Hooped Up

Fifty years ago today, on March 2, 1962, 25-year old Wilt Chamberlain playing for the Philadelphia Warriors, scored an NBA record-100 points in a 169-147 victory against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Will it ever happen again? Probably not, but hear what the pros had to say about during All-Star weekend.

Remember when Dallas was given a team back in 1980? Really??? That makes you kinda old, I’m just saying. For younger generations, that could barely walk in 1980 let alone remember the birth of the Mavericks.

Back in 1979, businessman Don Carter and partner Norm Sonju requested the right to bring an NBA franchise to Dallas, Texas. Which at one time was the home of the American Basketball Association Dallas Chaparrals, which moved to San Antonio in 1973 to become the San Antonio Spurs when the two leagues merged.

A year later, league owners voted to grant Dallas a team that was later named the Mavericks after the popular TV show. Ironically enough the title character James Garner of that very series, was also a member of the original ownership group.

Most excellent! MessenjahMatt brings us more pixel dancing magic using NBA 2K11 to recreate the Michael Jordan moment simply known as “The Shot II.”

Game 4 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Semifinals against Cleveland proved to be yet another notch on the belt for Jordan as he sunk a buzzer beating shot to eliminate the Cavaliers from the Playoffs — again.

This time “The Jordan Stopper” Gerald Wilkins would play the role of Craig Ehlo as he watched Jordan hit the game winner in his face.

Watch the real thing after the jump and see for yourself just how good MessenjahMatt is at re-creating famous Jordan moments. It’s scary!

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On February 10, 2011, Ray Allen became the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point field goals, surpassing Reggie Miller with 2,561.

Entering the game against the rival Lakers, 15 year veteran Ray Allen came in needing just one 3-pointer to tie at 2,560 and two to have the record all to himself. After one-quarter, Allen become the king of the three-point hill.

Although the Celtics lost, Allen finished with 22 points and beat the career mark for three pointers made set by Reggie Miller three seasons faster. Allen also set the mark in fewer games 1,074 to Millers 1,389, and with 53 less attempts. Congratulations to the man with th sweetest stroke in the game today!

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30 years ago today, in the fourth quarter of Game 4, with his Sixers trailing 2-1 in the series, Julius Erving delivered perhaps the ultimate move of his highlight-filled career to help Philly to a 105-102 win.

Dr. J drove baseline, elevated, reached back behind the backboard with the ball and somehow emerged on the opposite side of the basket to convert the circus shot. “The greatest move I’ve ever seen in a basketball game,” Magic Johnson called it.

Drink it up one more time.

Okay, maybe the headline is a tad dramatic, but these bastards have lost 18 games in a row and they need a little positive reinforcement for finally bagging a win. After 38 days of racking up L’s, like a college freshman rack’s up Mom and Dad’s credit card bill.

The Nets beat the Charlotte Bobcats (ha-ha) 97-91 in front of 12,131 faithful fans at the IZOD Center. Notching their first win of the season –no seriously, they really won.

“Man, it’s a nice one to have off your back,” said Lopez, who dominated the Bobs for 31 points and 14 boards. “First win, now we have to string it together. It was definitely a great feeling in here.”

“It feels good. We brought great energy,” said Devin Harris, whose dive over three rows of seats in the final minute of the game illustrated that perfectly. “We didn’t play great at all times, but we fought through. They made a run, we didn’t fold.”

It’s good to see this group get a win because they actually compete every night. All they have to do know is win 9 more games to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history. Let’s see how this one plays out.

via NJ

The last time the Orlando Magic made it to the NBA finals the Houston Rockets owned them, like this guy owns the police. Sweeping the series in four straight games, becoming the first team in NBA history to win the championship as a sixth seed, and the first to beat four 50-win teams in a single postseason en route to the championship.

In game one of the NBA Finals, with the Magic up by three late in the game. Nick Anderson, typically a 70% free throw shooter, missed four consecutive free throws that could have sealed the victory for Orlando. Kenny Smith then hit a three-pointer for Houston, tying the game and sending it to overtime. The Rockets went on to win the game in overtime and eventually swept the Magic, winning their second consecutive NBA Championship. As a result some Orlando fans began to call Nick Anderson “Nick the Brick” and “Brick Anderson”.

14 years later, Kenny Smith though he would remind Nick Anderson of that  nightmare by reenacts his 3-point performance against the Magic in the 1995 finals. Why? Because it’s funny and Kenny “Jet” Smith still has a silky smooth jumper.

The original moment after the jump, with dramatic music and Nick Anderson and Kenny Smith talking about that night.

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