Last night, Kevin Love set the record for the most consecutive double doubles since the ABA-NBA merger back in 1976. His 16 point, 21 rebound performance was his 52nd straight double double, breaking the previous mark held by Moses Malone. Up next for Love is the all time record of 55, which is held by Elvin Hayes.
Looking at the players who have managed to get 50 consecutive double doubles, all are members of the NBA Hall of Fame. The eight names - Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Walt Bellamy, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Jerry Lucas, and Bill Russell - are all part of the truly elite in basketball history. Love, who is only in his third season, has already positioned himself amongst the best ever.
Over his career, Love has come close to averaging a double double each season, missing in his rookie campaign when he averaged 11.1 points and 9.1 rebounds. For this season, Love is averaging 20.8 points and 15.8 rebounds. And he is only 22. Imagine how much better he could get, as he gains experience and more knowledge of the game and the players.
There is no indication that Love is close to slowing down in his pursuit of the record. In fact, he is picking up these statistics with ease, typically having his double double by halfway through the third period. Why can't Love get to 60 straight? There doesn't appear to be anything stopping him.
The problem for Kevin Love is that he plays on a truly abysmal team in the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite his statistics and transcendent performances, the Timberwolves are 16-50. How much worse would that team be without him? For his sake, the Timberwolves need to get dramatically better, or he should demand a trade to a team that will actually compete. His abilities and talents are being wasted in what may as well be basketball Siberia.
Congratulations to Kevin Love on his partial record. Let's see if he can get the next four.
Showing posts with label records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label records. Show all posts
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Ray Allen's Fraudulent Record
Last night, Ray Allen passed Reggie Miller's mark for most three point shots hit in a career, with 2561. Over his illustrious career, Allen has been a remarkable shooter. From pure aesthetics and touch, there have been few equals. For his fifteen year career, he has hit on roughly 40% of his three point attempts, 89% of his free throws, and 45% of his shots in general.
Of the shots taken by Allen over his career thus far, roughly 38% of them have come from beyond the three point arc. This is a player who, despite his obvious skills shooting the ball, has made his livelihood from over twenty feet from the rim. Breaking down his three point attempts per game, Allen averages just a shade under six (5.98) three point attempts per.
Now, he obviously has done his part to reach this record, by not only attempting the second most three point shots in NBA history, but also by hitting at a prodigious rate. His 39.8% success rate ranks 38th all time amongst those with a minimum of 250 three pointers attempted. However, there is a major flaw with this 'record' - namely that the three point shot didn't even exist in the NBA until the 1979-80 season.
For the first few years, the three point shot was not a major staple of a team's offense. From 1979-80 until 1986-87, the most three pointers attempted in a season was 257 by Darrell Griffith in 1984-85. In fact, he also had the second most attempts during that era as well, with 252 the previous season. However, in the late 1980's and the early part of the 1990's, teams began to use the shot with more frequency, leading to a time now where players are routinely taking 500 or more three pointers over a season. In fact, Allen had taken 653 three pointers during the 2005-06 season alone.
Also, the distance of the three point line has been subject to change. From 1994 until 1997, the line was set to be 22' feet from the basket at every point, as opposed to the 22' feet from the corners and 23'9" that it had been previously at the top of the key. The original dimensions were restored during the 1997-98 season, but several 'records' for three point shots had been established by the line change: George McCloud attempted 678 threes during the 1995-96 season, and Dennis Scott hit 267 threes that year as well. Allen broke Scott's record during his 2005-06 year.
When thinking back on some of the players who were in the NBA prior to the three point shot, it's interesting to think what they would have done had it existed. For example, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elvin Hayes, and Pete Maravich didn't get to play their entire careers with this shot, and all were excellent shooters. Would the record be the same if they had the three point line back then?
Yes, this is a great feat that Ray Allen has accomplished. But it cannot truly be considered a record without having everyone on the same playing field.
Of the shots taken by Allen over his career thus far, roughly 38% of them have come from beyond the three point arc. This is a player who, despite his obvious skills shooting the ball, has made his livelihood from over twenty feet from the rim. Breaking down his three point attempts per game, Allen averages just a shade under six (5.98) three point attempts per.
Now, he obviously has done his part to reach this record, by not only attempting the second most three point shots in NBA history, but also by hitting at a prodigious rate. His 39.8% success rate ranks 38th all time amongst those with a minimum of 250 three pointers attempted. However, there is a major flaw with this 'record' - namely that the three point shot didn't even exist in the NBA until the 1979-80 season.
For the first few years, the three point shot was not a major staple of a team's offense. From 1979-80 until 1986-87, the most three pointers attempted in a season was 257 by Darrell Griffith in 1984-85. In fact, he also had the second most attempts during that era as well, with 252 the previous season. However, in the late 1980's and the early part of the 1990's, teams began to use the shot with more frequency, leading to a time now where players are routinely taking 500 or more three pointers over a season. In fact, Allen had taken 653 three pointers during the 2005-06 season alone.
Also, the distance of the three point line has been subject to change. From 1994 until 1997, the line was set to be 22' feet from the basket at every point, as opposed to the 22' feet from the corners and 23'9" that it had been previously at the top of the key. The original dimensions were restored during the 1997-98 season, but several 'records' for three point shots had been established by the line change: George McCloud attempted 678 threes during the 1995-96 season, and Dennis Scott hit 267 threes that year as well. Allen broke Scott's record during his 2005-06 year.
When thinking back on some of the players who were in the NBA prior to the three point shot, it's interesting to think what they would have done had it existed. For example, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Elvin Hayes, and Pete Maravich didn't get to play their entire careers with this shot, and all were excellent shooters. Would the record be the same if they had the three point line back then?
Yes, this is a great feat that Ray Allen has accomplished. But it cannot truly be considered a record without having everyone on the same playing field.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Not-so-lovable losers
With their 103-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers matched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mark with 26 consecutive losses. As horrible as that mark is, there are certain things to remember here. First, the Bucs were an expansion franchise when they lost their 26 in a row. The first ever draft choice of their franchise became a Hall of Fame player in Lee Roy Selmon. The Cavs have been around since the 1970-71 season, so they definitely do not have 'expansion franchise' as an excuse.
Second, the Cavs have a legitimately good head coach in Byron Scott. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back finals appearances, and led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs twice. After the 2007-08 season, he was voted as the Coach of the Year. This is not some clueless excuse wearing a suit who is manning the sidelines in Cleveland. The situation, and losing streak, cannot be placed solely on him. He did not just wake up one day and forget how to be an effective head coach.
Third, the continued struggles of the Cavs actually make LeBron James look better. One of LeBron's chief complaints was that the Cavs front office was not putting enough talent around him to permit a legitimate shot at a championship. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and Pau Gasol. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Every star needs that second option. Cleveland gave LeBron a washed up Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. No one on that list is going to be the second option for a title contending team. The fact that LeBron even got them to the finals once is looking more and more amazing as this season unfolds.
Going forward, the Cavs are not going to have an easy time of it. To quote Tracy McGrady: "You don't want to be the team that loses to them." Every team that goes out there and has the Cavs on their schedule is going to give them their best shot. Nothing will come easy for this squad.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, Friday night the Cavs face the Clippers. LA has played well as of late, and with the right moves, could end up being a playoff team in the next couple of years. This will probably be a loss, and set the record at 27 games straight. However, on Sunday, they face the Washington Wizards, who have not won on the road. If they are going to end this run of futility, this is where it will happen. One way or another, one of these streaks will come to an end.
As bad as this losing streak has been, the Cavs are not at an all-time worst record level. Presently, they sit on eight victories. One more lets them be no worse than the 9-73 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. At least they are not in jeopardy of reaching that mark. Yet.
In the end, it's going to be a long painful journey for any fans of the Cavs. This mess is going to take a long time to dig out from.
Second, the Cavs have a legitimately good head coach in Byron Scott. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back finals appearances, and led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs twice. After the 2007-08 season, he was voted as the Coach of the Year. This is not some clueless excuse wearing a suit who is manning the sidelines in Cleveland. The situation, and losing streak, cannot be placed solely on him. He did not just wake up one day and forget how to be an effective head coach.
Third, the continued struggles of the Cavs actually make LeBron James look better. One of LeBron's chief complaints was that the Cavs front office was not putting enough talent around him to permit a legitimate shot at a championship. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and Pau Gasol. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Every star needs that second option. Cleveland gave LeBron a washed up Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. No one on that list is going to be the second option for a title contending team. The fact that LeBron even got them to the finals once is looking more and more amazing as this season unfolds.
Going forward, the Cavs are not going to have an easy time of it. To quote Tracy McGrady: "You don't want to be the team that loses to them." Every team that goes out there and has the Cavs on their schedule is going to give them their best shot. Nothing will come easy for this squad.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, Friday night the Cavs face the Clippers. LA has played well as of late, and with the right moves, could end up being a playoff team in the next couple of years. This will probably be a loss, and set the record at 27 games straight. However, on Sunday, they face the Washington Wizards, who have not won on the road. If they are going to end this run of futility, this is where it will happen. One way or another, one of these streaks will come to an end.
As bad as this losing streak has been, the Cavs are not at an all-time worst record level. Presently, they sit on eight victories. One more lets them be no worse than the 9-73 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. At least they are not in jeopardy of reaching that mark. Yet.
In the end, it's going to be a long painful journey for any fans of the Cavs. This mess is going to take a long time to dig out from.
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