Todd Spehr

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)

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

The complete 1973-74 “Basketball News” collection.

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

Bill Bradley turned 78 today. Immortal photos from the 1977 book “Echoes from the Schoolyard.”

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

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

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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