Monthly Archives: March 2008

College Basketball

Bubblicious

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Selection Sunday is just nine days away, which means it is crunch time for every team on the bubble. Some small-conference tournaments are already underway and the rest will begin with the next week. Here are some quick links to prepare you for the road to the selection show.

  • One down, 64 to go. You may have missed it among the hoopla of Championship Week, but the first team to qualify for the Big Dance was the Cornell Big Red, who won the Ivy League championship.
  • ESPN’s Andy Katz looks at some of the teams that have work left to do, including a familiar story for Syracuse.
  • What does it mean to be number one? In college basketball, it doesn’t always mean championship, that’s for sure.
  • Duke fans are ready for the rematch with number one North Carolina on Saturday night. The Blue Devils won the first meeting back on Feb. 6 in Chapel Hill, but it’s the Tar Heels that enter the game atop the polls after winning seven straight games following the loss.

For more information, visit MattHubert.com.

NBA

The Worst NBA Playoff Team Ever

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With the NBA’s Eastern Conference poised to send as many as three teams with losing records to the playoffs, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to dig deep into the basketball history books to learn about bad (or at least not very good) teams in the playoffs.

The NBA switched from a 12-team to a 16-team playoff format for the 1983-84 season. Since then, 33 teams have qualified for the postseason despite posting a sub-.500 record during the regular season. The combined playoff record of those 33 teams is 24-107, which equals a 0.224 winning percentage. Eighteen of the 33 teams were swept in the first round. In fact, the only team to win a playoff series in a year when they had a losing record was the 1986-87 Seattle Supersonics, who actually won two series before being swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Clearly that Sonics team, which featured three 20-plus points per game scorers in Dale Ellis, Tom Chambers and Xavier McDaniel, is out of the running as the worst playoff team ever. But which team truly deserves that dubious distinction?

From a pure record standpoint, five teams stand out, having made the playoffs despite winning less than 43 percent of their games. The 1994-95 Boston Celtics, 1985-86 San Antonio Spurs and 1983-84 Washington Bullets each finished with a 0.427 overall mark. The 1987-88 San Antonio Spurs finished at 0.378. And the worst winning percentage of all these playoff teams came from the 1985-86 Chicago Bulls, who won at a dismal 0.366 clip.

Believe it or not, Michael Jordan was a part of that Bulls team. It was his second year in the league. However, due to injury, he played in just 18 regular season games, which may explain the lackluster record. The Bulls were swept by Boston in the first round but not before Jordan managed a 63-point performance in the Boston Garden, foreshadowing a career of memorable playoff performances.

Still, is Jordan’s ’85-’86 Bulls team really the worst to ever play in the NBA playoffs? Below is a quick snippet of the five finalists. Use the links to go further in depth at the greatest basketball resource site around, basketball-reference.com.

  • 1994-95 Boston CelticsStarting lineup: Eric Montross (center), Dino Radja (forward), Dominique Wilkins (forward), Dee Brown (guard), Sherman Douglas (guard)Team MVP: Radja (17.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg)Offense: 13th of 27Defense: 20th of 27
  • 1985-86 San Antonio Spurs
    Starting lineup: Artis Gilmore (center), Mike Mitchell (forward), Steve Johnson (forward), Alvin Robertson (guard), Wes Matthews (guard)
    Team MVP: Robertson (17.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.5 apg, 3.7 spg)
    Offense: 13th of 23
    Defense: 16th of 23
  • 1983-84 Washington Bullets
    Starting lineup: Jeff Ruland (center), Rick Mahorn (forward), Greg Ballard (forward), Ricky Sobers (guard), Frank Johnson (guard)
    Team MVP: Ruland (22.2 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 1.0 bpg)
    Offense: 20th of 23
    Defense: 8th of 23
  • 1987-88 San Antonio Spurs
    Starting lineup: Cadillac Anderson (center), Frank Brickowski (forward), Walter Berry (forward), Alvin Robertson (guard), Johnny Dawkins (guard
    Team MVP: Robertson (19.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 6.8 apg, 3.0 spg)
    Offense: 11th of 23
    Defense: 22nd of 23
  • 1985-86 Chicago Bulls
    Starting lineup: Sidney Green (center), Orlando Woolridge (forward), George Gervin (forward), Gene Banks (guard), Kyle Macy (guard)
    Team MVP: *Michael Jordan (22.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 2.1 spg)
    Offense: 8th of 23
    Defense: 23rd of 23
    *Jordan started only 7 regular season games yet he was clearly the team’s best performer

Narrowing the field to two

The Celtics and Bullets each managed to win a game in the playoffs, so they’re off the hook. And the Bulls get the Jordan exception. They weren’t as bad as their record showed, especially once number 23 returned to the lineup. There’s no way I can put my stamp of approval on an article claiming Michael Jordan played for the worst team ever to make the playoffs. Strangely enough, that leaves just a pair of teams from San Antonio separated by two years.

So which was worse, the ’85-’86 Spurs or the ’87-’88 Spurs?

Both teams featured Alvin Robertson. Both teams were swept by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. But while the ’87-’88 team was slightly better offensively, they were much worse defensively. In fact, they were the second-worst defensive team in the league that season. Their porous defnese contributed to their average scoring margin of -4.6, nearly three points worse than the ’85-’86 squad’s -1.7 average scoring margin.

The final verdict

1987-88 San Antonio Spurs are hereby declared the worst playoff team in NBA history. But don’t fret, Spurs fans because 20 years later, your franchise may be on the verge of becoming a five-title dynasty.

For more information, visit MattHubert.com.

NBA

Losing Teams in the Postseason

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Heading into action on Tuesday, March 6, three teams in the East currently are in playoff position despite posting losing records. While having three teams with sub-.500 winning percentages would not set an NBA record, it hasn’t happened in 20 years. A record six teams with losing records made the playoffs in 1986. Below is a list of every team to qualify for the postseason with a losing record since the NBA adopted its current playoff format, which consists of 16 teams, eight per conference.

2006-07
Orlando Magic, 40-42, swept 4-0 in first round

2005-06
Milwaukee Bucks, 40-42, lost 4-1 in first round

2003-04
New York Knicks, 39-43, swept 4-0 in first round
Boston Celtics, 36-46, swept 4-0 in first round

1996-97
Minnesota Timberwolves, 40-42, swept 3-0
Los Angeles Clippers, 36-46, swept 3-0

1995-96
Sacramento Kings, 39-43, lost 3-1 in first round

1994-95
Boston Celtics, 35-47, lost 3-1 in first round

1992-93
Los Angeles Lakers, 39-43, lost 3-2 in first round

1991-92
Indiana Pacers, 40-42, swept 3-0 in first round
Miami Heat, 38-44, swept 3-0 in first round

1990-91
New York Knicks, 39-43, swept 3-0 in first round

1988-89
Portland Trail Blazers, 39-43, swept 3-0 in first round

1987-88
Washington Bullets, 38-44, lost 3-2 in first round
NewYork Knicks, 38-44, lost 3-1 in first round
San Antonio Spurs, 31-51, swept 3-0 in first round

1986-87
Chicago Bulls, 40-42, swept 3-0 in first round
Seattle Supersonics, 39-43, swept 4-0 in Western Conference Finals
Denver Nuggets, 37-45, swept 3-0 in first round

1985-86
Portland Trail Blazers, 40-42, lost 3-1 in first round
Washington Bullets, 39-43, lost 3-2 in first round
New Jersey Nets, 39-43, swept 3-0 in first round
Sacramento Kings, 37-45, swept 3-0 in first round
San Antonio Spurs, 35-47, swept 3-0 in first round
Chicago Bulls, 30-52, swept 3-0 in first round

1984-85
Washington Bullets, 40-42, lost 3-1 in first round
Chicago Bulls, 38-44, lost 3-1 in first round
Cleveland Cavaliers, 36-46, lost 3-1 in first round
Phoenix Suns, 36-46, swept 3-0 in first round

1983-84
Atlanta Hawks, 40-42, lost 3-2 in first round
Kansas City Kings, 38-44, swept 3-0 in first round
Denver Nuggets, 38-44, lost 3-2 in first round
Washington Bullets, 35-47, lost 3-1 in first round

For more information, visit MattHubert.com.

NFL, personal stories

Favre, Favre Away: Why Brett Favre’s big game was a bad night for me

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Brett Favre decided to hang up his #4 jersey today. A million things will be written and said about Favre’s historic, Hall of Fame career. Within hours of the news, it was dissected from every angle imaginable by the sportswriters of the world.

I guess I’m not technically a sportswriter, though I do write about sports. But what epitaph can I offer to honor Favre’s career that won’t be redundant?
Sure, I watched as Favre won three MVP trophies and a Super Bowl ring in the mid-90s. And I relished Favre’s ageless season last year when he led a resurgent Packers team to the brink of the Super Bowl. I even enjoyed his cameo in There’s Something About Marry. But my strongest memory of Brett Favre comes from one of his most heroic performances.

On Dec. 21, 2003, Brett Favre’s father passed away and a nation of sports fans mourned with him. The next day, Favre and the Packers were in the national spotlight playing on Monday Night Football and everyone was rooting for Favre and the Packers to succeed under such trying circumstances, everyone that is, except for fans of the Oakland Raiders, who were Favre’s opponents that night.

The Raiders entered the game 4-10 despite having played in Super Bowl XXXVII just ten months earlier. But as a diehard Raiders fan, I was still convinced that the silver and black could rise to the occasion for a Monday Night showdown.

I was a freshman in college at the time and my friends were home for Christmas break. With the Raiders on national TV, I decided to make an event of it and invited both my best friend and my girlfriend to watch the game at my house. My girlfriend didn’t have a problem with watching football, but I had yet to have any success transferring my Raiders fandom.

I was sure that watching the game with me would do the trick. I was positive that my passion for the team would be so infectious that she would convert to Raiders Nation on the spot and don a silver and black jersey by halftime. I was convinced that stuffing myself into a vintage youth Marcus Allen Raiders uniform—I wore this for Halloween when I was no older than 10—would be, if not a humorous stunt or turn-on, surely at least a lovable quirk. Needless to say, I was way off base on all accounts.

Favre torched the Raiders defense. He shredded the secondary for 399 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 41-7 shellacking that made my fandom hurt. Adding insult to injury, my passion—mostly angry yelling in the first half and distraught pouting/complaints in the second half—was written off as poor sportsmanship. And my costume was received with a look that fell somewhere between shock and utter horror.

Before the game reached the fourth quarter, I was such a mess that my girlfriend refused to share a couch with me. By the time the game ended, it was up for debate, which was more pathetic: the Raiders team or my demeanor? The Raiders haven’t had a winning season since and the relationship didn’t last two months after that.

Of course I don’t blame Favre for either of those outcomes. It was the Raiders that made all the poor personnel decisions of the past few years and I was the one wearing the hot pants and mini-helmet that night. No, Favre has enough on his résumé without fan fabrication.

But perhaps the ultimate compliment I can give Favre is that in spite of leaving such a bad taste in my mouth by crushing my dreams of a great night with his performance in that game, I remained a Favre fan. If anything, I gained respect for his competitive fire and I rooted for him to win it all last year more than anyone else in the playoffs.

Favre has long been a media darling. He’ll be talked up by just about everyone in the aftermath of his retirement, and rightfully so. But when I think of Favre, I’ll always remember how one of his career-defining games coincided with one of the most embarrassing and humiliating moments of my life as a football fan. I’m just glad the photos of me watching the game aren’t as readily accessible as the highlights of Favre from that night.

For more information, visit MattHubert.com.

NBA

Veteran Additions Bolster Top Teams

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Following a trading season when almost every team in playoff contention made a deal, teams were left with few other options to improve their rosters. Their only hope was to sign a player who was bought out of his contract or waived by his team. Players released before March 1 were eligible to sign with a new team and play the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

The two biggest names available are Sam Cassell and Brent Barry. Both players are strong shooters. More importantly, both Cassell and Barry have championship experience. Cassell won two titles with the Houston Rockets in ’94 and ’95. Barry was a member of the San Antonio Spurs team that won the title in 2005 and again last season.

Cassell is reported to officially join the Celtics today. He would be reunited with Celtics all-star Kevin Garnett. The two played together in Minnesota for two seasons, leading the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals in 2004.

Barry, meanwhile, is reportedly planning to rejoin the Spurs after being courted by several teams including Phoenix, Boston and Dallas. Barry was dealt from San Antonio to Seattle for Kurt Thomas before the trading deadline, but the Sonics released him. Barry cannot officially re-sign with San Antonio until March 21 because of a rule that a player must wait 30 days after being traded before he can re-sign with the same team that dealt him.

The significance of the signings is high. Cassell gives the Celtics a playoff-tested veteran point guard to give them leadership and clutch shooting in what Boston hopes will be its first trip to the NBA Finals in 21 years. The Celtics began the season 8-0 and currently maintain the best record in the league.

San Antonio is currently percentage points ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers for the number one seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Bringing back Barry gives them another spot-up shooter. Barry was shooting 43 percent from 3-point range this season, up from his solid career average of 40.7 percent from long distance.

Both teams also added a veteran frontcourt player. The Spurs acquired the aforementioned Thomas in the deal that originally sent Barry packing. And Boston signed veteran free agent P.J. Brown. Adding a pair of veterans to each team’s core of three stars—Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker for San Antonio and Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen for Boston—makes a Celtics-Spurs matchup seem as likely as any NBA Finals pairing come June.

For more information, visit MattHubert.com.