256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament: Region 7 Round 1: Series 7 and 8

 5 and 6

7 1987 CEN DIV CHAMP ATLANTA HAWKS v. 10. 1973 ABA EAST CHAMP KENTUCKY COLONELS

Hawks: 57-25, 1st Cen Div, 4th Off, 2nd Def

              d. Pacers East 1st Rnd 3-1

              Lost Pistons East Semis 4-1

             #103 overall seed

Coach: Mike Fratello, Asst. Willis Reed

Starters

C Tree Rollins              31-Clemson       5.4 PPG  12 PER 4.9 WS

F Kevin Willis              24-Michigan St 16.1         17.4      8.6

F Dominique Wilkins   27-Georgia        29            23.5      12.2

G Doc Rivers                25-Marquette    12.8         19.9      10.3

G Randy Wittman        27-Indiana         12.7          13        4.2

Rotation Reserves

C Jon Koncak              23-SMU             5.6           10.9      3.7

F Antoine Carr             25-Wichita St    5.3            15.5     2.2

F Cliff Levingston       26-Wichita St    8               14.3     6.1

G Spud Webb               23-NC St          6.8             16.5     1.2

G John Battle               24-Rutgers        6                13.8     1.5

Leaders: Wilkins 2nd PPG, 5th WS, 5th VORP

               Rivers 3rd Assts, 4th Assts/Gm, 5th +/-, 3rd Asst%

               Rollins 5th Def Rtng

               Willis: 4th Off Reb %

1987 Hawks were 4th in offense, 2nd in defense, that buys you a near top 100 overall seed; 'Nique's the big earner here but Doc also had a big year.  Strong frontcourt depth.  

Colonels: 56-28, 2nd in ABA East, 3rd Off, 1st Def

                 d. Squires East Semis 4-1

                 d. Cougars East Finals 4-3

                 Lost Pacers ABA Finals 4-3

                 #154 overall seed

Coach: Joe Mullaney

Starters

C Artis Gilmore          23-Jacksonville           20.8 PPG  24.1 PER  18.5 WS

F Dan Issel                  24-Kentucky               27.3          22.4           15.8

F Walter Simon           33-Benedict                12.2          13.8           6.1

G Louie Dampier        28-Kentucky               16.8          14.3          7.4

G Rick Mount            26-Purdue                    14.9          13.1           3.5

Rotation Reserves

C Ronald Thomas       22-Louisville              4.7            12.5            .8

F Claude Virden          25-Murray St              9.9            9.6              .4

F Pierre Russell          23-Kansas                    4.9           14.2            1.1

G Jimmy O'Brien       22-BCollege                4.7            8.6              1

G Mike Gale              22- Elizabeth City St    6.6           13.5            3.9

Leaders: Issel 3rd PPG, 5th Off Reb, 2nd FG%, 2nd Eff FG%, 5th PER, 2nd WS, 3rd WS/48, 3rd TO%

               Gilmore 1st Reb, 1st Reb/Gm, 1st Blocks, 1st FG%, 1st Eff FG%, 4th TS%, 3rd PER, 1st WS, 1st WS/48, 1st Reb %

               Dampier 4th Assts, 3rd Assts/Gm

We've alrrady seen an ABA team advance in this region; the Colonels look to make it two.  Gilmore and Issel are 1-2 in Win Shares in the ABA; they'll really have to carry the load in this one.

Lineup Matchup

C Gilmore (Colonels)

F Issel (Colonels)

F 'Nique (Hawks)

G Rivers (Hawks)

G Push

Bench: Hawks

Game

1st Qtr

9 Hawks 10 Colonels 7

Hawks Willis, Rollins, Webb, Webb, Willis

Colonels Gilmore, Mount, Gilmore, Mount(1)

6 Hawks 18 Colonels 13

Hawks Willis, Wilkins, Wilkins, Willis

Colonels Simon, Issel, Dampier

8 points for Kevin Willis and two fouls for Dan Issel; doesn't bode well for Kentucky.

3 Hawks 25 Colonels 16

Hawks Levingston, Battle, Webb(3)

Colonels Gilmore(1) Mount

1st Qtr Score Hawks 32 Colonels 23

Hawks Koncak, Wilkins, Wilkins(3)

Colonels Gilmore, Mount, Gale(1) Ladner

The Hawks just have too much front court depth, if anything happens to either Gilmore or Issel, like early foul trouble, it's hard for the Colonels to hang on.

2nd Qtr

9 Hawks 45 Colonels 29

Hawks Willis(3) Willis, Battle, Battle, Willis, Levingston

Colonels Ladner, Gale, Simon

6 Hawks 55 Colonels 37

Hawks Koncak, Koncak, Rivers, Battle, Carr

Colonels Russell, Gilmore, Dampier, Thomas

7 more for Willis and the Hawks are laying some thump.

3 Hawks 59 Colonels 41

Hawks Carr, Carr

Colonels Issel, Thomas

Halftime Score Hawks 69 Colonels 45

Hawks Willis, Carr, Rivers, Wilkins(1) Wilkins(3)

Colonels Gale, Mount

'Nique hits a half court shot at the buzzer, insult added to injury, Hawks are going to take game one.  

3rd Qtr

9 Hawks 77 Colonels 53

Hawks Wittman, Rivers, Wittman, Wilkins

Colonels Dampier, Dampier, Russell, Dampier

6 Hawks 82 Colonels 58

Hawks Wilkins, Willis, Rivers(1)

Colonels Simon(3) Simon

We're ending region 7 with what appears to be a blowout.

3 Hawks 95 Colonels 70

Hawks Wilkins, Wilkins, Rivers, Rivers, Rivers, Wilkins(3)

Colonels Issel, Gale, Gilmore, Issel, Mount, Mount

3rd Qtr Score Hawks 101 Colonels 78

Hawks Koncak, Wittman(3) Rollins

Colonels Gilmore, Mount, Simon, Simon

The Hawks bust past the 100 point mark; still a quarter of basketball left.  

4th Qtr

9 Hawks 110 Colonels 85

Hawks Willis(1) Rivers, Rivers, Willis

Colonels Dampier, Issel(1), Dampier, Issel

6 Hawks 111 Colonels 95

Hawks Webb(1)

Colonels Russell, Mount, Issel, Mount, Gilmore

3 Hawks 119 Colonels 99

Hawks Wilkins, Wittman, Wittman, Carr

Colonels Gilmore, Gilmore

Final Score Hawks 125 Colonels 110

Hawks Koncak, Webb, Wilson

Colonels Dampier, Dampier, Dampier, Dampier, Ladner(3)

Just never a contest; you can't like Kentucky's chances to stave off elimination.

Willis: 22 pts/8 boards-Player of the Game

Wilkins: 26 pts

Rivers: 19 pts/6 boards

Wittman: 11 pts/5 assists

Carr: 10 pts/8 boards

Webb: 10 pts/5 boards

Gilmore: 19 pts/17 boards/5 blocks

Dampier: 22 pts/8 assists

Mount: 19 pts

Issel: 13 pts/6 boards

Simon: 13 pts/5 boards

Game Two

1st Qtr

9 Colonels 6 Hawks 3

Hawks Rivers(1) Rivers

Colonels Dampier, Simon, Mount

6 Colonels 11 Hawks 5

Hawks Wilkins

Colonels Dampier(3) Mount

Kentucky had no answers in game one, but Dampier's got 5 and they're off to a good start.

3 Colonels 20 Hawks 13

Hawks Wilkins, Rivers, Wittman, Koncak

Colonels Simon(3) Gilmore, Issel, Gilmore

1st Qtr Score Colonels 26 Hawks 21

Hawks Wilkins, Carr, Wittman, Wilkins

Colonels Gale, Gilmore, Issel

Gilmore hits for 6 to end the quarter and Kentucky maintains the lead.  

2nd Qtr

9 Colonels 35 Hawks 24

Hawks Levingston, Rollins(1)

Colonels O'Brien, Gale, Thomas(3) Dampier

6 Colonels 43 Hawks 31

Hawks Webb(1) Wilkins, Wilkins, Carr

Colonels Thomas, Issel, Gilmore, Gilmore

Kentucky's defense has done a 180 since game one, the Colonels bottling up Atlanta and now the lead is double digits.  

3 Colonels 45 Hawks 38

Hawks Rivers, Levingston, Willis, Carr(1)

Colonels Dampier

Halftime Score Hawks 48 Colonels 48

Hawks Wittman, Carr, Wilkins, Wilkins, Willis

Colonels Thomas, Mount(1)

The Hawks assert themselves down the 2nd quarter stretch and a Kevin Willis drive ties the score just before the buzzer.  

3rd Qtr 

9 Colonels 55 Hawks 48

Hawks

Colonels Russell(1) Gilmore, Gilmore, Issel, 

6 Colonels 66 Hawks 58

Hawks Koncak, Rivers, Wilkins, Rollins, Wilkins

Colonels Gilmore, Issel, Gilmore(3) Simon, Dampier

Artis Gilmore busts 9 to open the half and the Colonels lead by 8.

3 Colonels 70 Hawks 67

Hawks Wilkins, Battle(3) Wilkins, Webb

Colonels Issel

3rd Qtr Score Colonels 72 Hawks 67

Hawks

Colonels Mount

12 more minutes of basketball - Kentucky tries to force game 3?

4th Qtr

11:26 ATL: Doc misses, but neither of Kentucky's big men is on the floor and Rollins gets the board, Doc hits the second chance.

11:13: KY: Walt Simon from the foul line.

10:46: ATL: Doc misses, but Willis gets the putback.

10:30: KY: Mike Gale bombs a triple from the top.  

10:23: ATL: Austin Carr drills a long 2.

9:55: ATL: Mount misses; Dominique throws down a hellacious dunk the other way.  77-75

9:46: KY: Mount from 9. 

9:31: ATL: The bank's open for Willis.  

8:59: ATL: Dominique blocks Mount - Carr drives hard to the bucket for the tie.

8:16: KY: Gilmore misses, but gets his own rebound, kicks it out for a Dampier 3.  

7:49: KY: Mount steals the ball, Gilmore scores from the lane. 

7:25: ATL: As the shot clock expires, Battle scores in traffic. 

6:52: ATL: Kentucky throws one away and Tree Rollins hits a turnaround in the lane.  84-83 Colonels.

5:39: ATL: Over a minute later, Levingston drives, scores - and is fouled.  Hits the FT  The Hawks have the lead.

5:13 ATL: The Colonels turn it over, Dominique scores from the baseline.  88-84

4:59: KY: Doc fouls Mike Gale, who hits 1.

4:52: ATL: Long 2 for Randy Wittman.

4:24: ATL: Gale misses - 'Nique convers the 8 footer the other way and it's 92-85.

3:53: KY: Issel misses, but a Gilmore board gives him a second chance and he converts.

3:13: ATL: Atlanta gets a couple offensive boards, Issel fouls Doc who hits 1.

2:59: KY: An Issel dunk cuts it to 4.

2:52: ATL: Willis from the lane.

2:03: KY: Both teams miss, Gilmore hits from the block.

1:56: ATL: Dominique from the paint.

1:45: KY: Rick Mount from the foul line.

1:15: KY: Wittman misses - Issel scores from 12 feet and the Hawks now lead by just 2.

:38: ATL: The big moment in the game is at 51 seconds - Atlanta missed - Issel got the ball at the foul line - his J would tie the score -- but it was blocked by Rollins, who came out to contest - Wilkins then gets fouled here, Simon's 6th - and he hits both.  99-95.

:23: KY Issel scores from 14. 

:19: ATL: 'Nique hits both again.  

:15: ATL: Gilmore misses - 'Nique with the board and that will do it - he hits 2 more shots and the Hawks have won,

Final: Hawks 103 Colonels 97

27 boards for Gilmore, but it's not enough and the Hawks take the penultimate region seven series.

Wilkins: 38 pts/9 boards/6 blocks - Player of the Game

Rivers: 12 pts/5 boards/11 assists

Willis: 10 pts/14 boards

Rollins:  5 pts/11 boards/5 blocks

Carr: 11 pts/6 boards

2 1985 NBA CHAMPION LOS ANGELES LAKERS v. 15 1964 CINCINNATI ROYALS

Lakers: 62-20, 1st Pac Div, 1st Off, 7th Def

              d. Suns West 1st Rnd 3-0

              d. Blazers West Semis 4-1

              d. Nuggets West Finals 4-1

              d. Celtics 4-2 NBA Finals

              #26 overall seed

Coach: Pat Riley

Starters

C Kareem Abdul Jabbar  37-UCLA         22 PPG   22.9 PER  11.2 WS

F Bob McAdoo               33-UNC           10.5         15.4           2.9

F James Worthy              23-UNC            17.6        17              7.5

G Magic Johnson            25-Michigan St  18.3      23.2           12.7

G Byron Scott                23- Ariz St         16           16.8            6.9

Rotation Reserves

C Mitch Kupchak          30-UNC             5.3           12.5          1.4

F Kurt Rambis               26-Santa Clara   5.2           12.7          4.1

F Jamaal Wilkes            31-UCLA           8.3            11            .9

G Michael Cooper        28-NMexico       8.6            12.9         4.6

G Mike McGee             25-Michigan       10.2         17.3          3

Leaders: Magic: 2nd Assts, 2nd Assts/Gm, 4th TS%, 4th PER, 3rd WS, 2nd WS/48, 3rd +/- 4th VORP, 3rd Off Rtng, 2nd Asst %, 1st Trip-Doub

               Kareem: 4th FG%, 4th Eff FG%, 5th TS%, 5th PER, 4th WS/48, 5th +/1

               Scott: 1st FT%

               Rambis: 5th Def Rtng

World Champion Lakers; Kareem and Magic are both in the top 5 for PER, both with double digit win shares.

Royals: 55-25, 2nd East Div, 1st Off, 4th Def

              d. Sixers East Semis 3-2

              Lost Celtics East Finals 4-1

              #231 overall seed

Coach: Jack McMahon

Starters

C Wayne Embry           26-Miami(Oh)            17.3 PPG  15.1 PER    6.3 WS

F Jerry Lucas                23-Ohio St                  17.7          18.9            12.7

F Jack Twyman             29-Cincinnati             15.9           14.6           4.3

G Oscar Robertson       25-Cincinnati             31.4           27.6           20.6

G Tom Hawkins           27-Notre Dame           8.6            10.7            2.3

Rotation Reserves

C Bud Olsen                 23-Louisville              4.1             10.9           .2

F Larry Staverman       27- Thomas More       4                12.8            .7

F Bob Boozer               26-Kansas St              11               12.8           .7

G Adrian Smith            27-Kentucky               9.4              10.7          1.9

G Bucky Bockhorn       30-Dayton                  8.3              9.3            1.5

Leaders: Oscar 2nd PPG, 1st Assts, 1st Asst/Gm, 1st FT%, 2nd TS%, 2nd PER, 2nd WS, 2nd WS/48, 1st Trip-Doub

               Lucas 3rd Reb, 3rd Reb/Gm, 1st FG%, 1st Eff FG%, 1st TS%

The original team here was an early 50s Royals squad, but that's pre-simulation, so as has been done previously we moved on to the next Royals team which makes sense, that's this one.  This is more fun, we get Oscar against Kareem, Oscar against Magic.  This situation will happen 2 more times in round one, but for those situations I'll be able to throw in two 2021 teams. 

Lineup Matchup

C Kareem (Lakers)

F Lucas (Royals)

F Worthy (Lakers)

G Oscar (Royals)

G Scott (Lakers)

Bench: Lakers

Game One

1st Qtr

9 Lakers 11 Royals 2

Lakers Kareem, Worthy, McAdoo, Scott, McAdoo(3)

Royals Hawkins

6 Lakers 15 Royals 6

Lakers Magic, Kareem

Royals Lucas, Embry

This is going to be a haul for the Royals; the Lakers depth is really likely to wear them down.

3 Lakers 24 Royals 11

Lakers McAdoo(3) Worthy, Worthy, Scott

Royals Lucas (1) Twyman, Embry

1st Qtr Score Lakers 29 Royals 16

Lakers Rambis(1) Cooper, Rambis

Royals Oscar, Embry, Embry(1)

Magic on the bench with 2 fouls; Lakers up double digits.

2nd Qtr

9 Lakers 36 Royals 24

Lakers Kupchak, Kupchak(1) McAdoo, Kareem

Royals Bockhorn, Boozer, Oscar, Oscar

6 Lakers 42 Royals 27

Lakers McAdoo, Magic, Kareem

Royals Smith(3)

3 fouls for Magic - Lucas also 3 fouls, Lakers still rolling along.

3 Lakers 50 Royals 34

Lakers Kareem, Scott, Wilkes, Worthy

Royals Twyman(3) Oscar, Bockhorn

Halftime Score Lakers 58 Royals 40

Lakers Scott, McAdoo, Scott, Rambis

Royals Lucas, Oscar, Oscar

Oscar scores 10 in the second, but this isn't a game.  

3rd Qtr

9 Lakers 64 Royals 46

Lakers Kareem, Worthy, Scott

Royals Twyman(3) Staverman(1) Twyman

6 Lakers 69 Royals 51

Lakers Kupchak(1) McAdoo, Worthy

Royals Embry, Lucas, Oscar(1)

Region 7 ending with what would appear to be a wipeout.

3 Lakers 80 Royals 57

Lakers McAdoo, Scott(3) Kareem, McAdoo, Kareem

Royals Embry(1) Boozer, Oscar(3)

3rd Qtr Score Lakers 91 Royals 64

Lakers Kareem, Kareem, Scott(3) Scott, McGee

Royals Twyman, Hawkins(3) Olsen

8 each to end the third for Scott and Kareem; Lakers rolling.

4th Qtr

9 Lakers 100 Royals 73

Lakers Kareem, Worthy, Kareem(3)

Royals Twyman, Embry(3) Lucas, Embry

6 Lakers 104 Royals 82

Lakers Kareem, McGee, 

Royals Twyman, Twyman, Embry, Oscar(3)

3 Lakers 114 Royals 89

Lakers Kareem, Scott, Wilkes(3) McAdoo, McGee(1)

Royals Smith, Oscar(1) Twyman(1) Boozer(1) Twyman

Final Score Lakers 116 Royals 98

Lakers Nevitt

Royals Thacker, Staverman, Arnette(3) Olsen

Just never a game; Magic only scores 4 points and still the Lakers are in cruise control in the second half.  

Kareem: 29 pts/11 boards-Player of the Game

McAdoo: 22 pts/13 boards

Scott: 24 pts/6 boards/6 assists

Worthy: 14 pts

Magic: 4 pts/9 boards/10 assists

Oscar: 20 pts/12 boards/9 assists

Twyman: 21 pts

Embry: 17 pts/6 boards

Game Two

1st Qtr

9 Lakers 8 Royals 2

Lakers Magic, Scott, Kareem, Scott

Royals Oscar

6 Lakers 21 Royals 4

Lakers McAdoo, Kareem, McAdoo, Kareem, McAdoo(1) Magic(1) Scott, Worthy(1)

Royals Lucas

And its done.  Lakers will take on the Hawks in the next round (wouldn't it be good if they played right now?  Clearly a mistake; enough that I'm considering switching that up when we hit the end of Region 8 and heading back to Region 1 to play the next round.  As I talk it through now I think that's the move...in fact...I might not wait, okay, that's the new plan)

3 Lakers 27 Royals 11

Lakers Kareem, McAdoo, Magic

Royals Oscar(3) Oscar, Oscar

1st Qtr Score Lakers 34 Royals 15

Lakers McGee, McGee, Kupchak(3)

Royals Lucas, Boozer

Lakers/Hawks isn't coming up immediately, but it'll happen sooner than planned.  

2nd Qtr

9 Lakers 39 Royals 22

Lakers Wilkes, McGee(3)

Royals Smith(3) Hawkins, Embry

6 Lakers 47 Royals 28

Lakers McAdoo, Rambis, Kareem, Kareem

Royals Lucas, Hawkins, Hawkins

Lakers...yeesh.

3 Lakers 58 Royals 38

Lakers Kareem(1) Worthy, Worthy, Kareem, Worthy, Rambis(1)

Royals Boozer(1) Oscar, Boozer, Boozer, Oscar(3)

Halftime Score Lakers 66 Royals 42

Lakers Worthy, Worthy, Magic, Kareem

Royals Boozer, Embry

10 for Worthy to close the half.  Lakers headed to round 2.

3rd Qtr

9 Lakers 77 Royals 52

Lakers Scott, McAdoo, Scott, Scott, Kareem(3)

Royals Bockhorn, Lucas, Embry(1) Embry, Smith(1) Smith

6 Lakers 87 Royals 62

Lakers McGee, Magic, Magic, Kareem, Scott

Royals Olsen, Oscar, Oscar, Hawkins, Lucas

3 Lakers 92 Royals 65

Lakers Kupchak, Magic(1) McGee

Royals Embry(1) Lucas

3rd Qtr Score Lakers 106 Royals 72

Lakers Magic, Kareem, Magic, McGee, Magic, Kareem, Worthy

Royals Twyman, Bockhorn, Embry

4th Qtr Lakers 112 Royals 74

9 Lakers 112 Royals 74

Lakers Kareem, Wilkes, Wilkes

Royals Smith

6 Lakers 118 Royals 86

Lakers Wilkes, Worthy, Worthy

Royals Twyman, Twyman(3) Oscar, Lucas, Lucas(3)

3 Lakers 124 Royals 93

Lakers Scott, Kareem, Rambis

Royals Embry, Oscar(3) Hawkins

Final Score Lakers 126 Royals 102

Lakers Lester

Royals Staverman(3) Olsen(3) Smith(3)

7 regions in the books.  Lakers moving on.

Kareem: 30 pts/11 boards/5 assists-Player of the Game

Magic: 18 pts/12 assists/6 boards

Worthy: 18 pts/5 boards

Scott: 16 pts

McAdoo: 11 pts/9 boards

McGee: 13 pts

Rambis: 5 pts/10 boards

All Region Team

C Kareem ('85 Lakers)

F Giannis ('20 Bucks)

F Wilkins ('87 Hawks)

G Jordan ('93 Bulls)

G Curry ('16 Warriors)

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament: Region 7 Round 1: Series 5 and 6

 3 and 4

3. 1993 NBA CHAMPION CHICAGO BULLS v 14. 1998 PAC DIV CHAMP SEATTLE SONICS

Bulls: 57-25, 1st Cen Div, 2nd Off, 7th Def

           d. Hawks East 1st Rnd 3-0

           d. Cavs East Semis 4-0

           d. Knicks East Finals 4-2

           d. Suns NBA Finals 4-2

           #39 overall seed

Coach: Phil Jackson

Starters

C Will Perdue             27-Vandy        4.7 PPG  14.8 PER 2.5 WS

F Horace Grant           27-Clemson   13.2         17.5         9.1

F Scottie Pippen         27-Cen Ark    18.6         19.2         8.6

G BJ Armstrong         25-Iowa          12.3         14.7        7.5

G Michael Jordan      29-UNC          32.6         29.7        17.2

Rotation Reserves

C Bill Cartwright       35-USF           5.6           8.3          1.2

F Stacey King            26-Oklahoma  5.4           12.8        1.9

F Scott Williams        24-UNC          5.9           14.6         3.9

G John Paxson           32-NDame      4.2           9.3          1.9

G Trent Tucker          33-Minnesota  5.2           14.1         2.8

Leaders: Jordan: 1st PPG, 1st Steals, 1st Steals/Gm, 1st PER, 1st WS, 1st WS/48, 1st +/-, 1st VORP, 3rd Steal %, 5th TO%, 2nd Trip-Doub

               Armstrong: 1st 3pt %, 3rd Off Rtng

               Grant: 5th Off Reb %

               Pippen: 2nd Trip-Doub

It's Jordan and the World Champion Bulls - he's first in PER, Win Shares, VORP.  Everyone else is support.  

Sonics: 61-21, 1st Pac Div, 3rd Off, 10th Def

             d. Wolves West 1st 3-2

             Lost Lakers West Semis 4-1

             #218 overall seed

Coach: George Karl

Starters

C Vin Baker              26-Hartford           19.2 PPG    20.4 PER 10.4 WS

F Sam Perkins          36-UNC                 7.2              13.6          4.5

F Detlef Schrempf    35-Washington      15.8            18.7          10.4

G Gary Payton          29-Ore St               19.2            21.6         12.5

G Hersey Hawkins   31-Bradley             10.5            15.4         8.6

Rotation Reserves    

C Jim McIlvane       25- Marquette         3.2              9.5           1.9

F Aaron Williams     26-Xavier               4.6              13.4         1.7

F Jerome Kersey      35-Longwood         6.3              12.6         1.2

G Greg Anthony      30-UNLV                5.2              16.8         2.7

G Dale Ellis             37-Tennessee         11.8             16.6         6

Leaders: Baker: 3rd Off Reb, 5th FG%

               Payton: 5th Assists, 3rd Steals, 4th Steals/Gm, 5th WS, 4th VORP

               Ellis: 1st 3Pt %, 1st Eff FG%, 3rd TS%

Baker and Payton, the only starters still in their 20s, lead the way, 20+ PER and double digit WS. 35 year old Detlef Schrempf and 37 year old Dale Ellis provide some shot making

Matchup:

C Baker (Sonics)

F Grant (Bulls)

F Push

G Payton (Sonics)

G Jordan (Bulls)

Bench: Sonics

Game One

1st Qtr 

9 Sonics 11 Bulls 2

Bulls Pippen

Sonics Hawkins(3) Baker, Hawkins(3) Baker(3)

6 Sonics 19 Bulls 13

Bulls Armstrong(3) Pippen, Williams, Perdue

Sonics Perkins(3) Perkins, Payton(3)

Seattle comes out bombing ; 5 triples in 6 minutes.  

3 Sonics 25 Bulls 21

Bulls Williams, Jordan(3) Pippen, Pippen(1)

Sonics Ellis, Williams, McIlvane

Score Sonics 32 Bulls 30

Bulls Pippen, Paxson(3) Pippen(1) Jordan(3)

Sonics Payton, Williams(3) McIlvane

6 apiece for Jordan and Pippen in the back half of the quarter, Sonics still up a bucket.

2nd Qtr

9 Sonics 39 Bulls 39

Bulls Pippen, Pippen(1) Armstrong, Jordan, Jordan

Sonics Schrempf, Ellis(3) Hawkins

6 Sonics 45 Bulls 45

Bulls Paxson, Grant, Grant

Sonics Hawkins, Ellis, Schrempf

Seattle's never trailed, but Baker has 3 fouls.  

3 Sonics 52 Bulls 47

Bulls Grant

Sonics Perkins(3) Perkins, Payton

Halftime Score Sonics 58 Bulls 56

Bulls Williams, Armstrong, Jordan, Pippen(1) Pippen

Sonics Baker, Baker, Ellis

Seattle's led from the tip - 24 minutes left in game one.  

3rd Qtr

9 Sonics 62 Bulls 62

Bulls Pippen, Pippen, Williams

Sonics Anthony, Kersey

6 Bulls 68 Sonics 66

Bulls Williams, Williams, Pippen

Sonics Baker, Kersey

Gary Payton's got 4 fouls and a Pippen layup at 6:22 gives Chicago its first lead.  

3 Bulls 74 Sonics 74

Bulls Williams, Jordan, Jordan

Sonics Perkins(3) Baker, Schrempf(3)

Score Bulls 78 Sonics 75

Bulls Jordan, Armstrong

Sonics Payton(1)

Jordan goes for 6 to close the 3rd, 12 minutes left.

4th Qtr

11:48: SEA: GP from the paint.

11:39: CHI: MJ pull up.

11:26: SEA: Baker off glass.

11:17: CHI: King floater

11:02: SEA: Nope, no one has missed yet in the quarter - GP from 8 feet.  82-81 Bulls.

10:46: CHI: Pippen finger roll.  

10:39: SEA: Detlef midrange.

10:24: CHI: Paxson misses a 3, first missed shot of the quarter, but Perdue is there for the putback.

7:03: SEA: The baskets then close down completely, no one scores for 3+ minutes until Baker's runner in the lane.

6:51: CHI: Pippen from the foul line.

6:23: CHI: Pippen steals the ball, BJ Armstrong scores from the wing.  90-85.

5:55: CHI: Jordan steals the ball - eschews the dunk, instead, makes a modern decision and drills a pull up 3.  Bulls by 8.

4:42: SEA: Seattle misses 4 times - but dominates the glass and GP scores from the wing.

4:08: SEA: Paxson misses and GP hits a corner 3.  Seattle cuts it to 3.

3:58: CHI: Jordan just takes it himself, layup.

3:39: SEA: Baker hits the 8 foot turnaround.

3:25: CHI: Pippen off glass.

2:34: SEA: Baker off glass.

1:48: CHI: Pippen hits the 11 footer.

:53: CHI: That might do it - the Sonics are empty and Perdue scores from the paint.  101-94

:45: SEA: GP triple

:28: CHI: Jordan 2 FT

:23: SEA: Baker from the block

:21: CHI: Jordan 1 FT

:15: SEA: Detlef cuts it to 3.

:12: CHI: Jordan 2 FT after a Payton miss

:04: CHI: Jordan 2 FT

Final: Bulls 108 Sonics 101

You can't play much better than Seattle did, really taking it to Chicago, but Jordan hits 7 foul shots in the last 28 seconds and the Bulls get game one.

Pippen: 32 pts/11 boards/10 assists - Player of the Game

Jordan: 32 pts/7 boards/9 assists/4 steals

Armstrong: 11 pts

Williams: 14 pts/8 boards

Baker: 23 pts/14 boards

Payton: 20 pts/6 boards/8 assists

Schrempf: 11 pts/6 boards/7 assists

Perkins: 13 pts

Hawkins: 10 pts/5 boards

Game 2

2nd Qtr

9 Bulls 4 Sonics 4

Bulls Pippen, Jordan

Sonics Baker, Payton

6 Bulls 11 Sonics 8

Bulls Grant, Pippen, Pippen, Pippen(1)

Sonics Perkins, Payton

Sonics hung so tough in game one; can they do the same today?

3 Sonics 16 Bulls 13

Bulls Grant

Sonics Baker, Hawkins, Baker, Payton

Score Sonics 23 Bulls 19

Bulls Jordan, Paxson, Pippen

Sonics McIlvane, Hawkins, Hawkins(3)

The answer is yes.  Bulls held under 20 points and Seattle is up 4.

2nd Qtr

9 Sonics 25 Bulls 24

Bulls King, King(1) King

Sonics Anthony

6 Sonics 32 Bulls 28

Bulls Pippen, Williams

Sonics Schrempf, Payton, Ellis(3)

Great defensive effort for the Sonics; Jordan has just 4 points.  

3 Sonics 38 Bulls 32

Bulls Pippen, Pippen

Sonics Payton, Baker, Schrempf

Score Sonics 41 Bulls 39

Bulls Grant, Jordan, Perdue

Sonics Kersey(1) Kersey

Terrific defense by Seattle; the Bulls held up 40 first half points.  Can Seattle hold tough?

3rd Qtr

9 Sonics 47 Bulls 46

Bulls Jordan, Jordan(3) King

Sonics Baker, Payton, Hawkins

6 Sonics 51 Bulls 51

Bulls Jordan(3) Armstrong

Sonics Hawkins, Hawkins

Jordan comes out firing, 8 in the first 6 of the 3rd to tie this score.

3 Bulls 58 Sonics 56

Bulls Grant, Williams(1) Williams, Jordan

Sonics Hawkins(3) Schrempf

3rd Qtr Score Bulls 64 Sonics 57

Bulls Jordan, Cartwright, Grant

Sonics Baker(1)

Its maybe slipping away from Seattle; they have just 57 points and trail by 7.

4th Qtr

9 Bulls 72 Sonics 67

Bulls Jordan, Williams(1) Williams, Pippen(3)

Sonics Schrempf(3) Anthony, Baker, Schrempf(1) Baker

6 Bulls 84 Sonics 74

Bulls King, Grant, Jordan, King, Armstrong, Williams

Sonics Schrempf, Baker, Payton(3)

Chicago's just got too much for Seattle; Scott Williams hits 5 to open the 4th and now the lead is double digits.

3 Bulls 94 Sonics 76

Bulls Paxson, Pippen, Grant, Cartwright, Nealy

Sonics Ellis

Score Bulls 96 Sonics 83

Bulls Corey Williams

Sonics Cotton(3) Cotton, Cotton

Chicago's just too much for a game Sonics club.  They move on.

Jordan: 22 pts/5 boards/10 assists-Player of the Game

Pippen: 20 pts/8 boards/5 assists/4 steals

Grant: 14 pts/12 boards

Williams: 10 pts/6 boards

King: 11 pts/5 boards

6. 2020 CEN DIV CHAMP MILWAUKEE BUCKS v 11. 2002 DALLAS MAVERICKS

Bucks: 56-17, 1st Cen Div, 8th Off, 1st Def

             d. Magic East 1st Rnd 4-1

             Lost Heat East Semis 4-1

             #90 overall seed

Coach: Mike Budenholzer, Asst Vin Baker

Starters

C Brook Lopez                     31-Stanford       12 PPG  15 PER 5.5 WS

F Giannis Antetokounmpo   25                      29.5        31.9      11.1

F Khris Middleton                28-Texas A&M 20.9       21.1      7.9

G Eric Bledsoe                    30-Kentucky     14.9          17.6       5.4

G Donte DiVincenzo            23-Villanova     9.2         14.1       4.3

Rotation Reserves

C Robin Lopez                     31-Stanford       5.4          10.2       1.5

F Ersan Ilyasova                  32                      6.6           14.9       3.6

F Wesley Matthews             33-Marquette    7.4            8.1         3.2

G George Hill                       33-IUPUI          9.4         16.9        5.5

G Pat Connaughton             27-NDame        5.4           11.5        3.4

Leaders: Giannis 5th PPG, 4th Reb, 2nd Reb/Gm, 1st PER, 3rd WS, 1st WS/48, 1st +/- 2nd VORP, 1st Def Rtng, 4th Reb %

               BLopez 2nd Blocks, 2nd Blocks/Gm, 4th Def WS, 5th Def +/- 2nd Def Rtng, 3rd Block %

               Middleton 3rd FT%

               DiVincenzo  3rd Def Rtng

               Hill 1st 3 Pt %, 3rd Off Rtng

It's Giannis and the Covid Bucks; he's got a PER over 30. Middleton goes over 20; the Lopez twins are on this club.  Vin Baker was in the previous series with the Sonics and two decades later he's on the Bucks bench.

Mavs: 57-25, 2nd MW Div, 1st Off, 25th Def

           d. Wolves West 1st Rnd 3-0

           Lost Kings West Semis 4-1

          #167 overall seed

Coach: Don Nelson, Asst: Sidney Moncrief

Starters

C Juwon Howard       28-Michigan     12.9 PPG  15.1 PER  3.4 WS

F Dirk Nowitzki        23                      23.4           24.1          13.4

F Michael Finley       28-Wisconsin    20.6           17.6          6.3

G Steve Nash             27-Santa Clara  17.9          20.7           9.9

G Adrian Griffin        27-Seton Hall   7.2             14.2           3.5

Rotation Reserves

C Shawn Bradley       29-BYU           4.1             14.6           2.3

F Raef LaFrentz         25-Kansas        10.8           15.8           1.9

F Eduardo Najera       25-Oklahoma   6.5             14.8           4

G Tim Hardaway       35-UTEP          9.6              13.4          1.6

G Nick Van Exel        30-Cincinnati  3.2               16.3          1.5

Leaders: Dirk: 4th Def Reb, 5th PER, 3rd WS, 3rd WS/48, 4th Off +/-, 5th Def Reb %

               LaFrentz: 2nd Blocks, 2nd Blocks/Gm, 3rd Block %

               Nash: 5th FT%, 5th 3Pt %, 5th Eff FG%, 5th TS%

               Finley: 5th TO%

Fun team that can't play defense - 23 year old Dirk leads the way; he and Nash both go over 20 PER; look at Hardaway and Van Exel coming off the bench. Sidney Moncrief returns to Milwaukee as a Dallas assistant for Nellie.

Matchup

C Push

F Giannis(Bucks)

F Middleton(Bucks)

G Nash(Mavs)

G Push

Bench: Bucks

Game One

1st Qtr

9 Bucks 5 Mavs 2

Bucks Bledsoe(3) DiVencenzo

Mavs Finley

6 Bucks 12 Mavs 8

Bucks Middleton(3) Giannis, BLopez

Mavs Nash, Howard, Griffin

Mavs don't have a lot of defense and Milwaukee can score points, factor in the three ball and maybe this isn't as close as it looks on paper.

3 Bucks 22 Mavs 14

Bucks DiVincenzo(3) Giannis, Hill, Middleton(3)

Mavs Van Exel(1) Nash(3) Bradley

1st Qtr Score Bucks 33 Mavs 18

Bucks Middleton, RLopez, Connaughton, Ilyasova, Connaughton(3)

Mavs Van Exel, Griffin

Blowout alert.  Winners to meet the '93 Bulls.

2nd Qtr

9 Bucks 42 Mavs 22

Bucks Connaughton, Ilyasova(3) Ilyasova, Giannis

Mavs Finley, Dirk

6 Bucks 46 Mavs 28

Bucks Giannis, Matthews

Mavs Finley(1) Dirk, Finley(1) LaFrentz

If Ilyasova comes off the bench to score more than Dirk, this is going to be a quick 2-0 series.

3 Bucks 56 Mavs 40

Bucks Giannis, Middleton, Middleton, DiVincenzo, Giannis

Mavs Dirk, Van Exel(3) Dirk, Finley, Finley(3)

Halftime Score Bucks 63 Mavs 45

Bucks Matthews(1) Bledsoe(3) RLopez(3)

Mavs Nash(3) Finley

Game one is done; you can change the channel.  

3rd Qtr

9 Bucks 68 Mavs 57

Bucks DiVincenzo, Middleton(3)

Mavs Finley, Finley, Dirk(3) Nash(3) Hardaway

6 Bucks 81 Mavs 59

Bucks Middleton(3) Middleton(3) Middleton(3) DiVincenzo, Giannis

Mavs Dirk

Khris Middleton nails 4 straight triples for the Bucks and the whipping continues.

3 Bucks 89 Mavs 62

Bucks Middleton(3) Giannis, BLopez(3)

Mavs Nash(3)

3rd Qtr Score Bucks 100 Mavs 64

Bucks Middleton, Ilyasova(3) Middleton(3) Bledsoe(3)

Mavs LaFrentz

100 points and still a quarter to play.  Khris Middleton scores 18 in the third.  

4th Qtr

9 Bucks 100 Mavs 73

Bucks 

Mavs Finley, Howard, Finley, Nash(3)

6 Bucks 106 Mavs 78

Bucks Giannis, Donte, Giannis

Mavs Nash(3) Nash

3 Bucks 123 Mavs 87

Bucks Giannism Connaughton, Hill(3) Giannis(3) RLopez, Middleton(3) TAntetokounmpo(3)

Mavs Finley, Nash, Finley, Najera, Johnson(1)

Final Score Bucks 135 Mavs 91

Bucks Mason(1) Thanasis, Thanasis, Mason, Mason(3) Brown

Mavs ZhiZhi(3) ZhiZhi(1)

The Bucks just blast Dallas - just a terryfing offensive performance.  

Middleton: 35 pts/7 boards - Player of the Game

Giannis: 25 pts/12 boards/11 assists

DiVincenzo 13 pts/7 boards

Iyasova: 10 pts

Nash: 24 pts/6 boards/9 assists

Finey: 25 pts/5 boards

Nowitzki: 13 pts/12 boards

Game Two

1st Qtr

9 Bucks 10 Mavs 7

Bucks DiVincenzo(3) Giannis, Giannis, Giannis(3)

Mavs Howard, Nash, Nash, Howard(1)

6 Bucks 19 Mavs 9

Bucks DiVincenzo(3) DiVincenzo, Giannis, Giannis

Mavs Dirk

Giannis opens up with 11 - the Bucks might end this early.

3 Bucks 27 Mavs 13

Bucks Giannis, Hill, Giannis(3) RLopez(1)

Mavs Nash, Bradley

1st Qtr Score Bucks 33 Mavs 15

Bucks Giannis(3) Giannis(1) Bledsoe

Mavs LaFrentz

It's done, the Bucks are moving on.  

2nd Qtr

9 Bucks 36 Mavs 19

Bucks Connaughton(3)

Mavs Najera, Nash

6 Bucks 47 Mavs 22

Bucks Ilyasova, Middleton, Ilyasova, DiVincenzo(3) RLopez

Mavs Najera, Bradley

Ready for Giannis/Middleton against Jordan/Pippen in Rnd 2?

3 Bucks 49 Mavs 30

Bucks RLopez

Mavs Dirk, Nash, Griffin, Dirk

Halftime Score Bucks 58 Mavs 32

Bucks Hill(3) Giannis, BLopez, Giannis

Mavs Finley

3rd Qtr

9 Bucks 64 Mavs 38

Bucks Giannis, Middleton, DiVincenzo

Mavs Bradley, Van Exel, Finley

6 Bucks 73 Mavs 45

Bucks Ilyasova, Giannis, Giannis, Middleton(3) 

Mavs Bradley, Van Exel(3) Dirk

Bucks sure look better than the 90th overall seed.  6 more for Giannis.

3 Bucks 82 Mavs 51

Bucks Bledsoe, Bledsoe, Ilyasova(3) Bledsoe

Mavs Najera, Najera, Dirk

3rd Qtr Score Bucks 94 Mavs 59

Bucks BLopez, BLopez(3) Hill(3) Hill Middleton

Mavs LaFrentz, Nash, Nash, Hardaway

4th Qtr

9 Bucks 100 Mavs 68

Bucks DiVincenzo(3) Middleton, Giannis(1)

Mavs Howard, LaFrenz(3) Finley, Bradley

6 Bucks 112 Mavs 78

Bucks Giannis, Giannis, Giannis(1) RLopez, RLopez(3)

Mavs Finley, Najera, Dirk(3) Nash(3)

Another Giannis half dozen.

3 Bucks 120 Mavs 80

Bucks Matthews(3) DiVincenzo(3) BLopez

Mavs Finley

Final Score Bucks 127 Mavs 82

Bucks DiVincenzo, DiVincenzo, Wilson(3)

Mavs LaFrentz

Giannis: 36 pts/13 boards - Player of the Game

DiVincenzo: 23 pts/9 boards/5 assists

Middleton: 11 pts/8 boards/11 assists

Hill: 10 pts/5 boards

RLopez: 12 pts

All Region Team

C Walton ('77 Blazers)

F Giannis ('20 Bucks)

F Pippen ('93 Bulls)

G Jordan ('93 Bulls)

G Curry ('16 Warriors)

May 2021 Athlete of the Month

 April

Phil Mickelson.  Runners-up: Josh Taylor, Sabrina Ionescu, Robert Lewandowski

Closing in on halfway through the year - here's the race for 2021 Athlete of the Year.  

January-Travis Kelce

February-Tom Brady

March- Nathan Chen

April-Steph Curry

May-Phil Mickelson

2021 NBA Top 50

 Here were the 50 best players in the NBA in the 2020-2021 season.

1. N.Jokic Nuggets C             ALL NBA 1st Team – MVP1

2. R.Gobert Jazz C                ALL NBA 2nd Team – MVP2

3. S.Curry Warriors G           ALL NBA 1st Team – MVP3

4. G.Antetokounmpo Bucks F ALL NBA 1st Team

5. D.Lillard Blazers G          ALL NBA 1st Team 

6. L.Doncic Mavs G            ALL NBA 2nd Team 

7. J.Randle Knicks F           ALL NBA 1st Team

8. J.Butler Heat F                ALL NBA 2nd Team

9. J.Embid Sixers C             ALL NBA 3rd Team

10. C.Paul G Suns                 ALL NBA 2nd Team

11. K.Leonard Clips F           ALL NBA 2nd Team 

12. P.George Clips G             ALL NBA 3rd Team

13. C.Capela Hawks C 

14. Z.Williamson F Pelicans  ALL NBA 3rd Team

15. B.Adebyo C Heat 

16. L.James F Lakers            ALL NBA 3rd Team

17. M.Bridges Suns F 

18. J.Harden G Nets              ALL NBA 3rd Team

19. K.Irving G Nets 

20. J.Tatum F Celtics 

21. M.Conley Jazz G 

22. J.Holiday Bucks G 

23. F. VanVleet Raptors G 

24. T.Young G Hawks 

25. B.Beal Wizards G 

26. T.Rozier G Hornets 

27. Z.Lavine G Bulls 

28. B.Simmons G Sixers 

29. N.Vucevic C Bulls 

30. T.Harris F Sixers 

31. D.Green Warriors F

32. J.Ingles F Jazz 

33. K.Middleton F Bucks 

34. J.Harris G Nets 

35. D.Sabonis F Pacers

36. J.Valanciunas C Grizzlies 

37. CJ McCollum G Blazers 

38. D.Mitchell G Jazz 

39. J.Brown G Celtics 

40. K.Anderson F Grizzlies

41. J.Collins F Hawks 

42. D.Ayton C Suns 

43. D.Booker G Suns 

44. M.Porter F Nuggets 

45. D.Green F Sixers 

46. J.Murray G Nuggets 

47. KA Towns C Wolves 

48. D.Fox G Kings 

49. L.Ball G Pelicans 

50. K.Durant F Nets 

2021 NBA Playoff Predictions

 East

Philly over Washington

Brook over Boston

Milwauk d. Miami

Atlanta d. NY

Philly over Atlanta

Mil over Brook

Philly over Milwauk

West

Utah over GSW/Mem

LAL over Pho

Den over Port

LAC over Dall

LAC over Utah

LAL over Den

LAC over LAL

Finals: Philly over LAC