Month: November 2007

Boston @ Indiana – The last time Boston was 6-0 was way back on November 15, 1987. They reached that point with a 103-98 win at Market Square Arena. Larry Bird scored 11 of his 24 points in the first quarter and the Celtics made 10 of their 13 shots.

But of more recent history is that they’ll be facing the last coach that won a playoff series for the Celtics and that was Jim O’Brien, who in 2003 guided the Celtics to the Eastern Conference semifinals. O’Brien stepped down just as Danny Ainge took over and dealt away players such as Antoine Walker and Eric Williams for the likes of Raef LaFrentz and Ricky Davis.

As for the present, the 5-0 start has seen the Celtics win by an average of 16.6 points – a figure that would be larger if not for a three-point win in Toronto. They have had six quarters in which they have outscored the opponent by double digits.

As for the Pacers, their present three-game losing streak makes that 3-0 start seem like a thing of the past. They were last seen coughing up a 25-point lead and losing 113-106 to the Nuggets and they’ve also seen Danny Granger’s drop as he is 18-of-50 and 0-of-13 from three-point range in his last three contests. The loss to Denver came a night after they blew an eight-point lead and gave up 20-2 run in Charlotte.

Seattle @ Orlando – If the Sonics had been able or wanted to re-sign Rashard Lewis, they might have had a win or two. They take an 0-7 mark into this and have never been 0-8. So what do they plan on doing to combat the losing, especially after coming within four points of the Detroit Pistons Sunday night. I do not know just yet but from someone who saw the game, the Sonics played well enough against teams not named the Pistons. Five of Seattle’s seven losses have been by single digits so maybe the laws of statistics could be in their favor.

As for Orlando, the Magic are 5-2 with Lewis, who is averaging 20.2 points and one of the many long-range shooters that pace a team that has four games with at least 10-pointers. Their defense is far from being perfect as Stan Van Gundy said it was a bunch of things, especially pertaining to the low post the other night in New York when I asked him.

Another thing to expect if you’re defending the Magic is that they will keep shooting. If 10 misfire, they figure the 11th will go in and chances are Dwight Howard will grab a majority of those misses although he might have some problems if Chris Wilcox and Nick Collision are on the court on the same time. They make the Sonics one of eight teams with two players averaging eight rebounds .

Miami @ Charlotte – Now that Miami has won for the first time since April 13, they can begin the season. Taking this back-to-back with Charlotte and Seattle might be very important because a back-to-back with Boston and New Jersey is next. The Heat are the worst team in the league when it comes to scoring at 84.5 points but if they can get the Bobcats to cave into the slow, plodding halfcourt style they can and probably win this. That’s among the things they did in New York in a 75-72 win. They also came back from six down in the final six-plus minutes, holding the Knicks to one basket and no points in the final 2 1/2 minutes. They also have been getting the big time blue collar effort from Udonis Haslem, who resembled many of the players that Pat Riley used to coach in New York with his 16-point, 16 rebound showing. That’s my unscientific analysis of the Heat, here’s some scientific analysis

As for Charlotte, they’ve never been this good this late in a season. Last year it took the Bobcats 14 games to get to four victories, in 2005-06 it was 12 games and in 2004-05 it was also 14. They already have an 90-88 win over Miami and that was a game they nearly lost. But of course like many teams that have yet to consistently win, late-game execution can be a problem like it was in Sunday’s 85-82 loss to Houston. They were up five heading into the fourth and up seven with 6:05 remaining. The teams like the Pistons, Spurs, Suns usually expand that lead to double-digits while the losing or inconsistent teams blow it or make it tough and that’s what happened. They allowed the Rockets to hang in there and they eventually took the lead and the superstar got the call when Tracy McGrady got a call against Gerald Wallace in the waning seconds.

Continue reading “Connections and Storylines for a Tuesday”

The Knicks did something they used to do when they were good and that was allow less than 80 points. How rare is that these days for this defensive deficient team?

It is so rare that is has only happened 16 times since Isiah Thomas took over things on Dec. 22, 2003. Before Sunday’s 75-72 loss, they had won their last 13 games when allowing under 80 points but of that streak went back to a 77-67 loss against San Antonio on January 27, 2004.

So how about the rest of the league?

Boston Celtics – have won their last two when doing so dating a 79-74 loss vs. New Jersey on April 14, 2006.

New Jersey Nets – 13 in a row going back to a 79-67 loss vs. Seattle on 11/17/2004

Philadelphia – five in a row going back to a 77-76 loss vs. Houston on 12/4/2004

Toronto – six in a row going back to a 74-66 loss at Detroit on 4/9/2004

Chicago – lost one 78-72 at Milwaukee on November 3. had won 18 in a row going back to a 77-73 loss on 12/17/2003

Cleveland -22 in a row going back to 75-67 loss at Toronto on 1/7/2004

Detroit – 12 in a row going back to a 79-74 loss vs. New Jersey on 3/26/2006. Before that 23 in row going back to a 75-74 loss to Portland on 12/18/2004

Indiana – three in a row going back to a 78-71 loss vs. Minnesota on 12/23/2006

Milwaukee – 28 in a row going back to a 79-77 loss at Chicago on 4/18/1999

Atlanta – three in a row going back to a 77-75 loss vs. Portland on 11/27/2005

Charlotte – has only done it once

Miami – 14 in a row going back to a 78-77 loss at Detroit on 11/26/2004

Orlando – 16 in a row going back to a 75-68 loss vs. New York on 11/3/2003

Washington – seven in a row going back to a 79-76 loss vs. Indiana on 4/3/2005

Dallas – two in a row going back to a 75-71 loss at Denver on 4/6/2006

Houston – one going back to a 77-72 loss vs. Boston on 2/25/2006

Memphis – 21 in a row going back to a 78-67 loss at San Antonio on 12/15/2003

New Orleans – 1o in a row going back to a 76-67 loss at Denver on 11/29/2004

San Antonio – 28 in a row going back to a 73-67 loss at Houston on 1/15/2005

Denver – seven in a row going back to a 71-60 loss at Indiana on 11/4/2003

Minnesota – 70 in a row going back to a 79-78 loss at Dallas on 11/30/1991

Portland – five in a row going back to a 78-65 loss at New Jersey on 3/15/2006

Seattle – 35 in a row going back to a 79-77 loss at San Antonio on 2/8/2000

Utah – six in a row going back to a 79-70 loss vs. San Antonio on 11/30/2006

Golden State – five in a row going back to a 78-75 loss vs. Portland on 11/3/2004

LA Clippers – one in a row going back to a 77-75 loss at Seattle on 3/1/2007.

LA Lakers – two in a row going back to a 76-74 loss vs. Houston on 12/18/2005. before that 16 in a row going back to a 79-78 loss vs. New York on 4/1/2001

Phoenix – 56 times in a row, have never lost when doing so

Sacramento – 38 times in a row, have never lost since moving to Sacramento