THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT: The uniforms to be worn by players for games on Christmas will have sleeves.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, after watching Minnesota’s Kevin Love strafe his transition defense with court-length chest passes:
“The guy can throw a chest pass 100 yards. He should be an NFL quarterback and he can throw chest passes to the receivers.”
TANKAPALOOZA!: After Utah was bombed in Toronto on Saturday to drop to 0-7 and take a full two-game lead in the Andrew Wiggins Sweepstakes, Jazz guard John Lucas said, “I know it’s seven games in, but still. I don’t want anybody getting used to this.” Psst. Hey, John. “This” is the plan. Get with it.
LINE OF THE WEEK: Kyrie Irving, Cleveland vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 10: 48 minutes, 15-33 FGs, 5-12 3-pointers, 4-5 FTs, five rebounds, 12 assists, three turnovers, 39 points in a 127-125 double-overtime win. Irving missed a potential winning layup at the end of regulation and a potential winning jumper at the end of the first OT but scored seven points in the sexond extra session, including the game-winning drive with 0.6 seconds left.
LINE OF THE WEAK: James Harden, Houston at LA Clippers, Nov. 4: 33 minutes, 6-16 FGs, 0-7 3-pointers, 3-5 FTs, two rebounds, five assists, two turnovers, 15 points in a 137-118 loss. Certainly a subpar offensive game for Harden. But not anywhere as bad as his defense.
TRILLION WATCH: Pelicans forward Lance Thomas had a 4 trillion Wednesday at Memphis but was matched one night later by Hawks guard Jared Cunningham at Denver. They joined Kenyon Martin and Julyan Stone in a four-way tie at the top of inactivity this season. Honorable mention to Kings rookie guard Ben McLemore, who had four fouls and nothing else in seven minutes Friday at Portland.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Indiana at Chicago, Nov. 16. The unbeaten Pacers have home games against Memphis on Monday and Milwaukee on Friday. They could be 9-0 when they arrive in the Windy City, where the Bulls will be looking for revenge for last week’s 97-80 beatdown in Indianapolis.
GAME OF THE WEAK: Denver at Utah, Nov. 11. The last time neither of these teams made the playoffs was 1981. But the Nuggets are 1-4 and the Jazz are a league-worst 0-7. Nice choice, NBA TV.
TWO MINUTES: Kyle Korver’s 3-pointer streak is up to 79 games, matching Michael Adams for the second-longest in NBA history. He also has gone more than a calendar year since being held without a three; the last time was the 2012-13 season opener on Nov. 2, when he went 0-of-3 from the arc vs. Houston. Although anyone can have an off night, it appears the record of 89 games by Dana Barros is in serious jeopardy, because Korver is not just muddling along. His 2-of-5 vs. Orlando on Saturday “dropped” his season numbers to 17-of-29 from the arc. His adjusted field-goal percentage is a staggering .736. … Speaking of 3-pointer stats, the Pelicans are the best shooting team at .438, and that’s without Ryan Anderson. They also attempt by far the fewest per game at 12.7, and that’s also without Anderson, who has averaged nearly seven per contest over the last two seasons. … The Sixers have erased double-digit deficits in all four of their wins. … After edging Denver in its season opener, Sacramento has lost five straight games and already has pushed rookie coach Mike Malone to the brink. After Saturday’s home loss to Portland in which his team was outrebounded, 52-33, Malone said, “I’m embarrassed. Every night it’s the same thing. We finally get a night where we defend at a decent level, but we can’t rebound. We got outworked on the glass. I think we’ve got a lot of guys who just care about themselves on this team. Changes will be made before we play on Wednesday (vs. Brooklyn).” … The Pacers have trailed at halftime in six of their seven wins this season. They also have won every third quarter by a combined 189-129. Indiana also held its first six foes under 40 percent from the field until Brooklyn broke through on Saturday. … When you look up “European big” in the basketball dictionary, there is a picture of Hawks rookie Pero Antic of Macedonia, who is 6-11 and 260 pounds with a bald head, heavy beard and a Chris Andersen starter kit of tattoos. He looks like he eats pit bulls. But he has taken 15 of his 21 shots from 3-point range. … Clippers starting guards Chris Paul and J.J. Redick are 72-of-74 from the line this season. Paul has missed one of 49; Redick has missed one of 25. … If you’re wondering why Indiana let D.J. Augustin walk in the offseason, consider this: In 46 minutes over his last five games, the backup point guard of the Raptors is a collective minus-25, going 1-of-9 from the field (0-of-5 threes) with one assist, one steal, seven turnovers and seven points. … The scariest element of Minnesota’s franchise-record 47 points in the first quarter of Sunday’s road win over the Lakers was the fact that the Wolves actually didn’t score in the first 90 seconds of the period. … With three minutes to go Saturday, the Rockets trailed the Clippers by three possessions and decided to start intentionally fouling DeAndre Jordan, who is shooting under 44 percent from the line. After Jordan missed both free throws, Clippers coach Doc Rivers intentionally fouled Dwight Howard, who shoots 49 percent from the line, and subbed out Jordan. Touche.
Trivia Answer: Elgin Baylor for the LA Lakers vs. New York on Nov. 15, 1960. … Happy 62nd Birthday, Kevin Kunnert, Kermit Washington’s original target. … Welcome back, Stuart Scott. Now please stay on the NFL.
Chris Bernucca is the managing editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.
Jesica says
Interesting stuff.I agree with everything you say expect the conclusion. Are we really like Sam Witwicky? Is Sam Witcwicky really a reflection of the audience?Maybe he is, but I don’t see it because I’m not the target audience for Transformers (the movie is too stupid for me).
Jack Jackson says
This is the definition of a hack piece. What was your deadline on this Bernucca? Did you get paid by the word? So they lost one game in the early season… who cares? Even last year, they lost games due to stupid mistakes. Big deal – losses happen, mistakes are made. I like your two examples of previous mistakes Wade has made – but you also conveniently ignore his amazing acomplishments in even the past few seasons which if not for Wade, the Heat wouldn’t have back to back titles. What about his play in Game 7 against the Spurs? How about games 4, 5 and 6 against Indiana in 2012? If he even plays half as good as he did in those games, the Heat don’t have back to back titles. And by the way, Wade has been on the media chopping block for the past couple years anyway. I wish I had a dollar for every time somebody called Wade washed up, and “too old”, and “declining”.
Wade has done plenty for the Heat franchise to deserve a pass in a regular season loss, which wouldn’t have been lost anyway if not for an absolutely ridiculously unlikely, well-contested, circus shot 3 pointer by Jeff Green. That game wasn’t lost by Wade alone too – a single missed freethrow, missed layup, or defensive stop could have won that game. Anybody on the team could have allowed them to win, but they played lazy defense and slow offense. Sorry that Wade wasn’t publicly humiliated.
Your comment about if James made that play… wow. Yes, he probably would be held more accountable publicly; but is that a good thing? The media loves to build up LeBron and then tear him down every chance they get. How is that good reporting? If LeBron even whispers something less than savory, he may as well be classified as Hitler. The double standard regarding LeBron is sickening, frankly.
Finally, Spo and his coaching staff supposedly worked the hell out of the entire team their next practice, so if it was punishment you wanted, then they got it.
Jesse Greenman says
So true. If this were Lebron’s mistakes, we would never hear the end of it. That OKC series could have gone drastically different because of Wade’s stupidity. He has such a low basketball IQ and is very turnover prone. Without his athleticism, and it is waning fast, he is an average player at best.
Dixon says
Agreed.Low basketball IQ, inconsistent free throw, mid range, three pointers as a guard is unacceptable. Loose handles and needs a biased ref to get his points going. The dude scores by making the easiest shots that any of us can make. He is so ovverated and adored by the media, its insane. People don’t see it because they always referred Wade from the past. The guy is only a part time basketball playing nowadays who cares more about building his brand and wealth than just simply playing basketball. Its obvious he’s turned into a DIVA/hollywood since dating Gabby. He needs to retire.
Daniel says
Their were a couple of questionable coaching decisions and plays in that game. Riley always says the disease of me. You also forgot to mention the possession before with Wade and Bosh to not include LeBron. Why did Bosh shoot with 7 seconds on the shot clock. It was like DWade had a different agenda. I also question not bringing Beasley back in the second half especially against Kelly O. DWade got a pass all last year. When he played bad he was hurt when he played good he gutsy.
jerry25 says
I was watching live and it Was one of the most impossible finishes to a game ever.
Not mentioned was that time had actually run out, and the referees had to check the replay to add what turned out to be 0.6 secs back on the clock. There could not have been any normal person in the arena or watching on TV who thought that Boston could tie game, not to mention win in regulation. Apparently DWade didn’t think so either, by his behavior.
First, if you watch the 1st free throw, DWade must have been thinking of what to do on the 2nd free throw, or what he was going to be doing later than night, because he missed badly to the right. I thought maybe he was practicing how to miss the 2nd free throw.
Instead, however, as soon as the ref handed him the ball for the 2nd free throw, DWade immediately threw a fast line drive at the center of the backboard, apparently trying to surprise Boston before they could get set. The ball sailed about a foot over the rim. It was as though DWade wasn’t aware that the ball had to hit the rim (of course he will deny that now). Had he just taken a normal free throw, but threw it a little long, it likely would have used up a minimum of 0.3 secs. The would have made it impossible for Boston to take a normal shot on the inbound pass.
Patti says
It’s not that. Players are human. This would be like getting on Lebron for a turnover. It happens. We in Miami know and love our players. They are smart, and self-correcting. You are the one pushing back against the situation, because you have how much coaching experience? Spo will handle it. The players will handle it. This is a self-correcting locker room. Enjoy the ride.
Chris Bernucca says
As a matter of fact, I have been coaching for six years. Obviously not on that level. It’s not like getting on LeBron for a turnover. It’s not anywhere close. Wade made a team decision on his own that is normally reserved for the coaching staff only. He got selfish and didn’t think and therefore should take his lumps. Thanks for reading.
Mopo says
I think this has more to do with Miami being just tired of meaningless early-season controversy after the past 3 seasons. The fans and the media. If this happens in May or June of 2014, it’s a story.
And in case you haven’t noticed, Miami media already has it’s hands full with a football story.
Chris Bernucca says
Mopo, thanks for reading. I agree with you about the timing; the fact that it happened Saturday night also helped gloss it over. But it was a dumb decision made without the coaching staff, and everyone is kind of like, Oh well. No, not oh well. He cost them a game. Do we not care about wins and losses anymore? CB