Our countdown to the number one player of the 1940's returns with the announcement of number four and the next entry into the TBCB Hall of Fame, Joe Fulks. A six foot five forward, Murray State's Joe Fulks began his career in 1946 with the Philadelphia Warriors. As previously discussed on this blog, Fulks led Warriors to the first Basketball Association of America (BAA) championship in 1947 and set a scoring record that would stand for ten years with a 63 point outburst in February 1949.
Joe Fulks
During the 1940's, Joe Fulks won 10 TBCB player of the game awards. Fulks also earned All-BAA first team honors each year from 1947-1949; All-NBA honors for the 1950-51 season; and was selected to the first two NBA All Star teams (1951 and 1952). In addition, he led the BAA in scoring for the 1946-47 season and finished second the following two seasons. The 10 games in which Fulks earned TBCB player of the game awards are noted below.
12/21/48,
Philadelphia Warriors 72, Minneapolis Lakers 64; Fulks 19 points.
12/25/48, Philadelphia Warriors 80, Boston Celtics 77; Fulks 30 points.
12/30/48,
Philadelphia Warriors 94, Indianapolis Jets 91; Fulks 32 points.
Basketball-Reference.com cites Kevin Love and Kevin Durant as active players who are similar to Fulks. As described in TBCB's 1947-48 season spotlight, Fulks died tragically on March 21, 1976.
We'll announce number three on our list on Tuesday, July 3. As a reminder, our top 10 list represents the players who won the greatest number of Champs Belt player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 BAA Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's enter the Champs Belt Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by TBCB's Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
As this blog has begun to explore the history of The Basketball Champs Belt, I've given a lot of thought to what makes a team become a legitimate championship contender. The league is littered with the memories of teams that did exceedingly well during the regular season and were beloved by fans, but never made it to the next level. For example, the Dallas Mavericks, my hometown team, might have been just another one of these teams if not for a transition that began under Avery Johnson and was completed under Rick Carlisle. In addition to teams that consistently lose in the first or second round of the playoffs, there are others who seem to consistently exist either at the margins of playoff contention or as permanent fixtures in the draft lottery.
So what separates recent champions like the Heat, Mavericks, Lakers, and Celtics from other contenders like this year's Oklahoma City Thunder, last year's version of the Miami Heat, teams like Steve Nash's Phoenix Suns, or the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors? Why do some succeed when others fail? After much thought, I've developed a list of 7 factors that seem to set champions apart from the competition. While the 7 factors don't necessarily represent new or groundbreaking research, my hope is that these factors will help fans think constructively about what their teams need to do to raise their level of play to a championship caliber (more coming on this soon). In some cases, these factors might also help fans of certain teams simply accept their team's fate as a perennial doormat.
Bobcats Fan at Peace
Photo by Abhisek Sarda (Flickr: Prayer by the Sea)
This post serves as an introduction to the 7 factors. Based on my continued research and your input, I plan to further examine and develop these factors over time.
Developing the Factors
The 7 factors are based on a review of the last 10 NBA champions. In short, I examined the teams and identified characteristics that set them apart from the rest of the league. While most of these factors likely also apply to pre-2003 champions, I limited my focus to the last 10 champions because the league has the potential to evolve considerably over time. I'll examine the extent to which these factors also apply to champions prior to 2003 at some time in the future.
Year
Champion
2012
Miami Heat
2011
Dallas Mavericks
2010
Los Angeles Lakers
2009
Los Angeles Lakers
2008
Boston Celtics
2007
San Antonio Spurs
2006
Miami Heat
2005
San Antonio Spurs
2004
Detroit Pistons
2003
San Antonio Spurs
The 7 Factors of Championship Teams
The 7 factors and a short description of each are noted below. Note that their order below does not reflect their importance. Feel free to discuss and debate these factors via twitter (@champsbelt) or by emailing me at champsbelt@gmail.com. I expect the factors to evolve over time, and I welcome feedback from readers who would like to contribute to their evolution.
1) Coaching: Championship teams need a coach and coaching staff who can, among other things, (a) work with existing players and their skill sets; (b) help players identify areas for improvement; (c) successfully motivate them to improve in those areas; (d) identify and exploit mismatches; and (e) make key adjustments during the regular season and during a high pressure playoff series.
2) Opportunity: Each team has a window of opportunity determined by the health of individual players on the team; the health and strength of the competition; and matchups with other top tier teams. This factor is mostly outside of any single team's control, although owners and general managers certainly need to consider how their teams compare to other top teams. For example, any current Eastern Conference contender likely needs to consider the Miami Heat as a potential playoff matchup for at least the next two years and determine whether the team has the appropriate pieces in place to potentially defeat the Heat.
3) Culture: Teams that win championships tend to have a team-oriented culture that supports and includes everyone, regardless of their importance or role on the team. This helps team members to accept their individual roles and helps to ensure good locker room chemistry, which is critical during high pressure playoff situations. This factor applies to all championship teams, with the San Antonio Spurs perhaps serving as the best example of its impact.
4) Focus: This factor goes beyond the overused concept of who wants it more. Everyone wants to win, but the ability of players like Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki, and their team mates, to play with incredible focus and intensity contributed significantly to helping their teams achieve success. A team's focus improves its ability to deal with challenging matchups and situations during difficult playoff series and also gives them the edge needed to win games during the closing minutes.
5) Players: Championship level teams typically need at least one great player and several stars who are supported by a collection of quality players who each have defined roles. This factor also addresses how well the skills and abilities of existing players fit together. (Refer to the recent GQ article on "Muthuball" for one example how to evaluate fit.)
6) Defense: While teams do not win championships with defense alone, championship teams need to have a defensive mindset. This becomes particularly important as teams advance deeper into the playoffs. A number of teams during the past decade have been successful during the regular season without a solid commitment to defense, but these teams have typically not lasted very long in the playoffs.
7) Experience: NBA history shows that previous experience in high pressure playoff situations is critical. Young or inexperienced teams simply don't win championships. While it's better if team members earn their experience together, they can also gain experience individually while on different teams.
TBCB will explore each of these factors in detail during the summer and into the next NBA season.
Our countdown of the top players of the 1940's returns with the announcement of number five, Carl Braun. By making our list of the top 5 players of the decade, Braun also becomes the first member of the TBCB Hall of Fame.
A six foot five guard/forward, Colgate's Carl Braun began his career in 1947 with the New York Knicks. His long career with the Knicks was interrupted by one season with the Washington Capitols (1951-52), after which he returned to New York and remained a Knick until 1961. In 1961, he left to play his final NBA season and win an NBA Championship with the Boston Celtics. He also coached the Knicks from 1959 to 1961. After retiring, Braun returned to New York and became a successful Wall Street stock broker.
During the 1940's, Carl Braun won TBCB player of the game honors nine times: Once during the 1947-48 season; twice during 1948-49; and six times during 1949-50. Braun also earned All-BAA honors for the 1947-48 season (second team) and All-NBA honors in 1954 (second team). In addition, he was a five-time NBA All-Star during the fifties (1953-57). The games during the 1940s in which Braun won player of the game honors are noted below.
12/10/47, New York Knicks 79, Boston Celtics 75; Braun, 16 points.
12/13/48, New York Knicks 80, Indianapolis Jets 74; Braun, 14 points.
2/9/49, New York Knicks 95, St. Louis Bombers 83; Braun, 22 points.
11/22/49, New York Knicks 89, Washington Capitols 74; Braun, 19 points.
11/23/49, New York Knicks 87, Washington Capitols 67; Brain, 17 points.
1/22/50, New York Knicks 81, Rochester Royals 71; Braun, 23 points.
1/26/50, New York Knicks 79, Baltimore Bullets 77; Braun, 19 points.
2/22/50, New York Knicks 89, Washington Capitols 81; Braun, 38 points.
3/2/50, New York Knicks 81, Boston Celtics 72; Braun, 21 points.
Basketball-Reference.com cites Baron Davis and Joe Johnson as active players who are similar to Braun. Carl Braun died on February 10, 2010. After Braun's death, his wife said that "he loved the game, and he would have paid the Knicks to play for them."
We will announce player number four on Thursday. As a reminder, our list of top 10 players represents the players who won the greatest number of TBCB player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's enter the TBCB Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by the TBCB Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
This week's Good Read of the Week highlight's Ben Cohen's excellent GQ piece about how to successfully build an NBA champion. The article discusses an idea presented at this year's Sloan Sports Analytics Conference that might have the potential to revolutionize the NBA similar to how Bill James revolutionized baseball. Called "Muthuball," Cohen's piece discusses new research by a Stanford University senior Muthu Alagappan, who has proposed a new approach to constructing NBA teams. In essence, this approach proposes that teams are comprised of 13 different positions and that successful teams need to find an appropriate fit between their various players and positions.
As I'm currently working on my own theory of what makes NBA teams championship contenders (more on this soon), I found this piece to be particularly interesting. Read Cohen's piece here.
On Thursday evening, the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106 to become the 2012 NBA Champions. In doing so, they also defended The Basketball Champs Belt, which will now spend the summer relaxing in Miami. The Heat were again led by Lebron James, who had 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 32 points and 11 rebounds.
Congratulations to Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and the Miami Heat.
Our countdown to the number one player of the 1940's returns with the announcement of number six, Arnie Risen. A six foot nine center/forward, Ohio State University's Arnie "Stilts" Risen began his career with the National Basketball League's Indianapolis Kautskys in 1945. In 1948 he became a member of the Rochester Royals, where he played until his contract was sold to the Boston Celtics in 1955. His career concluded as a member of the Celtics in 1958. Risen won NBA championships with the Royals in 1951 and the Celtics in 1957 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998.
During the 1940's, Arnie Risen won player of the game honors eight times, all during the 1948-49 season. In doing so, he barely missed the cut for this round of TBCB Hall of Fame selections. However, his accomplishments during the 1950's suggest that he might qualify when we introduce the next class after reviewing the 1955 NBA season. In addition to his Champs Belt awards, Risen earned all-BAA honors in 1948-49 and was named an NBA All-Star each year from 1952-1955. His Champs Belt player of the game awards from the 1940s follow.
1/11/49, Rochester Royals 83, Philadelphia Warriors 71; Risen 21 points.
We'll announce number five on our list, who will also be our first Champs Belt Hall of Fame inductee, on Tuesday. As a reminder, our list of top 10 players represents the players who won the greatest number of Champs Belt player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's will enter the Champs Belt Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by TBCB's Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, author's analysis, previous Champs Belt posts.
On Tuesday evening, the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-98 to take a 3-1 series lead and retain The Basketball Champs Belt. Lebron James, our TBCB player of the game, barely missed a triple double, scoring 26 points with 9 rebounds and 12 assists. Russell Westbrook had 43 points for the Thunder.
Visit Peninsula is Mightier for more on the Heat victory. Game 5 is set for Thursday evening in Miami.
Our countdown to the number one player of the 1940's returns with the announcement of number seven, Kleggie Hermsen. The University of Minnesota's Kleggie Hermsen began his career with the National Basketball League's Sheboygan Red Skins in 1943. A 6 foot 9 forward/center, he played with various teams throughout his playing career. In the BAA/NBA, he was a member of the Toronto Huskies (1946-47), Baltimore Bullets (1947-48), Washington Capitols (1948-49), Chicago Stags (1949-50), Tri-Cities Black Hawks (1950-51), Boston Celtics (1951), and Indianapolis Olympians (1952-53).
While Hermsen's individual statistical accomplishments are not necessarily comparable to other players on our top 10 list, he nonetheless manged to earn player of the game honors seven times during the 1940s. He also won player of the game awards twice during the playoffs, breaking a tie with Bob Feerick that would otherwise have both men tied for seventh place in our rankings. Two of Hermsen's regular season player of the game awards came during the 1947-48 season and five came during 1948-49. Hermsen also won a BAA Championship with the Bullets in 1948. His Champs Belt game results follow.
11/29/47, Baltimore Bullets 71, St. Louis Bombers 67; Hermsen, 21 points.
Basketball-Reference.com cites Joel Anthony and JaVale McGee as active players similar to Hermsen. Kleggie Hermsen died on March 2, 1994.
We'll announce number six on our list on Thursday. As a reminder, our list of top 10 players represents the players who won the greatest number of Champs Belt player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's will enter the Champs Belt Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by TBCB's Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference.com, author's analysis, previous Champs Belt posts.
On Sunday evening the Miami Heat defended the belt by defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder 91-85. Lebron James was the player of the game, totaling 29 points and 14 rebounds. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 25 points and 6 rebounds.
Read more about the Heat's victory at Peninsula is Mightier. Game 4 is set for Tuesday evening in Miami.
This week's Good Read of the Week highlights L.J. Rotter's article on the Dallas Mavericks' Game 6 victory over the Miami Heat in last year's NBA Finals and her subsequent night on the town with the Mavs. As a long-suffering Mavericks fan who read much of what the Internet offered during and after the Mavericks championship run, I believe that this piece, written the day after the Mavericks victory, captured the sheer joy associated the Mavericks' NBA championship better than anything else on the web. Read it here.
2011 NBA Finals, Game 5
Photo by the Author
While Thunder fans in Oklahoma City have not suffered through the same long march to the championship that fans of other champions have experienced, I hope they experience something close to this joy if the Thunder win. And while this blogger is still stung by the Mavericks's loss to the Heat in the 2006 Finals, I also hope that long-time Heat fans will also enjoy a similar experience if their team wins its second title.
As this blog has previously covered, the 1949-50 season was the National Basketball Association's (NBA) first official season. While the NBA considers its founding to be in 1946 with the establishment of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), this isn't entirely accurate. The NBA didn't officially exist until the 1949 merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League (NBL), which was founded in 1937. With this in mind, various arguments can be made about how to count team and individual records prior to 1949-50. Regardless, any debate ends with the official formation of the NBA in 1949.
Along with the NBA, 1949 also brought us other notable beginnings, including the Republic of Ireland, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), Bhutan (happiness!), and the People's Republic of China. 1949 was also the year the world was first introduced to future luminaries George Foreman, Gregg Popovitch, Larry Holmes, Tom Waits, and Jerry "the King" Lawler.
Ric Flair, the patron saint of the Basketball Champs Belt, was also born in February 1949. The future 21-time wrestling champion would later fill this blogger's childhood memories and inspire this blog's guiding rule: To be the champ, you've got to beat the champ.
The Minneapolis Lakers won the final BAA championship in April 1949, and The Basketball Champs Belt spent the summer of 1949 taking afternoon jogs around Lake Calhoun and tanning its leather along the University of Minnesota's Northrop Mall. In August, while the belt was still touring Minneapolis, the NBL and BAA officially agreed to merge and become the NBA. As part of this merger, six teams from the NBL joined the NBA: The Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Red Skins, Syracuse Nationals, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, and Waterloo Hawks. In addition, the BAA's Indianapolis Jets and Providence Steamrollers folded and the NBA added the Indianapolis Olympians. The Olympians are an interesting story that we might address in greater detail in a future post, as they were led primarily by the University of Kentucky players who led the United States to a gold medal in the 1948 Olympics and were established to capitalize on these players' popularity. However, the Olympians folded in 1953, two seasons after the team's star players, Alex Groza and Ralph Beard, were suspended from the NBA after admitting to point shaving while in college.
Regular Season Summary
The Lakers began the 1949-50 season by defending the belt on November 2 with a win over the Philadelphia Warriors. They defended the belt three more times before losing it to Max Zaslofsky and the Chicago Stags. Zaslofsky then led the Stags in defending the belt three times before the Warriors took it on November 18. The Warriors lost he belt the following night to the New York Knicks, who then held the belt for a total of six nights. In a season with few belt streaks longer than three games, this six game belt streak equaled the longest of the season (the Lakers would equal this streak in the season's second quarter). During this streak, the Knicks were led by Carl Braun and Harry Gallatin, who each earned player of the game honors twice.
The season's second quarter was dominated by the reigning champion Minneapolis Lakers. The Lakers took the belt from the Knicks on November 30, but only held it one night before losing it to the Olympians in a game in which Alex Groza outscored George Mikan 38-33. Despite this loss, the Lakers won or defended the belt during nine of the seventeen games between November 30 and January 4, including a six game stretch that lasted from Christmas Day until January 4. During the season's second quarter, the Lakers were led by George Mikan, who won player of the game honors for eight of the nine Laker victories. The Ft. Wayne Pistons were the Lakers' closest competitors during this time, raising the belt after three of the same seventeen contests.
The Rochester Royals led the way during the season's third quarter, winning or defending the belt during seven of the next seventeen games. The Royals were led by Bob Davies and Bobby "Hooks" Wanzer (who is tied for our number nine player of the decade), with either Davies or Wanzer winning player of the game honors for each of these games. During this same period, the Knicks raised the belt on four nights and the Tri-Cities Black Hawks on three.
The season's final quarter was led by the Knicks, who won the belt on February 22 behind a 38 point outburst from Carl Braun. The Knicks then defended the belt four times before losing it to the Minneapolis Lakers. During the five games that the Knicks held the belt, Carl Braun won player of the game honors twice, becoming the only Knick to win player of the game honors more than once during this stretch. Other teams of note were the Ft. Wayne Pistons, Syracuse Nationals, and Indianapolis Olympians, who each held the belt for three nights. During the season's final quarter, Dolph Shayes of the Nationals, who won three player of the game awards, was the only player to win the award more than twice. Two-time winners included Carl Braun and Alex Groza. The regular season concluded with the Indianapolis Olympians, who won the belt by defeating the Nationals on March 14, defeating the Denver Nuggets and taking the belt into their first round playoff series against the Sheboygan Red Skins.
In the first round, the Olympians defeated the Red Skins two games to one with Alex Groza winning player of the game honors in both victories. In the second round, the Anderson Packers defeated the Olympians two games to one, with Bill Closs and Frankie Brian leading the way. The Lakers and the Packers then faced off, with the winner earning the right to play for the first NBA Championship. In this round, George Mikan once again reigned supreme as he led the Lakers to a two game sweep.
The 1950 NBA Finals had the Minneapolis Lakers facing off against the Syracuse Nationals, two former NBL teams who would dominate the NBA during the early part of the 1950s. The Nationals and Lakers split the first two games in Syracuse, with the Nationals leaving for Minneapolis with the belt after winning game two. The Lakers then took the belt and a three games to one lead by winning both games in Minneapolis. The Nationals took game five in Syracuse, but then traveled back to Minneapolis where George Mikan scored 40 points in game six to lead the Lakers to their second consecutive championship.
Although the Lakers did quite well during the season and took the NBA Championship and the belt back for another summer in Minneapolis, they were only the second best team during the regular season as judged by the number of games in which they won or defended the belt. Specifically, the Lakers raised the belt 14 times, winning it on five different occasions and defending it a total of nine times. However, the New York Knicks, our 1949-50 TBCB Team of the Year, were even better as they won the belt on three different occasions and defended it 12 times, for a total of 15 nights as champion. The Rochester Royals finished third in our belt standings, winning the belt on four different occasions and defending it for another four, for a total of eight nights as champion.
Quantum theory allows one to argue the possibility that events that occur today can influence actions that occur in the past. With this in mind, our experiment with the belt must have influenced the Knicks' performance in 1949-50, as they performed exceptionally well in games when the belt was on the line. Specifically, about 38 percent of the Knicks' 40 total wins involved winning or defending the belt. In contrast, about 27 percent of the Lakers 51 wins involved the belt, while only about sixteen percent of the Royals 51 wins included winning or defending it. The Knicks and Lakers made significent improvements from the previous season, as they both raised the belt 12 more times than during 1948-49. In contrast, the Royals dropped significantly, falling from 22 nights as champion in in the previous season to eight during the 1949-50 season.
While the Knicks were the 1949-50 TBCB Team of the Year, the Lakers' George Mikan won the Player of the Year award, as he won player of the game honors on ten different occasions during the regular season. Mikan was followed by the Knicks' Carl Braun (6), the Royals' Bob Davies (4), the Knicks' Harry Gallatin (4), the Lakers' Jim Pollard (4), and the Stags' Max Zaslofsky (4). Mikan, clearly an unstoppable force and the class of the NBA, also led the lead the league in scoring, with Zaslofsky, Pollard, and Braun also landing in the season's top five.
Coming soon, we'll announce the first inductees to the TBCB Hall of Fame, recap the 1940s, and then begin our exploration of the 1950s.
Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference.com, Youtube, Twitter, Neft and Cohen's Sports Encylopedia of Basketball (Fifth Edition), author's analysis, and previous blog posts.
On Thursday evening, Lebron James and the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96 to regain the belt and tie the NBA Finals at one game apiece. Lebron James led the Heat with 32 points, including two free throws at the conclusion of the game that sealed the Heat's victory. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 32.
Visit Peninsula is Mightier for more about the Heat victory. Game 3 is set for Sunday evening in Miami.
Our countdown to the number one player of the 1940's returns with the announcement of number eight, Bob Feerick.
Santa Clara University's Bob Feerick began playing for the Washington Capitols in 1946 after spending one year with the National Basketball League's Osh Kosh All Stars. Feerick played for the Capitols until retiring after the 1949-50 season and he also served as the Capitols' coach during his final season. Bob Feerick left the NBA to coach at Santa Clara University, where he remained until 1962. He left Santa Clara to coach Wilt Chamberlain's San Francisco Warriors, a job that he only held for one season.
Bob Feerick's 1948 Bowman Card
(scan by the author)
During the 1940's, Feerick won TBCB player of the game honors seven times. Six of these awards came during the 1947-48 season and one came during 1948-49. Although Feerick had a short career, he was a star during his time. For example, Feerick earned All-Basketball Association of America (BAA) honors for the 1946-47 season (first team), 1947-48 (first team), and 1948-49 (second team). He also led the BAA in field goal percentage in 1946-47; was the runner up in total points in 1946-47 (Joe Fulks finished first overall); and led the BAA in win shares during both 1946-47 and 1947-48. In addition, Bob Feerick was one of only 25 players nominated to be a member of the NBA's 25th Anniversary Team in 1971. The games in which Feerick won Champs Belt player of the game awards follow.
1/21/48, Washington Capitols 81, St. Louis Bombers 74; Feerick, 18 points.
2/4/48, Washington Capitols 77, Baltimore Bullets 72; Feerick 20 points.
2/14/48, Washington Capitols 72, Boston Celtics 58; Feerick 16 points.
3/18/48, Washington Capitols 71, Baltimore Bullets 64; Feerick 24 points.
3/20/48, Washington Capitols 103, New York Knicks 82; Feerick 22 points.
11/21/48, Washington Capitols 80, Rochester Royals 77; Feerick 19 points.
Basketball-Reference.com cites Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, and LaMarcus Aldridge as active players who are similar to Feerick. Bob Feerick died on June 8, 1976.
We'll announce number seven on our list on Tuesday, June 19, and number six on Thursday, June 21. As a reminder, our list of top 10 players represents the players who won the greatest number of Champs Belt player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's will enter the Champs Belt Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by TBCB's Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference.com, author's analysis, previous Champs Belt posts.
On Tuesday evening, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Miami Heat 104-92 in Oklahoma City to take game one of the NBA Finals. After the Heat began by building an early double digit lead, the Thunder slowly climbed back and tied the game in the third quarter. Oklahoma City then dominated the fourth quarter to take the belt and a 1-0 series lead. Kevin Durant, our TBCB player of the game, finished with 36 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Lebron James led the Heat with 30, 9, and 4. Durant said of the difference between the first and second half, "I think the only adjustment we made was playing harder."
For more on the Thunder victory, visit Welcome to Loud City. Game 2 is set for Thursday evening in Oklahoma City.
This week's good read of the week highlights Percy Allen's June 29, 2007, Seattle Times article about the Seattle Sonics drafting Kevin Durant. Allen's article provides an interesting perspective on Durant's Oklahoma City Thunder, who relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, and who will face the Miami Heat in this year's NBA Finals. It also reminds us how fleeting success can be. While it wasn't long ago that the Boston Celtics formed their big three by trading for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics' appearance this year in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat might have been their last opportunity to win big with their current group of players. In contrast, it looks like the era of the Thunder is only beginning.
"This is a transformative day for the Sonics. Kevin represents the best basketball has to offer, on and off the court. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team."
How right he was. Congratulations to the Sonics/Thunder for making it to this year's NBA Finals.
As for Seattle, we feel for you. While this blog loves how Oklahoma City welcomed the New Orleans Hornets after Hurricane Katrina and enjoys the electric atmosphere at Thunder games, this article is a reminder about how 2012 could have been the year of the Sonics.
Stay tuned to The Basketball Champs Belt for announcements about our top players of the 1940's and the first class of inductees into the Champs Belt Hall of Fame.
On Saturday night, the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics 101-88 to defend the belt, win game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, and book a return trip to the NBA Finals. The game was closely matched throughout, but the Heat pulled away during the final minutes to build an insurmountable lead. Lebron James was the player of the game, with 31 points and 12 rebounds. Dwyane Wade added 21 points and Chris Bosh contributed 19 off the bench.
Read more about the Heat's victory at Peninsula is Mightier. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Tuesday evening.
As noted previously, we have a tie for the ninth best player of the 1940's. On Wednesday, we revealed Bones McKinney as one of two men tied for this honor. Today we reveal Bobby "Hooks" Wanzer as the player tied with McKinney for ninth place.
Bobby Wanzer played at Seton Hall before being drafted by the National Basketball League's (NBL) Rochester Royals in 1947. The Royals joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1948, and in 1949 the BAA and NBL merged to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). Wanzer played his entire career for the Royals and won an NBA championship in 1951. He was also named an NBA All-Star five times and was named to the All-NBA team three times, all during the 1950's. In addition, he coached the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals from 1955 to 1959. In fact, he was coaching the Royals at the time Maurice Stokes was seriously injured in 1959. As noted recently, Stokes was cared for by the recently-departed Jack Twyman after his terrible injury.
"Hooks" Wanzer was just getting warmed up during the 1940's, so we should expect to see more from him as we move ahead and begin covering the 1950's. Given the success of the Royals in the 1950's, Wanzer might even be a candidate for the Champs Belt Hall of Fame when we introduce a new class after covering the 1954-55 NBA season.
During the 1940's, Wanzer won player of the game honors six times during games involving the Champs Belt. Three of these awards came during the 1948-49 season and three came during the 1949-50 season. As evidenced below, Wanzer's totals were not overwhelming by today's standards. However, his achievements in these specific games were enough to earn him player of the game honors when compared to his peers. In any case, as noted above, we'll likely read more about Wanzer later.
1/21/50, Rochester Royals 95, Anderson Packers 79; Wanzer, 18 points.
2/1/50, Rochester Royals 85, Philadelphia Warriors 68; Wanzer, 14 points.
Basketball-Reference.com cites Andre Iguodala, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, and Michael Redd as active players whose statistical outputs compare to Wanzer's. See below for a radio interview conducted with Wanzer last year.
We'll announce number eight on our list next week. As a reminder, our list of top 10 players represents the players who won the greatest number of Champs Belt player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's will enter the Champs Belt Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by TBCB's Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference.com, author's analysis, previous Champs Belt posts.
On Thursday evening the Miami Heat overwhelmed the Boston Celtics 98-79 in Boston to take game 6 and the belt. Lebron James was the player of the game, with 45 points and 15 rebounds. Rajon Rondo led Boston with 21 points and 10 assists.
Game 7 is set for Saturday evening in Miami. The winner of Saturday's game will take the belt into the NBA finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Since Lebron James and Chris Bosh left the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors to join Dwyane Wade and form the Miami Heatles, basketball fans everywhere have enjoyed watching the Heat lose. The hubris and lofty expectations demonstrated by The Decision and the Heat's subsequent preseason celebration seemed to turn off many fans.
The superfriends were incredibly confident of the dynasty they were about to establish. Wade even referred to them as "arguably the best trio to ever play the game of basketball." However, it now appears that the Heat are in serious trouble for the second consecutive year. We don't yet know the final outcome of the Eastern Conference Finals, but the Boston Celtics are doing their best to recreate the Miami meltdown that occurred last year when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Heat in the NBA Finals.
Everyone understood at the outset that the Heat would be villainized. We would all also be happy to assemble superteams in our respective hometowns and have our teams be similarly reviled. But while in Dallas we wait for Deron Williams and Dwight Howard (or Roy Hibbert) to join Dirk this summer, we know we'll always have this:
Inside the AAC After Game 5
of the 2011 NBA Finals
Video by The Author
What does it feel like to beat the Heat? It feels good. Enjoy the moment, Celtics fans.
[Update: Check my twitter posts from 6/7/12 for thoughts on the Heat as villains. As I noted there, I would love to cheer for Lebron James, but he needs a new villain to take his place first.]
We begin our march towards the Champs Belt 1940's decade summary and Hall of Fame induction by celebrating the top 10 players of the 1940's. Our list begins with Bones McKinney, who is tied for ninth place with another player who will be announced soon.
Bones McKinney played two years at North Carolina State and one year at the University of North Carolina. He played for the Washington Capitols from 1946 until the Capitols folded during the 1950-51 season. McKinney finished his career in 1952 with the Boston Celtics. In addition, he was a player/coach with the Washington Capitols from 1950-51, coached at Wake Forest from 1958-65, and coached the ABA's Carolina Cougars from 1969-71.
By Diderot et d'Alembert (Bibliothèque nationale de France)
During the 1940's, McKinney won player of the game honors six times, with each of his six awards coming during the Washington Capitols' thirteen game belt streak that occurred between November 6, 1948 and December 4, 1948. His pro basketball accomplishments included winning All-BAA honors in both 1947 (first team) and 1949 (second team). His accomplishments in Champs Belt games where he won player of the game honors follow:
11/6/48, Washington Capitols 67, Minneapolis Lakers 62; McKinney: 24 points.
11/11/48, Washington Capitols 70, Baltimore Bullets 68; McKinney: 15 points.
11/25/48, Washington Capitols 81, Philadelphia Warriors 73; McKinney: 18 points.
11/27/48, Washington Capitols 94, Indianapolis Jets 76; McKinney: 19 points.
As a reminder, our list of top 10 players represents the players who won the greatest number of Champs Belt player of the game awards between when the belt was first awarded to the 1946-47 Basketball Association of America Champion Philadelphia Warriors and the conclusion of the 1949-50 NBA season. The top five players of the 1940's will enter the Champs Belt Hall of Fame, where they will be joined by a sixth player selected by TBCB's Commissioner. For more on Hall of Fame eligibility and rules, click here. Suggestions for the sixth Hall of Fame suggestion can be sent to the Commissioner at champsbelt@gmail.com or via Twitter (@champsbelt).
Sources: Wikipedia, Basketball-Reference.com, author's analysis, and previous blog posts.
On Tuesday evening, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 94-90 to retain the belt and take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Kevin Garnett was our TBCB player of the game, as he led Boston with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Lebron James led the Heat with 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Read more about the Celtics game 5 victory at Celtics Life. Game 6 is set for Thursday evening in Boston.
McSweeney's Internet Tendency (which this blogger has loved for many years) posted this this gem recently featuring Sean Adam's take on advanced (or maybe arbitrary) NBA
statistics. For example, an important key to the Boston Celtics moving on to
the finals might very well be the degree to which the Wilmette Times decides to
discuss wildlife preservation. It's also important to note that it might be
time for the Spurs to break out the ballet slippers.
This week's good read of the week remembers NBA saint Jack Twyman, who passed away last week. He was a fantastic basketball player and an even better person. As was widely reported, Twyman, a white man, cared for Maurice Stokes, a black man, for the rest of his life after Stokes was paralyzed following an on-court injury sustained at the end the 1957-58 season. Kelly Dwyer has more here in the Yahoo! Sports blog Ball Don't Lie.
On Sunday evening, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat 93-91 to retain the belt and tie the Eastern Conference Finals at 2 games each. This fourth game of the series proved to be an epic matchup, with the Celtics building a 12 point halftime lead before Miami came back strong and eventually sent the game into overtime. Lebron James fouled out near the end of the overtime period and Dwyane Wade missed a three-pointer that would have won the game. Rajon Rondo was our player of the game, with 15 points, 15 assists, and 5 rebounds. James led Miami with 29 points and 6 rebounds.
Read more about the Celtics win at Celtics Blog. These two teams will play again on Tuesday evening, with the series now coming down to a best of three contest.
On Friday evening, the Boston Celtics showed their pride by taking game three of the Eastern Conference Finals, 101-91. Kevin Garnett led a balanced Celtics effort, with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul Pierce contributed 23 points. Rajon Rondo followed up his incredible game two performance with 21 points and 10 assists. The Heat were led by Lebron James' 34 points and 8 rebounds.
Visit Celtics Life for more about the Celtics' win. Game four is set for Sunday evening in Boston.
TBCB Hall of Fame eligibility rules and requirements follow.
1. TBCB elects six new players to its Hall of Fame after covering every five years of basketball history. The only exception is that the first class will be elected after our coverage of the 1949-50 NBA season, which is only three years after the belt was first awarded at the conclusion of the 1946-47 BAA season. While we understand that the NBL also played a significant role in the formation of what became the NBA, our opinion is that the BAA won the battle between the BAA and the NBL, so we begin our records with the BAA. Rule number four, below, helps to address any issues with NBL or other non-BAA/NBA players who should be considered for the Hall of Fame.
2. After we cover seasons that end with a zero, we will recap the preceding decade. For example, after we release our upcoming review of the 1949-50 season, we will spotlight the best players of the decade in our recap of the 1940's. We will also determine the franchise of the decade. The top players of the decade will be determined based on the players who have earned the greatest number of player of the game awards in contests that involve the belt during a given decade. The top five players of any given decade who are not already members of the TBCB Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. We will also determine a team of the decade based on the team that wins the greatest number of games involving The Basketball Champs Belt during a given decade. Only regular season games will be considered for determining the top players and team of the decade. Playoff results will only be used to break ties.
3. After we cover seasons that end with a five (e.g., 1954-55), we will compile a list of the top players of all time based on the players who have earned the greatest number of player of the game awards in contests that involve the belt. The top five players on this list who are not already members of the TBCB Hall of Fame will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Only regular season games will be considered for determining the top players of all time. Playoff results will only be used to break ties.
4. Each Hall of Fame class will also include a sixth member chosen at the sole discretion of the TBCB Commissioner. For this sixth inductee, there are no eligibility requirements associated with participating in games involving The Basketball Champs Belt or playing in the BAA/NBA.
5. These rules may be amended by the Commissioner at any time. If the rules are amended, we will post the updated rules to this blog and clearly note the changes. Amendments to the rules will not impact players who have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
_(photo_by_Carl_van_Vechten).jpg)
_(photo_by_Carl_van_Vechten).jpg){kind=link}
