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NBA: Players of the 50-40-90 Club (FG: 50%, 3P: 40% and FT: 90% in a Season)
Kevin Durant Became the 8th Member of the 50-40-90 Club in 2012-13
Last week, LeBron James told reporters “he could become a 50-40-90 shooter.” According to cbssports.com,
“LeBron says can shoot 90 percent from foul line, 50 pct from field and 40 percent on 3-pointers if makes it a goal: ‘I can achieve anything if I just make it a goal of mine,’ James said. ‘I never made it a goal of mine. If I decided to do it, I can make it happen.’”
I believe it. James’ Achilles’ Heel is actually the free throw line. He was just a career-typical 75% from the stripe in 2012-13 while a career-best (and amazing) 57% from the field and career-best 41% from long distance.
No wonder he won his fourth MVP. But James will need to shake the yips if he wants to join the eight members (12 times) of the 50-40-90 club.
Steve Nash is the President. Incredibly, Nash has done it four times. Larry Bird is the Vice President. Bird did it twice.
Kevin Durant did it this season.
No old timers here. The NBA didn’t adopt the three-point field goal until the 1979-80 season.
Follow @VinGetz| PLAYER | SEASON | TEAM | FG% | 3P% | FT% | G | MP* | |
| 1. | Kevin Durant | 2012-13 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 51.0 | 41.6 | 90.5 | 81 | 3,118 |
| 2. | Steve Nash | 2009-10 | Phoenix Suns | 50.7 | 42.6 | 93.8 | 81 | 2,660 |
| 3. | Steve Nash | 2008-09 | Phoenix Suns | 50.3 | 43.9 | 93.3 | 74 | 2,484 |
| 4. | Jose Calderon | 2007-08 | Toronto Raptors | 51.9 | 42.9 | 90.8 | 82 | 2,484 |
| 5. | Steve Nash | 2007-08 | Phoenix Suns | 50.4 | 47.0 | 90.6 | 81 | 2,780 |
| 6. | Dirk Nowitzki | 2006-07 | Dallas Mavericks | 50.2 | 41.6 | 90.4 | 78 | 2,820 |
| 7. | Steve Nash | 2005-06 | Phoenix Suns | 51.2 | 43.9 | 92.1 | 79 | 2,796 |
| 8. | Steve Kerr | 1995-96 | Chicago Bulls | 50.6 | 51.5 | 92.9 | 82 | 1,919 |
| 9. | Reggie Miller | 1993-94 | Indiana Pacers | 50.3 | 42.1 | 90.8 | 79 | 2,638 |
| 10. | Mark Price | 1988-89 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 52.6 | 44.1 | 90.1 | 75 | 2,728 |
| 11. | Larry Bird | 1987-88 | Boston Celtics | 52.7 | 41.4 | 91.6 | 76 | 2,965 |
| 12. | Larry Bird | 1986-87 | Boston Celtics | 52.5 | 40.0 | 91.0 | 74 | 3,005 |
*Minimum 1,000 minutes played.
Thanks to the folks over at basketball-reference.com and their play index where I ran this query, and where you can see each player’s full stats from his 50-40-90 years.
Photo: grantland.com
NBA Teams That Have Come Back from 3-1 to Win a Playoff Series
Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and the Houston Rockets Won the 1995 NBA Title (the Rockets’ Second in a Row)
Only eight teams in NBA Playoff history have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win their series. It has never happened in the NBA Finals or Western Conference Finals.
Three times, though, a team has done this – the ultimate in NBA postseason comebacks, as no team has ever come back from 3-0 (see here) – in the Eastern Conference Finals.
In 2013, the Brooklyn Nets had a shot at becoming the ninth team, but fell to the undermanned and underdog Chicago Bulls in Round 1. The Oklahoma City Thunder are now down 3-1 to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Semis and the Bulls are themselves now down 3-1 to the Miami Heat i the Eastern Semis. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are looking to avoid a 3-1 deficit. They are down 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers.
Of the eight teams to come back from 3-1, only two were underdogs according to seeding, and so won that seventh game on the road (noted with an asterisk).
The 1994-95 Houston Rockets, for example, who went on to win their second title in a row, had to get past the Suns in Phoenix in a 115-114 Game 7 first.
The 1967-68 Boston Celtics is the other team to win that Game 7 on the road. They went on to win their 10th title in 12 years.
The 1980-81 Boston Celtics are the third (and last) team on the list below that went on the win the NBA Finals.
The 1996-97 New York Knicks should have won their Semifinals series against the Miami Heat, but a melee in Game 5 led to five staggered suspensions for New York in Games 6 and 7. For the full story, check out the 15 Biggest Disappointments in NY Knicks History.
Follow @VinGetz| WINNER (SEED) | LOSER (SEED) | YEAR | ROUND | GAME 7 SCORE | |
| 1. | Phoenix Suns (2) | Los Angeles Lakers (7) | 2006 | Eastern 1 | 121-90 |
| 2. | Detroit Pistons (1) | Orlando Magic (8) | 2003 | Eastern 1 | 108-93 |
| 3. | Miami Heat (2) | New York Knicks (3) | 1997 | Eastern Semis | 101-90 |
| 4. | Houston Rockets (6) | Phoenix Suns (3) | 1995 | Western Semis | 115-114* |
| 5. | Boston Celtics (1) | Philadelphia 76ers (2) | 1981 | Eastern Finals | 91-90 |
| 6. | Washington Bullets (1) | San Antonio Spurs (2) | 1979 | Eastern Finals | 107-105 |
| 7. | Los Angeles Lakers (2) | Phoenix Suns (3) | 1970 | Western Semis | 129-94 |
| 8. | Boston Celtics (2) | Philadelphia 76ers (1) | 1968 | Eastern Finals | 100-96* |
Thanks to sports.yahoo.com.
Photo: wagesofwins.com
NBA Coach of the Year Winners by Team (and Multiple Winners)
The Denver Nuggets’ George Karl is the 2012-13 NBA Coach of the Year
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl has won the NBA‘s 2012-13 Coach of the Year award. The Miami Heat‘s Erik Spoelstra came in second and the New York Knicks‘ Mike Woodson came in third. You can see the full voting here.
Karl is the second Nuggets’ coach to win it. The other was Doug Moe back in 1987-88.
The Atlanta Hawks franchise has the most Coaches of the Year: five all together, including ex-Knick players Richie Guerin and Harry Gallatin, who coached the St. Louis Hawks.
The Chicago Bulls have the second most with four.
Take a look at all the Coach of the Year award winners since the first, Gallatin in 1962-63, by team. Only four franchises have never received the award.
Then, in the second list below, see the multiple winners. There are seven coaches who have won the award more than once. Don Nelson and Pat Riley have won the most – three.
Riley won it with three different teams.
Phil Jackson, the most coveted retired coach today and arguably the greatest coach of all time (he’s got the most rings), only won once.
Follow @VinGetzNBA Coach of the Year by Team
| TEAM/FRANCHISE | AWARDS | COACH | SEASON | W | L | PCT |
| Atlanta Hawks | 5 | Lenny Wilkens | 1993-94 | 57 | 25 | .695 |
| Mike Fratello | 1985-86 | 50 | 32 | .610 | ||
| Hubie Brown | 1977-78 | 41 | 41 | .500 | ||
| Richie Guerin (StL) | 1967-68 | 56 | 26 | .683 | ||
| Harry Gallatin (StL) | 1962-63 | 48 | 32 | .600 | ||
| Chicago Bulls | 4 | Tom Thibodeau | 2010-11 | 62 | 20 | .756 |
| Phil Jackson | 1995-96 | 72 | 10 | .878 | ||
| Dick Motta | 1970-71 | 51 | 31 | .622 | ||
| Red Kerr | 1966-67 | 33 | 48 | .407 | ||
| Boston Celtics | 3 | Bill Fitch | 1979-80 | 61 | 21 | .744 |
| Tom Heinsohn | 1972-73 | 68 | 14 | .829 | ||
| Red Auerbach | 1964-65 | 62 | 18 | .775 | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers | 3 | Del Harris | 1994-95 | 48 | 34 | .585 |
| Pat Riley | 1989-90 | 63 | 19 | .768 | ||
| Bill Sharman | 1971-72 | 69 | 13 | .841 | ||
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2 | Mike Brown | 2008-09 | 66 | 16 | .805 |
| Bill Fitch | 1975-76 | 49 | 33 | .598 | ||
| Denver Nuggets | 2 | George Karl | 2012-13 | 57 | 25 | .695 |
| Doug Moe | 1987-88 | 54 | 28 | .659 | ||
| Detroit Pistons | 2 | Rick Carlisle | 2001-02 | 50 | 32 | .610 |
| Ray Scott | 1973-74 | 52 | 30 | .634 | ||
| Golden State Warriors | 2 | Don Nelson | 1991-92 | 55 | 27 | .671 |
| Alex Hannum (SF) | 1963-64 | 48 | 32 | .600 | ||
| Houston Rockets | 2 | Don Chaney | 1990-91 | 52 | 30 | .634 |
| Tom Nissalke | 1976-77 | 49 | 33 | .598 | ||
| Indiana Pacers | 2 | Larry Bird | 1997-98 | 58 | 24 | .707 |
| Jack McKinney | 1980-81 | 44 | 38 | .537 | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | Don Nelson | 1984-85 | 59 | 23 | .720 |
| Don Nelson | 1982-83 | 51 | 31 | .622 | ||
| New York Knicks | 2 | Pat Riley | 1992-93 | 60 | 22 | .732 |
| Red Holzman | 1969-70 | 60 | 22 | .732 | ||
| Philadelphia 76ers | 2 | Larry Brown | 2000-01 | 56 | 26 | .683 |
| Dolph Schayes | 1965-66 | 55 | 25 | .688 | ||
| Phoenix Suns | 2 | Mike D’Antoni | 2004-05 | 62 | 20 | .756 |
| Cotton Fitzsimmons | 1988-89 | 55 | 27 | .671 | ||
| Portland Trail Blazers | 2 | Mike Dunleavy | 1998-99 | 35 | 15 | .700 |
| Mike Schuler | 1986-87 | 49 | 33 | .598 | ||
| Sacramento Kings | 2 | Cotton Fitzsimmons (KC) | 1978-79 | 48 | 34 | .585 |
| Phil Johnson (KCO) | 1974-75 | 44 | 38 | .537 | ||
| San Antonio Spurs | 2 | Gregg Popovich | 2011-12 | 50 | 16 | .758 |
| Gregg Popovich | 2002-03 | 60 | 22 | .732 | ||
| Washington Wizards | 2 | Gene Shue (BAL) | 1968-69 | 57 | 25 | .695 |
| Gene Shue (W.Bull.) | 1981-82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | ||
| Dallas Mavericks | 1 | Avery Johnson | 2005-06 | 60 | 22 | .732 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1 | Hubie Brown | 2003-04 | 50 | 32 | .610 |
| Miami Heat | 1 | Pat Riley | 1996-97 | 61 | 21 | .744 |
| New Orleans Hornets | 1 | Byron Scott | 2007-08 | 56 | 26 | .683 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1 | Scott Brooks | 2009-10 | 50 | 32 | .610 |
| Orlando Magic | 1 | Doc Rivers | 1999-00 | 41 | 41 | .500 |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 | Sam Mitchell | 2006-07 | 47 | 35 | .573 |
| Utah Jazz | 1 | Frank Layden | 1983-84 | 45 | 37 | .549 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 0 | |||||
| Charlotte Bobcats | 0 | |||||
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 | |||||
| Los Angeles Clippers | 0 |
Multiple Coach of the Year Award Winners
| Don Nelson | 3 | Golden State Warriors | 1991-92 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1984-85 | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1982-83 | ||
| Pat Riley | 3 | Miami Heat | 1996-97 |
| New York Knicks | 1992-93 | ||
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1989-90 | ||
| Bill Fitch | 2 | Boston Celtics | 1979-80 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1975-76 | ||
| Cotton Fitzsimmons | 2 | Phoenix Suns | 1988-89 |
| Kansas City Kings | 1978-79 | ||
| Gene Shue | 2 | Washington Bullets | 1981-82 |
| Baltimore Bullets | 1968-69 | ||
| Gregg Popovich | 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 2011-12 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 2002-03 | ||
| Hubie Brown | 2 | Memphis Grizzlies | 2003-04 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1977-78 |
Photo: sports.yahoo.com
