THE BUBBLE BUNCH

After a day off yesterday, the NBA playoffs begin today in Orlando.  16 teams will battle for the championship beginning at 1:30 on ESPN.  Throw the records and stats away.  There’s no “home court” advantage.   This is wide-open.  If you love the game, today is special.  The league should use the Elam Ending.   Here’s the schedule; best 4 out of 7.

Game 1: Jazz-Nuggets 1:30

Game 1: Nets-Raptors 4:00

Game 1: 76ers-Celtics 6:30

Game 1: Mavericks-Clippers 9:00

Injuries and players missing are a hot topic.   In the first game with the Jazz and Nuggets, Gary Harris and Will Barton have been out for Denver;  they are not playing today.  Michael Porter Jr. has been playing well for Denver.  Coach Malone is not happy with Denver’s defense.   Utah’s point guard Michael Conley has left the bubble to be with his wife in Columbus, Ohio for the birth of their third child.   The Jazz are also playing without Bojan Bogdanovic.  Regardless of who’s out, it’s always the “next man up” mantra.

I have talked about the International “bigs” in the NBA and how much I love them;  Rudy Gobert vs Nikola Jokic will be a great match up.  Did you know Gobert’s father played with Rik Smits at Marist College?

Nets-Raptors will be a fun matchup.  Brooklyn has been playing hard for interim head coach Jacque Vaughn.  Many fans are saying the Nets should give Vaughn the job.  Don’t sleep on the crew from Flatbush and Atlantic.  Caris LeVert has been ballin’. Toronto is the defending NBA champs.  They actually finished with a better record this year than they did last year…all without Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.  And let’s not forget they lost Danny Green to free agency.  Love the Toronto’s backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet.

76ers-Celtics should be exciting.  But no Ben Simmons for Philadelphia.

Mavericks-Clippers in the nightcap may just be the best matchup of the day.  Luka against Patrick Beverely, but the former Arkansas Razorback is questionable for Game 1.  He’s missed the last 5 games in the bubble.    I’m sure we will see Leonard guarding Doncic at times.  The other guys around Luka and Kristaps Porzingis will have to step up if Dallas expects to win.  Clippers have a lot of weapons.   Many hoop followers are picking them to win it all.

If you didn’t know, Damian Lillard was the best player in the bubble.  37 points per game, 4 rebounds and 10 assists.  50% from the field, 43% from downtown.

James Harden was the second best player in the bubble.  35-9-and 9 per game.  54% from the field, 37% from distance.

Luka Doncic was the third best player in the bubble.  30-10- and 10.  That’s right, 10 assists per game.  But he will be tested in the Clippers series.

Give TJ Warren some love too.  31-6-and 2 in the bubble. Dude dropped 51 in the Pacers first game in the bubble.   58% from the field, 52% from downtown.  Warren can defend too.  Really well, despite what they say about him.

Jimmy Butler opened up a coffee shop in the bubble; he’s charging $20 a cup.

ESPN should put Kendrick Perkins in studio for the playoffs.

With the pandemic heading into week 23, it’s refreshing to see high school basketball players both boys and girls playing in travel team tournaments.

Happy birthday Bill Van Gundy, Dallas Comegys, Michael Brooks, Dee Brown and Christian Laettner.

QUOTE OF THE DAY FROM AARON BOONE:

On Gio Urshela: “He’s a great face to look at.  Every time he walks in, he brings energy, he brings a smile, he’s a winning person and a winning personality.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY II FROM ERNIE DIGREGORIO:

From Rick Telander’s “Heaven is a Playground.” (1976) “Nobody gets up at six in the morning to play ball.  But I did.  At 12 years – old my mind was made up that I was going to play pro ball.  I started practicing nine, ten hours a day, by myself.” 

Always play the right way…

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

CARPE DIEM

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

Nets-Magic 1:00

Rockets-Spurs 2:00

Suns-Sixers 4:30

Celtics-Grizzlies 5:00

Blazers-Mavericks 6:30 (TNT)

Pelicans-Kings 9:00 (TNT)

Bucks-Wizards 9:00

Phoenix Suns are 6-0 in the bubble.  Devin Booker went off last night with 35 points.  He was 14-14 from the free-throw line.

I love Chris Boucher of the Toronto Raptors – last night against Milwaukee Boucher scored 25 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  Boucher plays with a lot of energy.

Toronto Raptors are 51-19.  Last season after 70 games they were 49-21.  Nick Nurse has done a heck of a job.   Love Matt Thomas.  Kid did work last night.  22 points in 37 minutes.  9-17 shooting, including 4-8 from downtown.  Thomas is a 26 year-old rookie.  Undrafted out of Iowa State. 

Los Angeles Lakers executed an outstanding SLOB last night against the Denver Nuggets – if I can step up my technology game I will post it here.  But I am sure you can find it on the internet.   I tweeted it out so search @coachfinamore on Twitter.

Dwight Howard in the bubble:  13-17 from the field, 8.0 rebounds per game 7.0 points per game.

Lonzo Ball in the bubble: 13-50 from the field,  5-26 from downtown,  3-7 free-throws,  42 assists/17 turnovers,  32 rebounds.  Plus/Minus:  -8, -29, +15, -17, -6, -5

Pelicans are 2-4. 

Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat had a “Basketball Digest: The Game I Will Never Forget.” against the Indiana Pacers last night;  18 points on 9-11 shooting in 21 minutes.  The former Runnin’ Rebel also pulled down 5 rebounds. 

Heat beat the Pacers 114-92.  T.J. Warren 5-14 shooting for 12 points.

How about Boban last night?  20 points, 9 rebounds against the Jazz.  Luka Doncic sat out.  Hoping he plays tonight against the Blazers.  Luka is scoring 33 points per game in the bubble, pulling down 11 boards per game and dishing out 11 assists.  There were a few clowns on Facebook saying Doncic isn’t all that.  SMH.

I am glad to see Travel Team basketball in some States.  I hope the athletes play it safe.

Happy birthday Craig Ehlo, Ennis Whatley, Patty Mills and Nick Minnerath.

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT FROM SHAQ:

“1-2 punch must go off every night to win a championship. No days off for the 1-2 punch.”

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT II FROM MARK JACKSON:

“Don’t tell me you deserve minutes. Show me with your energy, effort and enthusiasm.”

Always play the right way…

E-Mail:  Hoops135@hotmail.com

GOGA BITAZDE

WIZARDS-THUNDER 12;30

GRIZZLIES-RAPTORS 2:00

SPURS-PELICANS 3:00 (ABC)

MAGIC-CELTICS 5:00

76ERS-TRAILBLAZERS 6:30

NETS-CLIPPERS 9:00

Hope you had a chance to watch the Mavericks-Bucks game Saturday night.  If you didn’t, you missed a great game,

Luka Doncic scored 36 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out a career high 19 assists leading the Dallas Mavericks to the 136-132 OT victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.   Doncic is amazing.  So fun to watch.  He brings a lot of spirit to the game.  In 44 minutes of burn last night, Luka turned the ball over just 2 times.

“He’s putting on a point guard clinic,” Jeff Van Gundy said during the telecast.

I predict Doncic will break the record for most assists in a single game someday.  By the way, the record is 30, held by Scott Skiles.

The NBA should adopt the Elam Ending to OT games.  First team to 11 wins.

T.J. Warren continued his brilliance yesterday scoring 39 points in a 116-111 OT win over the Lakers.   Warren is doing work dropping 34.8 points per game in the bubble.   Not only can the former NC State Wolfpack alum score, he can defend.  I watched him on a few possessions check Anthony Davis and do a great job on him.  Warren shot 15-22 from the field including 5-8 from distance.

I like the Pacers when they play small ball.

Ivica Zubac was wearing a strange looking pair of shoes in yesterday’s game against the Blazers.   Like Bobbito Garcia likes to say, “Where’d You Get Those?”

Gary Trent Jr. is going off in the bubble.  The former Dookie is 28-45 from way downtown.   His teammate Damian Lillard, during the NBA Restart in Orlando (5 games) is  scoring 31.3 points per game and has dished out 11.3 assists per game.  The Weber State grad is shooting 44% from downtown.  Point of pick up on Dame better be high.   I like the Blazers.  They play the right way.  Lillard is amazing.

“So many times when we talk about players making a jump, having a better year; what it comes down to is they improve their shooting.  Which changes everything for them.” -Stan Van Gundy

NBA on TNT mentioned Kawhi Leonard is 1 of 2 players to win NBA Finals MVP,  NBA All-star MVP and  Defensive Player-of-the year.   (Michael Jordan is the other) I don’t think TNT’s Charles Barkley was happy with Kawhi sitting out yesterday.

Kendrick Nunn is a finalist for Rookie of the Year.  Keep in mind the young man went undrafted in 2018.

Jevon “We play D in AAU Ball” Carter had a nice game yesterday. for the Suns.  4-6 shooting from deep for 20 points against the Heat.

Good point by Jeff Van Gundy last night. “The lack of travel has led to more offensive energy.”  

I love the history of the game just as much as the next guy.  But when mentioning today’s players and their accomplishments, you can’t compare them or stack them up against old school players – totally different game.

QUOTE OF THE DAY FROM T.J. WARREN:

“I’ve really just been taking more time for myself.  Meditating more.” 

Breathe everyone, breathe…

Happy birthday to Holy Cross Crusader grad Bob Cousy, he’s 92.

Always play the right way…

E-MAIL: Hoops135@hotmail.com

 

STAY READY

Jeff Van Gundy of ESPN during the Denver Nuggets-Miami Heat game:  “I love Torrey Craig’s energy, intensity and rebounding mindset.   For an eleventh guy, he is a perfect fit because he’s always ready,  He plays a utility role and accepts it.”  Craig  was undrafted in 2014 out of USC-Upstate.

Nuggets fell to the Heat 125-100.   Bam Adebayo scored 22 points for the Heat.

Kelly Olynyk of the Heat shot 4-6 from distance.  His teammate Duncan Robinson started his college career at Williams College, a D-3 school, transferred to Michigan and now is one of the best long distance shooters in the NBA.

Great thing about listening to Van Gundy and Mark Jackson on ESPN is they tell the truth and always talk about what it takes to be a better ball player.

“You are your habits,” JVG said towards the end of the Clippers-Pelicans game.

During the game Jackson was talking about the return of Joakim Noah to the Clippers – he mentioned Noah admitting that he owned up to his poor play, that he didn’t prepare in New York with the Knicks.  To which JVG added, “but his choices and lack of preparation and readiness cost people jobs.   There are ramifications for everyone’s choices.”

The Clippers set a franchise record today by making 25 3-pt field goals (47 attempted) against the Pelicans.  The NBA record is 27 set by the Houston Rockets in 2019.

T.J. Warren dropped 53 points against the 76ers leading the Pacers to the 127-121 Saturday afternoon victory.   Warren shot 20-29 from the field including 9-12 from downtown.   Jalen Rose of ESPN added, “The Suns traded that man to Indiana for cash considerations.”  Joel Embiid of the Sixers scored 41 points and pulled down 21 rebounds in a losing effort.

During the Toronto Raptors-LA Lakers game I watched the Raptors make 10 passes on one possession.   Amazing ball movement.   Raptors won the game 107-92.   Kyle Lowry scored 33 points on 8-16 shooting including 5-9 from distance.   The Villanova grad also had 14 rebounds and 6 assists.  14 rebounds for a guy who is six-feet tall! “We got a team full of scrappy guys,” Lowry told the ESPN sideline reporter following the game.

Fred VanVleet of the Raptors dished out 11 assists.

Lakers shot 29-82 from the field, 10-40 from distance.

By the way, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has done an amazing job.  Toronto is 47-18 on the year.  Last year after 65 games they were 46-19.   I wish Kawhi was still down with them.

R.I.P. Mike Gale, the Overbrook High alum was 70.

Always play the right way…

-Steve Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com