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At the Michael Jordan statue outside the United Center
How do you rank Michael Jordan’s career achievement list?
The answer: It’s nearly impossible.
The G.O.A.T., as he’s so often referred to (by those who never saw Wilt Chamberlain play) has done so much for the game that ranking his performances simply doesn’t do justice to his illustrious career.
While the Los Angeles Lakers continued to plummet down the ranks on Tuesday with yet another loss – this time against the Houston Rockets – they at least got to witness an impressive milestone.
Point guard Steve Nash reached 10,000 career assists, joining an exclusive club that only four other players in the history of the league – John Stockton, Mark Jackson, Jason Kidd and Magic Johnson – have accomplished.
Following an unannounced week off for the holidays, The Bernucca List is back.
First, let’s tidy up old business. The previous list was “active players who are all-time scoring leaders for a franchise.”
Newcomer Ody P. nailed the right answer less than an hour after publication and now has a win on his ledger. Brian Rivel leads the horde with three correct answers, one more than Brian C.
OK, on to new business and another test of your obscure NBA knowledge with this week’s list, which is after the jump.
NOTES
Paraphrasing Yogi Berra, it’s getting dark early for the Miami Heat (40-16) as it tries to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference, with the Chicago Bulls (44-14) owning a three-game cushion. The Heat, however, still has some time to turn back the clock, beginning tonight when it visits the front-running Bulls (8 p.m. ET, TNT). The teams will play once more, in Miami, April 19. They have split the first two games of their regular-season series. The Heat won the first matchup on Jan. 29, in Miami, 97-93, with LeBron James scoring a game-high 35 points for Miami, while Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 34. In their second head-to-head, the Bulls defeated the Heat at home, 106-102, as John Lucas posted 24 points off the bench for Chicago, while Dwyane Wade (36 points) led the way for the Heat.
Miami has posted a 24-4 (.857) home record at the AmericanAirlines Arena this season. The 24 wins are tied for the most home wins in the NBA this season and their .857 home winning percentage is the best in the league. Additionally, their .857 home winning percentage would rank as the best in team history. Overall this season, the Heat is averaging 100.3 points, fourth in the NBA, while holding opponents to 93.6 ppg. Miami’s +6.7 point differential is the second highest in the NBA. Among league leaders, The Heat ranks second in field goal percentage (.474) and seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.369). Defensively, Miami ranks third in steals (9.13 spa) forced turnovers per game (16.9), and seventh in opponent field goal percentage (.432). Miami, however, has had a tough time scoring post All-Star Game and is 13-9 (.591) since the break. Over this stretch, according to NBA.com/Stats, the Bulls have the fourth stingiest defense, allowing only 91.6 ppg, but rank 23rd in scoring (95.1 ppg).
Surprisingly, considering reigning MVP Derrick Rose has missed 13 games since the break (23 overall) due to injury — including 12 straight (March 14 through April 5) — the Bulls have not experienced much of a drop off from their first half performance. In fact, during the stretch of 12 straight games without Rose, the Bulls maintained the 2 1/2-game lead they had built over Miami. According to NBA.com/Stats, Chicago owns the league’s best winning percentage in the second half (17-6, .739) and ranks third in point-differential (+5.6). Defensively, the Bulls rank second in points allowed, giving up 89.6 ppg — only slightly more than the 88.6 ppg they are allowing overall, which also ranks second — and third in opponent field goal percentage (.429). Their three-point defense is among the best in the league, allowing the fewest threes per game (14.3) and ranking fifth in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.329). The Bulls’ perimeter defense is forcing teams to shoot .347 from 20-24 feet and .398 from 15-19 feet.
Stats & Stuff:
Today’s Quote
DOC RIVERS, on Rajon Rondo’s streak of 19 straight double-digit-assist efforts, including 20 last night, to go along with 10 points and 10 rebounds:
“He’s playing extremely well, he’s just been spectacular. And that’s why we?re winning. It’s not just him, it’s everybody. But we need a locked-in effort from him every night and he?s doing that.”
Boston Globe April 12, 201
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