Today is the last day of 2022. We gotta finish strong…
Watching Hawks-Lakers Friday night and early in the game LeBron James stepped in on defense and drew an offensive foul. LeBron is playing his 20th season in the NBA. He’s a 4-time champ, a 4-time finals MVP, a 4-time NBA MVP, 18-time NBA all-star and 13-time all-NBA first team.
Late in the game while LBJ was on the free-throw line Hawks fans were chanting, “MVP, MVP!” Keep in mind the game was in the ATL. Lakers were down 15 in the second only to come back and win behind James: 130-121. As for his numbers on his 38th birthday: 47 points (18-27 FG), 10 rebounds and 9 assists.
Wednesday night Gonzaga beat Eastern Oregon University 120-42. The Mounties are NAIA.
Miami Hurricanes off to a 13-1 start, 4-0 in the ACC with their win over Notre Dame, 76-65.
Pitt Panthers over North Carolina 76-74.
Most assists since the 2018-19 season in the NBA? Trae Young at 9.2 and second is Russell Westbrook at 9.0. James Harden (8.9) Chris Paul (8.6) Luka Doncic (8.1) and LeBron (8.1) round out the top six.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put on a show Friday night with 43 points and 20 rebounds leading the Bucks to the 123-114 win over the Timberwolves. The Greek Freak became just the 7th player in NBA history to record 40+ plus and 20+ rebounds in back-to-back games. Moses Malone, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Bob McAdoo and Bob Pettit.
More importantly the win breaks the Bucks 4-game losing streak. T-Wolves have lost 5 straight.
In Milwaukee they have heated seats…for the players and coaches on the bench! Remember the wooden folding chairs they had at the Boston Garden?
CJ McCollum broke the New Orleans Pelicans record for most 3’s in a game with 11 leading the Pels to the 127-116 over the 76ers. McCollum finished the game with 42 points on 13 for 20 including 11-16 from downtown. Pels have won 5 straight.
In his broadcasting debut for the Big Ten Network, Dane Fife did a fine job as color analyst on the Michigan State – Buffalo game. If he decides to pursue a broadcasting career, he’s got a bright future.
My friend Ray LeBov of Basketball Intelligence pointed out to me his favorite color analyst Jim Peterson. I listened to the Timberwolves broadcast against the Bucks – I agree with Ray, Jim is very good.
I may have to rank all 30 NBA teams broadcasting crews.
Ray sent me a link from the Miami Herald on a good story about Erik Spoelstra explaining to Tyler Herro on “impacting winning.”
“I remember the first day I was in Miami I’m pretty sure he said those words: ‘If you want to play next year, you have to impact winning.’ And that was my goal from that day on for myself, to impact winning and continue to do it as I got older.”
I’m sorry but all these people dancing on various NBA courts during timeouts, between quarters and at half-time is played out. Would much rather see youth basketball players going up and down playing against each other.
A high school basketball player in Boston was charged with assault on a referee and will face criminal charges. Come on people. We gotta be better.
PLAY THE RIGHT WAY 