Odd things you've noticed in the NBA..

[BIG GREEN]

Maybe they're trying to make him the champion..in kayfabe.

[Mayerhendrix]

The Celtics scored 173 in a game back in 1959

Is that pre-3 point line and pre-shot clock? If so, that would have been unbelievable.

It was common for teams to break 100 back then though, teams didn't play too much defense back in that time.

What I find amazing is the number of times the shot clock is incorrect or operated incorrectly. You'd think such a sophisticated and expensive piece of technology would work right.

[[Q]]

Rick Kamla being all over any NBA broadcast. The only one I can remember having a similar push is Ahmad Rashad.

nah. That's only on NBA TV. I never see him anywhere else. Ahmad, however, is pretty much the person that held onto Jordan's nuts throughout the 90s.

[benji]

It was common for teams to break 100 back then though, teams didn't play too much defense back in that time.

Wrong. The best non-Spurs defensive team comes from that era. Having a different style of play doesn't mean there was no defense.

It's a little thing called pace. It's a lot easier to score 100 points a game when you use 130 possessions, than when you use 90.

[Andrew]

I find it odd (or at least interesting) how much variation there is on assists being registered and continuation calls being made. Sometimes it seems like there's a lot of leeway when it comes to players dribbling the ball after receiving the pass and the resulting shot also counting for an assist. Likewise, there are some pretty generous continuation calls made with players taking a couple of dribbles after the whistle, completing a layup and somehow being awarded a three point play.

[benji]

In olden times, you could only get an assist if the player shot immediately. Without taking any steps or dribbling. Now it is up to the scorer, which is why a lot of players have higher assist averages at home. The "great passers" (Kidd, Nash, etc.) also appear to get some extra leeway across the league. I've seen guys get assists for hitting a teammate at the top of the key and the teammate taking two-three steps and dunking.

Since assists aren't awarded until after the basket is made, and there's no "assist attempt" stat being tracked (by a pass to a guy who shoots immediately, if he makes, assist is counted, otherwise just the "attempt" is) there's plenty of oddness to assists.

[Andrew]

It was definitely noticeable in the Mavs/Warriors game today. That's not to say all of Kidd's 17 assists came like that but that home generosity was apparent on a few plays which is what made me think of it.

[shadowgrin]

Aren't the receiving player allowed to take at least three dribbles so the passer can be credited with an assist? If more than three dribbles were taken, an assist won't be awarded for a succesful shot.

[Andrew]

I don't think it's official but that seems about the level of leeway that's sometimes extended.

[benji]

I think it's one dribble, or two steps. If I pass to Michael Redd, and he sidesteps to the right with a dribble before shooting that was "accepted" as an assist.

Now it's probably, "if the player doesn't pass the ball to someone else, the original passer gets an assist, especially if it's Jason Kidd or Steve Nash."

[shadowgrin]

Maybe three dribbles or three steps?
I may have to watch some Mavs, Suns, and Hornets games just to see.

[grusom]

Maybe three dribbles or three steps?
I may have to watch some Mavs, Suns, and Hornets games just to see.

As far as I know, only Lebron and Dwayne Wade are permitted three steps.

[Dramacydal]

Damn, I was about to post that.

[Kevin_D]

David Stern hating the Sonics..

[Lamrock]

Are you our third active member from Seattle?