I Went To A Fight And A Basketball Game Broke Out

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

kellys fight

FIGHT!! FIGHT!! FIGHT!! FIGHT!! Reminiscent of two kids in a parking lot after school, fellow students circling, screaming for action, there was always immense build-up for a fight. There were, however, rarely any Mike Tyson haymakers landed. Usually Jimmy and Tommy would shove each other to the ground and maybe wrestle around for a minute until a teacher came to break it up. Yeah, that was last night. That’s what the Boston Celtics vs. Washington Wizards ‘fight’ was. There may be ‘bad blood’, as ESPN’s lead story would have you believe, but there were no tough guys ready to throw down. There were no Shaq size punches thrown. Only guys like Kelly Olynyk floppin’ around like a fish, and Kelly Oubre Jr. sayin’, “hold me back ref, hold me back!”

In the 2nd quarter, Kelly Oubre Jr. took exception to a screen Kelly Olynyk set on him. This made Oubre Jr. mad. After Oubre Jr. picked himself up from a masterful flop, he charged at Olynyk like a bull. Oh it looked nice, especially for T.V., but it was about as anti-climactic as Batman and Superman realizing their mothers share the name Martha. Wait, your name is Kelly?! No way man, my name is Kelly too!! We should be friends. Okay, sounds great! Oubre Jr. was immediately ejected from the game, and could face a suspension for Game 4.

The flippin’ and floppin’ didn’t stop there. In the 4th quarter, Brandon Jennings flopped about 17 times before getting in Terry Rozier’s face. Once again, no punches were thrown, however both players were ejected after double technical fouls were assessed. Game 3 saw 3 ejections and 8 technical fouls (including 1 on Wizards’ coach Scott Brooks). This is the most technical fouls in a playoff game since 2013. This behavior is a result of this season’s previous altercations between the Celtics and Wizards. To see a quick recap click here. I think Isaiah Thomas summarized it best: “We don’t like them, and they don’t like us.” Well said toothless wonder.

Oh, by the way, there was a basketball game played last night. The Wizards rolled past the Celtics 116-89. The Celtics now lead the series 2-1. Isaiah Thomas was held to just 13 points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field. Let me just say that the Celtics have ZERO chance in this series if Thomas only attempts 8 shots per game. I expect him to play better in Game 4, which can be seen on TNT on Sunday @ 6:30 P.M. EST. Each team has held serve, with the home team winning every game in the series so far. This series is only heating up so stay tuned. As a wise man once said, “A playoff series doesn’t start until a home team loses a game.”

Who will blink first and lose at home? The Celtics or the Wizards? Tell me in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. You can also follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

So Many Sports, So Little Time

May 4, 2017May 4, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

gausman

Wednesday was a busy day in the sports world. Too much for one person to handle some might say. But I’m here, so I may as well give it a shot….

NBA

Wednesday night showcased two NBA playoff matchups. Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers steamrolled the Toronto Raptors (125-103), taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Lebron did what he does, scoring 39 points while adding 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Just another day at the office huh?? Lebron’s 39 points were special because he passed Kareem-Abdul Jabbar for 2nd all-time on the playoff scoring list. Bad became worse for the Raptors as Kyle Lowry went down in the 3rd quarter with a left ankle injury. Lowry would return to the game, but with a noticeable limp, so I’d call Lowry questionable at best for Game 3.

The late game Wednesday night was Game 2 of the Houston Rockets vs. the San Antonio Spurs. The storyline here was simple: after a lopsided Game 1 win by the Rockets, how would the Spurs respond? And they responded exactly as I expected, with a 121-96 victory. Kawhi Leonard showed the world why he is an MVP candidate. Leonard dominated the offensive side of things with 34 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Tony Parker also had a good game, however, he had to be carried off the court during the 4th quarter when his left knee buckled. The real story of Game 2 was Leonard’s defense, as he showed why he is the 2-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year. He locked up James Harden for the majority of the game, holding Harden to 13 points on 3 of 17 shooting. I guess Leonard doesn’t fear the beard.

NHL

The NHL also put forth two playoff games on Wednesday night. The Anaheim Ducks won an overtime thriller over the Edmonton Oilers (5-4). After an awful giveaway in his own zone by Adam Larsson of the Oilers, Ryan Getzlaf fed a wide-open Jakob Silfverberg right in front of the net. Silfverberg drove home the one-time winner just 45 seconds into overtime, and this series is now tied at two games a piece.

Earlier in the evening, the Sydney Crosbyless Pittsburgh Penguins took on the Washington Capitals in Game 4. Crosby is still out after leaving Game 3 with a concussion. I guess the Capitals felt bad for the Penguins, so they decided to score for them. Oh yeah, you heard that right. In the 2nd period, Pittsburghs’ Jake Guentzel sent the puck in front of Washington’s net and defenseman Dmitry Orlov thought it would be a good idea to kick that puck into his own net. Nice work! The Penguins went on to win 3-2, and now hold a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

MLB

There was a full slate of MLB games on Wednesday night, but there was one game that dominated the headlines. The Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles have an on going feud that began on April 11th. It all started with a hard slide from Manny Machado into 2nd base that took out Dustin Pedroia’s legs. Since then, the Red Sox threw at Machado’s head, the Orioles plunked Mookie Betts, and Machado was thrown at again (this time going behind him). These actions resulted in a conference call between the Red Sox and Orioles organizations, the MLB Commisioner, and the MLB Players Association calling for the feud to be put to rest. Well you guessed it, the feud was not put to rest. Wednesday night, Kevin Gausman hit Xander Bogaerts, albeit with a curveball, as some form of sneaky retribution. Gausman was immediately ejected. I view Gausman and the Orioles as the immature person who must get the last word in no matter how wrong they know they are. But at the same time, can we not throw baseballs at people’s heads at 100 miles per hour? Okay cool, thanks. Good Talk.

In New York baseball news, the New York Mets continued their roller coaster season, beating the Atlanta Braves 16-5. As for the Yankees, they continued their winning ways, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6. Aaron Judge smashed his MLB leading 13th home run of the season, and I’m quite certain he grew a foot taller last night as well.

BOXING

I’m assuming you haven’t watched a boxing match since Evander Holyfield was in the ring, but let’s talk about it anyway. This Saturday, May 6th, Canelo Alzarez (48-1-1, 34 KO’s) will take on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KO’s) in an All-Mexican Showdown in Las Vegas. Coincidentally, this match will take place just one day after Cinco de Mayo. Canelo, the Junior Middleweight Title Holder, will move up a weight class to fight Chavez Jr. at a catch weight of 164.5 pounds. Canelo’s only loss to date remains a unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather in 2013. Canelo is the odds on favorite to win this match and for good reason. I see Canelo winning fairly easily in a unanimous decision.

SOCCER

Juventus is very good.

What did you watch on Wednesday night? Let me know all about it in the comment section below.

Isaiah Thomas Wills Celtics To Victory On Sister’s Birthday

May 3, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 4 Comments

isaiah thomas

Just 18 days ago, Isaiah Thomas’ world was flipped upside down. On April 15th, Thomas lost his younger sister, Chyna, to a fatal car accident. Stricken with heartache and grief, Thomas has continued to do the thing his sister would have implored him to do; play basketball. While basketball is a game, it has never been just a game for Thomas. He has always referred to basketball as his ‘sanctuary’. And Tuesday night, on what would have been his sister’s 23rd birthday, that was never more evident.

Thomas honored his sister by putting his team on his back and willing them to victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Thomas scored a career-high 53 points in a 129-119 overtime win over the Washington Wizards. Thomas and the Celtics now hold a 2-0 lead over the Wizards. John Wall did all he could to keep the Wizards in the game, scoring 40 points and adding 13 assists, however Thomas’ barrage of big shots was too much to handle.

To put Thomas’ performance into NBA perspective, his 53 points were the most in a postseason game since Allen Iverson scored 55 in 2003. Thomas also came up just 1-point shy of the Celtics’ postseason scoring record (held by John Havlicek – 54 points). Thomas, however, did become the only player in Celtics’ history to score at least 50 points in the regular season and postseason in the same year. After the game, Thomas spoke of what it means to join great players such as Havlicek in Celtics’ history: “It’s nice to be in Celtics history with all the great players, but until you win a championship, you can’t consider yourself a great player. That’s what it’s all about.”

While Thomas is clearly dealing with emotional pain, he has also had his fair share of physical pain thrown into the mix. Thomas took an elbow from Otto Porter Jr. during Game 1 that caused the loss of a tooth. This resulted in a combined 11 hours of work by an oral surgeon and dentist to repair and replace the tooth. And despite barely being able to talk, Thomas once again showed his resolve: “There was no way I was sitting out. My sister wouldn’t want me to stop. When I’m in this arena, I know I can lock in and everything I do is for her.”

Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics will take on the Wizards in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Friday. You can catch all the action on ESPN @ 8:00 P.M. EST. Will Thomas and the Celtics continue their run toward the Eastern Conference Finals? Let me know in the comment section below.

Rockets Lay Texas-Size Beat Down On Spurs

May 2, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

harden-leonard

There’s domination….and then there’s whatever the Houston Rockets did to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals saw the Houston Rockets travel 197 miles across Texas to San Antonio to take on the Spurs. And apparently the Spurs weren’t listening when Rudy’s coach was talking. Not only did the Rockets push the Spurs around, they stole the Spurs’ lunch money and then made them apologize.

The Spurs set a handful of team records Monday night, just not the kind you’d want to attach your name. The Rockets carried a 30-point lead into halftime (69-39), marking the largest halftime deficit in Spurs postseason history. This was also the largest halftime deficit in any game under coach Gregg Popovich. The largest lead of the game ballooned to 39 points with 6:18 left in the 4th quarter (Final Score: 126-99). The Spurs also allowed the most 3-point attempts and makes in their storied postseason history. The Rockets made 22 of their 50 3-point attempts.

Side Note: That is ridiculous!! Who attempts 50 3’s in 1 game?! Especially against the defensive minded Spurs. Apparently Beard and Co. do.

Launching 3-pointers is actually nothing new for the Rockets, as they attempted 3,306 of them during the regular season. That’s just over 40 3-point attempts per game!! While James Harden hit 3 of them, he played the role of facilitator on Monday night, dropping 14 assists. Trevor Ariza, yes of all people Trevor Ariza, had a game-high 23 points, making 5 3-pointers.

And after an unforeseen whoopin’ like Game 1, not even the prognosticator of prognosticators could possibly predict the outcome of Game 2. I’ll give it a shot though. The Spurs bounce back in a big way, winning 110-99. Please don’t put your money where my mouth is though. Thank you. And if you caught that Groundhog Day reference, bravo!

Tune into TNT on Wednesday night @ 9:30 p.m. EST to see what happens. What do you think will happen? Will the Spurs bounce back in Game 2 or will they continue to fear the beard? Let me know in the comment section below.

Lebron James Is Decent At Basketball

April 21, 2017April 21, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

lebron

There is a short list of things better than sleep. Watching Lebron James play basketball is one of those things. So, if Thursday was your go to bed early day, I feel bad for you. In case anyone had forgotten, Lebron James is still the best player in the world. He reminded us by leading his Cleveland Cavaliers to the greatest comeback win in NBA playoff history. Thanks to his 41 point, 13 rebound, and 12 assist triple double, the Cavaliers became the first team to ever comeback from a 25-point halftime deficit. I knew the Indiana Pacers were in trouble when their 20-point lead shrank to 10 points in a 1:55 span of the 3rd quarter. The Cavaliers now hold a commanding 3-0 lead over the Pacers. And in case you hadn’t noticed, first round loss and Lebron James don’t often collide in the same sentence. Thursday night’s victory extended Lebron James’ winning streak in first round games to 20. That’s insane!

Side note: Can anyone guess the last team to win a first round game against Lebron James? If you said my 2012 New York Knickerbockers you’d be correct. Thanks Melo’.

This streak is tied for the longest since the 1983-1984 postseason, where the playoffs expanded to 16 teams. Last night’s performance also put Lebron in rarefied air. He passed Kobe Bryant for 3rd on the all-time postseason scoring list.

One of the most impressive things about last night’s comeback was Lebron did it by himself. Occasionally in the past, Kevin Love would grab a crucial rebound or JR Smith would decide it’s time to snap out of an 0 for 17 shooting slump. And of course there was the NBA Finals clinching 3-pointer hit by Kyrie Irving last year. However, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue decided to sit Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving for THE ENTIRE 4th quarter. So much for the Big Three. Of course, Lebron can’t win a championship by himself. We don’t have to look far to find proof of that. Insert cough here, 2015 Finals, cough again, 2007 Finals, cough cough.

As for the task at hand, I believe the Cavaliers are 1 of only 3 teams that can realistically win the Championship this year. The other 2 would be the New England Patr….oops I’m sorry, I’m just so used to them winning I figured they may win the NBA Championship too. The Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs are the only other teams who have a chance this year. Personally I don’t envision the Warriors losing more than 2 games to anyone en route to another Championship. But as long as Lebron James is still lacing up his Nike sneakers, I won’t be counting him out.

Who do you think will win the NBA Championship? Let me know in the comment section below.

I’m More Of A Rhombus Guy Myself, Phil

April 20, 2017April 20, 2017 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Well, the New York Knicks lost again on Tuesday. The Knicks lost?? But I thought their season was over?? Oh, they might not be playing games anymore, but that hasn’t kept them from being losers. I bet you didn’t realize Squints from The Sandlot was actually talking about the Knicks….

But seriously, the Knicks and the Minnesota Timberwolves finished tied this season with a record of 31-51 (stellar I know). And two days ago, the Knicks lost a ping pong ball tiebreaker (those are 4 words I didn’t think I was going to say today), leaving them 7th in the draft order, 1 spot behind the Timberwolves. This is assuming neither team lands a top 3 pick when they select the draft lottery on May 16th. But Dave, it’s only 1 spot, why are you making a big deal about it? First, 1 spot can mean the difference between Stephen Curry and Jordan Hill. Second, it represents the Knicks’ culture. The Knicks are, for lack of a better term, ‘stuck in the mud’.

This losing culture starts and ends with Knicks’ Owner, James Dolan. Little Jimmy Dolan, as I like to call him, inherited the Knicks from his daddy, Charles Dolan. And despite biting the hand that feeds him, Little Jimmy is still The Chairman of Madison Square Garden Company. This means he is only in charge of the things he couldn’t screw up if he tried (financially speaking that is). However, he has screwed up the Knicks’ franchise, mightily.

Dolan hired Phil Jackson to be President of the Knicks 3 years ago. Let me start by saying, I don’t care who you are or what you say, no one in the world thought this was a bad hire. But after 3 looooooooong years, there is only 1 header that can rest atop Phil Jacksons’ performance review; DUMPSTER FIRE!! Phil Jackson is regarded as one of the best coaches in NBA history, but unless he plans to scale down the 8,490 foot ladder from his golden pedestal to start coaching again, it’s time for him to pack his bags. Only problem there is, James Dolan refuses to fire him. Dolan, aka Einstein, has repeatedly stated he must honor his contract with Phil for 5 years. Yeah that’s great, but you had an opt-out written into the contract. This gives either side the legal right to part ways after 3 years (which last time I checked is NOW). Sooooooooooooo Jimmy, what are we waiting for? What if Phil literally set fire to the Garden? Would that be a fireable offense? Well, let me run through the things I call fireable offenses:

Don’t address the media for 2 and 3/4 years and when you finally do state the obvious that your best player would probably be better off elsewhere
Hire “your guy” Derek Fisher, and then unceremoniously fire him a year and a half into a 5-year contract even though you were clearly tanking
Everything you have done, said, or thought about saying as it pertains to Carmelo Anthony (Melo’ is who he is – a great scorer who gets rebounds by default because he’s 6’8″ and has no interest in playing defense; whatsoever)
Insane stubbornness to run a wildly out of date system known as “the triangle” even though numerous NBA players have publicly stated they have zero interest in playing it
Attending Shaq’s statue unveiling (even though I’m a big fan of The Diesel) while he should have been attending the Kentucky/UCLA Sweet Sixteen match-up. I mean, it’s not like there were 11 NBA prospects in that game….
And last but not least, signing Joakim Noah to an obscene 4-year, $72 million contract. Need I say more?!

There are way more things Phil Jackson has done wrong in the past 3 years, but I ran out of paper. The solution to this problem is simple: Fire Phil, hire someone competent (like me), collect draft picks rather than give them away, build through the draft, and once you have a base of 2 or 3 solid players attract free agents. Period, end of story.

Have a solution to the Knicks’ problems? Tell me in the comment section below.

Are the Knicks the Worst Franchise in Sports? (aka New York Knicks 2015 Draft Review)

June 26, 2015June 26, 2015 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 2 Comments

I don’t know where to start. I spent all of last night trying not to break things in my house. And this morning, I am still not sure what to do. Let’s start with the New York Knicks 1st round pick. His name is Kristaps Porzingis. Yes you heard that right; PORZINGIS. He was selected with the #4 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He is 19 years old, and he hails from Latvia. He is listed at 7’1″, and his weight remains a mystery, but he is approximately 210 pounds. I don’t know him outside of what I’ve heard on television, radio, and the internet, but I have spent some time watching his film. I am here to tell you that it is not his fault. It is not his fault that he’s going to be a bust. Enter brainwashed “optimistic” Knicks fan: “But you don’t know he’ll be a bust!” Oh yes I do!! Listen, nothing would make me happier than to say I was wrong about this kid. If he turns into the next Dirk Nowitzki in 5 years that would be the best thing that ever happened to the Knicks franchise. However, I am going to stick with the statistics that tell me this kid won’t make it in the NBA.

A very small percentage of international players drafted in the NBA become good players. The last international player drafted in the lottery to become an all-star is Yao Ming (Ming was drafted 1st overall in the 2002 NBA Draft). There is only 1 Dirk Nowitzki for a reason. On the other hand, there are too many busts to list here, but in the past 40 years, less than 10% of international players drafted were still on an NBA roster after only 5 years. So, the media and knowledgeable basketball personnel can tell me how much potential Porzingis has until they’re blue in the face. I don’t care. The odds tell me he will not pan out, especially in today’s instant gratification generation. Notable NBA General Managers have said Porzingis has tremendous upside, however, he may need 3 or 4 years to develop because he is a project. Do you honestly believe in this day and age a player will be given 4 years to develop? 2015 is not 1975. Hell it’s not even 2005. No one has patience anymore. I want my championship, and I want it now!! The other problem with Porzingis is he needs to gain 40 or 50 pounds to even think about banging with the big boys down in the post. Until he does that, big power forwards and centers will have their way with him around the basket. The reason Porzingis has been successful playing internationally is because the level of physicality is nowhere near the same as the NBA. Stretch 4’s grow on trees in international basketball (there is also only 1 Marc Gasol for a reason). Oh, Porzingis, it is not your fault you’re going to be the next Darko Milicic, but by all means, prove me wrong.

As for the rest of the Knicks draft, I actually like the first trade Phil Jackson made. Jackson traded Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Hawks for Jerian Grant. Grant is an athletic point guard who played at Notre Dame, and by all accounts seems NBA ready. Hardaway Jr. is a decent young player, but he only knows how to do one thing; score. Last time I checked the Knicks already have someone who does that. Grant could become the smart, gritty point guard the Knicks have been looking for. The Knicks apparently made another small splash later in the draft. They traded 2 future 2nd-round picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for a center out of Spain named Guillermo Hernangomez. Hernangomez and Porzingis were actually teammates overseas, which can’t hurt. Swinging on 2 international centers and missing can hurt though. With all that being said, we should stay positive and hope for a bright future right? Let’s Go Kni…….ah whatever.

What are your thoughts on the New York Knicks 2015 NBA Draft? Are you as upset as I am, or do you have faith in Phil Jackson?

Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

Since you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Lebron James Makes History in Game 2 Victory

June 8, 2015 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

There is an inexplicable aura around Lebron James. For Lebron to do what he did last night and still be criticized is hard to understand. In case you fell asleep on the couch at halftime, here is a quick recap of what happened. Last night, Lebron James took the cast of characters that is known as the Cleveland Cavaliers into Oracle Arena, and came out with an enormous victory (Cleveland 95 – Golden State 93 F/OT). This series is now headed back to Cleveland tied at one game a piece. If you didn’t see Lebron’s performance, allow his stat line to enter the room: 39 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists. Oh hey history, how ya doin?? Does anyone know how many times those numbers have been accomplished in the playoffs, let alone in the finals?! That’s right. The answer would be 0 times. Yes, Lebron seemed to “lose” his touch in the second half (missing 14 of his final 18 shots), and yes, he did get stuffed a few times driving the lane down the stretch, but there is NO denying his greatness. The craziest part is Lebron CAN actually play better.

We should all understand the Cavaliers would not be in this position without Lebron, but the real MVP of game 2 was Matthew Dellavedova. The tenacious, hounding defense he played on Stephen Curry was the real reason the Cavaliers stole home court advantage in the series. When being guarded by Dellavedova, Curry was 0 for 8 from the field. Curry was the MVP of the regular season, and is an amazing player, but he could not handle the physical nature of Dellavedova’s defense last night. It would not be wise to write off any team that has Lebron James’ name on the roster, but I still don’t believe his demi-god like performances will be enough to win this series. Side Note: This series can obviously go either way though. This is the first NBA Finals Series to have its first two games decided in overtime.

Game 3 will be played in Cleveland on Tuesday night @ 8:30 P.M. You can tune in to ABC to watch the drama unfold. What do you think will happen? Can Lebron James continue his historic play and bring the city of Cleveland its first championship in 51 years? Or will the Golden State Warriors’ team effort prove to be too much for the Cavaliers to handle?

Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

Tank Mode Is In Full Effect

January 6, 2015 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

The New York Knicks were able to trade who?!?! That’s right sports fans, someone voluntarily took on J.R. Smith. In a three-team, six-player trade, the Knicks traded Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In turn, the Cavaliers traded Dion Waiters to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson, and a 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks. The Thunder will send Lance Thomas to the Knicks along with a protected 2015 first-round pick to the Cavs. This trade took place just before tip-off of last night’s games, so none of these players suited up for their respective teams. The Knicks also waived Samuel Dalembert which will clear $3.8 million of cap space.

This is a good trade for all three teams. The Thunder added a solid scorer in Waiters for a first-round pick and a throw-in player, making the Thunder a good team who just got better. The Cavs got two rotation players for the price of one, so as long as Lebron James can corral J.R. Smith, this trade will help the Cavs this season. And the lowly Knicks continued to clear cap space, including $6.4 million owed to J.R. Smith, in hopes to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The best part of this deal, by a mile, is that the Knicks were able to rid themselves of the cancer that is J.R. Smith. Some people believe that the Knicks gave Shumpert away for nothing, but he is hurt, again, and probably wouldn’t have been re-signed following this season anyway. The Knicks now have only 4 players under contract for next season in Carmelo Anthony, Jose Calderon, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Cleanthony early.

Just when you thought the 76ers knew how to tank, the Knicks are going to show them a thing or two. Following last night’s loss, the Knicks have now lost 12 straight games, tying a franchise record. The Knicks have the worst record in the league at 5-32, and there is no doubt they are en route to the #1 overall pick in the draft. Now this may be wishful thinking, but I think Phil Jackson planned on tanking this season all along. He obviously would never admit it, but I’d bet the polygraph would side with me on this one. He traded Tyson Chandler just so he could rid himself of Raymond Felton’s contract, and last night he did the same with Shumpert and Smith. He will certainly be waiving the three bench players he just acquired, so he doesn’t have to pay them. And now he is left with a pile of cash in hand, and his reputation, in hopes to attract a group of free agents who will bring winning ways back to the Big Apple.

Do you still believe in Phil?? Or have you lost faith in the Zen Master?? Let me know in the comment section below.

If you enjoy my writing, follow me over to intheneutralzone.com where I am a contributing author there as well. Also you can follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like me on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Top Ten NBA Centers of All-Time

November 25, 2014November 25, 2014 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Throughout the history of the NBA, the center position has always been vital to the success of an NBA franchise. As the game of basketball has evolved, the prototypical center has changed. In today’s NBA, the position is not as important as it used to be. NBA teams used to build around a center who could dominate at both ends of the floor. This list is meant to rank the Top Ten NBA Centers of All-Time.

Honorable Mention

Patrick Ewing, Dave Cowens, Walt Bellamy, and Wes Unseld.

10.) George Mikan (Mr. Basketball)

6 NBA Seasons – 22.3 points, 13.4 rebounds, 40.1 FG%, 78.4 FT%

4x All-Star, 5 NBA Championships

George Mikan was truly an innovator. He was Russell before Russell, and Wilt before Wilt. He was the centerpiece to the NBA’s first dynasty; the Minneapolis Lakers of the 1950’s. They won 4 NBA Championships in 5 years. Mikan was known as a hard nosed player on both ends of the floor, and was known to play through broken bones. As time goes on, his name fades into the background, but we must pay homage to those who helped paved the way for the future. Without the innovation of George Mikan, there is no telling what superstars the NBA would have missed out on.

9.) Elvin Hayes (The Big E)

16 NBA Seasons – 21.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 45.2 FG%, 67.0 FT%

12x All-Star, 1 NBA Championship

Elvin Hayes was Bret Favre and Deion Sanders wrapped into 1 player. He did it all. Over his 16 year career, Hayes only missed 9 games. He was also a great two way player, with his tenacious defense and consistent scoring. Hayes is still top 10 in points scored, rebounds, and field goals made. What’s most impressive about those numbers is that Hayes is the shortest center on this list, standing just 6’9″ tall.

8.) David Robinson (The Admiral)

14 NBA Seasons – 21.1 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.0 blocks, 51.8 FG%, 73.6 FT%

10x All-Star, 1x NBA MVP, 2 NBA Championships, 1990 Rookie of the Year , 1x Defensive Player of the Year

He was the definition of an all around player and as consistent as they come. Standing at a lean 7’1″ tall, Robinson posed a threat at both ends of the floor. If it weren’t for that guy Dikembe Mutumbo, there is no telling how many Defensive Player of the Year awards he would have won. Robinson made up one half of the twin towers, along side Tim Duncan, en route to 2 NBA championships. Robinson’s rise to stardom had to wait as he honorably served in the NAVY for 2 years prior to the start of his playing career. Robinson’s all around talents produced one of the most impressive performances of all time. On February 17th, 1994, Robinson became only the 5th player ever to record a quadruple double (34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 blocks).

7.) Willis Reed (The Captain)

10 NBA Seasons – 18.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, 47.6 FG%, 74.7 FT%

7x All-Star, 1x NBA MVP, 2 NBA Championships, 2x NBA Final’s MVP, 1965 Rookie of the Year

Willis Reed was “The Captain” before Derek Jeter was even born. Reed proved to be a leader and a clutch performer throughout his career. As an undersized center, at 6’10”, Reed was able to bang with the best of them under the boards. Offensively, he showed a rare combination of power and finesse around the rim. This style of play led to many battles with Wilt Chamberlain and the Los Angeles Lakers. The first of these battles came in the best year of Willis Reed’s career; 1970. He was in the prime of his career, he won the regular season MVP, and was carrying his team through the playoffs. Then he got hurt. Up until that moment, Reed had dominated the first 4 games of the NBA Finals (averaging 31.75 points per game). What transpired next turned Reed into a living legend. Reed famously hobbled from the locker room during game 7 to score 4 of the most courageous points in NBA Final’s history.

6.) Moses Malone (Chairman of the Boards)

19 NBA Seasons – 20.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 49.1 FG%, 76.9 FT%

12x All-Star, 3x NBA MVP, 1 NBA Championship, 1x NBA Final’s MVP

In 1974, Moses Malone became the first player to be drafted to the NBA directly out of high school. After 2 seasons with the ABA, Malone transitioned to the NBA. Over the next 19 seasons, Malone proved to be one of the best scorers and rebounders the game has ever seen. Upon entering the league, Malone was an undersized 6’10”, 215 pounds, but that didn’t stop him from averaging 13.4 rebounds that year. When Malone retired in 1995, he ranked in the top 10 in points scored, rebounds, games played, minutes played, and free throws made.

5.) Hakeem Olajuwon (The Dream)

18 NBA Seasons – 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 51.2 FG%, 71.2 FT%

12x All-Star, 1x NBA MVP, 2 NBA Championships, 2x NBA Final’s MVP, 2x Defensive Player of the Year

Here’s one #1 overall draft pick that lived up to the hype. Hakeem Olajuwon possessed a unique skillset that may never be seen again from a ‘true’ center. His smooth offensive game was a thing of beauty, while at the same time, he became the NBA’s most prolific shot blocker (he is still the career blocks leader in the NBA). He is also the only player in NBA history to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, NBA MVP award, win a championship, and be named the NBA Final’s MVP in the same season (1994). The only knock on Olajuwon is that he only won a championship when Michael Jordan was on hiatus from the NBA. Other than that side note, Hakeem The Dream was everything you’d wish for in a center.

4.) Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq, The Diesel, Shaq Fu, Shaq Daddy, Superman)

19 NBA Seasons – 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, 58.2 FG%, 52.7 FT%

15x All-Star, 1x NBA MVP, 4 NBA Championships, 3x NBA Final’s MVP, 1993 Rookie of the Year

The Diesel. Enough said? Shaq was easily the most physically dominant force the NBA has ever seen. He was like an unstoppable wrecking ball that could only be slowed (or ‘hack a shaq’d’), but couldn’t be stopped. Watching Shaq play in his prime was something special. He showed an amazing amount of offensive skills for a man of his size. Also, his 58.2% shooting from the field is the third highest mark in NBA history. But most importantly, he may be the #1 interview of all time.

3.) Bill Russell (Bill)

13 NBA Seasons – 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 44 FG%, 56.1 FT%

12x All-Star, 5x NBA MVP, 11 NBA Championships

Bill Russell will always be known as the ultimate winner. He was part of the Boston Celtics dynasty of the 1950’s and 60’s that won 11 championships in 13 seasons. While he played with some great teammates over the years, he is regarded as the best defensive center of all time. He is also one of the best rebounders in the history of the game (ranking 2nd all time). It was Russell’s intangibles, such as his leadership, that made him stand out. During Russell’s era, they didn’t keep track of NBA Final’s MVP’s, however by my research, I believe he would have won 4 NBA Final’s MVPs. They also did not record blocks in Russell’s playing days, but it is said that Wilt and Russell would have had double digit blocks every night. In an era when Wilt Chamberlain was the NBA’s best player, it shows how impressive Bill Russell’s run of championships was. He continuously went head to head with Wilt Chamberlain and came out on top.

2.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Cap)

20 NBA Seasons – 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.6 blocks, 55.9 FG%, 72.1 FT%

19x All-Star, 6x NBA MVP, 6 NBA Championships, 6x NBA Finals MVP, 1970 Rookie of the Year

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the centerpiece of the Lakers championships in the 1980′s. He was part of all 5 of their championship titles in the 80′s, and also won a title with the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970’s. Kareem still holds the record for winning the most NBA MVP awards (6), while also remaining the NBA’s all time leading scorer. He was a true innovator to the game of basketball. During his career, he perfected an unstoppable move called the sky hook. Kareem was a star from the second he entered the league and was the runaway Rookie of the Year in 1970 (averaging 28.8 points and 14.4 rebounds). He was an outstanding all around player, showcasing his offensive and defensive skills throughout his 20 year career.

1.) Wilt Chamberlain (Wilt The Stilt)

14 NBA Seasons – 30.1 points, 22.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 54 FG%, 51.1 FT%

13x All-Star, 4x NBA MVP, 2 NBA Championships, 1x NBA Finals MVP, 1960 Rookie of the Year

One of the most difficult decisions I had to make was Kareem vs. Wilt. It is difficult to definitively state who the best center in the history of the NBA is, but Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most dominant forces in NBA history. He famously holds the record for most points scored in a game (100), a record that I believe will NEVER be broken. During the 1961-62 season, Chamberlain averaged over 50 points for the entire season, another feat that will probably never happen again (he didn’t even win the NBA MVP that year!). It’s a shame that MVPs were usually given to a member of the championship team, because no one knows how many MVP’s Wilt would have won otherwise. Even with that obstacle, Wilt still managed to win 4 NBA MVP awards. The different era’s of the NBA vary greatly, but I if you put Wilt in today’s NBA, he would undoubtedly be the best center in the league (sorry Dwight). And, if all that isn’t impressive enough, Wilt led the NBA in total assists for an entire season!! Oh yeah, and Wilt just happens to be the NBA’s all time rebounding leader as well. These things make Wilt the greatest center to ever play in the NBA.

Please leave your comments or post your own list in the comment section below. Thanks!!

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