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Tag: NBA FINALS

3 BALL NEW ERA FOR NBA

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NBA.

Believe it or not, there was a time in the NBA when teams were built from the inside-out.And it actually wasn’t that long ago.But ever since the Golden State Warriors’ super team comprised of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant proved that fast-paced offense and focusing on the 3-point shot can lead to NBA glory, the league has undergone a shift in philosophy that has seen teams hoist up more attempts from downtown that ever before.

Even Gregg Popovich and the Spurs — who are known for two of the greatest big men in the history of the league in David Robinson and Tim Duncan — have adapted their style in recent years.A big assist in the current 3-point trend are the rules changes that allow less physicality on the defensive end of the floor. Defenders often have to give their opponent more space in order to avoid a quick pull-up or lethal pump-fake that could lead to easy points from the free-throw line. 

Analytics have also shown that a more up-tempo, free-flowing game allows offenses to pile on points in record numbers through the efficiency of not turning down open 3s. As teams began to embrace the 3-point shot, they began to utilize more of the floor through wider spacing rather than packing players into the paint.Thus, the era of the long-range bomber was born.

Now, that’s not to say that big men have been rendered obsolete. Instead, they’re asked to expand their games, as back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic and 76ers superstar center Joel Embiid are both known for their ability to knock down deep perimeter jumpers in addition to their rebounding and passing skills.The current NBA Finals matchup shows just how much the league has changed since Duncan and Shaq ruled the paint in the Western Conference.

Neither Golden State or Boston has an active top-tier center or power forward, as the Warriors’ James Wiseman is still recovering from a knee injury. The Celtics’ top big has been Al Horford, but he’s made his name from beyond the arc with clutch 3-point shots that have helped propel a young Boston roster to the brink of a world championship.Both teams, however, are loaded with wing talent. Curry, Thompson and Jordan Poole do most of the damage for the Warriors, while Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Derrick White are the players that not only get their teammates involved, but also create their own looks off the dribble.

That type of wing-heavy attack seems to be the blueprint for most teams looking to build from the ground up these days — and the 3-point revolution likely won’t change anytime soon. Since the NBA added the 3-point shot back in the 1979-80 season, the number of attempts have reached an all-time high, and since the 1997-98 season — Duncan’s rookie year — the number of 3-point field goal attempts has been on a steady rise. During the 1979-80 season, teams averaged only 2.9 3-point shots per game. By 2017-18, that number had ballooned to 29 attempts per contest.

This past season saw teams average 35 3s per game — the highest in league history. With young players like Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell vying for Curry’s crown as the top marksman in the league, expect even more 3s in the coming seasons.

Former Austin Spur playing NBA Finals

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NBA.

The Spurs’ season may have been over for quite a while, but former San Antonio point guard Derrick White is preparing for the biggest series of his basketball life.

The current Boston Celtics reserve guard was traded from San Antonio in February for a package of players and picks. While White’s offensive stats have been nothing special during his time with the Celtics, his perimeter defense has strengthened Boston — and will no doubt be of the utmost importance as his team tries to contend with guards Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole and small forward Klay Thompson in the NBA Finals.

White’s journey to the biggest stage in the NBA was an improbable one. Born in Parker, Colorado — a suburb of Denver — White signed with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) out of high school as a 6-foot combo guard. Everything changed when he shot up five inches by the time he reached the NCAA Division II school, and he set new program records for most points and assists in a career during his three seasons with UCCS.

White then transferred to the main campus in Boulder and enjoyed a stellar 2016-17 campaign with the Pac 12’s Buffaloes that included first team all-conference honors.

The Spurs, as they’ve done numerous times over the years, identified White’s potential and targeted him with the 29th overall selection of the 2017 NBA Draft. He immediately went to the G League, where he played for the Austin Spurs and quickly earned a reputation as a cool customer and a lethal 3-point shooter.

White saw some time with San Antonio during his rookie year, but was used sparingly as he made the transition to the NBA game. He was expected to be utilized in a reserve role in his second season, but once again an unforeseen circumstance thrust him into the spotlight from relative obscurity.

This time, White’s big break came in the form of a season-ending injury to another fledgling star — Dejounte Murray. When the point guard tore his ACL in the preseason leading up to the 2018-19 season, many Spurs fans wondered aloud who would be able to replace his defensive prowess in addition to running the offense smoothly from the point guard spot.

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

White was tabbed as the replacement, but his own foot injury sidelined him until November of 2018 against the Miami Heat. Once he entered the lineup, San Antonio’s perimeter defense was noticeably better, while its offense ran more efficiently than before.

White suffered an injury to his other foot in February of 2019, and some pundits wondered if it would derail the Spurs’ playoff hopes. White answered by leading the Spurs into a matchup with his hometown Denver Nuggets, although San Antonio fell in seven games.

White never again found that same rhythm with the Spurs, and general manager Brian Wright swapped him for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and a first-round pick in this year’s draft in mid-February. 

The move paid instant dividends for Boston, as White’s defense and ability to draw offensive fouls made the Celtics an even more difficult team to score against. Now, the kid from Colorado will look to help one of the NBA’s most storied dynasties capture title No. 18 against a revamped Golden State squad led by former Spur Steve Kerr. 

NBA Finals: Game 6

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NBA.

OK, so there is not a real Texas connection here in the Finals other than the fact that both Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard were both Spurs for when they won a Title together in 2014 as San Antonio defeated Miami 4-1.

So just chiming in on this because as Spurs and Rockets fans in Texas we hate the NBA’s “Darling Team” in the Warriors. But then the rest of the country shares this disdain for the bay area as well. While the splash brothers pre-and-post KD have had championship runs I get the sense that the steam in this train is starting to cool.

With Durant’s injury this post season and free agency you just have to wonder if all the pieces in Golden State can stay together for another Western Conference push? The boys in blue have not won a home game yet and will be playing hard in game 6 as the series is 3-2 in favor of THE NORTH. Am I really rooting for the Canadians? Hell yes I am! At least we know those boys from San Antonio!

Kevin Durant is a Longhorn yes. But he’s out and the NBA needs a facelift in the absence of LeBron James in the Eastern Conference. And that shiny new ambassador has taken the shape in one Kawhi Leonard aka “the claw”. Insert James Carey line – NOTHING CAN STOP THE CLAW!

So lets see if the Raptors can pull of the win at at Oracle arena. Texas and the rest of the Continent below will be cheering you on. With the exception of California of course.