Alex Seccia

Bostonian Grit Keeps The Celtics Above Water

The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.

I knew when Al Horford hit his first shot that the Celtics were going to have a good night. A team I thought was absolutely defeated mentally managed to return to the form which made them great all season. Will they be able to ride the wave, do the impossible, and come back from a 3-0 deficit in the Eastern Conference Finals? Let’s talk about it.

First of all, I loved what I was seeing from Boston early. I’m not sure why it took being down three games to none for some changes in strategy, but it is what it is. Anyway, Boston did an excellent job getting penetration early on in the contest. They also got some good stuff out of their resident superstar Jayson Tatum early on, though not everything was pretty. In Celtics fashion, there were some tough to swallow turnovers, but they really cleaned those things up as the game went along.

I absolutely loved the grit and sense of urgency Boston came out to play with. Like everything, it had to start from the top, and it certainly did. Tatum was doing the little things: crashing the offensive boards, playing smart defense, and getting physical with his defenders. It was awesome! He really seemed to understand the team was going to feed off of his energy, and he decided to bring it.

But Miami was dishing it out as well. The Heat were able to get penetration early on, something they have excelled at all series. Sometimes, it looked like they did so with little effort, which still is a concern for Boston moving forward. Take the play below as an example. Granted, Bam Adebayo was a little handsy with the screen, but this is the playoffs and refs are more likely to let stuff go. Al Horford was so focused on containing the roll threat he essentially let Jimmy Butler merrily saunter into the lane. Stuff like that cannot continue in the series moving forward if Boston hopes to come back.

Both teams showed some things I really like in the opening quarter, though. Other than the aforementioned, Butler tried to get himself going with a nice turnaround jumper over Derrick White from about 17 feet. There were also some things I liked defensively, including Miami blitzing Tatum on P&R like at 4:15. At the 6:00 mark, Miami showed off some of their versatility by turning a Max Strus-Bam P&R into a wide open Kevin Love three ball from the corner. The confusing thing about this sequence in particular is Marcus Smart. First off, why was he on Love in the first place? Well, he guarded the inbound, and Love was the inbounder. But why not switch with White immediately after the pass is thrown? I’d much prefer Smart to be the top help defender. On top of that, he just wandered away from Love (who is shooting 62.5% from three in the series) entirely. These lapses cannot continue. Thankfully, things worked out for the Celtics.

Boston came back with a beautiful sequence of their own a few possessions later. After a 7-0 run by the Heat, Joe Muzzulla called time to talk it over with his team, and they came back with a great answer. It started with a high horns action for Tatum. He was able to get to hit Jaylen Brown in the corner, who then got some penetration on a baseline drive. The defense collapsed (in part to protect against the Robert Williams III roll), Brown found an open Grant Williams in the corner, who found Malcolm Brogdon, who finally swung it to Tatum, who got a nice look after a long closeout. Notice, the whole sequence worked because the Celtics were able to get the ball into the paint. Paint touches in the playoffs are absolutely critical, and if Boston can continue putting pressure on the defense, they will continue to find success.

In the second quarter, I liked Miami going to Bam early, getting him a nice alley-oop against Horford within the first minute of action. Miami actually dominated the paint throughout the whole quarter, in no small part to a steady diet of Bam Adebayo. But I really want to highlight some things on the Boston side. First, I liked Horford going back at Bam almost immediately with a quick trigger three at the 9:50 mark. My favorite moment of the quarter occurred two possessions later though. So all season, Boston has run this play where a swing pass from the wing to the top of the key triggers a double pin-down for players in the corners. It looked like they were setting that up, but they threw in some spice. Tatum set a pin-down for Horford to fly out of the corner, but Horford quickly planted a screen for Tatum to turn the whole ordeal into a pistol action. The play is nearly identical to its original recipe, but it had just enough difference to get Horford an open look from deep. I hope Muzzulla can keep up the creativity. It was hands down my favorite sequence of the quarter. Oh, and just to sweeten the deal, even though Horford missed the shot, the Celtics were still able to get a bucket off an offensive rebound. Chef’s kiss.

That was really the story of the game. Boston just played with grit and desperation. They were also helped by the fact they started hitting their threes. With all that said, what does this game mean for the rest of the series? Are the Celtics going to come back and win the whole thing? If history is anything to go by, I would say the answer is a solid “No.” Once the Celtics got the lead in the 3rd quarter, they never gave it up, but Miami managed to hang around. The Heat also stopped getting into the paint after halftime, and when coupled with their overall cold shooting from deep, points felt like they were coming at a premium. It was ugly, and not the fun, “We’re Miami and we play hard and gritty” kind of way. Some adjustments I’m expecting for next game: more Bam. He took seven total shots in the game. Seven. More baffling is the fact he made four of them, so it’s not like he was getting locked up. He has to keep finding ways to get the ball in the basket. I love it when they get him involved as a facilitator, but he was an All-Star this year who averaged 20.4 points. I also expect the Heat to get into their zone a little more. They deployed it early into the fourth quarter and were seeing success. On the Boston sideline, they still have some things to clean up, particularly on the defensive end. While they looked more like the defensive team we’ve seen throughout the season, there were some holes they will need to plug if they want to keep the dream alive. The Celtics have shown cracks in the façade when it comes to their mental toughness. They cannot allow themselves to get swept up in the emotions of the game again like they did in Game 3. If that happens, they can kiss their season goodbye.

Nuggets Bust Out Brooms Despite LeBron 40-Piece

Jokic and the boys make history.

The Nuggets made history with their sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers last night. But for what it’s worth, at least it was a competitive game the whole time. On top of that, it was almost an immortalized LeBron James moment. Unfortunately for the King, the old adage is true: you can’t win ‘em all. So what happened last night?

Let me start by saying the first half was nothing short of marvelous on the part of LeBron Raymone James. A man who is 38 years old in his 20th season of NBA basketball should not have performances like he had (especially with over 65,000 minutes played). It was like vintage LeBron on the court. Early on, the Lakers had success doing exactly what the Nuggets have been doing all series long: running the break and getting into the paint. LeBron got an early trip to the free throw line after leaking out on a missed Nuggets jumper, and the next possession, Rui Hachimura practically waltzed into a dunk over Nikola Jokic after Michael Porter Jr. decided defense is overrated (don’t worry, we’ll address that more later). Austin Reeves even got in on the cardio session after a Dennis Schröder steal at 8:40 in the opening quarter.

But LeBron was the star of the first half. He decided to enforce his will early and often. It was true, peak LeBron James. Everything was predicated off of a “score first” mentality. As I mentioned earlier, he got his first points from the charity stripe by getting behind Denver’s slow transition defense, and his first field goal came by way of just bullying Aaron Gordon to get to the cup.

His next field goal should have keyed us in on the fact he was going to have a special night, though. It was an attempted alley-oop to Rui, but instead of finding his hands, it found the bottom of the net. That should have been the moment we knew: LeBron was going to be special.

C’mon

At that point, I think LeBron knew too. He decided to get loose with a fadeaway in the paint against three defenders only one possession later. He then hit another shot behind the arc a few minutes later and that was when the Nuggets recognized they had a problem. If LeBron is hitting jumpers from beyond the arc, it’s going to be a long night. While I’m personally not a fan of a long range centric strategy from James, I can’t argue with the results. Showing the hot hand ensured the Nuggets had to respect him if he decided to pull the trigger from deep. Naturally, the hot hand opened up the floor for the rest of the quarter. With 2:56 left to play in the first, LeBron targeted MPJ and got to work, and he managed to get his defender in the air to get the and-one. Oh yeah, and he hit two more threes before the end of the first. For those curious, it was a 21 point masterclass from LeBron. In the first quarter. Wow.

He rode his momentum into the second as well. I know he’s older than he once was, but LeBron is still a driver at heart, and I love when he puts his head down and gets to the rim. After getting two steals early in the second, he was able to get Jeff Green in the air with a pump fake to free up his drive. Once he was in the paint, it was two easy points off of a beautiful finger roll over former teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Bron-Anthony Davis pick-and-roll was working well too. At 4:15 in the second quarter, LeBron used a dropping Jokic to his advantage and got to the cup for the smooth layup to give himself 29 points in the half. Incredible stuff. The Lakers needed every bit of those points, too, as they took a 73-58 lead into halftime. But the Nuggets were not going to let go of the rope easily.

I am not an NBA coach, and I’m even less of an NBA player. But I am absolutely baffled that the Lakers did not continue finding LeBron after halftime. There were 13 possessions in a row to start the 3rd quarter before LeBron attempted a shot. Why? And the attempt he eventually got was a wide open three on the wing. To be fair, not a bad shot. But within the context of the game, I would have liked to see him put his head down and attack the closeout. On top of that, where was the P&R with AD in the 3rd? I cannot understand why the Lakers got away from their bread and butter, especially because their offense had really stagnated in the quarter. Denver outscored them 36-16 in the 3rd. That kind of offensive output is head scratching to say the least, especially when they had LeBron revved up in the first half. Baffling.

I understand if you think I am trying to diminish what the Nuggets did to win the game, and that is not at all my intention. They earned the win, no doubt about it. Even if it looked like they wanted to give the game away at times. What I am about to say, I say out of love. But why can MPJ still not play defense? At 5:46 in the opening quarter of play, Schröder drove past Jamaal Murray on the right wing via an AD screen. Confoundingly, MPJ stepped up to help WAY too early and lost track of his man, Rui, in the corner. Rui cut backdoor and luckily for MPJ, he was not able to finish the push shot. But it just seemed like an unnecessary risk.

Why?

The MPJ defensive woes don’t stop there, though. In the second quarter after a beautiful Aaron Gordon corner three, the Nuggets were running back on defense and for some reason, MPJ picked up Schröder, who was the INBOUNDER, and allowed Jamaal Murray to take the bigger Rui Hachimura. WHY? The Lakers weren’t even pushing the pace. All it would have taken was some recognition and a quick call. That time, it led to an easy Rui bucket after a bump over the smaller Murray. Even as the play was developing, it looked like Murray was holding his hands up in confusion. The shot was totally avoidable. He may have gotten away with these lapses in this game, but if Denver has to face Miami in the Finals, I can guarantee they will make him pay.

Extra WHY?

The game came down to the wire, and both teams played well down the stretch. LeBron put his mark on the game defensively near the end, drawing two charges from Jokic to give the big man five fouls. On the other end, James went to work attacking Jokic. It was some good stuff. But the game ultimately came down to the final play. Allow me to set the scene: 4.0 seconds left, 113-111 Nuggets, LA ball. Darvin Ham called a timeout to ensure his team was on the same page for getting a good look to either win the game or send it to overtime. This would be their second attempt at doing so, as they had tried earlier to do the same with 31.3 seconds left in the game. The Lakers looked to get LeBron open with a pindown on the left wing. He was actually able to get Aaron Gordon on his hip, and he wanted to attack. However, the Nuggets defended the play really well. Murray was guarding the screener, Rui, and decided to cheat over to take away the easy drive. Rui rolled to the rim, and Jokic picked up, leaving AD open on the opposite wing. Murray’s help was enough to get hands on the ball and make LeBron’s shot near impossible.

I have to be honest, I don’t think I’m a fan of this ATO (after timeout). I would’ve liked to see Rui and AD switch assignments. That could have put some more pressure on the interior and put Rui in position to hit a shot if they needed it. I also don’t like the inactivity of Reeves and Schröder. Once Reeves got the ball in, why not have some kind of action with him and Schröder to hopefully get one of them open? I know LeBron had 40 points on 25 shots, but he was 4-for-12 in the second half. Why not leverage the gravity he had created to get someone else a better shot? I don’t want to harp on this too much. Drawing stuff up in the moment is tough, and LeBron had a good night all around. Everyone knew he was going to take the final shot. It was still an awesome game, and there was a lot I did not cover here. While Denver certainly earned their historic very first finals appearance in 47 years as a franchise, they will have their hands full in the Finals, especially if the Heat are able to close out the floundering Celtics tonight.

Nuggets-Lakers Deliver For Game 1 in Western Conference Finals

Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers is going to go down as all-timer. LeBron James triple-double, Anthony Davis 40-piece with sauce, Nikola Jokic with a 30-point 20-rebound triple double, a game decided by six points, and a raucous crowd. The very stars were aligned to grant viewers a masterpiece. However, it did not start off that way. Here are some things I saw in Game 1 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals, as well as some things I would like to see in this series moving forward.

For starters (pun intended), the Lakers decided to keep Dennis Schröder in the starting rotation in place of Jarred Vanderbilt. After all, that was the change that helped them seal the fate of Steph Curry’s Warriors in the previous round. In theory, it would provide the same advantage it did before: more shooters around LeBron and AD. But what they gave up was defense and size. Specifically, they gave up rebounding, and the Nuggets made them pay dearly. In the first quarter alone, Jokic had 12 rebounds. For reference, the Lakers had six. Total. As a team. Yikes. Jokic was also just playing really solid defense and was sure to get a body on AD whenever he could.

Denver also wanted to push the pace early on, particularly on drives. Whenever the Lakers attempted a layup, Denver’s perimeter players would leak out and look to score early. They especially looked to do this whenever AD tried to score. AD has the most blocks in the playoffs so far, and the Nuggets were not going to give him a chance to get in position if they didn’t absolutely have to. It seemed to be working for them. But if they were unable to get points on the break, they went to the well that never seems to run dry: Nikola Jokic. Kinda.

The Nuggets ran a lot of a set they called “2.” Jokic would get the ball at the top of the key, then Michael Porter Jr. set a pin-down for Jamaal Murray. Murray then got a dribble hand off (DHO) from Jokic and got to work. It proved to be a super effective play. The Nuggets were able to generate a lot of different looks from it. For example, when they first called it, they were able to get an open MPJ three ball. Two possessions later, they ran the play again, and Murray was able to get a wide open three directly from the handoff. The next possession, they ran it again. MPJ noticed the target of his screen, Schröder, fell behind the play and was able to get to the rim and draw a foul.

If you’re the Lakers, this play is very tricky to guard with the personnel on both sides of the ball. If AD helped too much at the point of the handoff, Jokic would have had almost free points in the paint on the much smaller Schröder. If Austin Reeves and Schröder switch, then the latter is left in another height mismatch with the tall and athletic MPJ. If the defense wanted to blitz the action to blow it up, the ball still would’ve been in the hands of Nikola Jokic, the current best basketball player in the world (I will not apologize for being correct). It was a lose-lose. At least, it was at first, but more on that later.

As I said before, Denver wanted to push the pace, and they were able to do so strategically. If Jokic decided to jog behind the break as a trailer, he still had immense gravity. AD had to wait for him close to the three point line because he has been shooting the lights out in the playoffs (47% from a CENTER). That allowed the athletic wings and guards to get to the rim without having to worry about The Brow lurking to send their shots into the fourth row.

The entire first half was rough for the Lakers. It looked like Denver was just going to have their way with them the entire night. However, AD was shaping up to have a great night. He shot 50% from the field in the half, and he had a lot of success shooting from midrange and quickly pulling the trigger with some baby hooks and push shots. What shocked me was the lack of LeBron-AD pick-and-roll in the first half. But watching the game back, it looked like they weren’t going to go to that until they deemed it was absolutely necessary. Instead, King James took on a different strategy: find and bully Jamaal Murray.

With 2:22 remaining in the first quarter, LA had to inbound from in front of their bench. Reeves gave the ball to Davis at the elbow and immediately received a rip screen from LeBron. The Nuggets did not communicate the action well and Murray got stuck with LeBron. Bron got the handoff from Davis and was able to involve Jokic in the action as well. Because Jokic wanted to deny AD on the roll, LeBron was able to get to the rim with ease as Murray trailed WAY behind the play. It was probably my favorite play that the Lakers ran all night because they got to: 1.) pick on Murray, and 2.) involve Jokic on defense. If the Lakers want to win the series, they have to be able to drain Jokic at every available opportunity. They did that with their very play of the game, but got away from it as the game continued. Anyway, the next play possession, LeBron scored on Murray again, that time choosing to back him all the way down for an easy layup. And again, Bron took the final shot of the opening quarter over, you guessed it, Jamaal Murray.

Those LeBron postups on Murray also set up the Denver defense for the rest of the night. When LeBron got Murray with about 1:28 left in the first, Jeff Green had to come help. If he had wanted to, Bron could’ve easily gotten the ball to Reeves at the three point line for a clean look. But I think he was saving that for the rest of the game. About halfway through the second quarter, James actually got the ball to Reeves for a great look that just barely missed. I think I would’ve liked to see more of that, maybe with Schröder in the mix to get him going. Regardless, it seemed like a sound enough strategy. Denver kept responding though, and throughout the second they ran some more sets that I liked, including a post split at the right elbow and a play they called… well, “Elbow.” It was another Jokic-Murray DHO at the top of the key, but it gave Aaron Gordon an opportunity to rim run with a rip screen from Murray. They ran it with 3:03 left in the quarter, and again the next possession. That second execution got Jokic maybe the most open three point opportunity that he’ll ever have, but he opted to put pressure on the defense and was able to get to the line. By halftime the Nuggets were up big, 72-54.

The third quarter was more of the same and not worth talking about much. But Bruce Brown got a really sweet dunk and I loved that for him. AD also got loose and went 5-for-5 from the field. But neither team really seemed to change much at halftime. But the fourth quarter provided a different story.

In the third, the Nuggets began to get sloppy. A turnover here, and missed defensive assignment there. Despite being down by 20 at times, the Lakers refused to go away and were able to surge back as the game drew to a close. But how did they do it? For one, the Lakers went to the tried and true LeBron-AD P&R. They got a lot of really good looks just from running what they are built around (imagine that). James also continued to bully Murray, as well as prey on MPJ’s seeming inability to play defense at times. The Murray bullying was not just LeBron trying to score though. At the 10:15 mark, he saw that Rui Hachimura had a mismatch with Murray, who was trying to front him down low. Bron immediately got him the ball and was rewarded with an assist. And speaking of Rui Hachimura, the Lakers might have found their Game 2 strategy in him.

He had a great game overall, posting 17 points on 11 shots. But where he really stuck out was defensively. In the final quarter of play, Darvin Ham called for Rui to guard Jokic, and it was brilliant. Rui is strong enough to bang with Jokic and lengthy enough to not give up too much size to the Serbian. What this really did was allow AD to guard Jeff Green and hang out more in the paint. Denver’s shot quality took a noticeable dip after the change. Between Hachimura’s offensive contributions and his defensive utility, I expect the Lakers will play him more, if not outright start him for Game 2. He can shoot, he’s got size, and he’s a decent defender. Regardless of what happens, I am excited to see how both teams adjust for the next game. Strap in, ladies and gentlemen. No matter how many games this series goes to, we are in for a treat.

Tatum Lights Up The Garden For Game 7 Blowout

Jayson Tatum had a historic night in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers. There’s no other way to put it. I know that I’ve written about him a lot lately, but he keeps showing up for the big moments. Blame him, not me. After all, he’s the one that scored 51 points in a do-or-die Game 7. Fun Fact: the NBA was founded 1946, and in the league’s long history, no one has ever scored more points in a Game 7. So there’s that. Let’s talk about how Tatum and the Celtics got it going against Philadelphia.

I’m no savant, but it looked to me that the Boston game plan was Embiid-centric. Early on, I think the Celtics wanted to involve him in as many actions as they could to tire him out. For example, with 8:55 to play in the 1st quarter, Tatum had the ball and was directing traffic. He was telling star teammate Jaylen Brown to slide into the corner, and called for Al Horford to screen the ball. Horford, savvy vet that he is, instead took advantage of an absent-minded Embiid, cut to the paint, and gave the ball to a cutting Robert Williams III for an easy dunk. Though this did not result in the match-up the Celtics were looking for, it loudly proclaimed their intentions: make the MVP prove he’s that guy. Keep that in mind.

A few possessions later, Tatum got the ball at the top of the key. Marcus Smart set a screen for him that, from the comfort of my unprofessional athlete couch, Tobias Harris did not seem to fight through much. Tyrese Maxey blitzed Tatum on the switch, opting to be close and physical. It worked on that particular possession, as the Celtics turned the ball over, but premeditated Tatum-on-Maxey violence showed itself pretty early. The next possession, the Celtics hunted Maxey again. Well, kinda. The Celtics ran a Spain pick set. Williams III screened for Tatum, and he received a rip screen from Smart. Embiid, head on a swivel, sniffed out the play and eliminated the lob that it was designed to generate. However, Smart being the second screener gave Tatum another option: pick on the feisty but smaller Maxey. With a head of steam, Tatum was able to draw a foul. The offense was seemingly doing what it was designed to do.

But the real standout moment from the game’s opening quarter occurred a few minutes later. At about 5:40 remaining in the quarter, Tatum got the ball on a post up about 15 feet from the basket. After making some moves, he decided to fire an awkward one-footed jumper over Harris and the shot went in perfectly. To me, that was the moment that Tatum knew he was going to have himself a game. He had a good first half overall, but I really want to talk about his 17 point 3rd quarter because I believe that was what sealed Philly’s fate.

It didn’t take much action after halftime to see some of the cracks in Philly’s will. Less than two minutes into the 3rd, PJ Tucker and Joel Embiid had a horrendous miscommunication on defense. Judging by Tucker’s face, it’s safe to say that he was upset with the MVP. That emotion made sense, as the miscommunication allowed Williams III to run to the rim with Maxey trailing. Either Marcus Smart didn’t see the lob opportunity or he thought the Celtics could get a better look. Regardless, Philly lucked out with that… until a Smart/Tatum screen forced Embiid to guard Tatum with the shot clock winding down. Tatum took advantage of the matchup and got to the rim almost effortlessly. His first two points of the quarter.

I think the next possession was my favorite offense sequence from Boston in the game. 9:25 on the clock, Brown brought the ball up the left sideline after a Philly miss. Then Tatum got to work, and showed his hoops IQ in the process. He pointed to Williams III at the right elbow. Brown got the ball there, and Williams III was able to hand it off to a streaking Tatum. He then had another opportunity to go at Embiid, albeit with less space in which to work. He must have known that, too, as he decided to pull the ball back out to the left corner. But he was not going to let Embiid off the hook that easily. This was the matchup that JT wanted and he was going to let the 76ers know it. He got to the corner, hit Embiid with a beautiful crossover-hesi-side step from deep that tingled the twine with six seconds left on the shot clock.

Next possession, he got the Embiid matchup for the third time in a row. Immediately, he hit Embiid with a one dribble stepback from 25 feet. Swish. At that point, Tatum was feeling himself, and he wanted everyone in Boston to know as he screamed to the heavens at half court after the shot dropped. The make created a 10 point lead, but more crucially, it created energy, and Boston fed off that energy on both ends of the floor. Tatum targeted Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player for the FOURTH time in a row and was able to get to the free throw line. He hit both of them, too. Philly’s desperation became apparent and the players were trying to get something going. They played a zone coverage that allowed Tatum to shoot a wide open three with about 6:17 left in the 3rd quarter. At that point, Philly was deflated. They never recovered. The Celtics went on a 21-3 run over the course of 6:35 of game time. It proved too much to overcome.

Every Celtic that saw the floor played really well. At the very least, they played well enough to win. But Tatum took the game over early and decided that he was just going to stay in the driver’s seat. I think the Sixers had a real chance to show some mental toughness but they just couldn’t pull through. The front office is going to face some tough decisions in the off season. It’s extra tough because they knew Game 6 was their best opportunity to send Boston packing. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, I suppose.

Tatum had a historic night, and while all of his buckets are probably worth revisiting, I think the 3rd quarter was the most special slice of the game. He hunted match-ups and took a variety of different shots. More impressively, it felt like he was hitting all of them. I think knowing Miami is the team waiting for them fueled his performance. Though many fans foolishly spout such drivel as “The Bubble wasn’t real basketball!” all Jayson Tatum knows is the reality of the pain he felt from that bubble in Orlando. To me, it seems like he isn’t going to let Miami get the better of him this time. But hey, we’ll see. At the very least, we are going to see some heart pumping hoops in the Eastern Conference Finals.

A Recap of Tatum’s Incredible Game 6 4th Quarter

Jayson Tatum had a horrendous game 6 performance. Memes and tweets abounded as Tatum entered the 4th quarter with only three points on 13 shot attempts. It would be an understatement to say that he was having a rough go of it. The guy bricked everything from layups to spot-ups. It was tough to watch.

Entering the 4th quarter, the 76ers were up 73-71. I’m sure Tatum could feel the weight of expectation bearing down on him. He’s the man, after all. On their first possession, Tatum got himself going by forcing a foul from Tobias Harris. He’s able to hit both of his free throws as the whole of Celtics nation prayed for a miracle to keep their season alive. Those prayers were probably replaced with some less-than-holy alternatives when Tatum missed a left handed hook. In the paint. Again.

On the next possession, the Celtics ran the same play that sent Tatum to the line. But there was something different about it. The 6’2 De’Anthony Melton was guarding Tatum (who is 6’9). Immediately, Tatum made his intentions clear as he started backing Melton down. Like a good teammate, instead of forcing a shot over two defenders, Tatum made the right decision with a kick out to Marcus Smart. Smart was then able to draw a foul of his own, but keen eyed viewers would have seen Tatum’s role in the rest of the play. He simply hung around in the paint. If not for the whistle, his emphatic putback dunk would have brought the Celtic bench to its feet. Smart hit a free throw, 76ers star and league MVP Joel Embiid scored easily on the other end. Tatum time again.

He denied a screen from Al Horford and was able to get to his left hand. His gravity drew three 76ers into the paint, two of whom were draped all over him.If not for bricks disguised as hands on the part of Robert Williams III (all jokes big fella, I love you), that possession would have ended in a high quality shot close to the basket as Tatum was able to find Williams as open in the paint as the NBA gets.

A few possessions later at roughly 8:10 left in the 4th, the Celtics ran a very similar set as the aforementioned. But instead of Tatum slipping his screening assignment to dart to the corner, he set a solid screen and forced a switch. Tobias Harris had guarded him well all night and it seemed he thought he could more easily take advantage of the smaller De’Anthony Melton. But despite the size difference, Melton held his ground. At that point, four Sixers were in the paint. It looked like a box-and-one defense. Tatum once again made the right play and fired a pass to Smart in the corner (who bricked). Now, in fairness to Philly, of the shooters on the floor at that time, Smart was the best choice to leave open. But leaving a competent shooter wide open in the corner is not a good strategy for success in the NBA. Nevertheless, play continued.

At 6:37 remaining, Tatum found himself alone on a fastbreak with James Harden and made the wise decision to test the former MVP. Tatum forced the contact and again went to the line. He hit both of his free throws. 81-79 Celtics. But the inevitable hoops foolishness crept in, and the 76ers were the beneficiaries. Embiid answered those free throws with a bucket of his own (a smooth elbow jumper, by the way). A Celtics take foul put Embiid on the line where he sank both attempts. 5:25 remaining, 83-81 Philly. ESPN then flaunted Tatum’s suboptimal performance with a graphic that detailed his scoring woes. At that point, he had seven points and was 1-14 from the field. Philly fans were licking their chops in anticipation. They had to have been. They knew that their team and their MVP could smell blood, and they were going to close this thing out at home. But the Celtics had other plans.

NBA.com defines “clutch time” as the final five minutes of a game in which the score is within five points. This was as textbook for clutch time as it gets. At 4:17, Tatum got the ball in the corner with Embiid on him. Without even the slightest hesitation, Tatum let it fly. 84-83 Celtics. Embiid then barely rimmed out a mid-range jumper of his own from the nail. Next possession, the Celtics got a favorable matchup. As they brought the ball down the court, Georges Niang went to pick up Brogdon in the corner. Tyrese Maxey called for a switch, presumably to leave the 6’7 Niang in a position to help in the paint (there was also no way he was going to stop Brogdon if he chose to take the ball to the hoop himself). So Maxey was the P&R defender. When Brogdon’s screen forced the switch, Maxey had to handle Tatum himself. However, given Tatum’s rough shooting night, it appeared as if the Celtic’s wanted him to get to the rim. Good spacing put Tobias Harris underneath the rim while Embiid had to split the difference on the weak side between Horford and Brogdon (neither of whom you would want to leave open for a three). The plan seemed to be to get a slower defender, James Harden, guarding Tatum, as Jaylen Brown set a screen for Tatum to draw a switch from the southpaw. But Tatum called his own number, denied the screen, and hit the shorter Maxey with a stepback that found the bottom of the net. 87-83 Celtics, 3:34 remaining.

On the other end, Boston forced a tough shot that didn’t fall. The 76ers then charged their most tenacious defender, PJ Tucker, with Tatum duty. Brogdon again was able to set a good enough screen to force a switch with Maxey. There may have been a defensive miscommunication, though. Tucker recovered hard to Tatum. Maybe Maxey was supposed to hedge and get back to Brogdon? Hard to say. Regardless, that is not what happened, and Tucker had to cover Brogdon to prevent a good shooter from getting an open look.Tatum got into the lane but was unable to finish due to some nice help defense from Harden. Moments later, 2:07 left to play, 89-84 Boston. Marcus Smart slowed down play and called out a set that saw Brown set a pin-down for Tatum on the baseline. Tatum flew up the paint to set a strong side pick for Smart while Brown got a Brogdon rip screen for a curl into the corner. Tatum’s screen for Smart on Maxey (poor guy) caused Tyrese to stumble, and that allowed Tatum to fire an uncontested three ball from the left wing. Swish. Again. 92-84 Celtics. 1:52 left in the contest. At that point, Tatum had scored 13 points in the 4th quarter on 3-5 shooting, and all of those makes came by way of 3-3 from deep (he had shot 0-6 from three up until that point). Eventually, with under a minute to play, PJ Tucker fought over screens and flew around the court to make Tatum earn everything, and it worked. For a shot. With 48 seconds left, Al Horford forced a Tucker-Embiid switch, and Tatum took the opportunity to put up another three ball in the face of the MVP. Fortunately for the Sixers, that one did not fall. But Boston came away with the rebound. The ball found Tatum again, still with Embiid as his defender, and he fired another stepback with 38 seconds left to play. Swish. Again. 95-84 Celtics. 36.6 seconds remaining.

That would be the final shot of Tatum’s 4th quarter masterpiece. You could call it a Philly meltdown, and they certainly did some things to give the game away at the end. But that would be too reductive, and honestly would not be giving Tatum enough credit. He brushed off a horrid shooting performance to come through when his team needed him most. Tonight, Boston returns home for the deciding Game 7, and they’ll need everyone on deck if they hope to pull off the win against the 76ers. Regardless of the outcome, fans are in for a treat, and I personally hope it is a game full of more 4th quarter heroics.

Steph Curry, Warriors Keep Season Alive

The crowd at the Chase Center arena felt good about their team’s chances to keep the series alive when the Warriors got their first points via a Draymond Green jumper from three-point range. What they may not have known for a fact but felt intrinsically in that moment was that the Warriors were going to find a way to win the game.

Pace and space were the name of the game for Steve Kerr’s squad. The whole Golden State roster played with intensity and grit, and they showed their hand early on in the contest. After LeBron James bricked his first jumper just after the 11:00 mark, Draymond Green corralled the rebound and immediately took matters into his own hands (more on him in a bit). Though the possession did not end in points, it gave us a look into the game plan. After the Lakers sent the ball out of bounds, the Warriors got a chance to inbound the ball. Steph Curry inbounded to Green for a quick “get” action before finding Andrew Wiggins for a wide open shot from beyond the arc. Guarding Wiggins was none other than Anthony Davis, and that was the game plan.

Davis has been an unconscious shot blocker in these playoffs, and he found success against the Warriors. They kept challenging him at the rim and he kept proving that was maybe not the best idea. But in this game, the Warriors would do everything in their power to keep Davis out of position to be successful in that regard. Let’s talk about how they did it.

When the Warriors brought the ball up at 9:10 in the 1st quarter, the only action they ran was a simple pick-and-roll with Wiggins and Curry. Davis was forced to help as the pick man defender, and a solid screen from Wiggins allowed Curry to get some momentum against Davis on the perimeter. By forcing AD into this action, Curry was able to find a cutting Draymond for an easy and-1. Unfortunately for the Lakers, this would be a theme. The very next possession, D’Angelo Russell was flat out lost in the sauce and allowed Gary Payton II to shoot a wide open three from the corner, which he knocked down. To DLo’s credit, Payton was open because he sprinted the floor after the miss on the other end. Like I said, the name of the game was pace and space.

But the biggest impact player was the oft maligned Draymond Green. I should get this out of the way now: I love Draymond Green. He really disappoints me sometimes, but I love him, and his fingerprints were all over this game. For instance, the aforementioned Payton three ball? Green was the one who got the ball in his hands. So let’s give Dray some flowers.

On the defensive side of the ball, he did all the things that NBA fans have come to expect out of him at this point. Of particular note during this game was his discipline. He refused to provide help defense off of AD unless it was absolutely necessary. Even when the help was necessary, he never allowed himself to venture too far from Davis. Obviously, Davis is a top talent and is going to find a way to be productive, but Green did everything in his power to ensure AD worked for every single bucket and rebound.

Offensively, Green was in rare form and scoring efficiently. Though he was not as effective of a playmaker this game as we’ve come to expect, he more than made up for it in smart shot selection and tone setting. Green looked to push the pace all night, and it proved successful for the Warriors.

All that is well and good and admittedly not super insightful. But what I really want to talk about is the 3rd quarter, which was distinctly Warriors in nature. Right before halftime, Golden State hit back-to-back threes. The first came by way of a Kevon Looney- Klay Thompson DHO. But the second was from the Chef himself. Looney picked AD’s pocket, the ball found its way into Jordan Poole’s hands. As they had been doing all half, Poole pushed the pace, before getting the ball to a trailing Steph Curry on the Chase Center logo. 12.2 seconds left. Steph’s body language exudes confidence. He dribbles the ball to half court and sizes up his defender. 7.0 seconds left. He tests the waters with some crossovers, causing his defender to back down. 2.8 seconds left. In peak Curry fashion, he attacks the defender’s top foot with a between the legs dribble before wrapping the ball behind his back into his shooting hand and letting the jumper fly. 1.5 seconds left. He couldn’t have shot the ball more perfectly. Swish. 70 to 59 at the half. Uh oh.

This was all the momentum GSW needed, and they expertly carried it into the 2nd half. The Warriors were able to get AD on Curry Island early (with the first play, actually). Curry brought the ball up, and Wiggins set a pin-down screen for Draymond on the baseline. That forced a switch for the Lakers, meaning that AD had to be involved in the pick-and-roll. Again. Steph immediately went to work and was able to get an easy layup to his dominant hand. Immediately afterward, the Warriors got a steal and Gary Payton II scored another layup. Next possession: Laker brick, Gary Payton fouled on a layup in transition. A few possessions later, it became Klay Thompson’s turn to target AD. On the secondary break, he was able to get AD out of position just long enough to dribble right into an uncontested free throw. DLo then coughed up the ball, which found Draymond, who bricked a layup. Wiggins, being upset with the missed layup, decided to effortlessly jump over AD, grab the ball one-handed, and dunk it just to make sure.

The whole third quarter could be summarized with one word: effort. An abundance of it from the Warriors, and seemingly none of it from the Lakers. As far I’m concerned, the Lakers lost this game in the third quarter. So now what? The Lakers lose a game, and potentially AD for the rest of the series (he exited the game with a head injury in the 4th and had to be transported via wheelchair). The Lakers have been a net negative team with AD on the bench in the playoffs to the tune of -10.2. So what are the options for the purple and gold?

I think Darvin Ham gave us a glimpse into his strategy when AD went down. He moved LeBron to the center spot and surrounded him with shooters. He also instilled confidence in those shooters, telling them that they better not pass up an opportunity to shoot from deep. Obviously, we can expect a more robust strategy than “if you’re open, shoot it” come the next game, but I don’t expect it will be much more complicated. Fortunately for the Lakers, LeBron is still pretty good at basketball and the Warriors have some definite holes that can be exploited on defense.

I love Gary Payton II being in the starting lineup, but I suspect that he’ll be targeted by LeBron in Game 6. For one, James has a significant size advantage and could score fairly easily (despite Payton’s defensive chops). But getting Payton on James and into the post would prevent him from being a pest to the Lakers’ perimeter players. Plus, if the Lakers can draw some foul trouble early, it will help their chances down the stretch.

I’m sure LeBron will look to involve Steph Curry in as many actions as he can throw at him, but I also think that Klay Thompson is going to be targeted. Through no fault of his own, he’s just not the defensive force that he once was, and quicker ball handlers like Dennis Schröder will probably look to have their way with him. D’Angelo Russell is also going to have to step up, but I have faith in him. After all, he’s had a stellar playoff run thus far.

Regardless of the result, expect to see some great basketball between two of the best players to ever do it in the next game. The Warriors may have gotten away with the win in this one, but they have a long road ahead if they want to beat the force of nature that is LeBron James.

So Long, Farewell…

My love for the NBA is well documented. Those who have spoken to me for more than 10 minutes know the relationship that I have with basketball, particularly at the professional level. But UNC holds a special place in my soul. I grew up a Tar Heel, and there’s just something about that color that gets me going. The culture of the University of North Carolina is unparalleled. Going to Chapel Hill feels like a basketball pilgrimage, something that is necessary for true appreciation of the sport.

There are a few moments that I will always remember from my lifelong fandom. I will always remember losing to Kansas in the Final Four in 2008. I remember watching them achieve redemption the following year by winning it all. I remember when my favorite Tar Heel of my lifetime broke his wrist in 2012 (I promise you that if Kendall Marshall stays healthy, UNC wins the whole thing). I remember the most clutch shot I had ever seen from Marcus Paige in 2016 against Villanova (who I still hate). I remember ruining JJ Redick’s senior night. But there is nothing that can compare to the feeling I experienced when the clock hit 0.0 and UNC stood victorious against the evil Blue Devils and their Palpatine-esque coach.

The magnitude of this year’s Final Four is not lost on me. In the moment, it was suffocating. The mere thought of potentially losing to Duke on such a big stage, at the tail end of an obnoxiously long and storied coaching career, was sickening. Yet as the game approached, I found myself feeling more and more confident. Armando Bacot had been on a tear. RJ Davis and Caleb Love remained steady, even if infuriating. Puff Johnson played smart basketball for the tournament’s entirety. Leaky Black defended well and made the right pass every time. Brady Manek proved once again that he was the missing ingredient to this Tar Heel team. By the time the game tipped off, I loved our chances. After all, last time the Heels saw Dook, they smacked them in the mouth in Durham.

Regardless of outcome, the game was destined to be an all-timer

I’d be lying if I said I was going to miss Coach K. His face conjures inner negativity that I find impossible to describe. The Duke monolith will always be there regardless of who is at the helm. That stupid mascot, dumb blue hue, and degenerate fanbase will be always be ripe for the hating. But time is sobering. I truly believe that in his own way, Coach K brought the best out of UNC. We always have to beat Duke, but in particular, we had to beat him. I don’t take the rivalry so seriously that I truly hate all associated with the university, but I do hate them. Hopefully that makes sense.

Caleb Love’s shot to put the game out of reach (along with clutch free throws to seal the deal) will forever be a memory that I will cherish. To beat Duke on that stage, at that particular point in history, is indescribable. But for the Dukies reading this:

Arguably the most clutch shot in UNC history

Coach K is a colossal basketball figure. Love him or hate him, it’s the truth. I won’t miss him, but I’ll miss seeing the Heels compete against him. And like it or not, every great college basketball coach will be compared to him in perpetuity until he’s inevitably surpassed.

Duke faithful, fear not, we’ll see you again. The best rivalry in college basketball is going nowhere. Truthfully, it could use some new faces. As for Coach K, I have this to say: So long, farewell. Thanks for the memories, and I hope you never come back. It has been a pleasure to hate you all these years. I’m sure I’ll get over it one day.

I’ll miss hating your dumb face (photo via NY Post)

The Potential Point GOAT

What if I told you that there is a basketball player so game changingly dominant that they won at every single stage of the sport? This player has competed against the most skilled opponents in the world year-in and year-out, and their career is old enough to buy a lottery ticket. They’ve won four league championships, five Olympic gold medals, two NCAA championships, and four FIBA World Cups. They are a 12-time All-Star, appearing among the league’s best players for over a decade and well over half their career. Who could this hooper be, and why can’t you put your finger on who it is?

This generational talent is Sue Bird, and she goes unsung because she’s a woman in the WNBA. That’s the honest truth. Bird almost never gets the respect that she deserves because she happened to be born with ovaries. But she has somehow combined LeBron’s endurance and Steve Nash’s pure point skills. She has dished out more assists than anyone in WNBA history by a HUGE margin, and she’s currently fourth all-time in steals. Oh, and she’s seventh all-time in scoring, second in made threes, and first in minutes played. But very few ever even talk about her. Don’t worry, readers, I’m here to give you what you need to know about the farm animal that is point GOAT Sue Bird.

Some jaw-dropping dimes for your viewing pleasure

In a past life, Sue was probably a midwife or a mail professional, because she always delivers. More specifically, she puts the ball exactly where it needs to go. I made the comparison to Steve Nash, and the similarities are unnerving. Bird’s quickness causes defenses to break down and scramble, but it’s really her patience that sets her apart. Rather than always making the first available pass or the “most conventional” one, Bird holds onto the ball for a touch longer than most, really waiting for the best play rather than a good one. Combine that with her ability to use head fakes and throw one-handed bullets, and she’s the ultimate quarterback.

There’s also no pass in existence that she can’t throw. She has the full repertoire, from no-looks, to wrap-arounds, to drop-offs, full courters. If you can think of it, she can do it. With all of these options at her disposal, there is virtually no situation in which she cannot find an open teammate. While passing is certainly generational, make no mistake: she can go get a bucket too.

The Steve Nash comparison is perhaps a bit reductive, but apt nonetheless. Bird’s previously mentioned bursts of quickness are still impressive at her age. In the 2020 WNBA Finals, Bird proved her prowess not only with dimes galore, but stout defense and timely buckets. That quickness leads to penetrating drives that suck in the defense, but Bird’s passing ability opens up her scoring options because defenses have to respect it. If they don’t double her or if the help never comes, she will find a way to score. She’s also a stalwart shooter. Her stroke is buttery smooth and lightning quick, and she’s lethal from any distance. For her career, she’s averaging 85% from the charity stripe and 39.3% from deep.

A star amongst Stars

But Sue Bird will go unsung by many. Most basketball fans have never even seen her play. Even looking for her highlights is difficult, as the footage just isn’t readily available. How can we, as a hoops loving fanbase, let this generational talent go unheralded? Well I won’t stand for it.

Dear Sue,

In the event that you read this, know that I am a huge fan. Also know that I think you belong among basketball’s immortals. You are destined for the Hall of Fame whenever you decide to finally hang up the jersey. Even with a place in the Naismith Hall of Fame, people will gloss over your name as someone who must’ve been good, but they’ve never heard of. But not me. This site will forever remember just how good you were and continue to be. The combination of production and longevity is exceedingly uncommon in sports, and you should be celebrated for that alone. Whenever someone brings up the age old argument of the game’s best point guards, know that I’m throwing your name into the ring every. Single. Time. Welcome to FDC’s Hallowed Hall of Hoops. Congratulations on your enshrinement, Ms. Bird. You are not forgotten.

On Behalf of a Sailor

The NBA was founded in 1946. Thirty years later in 1976 was the pivotal NBA/ABA merger. This is when most hoops historians begin the modern era of the league, mainly because that is what best suites them. If you played pre-merger and you weren’t a member of the Celtics or Lakers, chances are you probably don’t get much love. You’ve simply been lost to history.

But even those who came after the merger were not immune to the unforgiving passage of time. Without looking it up, who was the MVP for the 1977-78 season? Any idea? It was Bill Walton at the height of his powers. I’m sure there are many of you reading this that only know Walton as a bit of a commentating weirdo and not one of the most interesting and entertaining big men in the game’s history. Walton was so good that he only played 58 games that season and still won the MVP. Yet here we are, talking about how Walton has been lost to time. That was only 44 years ago. We have readily available footage of Walton and he is still forgotten as a player.

Even more shocking are the players that were in the league more recently and forgotten. The disrespect that Hakeem Olajuwon has to endure from his omission in the conversations about the greats is abhorrent. There is a case that he was the league’s 2nd best player in an era dominated by some kid from UNC by way of Brooklyn, NY, named Michael Jordan. How ironic that The Dream is often only remembered fleetingly like a dream. He was also an MVP.

But there is one player that stands above the rest as the champion of the perennially forgotten. A man who was a true freakazoid and we just seem to conveniently sweep him under the rug. This man is one of the game’s most electrifying big men ever. Think about that: in a league dominated by large humans, one of the most skilled large humans in its history is just dust in the wind. He was also an MVP and 2-time champion and a 10-time All-Star. He is responsible for one of the NBA’s highest scoring games EVER. Only Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and David Thompson managed to get more buckets in a single outing. This man is the proud owner of one of the coolest nicknames in NBA history: The Admiral.

This man is David Robinson.

Don’t get me wrong, Robinson isn’t some unsung hero or anything. He’s still in the Hall of Fame (but then again, who isn’t?). He’s still a scoring champion and a block champion and even a rebound champion. But I think NBA fans are too quick to forget just how special David was. If you are one of the forgetful, allow me to enlighten you.

Even when he was playing, Robinson was ~~a bit of~~ an anomaly. No one that large should be that quick. He had a first step that would absolutely TORCH opposing big men. He was quick AND fast. He was one of the best leapers in NBA history. Refer to the video below. Skip to the 0:00:30 mark and watch until 0:00:37. Watch Robinson (#50) for those 7 seconds and think about what it is that you just saw.

Did you catch that? Go ahead, watch it as many times as you need. I’ll wait. Seriously, watch it again. When the Timberwolves shoot the ball, Robinson has the deepest position out of every Spur on the court (ie he is furthest away from his own basket). After the Spurs get the rebound and initiate the break, who ends up on the other end of the court first? None other than David Maurice Robinson. Sure, nothing comes of this fast break, but it is a precedent setter. Robinson is almost always going to beat opposing bigs down the floor. It’s just science. Let’s continue watching this game. Head to 0:02:04 and watch until 0:02:10.

At some point, you should have seen this:

This is the Admiral acting as the primary defender on the fast break. He is the last line of defense against an easy path to the basket. You should’ve also seen that in a split second, Robinson shuffles around to meet the player BEHIND him and nearly get his big mits on the ball. He throws off the opponent just enough to get him to blow a dunk.

Robinson is one of the game’s defensive greats. I don’t know why more people don’t talk about it. During the 1995-96 season, Robinson led the league in defensive win shares with a staggering 7.2. That means that David’s defense alone contributed to 7 wins that the Spurs would have missed out on had he not played. He also notched a defensive rebound percentage of 24.2%, meaning that if he was in the floor, there was a nearly a 1-in-4 chance that he would come away with any given defensive rebound. That’s incredible! For reference, Shaq’s average during the ’95-96 season was the same. Robinson possessed the ability to guard nearly anyone on the court as well. While that is more common today, it was almost unheard of in the late 90s. His footspeed and strength allowed him to stay with any given player on the floor. What about the other side of the ball, though?

The offensive side of Robinson’s game may not be eyebrow raising at first (especially given basketball’s evolution), so let’s break it down. I’m tired of remembering that Christian Laettner exists so we’ll be watching a different game than the one above. But before that, let’s hit some quick points about David’s offensive game.

Unsexy
- David’s back-to-the-basket game, while efficient, is not always very fun to watch. He doesn’t have the breadth of moves of Olajuwon or the sheer dominance of Shaq. Still, his quickness, strength, and touch get the job done.
GOTTA GO FAST
- I know it seems redundant, but Robinson is quick. He’s going to use this to his advantage in the mid-range. If he’s getting the ball in that area, he’s going to pivot to face the basket and get buckets out of a more traditional triple-threat position. His ability to shoot spot-up jumpers around 15ft. helps open up his game by giving him some more room to operate. If you play the jumper too close, he’ll blow right by you.
Run, David, Run
- Again, the guy likes to run in transition. There is not a legit 7-footer that comes to mind that runs and leaps quite like Robinson. He will beat you in transition every single time he wants to. When the Spurs eventually get Tim Duncan, they are going to run corner fill plays in transition that center around getting David the ball quickly on the break. Guy is a legit gazelle in transition.

Actual photo of The Admiral about to give you a bucket on the break (Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com)

With that out of the way, allow me to refer you to this fun match up from 1996.

The game starts at the 11 minute mark

Just watch some of the first quarter. Mid-range jumpers, face-up drives, turn around jumpers, effortless glides to the rim in transition. It’s all there. I don’t have to tell you about it, you can see it. All three points that I made earlier are present in the first quarter alone. Let’s not forget who Robinson is playing against in this match-up. While David doesn’t spend much time guarding Shaq in this game, they are unquestionably the stars of each team and the entire NBA fanbase was eager to see any meeting between the two.

The Magic would get the better of the Spurs this game to the tune of a 13-point victory, but Robinson played a better game than his gargantuan counterpart. He also played 11 more minutes. Think about that number: 11 minutes of professional basketball at the highest level. That’s nearly one full quarter more. The Admiral was special not only for his skillset, but for his conditioning. The man could play all day.

	MP	FG	*FGA*	*FG%*	FT	*FTA*	*FT%*	*REB*	*AST*	*STL*	*BLK*	*TOV*	PF	*PTS*
David Robinson	49:00	14	22	63.6%	8	12	66.7%	11	2	3	1	3	4	36
Shaquille O’Neal	38:00	9	18	50.0%	8	11	72.7%	12	3	0	1	2	5	26

4 FEB 1996 (Bold indicates favorable stat) (Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference)

So all of this begs the question: why don’t we talk about David Robinson today? Honestly, I think he unfortunately gets lost in the shuffle of the 90s just like so many other greats. He had a small ego and this didn’t exactly help his marketability save for your grandmother commenting on what a fine young man he was. It was the attitude era, and Robinson lacked attitude. Not to say that he didn’t care or he couldn’t be fiery. He absolutely cared and he competed with the best of them. The man was a member of THE Dream Team for crying out loud! But I think his lack of secular appeal hurt his chances of being remembered.

I suppose that brings us to the real question of “why bother?” David Robinson obviously doesn’t need me to defend him or to break down his game or anything like that. Yet I find myself compelled to do so. I don’t want to see another great get left unremembered in the annals of hoop history. The Admiral was a truly special talent. I feel that it is the responsibility of all fans of the sport to pass on its legends so that they are not forgotten. Admit it to yourselves: some of you have forgotten about the Admiral.

But fear not David. I haven’t forgotten you. The Spurs faithful remember you. I’m sure that even some of your naysayers remember your exploits with a flattering, nostalgic hatred. Because you deserve to be remembered, I am going to do my best to ensure that your place in basketball history is commemorated. I know you have a place in the Hall of Fame, but you will have the honor of being the first inductee to the Hallowed Hall of Hoops (HHH) here at Full Court Dime. This mediocre website will serve as an unworthy monument to all the greats, and you will be their forebear. Congratulations on your enshrinement, Mr. Robinson. You are not forgotten.

David Robinson, *Hallowed Hooper,* Class of ’21

The (2nd) Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It’s August, hoops fans, and you know what that means. NBA free agency is finally upon us. In a matter of days, teams will rise and fall. Champions will be built and dynasties solidified. Some players’ lives will forever be changed as they finally pen massive contracts that provide the generational wealth they have worked so hard for.

But mostly, a bunch of guys will change teams and the eventual outcome won’t be apparent for a while. Still, it’s fun to speculate! I know I’m a couple days behind the power curve of free agency so let’s go ahead and recap my favorite things that have happened thus far.

1.) Literally Everything the Bulls Have Done

The Bulls weren’t particularly memorable last season. Sure enough, they showed some promising flashes and Zach LaVine blossomed into the All-Star he is destined to continue being. The Vučević acquisition genuinely excited me but it clearly didn’t turn out the way the organization intended. Make no mistake: the big man still produced, but the team didn’t improve tremendously upon his arrival (they went 3-7 in his first ten games and 11-15 in the final 26 that he played).

But hey, Coby White was fun to watch. LaVine made me excited to tune in to Bulls games. And uh… well, that’s really about it. The team was nothing to write home about. This offseason has already proven that the Bulls are looking to get much better very quickly though. First, the team went out and got Lonzo Ball. I know, I know, some of you are unable to look past the meme and see Ball for what he is. But he improved in every meaningful category this past season. The man has some of the best vision in the league and throws touchdown passes in his sleep. Offensively, he adds this fun dynamism that I’m all about, particularly in fast break situations. Lonzo to LaVine full court lobs? Yes, please!

Next there was the Alex Caruso signing. Caruso remains a fan favorite and one of the league’s best defensive players in a position where defense is at a premium. He’s also won a championship already and adds valuable experience (both on the court and in the locker room) to a roster unaccustomed to the playoffs. He brings a grinder’s mentality and his work ethic will no doubt have an effect on his teammates. His ability to contribute offensively causes some pause, but ultimately, he’s not a hindrance. In any case, I don’t think the team really needs his offense on the perimeter. They need perimeter defense and experience. I like the signing. Besides, they have the offense coming from another free agent.

Chicago did the Spurs a solid and snatched up DeMar DeRozan. Don’t take that the wrong way; I like DeRozan. But his career wasn’t going anywhere in San Antonio, plus the Spurs really just needed to bite the bullet and get to rebuilding. Now, DeRozan has the chance to be a centerpiece in a team that is fast up-and-coming. He takes some of the pressure off LaVine and LaVine can do the same for him. Having two guys who are so effective getting to the hoop and scoring in the mid-range is going to make for an interesting experiment, especially with Vučević in the middle (fun fact: Vučević shot 40% from deep last season, so he’s not solely an inside threat).

Overall, I’m not sure how much the Bulls really improved. How well all these pieces can mesh together has yet to be seen, but I am excited to see them figure something out. If nothing else, the team’s offense will be fun. Look for the Bulls to make the playoffs by way of the play-in tournament. This is the beginning of something special in Chi-town. Quote me on it.

2.) Everyone Taking Their Talents to South Beach

I wasn’t really expecting Miami to be one of the most intriguing stories of free agency and yet here we are. Pat Riley has built what I believe to be the best culture in the NBA and he has found the perfect embodiment of that culture in Jimmy Butler. Butler’s legendary playoff run in the bubble two seasons ago really highlighted just what the Heat are about and I believe it really opened the eyes of some players that are trying to win a championship.

The most notable acquisition is Kyle Lowry. The champion PG has tasted glory and now seeks it once again. He might be aging, but to call him ineffective is asinine. Free agency isn’t about signing all of the best players (more on that later) but it’s about signing the players that are going to contribute to a championship. Lowry averaged 15-5-7 last season, and he’s moving to a team that doesn’t need him to be a centerpiece like Toronto did. If he can manage 15 PPG and 5 APG, I think he’s the starting veteran PG that the Heat need.

Miami’s biggest need though is someone who can create in the half-court whose name isn’t Jimmy Butler. They ranked dead last in field goals attempted last season, and that says a lot. Butler and Bam Adebayo are obviously the team’s go-to options but it never hurts to have more guys who can go and get a bucket. Enter Victor Oladipo. The injuries have been a nagging concern, but let’s optimistically assume he can remain relatively healthy. This is a guy who average 19.8 PPG last year. I think people forget those two All-Star seasons. Yes, the NBA is a “what have you done for me lately” kind of league, but I truly think that a healthy Oladipo is a real difference maker for this team. His extension with the Heat proves his commitment and he will undoubtedly return with a chip on his shoulder.

The Heat also locked up Duncan Robinson for the next five years and despite his slump last season, I believe with all of my heart that he is going to be THE catch-and-shoot guy in the league in only a couple years (other than a guy named Klay Thompson). Robinson knows who he is and the Heat are keenly aware of who he is. His down year still resulted in nearly 41% from 3. I’m sure the front office still wants him to be closer to his 44% from 2019-20, but even if he doesn’t make it back, he’s a threat from deep that is going to prove invaluable to a championship caliber team some day. Pat Riley clearly thinks that team is going to be Miami and I kinda hope he’s right.

3.) Basketball is Back in The Mecca

The Knicks haven’t forgotten the magic of this previous season. There were many times that I watched them and found myself asking my wife “Are the Knicks good?” Slowly but surely, the team made it clear that they were something special. Finally, Knicks faithful had something to cling onto. The behemoth beyond the Brooklyn Bridge didn’t seem to matter so much, even if only for a moment. Sure, they only produced one playoff win, but that one win was like milk and honey on the lips of New York denizens. The only question after the dust settled: where do the Knicks go from here?

They chose to get better. They returned every key piece which included Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel, and vocal veteran Taj Gibson. But most interestingly, the Knicks brought one of New York’s sons home. Kemba Walker agreeing to a contract buyout with OKC and choosing to go to New York literally caused my jaw to drop. I think a lot of fans have forgotten who exactly Cardiac Kemba is. While he has suffered decline in the last couple seasons, this is still a guy who can go out and get 20 against anyone on any given night. Put him in a backcourt with an improving RJ Barrett and now you’re onto something. But I don’t think he’s actually the most interesting player that the Knicks picked up.

Evan Fournier is a known quantity in the NBA. The Frenchman only mere days ago lead his home country to a win over the United States in Olympic group play. Fournier can score from all three levels and plays with grit and intelligence. I think MSG will love him. The Knicks only averaged 107 PPG last season. While they boasted a stifling defense, the offense left much to be desired. Julius Randle proved that he can be a pillar on a team, but not its sole star. Certainly not its only option come crunch time. But adding guys like Kemba and Fournier definitely makes the Knicks a team to watch. If they can keep their defense where it was last season and add more buckets on the other end, they’re going to break some hearts in the Eastern Conference.

4.) The Elephant in the Room

Let’s get down to business: the Lakers have gone absolutely mental. You know how I said that free agency isn’t about signing all of the best players? The Lakers didn’t get that memo. They signed Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Kent Bazmore, Kendrick Nunn, and swiped up Malik Monk despite his status as a restricted free agent. But let’s be honest here, you don’t care about any of that. No, what you care about is Russell Westbrook. Russ joins LeBron and Anthony Davis as part of a strange trio. I honestly have no idea how it’s going to work. Russ is so ball dominant. The LA Times said that Bron and AD would even change positions to make this thing work. Would that be enough? I don’t know. It’s such a tough call because Westbrook clearly just wants to win no matter the cost, but I wonder if his style of play can gel with his new co-stars.

So the Lakers have Westbrook. Allow me to go off on a bit of a tangent. If this is the new reality, let’s just go ahead and throw convention out the window. Let’s get weird with it.

Obviously, LA brought on Westbrook to be their starting PG. Duh. But can you imagine what it would be like to bring THE Russell Westbrook, the triple-double king, the electric factory himself, off the bench as the 6th man? Imagine some NBA coach having to look down his bench at his backup PG and say “Hey, you got fresh-legged Russ. May God have mercy on your soul.” He would be the greatest sparkplug of all time! I’m not saying you should give Russ back-up minutes. What I am saying is that maybe him occasionally being the 6th man would actually make the team better. How wild would it be to see Westbrook, full of angry athletic vigor, come off the bench to be guarded by literally any back-up in the league?

I am not saying this is going to happen. It’s not even a good idea (probably). I’m sure all three of the big names involved would absolutely hate it. Sure does make for some fun thought, though! But if the Lakers refuse to get weird like that, what exactly will they do with Westbrook? It’s hard to say, but look for him to be the one pushing the ball in transition and even handling the ball most often in the half-court. Russ has proven that he is a good pick-and-roll ball handler. I can envision some sets with AD as the screener and letting that combo eat defenses alive. I can also see some sets in which LeBron acts as the screener and pops instead of rolling, receiving the ball and essentially becoming a quarterback. This pop action would give someone of LeBron’s basketball IQ more than enough time to see where the best play is. There are honestly so many fun possibilities at play that it would require its own article to fully articulate.

Ultimately, I’m not a basketball genius. I have no idea how on Earth coach Frank Vogel plans to make something like this work. What I do know is that I’m very intrigued by the potential and I’ll be eagerly watching to see how the Lakers handle such a trio. Because if they even remotely figure it out, I don’t see how another team stops them. Look for them to meet Brooklyn in an explosive Finals match-up that would likely be the most electric of my lifetime.

Free agency is ultimately a crap shoot and as much as we like to think otherwise, we really have no idea what any of it means or will amount to. Despite that, it’s still my second favorite time of the NBA season. I’ll be keeping a close on it, as there are some names that I’m anxiously awaiting decisions on. Strap in, folks, because it’s going to be a wild ride.