J-Speaks: 2018 Western Conference Semifinals Preview

As the field shrank from eight playoff teams in the rugged Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to four, we have two very intriguing matchups. We have one that features the defending NBA champions renewing acquaintances with the squad they faced three seasons back in their march to their first of two titles in the last three seasons, while in the other showdown we have the team that set a franchise mark for wins in the regular season, behind a high-octane sharp shooting offense led by the presumptive league MVP versus a top notch defense led by the leading contender for Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Here is J-Speaks 2018 Western Conference Semifinals Preview.

(1)   Houston Rockets versus (5) Utah Jazz 

   

          Regular-Season Series: Rockets won 4-0

Back in the Houston Rockets march to their first NBA title in 1994 one of the teams that they took down in their march to their first of back-to-back Larry O’Brien trophies led by Hall of Famer and league MVP of that season Hakeem Olajuwon was the Utah Jazz led by Hall of Famers in guard John Stockton, and 1997 and 1999 league MVP Karl Malone in five games in the Western Conference Finals. The two teams with different headliners meet again, only one round sooner and for the sixth time in the postseason. 

The No. 1 Seeded Rockets, led by presumptive league MVP for the 2017-18 NBA campaign James Harden took down the No. 8 Seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the West Quarterfinals 4-1. 

The Rockets opponent in the Semis the No. 5 Seeded Utah Jazz used grit, teamwork, with a little luck to outlast the Oklahoma City Thunder, and their All-Star trio of Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony in six games. 

This Semifinals tilt features the high-octane three-point trigger happy Rockets led by presumptive league MVP James Harden, versus the rock-solid defense of the Jazz, led by the leading candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in starting center Rudy Gobert and Rookie of the Year candidate Donovan Mitchell. 

This matchup also features the two hottest teams in the West, who have gone a combined 69-14 since Jan. 24. However, their four meetings during the regular season were in total favor of the Rockets winning by an average of 17.5 points. The plus 70-point differential during their four meetings ranked as the largest of any regular season series during 2017-18 and represented the largest of all the series between teams in the 2018 postseason. 

Harden in those four games against the Jazz averaged 34.3 points on 55.4 percent from the field, and 43.2 percent from three-point range. 

For the Jazz though, their last loss to the Rockets 96-85 on Feb. 26 came during a stretch that saw them win 21 out of 23 games. While they walked out of Salt Lake City, UT with their 13^th straight win, the Rockets shot just 43.0 percent from the floor on the evening, while connecting on just 9 of their 33 three-point field goals and registering just 15 assists. 

This game was a testament to how much improved the Rockets are on defense as they held the Jazz to just 43.7 percent from the field; held their own on the boards being just out-rebounded 49-48; recorded 15 steals and forced 22 turnovers, scoring 20 points off those miscues and outscored the Jazz 50-44 in the paint. 

The Jazz as mentioned during that time have really played well despite that loss. For a team that was not projected to even be in playoff contention this season because of the loss of All-Star Gordon Hayward in free agency back in the off-season has been a major surprise. 

They were 19-28 following a 104-90 loss versus the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 22. Included in that 21-2 stretch, the Jazz finished the season going 28-6 in their last 34 games to make the playoffs. 

Two big reasons for their success has been the stellar play of Gobert, who averaged 14.2, a team leading 11.2 rebounds and two block shots in the opening round victory versus the Thunder and Mitchell, who outplayed Westbrook, the reigning league MVP. 

He averaged 28.5 points, 7.2 boards and 1.5 steals in the six games against the Thunder, on 46.2 percent from the field and 36.4 from three-point range. 

He finished the series in spectacular fashion with a game-high 38 points on 14 for 26 shooting, including 5 for 8 from three-point range in the Game 6 clincher on Friday night, with 22 of those points authored in the third quarter as the Jazz took control of the game and did not look back.

How good was Mitchell? Only Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the late Wilt Chamberlin scored more points, 216 and 199 respectably in the first six games of their playoff careers than the 171 that Mitchell scored in the six games against the Thunder. 

In looking at what will make the difference in this tilt between the Rockets and the Jazz is how well both teams shoot from distance and which set of role players will rise to the moment. 

Including the playoffs, the Rockets have gone 51-6 this season when they have connected on north of 33 percent of their three-pointers and have gone just 18-12 when they have shot below that percentage. 

For the Jazz, when they have shot above 37 percent from long range or better from distance, they are including the postseason 35-7 and a dismal 17-29 when they have shot less than that mark from three-point range.

While Harden and Paul have been the headliners for the Rockets this season, and deservedly so, when the likes of Capela, Tucker, Ariza, and Gordon have played well, the Rockets have been invincible all season. That four some came through to close out the series versus the T’Wolves and if they can get anything from Ryan Anderson and defensive ace Luc Mbah a Moute, whose been on the shelf since Apr. 10 because of a shoulder injury, that should tip the scale in favor of the boys from “Clutch City.” 

In the case of the Jazz, Mitchell has been the foundation of their offense, the Jazz are not in the Semis without the sharp shooting and playmaking of swingman Joe Ingles, who averaged 14.0 points, connecting on 46.7 percent from three-point range; starting lead guard Ricky Rubio, who averaged 14.0 points 7.3 rebounds, and seven assists; and starting forward Derrick Favors averaged 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds. 

While their numbers were not as spectacular as those of the starting five of the Jazz, reserve forward Jae Crowder, rookie forward/guard Royce O’Neale and reserve guard Dante Exum made major contributions that made a major difference against the Thunder and will need to do that and then some to have a chance against the Rockets. 

They will have to perform above their maximum to start this series as Rubio will be on the shelf due to an injured hamstring he sustained in Game 6 on Friday night. He did not return.  

No one expected the Jazz to do what they did in the regular season, and no one thought they would take down the Thunder the way they did. The Rockets are a different animal. A team that is prolific on offense and has made itself into a well rounded defensive team. The Jazz will not go quietly, but it is hard to fathom them pulling off another upset, especially against a team that wants to take on the defending NBA champions in the Conference Finals. 

Series Prediction: Rockets in 6 games.

(2)   Golden State Warriors versus (6) New Orleans Pelicans

      Regular-season series: Warriors won 3-1.

Three years ago, the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans matched up in the opening round of the 2015 NBA playoffs. The Warriors took down the multi-color birds in a 4-0 sweep on their way to win their first of two titles the past three seasons. They meet again in the Semis and while the Pelicans have the look of a different team, they are facing a team on a mission, which has the return of the two-time league MVP from injury on the horizon. 

In one of the shockers of the opening round of the playoffs, the No. 6 Seeded Pelicans swept the No. 3 Seeded 4-0. While MVP candidate Anthony Davis was sensational in the opening round with averages of 33.0 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.8 steals on 57.6 percent from the floor in the opening round, the starting backcourt of Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday were sensational on both sides of the ball against the Trail Blazers’ guards in All-Star Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. 

Going back to last season when he was with the Chicago Bulls in their First-Round and the opening-round versus the Trail Blazers, Rondo has not lost in the last six times he has played in the opening round. He averaged 11.3 points, 13.3 assists and 7.5 boards on 48.7 percent shooting, including 42.9 from three-point range against the Northwest Division champions. 

Holiday was equally as impressive with averages of 27.8 points, 6.5 assists and four boards, on 56.8 percent from the field and 35.0 percent from three-point range. 

In the Game 4 clincher last weekend, Davis, Holiday, and Rondo were exceptional for head coach Alvin Gentry. Davis had a playoff career-high and franchise record of 47 points with 10 boards and three steals, going 15 for 23 from the field, and 15 for 17 from the free throw line. Holiday scored a playoff career-high of 41 points with eight assists, on 15 for 23 shooting, and 9 for 12 from the charity stripe. Rondo had seven points, seven boards and 16 assists as the Pelicans punched their ticket into the Semis for just the time in their 16 seasons in the “Big Easy.” 

The combined 88-point combined performance by Davis and Holiday tied Hall of Famers and Celtics legends John Havlicek and Jo White for the most points by two teammates in a game in postseason history. 

They also became just the third pair to score 40 points or more on 60 percent from the field in the same game, joining Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller in 2000 for the Indiana Pacers, who led them to The Finals 18 seasons back and Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler for the Houston Rockets in 1995, who capped back-to-back titles that season.  

To put into context how the team defense was against the Trail Blazers guards, Lillard, who averaged 26.9 points during the regular-season, managed just 18.5 in the series versus the Pelicans, on 35.2 percent from the field and 30.0 from three-point range. He managed to score 20 points once in the four games. In fact, he had more total turnovers 16 than three-pointers made with nine. 

The Pelicans face a major challenge in the defending champions, who put their struggles to close the season behind them. 

Despite not having their All-Star floor general and two-time league MVP Stephen Curry, the Warriors, who entered their First-Round tilt versus the No. 7 Seeded San Antonio Spurs, the three remaining All-Stars in Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson took down the Spurs 4-1. 

Durant was remarkable with averages of 28.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists on 48.0 percent shooting in the series. Green, who had 17 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists in the Game 5 clincher was solid with averages of 11.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and eight assists in the series. Thompson, who started the series with 31 points in the Game 1 victory, hitting 5 for 8 from three-point range had 27 points in the clincher, going 4 for 9 from distance in the Game 5 victory. He averaged 22.6 points for the series on 46.9 from the floor, and 44.1 from three-point range. 

The Warriors playoff mantra during this run of winning two of the last three NBA titles under head coach Steve Kerr has been “Strength in Numbers.” 

In the team’s 10 losses in their last 17 games to close the season, the supporting cast of the Warriors came under constant scrutiny. 

In the opening round though, that cast of Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Quin Cook, David West, and Kevon Looney got back on track against the Spurs and will need to do so as their march towards back-to-back titles continues. 

In the Pelicans 126-120 win at the Warriors on Apr. 7, their only win in four tries against the defending champs during the regular season, Durant, Green and Thompson combined for 70 points in the loss, with 41 coming from Durant. The supporting cast combined for 50, with 31 of those coming from Cook and Looney. 

Davis in that game was great with a team-high 34 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. Holiday had 25 points with five boards, six assists and four steals, on 10 for 18 shooting and Rondo had 12 points and 17 assists. 

The difference for the Pelicans in that contest was the 28 points by Nikola Mirotic, going 6 for 11 from three-point range, while swingman E’Twaun Moore had 15 points and seven boards, on a perfect 7 for 7 from the floor. 

As team, the Pelicans shot 56.3 percent from the field on the night; had 39 assists; scored 26 points off 17 Warriors, turnovers, 15 of which were steals; committed just eight turnovers themselves and outscored the home team 62-52 in the paint. 

While the Warriors have gotten a whole lot of headlines these past three seasons because of their offensive prowess, they have won championships because of their ability to lock people down on the defensive end. 

In their five-game victory against the five-time champion Spurs, they managed to score over 100 points twice in the series. They managed 101 in their 14-point setback in Game 2 on Apr. 16 and 103 points in their 13-point victory three days later in Game 4 as they staved off a four-game sweep. 

Playing consistent defense will be at the top of the Warriors to-do list in the Semis against the Pelicans, who averaged 114.0 points, on 48 percent from the floor and 41 percent from three-point range in the regular season against the Warriors. 

The other key for the Warriors is when Curry will reappear? The aforementioned two-time MVP has been on the shelf the last five weeks recovering from a knee injury. 

In the 51 games that Curry was available for the Warriors during the regular season, the team was 41-10. Counting the playoffs, the Warriors are 21-15 without him. 

With the emergence of Davis and Pelicans, who were the only team to sweep their First-Round opponent, this has the makings of a long series. That said, if the Warriors, with Curry play to their potential, the result might be the same as in 2015. 

Series prediction: Warriors in 6 games.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 4/28/18 1 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter,” with Neil Everett and Stan Verrett; 4/28/18 7:30 p.m. NBA on TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal; www.nba.com’s “Series Preview: Houston Rockets Pit Vaunted Offense Against Utah Jazz’s Stingy Defense,” by John Schuhmann; www.nba.com’s “Series Preview: Appropriate Fear, Ultimate Confidence Surround Golden State Warriors,” by Sekou Smith; www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/statistics/_/name/gs/golden-state-warrriors;  www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/statistics/_/name/hou/houston-rockets; www.espn.com/nba/schedule/statistics/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans; www.espn.com/nba/schedule/statistics/_/name/utah/utah-jazz; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Houston_Rockets_seasons.

J-Speaks: The Return of A Top Lottery Pick to NBA

After missing out the playoffs the past two years, the New Orleans Pelicans behind a 25-13 finish to the 2017-18 NBA campaign earned the No. 6 Seed in the tough Western Conference. They made the most of their opportunity sweeping the No. 3 Seeded Portland Trail Blazers 4-0, earning just their second appearance in the Semifinals in their 16-year franchise history. While that nearly three-year gap between postseason appearances may seem like a long time, it pales in comparison to journey of one of Pelicans most recent acquisitions endured just to get a second chance in the league. 

Back on Feb. 3, the Pelicans signed forward/center Emeka Okafor to a 10-day contract. Two days later he made not only his debut with three points and two rebounds off the bench in nine minutes in the team’s 133-109 loss versus the Utah Jazz, but it was his first game in the league since 2013. 

The 35-year-old Okafor signed a second 10-day contract on Valentine’s Day and was signed for the remainder of the season 12 days later. 

His only appearance in the Pelicans opening round victory versus the Trail Blazers came in the team’s 119-102 win in Game 3 on Thursday night. He played four minutes where he did not score, missing his only shot attempt. 

His only other appearance in the playoffs came in 2011 with the then New Orleans Hornets, who lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 31.3 minutes in that series.  

The question is why would a player on the opposite end of age 30, with two kids, a finance degree, and money in the bank, a rare thing for a professional athlete in the twilight of his career roaming NBA hallways still? A true love for the game even after being out of the pro game for four years. 

“How a unique experience it is to be in the NBA,” Okafor said to NBATV’s Sekou Smith. “There’s only 450 slots in the world. In the entire world. It’s my duty to try to claim one of those spots. You just don’t give that up. You don’t give that up. You got to go back.”

Okafor had one of those coveted spots when the Houston, TX native was chosen with the No. 2 overall pick out of University of Connecticut in the 2004 NBA draft by the then Charlotte Bobcats. 

His averages of 15.1 points and 10.9 rebounds in his first season with the team earned him the 2005 Rookie of the Year and a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. This was on the heels of leading UConn to the NCAA title, while also being named the 2004 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Co-Player of the Year. 

After five seasons with the then Bobcats, Okafor was traded to the then New Orleans Hornets, where he played from 2009-10 to 2011-12. 

On June 20, 2012 Okafor was dealt to the Washington Wizards along with now Houston Rockets sharp shooting forward Trevor Ariza. 

Days before the start of the 2012-13 season, Okafor was dealt again on Oct. 25, 2013 to the Phoenix Suns along with a 2014 protected first-round draft pick in exchange for now Wizards center Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall, and Malcolm Lee. 

In the preseason, he got injured and what was discovered that Okafor had a herniated disc in his neck. In injury that would later prove more problematic than he would ever imagine. 

“As soon as I did the injury I knew what I did,” Okafor said to Smith. “Now in terms of how bad the herniation was I had no idea. In terms of the road to recovery I did not know what that entailed.” 

“I knew it was significant. I knew that it would take time, I just didn’t know much beyond that until I got to the process.” 

That process of rehabilitation kept Okafor off the hardwood the entire 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. 

Emeka’s wife Ilana Nunn-Okafor, a former member of the NBA’s Public Relations team, and daughter of longtime NBA referee Ronnie Nunn understood “The Association” long enough to wonder if her husband would ever get an opportunity to make a comeback. 

“There were moments where I would say, ‘Hmm, I hope this can still happen? Are you still in?’ I just want to make sure we’re still on this path, because the clock is ticking,” she said. 

“Every once in a while, he would come back home and be like, ‘Yes, so I don’t think it’s going to be May. I think it’s going to be September,’ and I was like, ‘Uh. Oh God.’” 

Suddenly two years became four, but rather than be discouraged, the distance from Okafor and his former life only energized his efforts to return to NBA. 

He said that getting back into the NBA became a dream again. How awesome it would be to be back in the pros where he was one of the best big men at one time. 

Mrs. Okafor used the example of how some people who work out shadow box, her husband “shadow balls.” That he would be in the kitchen of there home, open the refrigerator, and would instantly post her up. 

“When I would see those moments, I would be hopeful without him realizing it. Because I was like, ‘He misses it, and loves it” she said. 

For the return to be complete, Okafor had to reassure an NBA team that he could still play. The Philadelphia 76ers invited him to their Training Camp in September 2017 but waived him on Oct. 14, 2017 after appearing in five preseason games. 

Undeterred, he joined their G-League affiliate the Delaware 87ers to pursue his comeback to the NBA and those 26 games he played caught the attention of the New Orleans Pelicans, who as mentioned earlier signed him to a couple of 10-day contracts, and then a signed him for the rest of the season. 

Okafor’s return to the floor after four seasons as somewhat of a dinosaur. How so? He is the last of what is considered of a dying breed. With just two career three-point attempts, Okafor is nowhere close to a guy who can take and make threes at a high clip. 

Unlike the start of his career, Okafor now has a wife and two young kids at home, three reminders of how his life is different, which he is very grateful for. 

“Throughout the whole process I’m like, “Oh man, thank goodness I have my wife and kids,’” he said. “I don’t know what that process would have been like without that. Without that just love, and structure, and family support.” 

“Being in professional sports, it can be very, very chaotic, nomadic, [and] unpredictable. So, to have that rock, just stability.” 

While suffering what was considered a career-ending injury, Okafor as his wife said to Smith got a chance to have amazing Facetime with his first born and was there for his wife when during the process of the couple bringing their second child into the world. 

Mrs. Okafor also said that this process has brought their family closer. That their children know their father is a professional basketball player. 

Her goal for now is to keep the kids’ life as normal as possible, like going to the local park to play on the swings. 

Beyond this year, there are no guarantees as Okafor is not signed beyond this year and at as mentioned 35-years-old there is no guarantee if he will play for any team beyond this year. He and Ilana say though they are up for whatever lies ahead. 

“Before the road is set,” Okafor said. “You can guess. I can see as clear as day like what’s ahead. Now, it’s like foggy. I can’t see like five feet in front of me. To be a professional athlete is a gift and it’s just an awesome, awesome experience.” 

Ilana called this moment of her husband’s basketball career one of his defining career moments. That making a comeback after a four-year absence, and that now it is here, they are going to live in the moment and worry about the future when the Pelicans postseason run ends. 

“This was the goal and were there, and so now we’re going to adapt to this, knowing that we’re all in,” she said. “The children as well as myself, and him for this process. Breathe a sigh of relief that we’re here now for this season and hopeful for what the future holds.” 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 4/13/18 10:30 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “Beyond the Paint,” with Matt Winer, with report done by Sekou Smith; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2399/emeka-okafor; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emeka_Okafor.

J-Speaks: Pelicans Sweep Their Way to Semis

It had been a decade since the New Orleans Pelicans had posted a playoff series win. Their chances of breaking that long drought were put in major jeopardy on Jan. 26 when they lost All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending Achilles injury. All the Pelicans did was not only make the playoffs for the first time since 2015 but they did break that streak of not making appearance in the Semifinals, thanks to the play of their All-Star duo. 

Behind a franchise playoff record and playoff career-high of 47 points of Anthony Davis, and the 41 points of Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans finished off their four-game sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers winning Game 4 131-123 on Saturday afternoon to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time since 2008.

The last time the Pelicans won a playoff series was in 2008 when they were the New Orleans Hornets took down future Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks in five games. The dynamic trio that was leading them at the time was Chris Paul, now with the Houston Rockets; Tyson Chandler, now with the Phoenix Suns; and David West, now with the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors.  

Davis, who had 33 of those 47 points in the second half played Game 4, especially in the fourth quarter with the kind of determination of a player who wanted to lay the foundation of his postseason legacy with the kind of performance you would expect from a franchise player in a close out game. 

“It was fun,” Davis described sweeping the Trail Blazers to TNT’s sideline reporter Jaime Maggio after the win. “We had fun this whole series.” 

Davis added what this series win meant personally to him in the postgame presser by saying, “I just try to go out every game and play to the best of my ability to go out there and help the team win. Just trying to build a legacy here in New Orleans, and let people know that we’re for real.”

He did have a lot of help from Holiday, who was as equally devastating with his exceptional drives to the basket or his pull-up jumpers, going 15 for 23 from the field, and 9 for 12 from the charity stripe with eight assists. E’Twaun Moore scored 14 points and Nikola Mirotic who had a playoff career-high of 30 points in the Game 3 win on Thursday night had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds. 

While he had just seven points, with seven rebounds, Pelicans lead guard Rajon Rondo had a game-high 16 assists and just two turnovers for the Pelicans and controlled the pace of the game the entire series.

He and Holiday’s defense against the explosive backcourt of the Trail Blazers in All-Star Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum was exceptional the entire series. Even though McCollum busted loose for a team-high 38 points for the visitors to the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, LA. Lillard, who was held to below the 20-point mark three of the four games had just 19 points on the late afternoon on 7 for 16 shooting with six assists and five boards. 

To bring how much Lillard struggled in this series into context, after not committing a turnover in Game 1 of this series, where he had just 18 points on 6 for 23 shooting, he committed a total of 16 turnovers the final three games.  

“Trying to guard those two guys, two hells of a players,” Davis said of his team’s task of checking Lillard and McCollum. “We just had to throw everything at them to get them off their rhythm. We did a great job defensively.”

Unlike Game 3, which the Pelicans won going away as mentioned 48 hours ago, Game 4 was a high octane, back-and-fourth offensive battle, especially after the Trail Blazers battled back from a 15-point deficit early in the second-half. 

To illustrate the kind of battle it was in Game 4, the contest featured five technical fouls; one flagrant foul and 49 combined personal fouls. 

Davis and Trail Blazers reserve forward Ed Davis, no relation received double techs after bumping one another following an A.D. dunk. 

McCollum was called for a flagrant foul after storming into the lane behind Moore and proceeded to grab the Pelicans swingman by his shoulders thwarting his attempt of a driving layup. Moore proceeded to shove McCollum, which led to both being assessed a technical foul. 

Another skirmish occurred in the closing second of the opening half where Rondo and Trail Blazers rookie center Zach Collins received double technical fouls after the Pelicans All-Star guard lowered his forehead into Collins chest, which led to Collins shoving him back.

“This game was a battle,” Davis said to Maggio. “It got chippy. It’s playoff basketball. We just kept fighting. Made sure that we just played defense and executed on the offensive end, and we was able to come out with this win.” 

What made the difference for Pelicans besides Davis and Holiday going off is they out-rebounded one of the best rebounding teams during the regular season in the Trail Blazers 52-37; registered 28 assists; and were 32 for 39 from the free throw line. 

While the Trail Blazers were just 13 for 16 from the charity stripe themselves, they got back in the game and stayed close because they committed just six turnovers; outscored the Pelicans in fast break points 19-11 and in the paint 66-60. 

They also got 27 points from forward Al-Farouq Aminu on 11 for 20 shooting including 5 for 11 from three-point range. His fellow front court teammate in Evan Turner, who missed Game 3 because of a toe contusion had 15 points and five assists and starting center Jusuf Nurkic had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, with three steals and two blocks before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.

The last time the Pelicans were in the postseason with Davis as the headliner was in 2015, where the eventual NBA champion Warriors swept them in four games. 

When the Pelicans lost as mentioned earlier Cousins to a season-ending Achilles injury in their 115-113 win versus the Rockets on Jan. 26, many thought that the Pelicans playoff hopes went down the tubes. 

The Pelicans counting the playoffs have gone 25-13 since then and Davis has been at the center of the Pelicans rise ranking first in the league with averages of 30.5 points, and 3.1 blocks, and tied for No. 2 with 29 double-doubles in that span and said to Maggio after game that their play from that point in the regular season was a big help in preparing them for what took place in their sweep of the Trail Blazers. 

“It prepared us a lot,” Davis said. “We’ve been battling adversity all season. When DeMarcus went down, a lot of people counted us out and we just kept fighting.” 

“We knew what we had in this locker room. The coaching staff we have, and we just kept fighting through everything.” 

Along with having a great player in Davis, the Pelicans have a great coach in Alvin Gentry, who when Cousins went down changed the way the team played offensively from a team that went through Cousins and Davis in the half court to a team that played with pace and space with Rondo and Holiday at the forefront alongside Davis and Mirotic, who was acquired before the Feb. 8 trade deadline. 

Prior to this season, the Pelicans had registered records of 30-52 and 34-48 respectably under Gentry and he came into this season, fairly or unfairly on the hot seat. That seat got even warmer when Cousins went down, but he and his team kept on pushing and are now headed to the Semis for the first time in 10 seasons and had captured their first postseason sweep in the 16-year history of the franchise. 

“They never gave up. They never gave up on each other. They never gave up on anything,” Gentry, whose 20-9 in his postseason career said of his team’s resolve this season after the game. “We were hell bent on showing everyone that we could be a playoff team. We started that way, and even losing a guy that was averaging 26 [points] and 13 [rebounds] when he went down, we still thought that we got to find a way to show everyone we can still be a playoff team.” 

Gentry also said, “When I came here three years ago, I envisioned playing the kind of basketball that were playing now. I thought we would be an up-tempo team and be able to spread the floor. I thought A.D. was truly one of the top three or four best players in this league, and that was three years ago, and he’s improve a lot since then.” 

Rondo has said the reason he signed with the Pelicans back in the off-season is because of he thought that the so-called “Big Three” of Davis, Holiday and Cousins were one of the best trios in “The Association.”

“I’ve played with a lot of great players and what I see in these two guys every night, what they’re able to do when I go back and watch film, it’s amazing what they do,” Rondo, who recorded the 12^th game of his postseason career with 15-plus assists said in his postgame presser of the play of Davis and Holiday to close the regular season and what they did against the Trail Blazers. 

“I’m a big believer in the entire team watching film because you’re able to appreciate what your teammates do and what they do best, and you’re able to play to their strength.” 

Rondo added by saying that before each game he goes to Davis and Holiday, who were alongside him during his postgame presser to be great saying, “That’s what they are and the game spoke for them tonight.

That showed in this series as Davis averaged 33.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks on 57.0 percent shooting, while Holiday averaged 27.8 points and 6.5 assists on 56.8 percent from the floor. Mirotic averaged 18.3 points and 9.5 boards on 57.1 percent from the floor, and 46.2 from three-point range. Rondo averaged 11.3 points, 13.3 assists and 7.5 rebounds. 

The question now is how far can the Pelicans go this postseason? Their likely opponent in the Semis will be the defending champion Warriors, whose series with the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs got extended as the boys from Texas avoided the sweep with a 103-90 win in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. They will have a chance to close the series out at home in Game 5 on Tuesday night. 

When asked about the Pelicans prospects going forward Rondo said, “I came here to win a championship.” 

“I didn’t come here to beat a team in the First-Round, the Second-Round. My expectations were high coming in, knowing the talent I was playing with. I think Day One when we all got together at Kentucky, and I knew it was kind of real as far as the talent we were playing with. The characteristics of the guys off the court kind of all meshed, and it took a while, but at the end of the day nothing comes together so quickly. We were able to come together. Continue to play for one another, believe in each other, and like I said this is one check mark of the big goal we have in mind.”

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 4/21/18 5 p.m. Game 4 First-Round Series Portland Trail Blazers versus New Orleans Pelicans on TNT, presented by Hulu with Ian Eagle, Brent Barry, and Jaime Maggio; 4/22/18 12:30 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” with John Buccigross and John Anderson; 4/22/18 8 p.m. of NBATV’s Game 4 Postgame coverage of Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans; www.nba.com/games/20180421/PORNOP#/boxscore/recap; www.espn.com/nba/coaches/_/id/1499/alvin-gentry; www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/no/new-orleans-pelicans; www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/no/seasontype/3; and www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6606/damian-lillard.   

J-Speaks: A Life Lost for Spurs Head Coach

This has been a season unlike any other for the five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. They star two-way player in All-Star Kawhi Leonard missed all but nine games during the regular season. Their streak of 20 consecutive seasons with a winning road record and 19 straight seasons of 50-plus regular season wins was snapped. If that was not enough, they finished No. 7 in the rugged Western Conference and drew the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the opening round and are now down 3-0 facing elimination on Sunday afternoon. That pails in comparison to the personal loss loss their future Hall of Fame head coach sustained near the close of this week. 

Erin Popovich, the wife of Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich passed away in the middle of this week from an undisclosed illness. She was 67 years old. 

The Spurs organization made the heartbreaking news official on Wednesday. No further details were provided by the team. 

“We mourn the loss of Erin,” Spurs general manager RC Buford said in a statement. “She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided love, support and humor to all of us.” 

Coach Popovich and his now late wife Erin have two children and two grandchildren. They first met at the Air Force Academy in the 1970s when he was an assistant coach for the Falcons under head coach Hank Egan, who later became an assistant under Popovich for the Spurs. Mrs. Popovich’s father, Jim Conboy was the athletic trainer for the Academy’s basketball team. 

Popovich has been the head coach of the Spurs since 1996, leading them as mentioned earlier to five Larry O’Brien trophies. 

He ran Spurs’ practice before their Game 3 tilt with the Warriors back at home on Thursday night. 

Upon hearing of Coach Popovich’s wife passing, players and coaches amongst the other playoff teams paid their respects after hearing of the devastating news. 

“Obviously I’m a huge ‘Pop’ fan. I love Pop,” four-time league MVP LeBron James, who had 46 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals in Game 2 versus the Indiana Pacers to tie their First-Round series 1-1 said to TNT sideline reporter Allie LaForce while fighting back tears about the passing of Mrs. Popovich. “That’s such a tragedy and my best wishes go out to Pop and his family. That’s devastating news.” 

“The NBA family we all stick together. I know we compete every night, but when something like this happens it puts everything in perspective. So, I send my well wishes and my prayers up to the heavens above. I know the man above never makes a mistake, even when sometimes you have to ask why, but that’s just terrible news.” 

“Best of luck to Pop and everybody down in San Antonio. The whole Spurs family. That’s all I can say Allie.” 

Hall of Famer of the Boston Celtics and 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell sent a tweet out @RealBillRussell, “I was shocked and saddened to hear on @NBAonTNT of the passing of#ErinPopovich wife of @spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, died today. They were married for four decades. My heart goes out to him & his family. @NBA” 

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan said after his team’s 102-95 loss versus the Utah Jazz in Game 2 that tied that series up at 1-1 told a story about how five years back he spent some time with Coach Popovich for three days when he was still the head man at the University of Florida and the memory that he took from that experience was how gracious he was to him. That he welcomed him with open arms, even taking him to dinner. 

Donovan also said that when he got the head coaching job with the Thunder three seasons back, Coach Popovich continued to reach out to him and when he heard the news of Mrs. Popovich’s sudden passing it was upsetting to him. 

“My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” Donovan said during his postgame presser. “I was really moved by it when I found the news out after the game was over with, and I really feel bad for him and his family, and my prayers and thoughts are with them.” 

Reigning Finals MVP Kevin Durant of the Warriors echoed the sentiments from James about the NBA being one family saying, “This game is a beautiful game. Brings people together. You build friendships from playing the game. You get so much support from so many people that you’d never cross paths with if it wasn’t for basketball.” 

“I just want Pop to know the whole NBA family is supporting him and got his back through it all,” he said. “It’s bigger than the game. It’s bigger than winning and losing. It’s about the brotherhood we built as NBA players and everybody in the NBA family.” 

The sentiments that the two most recent former MVP’s and one of the greats to ever play the game come from a place of respect for a man in Coach Popovich who was more than just a guy who coached X’s and O’s. 

Coach Popovich was a man who is one of the most philanthropic people in the world, who spends considerable amounts of time and money giving back to the San Antonio community by working with several charities and non-profits like the city’s Food Bank and Innocence Project. Popovich also has taken part in an organization called Shoes That Fit, whose aim is to deliver shoes to more than 200 students at Gates Elementary School.

To bring the kind of person Coach Popovich is into a clearer context, Hall of Famer, four-time NBA champion and NBATV/NBA on TNT studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal said during the Thursday night edition of “Inside the NBA,” presented by Kia about how when he was in high school in 1989 and the family could not afford a pair of 1918 shoes that he wanted. So, his father, the late Sgt. Harrison drove over the Spurs facility and after a conversation he had with Popovich, who was an assistant then gave him a pair of shoes to give to his son. 

Coach Pop showed graciousness in that moment even when O’Neal in his first encounter with the now Spurs head coach disrespected that day. 

“My father told me, ‘Don’t ever disrespect a military man again,’” O’Neal said his father told him. 

Even after that moment of transgression, O’Neal said that Coach Popovich was always, “Nice and gracious, and courteous,” to him from that point, through his NBA career on the hardwood and today as a media personality, and that he loves him and his family to this very day. 

“I can’t imagine what he’s going through. Married to his lovely wife for 40 years and she’s not with us anymore. My thoughts and prayers go out Pop. The Spurs organization, his grandchildren, his kids. I’m sure he’s feeling it right now.” 

Going back to the kind of coach Mr. Popovich is, TNT studio analyst Kenny Smith probably said it best that his greatness is in the fact that Popovich has created a culture of basketball that everyone emulates or tries to. That culture was created from how he runs his household and how rare it is that someone of Coach Popovich’s magnitude is different inside their home as well as outside of it. 

One big part of that culture which goes beyond basketball is that everyone matters. That regardless of your ethnicity, political affiliation or religion, everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. That is why we have seen very often Popovich speak up for human rights, but African American rights in a very articulate way, when he does not have to. 

“He understands how it effects other people around him,” Smith said about when Popovich has given his views about the climate of our nation when it comes to how minorities are viewed and profiled at times in the era of President Donald Trump. “So, everyone understands what Pop is about. There’s no mistake.” 

Smith also said that the appreciation that Coach Popovich had for his wife, Erin, and the appreciation she had for him was second to none, and that she had the biggest impact on him in terms of teaching him the culture of how to raise men in the NBA. That ability to communicate and get the best out of his players is how he had an amazing connectivity with the star players of the Spurs teams he has coach like two-time NBA champion with the Spurs David Robinson; future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who was a part of all five Spurs titles; Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Leonard. 

“We understand that there had to be some great woman beside him to help him articulate that. Feel that and nourish that, and relay that to the players that he coaches today,” Smith said of the impact Coach Popovich’s wife Erin had on him and the kind of person as well as head coach the Spurs community has seen on and off the hardwood the past 20-plus years.

While Coach Popovich lost his beloved wife of 40 years, two children lost their father, and the grandchildren lost their grandfather. NBA on TNT commentators Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller in preparation for their Game 2 broadcast between the Spurs and Warriors on Monday night, they met with Pop and before discussing the game, he opened his phone and showed him a picture of one of his grandkids. 

This really hit home for lead host of “Inside the NBA” Ernie Johnson, Jr. the only grandfather amongst him, O’Neal, Smith, and Charles Barkley. 

“I can relate, and for me and Cheryl, one of the joys of our lives is enjoying these grandchildren and watching them grow up, and watching your kids be parents,” he said. “And now I think about Pop, and I think about him going solo down that road now, and that’s tough. So, we’re praying for you Pop. Praying for the entire family for comfort and piece in a really tough time.”

So, it probably did not come as any surprise to anyone watching when Popovich was not on the sidelines for Game 3 versus the Warriors on Thursday night on TNT. Assistant coach Ettore Messina who coached the team, a 110-97 defeat that put them in a 3-0 series hole against the No. 2 Seeded defending champs. 

This was the first playoff game Messina coach, but it was not his first time being the head man on the sidelines. The 58-year-old Messina, who has been on the Spurs coaching staff since 2014 after coaching European power CSKA Moscow has won over 10 championships in the Euroleague, Russian SuperLeague and Italian League. He was a two-time Euroleague Coach of the Year and has also coached basketball in Italy and Spain. Before joining the Spurs, Messina served as a coaching consultant for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2011-12 season. 

“We are all hurting,” Ginobili, who played for Messina in Italy in 2001 said at the team’s morning shootaround about the loss of Mrs. Popovich prior to the Game 3 setback. 

“We want to be next to Pop, we want to support him, but we’ve got to go out there and compete today. But, for sure, we are toiling. It’s not an easy day to be here.” 

On Thursday night, the Spurs lost to the Warriors and are one more loss away from their season concluding. That pails in comparison to the organization losing someone who was a big a part of their family in Erin Popovich. On Wednesday, the San Antonio Spurs organization loss a dear person to them. Head Coach Gregg Popovich lost his wife of four decades. His two kids lost their mother and the two grandchildren lost their grandmother. 

In times like this, the best hope is that you have a solid support system of people to lean on to get you through a tough moment. Gregg Popovich and his family have not just the Spurs organization from the players and assistant coaches, but the fans of the “Alamo City” and the entire NBA family from players, coaches and even broadcasters in their corner. 

“There’s nothing you can really say,” Barkley said. “It’s a tough situation. It effects the entire NBA family. It effects the NBA Playoffs…But all you can do man is give him your thoughts and your prayers. That’s all you can do.”

Information and quotations are courtesy of 4/18/18 www.nba.com article “San Antonio Spurs Announce Wife of coach Gregg Popovich Passed Away;” 4/18/19 NBA on TNT “Game Break,” with Ernie Johnson, Jr., Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 4/19/18 12 a.m. edition of “Inside the NBA,” presented by Kia with Ernie Johnson, Jr., Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 4/19/18 www.nba.com article “LeBron James Sets Record Straight On Postgame Interview,” from twitter and media reports; “Wife of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich dies,” from NBA media reports; 4/20/18 www.nba.com article, “Ettore Messina Coaches San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 versus Golden State Warriors,” from NBA media reports; Team-by-Team section of the Sporting News’ “2006-07 Official NBA Guide;” www.nba.com/games/20180419/GSWSAS#/matchup; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Johnson_Jr.#Peronal_life; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregg_Popovich#Personal_life.  

J-Speaks: The Passing of a Sixers Great

After winning Game 1 of their First-Round series versus the Miami Heat 130-103, hitting a franchise playoff record 18 three-pointers, the Philadelphia 76ers, making their first appearance in the postseason since 2012 came back down to earth on Monday night with a 113-103 setback in Game 2 on Monday night that tied the series 1-1, it pails in comparison to the loss of a Sixers great over the weekend. 

On Saturday night, for Sixers guard Harold Everett “Hal” Greer, who spent his entire career with the Sixers, where they began as the Syracuse Nationals passed away on Saturday night in Arizona from a brief illness. He was 81 years old. The 10-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA Second Team selection is survived by his wife Mayme and their three children, one son and two daughters. 

The Sixers made the formal announcement of the passing of Mr. Greer on Monday and prior to the start of Game 2 versus the Heat, he was honored by the fans at Wells Fargo Center with a moment of silence. The team also said that for the remainder of the playoffs, the Sixers players will wear a black armband on the sleeve of their jersey that will also have a small patch with Mr. Greer’s number he wore during his career, the No. 15. 

The Sixers said in a statement about the passing of Mr. Greer, “The Philadelphia 76ers organization mourns the passing of Hal Greer, an NBA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and team legend. Throughout his 15-year career with the Syracuse Nationals and Philadelphia 76ers, Greer solidified his place as one of the greatest basketball players ever. An NBA champion in 1967 and 10-time NBA All-Star, Greer’s legacy includes being the 76ers’ all-time leader in points, field goals, field goal attempts, games and minutes played, culminating in him being named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.” 

Born on June 26,1983 as mentioned in West Virginia, Greer attend the all African American Douglas Junior and Senior High School in Huntington, where he played guard for the men’s basketball team. 

He played collegiately for the Marshall University Thundering Herd Men’s Basketball team, where he became the first African American to play for a public college in West Virginia. 

Mr. Greer scored 1,377 points in his collegiate career with the Thundering Herd on 54.5 percent from the field, which set a new school record. He led Marshall to the Mid-American Conference title in 1956, which earned the school their first NCAA Tournament appearance. 

When the dust settled on Mr. Greer’s career on the collegiate hardwood, he was named All-Mid-American Conference in 1957 and 1958. He was also named an All-American as well in 1958, his senior year where he averaged 23.6 points per contest. Mr. Greer finished his run at Marshall with averages of 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds. 

He was drafted No. 13 overall in the 1958 NBA draft by the then Syracuse Nationals. In each of his first five seasons with the team, Mr. Greer raised his scoring average to where his highest was 22.8 in 1961, where he made the first of his as mentioned 10 All-Star selections. 

When the team moved to the city of “Brotherly Love” in 1963 to become the Philadelphia 76ers, Mr. Greer teamed up with the late Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlin on the 1966-67 team that won the second of three titles in franchise history by beating the San Francisco Warriors in The NBA Finals 4-2. Greer averaged 27.7 points in those 15 postseason games, a team-high. 

The Sixers got to the precipice of winning their second of three NBA crowns in franchise history by defeating the mighty Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games. It was the only time that a team led by the late Wilt Chamberlin got past Hall of Famer Bill Russell’s squad.

In his eighth All-Star appearance one-year late, Mr. Greer earned game MVP honors with 21 points on 8 for 8 shooting, with then a record-breaking 19 points in one period as he led the Eastern Conference to a 144-124 win over the Western Conference in the game played in New York, NY. 

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of Mr. Greer’s career of 15 seasons with the Nationals/Sixers was being the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired 32 years ago. On top of that, the Sixers honored Huntington, WV native with a sculpture of him on 76ers Legends Walk at the team’s training complex in 2017. 

Mr. Greer finished his 15-year career with the Sixers after the 1972-73 campaign with a then franchise record 21,586 points scored. Today he still leads the Sixers in points scored while also finishing as the Sixers career leader in as mentioned earlier in field goals made and attempted, games and minutes played. 

At the 1996 All-Star Game in Cleveland, OH, Mr. Greer earned a position on the National Basketball Association’s (NBA’s) All-Time Team. 

As much as he was respected by fans, the Sixers organization and around the NBA for his play on the hardwood, Mr. Greer even more admired and remembered for being a true gentleman that used his platform of basketball to inspire and uplift others. 

Former Sixer, fellow Hall of Famer and now NBA on TNT studio analyst Charles Barkley said on the pregame show prior to Game 2 between the Heat and Sixers said that he met Mr. Greer on the number of occasions he did said the one word that many described him was a “gentlemen.” 

“Just a wonderful person,” Barkley, who played for the Sixers from 1984-92 said. “Probably got overshadowed in Philadelphia history because of Wilt [Chamberlin], Billy Cunningham and guys like that. Like I said, I got to meet him quite a few times. Just a great person, and it was an honor and privilege to get to know Mr. Greer.”

Pregame lead studio host Ernie Johnson said of Mr. Greer on Monday that what jumped out to him when he got to see him play as a kid when the Sixers came into town to play the Atlanta Hawks back in the 1960s and 1970s that he shot the equivalent of a mini jump shot from the free throw line. 

Hall of Famer and four-time champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and Heat Shaquille O’Neal said the first time he met Mr. Greer was at the 50 Greatest celebration 22 years ago. He knew who Mr. Greer was, but O’Neal was amazed that he knew who he was. When Mr. Greer asked O’Neal if he could sign a poster with all the 50 Greatest players on it, it took him by surprise. 

“My condolences go out to his family. We lost a great one today,” O’Neal said on the passing of the Sixers legend.

Fellow TNT studio analyst Kenny Smith made the most important point about Mr. Greer’s impact during his career when he said on Monday is how Mr. Greer paved the way for this generation of NBA players from the money they get paid, to how they travel first class, to even the fact that the National Basketball Association is as inclusive when it comes to the amount of players from not just different states here in the U.S., but different countries. 

There was a time where that was unthinkable, to where African American players and their Caucasian counterparts could not even eat in the same restaurants on the road, or even stay in the same hotels. All that changed among many other things thanks to the sacrifice and commitment to a better future from the likes of Mr. Greer.  

The 1967 NBA champion Philadelphia 76ers had great players, legendary players, and even Hall of Famers just like many others that came before and after them. Names like the previously mentioned Chamberlin, Chet Walker, Wali Jones, Billy Cunningham, Lucious Jackson. Hal Greer was the lead guard on that team and was just as great as his teammates. 

As good as Mr. Greer was on the court, he was as mentioned equally that impressive of a man off the court and had a serious impact on everyone from NBA greats that came after him to fans that saw him play in person to those that watched on television. 

Speaking of having an impact on those that love the game of basketball, Mr. Greer in 1980 coached the Philadelphia Kings of the Continental Basketball League (CBL), which was founded in 2009. He also coached the basketball team for Germantown Academy in Fort Washington, PA.  

Along with having a serious impact in Philadelphia, Mr. Greer’s hometown of honored his success in 1966 when West Virginia held “Hal Greer Day” by renaming 16^th Street, which carries West Virginia Route 10 as the main artery that lies between the campus/downtown area and Interstate 64 as “Hal Greer Blvd.” in 1978. 

Seven years later, Mr. Greer was inducted into Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame for not only his career in basketball, but also in baseball where he played first baseman as a sophomore. 

He was a great player on the hardwood both in college and in the pros. He was equally as good a gentleman. Harold Everett Greer left a legacy that has had a lasting impact on not just NBA, but all of humanity in a unique way. He had a unique way of being a great player but found a way to fit in with the team and had an impact on winning a title 51 years ago and showed the true value of being a gamer and leader on-and-off the court. He was able to be a great player and even a greater person.

Information, statistics, and quotation are courtesy of 4/16/18 5:30 p.m. of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption,” with Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser; 4/16/18 8 p.m. edition of TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 4/16/18 www.nba.com story, “Philadelphia 76ers Hall of Famer Hal Greer Dies at 81;” 4/17/18 4 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime," with Chris Miles, Greg Anthony and Sam Mitchell; www.nba.com/sixers/philadelphia-76ers-statement-passing-hal-greer; Sporting News “2006-07 Official NBA Guide;” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Greer; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continential_Basketball_League.