Todd Spehr

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Largest margin of victory in preseason - 1946-47 to 1995-96 (period prior to Elias tracking):

63 - PHX 186 DEN 123 (10-11-90)
58 - LAL 141 CIN 83 (10-1-67)
55 - LAL 152 BAL 97 (10-6-67)
50 - PHI 123 SFW 73 (10-4-63)
50 - GSW 127 LAL 77 (9-29-73)
50 - POR 139 LAC 89 (10-19-85)

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Pete wore padding on his right bicep for 5 straight games between 11/7 and 11/13 of 1976-77 season.

All 3 shots below are from 11/13/76 at Atlanta:

SI/NBPA 1977 issued poster
Sporting News cover 2/19/77
Sporting News cover 10/29/77

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

The complete 1973-74 “Basketball News” collection.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

“Echoes from the Schoolyard” is simply one of the best books ever put together on professional basketball.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Bill Bradley turned 78 today.

Immortal photos from the 1977 book “Echoes from the Schoolyard.”

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Bill Bradley turned 78 today.

Immortal photos from the 1977 book “Echoes from the Schoolyard.”

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Just 7 x 50 PTS in the Finals. Sorted by PTS in each half:

1H
33 - Baylor (G5 62), MJ (G4 93)
29 - Barry (G3 67)
26 - West (G1 69)
24 - James (G1 18)
21 - Pettit (G6 58)
17 - Giannis (G6 21)

2H
33 - Giannis
29 - Pettit
28 - Baylor
27 - West
26 - Barry
25 - James (+2)
22 - MJ

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Per #NBAFinalsHandbook, most PTS in 2H of a clinching game - all-time:

33 - Antetokounmpo MIL G6 2021
29 - Pettit STL G6 1958
25 - Wilkes LAL G6 1980

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

With Kevin Love exiting Team USA, a look at the 1975 book “Love in the NBA” by Stan Love, his father.

It chronicles Stan’s first couple of months of the 1974-75 season, which turned out to be his last in the NBA.

Below: Jerry West’s retirement.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

The 2021 NBA Finals finally saw its first clutch points late in G4.

Since 1975, only three series have seen its first clutch points come later (Year - First instance of clutch points of series):

2016 - G7
1982 - G6
2005 - G5
2021 - G4

#NBAFinalsHandbook

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Also per #NBAFinalsHandbook - since 1975:

30 PTS in second half:

31 - Thomas G6 1988
30 - Thomas G4 1990
30 - Antetokounmpo G2 2021

Wade also had 30 PTS after HT in G5 2006 - 4 of which came in OT.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Per #NBAFinalsHandbook - since 1975:

Giannis' 20 PTS in 3Q was 4th most in a 3Q:

25 - Thomas G6 88
22 - Thomas G4 90
21 - Dumars G3 89

MOST PTS IN

1Q - 19 Barry GSW G3 75
2Q - 22 Jordan CHI G4 93
3Q - 25 Thomas DET G6 88
4Q - 17 - 7 times (most recent: James CLE G6 16)

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

If an author has had greater access to a team than John Devaney for his book on the 1971 champion Bucks then I’ve not read it.

The only problem: the book finishes Jan. 27, 1971 and was already on sale by the time the championship series began.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Pete would’ve been 74 today.

DYK: L. O’Brien issued warning to all teams prior to 76-77 - no more nicknames on back of unis.

Jazz defied league with “Pistol” thru January (except for NE area games and CBS regional gms on 1/16, 1/23 + 2/6).

Jazz issued final warning at 77 ASG.

[NEXT for AUTISM @NEXTforAUTISM]

Happy #AutisticPrideDay2021, a day to celebrate the #neurodiversity of people on the autism spectrum. #CelebrateDifferences, #AutismAcceptance

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

30-pt halves for Jordan thru 28 postseason games (where Mitchell currently sits) per my MJ database:

30 - 1H 1986 EC1RD G1 at BOS
31 - 2H 1986 EC1RD G2 at BOS
30 - 2H 1989 EC1RD G3 vs CLE
30 - 2H 1989 EC1RD G5 at CLE

[Tim MacMahon @BannedMacMahon]

It’s the third time Donovan Mitchell has scored 30+ in a half of a playoff game. That matches Allen Iverson for most 30-point playoff halves in last 25 years, per @ESPNStatsInfo.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Three genuine historical oddities from the 1982 NBA Finals, per original research in the #NBAFinalsHandbook

[Basketball Reference @bball_ref]

On this day in 1982, the Los Angeles Lakers won their 8th NBA championship with a 114-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Drazen died at 28, and as of today, has now been gone 28 years.

The day before the accident that claimed his life, he played his sixth and final game of a EuroBasket qualifying tournament in Wroclaw, Poland. He scored 168 PTS in 6 games.

His PPG average: 28.

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

Since 1975 - 15 clutch points is the most by an individual in a Finals game. Achieved by 4 players:

Jo Jo White (1976 G5)
Bill Laimbeer (1990 G2)
Robert Horry (2005 G5)
Dwyane Wade (2006 G5)

#NBAFinalsHandbook

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

1976 G5 BOS PHX played 45 years ago today.

Since 1975, most clutch points combined in a Finals game:

70 - 1976 G5 BOS PHX
50 - 2000 G4 LAL IND
48 - 1993 G3 PHX CHI
47 - 1984 G4 BOS LAL
44 - twice

#NBAFinalsHandbook

[Todd Spehr @toddspehr35]

30 years ago today - G1 1991 NBA Finals. Game started at 3:30 PM EST (2:30 PM local) -- the most recent with an afternoon tip on the east coast.

Since: 209 Finals games scheduled (169 played) and not a single one slated before 7:00 PM EST.

#NBAFinalsHandbook