J-Speaks: Three-Point History At MSG

 

At the end of the 2004-05 season, current longtime NBA on TNT/NBATV analyst retired as the all-time leader in three-pointers made in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which he accomplished in late April 1998 and held that mark for 13 years. On Feb 20, 2011 a fellow now Hall of Famer surpassed him to become the new leader in three pointers made in NBA history, with the man he passed on the call of that game in “Beantown” for NBA on TNT. On Tuesday night, both men were in attendance to witness the new all-time leader in three-pointers made in NBA’s Silver Anniversary.

At the 10:57 mark of the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors (23-5) 105-96 win at the New York Knicks (12-16) on Tuesday night, Wardell Stephen “Steph” Curry II tied Hall of Famer Ray Allen for the most threes made in NBA history at 2,973.

Then at the 7:34 mark of the opening stanza off a pass from Andrew Wiggins, Curry made his second three of the contest, passing Ray Allen for the most three-pointers made in NBA history at 2,974.

“Here’s Curry for the record. It’s good!!! And there it is!!!,” was the call of NBA on TNT play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson when Curry passed Allen. “Stephen Curry. The all-time three-point king in the NBA!!!”

Curry finished the night with 22 points, going 5/14 from three-point range, now with 2,977 career threes made.

                                Most Three-Pointers Made In NBA History                         
                               3-Pt. Made      3-Pt. Attempted    Career Games Played
Stephen Curry         2,977                    6,903                           789
Ray Allen                 2,973                     7,429                        1,300
Reggie Miller           2,560                     6,486                        1,389

It was eight years ago in his fifth appearance at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” that Curry scored a then career-high 54 points on a then franchise record 11 threes, going 11/13 from three-point range, falling one shy of the single-game NBA-record at that time of 12 made threes.

To put into context the kind of performance Curry had on that night in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN, since the opening of MSG at its present location in New York, NY since 1968, only the late Kobe Bryant (61 points in 2009) and fellow Hall of Famer Michael Jordan (55 points in 1995 for Chicago Bulls) and Curry are the only three visiting players to score more than 54 points at the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”

But the Knicks won the game 109-105. That was the last time the Warriors lost at the Knicks, winning counting their visit Tuesday night their last seven visits to MSG, and going 10-1 in their last 11 visits in the Curry era, and he has had his fingerprints on each of those wins, especially from three-point range.

Curry registered his fourth career triple-double in the Warriors’ 126-104 win at the Knicks on Feb. 28, 2014 with 27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. He became the first Warriors player to put up a triple-double against the Knicks since Feb. 26, 1988 when Winston Garland, the father of current Cleveland Cavaliers lead guard Darius Garland had 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the team’s 125-119 loss versus the Knicks.

In the Warriors Feb. 23, 2021 visit to MSG, Curry had 37 points going 7/14 from three-point range in the 114-106 victory, one of his NBA-record 101 career games with seven-plus threes made.  

“This arena, I can’t express how much of an honor that was for the reaction on the road,” Curry said to “Inside the NBA” crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal after the win. “The appreciation for this milestone and obviously it’s great to get the win on top of that. So, a very, very special night.”

This major accomplishment by Curry, which began on Oct. 30, 2009 at the Phoenix Suns where Curry made his the first three-pointer of his career is a culmination of how Curry said to NBA on TNT sideline reporter Allie LaForce put it before the game that when you “pour yourself into a mission” is when good things will happen.

             Notable Three-Pointers Made in Stephen Curry’s Career To Date                              
Oct. 30, 2009 at the Phoenix Suns: first career made three-pointer in second quarter of his second career NBA game.

Dec. 7, 2013 at Memphis Grizzlies: In his 276^th career game became the Warriors all-time leader in three-pointers made passing Jason Richardson

Mar. 11, 2016 versus Portland Trail Blazers: became the fastest to reach 1,500 career threes made in his 477^th career NBA game. Curry has made 155 triples to date in his career against the Trail Blazers, the third most against any of the 30 NBA squads in his career.

April 13, 2016 versus the Grizzlies (final night of regular season): hit his 400^th three-pointer of the season, ending the back end of his back-to-back Kia MVP seasons, the second one by a unanimous vote, the first player to have that distinction in NBA history. Curry finished with an NBA record 402 threes made that season, where the Warriors posted the best regular-season mark in NBA history at 73-9.

Nov. 7, 2016 versus New Orleans Pelicans (116-106 win): Curry made a then NBA record 13 threes, going 13/17 from three-point range and 16/26 overall from the floor totaling 46 points. That record would be broken by Curry’s teammate Klay Thompson, who made the current NBA record 14 threes, going 14/24 on his way to 52 points on 18/29 overall from the floor in the Warriors 149-124 win at the Chicago Bulls Oct. 29, 2018.  

Jan. 23, 2021 at Utah Jazz: Curry nailed a catch-and-shoot right corner three-pointer to pass Miller for No. 2 on the all-time three-pointers made list in his 715^th career game, which happened very early into season No. 12 of his NBA career.

Dec. 14, 2021 at New York Knicks: He passed Ray Allen to become the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.

Curry built his soon to be Hall of Fame legacy from the ground up as a youth to now 12 seasons with the Warriors where be all the odds. Coming out of Charlotte Christian Academy he got only one scholarship offer from a Power 5 institution. In his college career at Davidson College, the then 165-pound Curry was told that if he made it to the NBA that he would be a “decent” player.

He became more than a decent player. Curry became a three-time NBA champion; two-time Kia MVP; seven-time All-Star; seven-time All-NBA selection; and one of “The Association’s” most transcendent players all-time.

                Career Ark of Ray Allen and Stephen Curry               

          Allen                                                        Curry
          2,973           3-Pt. Made                           2,977
          1,300         Games Played                         789
           5.7             3-Pt. Att/GM                          8.7
           1        Seasons W/250+ 3-Pt. Made          7 

As Anderson put it, Curry is “the man who changed the game.” The individual who ignited the evolution of the three-point line into the most important part of all 30 NBA team’s offensive attack. Very similar to how the late legend of Major League Baseball Babe Ruth  changed that sport with the ability to hit the ball right out of the ballpark.

Curry got congratulations via Twitter from the likes of four-time Kia MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers @KingJames saying, “Just landed in Dallas to see @StephenCurry30 broke the record and to make it even doper he did it in the GARDEN!! WOW CONGRATS BROTHER!! INCREDIBLE.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and seven-time Super Bowl champion @TomBrady said, “Congrats to my friend and @UnderArmour teammate. What an accomplishment @StephenCurry30.”

Actor and Knicks fans Ben Stiller, who was in attendance for the historic moment, tweeted @RedHourBen, “Congrats @StephenCurry30 at #MSG.”

Also in attendance was comedian John Stewart, the former host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” Fellow actor and comedian Chris Rock. NFL Hall of Famer and host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” FOX’s NFL Sunday Pregame show Michael Strahan. Longtime NBA play-by-play commentator for Madison Square Garden Network, NBC, and TNT Marv Albert. Actor Michael J. Fox. Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan. Grammy Award singer Alicia Keys. Actor Pete Davidson from NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Actor, Oscar Winning Director and Knicks’ super fan Spike Lee. 

Curry also got congratulations from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who said in a statement, “It’s truly thrilling to see Steph break the NBA’s all-time record for three-pointers. He has revolutionized the way the game is played and continues to leave fans in awe with his amazing artistry and extraordinary shooting ability. We congratulate him on this historic achievement.”

To put into context how Curry has changed the game in terms of how the three-point line is utilized today in the NBA, in the first season that the league introduced the three-point shot teams on averaged made close to one triple per game in nearly three tries. In Curry’s rookie season in 2009-10, teams averaged six made threes. When the Warriors won the first of three titles in their five straight Finals appearance from 2015-19, teams made an average of 7.8 threes. So far this season, that average has gone up to 12.3 made threes per game.

Miller said during the broadcast that when he began his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers in 1987-88, teams only attempted a little over five threes per game.

                 Three-Point Progression NBA History                         

  Year          3-Pointers Made    Three-Pointers Attempted
1979-80              0.8                                   2.8
2009-10              6.4                                  18.1
2014-15              7.8                                  22.4
2021-22             12.3                                 35.4             

NBA Three-Pointers Per Game: Notable Seasons Since Stephen Curry’s NBA Debut in 2009-10 By NBA Teams

Seasons         3-Pt. Made PG         3-Pt. Attempted PG
2009-10                  6.4                                 18.1
2013-14                  7.7                                 21.5
2018-19                11.4                                 32.0
2021-22                12.3                                 35.4 (highest average all-time)

Evolution Of NBA Three-Point Record: Notable Record Holders At Time Of Becoming       Three-Point Leader
Year               Name                     Three-Pointers
1982           Brian Taylor                      155
1982           Joey Hassett                       158
1984         Darrell Griffith                    197
1986           Larry Bird                          249
1989            Dale Ellis                           460
1991        Michael Adams                     626
1993            Dale Ellis                           815
1993        Michael Adams                     821
1993            Dale Ellis                           823
1998         Reggie Miller                     1,592
2011            Ray Allen                        2,562
2021         Stephen Curry                   2,977

“He has changed the game with the three-ball,” Miller said during the broadcast on Tuesday night of how Curry changed the game with his ability to quickly strike a match from long range. “How all 30 teams approach the game is because of No. 30.”

In Ray Allen’s 18-year career, he attempted 15 threes in a game four times. Curry has attempted at least 15 threes 10 times already this season.

After Curry reached this historic milestone, the game was stopped and everyone inside Madison Square Garden gave the new three-point leader a well-deserved standing ovation.

Those that were a part of that ovation were Curry’s parents in mom Sonya and dad Dell Curry, who played in the NBA for 16 seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks, and now is a color analyst for the Hornets for Bally Sports Southeast.

“I mean, they’ve been a part of the whole journey,” Curry said added Johnson, Smith, Barkley, and O’Neal about the night and the hug he shared with his mom and dad after becoming the all-time NBA leader in threes made. “It’s kind of crazy to think growing up around the league [NBA], watching my dad play, my family, you know, going to old Hornets games and having big dreams about shooting the basketball and hopefully one day playing at this level.”

“To do it here at Madison Square Garden in front of, you know, this guy [Ray Allen] and Reggie and just all that basketball means to me. It’s special.”

Also in attendance was the aforementioned Allen, who when passed Miller to become the all-time leader in threes made a decade ago when the Boston Celtics hosted the arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers that Thursday night, Miller was on the broadcast and the two embraced after he passed Miller. Curry’s former college coach at Davidson Bob McKillop (1989-present), and right next to him was Larry Riley, the man who drafted Curry No. 7 overall in 2009.

In a conversation with LaForce at the start of the week, Coach McKillop said in reference to Curry saying how confidence is a “unique” thing.

“There are people that are confident. But they’re arrogant and that’s reflected in their entitlement,” Coach McKillop said. “Then there are people that are confident, but there humble and that’s reflected by gratitude. And that’s Steph.”

“He’s grateful for his family, his teammates, his gifts. He never takes something like this historical moment and take credit for it just himself. It came from everybody.”

Curry, who was in his second year in the NBA when Allen passed Miller on the all-time list, when asked by LaForce pregame if he envisioned himself passing Allen? He said, “not even close.” That it was not on his radar until 2014-15 that he felt he could become the all-time leader in threes made.

One of the first teammates to greet Curry when he passed Allen was Draymond Green, his teammate for a decade. Moments later, he was greeted by his teammate for eight seasons, including this one in 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, and then his other fellow teammate and brother-in-law Damion Lee. The Warriors assistant coaches from Mike Brown, Bruce Frasier and then head coach Steve Kerr, who was on the floor the night that Miller, his former colleague at Turner Sports surpassed Dale Ellis as the all-time leader in threes made.

“Pretty emotional. More emotional than I thought it would be,” Coach Kerr said to LaForce at the half about Curry becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in threes made.

“It was just beautiful just to hear the fan’s reaction. To see his teammates. To see his dad, you know. To see Reggie and Ray over there on the sidelines. It was just a fantastic moment.”

Curry’s final two embraces before the game resumed was with his dad Dell holding the game ball and with Allen.   

This moment also not only displayed the evolution of the game, but the impact one generation can have on another.

There is no Stephen Curry if there was no Ray Allen. There is no Ray Allen if there was no Reggie Miller. There is no Reggie Miller without someone like fellow Hall of Famer and three-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics Larry Bird. As Miller put it, these gentlemen “pushed the game forward” because the next generation has to be uplifted by those who can set the right example.

“And for Stephen and Ray to say they looked up to me. I had people I looked up to as well in my evolution,” Miller said. “Larry Bird was my guy. That’s who I modeled my game after. So, to get a chance to watch how he prepared for games, and to hear Stephen and Ray say they kind of mimic what I did, it’s all an evolution of the game. Trying to encourage the youth and set good examples for the younger players ahead of us.”

Curry for sure has taken those lessons and put them to good use as Curry before games is out early shooting with Coach Frasier.

“This is pretty special,” Curry said of the jersey exchange. “I mean, like I said these two legends [Allen and Miller], I watched them growing up and understood what it meant to shoot the ball because of them and my dad. Full circle moment, man. I’m blessed. Blessed for sure.”

How big has Curry routine to gets constant shots up before games? Fans at the Warriors arena the Chase Center and in opposing arenas, fans show up early to get a glimpse of the kind of work Curry puts in to go out and shoot at the level he does in games. During those shooting workouts, Curry will shoot from very long distances like from the locker room tunnel.

That ability to make threes at a high clip is also a credit to the work behind the scenes that Curry put into his conditioning and getting into the kind of shape necessary to attempt the high number of threes he does, which has been in double-digits the past few seasons. That comes from all the work Curry on his body, especially his ankles, which he constantly injured early in his career.

This amazing achievement is also the incredible work by his teammates of setting great screens to get him open to attempt and make those three-pointers as well get him the ball when Curry does get open.

“You see the finished polished product out there. But you know, the reps that’s gone into it over the course of the journey and knowing that how many teammates have been a part of this as well,” Curry said to ESPN postgame. “But somebody’s got to set screens for me. Somebody’s got to throw me the ball.”

“There’s been a lot of people that have filled in those roles for me as well, So, hope they can celebrate this as well.”

The other irony of Curry reaching this milestone at Madison Square Garden is that 12 years ago, the Knicks had a chance to draft him at No. 8 overall before the Warriors selected him at No. 7 12 seasons back. The Knicks took Jordan Hill No. 8 overall, who played just 24 games for the Knicks and 409 career games for five different teams over eight seasons.

That moment more than anything showed that Curry had the kind of focus that he could come to the “Big Apple” and take on all the expectations that come with it.

Along with that, Curry would have been paired with then head coach Mike D’Antoni, whose offensive system helped turn Hall of Famer Steve Nash, now the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets into a two-time Kia MVP and current Net James Harden into 2017-18 Kia MVP while with the Houston Rockets.

Curry had displayed that quiet confidence and unrelenting determination with the help from the aforementioned Green, Klay Thompson, and Iguodala, and first under head coach Mark Jackson, and now head coach Steve Kerr helped turn the Warriors from a cellular dweller into a first-class organization that has as mentioned won three titles in a five-year period and are knocking on that championship door again this season.

Most Assists On Stephen Curry’s Career Three-Pointers Made
Draymond Green: 480
Andre Iguodala: 168
Kevin Durant (BKN): 153
Klay Thompson: 12

A little over two decades ago, Reggie Miller became the all-time leader in threes made the NBA at a time when players and teams were in the infancy of the three-point evolution. When fellow Hall of Famer Ray Allen became the all-time leader in threes made a decade ago, teams incorporated shooting threes a bit more. Today, the three-point shot is an integral part of the NBA game and Wardell Stephen Curry is not only the headliner in that evolution, he on Tuesday night at the “Worlds Most Famous Arena” with his parents in attendance as well as Miller on the call of this historic moment in the NBA and Allen the new all-time leader in made threes and counting.

Curry put in the work just like his father Dell, Miller and Allen did, and earned not just a spot on the NBA all-time three-pointers made list but the top spot with many more years and three-point attempts left on his right hand to add to that number and hopefully one or two more titles as well.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 1/23/2021 www.nba.com story, “Stephen Curry Passes Reggie Miller For No. 2 All-Time In 3-Pointers Made,” By Brian Martin; 12/10/2021 www.nba.com story, “10 Milestone Moments In Stephen Curry’s NBA Career;” 12/13/2021 1 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter With Scott Van Pelt” from Washington, D.C.; 12/13/2021 7:30 p.m. “Golden State Warriors versus New York Knicks” TNT, presented by State Farm With Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller, and Allie LaForce; 12/14/2021 1 a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime” With Ro Parrish, Candace Parker, and Steve Smith; 12/14/2021 www.sportingnews.com story, “NBA 3-Pointers Record: Warriors Stephen Curry Passes Ray Allen As All-Time Leader,” By Scott Raferty; 12/15/2021 1 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter” with Michael Eaves and John Anderson; 12/15/2021 12:30 a.m. “Inside the NBA,” presented by Kia on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; https://www.nba.com/game/gsw-vs-nyk-0022100414/box-score; https://www.basketball-reference.com/bosxscores/198802260GSW.html;  https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameid/400899549; https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/game/_/gameid/401070772; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Curry.

J-Speaks: Trail Blazers Oust General Manager And President For Violation of Workplace Conduct

 

Things have not been easy for the Portland Trail Blazers to start 2021-22 on the court and things got even more hectic with a serious shakeup in their front office at the start of this weekend.

On Friday, the Trail Blazers fired General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey following findings of an independent investigation that determined that he was in violation of the team’s code of workplace conduct.

Taking over for Mr. Olshey on an interim basis as the search for a permanent replacement according to the Trail Blazers will be Jon Cronin, who is in his 15^th season with the organization.

“Out of respect for those who candidly participated in that privileged investigation, we will not release our discuss it,” the Trail Blazers said in a statement. “We are confident that these changes will help build a more positive and respectful working environment.”   

The Trail Blazers, according to multiple reports, including from “The Athletic” and “Yahoo! Sports,” last month, Trail Blazers have begun and independent investigation through the law firm O’Melveny & Myers into Olshey about “concerns around workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility.”

The investigation found that Olshey, 56, created a hostile work environment, which consisted of instances of bullying and intimidation, according to a report at that time from “Yahoo! Sports.”  

Olshey, who had been in the Trail Blazers front office since 2012 after nine seasons as the GM for the Los Angeles Clippers added the title of President of Basketball Operations for the Trail Blazers in 2015.

In a statement released by the Trail Blazers when the investigation began last month, “The Portland Trail Blazers organization was recently notified of concerns around workplace environment by non-player personnel at the practice facility. In response, we immediately engaged O’Melveny & Myers, an outside firm with significant expertise in this area, to conduct a full, fair, and independent review into these concerns and w2ill take appropriate action based on its outcome. While we cannot comment on this pending matter, we are committed to continuing to build an organization that positively imparts our colleagues, communities, and the world in which we live and play.”

This move by the Trail Blazers comes on the heels of another major turnover within their front office last month.

In the middle of November month, Trail Blazers President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chris McGowan stepped down after being in that position for nine years. His resignation was effective on Nov. 26.

Taking McGowan place was the team’s Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President was Dewayne Hankins.

“It has been a pleasure serving our passionate fans and team partners, and I wish nothing   but the continued success to everyone in ‘Rip City,’” McGowan said in a statement last month.

In the summer of 2021, the Trail Blazers fired head coach Terry Stotts in June after the team lost in six games to the Nuggets in the First-Round of 2021 NBA Playoffs after nine seasons, hiring 2004 Finals MVP with the Detroit Pistons Chauncey Billups, who played 17 years with the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Pistons, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers.

The hiring of five-time All-Star came with questions of his experience as a coach, which consisted of just one season as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers a season ago over more qualified candidates as well as concerns of sexual assault allegations against Billups 25 years ago.

Charges related to those allegations against Billups in 1997 when he was with the Celtics never came to bear and the case settled out of court with the woman who accused Billups in 2000.

Billups said last month that he had not spoken to his boss about the allegations of workplace misconduct. The only conversations that they have had are strictly related to the game.

“I mean obviously it’s unfortunate,” Billups said about the alleged allegations made about Olshey. “An unfortunate time. Obviously, all I know is what everybody read, what everybody else knows from what they read about the report and the investigation. That’s all I know. There’s nothing else that I can really say more about that.”  

The Trail Blazers have gone 11-13 so far this seasons dropping their last two games, including a 145-117 loss versus the Celtics (13-11) on Saturday night, their second straight defeat.

While they have gone 10-3 at Moda Center so far this season, which includes a two-game skid currently, they have gone just 1-10 on the road.

Under Olshey, the Trail Blazers reached the NBA Playoffs for eight straight seasons, the longest active streak in “The Association.” They reached the Western Conference Finals three seasons back but suffered a four-game sweep by the Golden State Warriors in four games in their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 2000. Since then, the Trail Blazers have not advanced past the West Quarterfinals (First-Round) in four out of the last five seasons.

Less than a month following the hiring of Olshey, the Trail Blazers drafted Damian Lillard No. 6 overall in 2012. Lillard earned Kia Rookie of the Year for the 2012-13 seasons and has earned six All-Star selections and six All-NBA selections in the years that have followed behind a career average of 24.6 points per game.

Unfortunately, Lillard is on the shelf at the moment missing the last two games because of abdominal tendinopathy, which he sustained over the off-season helping Team USA capture Gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Trail Blazers six-time All-Star Damian Lillard, who has had a rough start to this season scoring and shooting wise and has had to navigate speculation about his desire to remain with the team as well as the pushback of the hiring of Billups last month when the news of the investigation into Olshey was “news to him.”

“I came across it just like everybody else did. But that’s all I know of it, that it’s an investigation,” Lillard added.

Trail Blazers starting center Jusuf Nurkic echoed those same sentiments, “All I know is what everybody knows from the statement from the team. And I have [nothing] specific to add.” 

Nurkic, who the Trail Blazers acquired in a deal with the Denver Nuggets in February 2017 and has seen his career blossom under Olshey said when asked on characterize his relationship with Olshey, he said that they “don’t” have a relationship.

Current Lakers’ perennial All-Star forward and future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, who revived his career with the Trail Blazers the last two seasons said back in November he had not heard about the investigation into Olshey until he was asked about it during his postgame presser after the loss at the Trail Blazers.

“You just broke that news to me,” Anthony, who had 12 points in the loss at the Trail Blazers said. “I have no idea what’s even going on with that.”

The news of the distraction did not knock the Trail Blazers off stride in their 105-90 win versus the Los Angeles Lakers (12-12) on Nov. 6. Lillard, who is averaging 21.5 points and 7.8 assists on the season so far and Billups said after the game that their focus will be on helping the team win games on the floor and let the investigation play itself out.

“The game continues. Our jobs continue. And that’s all we can do,” Lillard, who had 25 points and six assists on 6/14 from three-point range in the win versus the Lakers said. “That’s what we can control is doing our job and being prepared, and me being here for 10 years now and being a big part of this organization and this team, it’s my job to continue to do that the way that I have. And that’s what I can control and that’s what I’ll do.”

Billups added postgame, “You know, it’s a distraction because there’s so much talk about it, obviously.”

“But I can honestly say when I’m in that office and with the guys, I don’t think about that at all. Nov even for a little bit. I’m focused on the game.”

With everything that has transpired with the Trail Blazers these past few weeks is heading towards a significant moment of truth with them in the summer of 2022 of whether they decide to give Lillard, who turns 32 next July 15 a two-year, $107 million super max extension. Lillard at ages 35 and 36 would be paid $55 million.

This puts more on an emphasis on filling the position of GM even more important and that person deciding that if it is the right move to continue to build around Lillard? Is the organization going to empower the next GM to decide to keep Lillard in the fold or trade him and receive major compensation for him.

According to ESPN’s senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Lillard has wanted that super max deal. But the question is how much of an influence will Lillard have in the search for the team’s next leader in their front office? Will that individual oblige and sign Lillard to that aforementioned two-year super max extension, and is that in the best interest for the future of the Trail Blazers?

Lillard, who signed a four-year $176 million super max extension in June 2019 has said repeatedly over the summer and at the start of this season that he does want to remain with the Trail Blazers and end his career with the team that he began his now nine-year NBA career with.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on Friday night’s addition of NBA Countdown on the only thing that would “really tickle” Lillard into leaving “Rip City” is going to the “Big Apple” to play for the New York Knicks.

“There are people in his camp that would like to convince him to give Philadelphia [76ers] a stronger consideration,” Smith said. “But when he thinks about the New York Knicks, he thinks about going to the top market in the country. Thinks about obviously marketability. He might not be thinking about that, but his team might be thinking about that. But Damian Lillard knows that if he were in ‘The Mecca,’ it would be far easier for him to recruit teammates to come and want to play with him as opposed to him being in the Pacific Northwest.”

“The New York Knicks would be his No. 1 preference. Not the Lakers. Not the Brooklyn Nets. Not the Philadelphia 76ers.”

The problem is the Knicks (11-12) do not have the kind of assets from young players and draft picks that the Trail Blazers would entertain. Also, they are one-game under .500 currently and their once starting point guard in All-Star Kemba Walker, considered a major offseason acquisition not only got replaced in the starting lineup by Alec Burks but he is not even in the head coach Tom Thibodeau’s playing rotation.

The 76ers for sure have a 25-year-old disgruntled three-time All-Star in Ben Simmons, who is holding out right now because he does want to play in the “City of Brotherly Love” anymore because of how he feels he was disrespected by the front office, head coach Doc Rivers and his teammates, specifically Joel Embiid after the loss in Game 7 of the 2021 East Semifinals versus the Eastern Conference runner-up Atlanta Hawks.

Lillard’s loyalty to the franchise that drafted him is something to admire and respect, especially in recent years where we have seen unhappy A-list players want out or have changed teams because they are in pursuit of winning a title, get paid more money or just want to be in a better situation. 

Jalen Rose mentioned on “NBA Countdown” Friday night that the Trail Blazers current situation is something that he “hates” for Billups because he feels he has the potential to be the kind of head coach Tyronn Lue has been for the Clippers and Monty Williams is for the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns.

“But when you lose your GM, to me, it’s time to blow it up,” Rose said. “And it’s not because of Dame or CJ [McCollum]. It’s because of Nurkic and the lack of help that they get. And the lack of balance that they have as a basketball team.”

To bring home Rose’s point, the Trail Blazers this off-season re-signed swingman Norman Powell, and signed center Cody Zeller; acquired forward/center Larry Nance, Jr, and signed forward/guard Tony Snell and guard Ben McLemore this summer.

Smith said that the reality is for the Trail Blazers that they will never win a Larry O’Brien trophy with tandem of Lillard and McCollum, which he has said to them over the years “directly, personally” to them. That it is the time to trade one of them to bring back in a trade a bunch of assets to play with the other that remains and you move forward from there.

“I don’t care what I think about Chauncey Billups as a coach, and I think he’s got a lot of promise,” Smith said.

“Let me be very, very clear on national television. The Portland Trail Blazers ain’t winning a damn thing as presently constructed. And no one is clamoring to come to the Pacific Northwest to play with them [Lillard and McCollum]. Which means, they ain’t winning anything period!”

Rose added that also means, that the Trail Blazers eventually will have to trade both Lillard and McCollum have to be dealt in order for their high salaries off the books.

That comes back to the question, which Michael Wilbon asked about who can and will the Trail Blazers bring in to lead their front office to make these difficult but necessary decisions? Also, will that next GM have that kind of authority to make those tough calls?

“That is the whole show in town,” Wilbon said about the Trail Blazers being the only major pro sports team in Portland, OR.

For eight straight seasons, the Portland Trail Blazers have made the NBA Playoffs, the longest streak currently in the NBA. In four out the past five seasons though, they have had an early exit from the postseason going out in the opening-round.

They have been the perfect example of being a good team that is in playoff contention every year but have not risen to the moment except for three years ago when they reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, when this blogger was in his senior year at Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY.

With the ouster of their General Manager and President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey and Chief Executive Officer Chris McGowan, the Trail Blazers’ future is uncertain and how they put things back together in their front office will determine if that future has perennial Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in the fold.   

Information and statistics are courtesy of 11/6/2021 www.espn.com story, “Source: Portland Trail Blazers President Of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey Facing Misconduct Investigation; 11/7/2021 www.espn.com story, “Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard ‘Focused On Leading’ Amid Neil Olshey Investigation,” By Dave McMenamin; 11/7/2021 2 a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia With Ro Parrish, Jim Jackson, and Channing Frye;” www.espn.com/nba/standings; 11/12/2021 www.espn.com story, “Portland Trail Blazers President Chris McGowan Steps Down After 9 Years,” by “The Associated Press;”  12/3/2021 www.espn.com story, “Portland Trail Blazers Fire GM President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey,” and www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameid/401359962.

J-Speaks: NBA's Investigation Into Suns' Governor Over Charges of Racism and Sexism

 

Things have been coming up roses for the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns (17-3) as they have won 16 consecutive games, their second longest winning streak in their history. They are not only one win away from tying their longest winning streak in team history set back in the 2006-07 season, but one win away from tying the current leaders in the Western Conference the Golden State Warriors (18-2), who they play Tuesday night on TNT. This winning streak has been an exceptional deodorant from a major investigation within their front office at the start of November.

According to a ESPN.com report from Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski and senior writer reporter Baxter Holmes, the NBA launched an investigation into Suns Governor Robert Sarver.

The NBA’s announcement that of using the law firm Wachtell Lipton to conduct the investigation came in the wake of ESPN’s publishing of an investigative story that was based on interviews with over 70 current and former Suns employees that painted a description of at times a toxic and hostile working environment that has consisted of racism and sexism under Sarver, the Suns owner since 2004.

“The allegations contained in today’s ESPN article are extremely serious, and we have directed the Wachtell Lipton law firm to commence a comprehensive investigation,” NBA Executive Vice President of Communications Mike Bass said in a statement in early November. “The NBA and WNBA remain committed to providing a respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees. Once the investigation has been completed, its findings will provide the basis for any legal action.”

The National Basketball Players Association NBPA said that they were “continuing to review” the alleged allegations against Mr. Sarver.

“We view these allegations as serious and applaud the League’s decision to conduct an investigation,” the NBPA added. “We will defer any further comments until that process has been concluded.”

One current business operations employee for the Suns, in reference NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, said to ESPN, “If the commissioner comes in and investigates to see what the [bleep] is going on in Phoenix, [he] would be appalled.”

One specific incident Baxter brought to light came  on Oct. 30, 2016 when then head coach Earl Watson, now an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors after a 106-100 loss to the then reigning Western Conference champion Warriors that dropped the Suns to 0-3, Sarver went into the coach’s locker room and asked according to Coach Watson why Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green gets to say the [N-word], which he repeated several times in a row during the conversation?

Coach Watson, who is both African American and Hispanic told Mr. Sarver, “You can’t say that.”

Sarver replied, “Why? Draymond Green says [N-word].”

Watson then said, “You can’t f---ing say that” Watson said again.

Sarver and his attorneys wrote that he did not have that conversation with Coach Watson saying it was “absolutely untrue,” but had a convo with a Suns player who was called for a technical foul in the aforementioned contest against the Warriors for using the “N-word” during the game.

Sarver said that he encouraged said player to appeal the technical foul because Green used that word in the game. The technical foul was later rescinded by the NBA.

“I remember the game and the topic clearly. I of course never used the word myself. During this conversation, I said ‘N-word’ without saying the full word,” Sarver said of that conversation six seasons back. “The word itself never crossed my lips.”

“Let me be crystal clear. I never once suggested on that night (or ever) that I should be able to say the “N-word” because a player or a Black person uses it.”

The said player, through is agent, told ESPN that he thought using the “N-word” played a role in him getting a technical foul but has no recollection of speaking to Sarver that night. Coach Watson also said that no player was in the room when Sarver made the comment.

Current Suns head coach Monty Williams, whose team is currently on as mentioned a 16-game winning streak said before their 123-111 win versus the Houston Rockets (4-16) on Nov. 4 about the allegations against his boss, “As someone whose the caretaker of the program, I find all of these things that are being said serious. In nature, these allegations are sensitive is an understatement.”

“At the same time, there not just clear yet, you know. An article was written. Many opinions were shared. But all of it happened before I was here. Based on what you know about me, the little you know about me, if any of that stuff happened while I was here, I wouldn’t be in this seat.”  

This one specific moment Baxter said in his piece on Nov. 4 gave a glimpse into the kind of misconduct and toxic work environment that sources told ESPN that Mr. Sarver has exhibited as Suns’ majority governor 17 years.

Those involved with the Suns told ESPN that Mr. Sarver used racially insensitive language repeatedly in the office. They also said to ESPN that his own conduct contributed to the culture that has had an affect on how others in positions of leadership within the Suns organization behaved wrongfully to their employees.

One other incident Suns employees recounted that they felt was extremely inappropriate and misogynistic was Mr. Sarver passed around a photo of his wife in a bikini and talking him talking about the number of times his better half would perform an oral kind of love making on him.

Suns employees even said that Mr. Sarver fostered an environment where they felt he owned them like he was their master, even one time asking a woman if he “owned” her to make the determination if she worked for the organization.

“The level of misogyny and racism is beyond the pale,” one Suns co-owner said about Sarver. “It’s embarrassing as an owner.”

Another former Suns basketball executive said: “There’s literally nothing you could tell me about him from a misogynistic or race standpoint that would surprise me.”

Sarver through his legal team denied ever using racially insensitive language saying he “never” called anybody or any group of people “the N-word” or referred to anybody or any group of people by the “N-word” either verbally or in writing.

“I don’t use that word,” Sarver said through his legal team. It is abhorrent and ugly and denigrating and against everything I believe in.”

Mr. Sarver did acknowledge through his attorneys that he used the “N-word” just once several years back when a player used the “N-word”  in describing the importance of having the back of others.

“I responded by saying, ‘I wouldn’t say n—a, I would say that we’re in the foxhole together,” Mr. Sarver said of that moment. “An assistant coach approached me a short time after and told me that I shouldn’t say the word, even if I were quoting someone else. I immediately apologized and haven’t said it ever again. The ‘N-word’ has never been a part of my vocabulary.”  

Before the league’s announcement, Sarver said he would be supportive of any legal inquiry into the allegations made against him saying that he would “entirely” be welcome to any impartial investigation by the NBA which he feels will prove the only outlet to “clear” his name as well as the reputation of his organization that he is “so very proud” of.

Suns’ Legacy Partners President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Rowley also said that he too welcomes any investigation by the NBA into the allegations against Sarver.

“This story is completely outrageous and false,” Rowley said in defense of Sarver to ESPN. “It doesn’t represent—at all—the Robert Sarver I’ve worked alongside of for 15 years. He’s not a racist and he’s not a sexist.”

Suns minority owner Jahm Najafi said in a statement about aiding in the investigation, “The conduct he [Sarver] is alleged to have committed has stunned and saddened me and is unacceptable.”

“The well-being and safety of every Suns employee, player, coach, and stakeholder is first and foremost our priority. My sincerest sympathy goes out to all whose lives and professions have been impacted…Although today’s revelations far under the jurisdiction of the League which decides and takes any action based on its findings, I offer my support to ensure there is full accountability.”

Bass said the NBA has not “received” any complaints of misconduct from the Suns through any of its processes, which includes the NBA’s confidential workplace misconduct hotline or any other correspondence.  

NBPA Executive Director Michelle Roberts said that she was not aware of any reports from the players about any form of misconduct by Mr. Sarver or the Suns.

“Apart from [Suns All-Star guard Chris Paul] and [General Manager] James Jones, we have not had much official contact with the team and none that I can think of with Sarver.”  

Current and former Suns employees did tell ESPN that Mr. Sarver is known to say he is “brutal to work for,” which he has repeatedly said over the years, even in job interviews.

Sarver has told executives that they were “paid a lot of money to put up with my s---.”

Two current employees of the Suns also said there is considerable internal support throughout the organization of the independent investigation into the franchise’s culture over the past two decades and that a number of Suns employees would as one of them said be “more than willing to talk” to investigators.

“A lot of people view this as their chance to right the ship,” the second Suns employee said to ESPN.

In a recruiting pitch to sign Hall of Famer Steve Nash, Mr. Sarver, Nash’s agent Bill Duffy and 2003 Kia Rookie of the Year Amar’e Stoudemire, now an assistant coach with Nash with the Brooklyn Nets, both of whom are African American, Sarver, according to three other people in the room at that time said Mr. Sarver made a comment that felt racially insensitive. While they could not remember what he specifically said, they felt he too often said “Black guy” during the conversation.

A basketball executive who was there at that moment said, “we signed Nash despite Robert.”

The Suns current point guard, a future Hall of Famer in Chris Paul after his performance of nine points and 13 assists versus the Rockets said after the win about the allegations against Mr. Sarver that he and his teammates are “not insensitive” to everything said.

“But we don’t know all the details, right,” Paul added. “So, the NBA will do its investigation. And in that time, all of us on our team will continue to play and do what we do.”

Fellow All-Star Devin Booker, who has spent his entire seven-year career with the Suns added said that he has not “noticed” any kind of misconduct by Sarver or any front office personnel. Booker did say that the allegations of misconduct by Sarver does not make him “insensitive to the subject, you know.”

“I think the NBA opened an investigation, and they’re going to do their due diligence of, you know, bringing out facts instead of he said, she said. And you know, I’m sure the NBA has it in good hands. Will do the proper research to, you know, find out the truth.”   

Then there was the time when Sarver used the “N-word” in trying to explain to a staffer why he hired Lindsey Hunter, who was the first-year development coordinator over former Suns’ great Dan Majerle, who was in his fifth season as the Suns’ associate head coach as head coach in 2013, according to a high-level executive that overheard the remark of Sarver saying of his largely African American team, “These [N-word] need a [N-word].

Mr. Sarver cited race as the reason to hired Coach Watson in 2016, a former Suns basketball executive said: A young Black coach could better relate to Black players, Sarver reasoned, and could “speak their language.”

Sarver through his legal team denied those allegations that he “never used words to that effect,” and said that race never was part of the discussion during Watson’s hiring process.

This is the fourth investigation of alleged allegations that have had surrounded serious allegations into misconduct by the governor of an NBA squad since Mr. Silver took over as NBA Commissioner in 2014.

For an owner to be removed and to put the team up for sale for violating of the NBA’s constitution and bylaws, it will take 75 percent (three-fourth’s) vote of the league’s board of governors.

In April 2014, Commissioner Silver suspended former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling following the release of audio recordings of him using racist language about African Americans, including his own players. In an appearance on CNN, Mr. Sterling famed the flames of those comments, which further dug his grave in terms of his standing amongst the other 29 owners in the league, and the Clippers were sold for a then NBA record $2 million to current owner and former CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer in August 2014.

The pressure from an investigation into a plethora of racially tinged observations on the game-night fan base that came partially from the NBA’s inquiry, which also consisted of self-reporting of an internal e-mail, then majority owner of the Atlanta Hawks Bruce Levenson sold the franchise to an ownership group led by current Hawks owner since 2015 Tony Ressler for $850 million.

The Dallas Mavericks were the headliner of a league investigation into claims of workplace misconduct and sexual harassment dug up and revealed in a 2018 Sports Illustrated piece in 2018.

The results of those findings led to Mavericks owner since 2000 Mark Cuban to donate $10 million to charities, which included those that combat domestic violence towards women. Mr. Cuban did not face any punishment or suspension.

While no substantial evidence about Mr. Sarver misconduct as owner of the Suns for 17 years has been clearly proven, there have been some signs of these allegations having some truth to them.

Ever since the story about the allegations came out about Phoenix Suns Governor Robert Sarver, the Suns have not lost winning 13 of their 16 consecutive wins. The team led by head coach Monty Williams and the All-Star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker have kept the defending Western Conference champions focused on the hardwood.

What happens with the investigation into Mr. Sarver and his alleged misconduct will be determined by what is found to be true by the Wachtell Lipton law firm. If the allegations turn out to be true, Sarver’s tenure in the “Valley of the Sun” could be over.

Information and quotations are courtesy of 11/4/2021 www.espn.com story, “Allegations Of Racism And Misogyny Within The Phoenix Suns: Inside Robert Sarver’s 17-Year Tenure As Owner,” By Baxter Holmes; 11/4/2021 www.espn.com story, “NBA Launches Investigation Into Phoenix Suns Owner Robert Sarver Over Racism, Sexism Chargers,” By Baxter Holmes and Adrian Wojnarowski; and 11/5/2021 9:30 a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia With Matt Winer, Greg Anthony, and Brendan Haywood.

J-Speaks: Latest Happenings In The NBA

 

The reigning Western Conference champions and their two rivals from the Bay Area and L.A. have the longest winning streaks in “The Association.” In the Eastern Conference, New York’s other team is hitting their stride behind their two former Kia MVP’s. The No. 1 overall pick from this past summer’s draft finally made his debut, while a veteran teammate of his has continued his strong play from last season. The four-time Kia MVP’s former team has begun the season strong. The boys from the “Big Easy” have had a rough go of things. These are the latest happenings that will be covered in this latest piece of the latest happenings in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Scorching Winning Streak By Defending West Champion Suns

The defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns started their quest to return to the NBA Finals at 1-3. Since then, they have been on a key role and looked every bit like the team that will be in the conversation of who will represent the West in The Finals this spring.

Since that 1-3 start, the Suns (9-3) have won eight consecutive games, the longest winning streak currently in the NBA. Their latest victory was a 115-89 win at the Houston Rockets (1-12), who they sent to their 11 consecutive loss.

Their winning streak began on the heels of a buzzer-beating 110-107 loss on Oct. 27 versus the Sacramento Kings (5-8). The Suns have not lost since. Of the teams they have taken down recently, only the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-5), who they defeated 101-92 to start this eight-game winning streak are the only team that the Suns have defeated that is above the .500 mark currently. The other teams that the Suns have defeated during the streak, which made the playoffs a season ago in the Eastern Conference runner-up Atlanta Hawks (5-9) (121-117) Nov. 6; Portland Trail Blazers (119-109) on Wednesday, and the Memphis Grizzlies (119-94) on Friday night are all under .500 at 5-9, 6-8, and 6-7 respectably.

Leading the charge for the Suns has been their dynamic backcourt of future Hall of Famer and 11-time All-Star Chris Paul, who has registered double-digit assists in four of the seven victories, which includes five double-doubles. In the Suns victory at the Grizzlies, Paul had 15 points, 12 assists and five steals.

In the Suns comeback 112-100 win versus the New Orleans Pelicans (2-12) on Nov. 4 on TNT, Chris Paul surpassed Hall of Famer and head coach of the Brooklyn Nets Steve Nash (10,335) and NBA on ESPN/ABC analyst Mark Jackson (10,334) for No. 3 on the NBA’s all-time assists at now 10,396 career assists list and counting with 14 points and a season-high 18 assists.

Earlier in the season with his performance of 23 points and 14 assists in the Suns’ 115-105 win at the Los Angeles Lakers (7-6) Oct. 22, their lone win of the season at that time, Paul became the first player in NBA history to register 20,000 career points and 10,000 career assists.

“It’s pretty cool to watch greatness,” Suns third-year head coach Monty Williams said after the win.

A number of those recent assists Paul has had have gone to the other half of the Suns dynamic backcourt in two-time All-Star Devin Booker, who really got going scoring wise at the start of this seven-game winning streak with 27 points and nine assists in the Suns aforementioned win versus the Cavaliers. He had another 27-point performance with nine rebounds and five assists, going 4/8 from three-point range in the Suns 123-111 win versus the Houston Rockets (1-11). He followed that up 48 hours later with a season-high of 38 points on 14/21 shooting, including 5/9 from three-point range in helping his team rally from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter versus the Hawks. Booker led the Suns with 26 points in their victory on Sunday at the Rockets

As great as Booker and Paul have been during this streak, the Suns just like a season ago when they made The Finals after an 11-year absence from the postseason have received major contributions from their supporting cast of Paul’s understudy in Cameron Payne, starting small forward Mikal Bridges, and backup big man Frank Kaminsky III.

Kaminsky III, who flamed out as a No. 1 draft choice with the Charlotte Hornets in 2015 has played well when he has gotten playing time in his now one-plus seasons with the Suns. He had 17 points in the Suns’ win versus the Pelicans on 5/8 shooting and 6/6 from the charity stripe. Versus the Hawks, Kaminsky III had 16 points and six rebounds on 7/10 from the floor. In the Suns win versus the Trail Blazers, Kaminsky scored a career-high 31 points on 12/18 from the floor with seven rebounds.

“I still don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Kaminsky said after the win of his performance. “But it’s just a mindset. Go out there, play as hard as you can, be ready for anything. You never know when your opportunities are going to come so you’ve got to make the most of them.”

Two season’s back when the NBA restarted in Orlando, FL because of the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, Payne got his opportunity for a fresh start after having to play overseas after he flopped with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls and he has been nothing short of sensational for the Suns as Paul’s backup at the lead guard spot.

He showed that in the Suns 109-104 win at the Kings on Nov. 8, where he scored 24 points on 9/14 from the floor, including 4/6 from three-point range as the Suns took control of the game outscoring the home team 31-12 in the period, leading by 21 points early in the fourth quarter and held off a furious Kings rally.

As impressive as the Suns have been offensively, a major part of their winning streak and their aforementioned march to The Finals last season has been their play at the defensive, which was a driving force in their run to The Finals last season.

In their victory at the Grizzlies on Friday night, the Suns put together their best defensive effort so far this season holding the Grizzlies to 37.8 percent shooting, including 7/33 from three-point range; registering 12 steals and six block shots.

“Our defense was very, very good tonight,” Suns forward Jae Crowder, who had 17 points on 5/8 from three-point range at the Grizzlies said after the win. “It was no coincidence we were able to get out to a good lead.”

The Suns led after the first quarter 36-23 and held the Grizzlies to 20 and 21 points respectably in the second and third quarters.

“Defensively, to hold a team to 23 points or less in a quarter, that’s hard to do in the NBA,” Coach Williams said, noting his team gave up 30 points to the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter. “I thought our intensity was in a really good place.”

The Suns have gotten back on track despite not having starting center Deandre Ayton, who missed his fifth game out of the last six with a lower right leg contusion and that the NBA launched an investigation at the start of November into owner Robert Sarver over racism and sexism charges.

In Ayton’s absence, off-season addition JaVale McGee has started and played well as he registered 19 points and 14 rebounds in the win at the Rockets.

Something as serious as the investigation into Sarver and the loss of Ayton could really be a major distraction for a team. It has not been for the Suns so far and they hope to continue that laser focus as they continue a stretch of playing eight out of 12 on the road, where they had the league’s best mark of 24-12 on the road a season ago.

“For me, I don’t take them for granted,” Coach Williams said when asked about his team’s nine-game winning streak. “I’m focused on just getting better and improving and seeing consistency… I’m focused on our team getting better. I don’t want to take away from the wins and the success we’ve had early this season, but I have a short-term view and a long-term view.”

Warriors Volt To Top of West Behind Sizzling Winning Streak

When this season began, the Golden State Warriors were in the conversation of being a contender in the West. But it all depended on how soon the other half of their “Splash Brothers” backcourt would return. Well, the Warriors after missing the playoffs the last two seasons after five straight appearances in The Finals are playing at that elite level that helped them win three of their four titles in franchise history.

With their 119-93 win versus the Chicago Bulls (8-4), the Warriors (11-2) improved to 11-1 on the season, which is not only the best mark in the rugged Western Conference but is the best mark in the NBA.

Two nights earlier, the Warriors took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 123-110 to become the first team this season to win 10 games. It was the sixth time in their history they registered a 10-1 mark the first 11 games of a season, which includes the third time that has happened under head coach Steve Kerr.

The Warriors winning streak ended though with a 106-102 loss at the Charlotte Hornets (8-7) on Sunday night to begin four-game road trip and a stretch of 11 of their next 18 games on the road.

Leading the way for the Warriors has been two-time Kia MVP Stephen Curry, who already has registered three games with 40 points or more, including his effort of 40 points on 15/24 shooting, including 9/17 from three-point range in the win versus the Bulls.

This was the second time already this season that Curry has made at least nine triples and the 36^th time he has done that in his NBA career, the most in NBA history.

Not only did Curry make a three-pointer for the 137^th consecutive game (now at 138 consecutive games), the second longest streak in NBA history, he surpassed Hall of Famer Ray Allen for the most combined made threes in the regular season and playoffs in NBA history at 3,381 and counting.

This history making performance came in front of Curry’s former college coach at Davidson Bob McKillop, whose team was at Chase Center for a game at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA Saturday against the University of South Florida.

“It’s special,” Curry said of his performance in front of Coach McKillop. “The schedule gods worked out somewhat in terms of they got to come to the game…it always gets me going reminding me of the journey to get there and all that went into making me the player and person I am now.”

Curry’s scoring average of 32.7 points during the Warriors seven-game winning streak is a big reason they have led the NBA in scoring average (118.9), three-pointers made (16.9), and point differential (+21.4).

As impressive as the Warriors have been offensively, like they did when they hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2015, 2017, and 2018, they were just as exceptional at the defensive end of the floor.

Only the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers have allowed the fewest points on average at 98.3 and 101.3 respectably than the 101.5 average the Warriors have allowed to their opponents so far this season.

The Warriors right now lead the NBA in opponent’s field goal percentage allowing just 42.1 percent shooting. Only the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets at 29.5 percent and 31.0 percent respectably are ahead of the Warriors 31.3 three-point percentage allowed to the opposition.

That defense has helped the Warriors win their last seven straight games by 10-plus points,  tied for the longest such streak in the NBA the last four seasons.

The Warriors have put that top ranked defense on full display to start second halves so far this season registering a +107 point-differential in the third quarter, the best by any team in any quarter.

In the third of quarter of their victory versus the Bulls, the Warriors outscored their visitors 35-17 in the third quarter to lead by 24 points after three quarter. Curry scored 15 of his 40 points in the third quarter.

What has also helped the Warriors get off to a great start this season is nine of their first 12 games have been on their home floor of Chase Center.

“During this homestand, we had a lot of these games that were close for a long time and our defense really kind of wore on people,” Coach Kerr said after the win, adding, “and that’s a great sign because you got to be able to rely on your defense to win tough games.”

What you also have to rely on your role players to carry their weight alongside your star players, which was a trademark of the Warriors title teams the last decade, which was referred to as during their playoff runs during that time called “Strength In Numbers.”

While the supporting cast is different with Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, Jordan Poole, Otto Porter, Jr., Nemanja Bjelica, and rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody, two key parts of the supporting cast from those title teams in Andre Iguodala, who signed for his second stint with the Warriors this summer and Kevon Looney have gelled well alongside two of the Warriors big three All-Stars in Curry and 2017 Kia Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green.

Against his old team on last Wednesday night, Wiggins had a season-high 35 points on 14/19 from the floor, including 3/6 from three-point range. That 14/19 shooting by the 2015 Kia Rookie of the Year included a 10/10 start, scoring 22 points on 9/9 from the floor in the first half, becoming the first player for the Warriors to go at least 9/9 from the field in any half since Monta Ellis went 10/10 shooting in the first half against the Grizzlies on Jan. 11, 2008.

“Andrew was just fantastic, the aggression from the beginning of the game, loved his energy,” Coach Kerr said after the game about Wiggins, who was acquired from the Timberwolves at the Feb. 6, 2020 trade deadline. “Obviously, he was pretty excited to play against his old team. We needed everything he brought us tonight.”  

Looney against the Timberwolves had season-highs of 11 points and 17 rebounds for just his second career triple-double. Two nights later against the Bulls, Looney had another double-digit performance on the glass with 10 rebounds.

The best part of this great start by the Warriors so far here in 2021-22 is that Klay Thompson and No. 2 overall pick last season James Wiseman have yet to play as they continue to rehab their respective injuries of a torn ACL and Achilles for Thompson and a meniscus tear in the right knee for Wiseman.

Their eventual returns is great for the Warriors and unwelcome news for the rest of the NBA and the real possibility that the Golden State Warriors could be back in The Finals this late spring competing for their fifth title in franchise history.

Strong Start By Cleveland Cavaliers

There has been one constant over the last 19 seasons in the NBA. When LeBron James is on the Cavaliers roster, they have made the playoffs, reaching The Finals five times. When he has not been on the roster, they have been in the NBA Draft Lottery, which they have been the past three seasons. A solid start to this season by the LBJ’s former team though has Cavaliers nation pondering the possibility of at least a spot in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament with a shot at getting back to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

With their comeback victory from 19 points down in the second half, the Cavaliers with their 91-89 win versus the Boston Celtics (6-7) improved to 9-5 as they outscored the Celtics 29-15 in the fourth quarter after getting outscored 20-9 in the opening period by the Celtics.

Trailing 72-53 with 3:05 left in third quarter, the Cavaliers answered with a 24-4 run to take a 77-76 lead with 6:43 left in third quarter.

“There is no basketball reason why we should have won, but there was a collective spirit,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the win. “Momentum is a hell of a thing. When you start to ride that wave in either direction, it changes the game.”

That collective spirit that has gotten the Cavaliers off to a great start to this season has been led by their starting backcourt of Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, rookie Evan Mobley, the No. 3 overall pick in 2021 draft, Jarrett Allen, and veteran guard Ricky Rubio, who was acquired in the off-season from the Timberwolves.

This quintet, along with Cedi Osman have been a big reason the Cavaliers have gone 6-1 since going 3-4 the first seven games of 2021-22.

Garland has shown at the start of this season his maturation of being able to know when to look for his own offense and when to get open shots for his teammates. The third-year guard led the way for the Cavaliers with 21 points and seven assists on 4/9 from three-point range in the Cavaliers dominating 98-78 win versus the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. He followed that up with 22 points and six assists in the aforementioned win versus the Celtics.

When the Cavaliers selected Mobley No. 3 overall out of USC this summer, they were extremely high on his ability on both ends and that he would play a significant role in helping to turn around the Cavaliers fortunes. He has with four double-doubles in the early part of his rookie season.

In the Cavaliers win versus the Celtics, Mobley had 19 points, nine boards, three block shots and two steals. That was on the heels of 16 points and seven rebounds with three blocks and two steals.

To start the month of November, Mobley registered 15 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s 113-110 win at the Hornets on Nov. 1. He followed that up 48 hours later with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the Cavaliers 107-104 win versus the Trail Blazers.

Back in the off-season, the Cavaliers signed Allen, who was acquired from the Nets in the James Harden blockbuster trade in the middle of January has been rock solid in the middle registering seven double-doubles already this season and is on pace to register at least 20 double-doubles for the fourth straight season.

Allen began the month of November with five straight double-doubles registering 24 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in the win at the Hornets. He followed that up with 24 points and 17 rebounds in the victory versus the Trail Blazers.

“We want to go into these games with people knowing they’re going to have a fight on their hands,” Allen said after the win at the Hornets about his team came into this season with the focus of changing how they are perceived. “Over the past few years, it’s been like, ‘Oh, it’s the Cavs, it’s an off night.’ I’m just being honest, that’s how people looked at us. But know we want people to look at us and say, ‘We need to bring our A game.”

The Cavaliers brought their A game in the second half of their 126-109 at the New York Knicks (7-6) on Nov. 7, where they out the home team 33-18 in the third quarter to lead 89-75 after three quarters.

On this night, the Cavaliers were led by Rubio, who off the bench scored a career-high 37 points with 10 assists on 13/19 from the field, including 8/9 from three-point range, which included making his first eight from three. Mobley also had a career-high of 26 points on 11/15 from the floor with nine rebounds and five assists. Allen had 18 points and 17 rebounds.

“When the ball is going in it seems like you’re running the right plays,” Rubio said after the win. “But it’s not about scoring. It’s about (taking) the right path, (going) the right (way) every time.”

This game also put on display the Cavaliers improved defense, where they currently are No. 2 in points allowed (101.3) and No. 10 in opponent’s field goal percentage.

The Cavaliers in their win at the Knicks held them to 9/31 (29 percent) from three-point range, while going 19/35 (54.3 percent) from the three-point line themselves. They outrebounded the Knicks 48-32.

“In the games we’ve won, we’ve won the scrap,” Coach Bickerstaff said. “We win the competition. The dirty work. The gritty part of it. We don’t always have to be pretty and we’ve shown it…What’s most important to us is creating that identity.”

That will be especially important now without Sexton, who tore the meniscus in his left knee in the win at the Knicks and is out indefinitely . Veteran All-Star forward/center Kevin Love because of the league’s health and safety protocols has missed seven straight games as he regains his conditioning. Fellow forward Lauri Markkanen, who the Cavaliers acquired from the Chicago Bulls this off-season remains out missing six straight games also because of health and safety protocols.

As mentioned, the Cleveland Cavaliers have not made the playoffs since reaching the 2018 NBA Finals, the last season of LeBron James’ second stint. To bring this point into clearer context, the last time the Cavaliers won a playoff series without James on the roster was in 1992-93 when the defeated the then New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets in the opening-round 3-2, when the First-Round was a best-of-five series.

The Cavaliers have shown in the early part of this season that they at least will be in the mix for a spot in the Play-In Tournament this spring. Whether they can sustain this level of play remains to be seen. If they can, it would be a major step in their progression to becoming a playoff perennial again.

The Debut of Pistons No. 1 Pick

The Detroit Pistons entered 2021-22 in Year 2 of their rebuild around a plethora of mid to lower 20-year-old players who they hope will help revive them back into a playoff perennial. At the center of this rebuild is the most anticipated newcomer since a now Hall of Famer was chosen No. 3 overall in 1994. While the start to what Pistons’ nations hopes is a Hall of Fame career was delayed, when he did get onto the floor, the Pistons first No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft has shown glimpses that he will be the glue to the Pistons eventual revival.

The start to the career of No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham of the Pistons this summer was delayed four games because of an ankle injury, when he did get on the floor, he displayed his all-around ability to why he was taken first overall out of Oklahoma State University.

In his debut in the Pistons (3-9) 110-103 win versus the Orlando Magic (3-10), Cunningham only had two points on 1/8 shooting, including 0/5 from three-point range with seven rebounds in 19 minutes.

“I thought it was a good night,” Cunningham said after the win. “I wanted to make sure my ankle was good, and I was able to go out there and make some plays and grab some rebounds. Now I know I’m fine, so I can play free and easy moving forward.”

After another tough night in his second NBA game where he had six points on 2/14 shooting, including 0/9 from three-point range, Cunningham had his first career double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds going 9/10 at the foul line in the Pistons 108-98 loss versus the now struggling Philadelphia 76ers (8-6).

In the anticipated matchup with No. 2 overall pick in last summer’s draft Jalen Green, the Pistons earned their second victory of the season by defeating the Houston Rockets 112-104 on Wednesday night on ESPN.

While Green outscored Cunningham 23-20, the former Cowboy had the more efficient night from the field going 8/18 shooting, including 4/8 from three-point range. Green on the other hand was just 8/20 from the field, including 3/11 from three-point range.

The one example of the difference of where Cunningham and Green are in their maturation process in the early part of their respective rookie seasons, Green after blowing passed Cunningham for a dunk in the third quarter turned and barked at his rookie counterpart and picked up a taunting technical foul.

“Nothing that I heard tonight held any real weight. It was just all for the cameras to me,” Cunningham said after the win.

Cunningham displayed the kind of poise he had to close out the victory as he made a three from the left wing with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. He moments later took a charge on Green in the lane. Then with two minutes left in regulation scored on a jump hook in the lane over Rockets’ second-year forward Jae’Sean Tate that sealed the win.

“Cade has that clutch gene, okay,” ESPN’s College Basketball analyst Mike Schmitz said on Thursday’s edition of “NBA Today.”

“His game [Cunningham] is more of a slow burn and when you’re losing by 25 [points] every game, you don’t get to see those big moments, those bright lights moments. But we saw a little bit of it last night and I think Cade is going to be a complete stud in the NBA for a long time.”

Cunningham showed that ability to perform in the clutch once again scoring seven of his 10 points in the fourth quarter in the Pistons 127-121 victory on Saturday night at the Toronto Raptors.

The Pistons in the fourth quarter outscored the Raptors 34-26, going 6/8 from three-point range in the period and 15/35 from three-point range on the night.

This was on the heels of a 98-78 loss at the Cavaliers on Friday night, where they shot 36.7 percent from the floor and 9/30 from three-point range, committing 23 turnovers that led to 27 Cavaliers points.

“He’s made for those kind of moments,” Pistons second-year forward/center Isaiah Stewart, who had 20 points in the win said of Cunningham. “He’s that kind of player.”  

The last time the Pistons had the No. 1 overall pick was Bob Lanier out of Saint Bonaventure, who went on to have a Hall of Fame career. Nearly three decades ago, the Pistons selected Hall of Famer Grant Hill No. 3 overall in 1994 and he went on to win Co-Kia Rookie of the Year with fellow Hall of Famer and now NBATV/TNT analyst Grant Hill, who led the Pistons to the playoffs his final four seasons with the team before moving on to play for the Magic, Suns, and Clippers. The Pistons hope that Cade Cunningham can have lead the Pistons back to the playoffs and hopefully back to the top of the NBA mountain as champions like they were in 1989, 1990, and 2004.

The Other Important Piston

While youngsters in rookie Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Saadiq Bey, Killian Hayes, Hamidou Diallo, and Luka Garza are important parts of the Detroit Pistons future, last summer they signed a player who showed that he will be a big part of their future also.

In the summer of 2020, the Pistons signed in free agency veteran forward Jerami Grant to a three-year, $60 million deal.

The city of Detroit has been a blue-collar town known for Motown, cars, and Joe Lewis but never for big time free agents signing to play for their pro basketball team, even during their aforementioned championship seasons in 1989, 1990, and 2004.

“I just wanted to grow as a player,” Grant said to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears of “The Undefeated” about why he signed with the Pistons. “I think the opportunity was something that I’ve always dreamed of being the go-to-guy on a team. So, to be able to be here and have this experience was a no brainer.”

To put how great the son of the son of former NBA player Harvey Grant who played 11 NBA seasons (1988-99) with the then Washington Bullets (now Wizards), Trail Blazers, and 76ers and nephew to Harvey’s twin brother Horace, who played in the NBA for 17 seasons (1987-2004) with the Bulls, two stints with Magic, then Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder)and two stints with the Lakers, winning four titles has been for the Pistons since his arrival, Grant has registered 10 games with 30-plus points. The only other Piston to register a 30-point game was Bey, who had 30 points and 10 rebounds on 10/12 shooting, including 7/7 from three-point range in the 108-102 win by the Pistons at the Celtics on Feb. 12.

In the Pistons win at the Rockets on Wednesday night, Grant scored 21 of his 35 points in the third quarter, going 12/23 from the floor, including 4/9 from three-point range.

Grant’s play a season ago earned him a spot on the 2020 USA Men’s Olympic Basketball squad, who captured Gold over the summer in Tokyo.

“It was a great experience to be able to win Gold and be on that stage,” Grant said. “To be around those caliber players and to be able to pick up little tendencies and things that they do in preparation and their work definitely helped me to come into this and be ready to lead.”

Along with making a name for himself on the court with the Pistons, Grant has put his imprint in the Detroit, MI community as he is trying to have a homeless shelter built in the city.

Grant said to Spears that when he first got to Detroit he encountered some homeless people, and one particular day had an engaging conversation with a homeless person where he explained that everyone in the homeless shelter was going to be shut down.

“Just touched me in a way that made me want to give back,” Grant said of that moment.

Grant said that he and people he is involved with are in the midst of building a new shelter that will basically be a community center where the homeless can stay or come to get food and hang out to get their morale back.

That gesture is what led Grant to have his likeness painted on a mural alongside Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, the leader of those back-to-back Pistons title team in 1989 and 1990 and the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame and four-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year recipient Ben Wallace.

“It’s amazing the amount of support that these fans and everyone is giving to me. “It’s an honor to be up next to those two Hall of Famers,” Grant said of the support he has gotten both on and off the court from Pistons’ nation. “It just makes me want to stay and give back as much as I can to the community and give my all.”

The Detroit Pistons hope they struck gold with the selections the last two NBA drafts in Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey, Luka Garza, and Killian Hayes, and the additions via trades and free agency Josh Jackson, Frank Jackson, and Hamidou Diallo. They for sure found a gem in Jerami Grant, who will be just as important in their maturation into becoming a playoff team again and hopefully a championship contender down the road.

Surging Nets

The start to this season was an uneven one for the Brooklyn Nets, who began without their perennial All-Star floor general due to his non-compliance with New York City’s vaccine mandate. His starting backcourt mate had to work himself back into shape recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last postseason. The good news for the Nets is that their best player began this season on a high note and the Nets behind him, their now starting floor general getting back into game shape and the play of their key role players has gotten them back on track.

With their 120-96 win at the Oklahoma City Thunder (5-7) on Sunday, the Nets (10-4) after a 3-3 start to this season have won three in a row and eight out of their last nine games, including going 5-1 on their just completed six-game road trip.

Kevin Durant led the way for the Nets with 33 points and eight boards, going 9/17 from the field and 13/14 at the foul line. It was Durant’s seventh game of 30 points or more already this season and his 14^th straight game of 20-plus points to start this season, a Nets franchise record.

As impressive as Durant, the 2014 Kia MVP has been to start this season, the Nets have gotten back on track because 2018 Kia MVP and fellow perennial All-Star James Harden has played to the level that we have grown accustomed to seeing. 

After registering just one double-double, which was a triple-double of 18 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, hitting 4/7 from three-point range in the victory on Halloween night versus the Pistons, Harden has registered a double-double in six of the last seven games, including his second and third triple-double of the season, and 61 for his career.

His 60^th triple-double came in the Nets96-90 win on Nov. 5 versus the Pistons where Harden had 13 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, which passed Hall of Famer for the Celtics Larry Bird for the seven most triple-doubles in NBA history.

Harden, who was just 3/10 shooting, making all three of his field goals from three-point range, going 3/5 from distance joined Hall of Famer and head coach of the Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd, Atlanta Hawks guard Delon Wright, Steve Blake and Kirk Hinrich as the only players in NBA history to record a triple-double and have no two-point field goals.

One major reason that Harden has been inconsistent to open this season is the leagues rule changes in how they have called fouls, especially on drives to the hoop, which Harden had mastered over the past few seasons that began in his time with Houston Rockets, where he consistently averaged double digit free throw attempts.

In the first month of this season, Harden only had one game of double-digit free throw attempts going 16/19 at the foul line as part of his 29-point night with eight boards, and eight assists in the Nets 105-98 win versus the Indiana Pacers (6-8) on Oct. 29.

In his most complete game performance of this young season, Harden had a season-high 39 points with 12 assists on 11/18 shooting, including 6/10 from three-point range and 11/15 at the foul line in the Nets 120-112 win on Friday night at the New Orleans Pelicans (2-12), where they led by 21 points in the second half and held off a furious comeback by the home team.

Durant had 28 points with seven boards, and eight assists on 11/17 shooting in the win at the Pelicans.

“He was aggressive all night, getting downhill, getting to the free throw line,” Durant said of Harden’s performance. “James did a great job tonight of just controlling the game.”

Along with Harden finding his stride, the Nets have gotten strong play from their supporting cast of Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, Patty Mills, Joe Harris.

Harris in the Nets win at the Pelicans hit his first six threes, tying a season with those six threes on eight attempts on his way to a season-high 24 points. His biggest shot of the game though was a floater off the glass that ignited the Nets’ game ceiling run.

Earlier this season, Harris the longest tenured Net, who joined them in 2016 became the Nets all-time leader in threes made when he made a corner triple at the 11:09 mark of the third quarter in the Nets 106-93 loss on Oct. 27 versus the Miami Heat (8-5), to surpass Jason Kidd’s mark of 813 made threes.

Harris reached this milestone in 349 total games, 157 fewer than the 506 career games for Kidd.

Nets Top Five In Three-Pointers Made All-Time
Joe Harris: 874 and counting
Jason Kidd: 813
Kerry Kittles: 687
Vince Carter: 638
Joe Johnson: 516

“He’s an elite shooter for a reason,” Nets head coach Steve Nash said of Harris before the loss versus the Heat. “His dedication and discipline to do it everyday is outstanding and that’s why he is where he is. I don’t think anyone thought when he was in high school or college, he’d be the Nets all-time leader in three-pointers, so that’s just a tribute to how resolute, how much he’s willing to sacrifice to continue to grow as a player and be in that type of category.”

While statistically he has not had as big of impact as Harris during this recent stretch, Brown just like last season has found a way to have a positive impact in the Nets wins, especially as a starter.

After the Pelicans used a 16-4 to take a 104-101 lead in the late stages of fourth quarter, Brown hit a corner three-pointer at the 24-second shot clock buzzer that tied the score 104-104 and ignited a 19-8 close to the Nets aforementioned win.

“Bruce hit a huge shot that kind of set the tone for us to finish,” Durant said after the win on Friday night. “That’s pretty much what they wanted him to take was that corner three, but he’s been working on that.”

In the Nets previously mentioned win versus the Pacers, Aldridge had 21 points and eight rebounds on 10/16 shooting off the bench as he became the 48^th player in NBA history to score 20,000 career points. He also joined LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Carmelo Anthony of the Los Angeles Lakers, Durant, Harden, and Paul as the seven active players with 20,000 career points.

Aldridge, whose in his 16^th NBA season reached that milestone with a jumper from about the left wing at the 1:58 mark of the third quarter that put the Nets up 83-69 over the Pacers.

“It’s a blessing,” Aldridge said of the career milestone after the win versus the Pacers.

He added about the milestone on his Twitter page that night @aldridge_12, “Just a skinny kid from Texas!! Blessed.” 

Aldridge six months prior announced his retirement from “The Association” due to an irregular heartbeat. The eight-time All-Star re-signed with the Nets in September after being fully cleared by his doctors to return.

The contributions from Brown, Harris, and Aldridge off the bench have been huge for the Nets at the start of this season, especially in the absence of perennial All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, whose out because he is unvaccinated, which means he cannot in accordance with New York City’s vaccination mandate to take part in any indoor activity.

That has made the signing of veteran guard Patty Mills back in the summer even more important now.

While he may not be the playmaker and scorer Irving is, Mills, who spent the previous decade with the San Antonio Spurs brings a veteran savvy and marksmanship from three-point range that has been valuable for the Nets in the early part of this season.

In the win at the Thunder on Sunday night, Mills had 29 points on 10/16 shooting, including a career-high nine made threes, going 9/12 from the three-point line.

Mills in his 13^th NBA season made more than six triples for the sixth time in his career.

“He was aggressive,” Coach Nash said of Mills’ performance. “Obviously, he got hot. You know, some great threes and big threes and gave our offense a little extra boost and some life.”

The Brooklyn Nets, who came into this season with expectations of winning a title got off to a slow start this season. Kevin Durant kept them above water, and with James Harden rediscovering his scoring touch and the rise in level of play from Joe Harris, Bruce Brown, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Patty Mills, the Nets have gotten back on the winning track.

While they are still championship worthy because of their talent, not having Kyrie Irving for who knows how long with the vaccine mandate in New York City in effect diminishes their chances of winning it all.

That said, as long as they remain healthy and they have Kevin Durant and James Harden, they have as good a chance of coming out of the Eastern Conference this spring.

Tough Times In ‘The Big Easy’

Without their best player to start this season and the loss of their other All-Star prior to his return over the weekend, the start to the 2021-22 season has been a tough one for the New Orleans Pelicans under their new head coach.

With their 112-101 on Saturday night versus the Grizzlies, the Pelicans snapped their nine-game losing streak and earned their first victory at home of the 2021-22 season, bring their mark to 1-5 at Smoothie King Center.

This victory was on the heels of a 120-112 loss on Friday night versus the Nets, where the Pelicans overcame a 21-point second half deficit to lead 104-101 with 4:36 remaining before the visitors from Brooklyn used a 19-8 run to send the home team to their ninth consecutive loss.

There was hope that under new head coach Willie Green that the Pelicans were going to position themselves at least a spot in the West Play-In Tournament in the late spring

Not having All-Star Zion Williamson to start this season because of a right foot fractured suffered back in the early part of the summer and Brandon Ingram, who had 19 points in his return from a seven-game absence due to a right hip contusion versus the Grizzlies has put the Pelicans behind the eight ball to start this season.

This season was the third time in franchise history that the Pelicans began in a season 1-11 (2004-05-as the New Orleans Hornets and 2015-16).

In the Pelicans, eighth straight loss 108-100 loss last Wednesday night versus the Thunder, first-year head coach Willie Green, the team’s third head coach in the as many seasons called his team out in the postgame for being whistled for five technical fouls, two of which were picked up by forward/guard Josh Hart, which led to him being ejected in the opening half.

Hart lost his cool after being whistled for a foul on Thunder’s Luguentz Dort, who jumped over his back to grab a rebound, which led to both Hart and Dort crashing into the floor.

Hart was called for a technical foul by referee Scott Foster for protesting the call, and then was tossed from the game on a second technical as he continued to voice his displeasure at the foul call.

“Our guys thought they got fouled, and we didn’t get the call,” Green said after the game. “But we aren’t going to get those calls. We haven’t earned them So what are we complaining about? Until we earn it, we’re not gonna get that. That’s the deal. I talked to our guys about it. We have to keep our composure. Our margin for error is too small to do what we did tonight.”

Coach Green added, “We need Josh. We need Jonas [Valanciunas]. Jaxson Hayes can’t get technical. We need everyone to compete and play at a high level to win the game.”  

At the time, the Pelicans were up 39-31 before the Thunder used a 15-0 to take control of the game.

The Pelicans rallied to lead 67-65 in the third quarter before the Thunder used a 20-4 run to close the period and led 96-75 with 7:51 left in the fourth quarter.

The Pelicans rallied again behind Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 22 of his 33 points in the fourth period, drawing the Pelicans to withing five points before the Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander drilled a nine-foot jumper that halted the Pelicans rally.

“The guys were on the floor competed. But it’s not enough,” Coach Green said after the game. “When, No. 1, we’re not healthy and we’re losing guys, it’s not enough. We all have to be in it together. If we lose one main guy like we did tonight, it hurts.”  

Coach Green also said that his team was wrong in picking up those five technical fouls and that they have yet to earn the respect from the referees in order to have certain calls go in you direction.

Even with all that has happened with the Pelicans so far this season, Coach Green has his team’s attention and they have completely bought in to what he is selling, and they are trying to lay the foundation for a better future.

What has given the Pelicans hope in what has been a nightmare start to this season has been the play of Jonas Valanciunas, who was acquired over the summer from the Grizzlies, who has registered a league-leading 11 double-doubles so far this season.

The aforementioned Alexander-Walker has also showed out to start this season. He had as mentioned 33 points with 10 rebounds on 10/22 shooting, including 4/10 from three-point range and 9/11 at the foul line in the loss versus the Thunder. He led the way in the win over the Grizzlies with 21 points.

If the Pelicans want their future to have any light at the end of the tunnel, they need Williamson back on the floor. But right now, there is no timetable for his return to the hardwood anytime soon.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Williamson is progressing to at least getting back to practicing with his team.

Sometime this week, Williamson will have more scans to see the progress of his broken foot. If those scans are good, the No. 1 overall pick in 2019-20 will be able to return to practicing with the Pelicans. But a return to game action might occur in the final month of 2021.

Whether it is in December or at the start of 2022, the Pelicans present and prospects for a bright future rest on Zion Williamson getting back on the court and playing to the level that he has displayed in flashes his first two NBA seasons.

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of game logs of Joe Harris, James Harden, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, schedules, and statistics from www.espn.com;  10/23/2021 www.cbssports.com story “Suns’ Chris Paul Becomes First Player In NBA History With 20,000 Points and 10,000 Assists,” By Jack Maloney; 10/29/2021 www.nba.com story, “Joe Harris Passes Jason Kidd As Nets’ All-Time Leader In 3-Pointers Made;” 10/29/2021 www.nba.com story, “LaMarcus Aldridge Becomes 48^th Player In NBA History To Score 20,000 Points;”  11/1/2021 www.nba.com story, “Week 2 Rewind: 10 NBA Things To Know From Past 7 Days,” By Brian Martin; 11/10/2021 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN With Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Brian Windhorst, Kendrick Perkins, and Marc J. Spears; 11/11/2021 3 p.m. “NBA Today” With Malika Andrews, Chiney Ogwumike, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, Mike Schmitz, and Vince Carter; 11/10/2021 7:30 p.m. “Detroit Pistons versus Houston Rockets” ESPN, presented by Doordash With Dave Pasch, Jeff Van Gundy, and Monica McNutt; 11/12/2021 3 p.m. “NBA Today” ESPN With Malika Andrews, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, Zach Lowe, and Richard Jefferson www.espn.com/nba/standings;  www.espn.com/nba/stats/_/view/team; https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2991070/type/nba/year/2021;  https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2991070/type/year/2022; https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/trp_dbl_career.html; https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ast_career.html;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Cleveland_Cavaliers_seasons;  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerami_Grant; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Grant; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Grant.