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Wednesday, October 20, 2021

NBA Opening Night 2021 Featured Current Stars While Honoring 75 Years of Stars

NBA Opening Night 2021 featured a star-studded doubleheader, Milwaukee's championship ring ceremony, and the announcement of 25 members of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. The NBA will announce 25 more members tomorrow night, and then the final group of 25 will be announced on Thursday night. This is cross-promotion at its worst, not finest: the announcement of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team is too historically significant to reduce it to a three day public relations stunt split between the NBA's two main TV partners. The complete list should have been announced at one time. This is a time to appreciate and celebrate all 75 players--and, inevitably, have debates about who should have made the list--not a time to wait and wonder who the remaining 50 players are.

The voters for the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team were instructed to select the 75 greatest players from scratch, and not just add 25 players to the 50 Greatest Players List from 1996. It will be interesting to see if all 50 players from 1996 make the cut in 2021. TNT's Kenny Smith argued vehemently during the pregame show that no one from the 1996 list should be removed, and TNT's Ernie Johnson--who was one of the voters for the 75th Anniversary Team--stated that he made his selections based on that principle. The concept of not removing a player from the 50 Greatest Players List has some merit, but it should be noted that the NBA's previous All-Time Teams were not built on that principle (see below).

For the record, here are the 25 players named on Opening Night (listed in alphabetical order):

That group includes five post-1996 players (Antetokounmpo, Durant, Harden, Nash, and Nowitzki) plus 20 players from the 50 Greatest Players List. There is no rule against selecting a great player from the past who did not make the 50 Greatest Players List (such as Bob McAdoo), but so far the new list does not include any such players.

The NBA has selected All-Time Teams during several milestone anniversary seasons, including 1971 (25th Anniversary), 1981 (35th Anniversary), and 1996 (50th Anniversary). 

The 25th Anniversary Team was constructed like an All-Time All-NBA Team (two centers, four forwards, and four guards) and restricted to retired players who had been selected to the All-NBA Team at least once during their careers (listed here in order of position, and in order of votes received within positional group): Bill Russell, George Mikan, Bob Pettit, Dolph Schayes, Paul Arizin, Joe Fulks, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Bob Davies, and Sam Jones. Keep in mind that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry West were active players at that time, and thus they did not meet the eligibility requirements.

The 35th Anniversary Team was constructed like an All-Time All-Star Team, with players selected regardless of position and active players eligible (listed here in alphabetical order): Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Julius Erving, John Havlicek, George Mikan, Bob Pettit, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Jerry West. Abdul-Jabbar and Erving were the only active players at that time. Russell was voted the greatest player of all-time, the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers were voted the greatest single season team of all-time, and Red Auerbach was voted the greatest coach of all-time.

The 50th Anniversary Team--more widely known as The NBA's 50 Greatest Players List--was not constructed like an All-Star Team or an All-NBA Team. Each player from the 35th Anniversary Team made the cut in 1996. Fulks and Davies were two players from the 25th Anniversary Team who were not selected to the 35th Anniversary Team or the 50th Anniversary Team. Arizin was left off of the 35th Anniversary Team but included on the 50th Anniversary Team.

During a three year period (2018-2021), I wrote a six part series devoting more than 30,000 words to examining various 50 Greatest Players Lists published since 1996. In part six, I provided my 50 Greatest Players List: Revising the NBA's 50 Greatest Players List, Part VI

After the NBA releases its full 75 Greatest Players List, I will write an article comparing that list to my 75 Greatest Players List, but I can say now that because I selected my 50 Greatest Players List just a few months ago that list will not change; I have just added 25 players to that list--and not necessarily 25 players from the post-1996 era, but rather the players who I would rank 51-75 all-time (my 2021 50 Greatest Players List already includes the greatest players of the post-1996 era, including Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James).

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The Milwaukee Bucks received their championship rings, raised their championship banner, and then dismantled the Brooklyn Nets--the team that many people have anointed as the future champions. Less than nine minutes into the first quarter, the Bucks led 31-12. At that point, Giannis Antetokounmpo had more points (13) and as many rebounds (eight) as the entire Nets team. Milwaukee was up 37-25 at the end of the first quarter. 

NBA games are long--that is a major, often underappreciated reason that the NBA game differs from both the FIBA game and the NCAA game--and good NBA teams almost always make a run after facing a big deficit, but the reality is that NBA games are often won in the first quarter and not (as is too often asserted) in the final minutes; the final minutes receive the most scrutiny, but the opening minutes establish the matchup advantages and strategies that decide most games. 

The Nets cut the margin to 39-34, but then the Bucks went on a 22-9 run to take command, 61-43. TNT's Stan Van Gundy declared midway through the second quarter that a major problem for the Nets is that they just were not playing hard enough.

The Nets rallied to trail by seven at halftime (66-59). Jrue Holiday suffered a heel contusion during the first half and was not able to play the rest of the way. He finished with 12 points on 5-7 field goal shooting in just 18 minutes, and he had a +17 plus/minus number; his absence played a role in the Nets' second quarter rally, particularly because the Bucks entered the game short-handed.

It took the Bucks just four minutes in the third quarter to stretch their lead to 13, 79-66, after Antetokounmpo converted a fast break layup, and the Bucks led 97-85 at the end of the third quarter.

The Nets did not mount a serious fourth quarter challenge, and the Bucks won, 127-104. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks in scoring (32 points), rebounds (14), assists (seven) and plus/minus (+25). Khris Middleton added 20 points and nine rebounds. The second best player on a team featuring an all-time great is often underrated, and it is fair to say that Middleton fits that description. Pat Connaughton contributed 20 points off of the bench, and Jordan Nwora also made his presence felt as a reserve (15 points). 

Kevin Durant tied Antetokounmpo with 32 points, and he led the Nets with 11 rebounds. Patty Mills scored 21 points while making all seven of his three point field goal attempts. James Harden scored 20 points and had a game-high eight assists, but he shot 6-16 from the field and he attempted just four free throws. The NBA has pledged to cut down on the gimmicky foul calls that have resulted in Harden attempting a huge number of free throws (and forced defenders to back away from him, giving him open field goal attempts that he would not have been granted in earlier eras), and it will be fascinating to see how he adjusts to playing basketball instead of "foul ball." Harden is talented enough to still be a 20-plus ppg scorer even if he is officiated correctly, but if the NBA returns to officiating games correctly then Harden's days as a 25-plus ppg scorer are over.

The Nets lack size and they lack defensive intensity. They also lack Kyrie Irving, who has been injured and/or disinterested for quite some time. Unless the rules/regulations change (or he changes his mind about COVID-19 vaccination), he will not play this season due to his choice to not be vaccinated for COVID-19. If Irving played, he would add nothing to the Nets' size or defensive intensity. He is a very talented scorer, ballhandler, and passer, but he has decided not to play, so all NBA analysts and fans can do is focus on the players who have chosen to play.

The second game of the doubleheader featured the new-look L.A. Lakers (the 2020 NBA champions, though most players from that roster are no longer on the team) versus the new-look Golden State Warriors (the 2015 and 2017-18 NBA champions, though most players from those rosters are no longer on the team). 

Even though the Lakers have a roster full of old players, based on skill set they are built to be a team that thrives in transition: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook are all most deadly when they are attacking in the open court. Westbrook, the 2017 NBA regular season MVP, is the best rebounding guard of all-time, while James and Davis are both solid rebounders, which means that any of them can get a defensive rebound and push the ball up the court: Davis can advance the ball via an outlet pass to James or Westbrook, while James and Westbrook can each be a one man fast break who also can attack any area of the court with an accurate pass. The Lakers can play big, which is an advantage both in transition and in the half court set when Davis and James will be able to post up and either score or draw a double team to open up opportunities for the Lakers' three point shooters.

The Warriors have high expectations about what they can accomplish after Klay Thompson returns from injury, but the reality is that prior to Kevin Durant's arrival the Warriors peaked with the 2015 championship won against a Cleveland team decimated by injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. A healthier version of that Cleveland team overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals, and the Warriors only became a dynasty after acquiring Kevin Durant prior to the 2016-17 season. Durant won a pair of Finals MVPs while leading the Warriors to back to back titles before he suffered ruptured his Achilles during the 2019 NBA Finals. Durant then fled to Brooklyn, and the Warriors have not made a playoff appearance--let alone won a playoff series or game--since his departure. 

Davis (14 first quarter points) and James (10 first quarter points) led the way as the Lakers built a 28-18 first quarter lead before the Warriors cut the margin to 34-32 by the end of the quarter. Curry topped the Warriors with eight first quarter points, but he shot just 2-8 from the field.

The Lakers led 59-53 at halftime, paced by James' 18 points on 7-10 field goal shooting. Curry led the Warriors in scoring (10 points) rebounds (six) and assists (five) but he shot just 3-11 from the field. 

The Warriors outscored the Lakers 30-26 in the third quarter, as the Lakers suffered several defensive lapses, and that pattern continued into the fourth quarter as the Warriors built a 100-92 lead. The Lakers neither protected the paint nor did they control the Warriors' three point shooters--and when your defense falls apart your transition offense is stifled, because transition offense is fueled by getting defensive stops (rebounds or forced turnovers). It is not surprising that the Lakers' halfcourt offense is still a work in progress, because when a team almost completely remakes its roster halfcourt offense will probably be the last thing to click. 

The Lakers' went on a 6-0 run after James drove to the basket and drew a flagrant foul call against Nemanja Bjelica. James split the resulting pair of free throws but then James assisted on an Avery Bradley three pointer. The Warriors then turned the ball over, and Davis scored a layup on a lob pass from Bradley to cut the Warriors' lead to 100-98. 

The Lakers' defense fell apart down the stretch, however, and the Warriors cruised to a 121-114 win. Curry had his first triple double in five years, leading the Warriors in scoring (21 points), rebounds (10) and assists (10). Curry shot just 5-21 from the field, and said after the game that he "played like trash." He had a +4 plus/minus number, but the difference in the game was the Warriors' bench: five Warriors' reserves played at least 12 minutes, and every one of those players had a positive plus/minus number, while three of the four Lakers' reserves who played at least 12 minutes had a negative plus/minus number. Bjelica (15 points, game-high 11 rebounds), Damion Lee (15 points), and Andre Iguodala (12 points) each scored in double figures off of the bench for the Warriors while no Laker reserve reached double figures. Jordan Poole, Curry's backcourt mate until Thompson returns, scored 20 points on 8-18 field goal shooting.

James scored a game-high 34 points on 13-23 field goal shooting, and Davis added 33 points on 15-26 field goal shooting. They each grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Westbrook struggled for most of the game, finishing with eight points on 4-13 field goal shooting plus five rebounds and four assists. Westbrook had a game-worst -23 plus/minus number, and he seemed to be trying so hard to fit in and not do too much that he ended up not doing enough. Charles Barkley made a great point during the halftime show, stating that when he first joined the Phoenix Suns he deferred to established Suns' stars Kevin Johnson and Dan Majerle before realizing that he had to be his normally aggressive self. Barkley was clearly the Suns' best player at that time while Westbrook is clearly not the Lakers' best player, but Barkley is correct that Westbrook and the Lakers would be best served by Westbrook playing like his normally aggressive self. There is no reason to doubt that Westbrook will figure out how to make a positive impact for this team; he has a long-established history of playing alongside players who have career-best seasons, from Kevin Durant to Paul George to James Harden to Bradley Beal.

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posted by David Friedman @ 1:31 AM

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