Knicks vs. Lakers and The Problem With Early Returns

Today's throwback video takes us to November 11, 1990: An early season matchup between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers from the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. This video features two legends facing off for teams that are in flux: one on its way in and one on its way out.

The New York Knicks entered the game 3-2, coming off of a win the night before in Sacramento. This was the second game of a 4-game west coast set. The Lakers were 1-2, playing their fourth game at a point in the season when most teams had played their fifth or sixth. 

The Knicks won on the road 109-103 over the Lakers, making it their third straight. LA's loss fell to 1-3 on the young campaign. The game was a back-and-fourth shootout on both sides, but the Knicks were able to pull away with a 11-4 run in the final 3:47 of the game. Patrick Ewing led New York with 27 points and 14 rebounds despite being triple-teamed on multiple occasions. Kiki Vandeweghe added 22 points, scoring 20+ for the third straight game.

Magic Johnson led the Lakers with a triple-double: 24 points, 15 rebounds, 14 assists. Byron Scott added 24 of his own. Despite big performances from Magic and Scott, the Lakers bench was outscored 32-19, which made a difference in the long run.

While it seemed like the two squads were trending in certain directions (the Knicks on the way up, the Lakers on the way down), things soon turned in opposite directions for both sides.

The Knicks would split the final two games of the west coast trip with an overtime win at Seattle and a high-scoring loss at Portland. From there, however, they would have two wins bookend a five-game losing streak. GM Al Bianchi saw this as an opportunity to fire head coach Stu Jackson and replace him with John MacLeod, a man Bianchi tried to hire in 1987 after being his assistant coach for 11 years in Phoenix. Bianchi would be fired midseason and John MacLeod would leave for Notre Dame after the season. The Knicks would end the campaign 39-43 and was swept by the eventually champion Chicago Bulls. Former Lakers coach Pat Riley would step in the following season.

The Lakers were starting the season slowly as they adjusted to new head coach Mike Dunleavy, who looked to establish more set plays than the Showtime Lakers were used to under Riley. Los Angeles would start the year 2-5 before reeling off 8 straight wins. They'd go on a 16-game win streak in January and February and finish the year 58-24. The Lakers would take the Western Conference crown in six games over defending conference champ Portland. They would fall in the NBA Finals to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, four games to one.

It goes to show that the season is a marathon. Early returns - like a few weeks in - don't always foretell how things will turn out over the course of 7 months. The grind is real!

Video courtesy of NBAOLDTWO. Marv Albert and John Andariese are on the call for MSG Network, with a special appearance from comedian Richard Lewis in the third quarter.

The Best Passive-Aggressive Teenagers in the NBA

Happy Tuesday! I have another Scenario Mode Podcast ready to go!

This week I discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 44-18 after losing to the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies. I find their locker room drama to be annoying, particularly for a team that's first place in the Eastern Conference. LeBron says they aren't ready for the playoffs. With 20 games left in their season, what do they need to do? With legacies at stake, will they put their differences aside and become a threat to the Warriors and Spurs out west? Click the audio player below to find out!

MJ's Birthday Present to Chicago

Today is the 179th anniversary of Chicago's incorporation as a city. Happy Birthday, Chicago! To mark the occasion, I bring you this highlight video of the city's favorite basketball player scoring 61 over a division rival on its 150th anniversary.

March 4th, 1987, Pontiac Silverdome, suburban Detroit. Michael Jordan leads the Bulls to a 125-120 overtime victory over the Pistons. He scores 61 points on nothing but two-pointers and free throws, and neutralized a combined 63 points from Hall-of-Famers Adrian Dantley (32) and Isiah Thomas (31, along with 18 assists).

This video is 9 minutes of fun for any non-Pistons fan. MJ was a scoring machine, getting buckets in any way imaginable within the three-point line. He was en route to the highest scoring season of his career: 3,041 points in 82 games, and he only did it on 12 made three-pointers. MJ would go on to score 61 points again in the penultimate game of the '87 season. Unfortunately, there wasn't much else around him, and the team was swept in the First Round by the Boston Celtics. Those same Celtics would beat these Pistons in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Video courtesy of Balthus23. Jim Durham and Johnny Kerr on the call. Enjoy!

Nique, Glove, & Reign Man (Feat. My Favorite Broadcaster)

The Oklahoma City Thunder blew a 22-point lead to the Los Angeles Clippers in a 103-98 decision at Staples Center last night. That immediately made me think of a YouTube highlight clip I've watched a number of times over the last few years.

February 27, 1994: Seattle SuperSonics at the Los Angeles Clippers from the old Sports Arena.

On February 24th, Dominique Wilkins was traded with a first round pick from the Atlanta Hawks to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danny Manning. This was Wilkins's first game with his new team after and illustrious 11-and-a-half years in the ATL.

Meanwhile, the Sonics were 14 years away from moving to Oklahoma, and a little over two months away from being upset by the 8th-seeded Denver Nuggets in the playoffs. In the meantime the duo of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp were tearing their way through the league.

This game is a fun one, especially in highlight form, and it ends with a close-but-high-scoring 122-118 result. But the reason I like this video so much is because of the greatness that is Sonics broadcaster Kevin Calabro. He has a smooth voice, an extensive vocabulary, and is great at keeping up with the pace of the action. It's exactly why he's one of my favorite broadcasters of all-time. I hope you enjoy him - and the game itself - as well.

Steph Curry and the Generational Gap: "You're Gonna Live This Truth"

Steph's 35-foot game winner over the Thunder on Saturday. There's a large contingent of former players that aren't all that impressed by feats like this. I discuss on today's podcast.

It's the debut of the Scenario Mode Podcast! The first topic is about Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Go figure.

I try to unpack my feelings towards old-school basketball players downplaying what the 53-5 Warriors are doing and the current state of basketball in this age. I find that while these guys are so defensive of the past, I'm defensive of the present. It's just so annoying to hear in almost every aspect of life (sports, music, culture) that my era sucks and theirs is better. But I'm seeking to learn more about the game and understand just how different or similar things are in this day and age to the past. I just wish former players would try to do the same. Click the play button on the audio player below to listen!