Sports

NBA Scoring Binges 3-Point Shooting Leads

Published

1 year ago

2023-01-10

Giannis Antetokounmpo established a career-high with 55 points in Milwaukee’s win over Washington last Tuesday, yet it wasn’t even the top-scoring performance in the NBA’s Central Division for the week.

That honor went to Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who had a game-high 71 the night before.

In the last few weeks, the best scorers in the NBA have been trying to outdo each other almost every night. Whether it was Mitchell’s outstanding performance for the Cavaliers or Dallas’ Luka Doncic topping 50 points three times in a nine-day span, it seems like another guy is putting up massive numbers everywhere you look.

“I believe there are several layers to it. “You simply see guys have huge offensive games night after night,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “Of course, it’s entertaining to watch as a fan. “It’s difficult to devise a game plan to stop some of these guys because they score at all levels — in the paint, on 3s, and at the line.”

A Small Number of NBA Players Have 50 Point Games

According to Sportradar, no more than eight different players have ever had a 50-point game in a single season before 2016-17. Since then, at least ten people have done it every season, with a record 14 doing it in 2021-22. Some of this is to be expected in an era of record-breaking scoring. As of Monday night, NBA teams were averaging 113.8 points per game, which would be the highest number for the league since 1969-70. However, the total scoring context only communicates part of the story.

Teams averaged 116.7 points that season, while only two players had 50-point games. Teams averaged 110.8 points in 1984-85, the highest-scoring season of the 1980s. However, just five players that season — Bernard King, Kevin McHale, and Moses Malone — scored 50 points.

So the recent trend isn’t merely higher scoring across the league. The top players are also consistently generating massive games. The expansion could be a factor. The number of teams has increased by 30% since 1985. With more teams, there will be more games. Therefore, it stands to reason that there are more instances of a player getting 50 points.

The Sport Is Evolving

But the sport has evolved in other ways as well.

“The most impressive thing about these guys is their skill set—the handle and the shooting,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. “What’s missing is the foundation that players used to have when they came into the league after a few years of college.” The defense isn’t up to par. “In this league, transition defense is at an all-time low.”

Nowadays, almost every elite scorer has some level of ability from 3-point range, although in the 1980s, some stars totally avoided the shot, and few attempted it.

“Guys are taking 15 or 16 three-pointers in some games,” said Los Angeles Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. “Teams encourage guys to take those shots, and if you take a lot of shots and get hot and make some, you can score a lot of points.”

Racking Up Points Quickly

Current players have a number of ways to rack up points quickly, and the 3-point shot has a far-reaching impact on the game. With so many players hitting open threes, teams can stretch the floor to the point where double teams are punished.

“You have to choose the guys you try to double team and get the ball out of their hands; they are not excellent passers,” Lue said. “So, when you have men like that, you want to let them attempt to get theirs and take everyone else out, but it may also backfire on you.”

King scored 60 points on Christmas in 1984; he didn’t shoot a single three-pointer in the NBA. Antetokounmpo’s 55 points this season went unnoticed. On the other hand, Mitchell attempted 15 shots and made seven in his 71-point performance.

“As we’ve seen throughout the years, that 3-point line has transformed the game,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “You’re getting more guys to accept it now.” The sheer volume of tries creates those opportunities. It’s unusual for men to consistently shoot 2 to reach the 50-point plateau. More of that is definitely part of our game’s evolution. “That trend is likely to continue.”

SOURCE – (AP)

Related Topics:Basketball NBA nba scores

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Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Published

2 hours ago

2024-05-19

Kiara Grace

AP News - VOR News Image

IMOLA, ITALY Max – Verstappen defeated McLaren’s Lando Norris to win the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead.

Verstappen began on pole and led Norris from the start but was pushed by the McLaren driver near the end, winning by less than a second.

“I lost grip, especially in the closing 10 to 15 laps. I slid a lot. “I saw Lando closing in,” Verstappen explained. “It’s quite difficult when the tires are no longer working, and you have to run flat out, so I couldn’t afford to make too many mistakes. Thankfully, we didn’t, and we’re overjoyed to have won here today.”

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

It was the defending champion’s fifth victory in seven Grand Prix races this year, following Verstappen’s defeat by Norris in Miami two weeks ago.

Norris’ Second Place Sunday demonstrated the McLaren team’s credentials as the closest contender to Verstappen and Red Bull this season. “It hurts me to say it, but one or two more laps, I think I would have had him,” stated Norris. “It would have been beautiful, but just not today.”

Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, the Italian team’s first podium finish in Imola since 2006.

Overtaking is always challenging on the narrow Imola track, and this year, asphalt run-off zones on key corners were replaced with gravel traps, discouraging risk-taking even more.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Leclerc got in on Norris midway through the race but made a mistake and ran across the grass, costing him time.

Oscar Piastri qualified second for McLaren but was relegated to fifth after a penalty for impeding Kevin Magnussen in a Haas. He got ahead of Sainz during the pit stops and finished fourth, ahead of the Spanish driver.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time champion, and his teammate George Russell finished sixth and seventh following a challenging weekend for Mercedes.

Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, began 11th following a mistake in qualifying and finished ninth. His major impact on the race came when he briefly held up Norris and Leclerc following their pit stops, thereby assisting Verstappen.

AP – VOR News Image

Max Verstappen Holds Off Lando Norris To Win Emilia Romagna Grand Prix And Extend F1 Lead

Yuki Tsunoda took ninth place for RB, while Lance Stroll finished tenth for Aston Martin.

Verstappen has a 48-point advantage over Leclerc, who has surged ahead of Perez to second place.

SOURCE – (AP)

Sports

Seize The Gray Win the Preakness 2024, Mystik Dan Finished Second

Published

19 hours ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Seize The Gray has won the Preakness 2024. Favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan finished second, halting his pursuit for the first Triple Crown since Justify in 2018, NBC Sports Reports.

Seize the Grey won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday, defeating Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and six other horses. Seize the Grey led from start to finish, with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in second place. Catching Freedom placed third.

D. Wayne Lukas, 88, becomes the oldest trainer in history to win a Triple Crown event. It marks his eighth Preakness victory in his career, tying Bob Baffert for second all-time. Lukas has won 15 Triple Crown races in his career.

Jaime Torres made a memorable Triple Crown debut with his triumph in Seize the Grey.

MyRacehorse owns Seize the Grey, and it sells thoroughbred “micro-shares” to the general public. There are 2,570 shareholders in Seize the Grey, representing 42 of the 50 states.

Seize the Grey is the Preakness’ 18th victory from the seventh post since 1909. No other post has resulted in more than 14 winners.

If Seize the Grey competes, his next race will be the 156th Belmont Stakes on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Preakness 2024 Full Race

Sports

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With Double Overtime Win

Published

19 hours ago

2024-05-18

Geoff Thomas

Dallas Stars Eliminate Avalanche 2-1 With OT Win

The Avalanche’s aspirations of returning to the Stanley Cup were dashed late Friday night when they lost 2-1 in double overtime against the Dallas Stars.

Former Avalanche player Matt Duchene scored the game-winning goal, allowing the Dallas Stars to advance to the Western Conference final.

Duchene, who began his professional career in Denver, grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and blasted it over a sprawled-out Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene raced down the ice and sank to his knees in celebration.

Dallas Stars will play either Edmonton Oilers or the Vancouver Cunucks next. The Dallas Stars are making their second straight trip to the conference finals, having fallen to eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas last season. The Stars won their sole Stanley Cup championship in 1999.

This was a series in which the road team won five of six games, with the Stars winning all three in Denver. The Avalanche were the best home team throughout the regular season, while the Stars had the best away record.

After winning the Stanley Cup two years earlier, the Avalanche finished the season 50-25-7.