two things happened in the fourth.  We didn’t come up with loose balls.  Two big ones. They scored on both of them, hit a three and got another two.  And the ball stopped moving.” –David Fizdale following the Knicks 95-83 loss to Orlando.

Good conversation Wednesday night on ESPN with Stephen A. Smith and Paul Pierce.  Weak sit down though with Kemba Walker.

ESPN did a solid feature on Giannis Antetokounmpo and his game day prep.  After he works out on the court two hours before the game, he thanks every assistant coach who rebounded, passed and defended against him.

The Detroit Pistons faced the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night in Toronto – last year Detroit won all 3 meetings against the NBA champions.  Tonight, the Raptors won 125-113.

George Blaha, Pistons announcer, “Every Raptor brought their ‘A’ game.”

What was Joel Embiid and Karl Anthony-Towns doing?

Was Paul Pierce cheering for the Celtics after working the pre-game for ESPN?  No cheering on press row, right?

Rockets beat the Wizards last night 159-158.  James Harden scored 59 points in 37 minutes.  The Bearded one shot 18-32 from the field including 6-14 from deep.  Harden, as we all know makes a living from the free-throw line knocked down 17 of 18.  We can’t leave out that he dished out 9 assists.  Bradley Beal pumped in 46 for the Wizards.

”I didn’t know we were going to have to score about 160 points to win but whatever it takes it took,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni said. ”A lot of great individual performances. They played unbelievable. They didn’t miss anything.”

Teams that shot a higher percentage from three-point range last night were 10-1.  The Wizards (.556) were the only team that lost while shooting better than their opponent (.426).  But the Rockets did make more 3’s than the Wizards. (23-20)  Houston also attempted 18 more.

On the year teams that shoot a higher percentage are 40-23.  Teams that make the most 3’s are 31-24-8.

Congratulations to the Washington Nationals.  2019 World Series Champions!

Happy birthday Blue Edwards, John Lucas (the dad), and Jack Molinas.

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

 

A.T.O.

On the last night of NBA League Pass preview (free of charge) we get the Dallas Mavericks (2-1) visiting the Denver Nuggets (3-0).

Mavs win 109-106.  Post game analyst was asking if the Nuggets, who played last night played with tired legs?

Free-throws attempted per game:  1-Rockets (34) 2-Mavericks (33) 3-Nets (32).  Tonight Dallas took 24 (made 14).

After three games Nuggets came into tonight’s game 35-95 (.368) from deep.  Mavericks in 3 games, 38-126 (.302)  Tonight:  Mavs 13-37 for .351 – Nuggets 11-32 for .344.

Nuggets announcer Scott Hastings on Luka Doncic, “He’s a great player but he’s a horrible defender.”

Maxi Kleber of the Mavericks is nice.  30 minutes, 14 points on 6-12 shooting.  7 rebounds.  Love his energy.

The Joker had a triple-double last night;  10-10-10…

Malcolm Brogdon leads the NBA in assists per game with 10.7.  LeBron James is 2nd with 10.0 per game.

How about Anthony Davis last night?  40 points, 20 rebounds.  26 of 27 from the free-throw line.  Lakers beat the Grizzlies 120-91.

Clippers and Jazz tonight.  LA has the highest offensive rating.  Utah has the highest defensive rating.

Three teams still undefeated in the league;  76ers (3-0), T-Wolves (3-0) and Spurs (3-0). Teams without a win?  Pacers (0-3),  Kings (0-4), Pelicans (0-4).

Happy birthday Phil Chenier, Devin Booker and Terry Tyler.

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

JUST WANNA HOOP

“This is how it goes: When I hoop, I have no friends.  On the court, they know not to talk to me.  Steven is a real close friend of mine, but inside those lines, there’s no friends. Spalding, that’s my friend, and my teammates, but that’s it.  Before the game, after the game, I’ll talk to my guys.  That doesn’t mean I don’t have friends, but during the game, I don’t.  If you try to talk to me, I ain’t going to say s— to you.”

–Russell Westbrook following Houston’s 116-112 over the Thunder.

KNICKS-BULLS FROM 33RD AND 7TH

Carmine from Brooklyn was very disappointed in New York Knicks fans turning on Dennis Smith Jr.   “Hey look,” Carmine told me over the phone,  “Edmond Sherrod or Rory Sparrow are not walking through those doors.  So why not embrace and support your young point guard?”  Before tonight’s Knicks-Bulls game it was announced that Smith Jr. would miss the game due to the death of his step-mother.

RJ Barrett in his first three games with the Knicks has joined some elite company.   With his 63 total points, he is right behind Patrick Ewing who scored 64 and Bill Cartwright who scored 80.  Barrett is also the 2nd player in NBA history with 60 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 three-pointers in his first 3 games.  (Kevin Durant is the other)

As for the game, Bobby Portis, the ex-Chicago Bull scored 28 points on 10-14 shooting leading the Knicks to their first win of the season, 105-98.  Portis came off the bench and sparked the Knicks making 4 of 4 from Greenwich Village.

”I’m just an animated player. I don’t know what I’m saying sometimes,” Portis said. ”I just have fun. I love playing this game.

”I feel like I wasn’t myself the first couple games and I didn’t bring the energy, so I had to get back to being who I am.”

Knicks entered the game having committed 51 turnovers the past two games. And wouldn’t you know it, they turn it over on the first possession of the game.  For the game they turned it over 17 times.  Julius Randle had 8 of them.

New York closed the game out on a 15-0 run.

”I’ve always said that Bobby Portis is one of my favorite guys of all time,” Bulls coach Jim Boylen said. ”He’s a tough, competitive guy who works and cares. We traded Bobby Portis because that’s what happens in our league. It doesn’t mean we’re not fond of that player or don’t believe in that player. There are situations when a deal works and you put a player in it. He played great tonight. I’m disappointed that we lost but I’m happy that he played well.”

Barrett finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists in 40 minutes.  A big plus was just 2 turnovers but Knicks fans will criticize him for shooting 5-11 from the free-throw line.   Coach Fizdale needs to hand the keys over to the rookie – get out of his way and let him run the show.

Frank Ntilikina went 0-6 from the field, including 0-4 from deep in 22 minutes.  But his coach is not worried:  “It didn’t matter. His minutes were fantastic.  He guarded.  He set the tone defensively.  The shots will fall for him.  The thing I’m proud of is how he kept himself ready.” 

There’s a lot more things than scoring you can do to help your team.

Bulls shot 9-35 from deep, Knicks 9-29.

The Bulls and Knicks are now 1-3.

THE BIG EASY

Golden State Warriors got their first win of the year over the New Orleans Pelicans, 134-123.  Draymond Green had a triple-double, 16, 17, and 10.  Steph Curry scored 26 points and had 11 assists.  D-Lo, 24, 7 and 8.  The Warriors dished out 37 assists.

“When I said we sucked last night, a lot of people blew it out of proportion.  Lotta former players who ain’t ever led shit blew it out of proportion. We sucked. We still not very good. But I’ve known how to lead my entire life.” -Draymond Green

FOUL OR DEFEND

“Do you foul?” the Spurs play-by-play guy asked the color analyst.  The Spurs were on defense, up 3 with :07.1 to play.  Portland had the ball.  Damian Lillard had scored 18 points in a row.  Pop decided to defend.  Blazers missed a 3.

Speaking of fouling, Denver Nuggets guard Gary Harris has never fouled out of an NBA regular season game.  The former Michigan State Spartan has been in the league for 5 full seasons playing in 314 games.  Harris did foul out of Game 3 against Portland in the 2019 playoffs.

THE REF

Smush Parker is learning how to become an official.  Good call.  The game needs more officials.  https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/ny-smush-parker-referee-20191026-htjosa7jnbeftmrghzhk4dmvhq-story.html

“You have to snap every call. Point to certain places. It’s very structured,” Parker says. “That’s the side of it I didn’t see as a player. Just seeing the game, seeing the flow of the game, reading the game, reading plays – that’s the easy part. I played. That’s the easy part for me.”

ON THE HOUSE

NBA League Pass is free for one more night.

REST IN PEACE

Al Bianchi died on Monday at the age of 87.  The Long Island City alum played his college ball at Bowling Green.  He was the Knicks GM from 1987-1991.

Happy birthday Danny Vranes

E-MAIL:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

YOU WANT THE TRUTH?

“The reality is we fucking suck right now.  We just not that good right now.  I don’t know what better way to frame it.  I can try in Spanish, but I ain’t really that good at Spanish.”  -Draymond Green after the Golden State Warriors lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 120-92. 

Golden State is 0-2.  The losses have been ugly.  Besides Sunday’s defeat, they lost to the Clippers 141-22.  Against the Thunder on Sunday, Golden State turned the ball over six times in the first five minutes of the game.  (Golden State finished with 14 for the game)  At one point in the first half O.K.C. led 70-35.  Jordan Poole, a rookie from the University of Michigan is shooting 2-22 in the first two games for Golden State.  He’s 2-12 from distance.  With hard work in the gym, he will get it going.

At one point in the third quarter the Thunder led 95-56.

“Everybody loved our offense, but it wasn’t our offense that was making us great,” Green said. ”It was our defense. I’ve said that for years. Our defense right now is nonexistent. I don’t even think we know what defense is right now.”

D’Angelo Russell was ejected in the third quarter for screaming at an official.  Russell drove to the goal, thought he was fouled.  No call.  He got in the official’s face, was T’d up. Russell kept on yelling, walking with the official, in his face.   Ref T’d him up again and that was all she wrote.  Russell, the former Ohio State Buckeye finished with six points on 3 for 10 shooting.   This kind of behavior can’t happen.

Warriors visit New Orleans Monday night to take on the Pelicans who are looking for their first win.   No need to panic.  There’s still 80 games to play.

Draymond had another interesting post-game comment:  “It sucks.  But I guess just about everybody except Tim Duncan has been through it. But it sucks pretty bad.”

OT

On Sunday the Brooklyn Nets lost in overtime to the Memphis Grizzlies, 134-133.  It’s the second time this week Brooklyn has lost in OT.  With the Grizzlies trailing by two, Jae Crowder hit a 3 from the top of the key at the buzzer.  Kyrie Irving finished with 37 points. 7 rebounds and 7 assists.  Crowder made two just baskets in 37 minutes of run.  Both were 3’s.  His first make came with 1:09 left in OT.   Solomon Hill was 5-5 from the field for Memphis.  Rookie Ja Morant had a very good game.  30 points on 13-22 shooting, 9 assists and he was the one who pitched it to Crowder for the game winner.  Ja is fearless.  Grizzlies had 33 assists on the day with just 12 turnovers.

ROCKETS VS THUNDER

Monday night marks the return of Chris Paul to Houston.  Will be interesting to watch the ex-Rocket go against Russell Westbrook and James Harden.  Thunder head coach Billy Donovan on facing Westbrook:  ”He was always a great guy to coach. The one thing I always admired and respected – and I told him this – that I never took for granted that he came ready to play and give his all every night.” 

Speaking of Russ, on this date in 2016, he put up 51 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and dished out 10 assists leading the Thunder to the 113-110 overtime win over the Suns.   The  former UCLA Bruin took 44 shots in the game.

UNDEFEATED

After one week of play, five teams are undefeated.  Timberwolves 3-0.  Nuggets, Spurs, Hawks and 76ers all 2-0.  Someone will get their first loss tonight;  76ers take on Atlanta.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

High school basketball players are going to have another option.  Seems like there is going to be a new league for them.  David West is involved.  https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-10-26/historical-basketball-league-prep-athletes-pay-salary-hbcu-college-education-ncaa

To players and their families, the opportunity to professionalize at 18; receive a scholarship to a two-year or four-year college or vocational school that sits near one of the eight HBL cities (down the Eastern seaboard, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, Va., Norfolk, Va., Raleigh, N.C., Charlotte, N.C., and Atlanta); keep rights to their name, image and likeness for endorsement deals; and be trained in financial literacy and other practices that will help them navigate their careers in basketball or outside of it.

Teams that have made more 3’s in a game are 18-16-6.

Happy birthday Lenny Wilkens and Randy Wittman.

Be a great teammate…

Two very good websites/resources for the NBA:  Basketball-Intelligence http://basketballintelligence.net/  and Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

 

 

REBOUND AND RUN…

“It’s the first game.  The NBA is back, so everyone wants to have the narrative of a rivalry game and a huge test.  Both teams are not who they want to be.  It’s not a rivalry.” –LeBron James on Lakers vs Clippers opening night.

I shake my head when I read an article that mentions “MVP candidates.”  To me this is awful journalism. A waste of space. The announcers in studio are also talking “MVP.”  To me, it’s nonsense.   Basketball is a “team” sport.  Let me repeat that;  BASKETBALL IS A TEAM SPORT!  And we are just one week into the season.

MVP?  Really?

Right now at this time of year, coaches are trying to figure out player rotations, strengths, weakness, coach’s challenge, (get rid of that, it’s dumb) who’s load-managing? (I see key players already sitting out) and who they can count on to be a team player.   John Stockton, played 19 seasons with the Utah Jazz.  16 of those years he played in all 82 games.  One season he played 50 out of 50 (NBA strike).

ALL POINTS BULLETIN

Stanley Johnson is in Toronto running with the Raptors.  In 3 games so far Johnson has played 9 minutes.   When Johnson was drafted in 2015 by the Detroit Pistons (round 1 pick #8 out of Arizona) I heard people talking this guy was going to be a star.  The Raptors are his third team.   Last season he was traded by the Pistons to the Pelicans where he played 18 games.  This past July Johnson signed with the Raptors.

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse when asked about Johnson and his teammate Rondae Hollis-Jefferson fitting in:  “Nope, nope, nope. Those guys have not understood A) how hard we play, B) our schemes, that defense is a priority for them. We’ve got some work to do with that crew. I tell them there’s a couple spots open come Tuesday night if somebody wants them. And I keep telling [them] show me you’re going to play defense, show me you’re going to play hard, show me you understand our coverages. And then whatever you do on the other end you’re going to get opportunities just because of who you’re on the floor with and they’ll come to you. You don’t have to come down and occupy 95 percent of your mind with how you’re going to break down and get your next shot.  It’s not going to get you on the floor right now.  So we’ve got work to do.  We’ve got to find who’s going to blend in quickly defensively with this crew.”

AND IN THE BACKCOURT

People are wondering, ‘Will Russell Westbrook and James Harden work in Houston’?  I say yes.  But if Houston is going to be successful, they will need the other players around them to fill their role and do their job.  That was one key to the Golden State Warriors success, role players stepped up.

FIRST WIN

We all remember the first time we won our first game.  Congratulations to Cavaliers head coach John Beilein who won his first NBA game over the Indiana Pacers.  “We’re always going to celebrate every win. We’ve worked hard and it’s been a long summer and September to get to that first win for these guys and our coaching staff. Really feel great,” Beilein said following the game.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

Easy there Kyrie Irving.  Pump the brakes bro.  “Take over the city?”  LOL.  I think New York City is big enough for two teams.  But keep in mind the Knicks have not been relevant for a long time.  Just play ball.  Be a good teammate and win games.  Irving, the ex-Cleveland Cavalier and Boston Celtic dropped 50 on opening night at Flatbush and Atlantic against the Minnesota Timberwolves…but the Nets lost!  That’s right, the Brooklyn Nets lost in OT.  Kinda reminds me of Bernard King dropping 60 for the Knicks in 1984 but losing to the Nets.  Just win baby!

CITY OF POINT GUARDS

Across the bridge, or through the tunnel, on 33rd and 7th there’s a point guard problem.  The New York City tabloids, websites and of course Twitter (where I have not posted since September 15) are on fire with what New York Knicks head coach David Fizdale should do at the point.  There’s Elfrid Payton,  Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina, and rookie J.R. Barrett who can handle the rock and distribute.  Payton starts.  Smith backs him up.  Ntilikina has played 3 minutes the first three games.  Saturday night in the Knicks loss to the Celtics fans at MSG were booing Smith who has totaled 3 assists and 2 turnovers.  “Our fans are passionate. They know what they like, they know what they want. It doesn’t do anything to my mindset,” Fizdale said of chants from the crowd. “I’m going to coach this team and Frank will get his opportunities. We’re talking about three games into the season. It’s not like we’re talking 40 games in. So Frank’s mindset is right. He’s been working his butt off. And when he gets the opportunity, he’ll be ready.”

TRIPLE-DOUBLE

4 players have recorded triple-doubles in the first week.

Russell Westbrook 28-10-13

Giannis Antetokounmpo 30-13-11

Luka Doncic 25-10-10

Nikola Jokic 23-14-12

SHOOT IT UP AND SLEEP IN THE STREETS

This section will always be dedicated to Kevin Loughery, author of the above phrase.  In their 126-125 win over the Chicago Bulls, the Charlotte Hornets made 23 deep balls.  On the same night the Memphis Grizzlies shot 5-32 in their 120-101 loss to the Miami Heat.

The Bucks have taken the most 3’s in one game thus far; 54.  Pelicans launched 50.

Do you want the best NBA material on the internet:  Basketball-Intelligence http://basketballintelligence.net/  and Basketball-Reference.com https://www.basketball-reference.com/

Be a great teammate…

E-Mail: Hoops135@hotmail.com

SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR 3-POINT SHOOTING

Heat 131 Bucks 126 (OT):  Miami 16-44 .364 Milwaukee 17-54 .315  Khris Middleton 4-11.  Wesley Matthews 4-7 from deep.

76ers 117 Pistons 111:  Philadelphia 13-34 .382 Detroit 8-19 .421  Mike Scott 5-6 from deep. Tobias Harris 4-6

Hawks 103 Magic 99:  Atlanta 9-30 .300  Orlando 5-31 .161  Trae Young 5-10 from deep.

Celtics 118 Knicks 95:  Boston 15-41 .366 New York 7-27 .259  Kemba Walker 7-12 from deep.  R.J. Barrett 4-6

Cavaliers 110 Pacers 99: Cleveland 11-31 .355 Indiana  10-28 .357

Raptors 108  Bulls 84: Toronto 15-42 .357 Chicago 9-35 .257

Rockets 126 Pelicans 123:  Houston 13-45 .289 New Orleans 18-50 .360  Lonzo Ball 4-9 from distance.  Josh Hart 5-12. 

Spurs 124 Wizards 122: San Antonio 10-28 .357 Washington 16-34 .471  Davis Bertans 5-5 from downtown.

Jazz 113 Kings 81: Utah 18-37 .486 Sacramento 7-26 .269  Bojan Bogdanovic 5-9

Suns 130 Clippers 122:  Phoenix 17-43 .395  Los Angeles 11-32 .344

*On the season, teams that have made the most 3’s are:  16-13-6

Markelle Fultz Made multiple three-pointers in a game for the first time in his NBA career yesterday.  (Source:  Basketball-reference.com)

Happy birthday Lonzo Ball, Rick Carlisle, Stew Granger, and Lou Williams.

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

THE CITY GAME

Nets 113  Knicks 109:  Barclays Center on Atlantic and Flatbush was rocking.  Kyrie Irving leads the way for the Nets with 26 points on 8-19 shooting,  including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in the game.  Spencer Dinwiddie adds 24.  Teams combined for 52 turnovers.  Nets 26. Knicks 26.  It also must be mentioned the teams combined for 57 fouls.  “There were a lot of mental mistakes,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said after the game. “A lot of silly fouls. A lot of general breakdowns that almost cost us. Even though we won the game, we will have another long film session to look at all the mistakes we made. We made a lot.”  Allonzo Trier had 22 points for the Knicks on 6-7 shooting.   Julius Randle 5-15 FG, 11 rebounds and 6 turnovers.  RJ Barrett with 6 steals.  New York is 0-2.   3-point shooting Knicks 17-25 Nets 16-37.  

Celtics 112  Raptors 106:  Tommy Heinsohn was in rare form.  After a call that went against the Celtics: “That’s a terrible call,” said Heinsohn.   Watched the Raptors run the flex on one possession.  Celtics with 21 offensive rebounds.  Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each score 25.  Kemba Walker chips in with 22.  Celtics rookie Grant Williams played a solid game:  “Being that short guy that people don’t think is that tough, you just get that competitiveness and that mentality of you’re just going to come out there and do whatever it takes and be that physical presence.”  Kyle Lowry makes 6-10 from downtown.  Celtics 13-38 from deep.  Raptors 18 of 36. 

Timberwolves 121  Hornets 99:  Karl Anthony-Towns with 37, 15 and 8.  13 of 18 from the field.  K.A.T. has 11 made 3’s in two games.  T-Wolves had 30 assists with 15 turnovers.  Devonte Graham led the Hornets with 24 points. He now has 12 made 3’s in two games.  Minnesota is 2-0.   T-Wolves 12-38 from distance.  Hornets 12-29. 

Bulls 110  Grizzlies 102:  Zach LaVine scores 37 for the Bulls on 13-23 shooting.  Colby White chips in with 25. LaVine and White combine to shoot 8-16 from distance.  Jaren Jackson led Memphis with 23 points and 11 rebounds.  Bulls 12-42 from distance.  Grizzlies 10-29.

Mavericks 123  Pelicans 116:   Impressive road win for the Mavs who start the season 2-0.  Luka Doncic is a bad boy. “He’s a special offensive talent,”  said ESPN’s  Jeff Van Gundy.  Dallas trailed in the first quarter by 16 points. The 20 year-old finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.  His 9th career triple-double.  Most in NBA history for someone under 21, two more than Magic Johnson.   “I’m glad we got the win,” Doncic said.  Dallas is 2-0.  New Orleans 0-2.   3-point shooting Mavericks 14-40 Pelicans 15-41.

Wizards 97  Thunder 85:  Thomas Bryant leads the way for Washington with 21 points and 11 rebounds.  19 points for his teammate Rui Hachimura.  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drops 28 (10-17 FG) for OKC who start the season 0-2.  3-point shooting Wizards 11-41 Thunder 5-23.

Nuggets 108 Suns 107 (OT):  Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 27 points.  Nikola Jokic added 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists.   With the Suns trailing by 3 with 1.8 left in regulation, Ricky Rubio was fouled at half-court attempting to tie the game.  Rubio  made 3 free-throws to send the game into OT.  Rubio has 20 assists in two games.   Kelly Oubre led the Suns with 23 points. Nuggets blocked 12 shots.  Denver moves to 2-0.  Suns 8-28 from downtown.  Nuggets 7-27. 

Blazers 122 Kings 112:  I forgot Luke Walton was the head coach of the Sacramento Kings.  Late in the game with 2:34 to play and the Blazers up 18, Rodney Hood fouled De’Aaron Fox who was driving to the goal.  They called a flagrant 1 on Hood.  The Kings announcers mentioned that the Kings need an enforcer to do the same to the Blazers at the other end.  Understand this, this is not the 70’s, 80’s or even the 90’s. Xavier McDaniel, Maurice Lucas or Dennis Rodman are not walking through those doors.   Sacramento is 0-2.  3-point shooting Blazers 11-30 Kings 15-37.

Lakers 95  Jazz 86:  LeBron James scored 32 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed 7 rebounds.  Troy “Layup” Daniels knocked down 4 of 8 3’s for the Lakers finishing with 15 points.  Yes, that Troy Daniels, undrafted out of VCU.  Daniels set the record for most 3’s in a game in the A-10 conference.  On January 2, 2013 Daniels shot 11-of-20 from three-point range en route to 33 points and 10 rebounds in a 109–58 win over East Tennessee State.  The Lakers are his 6th team.  “He’s earned a spot in the rotation with his ability to shoot the basketball,” Frank Vogel said of Daniels after the game. “He’s arguably the best shooter on the team.  He’s the kind of player you want put around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.  He works really hard on the defensive end, so he pulls his own weight on that side of the floor, and when he’s out there, he not only brings gravity but when the help comes, he’s able to punish defenses, and he did both of those tonight.”  3-point shooting Lakers 8-26 Jazz 8-25.

Happy birthday to the late Hot Rod Hundley and the late Joe C. Meriweather. 

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

 

ROAD WARRIORS

Hawks 117 Pistons 100:  Trae Young ruined Detroit’s home opener.  38 points in 37 minutes.  11-21 from the field including 6-10 from distance.  Young had 9 assists and 7 rebounds.   Derrick Rose drops 27 in 25 minutes for Detroit.  Hawks 11-31 from deep. Pistons, who were without Blake Griffin go 10-37. 

Bucks 117 Rockets 111:  Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the way with a triple-double;  30 points in 28 minutes.  13 rebounds, 11 assists.  Russell Westbrook 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists.  James Harden 19 points on 2-13 shooting.  1-8 from distance but 14-14 from the free-throw line.   Bucks shoot 16-46 from distance.  Rockets 16-48. 

Clippers 141 Warriors 122: Golden State fell behind 14-0 in the early going.  Kawi Leonard led the way for the Clippers with 21 points, and dished out 9 assists.  Steph Curry scored 23 points for the Warriors but struggled from distance (2-11). Steph also committed 8 turnovers.   Klay Thompson joined the TNT crew at half-time where Charles Barkley said the Warriors will not make the playoffs.  Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, “There’s going to be nights like this this year.  You’ve got to play through it, you’ve got to keep fighting and keep getting better.  That’s the plan.”  Clippers made 18 of 32 from downtown.  Warriors 15-42.

Happy birthday Dave Cowens, Dan Issel, and Zelmo Beaty.

E-mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

 

PIN DOWNS, DHO’S & AIR BALLS

Last night’s action…

Pistons 119 Pacers 110:  Andre Drummond had a Wilt Chamberlain-like game.  32 points, 23 rebounds.  Luke Kennard with a career high, 30 points on 6-9 from distance.   Domantas Sabonis did work for the Pacers, 27 points, 13 rebounds.  Derrick Rose had 9 assists-4 turnovers and added 18 points.   Reggie Jackson 5 assists, 1 turnover and 5 points.   Pistons 11-24 from deep.  Pacers 8-21. 

Hornets 126 Bulls 125:  Hornets made a franchise record, 23 three’s. Rookie P.J. Washington led the way for Charlotte with 27 points on 7-11 from distance.  Dwayne Bacon chipped in with 22 points.  Devonte Graham shot 6-7 from deep, finished with 23 points.   Lauri Markkanen 35 points and 17 rebounds.  Bulls 9-30 from deep.  Hornets, 23-44.

Timberwolves 127 Nets 126 (OT):  Two Jersey guys ballin’ in Brooklyn.  Karl Anthony-Towns leads the T-Wolves with 36 points including 7-11 from deep.  He tried a sky-hook late in the game and shot an air ball.   Kyrie Irving went off for 50 points in 38 minutes and 7 assists/0 turnovers.   Irving is also the first Net player to score 40 or more on opening night.  He became the 7th Net to drop 50 in one game.  Nets in the preseason shot 65% from the free-throw line.  Tonight they shot 57%.  Missed two crucial ones with :05 left.  Nets announcer Ian Eagle is the best play-by-play guy in the business.  T-Wolves 13-43 from deep.  Nets 15-34.

Magic 94 Cavaliers 85:  Coach Beilein’s first NBA game resulted in a loss.   Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 21 points and 9 rebounds.  Kevin Love 11 points and 18 rebounds.  Magic 9-30 from deep.  Cavaliers 9-34. 

Heat 120 Grizzlies 101:  Justise Winslow 27 points, Kendrick Nunn in 26 minutes with 24.  Jaren Jackson Jr. with 17 points but what was 0-6 from deep. Ja Morant 14 points, 6 turnovers.    Heat 7-18 from downtown.  Grizzlies 5-32. 

76ers 107 Celtics 93:  Best thing about this game on ESPN is Hubie Brown on the call.  Ben Simmons with 24 points, 0-0 from downtown.  Simmons dished out 9 assists.  Tobias Harris 15 points, 15 rebounds.  Gordon Hayward 25 points for the C’s.  Jaylen Brown in 20 minutes scored 8 points.  76ers 7-29 from deep.  Celtics 7-26.

Mavericks 108 Wizards 100:  Luka Doncic led the Mavericks with 34 points.  Kristaps Porzingis scored 23.  Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 19.  Beal shot 1-11 from distance.  Mavericks 11-36 from deep.  Wizards 11-41.

Spurs 120 Knicks 111:  Former Lansing Sexton Big Red Bryn Forbes scored 20 points to help the Spurs to the victory.  Knicks shot selection late in the 4th quarter was suspect.  A few dribble, dribble, dribble, pull-up jumper type possessions.  Good things happen when you share the ball.  Spurs 22 assists but 21 turnovers.  Free-throws:  Spurs took 36.  Knicks 18 Spurs 36.   R.J. Barrett in 37 minutes shot 9-13 for 21 points.  3-point shooting, Spurs 7-21.  Knicks 10-30. 

Jazz 100 Thunder 95:  Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points on 14-22 shooting.Mitchell also pulled down 14 rebounds.  Mike Conley shot 1-16 from the field in his Jazz debut.  Chris Paul, making his debut in OKC scored 22 points on 7-15 shooting.  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 26 points.   Billy Donovan coaching against Quin Snyder;  two former college guys.  3-point shooting: Jazz 6-24 Thunder 10-27.

Suns 124 Kings 95:  Break up Phoenix.Give Monty Williams Coach of the Year.  Just kidding of course.  Good for these guys, and good for Devin Booker.  And who doesn’t like Jevon Carter?  ‘Jevon just doesn’t listen to me, that’s pretty much it,” Williams said with a grin. ”He just goes nuts, hits shots and defensively he gets all over people. He has selective hearing. I was trying to scream to him to slow down, but he’s a pitbull. That’s what I love about him.” Ricky Rubio with 11 assists for the Suns.  3-point shooting:  Kings 10-29 Suns 11-33.

Nuggets 108 Blazers 100:  Doris Burke on the call for ESPN, after the Nuggets swung the ball around the perimeter, hitting the open man:  “What a beautiful basketball possession.” Love when they mic up Mike Malone:  “REBOUND AND RUN.  REBOUND AND RUN!” 3-point shooting:  Nuggets 18-32 Blazers 7-28

Happy birthday

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

OPENING NIGHT

First up on TNT, Raptors-Pelicans from the North.   Raptors win in OT 130-122.

Marv Albert and Chris Webber on the call. C-Webb made his NBA rookie debut with the Golden State Warriors 26 years ago.  The former Michigan Wolverine was named Rookie-of-the-Year but lasted just one season in Golden State.

Championship ring and banner night for the Raptors.  Alvin Gentry had his team out on the bench to watch the Raptors get rewarded.  “I thought it was great to see the ceremony, that’s what we aspire to be also,” the Pelicans 5th year head coach told the TNT sideline reporter.

Pelicans were 5-0 in preseason.  Raptors 2-2.

Both teams came out firing the 3-ball.   Good spacing.  Everyone sharing the ball.  Good pace.   Soon as I wrote that down in my notebook,  the Raptors were called for an eight second violation in the 2nd quarter.   That’s one rule they should switch in high school and college.  Go from 10 to 8.  Push the pass.

Fred VanVleet, 4th season out of Wichita State was in the Raptors starting line-up.  Not too bad for an undrafted player, huh?  I love his game.  He’s tough, shares the ball and brings spirit.  Tonight he was the best player on the floor – going off for 34 points in 44 minutes.  12-18 shooting, including 5-7 from distance.  He also dished out 7 assists.

J.J, Redick was called for traveling twice in the first quarter.

First coaches challenge occurred in the first quarter.  Nick Nurse wanted the officials to check out a foul called on Norman Powell.  Call stood.  Nice job by the officials.

C-Web on Lonzo Ball:  “I don’t care what anyone says,  he’s one of the most exciting passers that’s in the game today.”  Yeah no kidding.  Everyone knows he can share the ball.  He did lead the country in assists at UCLA as a freshman.

At half-time on TNT Charles Barkley on Lonzo:  “He has a dad who’s an idiot.”

Toronto Raptors were frustrated in the fourth quarter.  Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol both slapped with T’s.

Pelicans have 7 players under the age of 23.

Pascal Siakmm fouled out with 34 points in 38 minutes.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker of the Pelicans shot 1-10 in 11 minutes including 1-7 from distance.  At half-time Charles Barkley was questioning whether a rookie should be taking as many shots as N.A.W. – he was 1-7 at the half.

Pelicans finished with 30 assists.  Raptors 23.

3-Pt Shooting:  Pelicans 19-45.  Raptors 14-40.

More from C-Webb during the game:  “Why is this so important to a fan like myself? Well, because it is awesome.”

Battle of LA in the nightcap;  Clippers vs Lakers.  Clippers officially the home team and get the win 112-102.

Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan on the call.  Early on Reggie talked about Kawhi Leonard’s footwork and fundamentals.  Harlan said he learned it from playing for the Spurs, Reggie said no, he learned it in high school.  I say give his college coach Steve Fisher some credit.

Guy on an AT&T commercial:  “No one does basketball like the 212.”  Huh? Knicks haven’t made the playoffs in 6 years.

Frank Vogel, head coach of the Lakers was out of work last year.  He spent the season traveling the country watching other teams practice.

Kawhi Leonard 30 points in 31 minutes.  10-19 shooting.  9-10 from the line.

Danny Green 28 points for the Lakers.  7-9 from distance.

Anthony Davis finished with 25 and 10.

LeBron James 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists.

3-Pt Shooting: Lakers 13-33.  Clippers 11-31.

Both games tonight, losing team made more 3’s.  Preseason, teams with the most 3’s were 55-19.

No one in the NBA plays harder than Patrick Beverely. Guy has more spirit than anyone.

“How many times have you heard ‘one of 82’ the last few days?” Doc Rivers asked.  “It is one of 82, but having said that, you want to be a winner in everything.”

And that’s exactly how I see it.  Watching the Lakers-Clippers last night was exciting.  The crowd at Staples sounded hype on television.   I am happy that both teams battled each other and the fans were treated to a hard-fought game.

“It’s the first game,” LeBron said. “The NBA is back, so everyone wants to have the narrative of a rivalry game and a huge test.  Both teams are not who they want to be.  It’s not a rivalry.”

I agree with LeBron.  The word rivalry is thrown around too much.  Because of free-agency, I think rivalries are not what they used to be.  The teams will meet again on Christmas day.

Paul George did not suit up for the Clippers and Kyle Kuzma was out for the Lakers.

Lakers and Clippers have never faced each other in the playoffs.

11 games on the schedule tonight.  Boston and Philadelphia on the East Coast.  Nuggets-Blazers out West should be the two best games.

Happy birthday Keith Van Horn.

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com