Blog Archives
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and the 20 Greatest Scorers in NBA Playoff History
The Best Scorers in NBA Playoff History: Michael Jordan and, a distant second, Allen Iverson (Yes, That’s Iverson Pre-Mega Ink)
Oh man. It’s NBA playoff time. Awesome. Here’s the 2013 NBA Postseason schedule.
And here are the top 20 players with the highest career postseason scoring averages, led by the GOAT, Michael Jordan. He’s the only player to post more than 30 points a playoff game, 33.45 in 179 games.
Allen Iverson has the second-best average. Is he a Hall of Famer?
Iverson is closely followed by the L.A. Lakers’ Jerry West.
Then, look at this, it’s LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Sure, Durant needs a few more playoff games under his belt, but is there any doubt he’ll remain on this list until the end?
James is already at 115 postseason games played, and the way he’s been playing, who would be surprised to see him up his average over the next few seasons, at least?
Carmelo Anthony (15th) is playing at such a clip right now as well (and just won his first NBA scoring title). Expect him to rise in the rankings after this postseason.
Kobe Bryant places 10th, beaten out by Dirk Nowitzki even, but hold on – Kobe’s played 220 playoff games, almost 100 more than Dirk (and almost 50 more than Jordan). You have to account for these sorts of things.
Follow @VinGetz| PLAYER | PPG | POSTSEASON GP | |
| 1. | Michael Jordan | 33.45 | 179 |
| 2. | Allen Iverson | 29.73 | 71 |
| 3. | Jerry West | 29.13 | 153 |
| 4. | LeBron James | 28.48 | 115 |
| 5. | Kevin Durant | 28.07 | 43 |
| 6. | Elgin Baylor | 27.04 | 134 |
| 7. | George Gervin | 26.98 | 59 |
| 8. | Dirk Nowitzki | 25.95 | 128 |
| 9. | Hakeem Olajuwon | 25.90 | 145 |
| 10. | Kobe Bryant | 25.64 | 220 |
| 11. | Bob Pettit | 25.45 | 88 |
| 12. | Dominique Wilkins | 25.41 | 56 |
| 13. | Dwyane Wade | 25.24 | 110 |
| 14. | Tracy McGrady | 25.20 | 44 |
| 15. | Carmelo Anthony | 24.94 | 54 |
| 16. | Rick Barry | 24.77 | 74 |
| 17. | Karl Malone | 24.67 | 193 |
| 18. | Alex English | 24.43 | 68 |
| 19. | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 24.31 | 237 |
| 19. | Shaquille O’Neal | 24.31 | 216 |
Thanks to basketball-reference.com.
Photo: live.drjays.com
NHL: Top 3 Career Goal Leaders (All-Time Scoring Leaders) of Every Team
Father and Son: Bobby Hull and Brett Hull are the All-Time Scoring Leaders for the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, Respectively
As we approach the halfway point of this exciting lockout-shortened 2013 NHL season, let’s take a stats break and look at every current franchise’s top three all-time scoring leaders.
Included under the team names is a quick look at each franchise’s name history, where applicable.
Thanks to my source, hockey-reference.com, where you can keep up on the latest franchise career and season leaders via the team index.
Follow @VinGetz| Anaheim Ducks | 1. | Teemu Selanne | 442 |
| (incl. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) | 2. | Paul Kariya | 300 |
| 3. | Corey Perry | 210 | |
| Boston Bruins | 1. | John Bucyk | 545 |
| 2. | Phil Esposito | 459 | |
| 3. | Rick Middleton | 402 | |
| Buffalo Sabres | 1. | Gilbert Perreault | 512 |
| 2. | Rick Martin | 382 | |
| 3. | Dave Andreychuk | 368 | |
| Calgary Flames | 1. | Jarome Iginla | 521 |
| (incl. Atlanta Flames) | 2. | Theoren Fleury | 364 |
| 3. | Joe Nieuwendyk | 314 | |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 1. | Ron Francis | 382 |
| (incl. Hartford Whalers) | 2. | Eric Staal | 262 |
| 3. | Kevin Dineen | 250 | |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 1. | Bobby Hull | 604 |
| (incl. Chicago Black Hawks) | 2. | Stan Mikita | 541 |
| 3. | Steve Larmer | 406 | |
| Colorado Avalanche | 1. | Joe Sakic | 625 |
| (incl. Quebec Nordiques) | 2. | Michel Goulet | 456 |
| 3. | Peter Stastny | 380 | |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 1. | Rick Nash | 289 |
| 2. | David Vyborny | 113 | |
| 3. | R.J. Umberger | 97 | |
| Dallas Stars | 1. | Mike Modano | 557 |
| (incl. Minnesota North Stars) | 2. | Brian Bellows | 342 |
| 3. | Dino Ciccarelli | 332 | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1. | Gordie Howe | 786 |
| (incl. Detroit Cougars, Falcons) | 2. | Steve Yzerman | 692 |
| 3. | Alex Delvecchio | 456 | |
| Edmonton Oilers | 1. | Wayne Gretzky | 583 |
| 2. | Jari Kurri | 474 | |
| 3. | Glenn Anderson | 417 | |
| Florida Panthers | 1. | Olli Jokinen | 188 |
| 2. | Scott Mellanby | 157 | |
| 3. | Pavel Bure | 152 | |
| Los Angeles Kings | 1. | Luc Robitaille | 557 |
| 2. | Marcel Dionne | 550 | |
| 3. | Dave Taylor | 431 | |
| Minnesota Wild | 1. | Marian Gaborik | 219 |
| 2. | Andrew Brunette | 119 | |
| 3. | Mikko Koivu | 111 | |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1. | Maurice Richard | 544 |
| 2. | Guy Lafleur | 518 | |
| 3. | Jean Beliveau | 507 | |
| Nashville Predators | 1. | David Legwand | 191 |
| 2. | Martin Erat | 162 | |
| 3. | Jason Arnott | 107 | |
| New Jersey Devils | 1. | Patrik Elias | 366 |
| (incl. Kansas City Scouts, Colorado Rockies) | 2. | John MacLean | 347 |
| 3. | Bobby Holik | 202 | |
| New York Islanders | 1. | Mike Bossy | 573 |
| 2. | Bryan Trottier | 500 | |
| 3. | Denis Potvin | 310 | |
| New York Rangers | 1. | Rod Gilbert | 406 |
| 2. | Jean Ratelle | 336 | |
| 3. | Adam Graves | 280 | |
| Ottawa Senators (new) | 1. | Daniel Alfredsson | 420 |
| 2. | Jason Spezza | 228 | |
| 3. | Alexei Yashin | 218 | |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1. | Bill Barber | 420 |
| 2. | Brian Propp | 369 | |
| 3. | Tim Kerr | 363 | |
| Phoenix Coyotes | 1. | Dale Hawerchuk | 379 |
| (incl. Winnipeg Jets (def)) | 2. | Shane Doan | 323 |
| 2. | Keith Tkachuk | 323 | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 1. | Mario Lemieux | 690 |
| 2. | Jaromir Jagr | 439 | |
| 3. | Jean Pronovost | 316 | |
| San Jose Sharks | 1. | Patrick Marleau | 399 |
| 2. | Owen Nolan | 206 | |
| 3. | Jonathan Cheechoo | 165 | |
| St. Louis Blues | 1. | Brett Hull | 527 |
| 2. | Bernie Federko | 352 | |
| 3. | Brian Sutter | 303 | |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 1. | Vincent Lecavalier | 379 |
| 2. | Martin St. Louis | 324 | |
| 3. | Steven Stamkos | 194 | |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1. | Mats Sundin | 420 |
| (incl. Toronto Arenas, St. Patricks) | 2. | Darryl Sittler | 389 |
| 3. | Dave Keon | 365 | |
| Vancouver Canucks | 1. | Markus Naslund | 346 |
| 2. | Trevor Linden | 318 | |
| 3. | Daniel Sedin | 287 | |
| Washington Capitals | 1. | Peter Bondra | 472 |
| 2. | Mike Gartner | 397 | |
| 3. | Alex Ovechkin | 347 | |
| Winnipeg Jets | 1. | Ilya Kovalchuk | 328 |
| (incl. Atlanta Thrashers) | 2. | Vyacheslav Kozlov | 145 |
| 3. | Marian Hossa | 108 |
Photo: chicagosportsmemories.blogspot.com / hfboards.hockeysfuture.com
Top 10 Highest and Lowest Scoring NBA All-Star Games (and Most and Fewest Points by a Conference)
Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson Face-Off in the 1987 NBA All-Star Game
My prediction is the 2013 NBA All-Star Game will be a high-scoring affair.
That’s not a hard prediction to make. Duh. They’re all high-scoring affairs (or at least have been for a while).
But this one’s going to be more high-scoring than usual, if the last few years are any indication.
In 2012, East and West combined to score 301 points – second most total in history and one of only three times both conferences united to break the 300-point ceiling.
The 1987 NBA All-Star Game, featuring Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Julius Erving, Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Isiah Ihomas and more, totaled two points more.
The 2003 All-Star Game is the other 300-pointer. That one went into double-overtime, the only one to do so.
Of the top 10 highest scoring NBA All-Star Games, five occurred in the 2000′s, including 2010, 2011 and 2012. Four are from the 1980′s and one is from the 1960′s (way to represent old school).
That 1961 game featured Oscar Robertson, Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell and other basketball all-time greats.
The West dominates, by the way, in the highest scoring games.
HIGHEST SCORING NBA ALL-STAR GAMES
| YEAR | TOT. PTS | WINNER | PTS | LOSER | PTS | OT | |
| 1. | 1987 | 303 | West | 154 | East | 149 | OT |
| 2. | 2012 | 301 | West | 152 | East | 149 | |
| 3. | 2003 | 300 | West | 155 | East | 145 | 2OT |
| 4. | 1984 | 299 | East | 154 | West | 145 | OT |
| 5. | 2011 | 291 | West | 148 | East | 143 | |
| 6. | 2007 | 285 | West | 153 | East | 132 | |
| 7. | 1961 | 284 | West | 153 | East | 131 | |
| 8. | 2010 | 280 | East | 141 | West | 139 | |
| 8. | 1980 | 280 | East | 144 | West | 136 | OT |
| 8. | 1962 | 280 | West | 150 | East | 130 |
What about lowest scoring NBA All-Star Games?
Well, it makes sense these would come from the early days of the league, when the game, and skill-level, was different.
A full seven of the top 10 lowest scoring All-Star games are from the 1950′s, the first full decade of the NBA. This was mostly before Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
The 1970′s are the other representative decade.
It’s mostly East winners in the lowest scoring games.
We’ll never see numbers like this ever again.
LOWEST SCORING NBA ALL-STAR GAMES
| YEAR | TOT. PTS | WINNER | PTS | LOSER | PTS | OT | |
| 1. | 1953 | 154 | West | 79 | East | 75 | |
| 2. | 1973 | 188 | East | 104 | West | 84 | |
| 3. | 1955 | 191 | East | 100 | West | 91 | |
| 4. | 1954 | 191 | East | 98 | West | 93 | OT |
| 5. | 1952 | 199 | East | 108 | West | 91 | |
| 6. | 1956 | 202 | West | 108 | East | 94 | |
| 7. | 1951 | 205 | East | 111 | West | 94 | |
| 8. | 1957 | 206 | East | 109 | West | 97 | |
| 9. | 1975 | 210 | East | 108 | West | 102 | |
| 10. | 1971 | 215 | West | 108 | East | 107 |
And before signing off, let’s take a look at the best and worst offensive outputs by an individual conference.
The 2003 Western Conference scored the most points in All-Star Game history, 155.
MOST POINTS, CONFERENCE IN NBA ALL-STAR GAME
| YEAR | CONFERENCE | PTS | W/L | |
| 1. | 2003 | West | 155 | W |
| 2. | 1987 | West | 154 | W |
| 2. | 1984 | East | 154 | W |
| 4. | 2007 | West | 153 | W |
| 4. | 1961 | West | 153 | W |
| 4. | 1992 | West | 153 | W |
| 7. | 2012 | West | 152 | W |
| 8. | 1962 | West | 150 | W |
| 9. | 1987 | East | 149 | L |
| 9. | 2012 | East | 149 | L |
FEWEST POINTS, CONFERENCE IN NBA ALL-STAR GAME
| YEAR | CONFERENCE | PTS | W/L | |
| 1. | 1953 | East | 75 | L |
| 2. | 1953 | West | 79 | W |
| 3. | 1973 | West | 84 | L |
| 4. | 1952 | West | 91 | L |
| 4. | 1955 | West | 91 | L |
| 6. | 1954 | West | 93 | L |
| 7. | 1966 | West | 94 | L |
| 7. | 1951 | West | 94 | L |
| 7. | 1956 | East | 94 | L |
| 10. | 1957 | West | 97 | L |
Photo: solecollector.com
