Prominent Member of Cavs Family Passes Away Too Soon

For most of the 1980s, the Cleveland Cavaliers were doormats of the National Basketball Association, making the playoffs just one time from 1980-86. That all changed in 1986 when via trades or through the draft acquired future All-Stars in starting center Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Ron Harper and Larry Nance; starting shooting guard Craig Ehlo. They also drafted a little known forward/center out of Tulane University, who would end up being a great compliment to a team that except for the 1986-87 season and the 1990-91 season made the playoffs and one occasions were on the doorstep of making it to the NBA championship, but this guy by the name of Michael Jordan kept blocking their path. That great compliment to those Cavs teams passed away over this past weekend.

Former NBA forward/center John “Hot Rod” Williams died this past Friday, Dec. 11 at his home near Sorrento, LA from complications of prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with back in June. He was 53 years old.

Williams, who was drafted in the second round, 45^th overall by the Cavaliers in 1985 played nine of his 13 seasons in Northeast Ohio. He was then traded to the Phoenix Suns in the summer of 1995 for swingman Dan Majerle, where he played for three seasons and he finished with the Dallas Mavericks. He averaged 11.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in those 13 seasons.

“In many respects, he was the humble embodiment and unsung hero of one of the most memorable and successful eras of Cavaliers basketball,” the Cavs organization said in a statement.

“It’s devastating. He was a hard worker and a great player. But I liked him more as a person than a basketball player,” Hall of Fame GM Wayne Embry, who was with the Cavs from 1986-99 said of Williams.

Williams was born in aforementioned Sorrento on Aug. 9, 1962. He got the nickname “Hot Rod” back when he was a baby when he constantly made engine-like sounds when he scooted backwards across the floor. From that point, his mother started calling him “Hot Rod” and it eventually caught on to his friends.

The solid career on the court for Williams almost did not happen though because of him.

At Tulane University, the 6’11” power forward/center left as the second leading scorer in the history of the Green Wave, but he was nearly thrown off the team in his sophomore season because he missed practice way too often and showed he was not reliable, according to a Tulane booster club president.

It goes back to his time in high school where he barely maintained a C average and just passed his SATs.

At Tulane, Williams did not fare any better at his academics maintaining a C-D average even though he had a class schedule of classes that were considered easy like driver’s education and weight training.

Williams did succeed on the court as he was named the Metro Conference Player of the Year in his junior season and was a three-time All-Metro Conference First-Team selection (1982, 1984 and 1985).

The real low point for Williams came on Mar. 27, 1985 when he was arrested on suspicion of point shaving. He had taken at the minimum $8,550 from Gary Kranz for influencing point spreads in contest against Southern Mississippi, Memphis State and Virginia Tech.

Williams was charged with sports bribery and conspiracy and the school was eventually forced to disband their basketball program for three seasons.

The first trial ended in a mistrial and he was found not guilty on all five counts in the second trial, despite a number of Williams’ teammates cutting plea deals to testify against him. If Williams had been found guilty, he was looking at 17 years in prison

While he had a great career on the court, Williams character away from the collegiate hardwood likely scared a lot of teams away from selecting him high in the first round of the 1985 NBA Draft.

Then Cavs owner Gordon Gund took a chance on Williams drafting him in the second round with the 45^th overall pick by the Cavaliers. Because of the trial though, Williams could not sign with the Cavs, but Gund paid all his legal bills and he spent the 1985-86 season playing in the United State Basketball League (USBL) earning $15,000.

When he joined the Cavs the next season, he showed that he was going to be a big part of their future moving forward as he averaged 14.6 points, 7.9 boards and 2.1 blocks on 48.5 percent from the field in making the NBA All-Rookie team along with teammates Harper and Daugherty.

Two years later when the Cavs won a franchise record 57 games, Williams averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest, but the Cavaliers were defeated in Game 5 of the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs where Jordan hit a jumper from the top of the foul line over Ehlo, which was later named “The Shot” that defeated the Cavs 101-100 and gave the Bulls the 3-2 series win. Williams averaged 11.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in the series.

Williams would have the best season of his career one year later averaging 16.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest, but the Cavs as a team lost in the first round again to the Atlantic Division champion Philadelphia 76ers led by eventual Hall of Famer Charles Barkley in five games. Williams averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in the five games.

“Hot Rod really I think is starting to come into his own. He’s a big part of our team and I’m glad we have him,” Price, who played with the Cavs from 1987-94 said once of Williams.

The Cavs tied a franchise record of 57 wins in the 1991-92 season and made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals where they matched up again with their Central Division rivals again, the Bulls. After splitting the first two games, the two teams were in nip and tuck battle in Game 5, but the Bulls bench broke things open in the fourth and led them to a 112-89 win to take a 3-2 lead. The Bulls would finish the Cavs off in Game 6 99-94 to win the series and the East 4-2 to make it back to the NBA Finals. The Bulls would go on to win their second straight NBA title defeating the Western Conference Champion Portland Trail Blazers 4-2. Williams in that 17-game postseason for the Cavaliers averaged 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds.

After winning 54 games the next season and outlasting the then New Jersey Nets in five games in the opening round, the Cavs met the Bulls again in the East Semifinals. The Bulls took the first three games winning by seven, 13 and six points respectably and Jordan broke the hearts of the Richfield Coliseum fans again with a game-winning jumper at the buzzer giving the Bulls as 103-101 win to sweep the Cavs 4-0. Williams averaged 9.0 points and 4.6 rebounds during the Cavs nine playoff games.

The Cavs won 47 games the next season under new head coach Mike Fratello, who replaced Lenny Wilkens, but were eliminated by the Bulls again in a sweep 3-0, led by All-Star and eventual Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen in the wake of Jordan’s first retirement. Williams, who became the Cavs starting center because Daugherty was on the mend because of back problems that did force him to retire averaged 13.7 points, 7.6 boards and 1.7 blocks during the regular season.

In what became his last season with the Cavs the next season, Williams averaged 12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks during the regular season as the team won 43 games that season. The Cavs lost to the New York Knicks in the opening round of the playoffs 3-1.

Williams was traded to the Suns in the summer of 1995 hoping to be a final piece in the Suns run for a title. Unfortunately injuries derailed him in his three seasons and he was nowhere near the impact player the team had hoped.

Williams finished his career with the Dallas Mavericks in the lockout shortened season of 1999.  Even though the Cavs were unable to get over the hump against the likes of the Bulls, they were a force to be reckoned with thanks to the play of All-Stars Daugherty, Nance and Price, but Williams played a key role as well and the stars of the team like Daugherty were well aware of that.

“Hot Rod is a tremendous defensive player. Really an unselfish player,” Daugherty said of Williams.

“Doesn’t look to score a lot or anything like that. He doesn’t worry about getting shots. He come out, plays good defense. He can play some three, four and he can play some five and when you have a guy like that who’s very versatile, he’s probably the most valuable player on our team.”

Forward Danny Ferry, Williams’ teammate for six seasons echoed the same thing saying that he “great caring and unselfish teammate.”

“He’s a team-first guy. He was also a valuable, intelligent and very underrated player. He could defend anyone. We were lucky to have him as a teammate and friend.”

The life of John “Hot Rod” Williams, one that ended way too soon is that of a guy who nearly had a great life taken away from him, but got a second chance and made the most of it. His NBA career was one where he was a great compliment to the stars of a title contender. He made plays when called upon at the offensive end and he was a solid individual and team defender. More than anything when he got his bearings about him, John “Hot Rod” Williams was an NBA player who enjoyed his career, never took it for granted and along the way earned the respect from the players he played with, the two head coaches he played for in Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens and Mike Fratello and the organization in general and never took it for granted.

“It was fun and enjoyable and it was a nice living playing in the NBA. Something I always wanted to do,” Williams said once in an interview.

Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 12/12/15 4 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” with Rick Kamla, Steve Smith and Dennis Scott; Vince Cellini, Grant Hill and Mike Fratello; http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleveland_Cavaliers-sections: 1983-86-The Gunds take over; 1986-92-The Daugherty/Nance/Price/Harper era; Season-by-season records; www.basketball-reference-com/players/w/williho01.html; Dec. 11, 2015 espn.com article “John ‘Hot Rod’ Williams dies at 53” by ESPN Senior Writer Brian Windhorst; The Team By Team History section of Official 2006-07 NBA Guide by Sporting News 2005-06 Review 2006-07 Preview.

Warriors Historic Streak Ends In The Midwest

The amazing winning streak that the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors have been on has been nothing short of remarkable. They have answered every challenge put up by their opponent’s and remained unblemished for 28 straight games dating back to last season. The question was, who was going to be the team to end this streak. That answer came 72 hours ago in the Midwest where the team snapped the most famed winning streak in NBA history.

In their 108-95 setback at the Milwaukee Bucks (9-15), it not only gave the Warriors their first loss since Apr. 7, a 103-100 setback at the New Orleans Pelicans, it ended the Warriors 28-game winning streak, which is now the second longest winning streak in the history of the National Basketball Association.

The Bucks were led by center Greg Monroe, who had 28 points on 11 for 16 from the field, 11 rebounds and five assists. Second-year forward Jabari Parker had 19 points and seven boards; guard O.J. Mayo had 18 points. Michael Carter-Williams had 17 points, five assists and five steals and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo became the youngest player in Bucks’ history at 21 years of age to record a triple-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high10 assists. It was the first triple-double of his career.

The Warriors were led by All-Star guard and reigning league MVP Stephen Curry who had 28 points on 10 for 21 from the floor, seven boards and five assists. Forward Draymond Green had 24 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Back-up center Festus Ezeli had 13 points and eight boards off the bench and All-Star Klay Thompson had 12 points for the Warriors, but shot just for 4 for 14 from the field.

This was also the Warriors first setback away from Oracle Arena this season, ending their 14-game winning streak on the road to start the season. They surpassed the 1969-70 World Champion New York Knicks with their 13 consecutive road win last Tuesday, Dec. 8 when they won at the Indiana Pacers (13-9) 131-123. They only other team that went undefeated on the road for a double-digit stretch to start an NBA season are the 1960-61 and 1961-62 World Champion Boston Celtics who started those seasons 10-0.  

“What they did to start this season, there’s no reason for anyone to hang their heads in that locker room for losing that game,” Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton, whose team shot just 40.9 percent from the floor and just 23.1 percent from three-point range on the evening, said after the game.

“They been incredible all year and the losses are going to come. We didn’t have it tonight. That’s why it is so hard to do what these guys have done so far.

To put what the Bucks did this past Saturday night into historic context, this was the sixth time in their history that they ended a double-digit winning streak by their opponent.

They ended the longest losing streak in the history of North American Professional sports (MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA) back on Jan. 9, 1972 when they defeated the eventual World Champion Los Angeles Lakers 120-104, ending their streak of 33 consecutive wins.

Eventual Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the way with 39 points. Lucius Allen scored 18. Eventual Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and John Block had 17 points each and Robert L. “Bob” Dandridge had 11 points. Another notable player on the team during this historic moment was current Bucks color analyst for FOX Sports Wisconsin, who works alongside play-by-play man Jim Paschke and has done so for the last 25 years.

The Lakers were led by “The Logo” and eventual Hall of Famer Jerry West, who had 20 points. Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich, the late Harold “Happy” Hairston and Jim McMillan had 18 points each. The late great Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlin had 15 points. Another notable player in this contest for the Lakers was Hall of Fame head coach, eight-time World Champion as a coach and executive Pat Riley, the President of the Miami Heat.

The Bucks also ended the 12-game winning streak of the eventual NBA champions of 1973, the Celtics; the 14-game winning streak of the eventual World Champion Philadelphia 76ers of 1983 led by Hall of Famers Moses Malone, Julius “Dr. J.” Erving and Andrew Toney, Bobby Jones and Maurice Cheeks; The 13 consecutive of the eventual 2007 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and the 12-game winning streak of the 2007 NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

Besides the strong play by the underachieving Bucks this past Saturday night, the Warriors had a few other things not in their favor.

They played a double-overtime game the night before at the TD Garden against the Boston Celtics, who gave them everything they can handle and were able to hold on 124-119.

The Warriors played that contest without Thompson, who was out with a sprained right ankle that he sustained in the final moments of their victory at the Pacers last Wednesday night and starting small forward Harrison Barnes was absent again because of sprained ankle. 

Curry played 47 minutes and scored 38 points with 11 rebounds, eight assists and two steals, but shot just 9 for 27 from the field, but made 6 of 13 from three-point range and 14 for 14 from the charity stripe. Green in 50 minutes had 24 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, five steals and five block shots, becoming the first player since Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon back on Dec. 30, 1993 to register at least 20 points, 10 boards, five assists, five steals and five blocks in a game.

The Warrior reserves who have been big the past two seasons, came through big in this contest. Finals MVP of a season ago Andre Iguodala had 13 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals in 44 minutes. Ezeli had 12 points and 12 boards and Shaun Livingston also had 12 points.

Despite shooting just 39.3 percent from the field, including just 29 (9-31) percent from behind the three-point line and had 18 turnovers that resulted in 21 Celtic points, the Warriors won a game that featured 16 ties and 22 lead changes because they shot 31 for 39 from the charity stripe; garnered 67 rebounds, including 17 on the offensive end; had 28 assists, 10 steals, 11 blocks, outscored the Celtics in the paint 58-52 and held them to 43 percent shooting.

Those minutes caught up with the defending champs the next night as the Bucks outscored the Warriors in three of the four quarters, especially in the fourth to the tune of 28-18.

The Bucks held the Warriors to just 40.9 percent from the field and to 23.1 percent (6 for 26) from three-point land. Outscored them in the paint 60-56; stayed close on the boards to the tune of 47-44 and in fast break points 21-20; forced 17 turnovers that resulted in 24 points and had 31 assists to the Warriors 23.

On top of everything else, the Bucks became the first team to hold the No. 1 scoring team in the NBA at 115.3 points per contest under the century mark for the first time this season.

“We missed a lot of shots that we would make, but you got to give them a lot of credit,” Green said after the game.

“They were swarming all over the place. You give them some credit and we got to just make the plays we normally make.”

I remember something that NBATV/NBA on TNT analyst and co-host of “Inside the NBA” on TNT Kenny Smith said a couple of weeks back about the Warriors is that their first setback will come due to the fact that the Warriors will have one of those nights where things just did not go their way.

That night was this past weekend where their jumpers were not falling, especially in the first period where they shot 2 for 10 from downtown. On top of that, the Bucks, who also played the night before in losing at the Toronto Raptors (16-9) 90-83, were quicker to lose balls, played with high energy, took the ball to the basket purpose time and time again and Monroe had a great game scoring inside against the likes of Andrew Bogut and Ezeli.

The one thing that should be taken from this is that this loss came in game No. 25, which is something Green made clear after the game when asked is this loss tougher than sustaining one in the postseason.

“Nowhere near the same. Not even close,” Green said last Saturday night.

“It just feels like a loss. A feeling we haven’t experienced in a while, but it doesn’t feel like a playoff loss. I can tell you that.” 

At the end of the days, this streak of 28 straight wins, which is second only to the aforementioned Lakers consecutive run of 33 in succession will be something that fans of the Bay Area and the country will remember for a long time. It was great and exciting, especially the fact that the team did this with their head coach Steve Kerr not with the team recovering from back surgery this past off-season.

They brought a level of excitement wherever they played. It got to the point that fans showed up early just to see Curry warm up. The Warriors made the games they played in the dog days of November and December must see television.

This streak was eventually going to end and it came at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015.

Right now for the Warriors, it is about getting healthy, recharged and refocused because they want to do something that the aforementioned teams that saw their winning streaks ends at the hands of the Bucks, win a title. In the case of the Warriors, win back-to-back titles.

Information, statistics and quotes are courtesy of www.espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/mil; www.espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/gs; www.espn.go.com/nba/standings; 12/12/15 9 a.m. edition NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by KIA with Rick Kamla, Steve Smith and Dennis Scott; Vince Cellini, Grant Hill and Mike Fratello; 12/14/15 2 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by KIA with Matt Winer, Rick Fox and Mike Fratello; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_McGlocklin; http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dandridge; Official 2006-07 Sporting News NBA Guide-2005-06 Review/2006-07 Preview.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly For October/November 2015 in NBA

So far this NBA season, the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors have grabbed the NBA headlines and have earned every bit of them getting off to a historic start. However, a former NBA champion has quietly kept pace. A rookie, who got a rude welcome to the “Big Apple” when he was drafted last June has played very well and gained the respect of not just the city, but the league and an All-Star player has returned to form after a gruesome knee injury put his career in jeopardy. Three teams that were expected to really make some serious noise as title contenders this season are dealing with the realities of not living up to their expectations and a historic NBA franchise is struggling mightily, some by their own doing. Here is The Good, The Bad and The Ugly for Oct. /Nov. in the NBA

The Good

Hot Spurs

While the Warriors have gotten the well-deserved attention for their great start to the 2015-16 season, very quietly the San Antonio Spurs (20-5) have kept pace and once again without any fanfare have shown that they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Two big reason behind the solid start of the Southwest Division leaders has been the emergence of swingman and rising star Kawhi Leonard (20.9 ppg-Leads team, 7.4 rpg, 1.8 spg-Leads team), who is shooting an solid 50.2 percent from the field and leading the NBA in three-point percentage at 50 percent.

He has scored 20 points or more 13 times already this season, which includes a career-high 32 points on 13 for 22 from the floor with eight boards and three steals in the team’s 112-106 setback at the Oklahoma City Thunder (15-8) back on Oct. 28 to begin the season.

The emergence of the 2014 NBA Finals MVP is a big reason why the “Big 3” of Tim Duncan (9.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg-Leads team), Tony Parker (12.7 ppg, 5.0 apg-Leads team, 56.2 FG%) and Manu Ginobili (11.3 ppg, 45.9 FG%) are able to have secondary roles in terms of their offensive contributions.

The continuous winning has also allowed the “Big 3” to make some history.

When the Spurs won at the New York Knicks back on Nov. 2 94-84, Duncan who had 16 points, 10 boards and six assists earned his 954^th victory with the Spurs passing Hall of Fame guard of Utah Jazz John Stockton, who went 955-551 with the Jazz. Duncan in season No. 19 is 968-385.

Aldridge led the way with 19 points and six boards while Leonard had 18 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. 

Just 24 hours earlier, the Spurs earned a 95-87 win at the Boston Celtics (13-10), which gave Duncan, Parker and Ginobili their 541^st win in the regular season passing the Hall of Fame and champion trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish. Behind them is the champion Los Angeles Lakers trio of Hall of Famers Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper with 490 wins together in the regular season.

Also relieving some of that offensive load has been the solid play of prize free agent LaMarcus Aldridge (15.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg-Leads team), who has been very steady.

Aldridge has shown flashes of what will hopefully come at the offensive end as the season goes on. He 24 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in the Spurs 95-87 win at the Boston Celtics (14-10) back on Nov. 1. In his return to the Portland Trail Blazers (10-14), where the All-Star played the first eight seasons of his career, he scored 23 points going 9 for 18 from the field in the helping the Spurs to a 113-101 win back on Nov. 11.

While the Spurs rank in the middle of the pact offensively, ranking 19^th in points per contest at 99.9, their great start has also been the fact that they have gone back to their roots of how they won their four titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007 and that is by playing rock solid defense.

They lead “The Association” in points allowed at 88.7 and in opponent’s three-point percentage allowing just 30.9 percent. Sixth in rebounds per contest at 46.1 an area that traditionally they were ranked in the 20s; 3^rd in opponent’s field goal percentage, surrendering just 42.1 percent shooting and 6^th in block shots per contest at 6.0.

A true example of how the Spurs simply clamp down and give nothing to their opposition is what they did at the Sixers this past Monday night, Dec. 7 where they did at the Philadelphia 76ers (1-23).

Even with Duncan, Ginobili and Leonard given the night off, the Spurs destroyed the Sixers 119-68 for their fourth consecutive victory overall, their biggest margin of victory in franchise history and their 10^th straight victory against the Sixers.

Aldridge led the way with 26 points and nine rebounds. The second leading scorer was rookie center Borban Marjanovic, who had a career-high of 18 points in just 17 minutes off the bench and he had a thunder striking dunk where he went right down the land untouched and scored over two Sixers players and got fouled.

The Spurs shot a remarkable 61.8 percent from the field, while making just four three-pointers in 11 chances. They out-rebounded the Sixers 47-31. The team leader in assists per contest with had 32 dimes on 47 made field goals, shot 21 out of 25 from the free throw line and all 12 players who were available for the Spurs scored. They also had 52 points in the paint to the Sixers 32.

Defensively, the Spurs who led by 44 points after three periods held the Sixers to 34.7 percent from the field and just 16.7 percent from three-point territory.

The only concern with the Spurs right now is the offensive production of the rest of the supporting cast.

At the head of that cast is Danny Green (7.1 ppg), who is having his worst scoring season since he has been with the Spurs. His field goal percentage is at a career-low so far at 32.4 percent and his shooting his worst three-point percentage since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers at 29.4 percent.

While it may not be a problem right now, it is something that has to be corrected and when it does, that will more room for Aldridge and Leonard to be even more efficient offensively.

A big reason for him having to shoot better from the floor is that the likes of Marco Bellinelli, who left in free agency for the Sacramento Kings are no longer around to pick up the slack. His shooting along with guard Patty Mills (7.8 ppg, 37.9 3-Pt.%), forward Rasual Butler and Matt Bonner will be key as this season progresses.

Another key will be the play of forwards David West, Boris Diaw and Kyle Anderson as this season continues because key players from their title team of two seasons back like the aforementioned Bellinelli, guard Cory Joseph and centers Aron Baynes and Tiago Splitter were either traded or not re-signed to make room to sign Aldridge. That is size and shooting that went out the door.

With that being said, these are the Spurs and they feel if they are healthy and peaking when we get to April, they believe they can win another title.

All-Star Paul George Returns to form

Two summers ago, Pacers All-Star forward/guard Paul George suffered a gruesome leg injury during scrimmage for Team USA that cost him all but six games a season ago and the Pacers missed out on the playoffs by one game. Many wondered if the Pacers would ever be contenders again and could George return to the form that made him one of the best two-way players in the league.

The first five games of the season, George (27.9 ppg-3^rd NBA, 8.2 rpg-Leads team, 1.7 spg-Leads team, 44.8 3-Pt.%) was averaging 18.6 points per contest, but connecting on just 35.9 percent of his shots and the Pacers were just 2-3, which included three straight losses to start the season. In the next 14 games, where the Pacers won 10 of them, George averaged 30.9 points per contest on 47.6 percent shooting from the floor.

While he had a solid all-around performance with 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals in the Pacers (12-8) 94-82 win at the Detroit Pistons (12-11) on Nov. 3, he has scored 20 points or more in 12 consecutive games to close the month of November and counting December 15 times in the last 16 games. On nine of those occasions, George has scored 30 points or more.

He had 36 points going 14 for 27 from the field with 12 rebounds and three steals in the Pacers 90-87 win versus the Miami Heat (12-8) back on Nov. 6. Two nights later he had 32 points, 11 boards and six assists in a 101-97 loss at the Cleveland Cavaliers (14-7).

In the Pacers 112-85 win at the Sixers, George had 34 points going 13 for 24 from the field, including 5 for 10 from three-point range with eight boards and five assists.

Back on Nov. 24 at the Washington Wizards (9-12), George lead the way with 40 points on 14-19 from the field, which included 7 for 8 from three-point range to go along with eight boards, four assists and two steals in leading the Pacers to a 123-106.

After scoring 33 points on 11 for 24 from the field, including 4 for 10 from downtown with eight boards in the 104-92 win versus the Chicago Bulls (13-8) on Nov. 27, George had two amazing games in Los Angeles, not too far from where he was born in Palmdale, CA.

He scored 39 points going 10 for 21 from the field, including five triples in 10 chances and 14 for 17 from the charity stripe in leading the Pacers to a 107-103 win at the Los Angeles Lakers (3-19) back on Nov. 29.

George followed that up with his sixth double-double of the season with 31 points and 10 boards to go along with three steals as the Pacers won 103-91 at the L.A.’s other team the Clippers (14-10) on Dec. 2.

On the back end of a back-to-back, George had a clunker with just 11 points on 4 for 17 from the field as the Pacers lost 123-111 at the Trail Blazers on Dec. 3.

George came back in a major way scoring a career-high 48 points going 15 for 27 from the field, including 8 for 11 from three-point land and 10 for 132 from the free throw line with eight boards and three steals, but the Pacers lost in overtime 122-119 thanks to the career-high of 35 points from forward Derrick Favors on 14 for 24 from the field with 13 rebounds.

Against the defending champion Warriors (24-0), the Pacers were defeated for the third straight game 131-123 despite another great game from George with 33 points, eight boards, six assists and three steals.

One huge reason that George has come back to form pre-leg injury is the fact that the Pacers have adapted to the style of the NBA game today of pace and space.

This season, they are averaging 104.3 points per contest, fifth in the NBA. While they are in the middle of the pact in three-pointers attempted at 24.4 per contest, tied with the Wizards for 14^th, they are fifth in makes from distance at 9.8.

What they are also doing better is getting to the foul line more, ranking fifth in attempts 25.8 and seventh in makes at the charity stripe at 19.4, equating to a solid 75.1 percent.

This new style has been a big help to the likes of forward C.J. Miles (16.1 ppg), who is having a career-year in terms of scoring and is shooting the ball from the floor overall at 44.7 and from three-point range at a career-best 43.7 and starting lead guard George Hill (12.7 ppg), who is shooting a career-high 43.6 percent from three-point range.

The Pacers biggest issue in recent games though was once their biggest strength and that was their defense.

Prior to last season, the last three years they were trying to overtake the Heat when they had LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh leading the way, the Pacers were one of the best rebounding teams in the league and had the ability to keep their opponent’s to a low field goal percentage.

In the month of November, the Pacers gave up 100 points or more just four times, winning three of those four games.

In their three straight defeats since winning at the Clippers nine days ago, the Pacers have surrendered 111, 119 and 123 points respectably in falling at the Trail Blazers, Jazz and versus the Warriors.

If the Pacers plan on getting back on the winning track, their three-point defense must improve from where it is ranking 13^th in the league at 34.6 percent. They must improve their rebounding, which is 17^th in the league at 43.9 boards per contest and their rim protection must improve. Blocking 4.3 shots per contest, ranking 22^nd in the league will not cut.

For that to improve, they need rookie center, the No. 11 overall pick in this past June’s draft out of Texas Miles Turner (6.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg), who has been on the shelf because of chip fracture in his left thumb.

While centers Jordan Hill (9.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Ian Mahinmi (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) have been solid, they were really counting on Turner to really be a presence on both ends since they traded former All-Star center and a key part of their team Roy Hibbert to the Lakers over the summer.

They also need better play from the likes prized free agent Monta Ellis (11.6 ppg, 4.9 apg-Leads team) and Rodney Stuckey (11.0 ppg) to play better. They are both shooting just 41.5 and 42.0 percent respectably from the floor so far this season and just 21.7 percent from three-point range. It would also help if forward Chase Budinger (5.1 ppg) can be a scoring presence of any kind off the bench.

Coming from they were a season ago, it is clear the Pacers will be in the mix for a playoff spot in the East. If they want to remain there, the defense must get better and they need more consistent play from more than just George and Miles.

Porzingis Rising in “Big Apple”

When Kristaps Porzingis was selected as the No. 4 overall pick in this past June’s draft by the New York Knicks, he got an unforgettable New York welcome. A chorus of boos and thumbs down. It was about as awful of an introduction to pro basketball as one could have.

His play though has made him though not just major player in this year’s rookie class, but it has given something that Knicks (10-14) fans have not had a lot of in recent memory. Hope.

How good has this rookie been? Well Porzingis is second on the Knicks in scoring at 14.1 per game. He leads the team in rebounds per game at 8.6 and in block shots per contest at 1.9. He is shooting a respectable 45.0 percent from the field, 35.4 percent from three-point range and 84 percent from the free throw line. On top of that, he is tied with Minnesota Timberwolves rookie forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns and is tied with four other players for 14^th in the league in double-doubles with 10.

Porzingis really came of age back on Nov. 11 at the Charlotte Hornets when in the closing moments, he was the go-to-guy on the last play of the game. Unfortunately for the rookie, who had 10 points and 15 rebounds, his three-point shot was ruled after the buzzer and the Knicks lost 95-93.

When the Knicks played the Hornets again six days later, the rookie made sure there would be no repeat as he scored a career-high 29 points along with 11 rebounds as the Knicks won 102-94.

In the Knicks 107-102 win at the Houston Rockets (12-12) on Nov. 21, Porzingis had 24 points, 14 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks.

This is one move made by Knicks’ president Phil Jackson that so far has panned out very well and has given star forward Carmelo Anthony some much need help.

While the team has not played well in recent games, losing their last four in a row, they have with the selection of Porzingis as mentioned earlier given themselves hope for this season of making the playoffs and having a big building block to move them forward in the future.

What Porzingis proved the night he was drafted is that he has some thick skin and that will serve him well in his career in NYC. As the saying goes if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere and Kristaps Porzingis is making it.

The Bad

The Miss Launch of the Rockets

It was thought that after coming up short in the Western Conference Finals a season ago to the eventual champion Warriors, the Rockets were ready this season to truly contend.

They had James Harden (29.0 ppg-2^nd NBA, 6.5 rpg, 6.9 apg-Leads team, 1.8 spg) who finished second to Stephen Curry in the MVP a season ago; center Dwight Howard (12.7 ppg, 12.2 rpg-3^rd NBA, 1.8 bpg-Leads team) returned healthy and motivated; the addition of guard Ty Lawson (6.7 ppg, 4.2 apg) was supposed to solidify the starting five and it was believed that the supporting cast of Trevor Ariza (11.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Clint Capela (8.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Corey Brewer (7.8 ppg), Terrence Jones (10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 39.4 3-Pt.%),. Jason Terry, Marcus Thornton (11.1 ppg, 35.6 3-Pt.%) and Donatas Motiejunas were as good as any in the league.

While they started off 4-7 two previous times under head coach Kevin McHale in the last five seasons, this third one was very different. They were not just losing games, they were getting their tails handed to them.

The Rockets sustained two very bad home setbacks to the Mavericks 110-98 on Nov. 14 and versus the Boston Celtics 111-95 two nights later, which was the Rockets fourth in succession and the organization felt a changed was needed and fast.

That change came in giving McHale the axe and replacing him with J.B. Bickerstaff.

Citing the reason for the change, Rockets GM Daryl Morey said the team was not responding to McHale, who signed a three-year $12 million extension this off-season. McHale had gone 192-130 in his time with the Rockets.

“Were not in a good place. We’re losing by double-digits to teams we need to beat if were going to even make the playoffs at home,” Morey said back on Nov. 18 according to Rockets.com.

“We had to make the tough call and we have to make it soon. There is not enough time in the tough Western Conference to wait for a turn around.

After a rough beginning in their first game without McHale on the sidelines, the Rockets pulled themselves out of the fire and garnered a home win versus the Trail Blazers 108-103 in overtime.

Harden, who has been feast or famine this season played like himself with 45 points, 11 assists, eight boards and five steals. While he went just 11 for 29 from the field, including 4 for 15 from downtown, he went 19 for 20 from the free throw line. Ariza had 18 points and eight rebounds. Brewer had 16 points off the bench and Howard had 19 rebounds and three blocks for the Rockets who outscored the Trail Blazers 47-27 in the fourth quarter/overtime.

The Rockets followed up that victory though by dropping four of their last six games to close November and their defensive problems continued by surrendering over 100 points in four of those six contest.

They have played a little better in the early part of December winning four out of their first five this month.

One of the big measuring sticks for the Rockets success or failure this season in terms of the numbers of wins to this point has been the play of Harden.

In the team’s previous 11 wins, he has averaged 36.1 points, shooting 44.3 percent from the field, 34.9 percent from three-point land and getting to the foul line 13.7 times making 11.6.

In the 12 defeats, Harden has been just ordinary scoring just an average of 22.6 points on just 35.8 percent from the floor, 27.0 percent from downtown and getting just 9.3 free throw chances making 8.4.

It is easy to say that Harden must play consistent for the Rockets to succeed, but along with that, he must be better in how he plays offensively. If he is constantly at the top of the circle dribbling and not initiating the ball movement, the Rockets are that much easier to guard.

On top of that, Howard has to play much better offensively and the team has to do a better job in putting him in position to be successful at the offensive end.

The fact that he is averaging just 8.2 shot attempts per contest is inexcusable.

The Rockets also need Lawson, whether he comes off the bench or becomes the starter again to play better.

When the Rockets lost last year’s starting lead guard Patrick Beverly (7.6 ppg, 40.3 3-Pt.%) because of wrist surgery, they lost a solid shooter and their best perimeter defender next to Ariza.

The team hoped that Lawson would be the missing piece. Not only that, he was given a second chance after all the off-the-court problems caught up with him with the Denver Nuggets a season ago.

So far, the former first-round pick in 2009, 18^th overall out of North Carolina has been a major disappointment.

It has not helped also that Motiejunas has not played so far this season recovering from back surgery that cut his season short a year ago.

There is talent on this roster. Playoff experience. Finals experience from Harden and Howard. If they want to make it back to where they were last season, they have to play with more cohesion, precision and focus on both ends. It is all on them and they know it.

“I think for all of us, we just got to get back to trusting ourselves and trusting our game,” Howard said back on Nov. 18.

No Magic in Nation’s Capital

The last two seasons showed that the Washington Wizards were turning into a formative team in the East. They looked to this season to finally break through and emerge as a title contender after seeing their season conclude in the Semifinals in six games the last two seasons.

At the end of the November, the Wizards looked nothing like a team that was taking the East by storm with a 6-8 record.

After a huge 102-99 win versus the Spurs, the Wizards lost seven of their final 10 games of the month. That stretch included three awful efforts in falling at the Celtics 118-98 on Nov. 6; 114-99 at the Atlanta Hawks (14-11) one night later and a 125-101 setback versus the Thunder.

The Wizards seemed to have gotten back on track with three straight wins from Nov. 14-Nov. 21, but sustained a four-game losing streak from Nov. 24 to Nov. 28. They were trounced versus the Pacers 123-106 on Nov. 24, where the visitors made a franchise record 19 three-pointers in 26 attempts and surrendered over 30 points or more in three of the four quarters.

Just 24 hours later, they lost at the Hornets (14-9) 101-87 being outscored 27-6 in the fourth quarter after a great third quarter where the outscored the Hornets 27-16 to take an 81-7 lead. In the final period, the Wizards were an abysmal 1 for 20 from the field in the final period and the Hornets began the final stanza with a 25-0.

It carried over into their 111-78 setback at the Celtics on Nov. 27 and Toronto Raptors (15-9) guard Cory Joseph hit a three-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer defeating the Wizards 84-82 as the Wizards were outscored 22-14 in the fourth quarter.

The early part of December has been more of the same for the boys from DC as they have garnered a couple of major victories on the road at the Cavaliers (97-85 on Dec. 1) and at the Heat (114-103 on Dec. 7).

They have also some head scratching home losses like versus the Lakers 108-104 on Dec. 2; versus the Dallas Mavericks 116-104 on Dec. 6 and versus the Rockets 109-103 two days ago, to drop their record to 4-7 at Verizon Center.

Like the Pacers, the Wizards biggest issue has been their play at the defensive end.

Along with ranking 25^th in points allowed at 104.9 per contest, they are 28^th in rebounds per contest at 41.3; 27^th in opponent’s field goal percentage giving up 46.3 percent; 29^th in opponent’s three-point percentage giving up 39.3 percent and in blocked shots per contest at 3.6.

Aside from that, the biggest area that the Wizards are lacking is leadership. When veteran swingman Paul Pierce left in free agency to go to the Clippers, it was thought that the dynamic backcourt tandem of John Wall (19.6 ppg, 8.3 apg-5^th NBA, 2.4 spg-3^rd NBA) and Bradley Beal (19.8 ppg-Leads team, 4.7 rpg, 38.9 3-Pt.%) were ready now to take center stage as the leaders of the team.

It has also not helped that the injury bug has hit key cogs to the team like forwards Kris Humphries, Drew Gooden and center Nene.

If the playoffs began today, the Wizards would be on the outside looking in. Thankfully this is only December and they have time to right the ship. They have to start soon or a promising season could go right down the drain.

What’s wrong with the Clippers?

When the Clippers flamed in the Semis losing the last three games to the Rockets, it was clear that the team needed better wing players and an overhaul of their bench.

The team in the off-season signed Paul Pierce as he rejoined his former coach with the Celtics Glenn “Doc” Rivers where they won a title in 2008 and got to another in 2010 falling to the Lakers in seven games.

They also acquired guard Lance Stephenson (5.0 ppg), signed forwards Wesley Johnson (5.9 ppg), Josh Smith (5.7 ppg) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer believed that these new additions alongside All-Stars Blake Griffin (24.0 ppg-8^th NBA, 9.0 rpg, 4.8 apg) and Chris Paul (16.6 ppg, 8.4 apg-Leads team, 1.7 spg-Leads team); DeAndre Jordan (11.0 ppg, 13.4 rpg-2^nd NBA), Sixth Man extraordinaire Jamal Crawford (12.7 ppg) and sharp shooter J.J. Redick (14.1 ppg, 45.7 FG%, 44.2 3-Pt.%) could finally get the Clippers over the top.

After a 4-0 start to the season, the Clippers closed November losers of eight out of 14. Their stumbles came after losing to their arch rivals the defending champion Warriors.

In both of their contest, they had double-digits leads only to fall at the end. The Clippers had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of the first game on Nov. 4, but forward Harrison Barnes scored 10 of his 17 points during a 16-2 spurt that gave the Warriors the edge and a 112-108 win. The Clippers lost three of their next five games after that.

The second meeting took place at the Staples Center 15 days later and the Clippers came out smoking shooting 71 percent in the first quarter to take a 41-25 lead. In fact, they led by as many as 23 points.

The Warriors rallied again in the fourth quarter outscoring the Clippers 39-26 and they outscored them in the second half 70-49. The defending champs shot 11 for 15 from the field in the final stanza, went 9 for 10 from the free throw line and out-rebounded the Clippers 11-6.

The Warriors were led by reigning MVP Stephen Curry, who finished with a game-highs of 40 points and 11 rebounds going 11 for 22 from the field, including 6 for 14 from three-point range and 12 for 12 from the foul line.

Klay Thompson had 25 points, hitting on 10 for 12 from the foul line. Barnes had another strong outing against the Clippers with 21 points and seven boards and Draymond Green had 19 points, nine assists and six boards.

Griffin, who finished with 27 points on the evening going 11 for 20 from the field, had just three shot attempts in the fourth and scored just one-point on a free throw.

Paul led the way with a team-high 35 points, with 18 of them coming in the opening quarter. He also had eight assists.  

The Clippers lost two of their next three following that, but won six out their next eight games and seemed to have righted themselves, despite an 83-80 setback on Thursday night at the Bulls.

The big question about the Clippers as the season moves on is will they pull it together to the point that when we get to April that they will be a contender for winning a title?

They have the tools, but can they get to the point where they can turn what they have and make it into something that will get them past the Conference Semis?

The Ugly

The Eye Closing Sixers

To say that the Philadelphia 76ers have been bad this season again would be an understatement of this decade.

They have just one win this season in 24 chances. Just one. That is how bad it has gotten in the city of “Brotherly Love.”

To bring the situation into full focus, coming into their Nov. 23 contest at the Timberwolves, it was 242 days since the Sixers last win. In that same time span, it had been 300 days since the defending champion Warriors last lost a game during the regular season.

The Sixers did give themselves a chance in this contest, but the T’Wolves eventually prevailed 100-95 sending the Sixers to their 15 straight loss to open the season and their 25^th dating back to the 2014-15 season.

The Sixers had chances in their the final three games of November as they had a lead in the fourth quarter of each contest but they fell at the Celtics 84-80 on Nov. 25; at the Rockets 116-114 on Nov. 27 and at the Memphis Grizzlies (13-11) 92-84.

At 0-18, the Sixers tied the 2009 New Jersey Nets for the most consecutive losses to start a season.  

The Sixers finally got off the pavement to being the month of December defeating the Lakers in front of their home fans 103-91 and the final appearance for Philly native and future Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, where they outscored the Lakers 53-33 in the second half.

Just when you think it could not get any worse, it did for the Sixers.

Just 24 hours after getting their first win of the season, the team announced that rookie center Jahlil Okafor was suspended for two games when a second video was released by TMZ showing in getting involved in a scuffle with a man outside a Boston nightclub in the early hours of the morning back on Nov. 25.

A police report was filed by the victim with the Boston PD and cops urged any other victims involved to come forward.

This unfortunately was not the only incident that the Sixers leading scorer at 17.3 points per contest and second leading rebounder at 7.9 was involved in.

According to a report from Philadelphia Inquirer, two months ago a heckler pointed a gun at the head of Okafor following a verbal exchange outside a club in Philadelphia. There was another report by the newspaper where Okafor was stopped the authorities in October for driving at 108 miles per hour on a Philadelphia bridge.

The handlers for the No. 3 overall pick in this past June’s draft out of Duke University has been granted security with him going forward.

With that being said, this is a great example of what is wrong with the team. There is no veteran leadership to show a major cornerstone of the future like Okafor the meaning of being a pro away from the game.

For all the knowledge and experience that head coach Brett Brown, who just got a two-year contract extension this past week despite his 38-150 record so far, he cannot be there for this group of young players at all times.

Looks at teams like the Timberwolves. They have veterans like Kevin Garnett, Tayshaun Prince and Andre Miller who are great examples of how to conduct yourself as a pro on and off the hardwood. That is why their future cornerstones like Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad are doing well on the court and are keeping their noises clean off of it.

The one good thing if anything that came out of this is the fact that Okafor has his former college coach the great Mike Krzyzewski in his corner.

“Jah is one of the greatest kids ever. Ever, ever, ever, ever,” Krzyzewski said following his Blue Devils contest against the Indiana Hoosiers back on Dec. 3.

“He did a couple of stupid things, and so knock him for it. Suspend him, but let’s move on. Make him learn from it, but don’t characterize him based on it.”

If there is one thing that this incident shows is that the Sixers need some major help in their organization. They got some major help in hiring front office legend in Jerry Colangelo as their new chairman of basketball operations and as an advisor to team ownership.

He will not only bring them some much needed credibility, but he has seen and done everything necessary to build a winner all you have to do is look at what he did in his time with the Phoenix Suns, especially in the 1990s and how he turned Team USA back into a Gold Medal winner.

What Colangelo saw four days ago, it was clear that this was going to be a long hard slog as the Sixers were taken to the cleaners versus the Spurs 119-68.

The 51-point defeat was the fifth worst loss in franchise history. The team’s worst loss happened on two occasions when they lost by 56 at the Sacramento Kings 154-98 on Jan. 2, 1993 and 149-93 at the then Seattle Supersonics on Mar. 6, 1993. 

One thing is for sure, Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie is right now on the hot seat and if things do not get better soon, he will be gone.

Information, statistics and quotes are courtesy of www.espn.go.com/nba/standings; www.espn.go.com/nba/statistics; espn.com article “The Hinkie Chronicles’ Latest Chapter from 12/11/15; www.nba.com/games/20151207/SASPHI/gameinfo/html; www.espn.go.com/nba/teams; 11/19/15 3 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime” presented by KIA Motors with Vince Cellini, Dennis Scott, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith and 11/2/15 9 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by KIA Motors with Matt Winer, Dennis Scott and Brent Barry.  

Perennial NBA All-Star and NBA Champion Says Farewell

“He was and is an artist. One with a burning desire to win and a style that shaped a generation of players,” is how NBATV’s Vince Cellini described the 20-year veteran shooting guard that the Los Angeles Lakers acquired the rights for in the 1996 NBA Draft at selection No. 13. He led the historic franchise to multiple titles in his career; he was perennial All-Star selection and he brought an attitude, swagger, focus and commitment to the game that made him this generation’s version of Hall of Famer and NBA champion Michael Jordan. Above everything else, he found a way time and time again to pull himself off the canvass and play the game that he loved from childhood. This past Sunday, this future First Ballot Hall of Famer announced plans for his future.

Lakers’ All-Star guard Kobe Bryant announced in a letter via The Players Tribune website that this season, his 20^th in the National Basketball Association will be his final one and that he will retire at the end of the season.

“But I can’t love you obsessively for much longer…This season is all I have left to give. My heart can take the pounding. My mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it’s time to say goodbye… and that’s OK. I’m ready to let you go,” the 37-year-old said.

“I’m ready to let you go. I want you to know now. So we both can savor every moment we have left together. The good and the bad. We have given each other all that we have.”

That blood, sweat, tears and commitment to the game earned the former star out of Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, PA, who was selected by the Charlotte Hornets 20 years ago and then his rights were traded to the Los Angeles Lakers five NBA titles, one short of Jordan, the player his game and mannerisms are most compared to; 17 All-Star selections, capturing Game MVP honors four times (2002, 2007, 2009 and 2011); 2007-08 NBA MVP; two Olympic Gold Medals; nine NBA All-Defensive First Team selections; 11-time All-NBA First Team selections; two Finals MVPs (2009-2010); 1997 NBA Slam Dunk Champion; two-time NBA scoring champion (2006 & 2007) and became the Lakers all-time leading scorer as well as the 3^rd leading scorer in NBA history.

For all the individual and team accomplishments that Bryant has achieved in his career, he was able to do something above all else, he earned the respect from some of the legends of the game, from the leader of the league himself and even those that he played with or against in the early parts of his career and some players that are playing now.

“With 17 NBA All-Star selections, an NBA MVP, five NBA championships with the Lakers, two Olympic Gold Medals and a relentless work ethic, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players in the history of our game. Whether competing in the Finals or hoisting jump shots after midnight in an empty gym, Kobe has an unconditional love for the game. I join Kobe’s millions of fans around the world in congratulating him on an outstanding NBA career and thank him for so many thrilling memories,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement this past Sunday.    

Hall of Famer and NBATV/NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley said of “The Black Mamba,” that “It’s been a pleasure and an honor to watch Kobe play all these years.”

Fellow NBATV/NBA on TNT color analyst Reggie Miller, who was at Staples Center on Sunday when the Lakers hosted his former team the Indiana Pacers (12-6), who beat them 107-103 said on NBATV on Sunday night, “All the miles that Kobe has accumulated and to have a stellar career, I just said [referring to what he posted on his Instagram page] congratulations.”

Miller, who Pacers lost to the Lakers in the 2000 Finals in six games also said that in his opinion that Bryant is “the third best guard to ever play the game and that’s behind [Earvin] ‘Magic’ Johnson and obviously Michael Jordan… I always said Michael Jordan had the best fundamentals. If Michael was 1A, Kobe was 1B in terms of fundamentals.”

For many of today’s current NBA players who remember watching the greatness of Bryant in the early stages of his career, their fondest memories are the in game moments.

For current Atlanta Hawks guard in All-Star Kyle Korver, he remembers in a playoff game versus the Lakers when he was with the Utah Jazz, he remembers when Bryant split a double-team of him and then Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko took the shot, got his own offensive rebound and dunked it home. Korver said to Bryant, “That was a pretty good move,” and Bryant replied by saying, “Thanks.”

Washington Wizards All-Star guard John Wall remembers re-called when his team played the Lakers at Staples one year and that he was switched on Bryant and he got passed him, but he recovered and blocked his shot from behind. Moments later though, Bryant got the ball back and hit a three-pointer and said to Wall, “The play goes on young fella.”

Reigning MVP Stephen Curry remembers how he loved just watching Bryant play on the NBA hardwood and the joy he had watching him perform.

His fellow “Splash Brother” teammate Klay Thompson re-called a game where he was guarding the future Hall of Famer in the closing seconds of game at Oracle Arena the crowd was going crazy and Bryant went baseline left and rose for the game-winning jumper that he connected on. Thompson said, “Man. This guy. Kobe Bryant.”

Current Warriors play-by-play announcer Bob Fitzgerald said called Bryant after that game-winning shot, “the ultimate closer.”

One player who got a chance to see the evolution of Bryant’s greatness is current NBATV/NBA on TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal who was Bryant’s teammate for eight up and down seasons.

He mentioned on Sunday’s edition of NBATV’s “Gametime” that when Bryant was 18-years-old, he told O’Neal that he wanted to win more titles than Jordan and “Magic” and he wanted to make a name for himself in the annals of the league. O’Neal said to Bryant to slow down.

“As the years went on, his game progressed. You see his work ethic progress. You see he started to develop the attitude of a leader and a champion and I think it helped us win three in a row,” O’Neal said of Bryant, who led the Lakers to back-to-back titles from 2000-02.

There was no better example of what O’Neal said of Bryant’s ascent to greatness than in Game 4 of the 2000 NBA Finals, where he hit four crucial shots in overtime, which included an offensive rebound score in the closing moments to give the Lakers the lead and eventually the win in Game 4 that gave them a commanding 3-1 lead. Not bad for a then 21-year-old at that time.

There are a lot of memorable performances that capsule the legendary career of Kobe Bryant. His 81 point performance back on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 versus the Toronto Raptors, which is the second-highest scoring performance in NBA history. His 62-point performance in three quarters in a victory versus the Dallas Mavericks. His 61-point performance in a victory at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks, setting at that time a new record for points scored at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”

There are three moments that stick in my mind about Bryant and his amazing career. On Apr. 12, 2013 versus the Golden State Warriors, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which ended his season.

Bryant rehabbed and was able to for the 2014-14 season. On Dec. 17, 2013 at Memphis Grizzlies however, Bryant suffered a lateral tibial plateau fracture in his left knee that supposedly was going to sideline him for six weeks. He ended up missing the rest of the season.

He returned the next season, but it was cut short again on Jan. 21 at the New Orleans Pelicans he sustained a tear to his rotator cuff in his right shoulder after connecting on a two-handed slam dunk. Bryant eventually underwent season-ending surgery.

I highlight these three moments because for many these are the kind of injuries that end careers of many players and for many, they thought that it should have ended Bryant’s career.

It did not, which showed his determination and focus that this was not going to be the end. He did tell ABC “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts in an interview this past Wednesday that he was scared that his career was over after the Achilles tear.

This final season now has shown that Bryant is not the same player as he once was. While he is still leading the Lakers in scoring at 16.8 points per contest, it is his lowest average since his second year in the league. He is shooting a career-low 31.1 percent from the floor and is averaging a career-low 3.3 assists per contest, which ironically leads the team.

On top of everything else, the team is just 3-15 so far this season.

This past week however, Bryant has given us some moments that remind the public of his greatness.

In the team’s 107-103 loss this past Sunday night versus the Pacers, Bryant hit two big late three-pointers to keep the Lakers close, but his potential tying three-pointer was an airball, which was a reminder of why he announced prior to the contest that is ready to say goodbye to the game. Bryant scored 13 points on 4 for 20, including 2 for 7 from three-point territory.

Two nights later, Bryant returned to the place where his basketball journey in Philadelphia against the struggling 76ers. It was a playoff atmosphere at the Well Fargo Center for two legendary NBA franchises teams that had two wins combined entering this past Tuesday night’s contest.

Bryant did not disappoint as he went 3 for 3 from three-point range in the opening quarter. Reality came into play as the game went on though as the Laker great finished with 20 points on 7 for 26 from the field, including hitting just 1 for his last 14 from behind the arc as the Sixers (1-19) earned their first victory of the season and snapped a 28-game losing streak dating back to last season, the longest losing streak in the four major U.S. pro sports.

While the Lakers did not earn a victory, Bryant did get a well-deserved honor before the game when he was greeted by Sixers Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J.” Erving and Gregg Downer, his coach at Lower Merion and they presented him with his former high school jersey with his current Laker No. 24.

“You can’t script this stuff—I can’t,” Bryant, who heard chants of “Kobe!” as he walked off the Sixers’ court for the final time said to reporters after the game. “The amount of respect and appreciation and adoration I have for the city, and to be able to have this moment here, just means everything to me.”

In the second contest of his farewell tour, Bryant fully displayed his greatness when he scored 12 of his season-high 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers garnered their third win of the season with at 108-104 victory at the Washington Wizards (7-9).

Bryant had one of his better shooting nights of this young season going 10 for 24 from the field and shot a respectable 4 for 11 from three-point range.

Midway through the first period, the Wizards honored Bryant with a message on the video boards of the Verizon Center that read, “Thank you for an amazing 20 years.”

Bryant responded by raising his right arm as the audience of 20,356 gave him the first of many loud ovations.

The best of those cheers came when Bryant hit a pull-up jumper, which sent Wizards’ guard Bradley Beal backpedaling that gave the Lakers the lead and eventually the victory.

This last week has also allowed Bryant to do something for the first time in his career that he has rarely done. That is to take in all the appreciation that he has earned.

One of the most difficult things to do as an athlete at any level is to earn the respect and adulation from those that watch you in the stands of an arena to the players you play against especially on their home turf. It is something that Miller said to Bryant at the start of this past week.

“Enjoy this. I know you don’t want it, but you owe it to the fans, for everyone to pat you on the back and say job well done friend,” Miller said on NBATV’s “Gametime” earlier in the week.

What Bryant has learned in this final leg of his basketball journey is that it does not bother him that he has received some negativity about his play from the team not winning at a high rate this season and the last three years to his play on the court.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. You can’t just sit around expecting everybody to give praise all the time. You got to be able to take the good with the bad,” Bryant said to Roberts this past Wednesday.

“One of the most important things that I can share with the younger generation is to accept it all. Don’t have any expectations or lean on or rely on positive reporting on your career or negative.”

By the numbers, Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to every play on the NBA hardwood. He had a work ethic and a demeanor comparable to the great Michael Jordan. Yes Jordan averaged more points career wise (30.1 to 25.3); boards (6.2 to 5.3); assists (5.3 to 4.8) per contest. Yes Jordan won one more title than Bryant (6 to 5); four more MVPs (5-1) and while Bryant made had three more All-Star selections 17-14 and one more All-NBA First-Team selection (11-10), there is one thing that is undeniable, there is no Kobe Bryant without Michael Jordan. Bryant is not a Laker if he did not have the great Earvin “Magic” Johnson to see.

Bryant became great because he saw with his own eyes what it was. What it took to get there and what it took to maintain that greatness.

That is what I saw from when he was a rookie in 1996 to what he has accomplished to this point. That is why I can say without hesitation, he is my favorite NBA player. Why? Because I saw him from the beginning to now. He got better and he did his way and never apologized for it. Above all else he was with the same team his entire career. That is something not many players can say or have done.

It will be a tough day when the career of Kobe Bean Bryant concludes on Wednesday, Apr. 13, 2016 versus the Utah Jazz on ESPN. Until then I along with many fans and critics will be watching to see what happens next.

Information, quotations and statistics are courtesy of 12/1/15 6:30 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by KIA with Matt Winer, Carlos Boozer, Brent Barry and Dennis Scott, reports from Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Miller; 12/2/15 7 a.m. edition of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” with Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Amy Robach, Lara Spencer and Ginger Zee; www.espn.go.com/nba/standing; www.espn.go.com;nba/team/schedule/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers; http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant.