256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament: Region 14 Finals

 Region 13

1. 2009 NBA CHAMPION LA LAKERS v. 3. 2013 WEST CHAMP SA SPURS

Lakers: 65-17, 1st Pac Div, 3rd Off/6th Def

              d. Jazz West 1st Rnd 4-1

              d. Rockets West Semis 4-3

               d. Nuggets West Finals 4-2

               d. Magic NBA Finals 4-1

               #14 overall seed

               d. '98 Suns (2-0, Kobe 2 PotG)

               d. '05 Heat (2-1, Kobe)

               d. '84 Celtics (2-0 Kobe)

Coach: Phil Jackson, GM Mitch Kupchak, Asst Kurt Rambis, Brian Shaw

Starters

C Andrew Bynum                    21                      14.3              20             5.5          1.1

F Pau Gasol                              28                     18.9 PPG     22.6 PER  13.9 WS  5

F Trevor Ariza                          23-UCLA          8.9               15.5          6.1          2.3

G Derek Fisher                         34-L Rock         9.9               12.1          6.3         1.3

G Kobe Bryant                         30                      26.8             24.4          12.7  5.9VORP

Rotation Reserves

C Lamar Odom                         29-R Island       11.3             16.6          6.9     2.4

F Vladmir Radmanovic           28                       5.9                11.6          1.6    .5

F Luke Walton                         28-Arizona         5                   11.3          2        .3

G Shannon Brown                   23-Mich St         3.2                15             .4       .1

G Sasha Vujavic                      24                        5.8               12.6         3.7      .9

Leaders Kobe 3rd PPG, 5th +/-, 5th VORP, 4th Trip Doub, 1st Team All NBA

               Gasol 5th FG%, 4th WS, 5th WS/48, 1st Off Rtng, 3rd Team All NBA

               Ariza 2nd Stl %

The World Champion Lakers are top 6 in both offense and defense and the top seeds in Region 14; Gasol is 28, Kobe's 30 and they both cross 20 PER and double digit WS; 21 year old Andrew Bynum also hits 20 PER.  Lakers got 3 Regional Champs, but none of them is a Kobe team; he was NBA Finals MVP in 2009. He and Gasol were All Stars and Kobe was co-MVP of that game.  They beat Shaq and swept Bird - the top seeds in the Region look to take the title.

Spurs: 58-24, 1st SW Div, 7th Off/3rd Def

            d. Lakers West 1st Rnd 4-0

            d. Warriors West Semis 4-2

            d. Grizzlies West Finals 4-0

            Lost Heat NBA Finals 4-3

            #46 overall seed

            d. '06 Suns (2-0, Splitter/Duncan)

            d. '74 Bucks (2-0, Duncan 1)

            d. '96 Lakers (2-0 Splitter/Duncan)

Coach: Gregg Popovich, Asst Mike Budenholzer

Starters

C Tim Duncan             36-Wake             17.8 PPG  24.4 PER  8.3 WS  3.8 VORP

F Tiago Splitter           28                        10.3          18.7           8.2        2.1

F Kawhi Leonard        21-San Diego St  11.9          16.4           6.2        2.3

G Tony Parker             30                        20.3          23             9.3         3.1 

G Manu Ginobli          35                        11.8          19              4.5         2

Rotation Reserves

C Matt Bonner             32-Florida           4.2           11.8           2.5        .5

F Boris Diaw               30                        5.8            11.9          4.4        1.2

F DeJuan Blair             23-Pitt                5.4            14.6          2.2        .1

G Patty Mills               24-St Marys        5.1            14.1          1.5       .4

G Danny Green            25-UNC             10.5           14.1         5.9       2.7

Leaders Duncan 5th Blocks, 3rd Blocks/Gm, 4th Def WS, 2nd Def +/-, 1st Def Rtng, 3rd Def Reb%, 4th Block%, 1st Team All NBA Team

               Parker 5th WS/48, 4th Asst%, 2nd Team All NBA

3rd seed in the Region is the Spurs team that lost to Miami in the Finals; it's a defense first group; 36 year old Duncan and 30 year old Parker each pass 20 PER. The Spurs are looking for their 3rd Regional Title; the '15 and '17 groups have already won.  Duncan was 2nd team all defense; he and Parker were All Stars; the Spurs are undefeated in the tournament.

Matchup:

C Duncan (Spurs)

F Gasol (Lakers)

F Kawhi (Spurs)

G Parker (Spurs)

G Kobe (Lakers)

Bench: Spurs

Gm 1: LA: Staples: Joel Meyers/Mychal Thompson

1Qtr

9 Lakers 8 Spurs 7

Lakers Kobe, Ariza, Kobe, Gasol

Spurs Parker, Parker, Ginobli(3)

6 Spurs 16 Lakers 15

Lakers Kobe(3) Kobe(1) Kobe

Spurs Parker, Duncan, Ginobli, Kawhi(3)

Region 14 Finals underway.

3 Spurs 28 Lakers 24

Lakers Walton, Gasol(3) Kobe, Gasol

Spurs Duncan, Duncan (3) Parker, Parker, Kawhi(3)

1Score Spurs 32 Lakers 28

Lakers Odom, Walton

Spurs Duncan, Duncan

Duncan's got 11.  

2Qtr

9 Spurs 41 Lakers 37

Lakers Bynum(3) Radmanovic, Vujacic(3)

Spurs Blair, Ginobli(3) Ginobli, Splitter

6 Spurs 49 Lakers 42

Lakers Kobe(3) Kobe

Spurs Splitter, Mills(3) Splitter, Bonner(1)

Spurs continue leading, 10 for Ginobli.

3 Spurs 53 Lakers 49

Lakers Kobe, Ariza, Odom(3)

Spurs Splitter, Green

HScore Spurs 59 Lakers 54

Lakers Ariza(3) Fisher

Spurs Parker, Splitter, Duncan

10 in the quarter for Spitter.

3Qtr

9 Spurs 69 Lakers 59

Lakers Kobe, Walton(3)

Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(3) Duncan, Duncan

6 Spurs 77 Lakers 66

Lakers Walton, Bynum, Gasol(3)

Spurs Mills(3) Splitter , Parker, Duncan

it's been San Antonio all day; Duncan adds 8 more

3 Spurs 82 Lakers 69

Lakers Kobe(1) Odom

Spurs Parker, Kawhi, Splitter(1)

3Score Spurs 84 Lakers 76

Lakers Kobe, Gasol, Kobe(3)

Spurs Duncan

8 in the qtr for Kobe, can LA make a run?

4Qtr

9 Spurs 88 Lakers 85

Lakers Kobe, Odom, Kobe(3) Bynum

Spurs Splitter, Duncan

6 Spurs 98 Lakers 90

Lakers Kobe(3) Radmanovic

Spurs Duncan, Parker(1) Green(3) Duncan, Diaw

LA cut a 13 pt deficit to 1 - but that Danny Green triple stopped the bleeding.

3 Spurs 107 Lakers 94

Lakers Fisher, ariza

Spurs Mills(3) Mills(3) Mills(3)

FScore Spurs 116 Lakers 97

Lakers Walton(3)

Spurs Kawhi, Ginobli(3) Kawhi, Ginobli

Patty Mills scored 9 straight pts - just drained 3 triples, pop, pop, pop and it ended the game.

Duncan: 29 pts/9 boards-Player of the Game

Kawhi: 12 pts/8 boards

Splitter: 15 pts/13 boards/5 assists

Parker: 17 pts/5 assists

Ginobli: 18 pts/9 boards/9 assists

Mills: 15 pts

Gasol: 12 pts/10 boards

Kobe: 36 pts/5 boards/5 assists

Walton: 12 pts

Gm 2: San Antonio: AT&T Center: Bill Land/Sean Elliott

1Qtr

9 Spurs 5 Lakers 4

Spurs Kawhi(3) Ginobli

Lakers Gasol, Bynum

6 Spurs 15 Lakers 15

Spurs Splitter, Parker, Kawhi(3), Duncan, Parker(1)

Lakers Gasol, Kobe (3) Kobe, Kobe, Bynum

Game 2 - Spurs looking to advance.

3 Lakers 22 Spurs 22

Spurs Ginobli, Parker, Parker(3)

Lakers Bynum Fisher(3) Odom

1Score Lakers 30 Spurs 26

Spurs Parker, Blair

Lakers Kobe, Vujacic, Odom, Radmanovic

LA takes its first lead.

2Qtr

9 Lakers 40 Spurs 32

Spurs Mills, Splitter, Splitter

Lakers Ariza(3) Gasol, Vujacic, Odom, Odom

6 Lakers 46 Spurs 36

Spurs Splitter, Duncan

Lakers odom, Gasol, Kobe

LA has turned this around - Odom with 6 to open the qtr.

3 Lakers 50 Spurs 45

Spurs Splitter, Splitter(3) Kawhi, Green

Lakers Gasol, Bynum

HScore Lakers 52 Spurs 47

Spurs Mills

Lakers Brown

Splitter with 11 in the second.  

3Qtr

9 Lakers 56 Spurs 51

Spurs Splitter, Kawhi

Lakers Gasol, Ariza

6 lakers 58 Spurs 57

Spurs Dunca, Diaw, Parker

Lakers Kobe

The Sours continue to slice away.

3 Lakers 65 Spurs 62

Spurs Green(3) Diaw

Lakers Odom Fisher, Kobe(3)

3Score Lakers 71 Spurs 67

Spurs Parker, Ginobli(3)

Lakers Gasol, Kobe, Kobe

Kobe with 9 in the qtr.  

4Qtr

9 Lakers 77 Spurs 77

Spurs Green(3) Duncan, Duncan, Kawhi(3)

Lakers Bynum Kobe, Bynum

6 Lakers 85 Spurs 80

Spurs Blair(3)

Lakers Kobe(3) Gasol, Vujacic(3)

San Antonio ties it up - but 5 more from Kobe and LA is up 5

3 Spurs 92 Lakers 89

Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(3) Ginobli, Duncan, Parker, Splitter(1)

Lakers Ariza, Odom

2:22 SA: The Spurs have come back - and now Duncan puts back a Ginobli miss and it's a 5 pt game

1:37: SA: The dagger.  Ginobli 3.  

Bynum scores, Splitter scores, Bynum again. Duncan FT, DFisher triples at 15 seconds and LA trails by 4.  

Parker hits 3 FT for the final

FScore: Spurs 103 Lakers 96

We may have a favorite headed to the next round = the Spurs went undefeated in regional play, 8-0 and take region 14.  25 for Kobe in the loss, he takes region MVP

Splitter: 18 pts/12 boards/4 steals

Duncan: 17 pts/12 boards/4 blocks

Parker: 19 pts/9 assists

Kawhi: 13 pts/8 boards

Ginobli: 15 pts/6 assists

All Region

C Duncan ('13 Spurs 4)

F Bird ('84 Celtics 3)

F Splitter ('13 Spurs 3)

G Kobe ('09 Lakers 6)

G DJ ('84 Celtics 1)

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament: Region 13: Final

 region 12

4. 2020 NBA CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 7. 2002 MW DIV CHAMP SA SPURS 

Lakers: 52-19, 1st Pac Div, 11th Off/3rd Def

              d. Blazers West 1st Rnd 4-1

              d. Rockets West Semis 4-1

              d. Nuggets West Finals 4-1

              d. Heat West Finals 4-2

              #52 overall seed

              d. '74 Celtics (2-0, LeBron 2 PotG)

              d. '08 Jazz (2-0 Davis/LeBron)

              d. '71 Bucks (2-0 Davis/LeBron)

Coach: Frank Vogel, Asst Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins

Starters:

C Dwight Howard                          34                         7.5 PPG     18.7 PER  5.4 WS  .7

F Anthony Davis                             26-Kentucky       26.1            27.4          11.1  5.4

F LeBron James                              35                        25.3            25.5          9.8    6.1 VORP

G Rajon Rondo                               33-Kentucky        7.1              12.4        1.4      .2

G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope          26-Georgia          9.3             11             3.7      .5

Rotation Reserves:

C Javale McGee                              32-Nevada           6.6             19.4          4.7     1

F Kyle Kuzma                                 24-Utah               12.8            12.2          2       -.2

F Danny Green                                32-UNC              8                 10.8         3.4     1.1

G Alex Caruso                                 25-Texas A&M   5.5             10.8          2.3       .5

G Avery Bradley                             29-Texas              8.6              8.9           1.5       -.2

Leaders: LeBron: 1st Assts, 1st Assts/Gm, 5th +/-, 3rd VORP, 1st Asst%, 2nd Trip Doub, 1st Team All NBA

                Davis: 3rd Blocks, 3rd Blocks/Gm, 4th PER, 4th WS, 3rd WS/48, 4th Def Rtng, 5th Block %, 1st Team All NBA

               Howard 5th Def Rtng, 3rd Off Reb %

The Covid Champs were just okay offensively, but had the third best defense in 2020; The King is 35, he and 26 year old Anthony Davis both cross 25 PER. Both were All Stars and Davis was All Defense first team; LeBron won the NBA Finals MVP. The Lakers have swept through the tournament. 

Spurs: 58-24, 1st MW Div, 9th Off/2nd Def

            d. Sonics West 1st Rnd 3-2

            Lost Lakers West Semis 4-1

            #109 overall seed

            d. '08 Hornets (2-1 Duncan 2)

            d. '79 Sonics (2-1 Duncan)

            d. '06 Heat (2-0 Duncan)

Coach Gregg Popovich, Asst Mike Budenholzer

Starters

C David Robinson            36-Navy                  12.2 PPG   20.3 PER 10.1 WS   3.4

F Tim Duncan                   25-Wake                 25.5            27            17.8         8VORP

F Malik Rose                    27-Drexel                9.4             16.4          4.4           .3

G Terry Porter                  38-Wisc Stev Pt       5.5             13.9          3.5          1.2

G Steve Smith                   32-Mich St.            11.6            13.9         6.4           1.6

Rotation Reserves

C Danny Ferry                  35-Duke                   4.6             11.2         2.3         .5

F Bruce Bowen                 30-Cal St Fullerton  7                8.2           1.9         .3

F Charles Smith                26-N Mexico            7.4             13.2         2             .8

G Tony Parker                  19                              9.2             11.7         3.8          .6

G Antonio Daniels            26-BGSU                 9.2             13.4         5.9           1.3

Leaders Duncan 5th PPG, 1st Reb, 2nd Reb/Gm, 3rd Blocks, 4th Blocks/Gm, 2nd PER, 1st WS, 2nd WS/48, 2nd +/- 1st VORP, 2nd Def Rtng, 3rd Def Rtng, 1st Team All NBA

               Smith: 1st 3 Pt%

               Robinson: 5th Def +/-, 3rd Def Rtng

               Rose: 4th Def Rtng

Time for another Spurs team as we finish region 13, 25 year old Duncan is one of the 2 best players in the league in 2002, 1st in VORP and Win Shares, 2nd in PER and WS/48. He won the MVP and was all Defense first team.  The 36 year old Admiral also hits 20 PER and double digit WS. Duncan was an All Star; 30 year old Bruce Bowen was 2nd team all Defense.  Duncan's been PotG in all 6 Spurs wins.

Matchup:

C Robinson (Spurs)

F Duncan (Spurs)

F LeBron (lakers)

G Porter (Spurs)

G Smith (Spurs)

Bench: Push

We get the Hall of Fame front court battle - 36 year old Robinson/25 year old Duncan v. 35 year old LeBron/26 year old Davis.  Spurs are pretty clearly better everywhere else, but the Lakers have 20 years on them and are undefeated. 

12 teams are in the Sweet 16.  Heavily skews modern, as you can see.  

'80 Lakers

'89 Lakers

'15 Spurs

'17 Spurs

'20 Bucks

'12 Heat

'13 Heat

'18 Warriors

'11 Thunder

'15 Rockets

'11 Bulls

'95 Sonics

The winner here will be the first organization to win 3 Regional Titles; if the Lakers win, that will give LeBron 3 Regional Titles, pulling him ahead of Duncan/Parker/Durant/Harden.

The Region 14 Final is next - also Spurs/Lakers.

The Region 15 Final is another Covid team, the '20 Clips, against who would be just the 2nd 90s team in the field, the '92 Cavs

And we will conclude with Region 16 - Dirk and the Mavs against the last chance the Celtics have to win a regional title.  

Gm 1: LA; Staples: Announcers: Bill MacDonald/Mychal Thompson

1Qtr

9 Spurs 4 Lakers 2

Lakers KCP

Spurs Duncan, Duncan

6 Lakers 7 Spurs 7

Lakers Lebron(3) Davis

Spurs Duncan(3)

Region 13 is underway

3 Lakers 15 Spurs 14

Lakers Lebron, Rondo, Howard, Howard

Spurs Smith(3) Robinson, Duncan

1Score Spurs 21 Lakers 16

Lakers LeBron(1)

Spurs Duncan, Robinson(3) Daniels

Defensive battle here; Lakers were the third best defense in '20, the Spurs the second best in '02

2Qtr

9 Spurs 32 Lakers 24

Lakers Davis, Davis, McGee, LeBron

Spurs Daniels, CSmith, Robinson, Parker, Bowen(3)

6 Spurs 38 Lakers 33

Lakers Davis, Bradley(3) Bradley, LeBron

Spurs Duncan, Duncan, Duncan

Duncan's got 17; 4 Hall of Famers in the frontcourts are fighting it out in this series.

3 Spurs 47 Lakers 41

Lakers Bradley(3) Rondo(3) LeBron

Spurs Daniels, Robinson, Dunca, Porter(3)

HScore Lakers 51 Spurs 50

Lakers LeBron, LeBron, McGee, Davis, LeBron

Spurs Robinson(3)

LeBron's got 18, Duncan 19, Robinson 12, Davis 10

3Qtr

9 Lakers 56 Spurs 54

Lakers LeBron(3) Howard

Spurs Rose, SSmith

6 Lakers 66 Spurs 62

Lakers McGee, KCP, Caruso, Rondo, Davis

Spurs Parker(1) SSmith(3) Duncan, Robinson

LeBron and Duncan locked in this game one battle.

3 Lakers 74 Spurs 65

Lakers KCP, Bradley, Davis, Davis

Spurs Bowen(1) Parker

3Score Lakers 82 Spurs 74

Lakers Bradleym KCP, Davis, Howard(1)

Spurs Porter, Duncan, Smith, Parker(3)

AD now has 18 and LA leads by 8.

4Qtr

9 Lakers 89 Spurs 83

Lakers Rondo(3) Howard, Rondo

Spurs Rose, Rose, Porter(3) Smith

6 Lakers 96 Spurs 89

Lakers Davis, Caruso(3) LeBron

Spurs Robinson, Duncan, CSmith

Is LA about to take game one?

3 Lakers 102 Spurs 95

Lakers Davis, Lebron, LeBron

Spurs Porter(3) Rose, Duncan(1)

FScore Lakers 117 Spurs 107

Lakers KCP(3) Davis, Davis, Rondo, Davis, leBron, LeBron

Spurs Dunca, Duncan, Robinson, Smith, SSmith(3)

The Spurs never make that run - closest they get down the stretch is 6.

LeBron: 31 pts/11 assists/5 boards

Davis: 28 pts/11 boards/5 assists

Rondo: 14 pts/7 boards/5 assists

KCP: 12 pts

Howard: 9 pts/13 boards

Bradley: 12 pts

Duncan: 30 pts/9 boards

Robinson: 18 pts/12 boards

SSmith: 18 pts

Rose: 8 pts/10 boards

Porter: 11 pts/8 boards

Gm 2: San Antonio: Alamodome: Joel Meyers/Sean Elliott

1Qtr

9 Lakers 8 Spurs 5

Spurs Porter(3) Rose

Lakers LeBron(3) LeBron(3) Davis

6 Lakers 14 Spurs 9

Spurs Rose, Rose

Lakers Davis, Howard, LeBron

Lakers are looking to close.

3 Lakers 18 Spurs 18

Spurs Smith(3) Duncan, Rose, Porter

Lakers LeBron, KCP

1Score Spurs 24 Lakers 22

Spurs CSmith, Dunca, Robinson

Lakers McGee, LeBron

A dozen for the King.

2Qtr

9 Spurs 27 Lakers 27

Spurs Parker(3)

Lakers Davis, Caruso(3)

6 Spurs 32 Lakers 31

Spurs Rose(3) Duncan

Lakers McGee, Bradley

How about 11 for Malik Rose?  

3 Spurs 37 Lakers 36

Spurs SSmith, Duncan(3)

Lakers LeBron, leBron, Caruso(1)

HScore Lakers 42 Spurs 39

Spurs Duncan

Lakers Davis, LeBron, Bradley

Defense dominating in this one; 18 for LeBron as the Lakers are a half from the Region 13 title.

3Qtr

9 Spurs 48 Lakers 46

Spurs  Robinson, SSmith, SSmith, Robinson(1) Porter

Lakers Howard, Howard

6 Spurs 54 Lakers 51

Spurs Duncan, CSmith, Rose

Lakers KCP, Caruso(3)

Just 5 for Robinson today, Lakers really bottling him up - but if he gets going, that might force the showdown.

3 Spurs 61 Lakers 58

Spurs Duncan, Parker(3) Porter

Lakers McGee, LeBron(3) Howard

3Score Spurs 65 Lakers 65

Spurs Bowen, Rose

Lakers Davis, LeBron(3) Davis

LeBron has 24; we get a good game 2.

4Qtr

9 Lakers 71 Spurs 70

Spurs Parker, Daniels

Lakers LeBron, Davis, LeBron

6 Lakers 76 Spurs 74

Spurs Daniels, Parker

Lakers Bradley, Bradley(3)

5:41: LA: Avery Bradley has scored 7 straight LA pts

5:31: SA: The Admiral dunk.  

5:08: LA: Alex Caruso from the wing.

4:58: SA: Tony Parker 10 footer.

4:51: LA: Anthony Davis fadeaway.  82-78

4:11: SA: Duncan, post moves.  

3:37: SA: Duncan hits a 6 footer and we are tied.  

2:31: LA: Anthony Davis from outside the paint.  

2:18: SA: Malik Rose thunders home a dunk.  

1:40: LA: Howard's fouled hard - makes 1 and it's a 1 pt Laker game.

:57: SA: Terry Porter in traffic gives the Spurs the lead.

:50: LA: Anthony Davis goes off glass.

:39: SA: Malik Rose 15 footer.  88-87 Spurs

'

LeBron misses.  

Duncan misses.

5 seconds left.  Spurs by 1.  Lakers call time.  They'll get the ball at halfcourt.

LeBron?  Davis?  Who takes it?

It's Anthony Davis - he's on the wing - he fires -

GOOOOOOD!!!!  GOOOOOOOD!!!  GOOOOOOD!!!! GOOOOD!!!

Anthony Davis hits a triple at the buzzer to end the series!! LA takes Region 13!!

Final: Lakers 90 Spurs 88

That's 3 - the Laker organization becomes the first to win 3 Regional Titles and they're about to shoot for a 4th.  

Davis: 23 pts/8 boards/5 assists/Buzzer Beater-Player of the Game

LeBron: 28 pts/12 boards/6 assists

Howard: 9 pts/11 boards

Bradley: 11 pts

All Region

C Kareem ('71 Bucks-4)

F Duncan ('02 Spurs-6)

F LeBron ('20 Lakers-5)-MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

G Wade ('06 Heat-2)

G Smith ('02 Spurs)

2022 Royal Rumble Preview/Every Match in Royal Rumble History Ranked

 

Regular readers know that I do quarterly previews of the WWE traditional big 4 PPV and include my contemporaneous rankings of each match in the history of that PPV (I'm not watching 1987 matches through 2020 eyes, I'm an old, I wanted them in 1987; I've seen every major WWF/E PPV at or around its original date).

Really regular readers know that these previews predate this space, I've been doing them since WMXII for the benefit of my old writing partner, Kirk Hiner; he's a lapsed WWE fan but has been a Day 1 AEW supporter and you (yes you) may know him as "guy in Minnesota North Stars jersey" at Dynamite this week.  

I assume, through TV magic, he will also be wearing said jersey for Rampage.

Royal Rumble 35 is Saturday night from St Louis.  Here's the card.

1. WWE UNIVERSAL TITLE: ROMAN REIGNS v. SETH ROLLINS

2. WWF TITLE: BROCK LESNAR (w/Heyman) v. BOBBY LASHLEY (w/MVP)

3. RAW WOMEN'S TITLE: BECKY LYNCH v. DOUDROP

4. MIXED TAG: EDGE/BETH v. MIZ/MARYSE

5. MEN'S RUMBLE MATCH

6. WOMEN'S RUMBLE MATCH

I'm probably more negative on WWE as a whole than at any point in my life, largely because the qualitative drop from Hunter's NXT to Bruce Pritchard's NXT is just offensive.  But what always delivers is the Roman Reigns character work; the Head of the Table version of Reigns wins, wins every week, I am a workrate monkey and I always stop to see a Reigns promo.  

Reigns is the top guy in the promotion, Universal Champ...I mean, I think he took it from Bruno, that's how long he's been Universal Champ. He's really in a program with Brock - but Covid took Reigns out of a PPV at the top of January, moving Brock to go take the other belt.  Reigns old stablemate Rollins was moved in  and here we are  - they're both heels; although Reigns is cheered a lot.  Rollins is now aligned with Owens, the Usos are banned from ringside, so if they want to do this switch and screw Reigns out of the belt they could.  It'll be a good match and I'll decide they do the belt switch.  

Edit - this was a rough show; Reigns kept in a DQ finish; they did what I suggested, just did it with Brock instead.  This is a 3 star match and the best match on the show.

Brock's the lineal WWF Champ; he's got Bruno's belt, Hogan's belt, Austin's belt - that's this belt.  He took from Langston (I know, they just call him Big E now...note, AEW sometimes does some goofy stuff that is not for me, but they are not likely to soon give their top belt to a guy named Big And a Letter) on New Year's Day. It's his 6th reign.  In the way that Reigns/Rollins are both heels - Brock and Lashley are, I think both babyfaces - I'd assume that they're doing Brock/Reigns at Mania, so one and not both leave here with a title.  Like if....if Reigns/Rollins was the opener and Reigns lost and then came back to win the Rumble - maybe that makes sense.  I'll say that's the result - this match is likely really short; probably anything more than 8 minutes is diminishing returns, but Brock and anyone can do 8 good minutes.

Edit - 3 is generous maybe...but I'll say it squeaks through, Brock loses when Reigns interferes.

Becky's gonna keep this belt; Doudrop is not taking a title on the road to Wrestlemania.  It'll be...fine.

Edit - Fine is a stretch, Lynch did keep.

I'd assume this is the end of the Edge/Miz program and strongly assume that end will be Edge going over; this is not a match I have any interest in.

Edit - babyfaces and it wasn't good.

As mentioned, I think it's Reigns in the Rumble; Owens screwing him  seems more likely than Brock somehow losing to a now babyface Lashley - and then having him come back later, win the Rumble and then challenge Brock for his belt at Mania; it just makes a ton of sense to book it like this.  

Edit - Brock, one of the lesser rumbles, it was short, not very dramatic, nothing that stands out as a special moment, it's going to be near the bottom and maybe at the bottom of the Rumbles, I give all rumbles 3 stars at least...this stretches that.

The number of women's likely winners is pretty small - Charlotte has the other belt; so who else is at a level where they would push her?  Banks? Injured. Belair?  Nobody else, right? There's been some Rousey talk and they should do that for sure if they could - Rousey's a star, was a star when she was in the promotion before and if she wanted to come back and do a run between here and Mania, they should do that.  

Edit - they did that, Rousey went over, which is a good decision and a mediocre Rumble.

That's the show - it's the Rumble; there's zero circumstance where you should skip the Rumble (there's also zero circumstance where there will be a match as good as Devlin/Dragunov from this week) it's an irresistable match format.  Watch it.  

You could have skipped it.  

Here is my ranking of every match in the history of the Royal Rumble.  Times are approximate, star ratings are for the 3 and up matches.  Apologies if I missed anything. Updated through 2021.

   1.    '03 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. Chris Benoit 20 min 5

   2     '15 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Seth Rollins/John Cena 23 min 4 1/2

   3.    ’00 WWF Title HHH d. Cactus Jack 27 min 4 ¼

   4  ’01 IC Ladder: Chris Jericho d. Chris Benoit 19 min 4 ¼

   5. '17 WWF Title: John Cena d. AJ Styles 24 min 4 1/4

   6. '16 IC Falls Count Anywhere: Dean Ambrose d. Kevin Owens 21:30 4 1/4 

   7  ’04 Rumble Match: (Chris Benoit) 61:30 4

   8 ’92 WWF Title: Rumble Match (Ric Flair) 62 min 4

   9. '18 Rumble Match (Shinsuke Nakamura) 65:30 min 4 

   10 '14 Bray Wyatt d. Daniel Bryan 22 min 4

   11. '17 RAW Title: Kevin Owens d. Roman Reigns 23 min 4

   12 ’91 Rockers d. Orient Express 19 min 4

   13 ’95 WWF Title: Diesel draw Bret Hart 27 min 4

   

   14. '19 Smackdown Womens Title: Asuka d. Becky 17 min 3 3/4 stars

 15. '20 Rumble Match (McIntyre) 61 min 3 3/4

  16. '10 Rumble Match (Edge) 49:30 3 ¾

      17.      '00 Tables Hardys d. Dudleys 10:30 3 ¾

   18.  ’94 Tags: Quebecers d. Bret/Owen 16:30 3 ¾

   19. ’04 WWF Title: HHH draw HBK 22:30 3 ¾

   

   20   '11 World: Edge d. Dolph Ziggler 20:30 3 ½  

   21  ’02 WWF Title: Chris Jericho d. Rock 19 min 3 1/2 

   22 ’98 WWF Title: Casket Match: Shawn Michaels d. Undertaker 22 min 3 ½

   23 ’07 WWF Title: Last Man Standing: John Cena d. Umaga 22:30 3 ½

   24. '19 Universal Title: Brock Lesnar d. Finn Balor 9 min 3 1/2 

   25 ’99 WWF Title: I Quit Match: Rock d. Mankind 22 min 3 ½

   26 ’93 WWF Title: Bret Hart d. Razor Ramon 18 min 3 ½

   27 ’11 Rumble Match (Alberto del Rio) 69 min 3 1/2 

   28 ’90 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 59 min 3 ½

   29 ’97 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 50:30 3 ½

   30. '21 Rumble Match (Edge) 58:30 3 1/2

   31 '18 Women's Rumble (Asuka) 59 min 3 1/2

   32. '19 RAW Women's Title: Ronda d. Sasha 14 min 3 1/2 

   33. '17 Cruiser Title: Neville d. Rich Swann 13 min 3 1/2

   34. '18 WWF Title: AJ Styles d. Owens/Zayn 16 min 3 1/2

   35. '20 Universal Title: The Fiend d. Daniel Bryan 17:30  3 1/2

   36 ’01 WWF Title: Kurt Angle d. HHH 24:30 3 ¼

   37 ’13 WWF Title: Rock d. CM Punk 23:30 3 ¼  

   38 ’93 IC Shawn Michaels d. Marty Jannetty 14:30 3 ¼

   39 ’05 Edge d. Shawn Michaels 18:30 3 ¼

   40. '18 Smackdown Tags: Usos d. Gable/Benjamin 14 min 3 1/4

   41 ’09 WWF Title: Edge d. Jeff Hardy 19:30 3 ¼

   42  '16 WWF Title Rumble Match (HHH) 61:30 3 1/4

   43 ’12 Rumble Match (Sheamus) 55 min 3 ¼

   44 ’05 Rumble Match (Batista) 51:30 3 ¼

   45 ’03 Rumble Match(Brock Lesnar) 53:30 3 ¼

   46 ’00 Rumble Match(Rock) 52 min 3 ¼

   47 ’01 Rumble Match(Steve Austin) 62 min 3 ¼

   48 ’06 Rumble Match (Rey Mysterio) 62 min 3 ¼

   49 ’07 Rumble Match (Undertaker) 56:30 3 ¼

   50 ’89 Rumble Match(John Studd) 64 min 3 ¼

   51 ’98 Rumble Match (Steve Austin) 55:30 3 ¼

   52 ’08 Rumble Match (John Cena) 51:30 3 ¼

   53. '21 Women's Rumble Match (Belair) 59 min 3 1/4

   54. '19 WWF Title: Daniel Bryan d. AJ Styles 24:30  3 1/4

   55 '14 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. John Cena 21 min 3 1/4 

   56 ’10 World: Undertaker d. Rey Mysterio 11 min 3 ¼

   57. '20 RAW Women's: Becky d. Asuka 16:30 3 1/4

   58. '21 Universal Title: Reigns d. Owens 25 min 3 1/4 

   59 ’11 WWF: Miz d. Randy Orton 20 min 3 ¼  

   60 ’05 World: HHH d. Randy Orton 21:30 3 ¼

   61 ’07 Hardys d. MNM 15:30 3 ¼

   62 ’12 WWF Title: CM Punk d. Dolph Ziggler 14 min 3

   63 ’01 Tags: Dudleys d. Edge/Christian 10 min 3

   64 ’08 WWF Title: Randy Orton d. Jeff Hardy 14 min 3

   65 ’92 Owen/Anvil d. Orient Express 17 min 3

   66 ’95 Tags: Bob Holly/123 Kid d. Tatanka/Bam Bam Bigelow 15:30 3

   67 ’02 Rumble Match(HHH) 69:30 3

   68 ’94 Rumble Match: (Bret/Lex) 55 min 3

   69 ’93 Rumble Match: (Yokozuna) 66:30 3

   70 ’91 Rumble Match (Hulk Hogan) 65 min 3

   71 ’96 Rumble Match(Shawn Michaels) 59 min 3

   72. '19 Rumble Match (Rollins) 57:30 min 3

   73. '20 Women's Match: (Charlotte) 54:30 3

   74 ’99 Rumble Match (Vince McMahon) 56:30 3

   75 ’95 Rumble Match (Shawn Michaels) 39 min 3

   76 ’09 Rumble Match (Randy Orton) 58:30 3

   77 '14 Rumble Match (Batista) 55 min 3

   78 ’13 Rumble Match (John Cena) 55 min 3

   79 '15 Rumble Match (Reigns) 59 min 3

   80 '17 Rumble Match (Orton) 3

   81. '19 Women's Rumble Match (Becky) 72 min 3

   82 ’88 Rumble Match (Jim Duggan) 33:30 3 

   83 ’02 IC: William Regal d. Edge 10 min 3

   84 ’04 Eddy Guerrero d. Chavo Guerrero 8 min 3

   85 ’13 World: Last Man Standing: Alberto del Rio d. Big Show 17 min 3

   86 ’09 ECW: Jack Swagger d. Matt Hardy 10:30 3

   87 ’96 Tags: Smoking Gunns d. Bodydonnas 11 min 3

   88 ’03 Tags: Dudleys d. Regal/Storm 7:30 3

   89 '16 US: Kalisto d. Del Rio 11:30 3

   90. '17: Women's Title: Charlotte d. Bayley 13 min 3

   91 ’97 WWF Title: Shawn Michaels d. Sid 14 min 3

   92 ’89 Haku d. Harley Race 9 min 3

   93 ’97 IC: HHH d. Goldust 17 min 3

   

   94 ’06 Jr.: Gregory Helms d. Kash, Funaki, Noble, Nunzio, London 7:30

   95 ’88 Jumping Bomb Angels d. Glamour Girls 14 min

   96 ’89 Hart Foundation/Duggan d. Dino Bravo/Rougeaus 16 min

   97 ’96 WWF Title: Undertaker d. Bret Hart 29 min

   98. ’90 Ronny Garvin d. Greg Valentine 17 min

   99 ’08 World: Edge d. Rey Mysterio 12:30

   100 ’88 Ricky Steamboat d. Rick Rude 17 min

   101 ’00 Taz d. Kurt Angle 3 min

   102 ’02 Ric Flair d. Vince McMahon 15 min

   103 ’98 IC Rock d. Shamrock 11 min

   104 ’05 WWF Title: JBL d. Big Show/Kurt Angle 12 min

   105 ’06 WWF Title: John Cena d. Edge 14

   106 ’97 Vader d. Undertaker 13 min

   107 ’13 Tags: Hell No d. Rhodes Scholars 9:30 

   108 ’93 Steiners d. Beverlys 10:30 

   109. '18 RAW Tags: Sheamus/Cesaro d. Rollins/Jordan 13 min.

   110. ’07 World: Batista d. Ken Kennedy 10:30

   111. '16 Women: Charlotte d. Becky 11:30

   112. '20 Roman Reigns d. King Corbin 21:30

   113. ’10 ECW: Christian d. Ezekial Jackson 12 min

   114 ’88 Islanders d. Young Stallions 14 min

   115 ’02 Tags: Taz/Spike Dudley d. Dudleys 5 min

   116  '16 Tags: New Day d. Usos 11 min

   117 ’12 World: Cage: Daniel Bryan d. Big Show/Mark Henry

   118 '19 Smackdown Tags: Miz/Shane d. The Bar 13:30 min

   119 ’00 IC: Chris Jericho d. Chyna d. Bob Holly 7:30

   120 ’08 JBL d. Chris Jericho 9:30

   121 ’10 US: Miz d. MVP 7:30 

   122 ’97 Garza/Aguayo/Canek d. Estrada/Metal/.Guerrera 11 min

   123 ’04 WWF Title: Brock Lesnar d. Bob Holly 6:30

   124 '18 Universal Title: Lesnar d. Kane/Strowman 11 min

   125 '15 Tags: Usos d. Miz/Mizdow 9:30

   126 ’03 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 6 min

   127 Euro: '99 Sean Waltman d. Gangrel 6 min

   128 ’98 Vader d. Goldust 8 min

   129 ’95 IC Jeff Jarrett d. Razor Ramon 18 min

   130 ’99 IC: Ken Shamrock d. Billy Gunn 14:30

   131 ’04 Jr. Rey Mysterio d. Jamie Noble 3:30

   132  ’91 Boss Man d. Barbarian 14 min

   133 '14 Brock Lesnar d. Big Show 2 min

   134’92 IC: Roddy Piper d. Mountie 5:30

   135 ’08 Ric Flair d. MVP 8 min

   136 ’98 Mini/Mosaic/Nova d. Battalion/Torito/Tarantula 8 min

   137 ’97 Ahmed Johnson d. Farooq 9 min

   138 ’96 Ahmed Johnson d. Jeff Jarrett 6:30

   139 ’10 WWF: Sheamus d. Randy Orton 12:30

   140 ’07 ECW: Bobby Lashley d. Test 7:30

   141 ’04 Tags: Evolution d. Dudleys 4:30

   142 ’03 World Title: Scott Steiner d. HHH 18:30

   143 ’09 World John Cena d. JBL 15:30

   144 ’99 Boss Man d. Road Dogg 12 min

   145 ’90 Hacksaw Duggan d. Big Boss Man 10:30

   146  ’91 Ted DiBiase/Virgil d. Dusty/Dustin 10 min

   147 ’00 Tags: New Age Outlaws d. Acolytes 2:30

   148 ’94 Tatanka d. Bam Bam Bigelow 8

   149  ’94 IC: Razor Ramon d. IRS 11:30

   150 ’96 IC: Goldust d. Razor 14:30

   151. '21 Smackdown Women's Title: Banks d. Carmella 10:30

   152. '20 Smackdown Women: Bayley d. Lacey 9:30

   153 ’89 Rockin Robin d. Judy Martin 6:30

   154 ’11 Women: Eve d. Natalya/Layla/Michelle McCool 5 min

   155 '15 Bellas d. Page/Natty 8 min

   156 ’12 Bellas/Beth/Natalya d. Kelly/Eve/Alicia/Tamina 5:30

   157 ’02 Women: Trish d. Jazz 4 min

   158 ’09 Women: Melina d. Beth Phoenix 6:30

   159 ’92 Tags: Natural Disasters d. LOD 9:30

   160 ’98 Tags: LOD d. New Age Outlaws 8 min

   161 ’91 Mountie d. Koko 9

   162 ’05 Casket: Undertaker d. Heidenreich 13:30

   163 ’91 WWF Title: Sgt. Slaughter d. Ultimate Warrior 12:30

   164 ’06 World: Kurt Angle d. Mark Henry 9:30

   165  ’93 Bam Bam Bigelow d. Big Boss Man 10 min

   166  WWE Title: Drew McIntyre d. Goldberg 2:30

   167 ’95 Undertaker d. IRS 12:30

   168 '15 Ascension d. New Age Outlaws 5:30

   169 ’01 Women: Ivory d. Chyna 3:30

   170 ’99 Women: Sable d. Luna 4:30

   171 ’12 Brodus Clay d. Drew McIntyre 1 min

   172  ’06 Boogeyman d. JBL 2 min

   173  ’90 Bushwackers d. Rougeaus 13:30

   174 ’12 John Cena draw Kane 11

   175  ’90 Brutus Beefcake draw Lanny Poffo 11 min

   176  ’92 Beverlys d. Bushwackers 15 min

   177  ’10 Women: Mickie James d. Michelle McCool :30

   178 ’03 Torrie Wilson d. Dawn Marie 3:30

   179 ’06 Women: Mickey James d. Ashley 7:30

   180. '94 WWF Title: Yokozuna d. Undertaker 14:30

      

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament: Region 12 Finals

 region 11

8. 1990 PAC DIV CHAMP LA LAKERS v. 14. 2015 SW DIV CHAMP HOU ROCKETS

Lakers: 63-19, 1st Pac Div, 1st Off/8th Def

               d. Rockets West 1st Rnd 3-1

               Lost Suns West Semis 3-1

               #117 overall seed 

               d. '10 Cavs (2-1 Magic/Worthy PotG)

               d. '98 Bulls (2-1 Magic/Worthy)

               d. '00 Suns (2-1 Worthy/Magic)

               

Coach: Pat Riley, GM Jerry West

Starters

C Vlade Divac                  21                     8.5 PPG         17.5 PER  5WS   1

F AC Green                      26-Oreg St         12.9               14.7          7.7      1

F James Worthy                28-UNC            21.1              19.8          10.6      4.3

G Magic Johnson             30-Michigan St  22.3             26.6          16.5       8.9 VORP

G Byron Scott                  28-Ariz St          15.5              14.3           6          1.7

Rotation Reserves

C Mychal Thompson       35-Minnesota     10.1               13.4         4.7        0

F Orlando Woolridge        30-N Dame      12.7               17.6          4.8       1.3

F Jay Vincent                   30-Mich St         3.8                 10.2           .1        -.2

G Larry Drew                  31-Missouri        5.2                 10.2          1.4       .1

G Michael Cooper           33- N Mex          6.4                 9.6            2.7      .6

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

               Scott: 5th 3 Pt%

               Divac: 5th Def rtng

               Worthy 3rd Team All NBA

30 year old Magic leads the best offense in the NBA in 1990, the Lakers; top 5 in PER, Win Shares, Win Shares/48 and VORP.  He won the MVP. 20 year old Worthy also has double digit WS. Vlade's 21 and was on the All Rookie Team. Magic, 26 year old Green, 28 year old Worthy were all All Stars. Magic was All Star MVP.  It's Pat Riley's final Laker campaign and he won the Coach of the Year Award.  They've gone to the showdown in every series.

Rockets: 56-26, 1st SW Div, 12th Off/8th Def

                d. Mavs West 1st Rnd 4-1

                d. Clips West Semis 4-3

                Lost Warriors West Finals 4-1

                #213 overall seed

                d. '94 Sonics (2-1 Harden 2 PotG)

                d. '11 Lakers (2-0 Harden)

                d. '20 Celtics (2-0 Harden)

Coach Kevin McHale

Starters

C Dwight Howard                  29                  15.8 PPG   19.2 PER  3.6 WS    .5

F Terrence Jones                     23-Kentucky 11.7           18.3           3              .5

F Trevor Ariza                       29- UCLA      12.8           12.7          6.6     2.2

G Jason Terry                         37-Arizona    7                11.4           3.6    1

G James Harden                    25-Arizona St 27.4           26.7          16.4   8.1 VORP

Rotation Reserves

C Donatas Motlejunas          24                    12              14.4          4.7       .8

F Josh Smith                         29                    12              15.2          2.1       .8

F Corey Brewer                   28- Florida       11.9            14            2.7        .3

G Patrick Beverley               26-Arkansas    10.1            11.3         3.5      .9

G Pablo Priglioni                 37                     3                 11.4         1.1       .2

Leaders Harden 2nd PPG, 3rd Steals, 4th PER, 1st WS, 4th WS/48, 3rd +/-, 1st VORP, 2nd Trip Doub, 1st Team All NBA

               Ariza 4th Stls 

Houston's the 14th seed in the region, 25 year old James Harden leads the way - 1st in both Win Shares and VORP, 4th in PER, he made the All Star team; of course we just saw his 4 year younger self win region 11 with the Thunder.  McHale's Celtics did not win a Regional title, but he has a chance to keep the Lakers from their third. 

Matchup:

C Push

F Green (Lakers)

F Worthy (Lakers)

G Magic (Lakers)

G Harden (Rockets)

Bench: Rockets

Gm 1: LA: Forum: Announcers: Chick Hearn/Stu Lantz

1Qtr

9 Rockets 10 Lakers 6

Lakers Worthy, Scott, Magic

Rockets Howard, Howard(3) Terry(3) Terry

6 Rockets 20 Lakers 12

Lakers Green, Worthy, Worthy

Rockets Howard, Jones(3) Howard, Harden(3)

Region 12 is underway.  14th seeded Rockets looking to join the 13th seeded Thunder as Regional Champs.

3 Rockets 22 Lakers 16

Lakers Green, Woolridge

Rockets Howard

1Score Rockets 27 Lakers 20

Lakers Drew, Woolridge

Rockets Beverley(3) Beverley

11 for Dwight Howard and the Rockets are up.

2Qtr

9 Rockets 37 Lakers 25

Lakers Worthy(1) Woolridge, Scott

Rockets Beverley, Prigioni(3) Harden(3) Harden

6 Rockets 42 Lakers 32

Lakers Divac, Scott, Woolridge(3)

Rockets Harden(3) Jones

James Harden has won all 6 PotG in Rocket wins and scores 8 in the last 6.

3 Rockets 44 Lakers 38

Lakers Worthy, Worthy, Magic

Rockets Jones

HScore Rockets 52 Lakers 49

Lakers Woolridge(1) Worthy, Magic, Magic(3) Green(3)

Rockets Harden, Smith, Beverley(4)

Weird quirk, Patrick Beverley has 3 4 pt plays in the tournament; I don't know if it's only this version of Pat Bev, but throughout all of his apperances, 3 four pt plays.

3Qtr

9 Rockets 63 Lakers 55

Lakers Worthy, Scott, Green

Rockets Jones, Harden, Howard, Harden, Ariza(3)

6 Lakers 66 Rockets 65

Lakers Magic, Worthy, Woolridge, Vincent, Magic, Thompson(1)

Rockets Donatas

The Lakers have a 25 year gap to make up and maybe we've seen that in this game, LA takes its first lead.

3 Lakers 72 Rockets 70

Lakers Magic, Scott, Worthy

Rockets Brewer, Howard(1) Jones

3Score Lakers 81 Rockets 74

Lakers Green(3) Worthy, Worthy, Green

Rockets Donatas(1) Ariza(3)

10 third qtr pts for Worthy - Lakers biggest lead.

4Qtr

9 Lakers 88 Rockets 80

Lakers Woolridge, Divac, Woolridge(3)

Rockets Jones, Jones, Harden

6 Lakers 93 Rockets 84

Lakers Green(3) Magic, 

Rockets Howard, Harden

9 pt game - LA looks good with 6 to go.

3 Lakers 104 Rockets 95

Lakers Magic, Scott, Worthy, Scott, Worthy(3)

Rockets Beverley(3) Prigioni(3) Ariza(3) Jones

FScore Lakers 109 Rockets 103

Lakers Worthy, Worthy(3)

Rockets Terry(3) Jones, Ariza(3)

Houton can't get closer than 6 down the stretch and LA takes game one.

Worthy: 33 pts/7 boards

Magic: 19 pts/11 assists/6 boards

Scott: 14 pts

Green: 17 pts/13 boards

Woolridge: 17 pts/5 boards

Harden: 21 pts/12 boards

Howard: 16 pts/18 boards

Jones: 19 pts/7 boards/5 blocks

Ariza: 12 pts

Beverley: 14 pts

Gm 2: Houston: Toyota Center: Announcer: Bill Worrell

Okay - so, there's no PxP for games 2-3; what had happened was, somehow it didn't save, I decided not to go back and do it again, as what I do have are the stats.

Final: Rockets 120 Lakers 114

Houston had a 26 pt lead after 3 and withstood a furious Laker rally.  Magic was PotG in the loss.

Harden: 22 pts/9 assists/6 boards

Howard: 18 pts/13 boards/5 blocks

Jones: 16 pts/6 boards

Ariza: 12 pts

Terry: 10 pts

Donatas: 14 pts/6 boards

Magic: 30 pts/11 assists-Player of the Game

Worthy: 19 pts/5 boards

Scott: 21 pts

Vlade: 13 pts/10 boards

Cooper: 11 pts

Gm 3: LA Forum: Chick Hearn/Bill Worrell

Final: Rockets 107 Lakers 99

The Rockets led most of the way - LA cut it to 3 with a minute left, but Harden hit a dagger 3 at 36 seconds to seal it.  He wins MVP and Houston wins Region 12 as a 14th seed.  Triple-double for Magic in the loss.

Harden: 31 pts/10 boards/9 assists/4 steals-Player of the Game

Jones: 13 pts/6 boards

Terry: 19 pts

Ariza: 16 pts/7 boards

Brewer: 14 pts/4 steals

All Region:

C Howard ('08 Magic-3)

F Rogers ('00 Suns-2)

F Worthy ('90 Lakers-4)

G Magic ('90 Lakers-4)  

G Harden ('15 Rockets-7)-Most Valuable Player

256 Team All Time Basketball Tournament: Region 11 Finals

 Region 10

2. 1999 NBA CHAMPION SA SPURS v. 13. 2011 NW DIV CHAMP OKC THUNDER

Spurs: 37-13, 1st MW Div, 11th Off/1st Def

            d. Wolves West 1st Rnd 3-1

            d. Lakers West Semis 4-0

            d. Blazers West Finals 4-0

            d. Knicks NBA Finals 4-1

            #22 overall seed

            d. '84 Lakers (2-1, Robinson/Duncan PotG)

            d. '21 Suns (2-1 Robinson)

            d. '18 Raptors (2-1 Robinson/Duncan)

Coach: Gregg Popovich

Starters

C David Robinson          33-Navy                15.8 PPG  24.9 PER 8.4 WS   3.4

F Tim Duncan                 22-Wake                21.7          23.2         8.7          3.2

F Sean Elliott                  30-Arizona            11.2          12.6         3.5          .7

G Avery Johnson            33-Southern           9.7            14            3.9          .9

G Mario Elie                  35-AIC                   9.7            14.5         4.5          1.4

Rotation Reserves

C Will Perdue                 33-Vandy               2.4             11.7         1.5         .1

F Malik Rose                  24-Drexel              6                 19.7        1.6          .4

F Jaren Jackson               31-Georgetown     6.4              12.5        2.1         .7

G Antonio Daniels          23-BGSU              4.7              16.1        1.8          .6

G Steve Kerr                   33-Arizona            4.4              9.9          1.6          .3

Leaders Duncan 3rd Reb, 5th Reb/Gm, 3rd WS, 3rd Def Rtng, 1st Team All NBA

               Robinson 5th FG%, 3rd PER, 4th WS, 1st WS/48, 4th +/-, 1st Def Rtng

The 22nd overall seed is the '98 Spurs, top defensive team in the league in '98, 33 year old Robinson and 22 year old Duncan are over 20 PER and both top 5 in WS in a short season. They've gone to the showdown game in every series. Duncan was 1st team All Defense and 3rd in the MVP voting. Robinson/Duncan finished 4-5 in the Defensive Player of the Year; Duncan was NBA Finals MVP. The Spurs look for their third Regional Title.

Thunder: 55-27, 1st NW Div, 5th Off/15th Def

                  d. Nuggets West 1st Rnd 4-1

                  d. Grizzlies West Semis 4-3

                  Lost Mavs West Finals 4-1

                  #203 overall seed

                  d. '81 Celtics (2-1 Durant 1 PotG)

                  d. '11 '98 Jazz (2-1 Westbrook/Ibaka)

                  d. '80 Bucks (2-0 Westbrook)

Coach Scott Brooks, Asst. Mo Cheeks

Starters

C Serge Ibaka                     21                     9.9             17.7           7.6    1.4

F Jeff Green                       24-Georgetown 15.2         12.9            3.3     .3

F Kevin Durant                  22-Texas          27.7           23.6          12       5.3 VORP

G Russell Westbrook         22-UCLA         21.9          23.6            9.4     4.4

G James Harden                21-Ariz St        12.2          16.4            7.1      2.2

Rotation Reserves

C Nazr Mohammed           33-Kentucky    6.9            16               1.2     0

F Nenad Krstic                  27                     7.6            12.5            2          -.2

F Thabo Sefolosha            26                      5.1           10.4            4.1     1.3

G Eric Maynor                  23-VCU            4.2           11.7            1.5      .1

G Daequan Cook               23-Ohio St        5.6           12.8            1.6      .5

Leaders Durant 1st PPG, 5th Off WS, 1st Team All NBA

               Westbrook 4th Assts, 3rd Steals, 4th Steals/Gm, 2nd Trip Doub, 2nd Team All NBA

               Ibaka 3rd Blocks/Gm, 2nd Block %

 Durant and Westbrook are both 22, with 20+ PER and Durant's got double digit WS. They both made the All Star team.  2 v 13 Matchup; that's probably the biggest disparity in any Regional Final

Matchup:

C Robinson (Spurs)

F Duncan (Spurs)

F Durant (Thunder)

G Westbrook (Thunder)

G Harden (Thunder)

Bench: Thunder

Gm 1: San Antonio: Alamodome: Announcer: Greg Papa

1Qtr

9 Thunder 10 Spurs 7

Spurs Robinson, Duncan(1) Robinson, Robinson

Thunder Ibaka(3) Green, Harden, Durant(3)

6 Thunder 19 Spurs 14

Spurs Johnson, Duncan, Elliott(3)

Thunder Durant, Harden, Harden(3) Westbrook

The Thunder come in as the 13th seed in the Region - but have ridden their future Hall of Famers and the 3 ball into the Regional Final.

3 Thunder 27 Spurs 19

Spurs Robinson, Elie(3)

Thunder Durant, Harden(3) Durant(3)

1Score Thunder 31 Spurs 23

Spurs Rose, Maynor

Thunder Maynor

21 year old James Harden with 10 first quarter pts.

2Qtr

9 Thunder 39 Spurs 28

Spurs Duncan, Jackson(3)

Thunder Mohammed(1) Sefolosha(3) Mohammed

6 Thunder 46 Spurs 38

Spurs Perdue, Kerr(3) Kerr(3)  Johnson

Thunder Sefolosha, Westbrook(3) Westbrook

33 year old Steve Kerr comes off the bench for back to back 3s.

3 Thunder 51 Spurs 43

Spurs Elliott(3) Elie

Thunder Westbrook, Durant(3)

HScore Spurs 55 Thunder 55

Spurs Elie(3) Elliott(3) Elie(3) Duncan, Robinson(1)

Thunder Ibaka, Westbrook

It's the Spurs who just bust out the 3 ball; 4 in 6 minutes and we are deadlocked.

3Qtr

9 Spurs 64 Thunder 59

Spurs Robinson, Duncan, Elie, Duncan(3)

Thunder Westbrook, Krstic

6 Spurs 71 Thunder 59

Spurs Jackson(3) Jackson, Duncan

Thunder 

The Spurs begin to hammer down; giving up 4 pts in 6 minutes and now have a double digit lead.

3 Spurs 77 Thunder 71

Spurs Robinson, Elliott, Eliott

Thunder Harden, Harden, Harden, Westbrook, Westbrook, Ibaka

3Score Spurs 82 Thunder 80

Spurs Jackson (3) Duncan

Thunder Ibaka, Durant(3) Westbrook, Nazr

Look at OKC roaring back; Westbrook with 8 in the quarter.

4Qtr

9 Spurs 93 Thunder 87

Spurs Elliott, Elliott, Duncan(3) Elie, Robinson

Thunder Durant(3) Westbrook, Harden

6 Spurs 95 Thunder 94

Spurs Duncan

Thunder Westbrook, Durant(3) Ibaka

5:46: SA: Duncan hits from 5 feet, his 7th in the qtr.

5:39: OKC: KD from the wing, he's got 8 in the 4th.

4:56: SA: Elliott from the wing.

4:49: OKC: Jeff Green hits a corner 3 and we are tied at 99.

4:26: SA: Back to Duncan, just money in the post.  

3:59: OKC: Green dunk.  Tied.

3:51: SA: Duncan.  11 4th qtr pts.  Duncan.  Duncan.  

3:33: OKC: Eric Maynor in traffic.

3:15: SA: Duncan - every time is Duncan.  

2:27: OKC: Westbrook powers home a dunk.  105-105

2:05: SA: Duncan - the Spurs just keep feeding Duncan.

1:58: OKC: Westbrook drives and scores.  

1:37: SA: Elliott from the wing.

1:25: OKC: Green from the FT line and again we are deadlocked.

1:17: SA: Duncan - this is ridiculous - the Thunder can't stop Duncan.

:39: SA: That might do it - Durant misses a 3 that would have given OKC the lead and again - again - it's Duncan on the other end - Tim Duncan has 19 4th qtr pts.

:31: OKC: Harden hits a bomb - way, way behind the 3 pt line and its a 1 pt game.

OKC needs a stop.  Spurs go to Duncan - Duncan in the lane and fires.  

Good.  Good.  Good.  17 seconds left and its 115-112.  

OKC needs a triple to tie.

It's Westbrook - Westbrook from the top.  

Misses.  Robinson is fouled, hits both.  He'll hit 2 more for the final

FScore: Spurs 119 Thunder 112

The Spurs shot 62% from 3 - just a hell of a performance.

Duncan: 37 pts/16 boards-Player of the Game

Robinson: 19 pts/11 boards

Elie: 15 pts

Johnson: 4 pts/10 assists

Elliott: 21 pts

Jackson: 11 pts

Durant: 24 pts/8 boards/8 assists

Ibaka: 11 pts/9 boards

Harden: 21 pts

Westbrook: 27 pts/9 assists/5 boards

Gm 2: OKC: Chesapeake Energy Arena: Announcer: Brian Davis

1Qtr

9 Thunder 9 Spurs 9

Thunder Westbrook, Durant, Westbrook(3) Westbrook

Spurs Robinson, Robinson, Robinson(3) Elliott

6 Thunder 18 Spurs 10

Thunder Durant(3) Harden, Harden, Green

Spurs Johnson(1)

Could be the last game at OKC, Thunder off fast.

3 Thunder 18 Spurs 13

Thunder

Spurs Kerr, Robinson(1)

1Score Thunder 26 Spurs 20

Thunder Durant(3) Krstic(1) Robinson(3) Nazr(1)

Spurs Jackson, Rose, Jackson(3)

Duncan scored 37 in game one, yet to score today.  

2Qtr

9 Thunder 36 Spurs 26

Thunder Sefolosha, Nazr, Green, Nazr, Nazr

Spurs Daniels, Daniels, Rose

6 Thunder 44 Spurs 40

Thunder Ibaka, Westbrook, Krstic, Maynor

Spurs Duncan, Duncan, Duncan, Elliott, Duncan, Duncan, Robinson

Duncan scores 10 in 3 minutes.  

3 Thunder 48 Spurs 44

Thunder Maynor, Westbrook

Spurs Duncan, Robinson

HScore Thunder 51 Spurs 51

Thunder Green(1) Robinson

Spurs Duncan(3) Robinson, Johnson(1) Duncan(1)

Robinson and Duncan both with 14 and we are tied.

3Qtr

9 Thunder 56 Spurs 54

Thunder Green(1) Durant, Ibaka

Spurs Perdue(1) Elie

6 Thunder 62 Spurs 59

Thunder Westbrook, Harden(3) Westbrook(1)

Spurs Duncan(3) Johnson

Tight mid third - OKC trying to force the showdown.

3 Spurs 68 Thunder 66

Thunder Westbrook, Westbrook

Spurs Robinson, Rose, Rose, Robinson(3)

3Score Thunder 71 Spurs 70

Thunder Ibaka, Nazr, ibaka(1)

Spurs Robinson(1) Duncan(1)

A half dozen from the Admiral in the last 6 minutes, 

4Qtr

9 Thunder 73 Spurs 72

Thunder Westbrook

Spurs Duncan

6 Thunder 78 Spurs 75

Thunder Ibaka(1) Westbrook, Westbrook

Spurs Duncan, Robinson(1)

6 more for Westbrook but he does have 5 fouls.

5:36 SA: Duncan just took over down the stretch in game one, totally unstoppable and he scores here.

5:05 SA: Will Perdue with the floater.  Spurs lead.

4:50 OKC: Durant hammers home a dunk.  

4:31: SA: Perdue is fouled, makes 1.  80-80.

4:13: OKC: Westbrook from the top of the key.  82-80

3:25: SA: Elliott matches Westbrook.  

3:07: OKC: Harden in traffic.  

2:43: OKC: Ibaka in the post.  4 pt game.

2:33: SA: Duncan goes outside, rips a 17 footer.  

2:21: OKC: Harden isolation makes it a 4 pt game.  

1:46: OKC: Westbrook lays it home and it is a 6 pt lead.  

1:01: SA: Duncan.  

But that's it - the Spurs don't score on their next trip, Westbrook hits 2 FT, Green hits 2 more and thats the final

FScore: Thunder 94 Spurs 86

The Spurs are held to 35 second half points and now we go to game 3.  Spurs have just two players in double digits which I think is a tourney first.

Westbrook: 32 pts-Player of the Game

Durant: 10 pts/7 boards/4 blocks

Harden: 11 pts

Ibaka: 10 pts/14 boards/5 blocks

Green: 8 pts/15 blocks

Robinson: 21 pts/14 boards

Duncan: 30 pts/15 boards

Gm 3: San Antonio: Alamodome: Announcer: Greg Papa/Brian Davis

1Qtr

9 Spurs 6 Thunder 4

Spurs  Duncan, Robinson, Elliott

Thunder KD, KD

6 Spurs 13 Thunder 12

Spurs Elie(3) Duncan, Johnson

Thunder Ibaka, Harden, Ibaka

One game for all of region 11.

3 Spurs 17 Thunder 16

Spurs Robinson, Daniels

Thunder KD, Westbrook

1Score Thunder 24 Spurs 23

Spurs Robinson, Daniels, Kerr

Thunder Harden, Maynor(1) Green(3) Sefolosha

We might have a good one.

2Qtr

9 Spurs 31 Thunder 31

Spurs Rose, Duncan, Jackson, Elliott

Thunder Kristic(1) Westbrook(1) Westbrook(3) Sefolosha

6 Spurs 40 Thunder 37

Spurs Robinson, Jackson(3) Johnson, Elliott

Thunder Westbrook, Sefolosha, Westbrook

Russell Westbrook with 8 to start the second, but the Spurs take the lead.

3 Spurs 46 Thunder 43

Spurs Elliott, Elie, Duncan

Thunder Harden, Sefolosha, Green

HScore Thunder 52 Spurs 46

Spurs 

Thunder Green(3) Sefolosha(3) Cook(3)

Big 3 minutes, OKC hits triples and the Spurs dont score. 

3Qtr

9 Thunder 56 Spurs 54

Spurs Elie, Duncan, Duncan, Robinson

Thunder Ibaka, Westbrook

6 Thunder 64 Spurs 56

Spurs Robinson

Thunder Krstic, Westbrook, Ibaka, Ibaka

OKC is now up 8, Serge Ibaka with 6 to start the half

3 Thunder 73 Spurs 62

Spurs Dunca, Robinson, Robinson

Thunder KD, ibaka, Green, ibaka

3Score Thunder 80 Spurs 68

Spurs Johnson, Duncan, Daniels

Thunder Westbrook(3) Harden, Krstic

Westbrook with 15 - he's driving to an MVP and the 13th seeded Thunder are driving to a win.

4Qtr

9 Thunder 88 Spurs 72

Spurs Johnson, Robinson

Thunder KD, Krstic, Ibaka, harden

6 Thunder 94 Spurs 77

Spurs Perdue, Elie(3)

Thunder KD, ibaka, Westbrook

The 2011 OKC Thunder are about to win Region 11 and be one of the 16 teams left standing in the tournament.

3 Thunder 96 Spurs 82

Spurs Robinson, Gaze

Thunder Peterson

FScore Thunder 98 Spurs 85

Spurs Gaze(3) 

Thunder Robinson

85 points at home in the showdown game; OKC was a middling defense in 2011 but they hold Duncan to 16 today and really clamp down on that supporting cast in both games 2 and 3

Ibaka: 20 pts/7 boards-Player of the Game

Durant: 13 pts/5 boards

Harden: 10 pts/8 boards

Westbrook: 19 pts/7 assists/5 boards

Green: 10 pts

Sefolosha: 11 pts/8 boards

All Region

C Robinson ('99 Spurs 4)

F Malone ('98 Jazz 2)

F Duncan ('99 Spurs 3)

G Westbrook ('11 Thunder 4)-MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

G DeRozan ('18 Raptors 2)