duncan228
12-20-2009, 12:39 AM
NBA's good, bad and ugly of the 2000s (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/NBAs_good_bad_and_ugly_of_the_2000s.html)
Mike Monroe - Express-News
We’re not sure what to call the first decade of the 21st century, but it’s about to end, which seems an appropriate time to look back at some of the best, and worst, of the past 10 years in the NBA.
The good
Duncan’s near quad: There never has been a quadruple-double in an NBA Finals game. No player has been closer than Spurs power forward Tim Duncan during Game 6 of the 2003 Finals. Duncan’s 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks rival Walt Frazier’s 36-point, 19-assist, five-steal game in Game 7 of the 1970 series as the most dominating performance in a Finals closeout game.
Big Shot Rob: Take your pick of Robert Horry’s big 3-point daggers as the most clutch shot of the decade: His game-winner for the Spurs in Game 5 of the 2005 Finals, or his right place-at-the-right time triple for the Lakers that stunned the Kings in Game 4 of the 2004 Western Conference finals. Spurs fans, no doubt, prefer the shot that saved Game 5. Either way, Horry was the decade’s Mr. Clutch.
Kobe drops 81: Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962 may be the most unassailable record in league history, but the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant got closer than anyone on Jan. 22, 2006, when he dropped 81 on the Raptors. This was no selfish pursuit of statistics. The Lakers were down 18 in the third quarter when Bryant became unstoppable as he rallied his team. Final tally: 28 for 46 from the field; 7 of 13 on threes; 18 of 20 free throws and 55 points in the second half alone.
Going even more global: The decade featured the continuing globalization of the league, with stars from South America, Asia and Australia joining a steady stream of European talent. Yao Ming was, literally, the biggest international star to join the league. Manu Ginobili led a contingent of Argentine stars, just as Tony Parker was in the vanguard of an invasion of French talent. The NBA is a much better league as a result.
The bad
Referee Rotten: The integrity of the game was called into question when referee Tim Donaghy was shown to have bet on NBA games, including games he officiated. Donaghy cooperated with investigators, pleaded guilty to federal felony charges and served time. He continues to be a thorn in David Stern’s side, out of jail and alleging that referees routinely make calls out of bias and anger.
Team USA’s low ebb: The 1992 Olympic Dream Team established the dominance of American-born NBA players, but a sixth-place finish by Team USA in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis shocked red, white and blue fans. When the 2004 Olympic team finished third in Athens, major changes were made at USA Basketball, with more continuity and practice time for the U.S. team.
Practice??? Allen Iverson’s career should be measured by the number of points he scored and the number of times he played with injuries that would have sidelined less-competitive superstars. Instead, it will be remembered most for the 13 times he uttered the phrase “We’re talking about practice!” in a rant after the 76ers were eliminated from the 2002 playoffs.
‘F’ in composition: We’re not sure who decided the leather NBA game ball was broken and needed fixing in 2006, but we think it was the marketing department at Spalding, which claimed its new balls, made of a composite material, needed no break-in period. Unfortunately, they needed a better feel, because players found them slippery and so abrasive, they caused tiny cuts to their hands. The league went back to leather balls on Jan. 1, 2007.
The ugly
Malice in the Palace: There have been lots of fights between, and among, players on the court in NBA games, but there never had been a near-riot until the ugly scene at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 19, 2004. What began with a shoving match between the Pistons’ Ben Wallace and the Pacers’ Ron Artest ended in chaos, with players spilling into the stands to confront angry fans. Mega-suspensions, including the remainder of the season for Artest, followed.
Mike Monroe - Express-News
We’re not sure what to call the first decade of the 21st century, but it’s about to end, which seems an appropriate time to look back at some of the best, and worst, of the past 10 years in the NBA.
The good
Duncan’s near quad: There never has been a quadruple-double in an NBA Finals game. No player has been closer than Spurs power forward Tim Duncan during Game 6 of the 2003 Finals. Duncan’s 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and 8 blocks rival Walt Frazier’s 36-point, 19-assist, five-steal game in Game 7 of the 1970 series as the most dominating performance in a Finals closeout game.
Big Shot Rob: Take your pick of Robert Horry’s big 3-point daggers as the most clutch shot of the decade: His game-winner for the Spurs in Game 5 of the 2005 Finals, or his right place-at-the-right time triple for the Lakers that stunned the Kings in Game 4 of the 2004 Western Conference finals. Spurs fans, no doubt, prefer the shot that saved Game 5. Either way, Horry was the decade’s Mr. Clutch.
Kobe drops 81: Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962 may be the most unassailable record in league history, but the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant got closer than anyone on Jan. 22, 2006, when he dropped 81 on the Raptors. This was no selfish pursuit of statistics. The Lakers were down 18 in the third quarter when Bryant became unstoppable as he rallied his team. Final tally: 28 for 46 from the field; 7 of 13 on threes; 18 of 20 free throws and 55 points in the second half alone.
Going even more global: The decade featured the continuing globalization of the league, with stars from South America, Asia and Australia joining a steady stream of European talent. Yao Ming was, literally, the biggest international star to join the league. Manu Ginobili led a contingent of Argentine stars, just as Tony Parker was in the vanguard of an invasion of French talent. The NBA is a much better league as a result.
The bad
Referee Rotten: The integrity of the game was called into question when referee Tim Donaghy was shown to have bet on NBA games, including games he officiated. Donaghy cooperated with investigators, pleaded guilty to federal felony charges and served time. He continues to be a thorn in David Stern’s side, out of jail and alleging that referees routinely make calls out of bias and anger.
Team USA’s low ebb: The 1992 Olympic Dream Team established the dominance of American-born NBA players, but a sixth-place finish by Team USA in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis shocked red, white and blue fans. When the 2004 Olympic team finished third in Athens, major changes were made at USA Basketball, with more continuity and practice time for the U.S. team.
Practice??? Allen Iverson’s career should be measured by the number of points he scored and the number of times he played with injuries that would have sidelined less-competitive superstars. Instead, it will be remembered most for the 13 times he uttered the phrase “We’re talking about practice!” in a rant after the 76ers were eliminated from the 2002 playoffs.
‘F’ in composition: We’re not sure who decided the leather NBA game ball was broken and needed fixing in 2006, but we think it was the marketing department at Spalding, which claimed its new balls, made of a composite material, needed no break-in period. Unfortunately, they needed a better feel, because players found them slippery and so abrasive, they caused tiny cuts to their hands. The league went back to leather balls on Jan. 1, 2007.
The ugly
Malice in the Palace: There have been lots of fights between, and among, players on the court in NBA games, but there never had been a near-riot until the ugly scene at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 19, 2004. What began with a shoving match between the Pistons’ Ben Wallace and the Pacers’ Ron Artest ended in chaos, with players spilling into the stands to confront angry fans. Mega-suspensions, including the remainder of the season for Artest, followed.