HBD, Bill Russell — Melo’s heat check — Scouting legend passes away

Friday, Feb 12th, 2021


  The Opening Tip

  • It’s Bill Russell’s 87th birthday today. 
  • Carmelo was a vintage red last night. 
  • The basketball world lost a unique New Yorker earlier this week.

1. An Eastern & Western Conference snapshot a third-of-the-way through the season

Eastern Conference:

  1. 76ers, 18-8
  2. Bucks, 16-9
  3. Nets, 15-12
  4. Celtics, 13-11
  5. Pacers, 13-13
  6. Raptors, 12-14
  7. Hornets, 12-14
  8. Hawks, 11-13
  9. Heat, 11-14
  10. Knicks, 11-15

Western Conference:

  1. Jazz, 20-5
  2. Lakers, 20-6
  3. Clippers, 18-8
  4. Suns, 15-9
  5. Trail Blazers, 14-10
  6. Spurs, 14-11
  7. Nuggets, 13-11
  8. Warriors, 14-12
  9. Grizzlies, 10-10
  10. Kings, 12-12

Three things: 

  1. Reminder: There is a play-in tournament this year between seeds No. 7-10. (Here’s how it works.) If, for example, the Knicks make the 10th seed and lose in said tournament, does that snap their postseason drought? Is there a new banner in MSG next season?
  2. Remember when the Heat were a sexy candidate to miss the playoffs? Miami’s won four in a row since Jimmy Butler’s return, and is now 2.5 games from the fourth seed.  
  3. Our one guarantee* on Wednesday flopped, because the Suns came back to beat the Bucks by one point. Phoenix has now won seven of its last eight games and looks like a real candidate to host a first-round playoff series. 

*Remember: Our guarantees are not guaranteed.

2. Daily GIF: Carmelo Anthony > Nerds

Whenever Carmelo Anthony has a good game -- and last night was one of them -- we harken back to one tweet from an Aug. 20 night that defined late-career Melo better than we ever could.

From @LaJethroJenkins:
 

“Melo hit that big three and all I could think about is how much basketball he missed because a (person) with a calculator said he couldn’t hoop anymore.”

Melo, who, as LaJethro said, missed a year of his career because some … Ivy-Leaguer … with a calculator said he couldn’t hoop anymore, dropped 17 points in the fourth quarter last night, including this improbable bank shot and the game-winning free throws.

Because of him, Portland beat the 76ers, 118-114. The Blazers finish the season 2-0 against one-seed-in-the East Philadelphia, with Melo scoring a combined 46 in both games.

It makes you wonder -- if the nerds were wrong about Melo, which other 2000s-era scorers still have something left? Monta Ellis? Corey Maggette?* Joe Johnson? Ty Lawson?

*OK, he was done in 2008.

3. Trivia time

There are seven players in the 30,000-plus-point club.

Who are they?

Answers at the bottom.

4. Happy Birthday to Bill Russell, America’s greatest living human

Bill Russell turns 87 today. Because of his very active Twitter account, we are afforded a comforting and intimate window into his life. (Here he is getting the vaccine. Here he is sending well wishes to Marcus Smart. Here he is yelling at Ted Cruz. Here he is saying goodbye to Tommy Heinsohn.)

The NBA is fortunate to have so many of its early legends still alive -- Russell, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Bob Cousy, Kareem, Sam Jones, Willis Reed, and so on.

But, at some point, they won’t be. So let’s appreciate Russell while he’s still here and still tweeting things at Chuck.

Need somewhere to start? Here’s a compilation of his incredible laugh, and here’s an old talk show appearance when he was at his intellectual sharpest.

Also: There are dozens of books written on and by Russell, but we cannot recommend Gary Pomerantz’s “The Last Pass: Cousy, Russell, the Celtics, and What Matters in the End” (2018) enough.

It’s advertised as a biography of Celtics great Bob Cousy, but its main purpose is to weave the two lives of Cousy and Russell -- the first great Celtics players -- and their relationship and friendship that was stilted by race.

The book crescendos with Cousy’s wish to speak with Russell one more time before it’s too late (“the last pass”), hoping to apologize for not supporting Russell enough in his struggles for equity and against racism in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It’s touching, periodically heartbreaking, and will help you understand both remarkable men better.

[SEE IT: Rare photos from throughout Bill Russell’s life]

5. Tom Konchalski, a vital basketball shadow: 1947-2021

We had never heard of legendary high school basketball scout Tom Konchalski until earlier this week, when news broke that he had passed away at 74 from cancer. From all of the tributes from players and media, though, it’s obvious that he was your favorite players’ favorite basketball scout.

Here’s what he ascertained about his life from all the things written about him:
 

He was a tall, unusual man who lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Forest Hills, Queens, who never had a driver’s license. He made it his goal from early on in his life to help New York City-area kids get basketball scholarships, and spent 50 years as a scout. He would take the train across the city to see everyone from Lew Alcindor to Kenny Anderson play high school hoops. When he’d seen enough, he would go home to Forest Hills and use his typewriter to bang out his self-published “High School Basketball Illustrated” newsletter, which college coaches across the country subscribed to and took as gospel. He was a one-of-a-kind man from a different world, who sounds more like a folksy movie character than a real person. 
 
“He was the most influential, the most respected and most loved high school basketball scout in the country,” said Mike Breen on the Knicks’ broadcast on Tuesday. “He helped 1,000s of young men, 1,000s of high school basketball players, achieve their dreams of playing college basketball and beyond, and every single day he did it with kindness and humility.” 

Konchalski is up for a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor. It’s a shame he won’t be around to see his life’s work recognized at the highest level.

[LISTEN: Dan Wetzel, Pete Thamel and Pat Forde remember Konchalski (35-minute mark)]

[READ: Tom Konchalski made basketball better. The sport won’t be the same without him.]

6.  Quick hits

  • Enes Kanter took a monster elbow to the face, started bleeding, got stitches, came back, and finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds last night. You can’t phase a man whose home country wants him dead. 
  • Steph Curry made 10 3-pointers last night but the most impressive shot was the one he made after the game was over.  
  • Also: Juan Toscano-Anderson’s premature celebration for a Curry 3 shows you what kind of zone Curry is in right now.
  • The Celtics-Raptors game last night had one of those unbelievably long stretches of incompetent basketball. 
  • BTW, the Toronto Raptors are now the Tampa Bay Raptors for the rest of the year. What a sports season for Tampa. 
  • Kevin Durant pondering how Shams Charania gets his NBA scoops is funny.

7.  Off the press

  • Why Payton Pritchard is the most important player you've never heard of [ESPN]
  • Juan Toscano-Anderson still can’t believe he’s on the Warriors [The Undefeated]
  • How the behind-the-back pass became so common, yet unnoticed [Yahoo Sports]

Trivia answers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant. Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, Wilt Chamberlain.


That's the buzzer.
Thanks for reading the 255th edition of The Grip.

Copyright © 2021 The Grip, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
The Grip
630 Ninth Ave
Suite 1411
The Mecca, NY 10036

Add us to your address book


update your preferences | unsubscribe from this list

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp

Older messages

Weekend watches — LeBron vs. All-Star Game — Dudley vs. PG

Friday, February 5, 2021

Friday, Feb 5th, 2021 The Opening Tip The best games on TV this weekend LeBron isn't too hyped about the All-Star Game Jared Dudley called out Paul George in his new “book," which is really

20-point scorers — Booker’s game-winner — Stephen A. anniversary

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Tuesday, Feb 2nd, 2021 The Opening Tip Devin Booker hit a 3-pointer to beat the Mavs last night. Remembering a great moment in NBA media history. We're back with another betting guarantee.

Weekend watches — OKC ATS — Kawhi’s tweets

Friday, January 29, 2021

Friday, Jan 29th, 2021 The Opening Tip The best of this weekend's matchups Derrick Jones Jr. is on a new team doing old tricks The Thunder are the Most Dignified Team in Basketball A brief

One year since Kobe’s death — NYC street legend dies — Go Knicks Go

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Tuesday, Jan 26th, 2021 The Opening Tip Some essential reading on Kobe Bryant. A highlight reel dunk by Anthony Edwards to begin a low right reel career. We have good news for the crossover sector of

Shaq vs. Utah — Bernie x NBA memes — Kobe’s 81

Friday, January 22, 2021

Friday, Jan 22nd, 2021 The Opening Tip Shaq is entering prime hater mode against the Jazz. LeBron and the Lakers are still perfect on the road. 15 years ago, Kobe Bryant had his best individual game.

You Might Also Like

FC Augsburg: The Bundesliga's Unfancied Over-Achievers

Thursday, March 28, 2024

FC Augsburg have collected 35 points, & have won 4 consecutive Bundesliga matches for the first time since 2014. What has allowed one of the league's relegation candidates to speed towards

Special Edition: Spring has sprung

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Optimism, renewed ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

This is what it sounds like when Dubs cry

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Back to reality for Draymond Green and the Warriors. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Play Ball ⚾️

Thursday, March 28, 2024

MLB Opening Day is Here. Sweet 16 Previews. Draymond Ejected. Audi Crooks Underdog & More... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Kick-Flip & A Betting Reckoning

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

NFL Changes Kickoff Format. The Sports Betting Reckoning, Lakers Rally From 19 Down & More... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Everything You Need to Know About the Premier League Title Race

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

OK, not everything. But I looked at every game Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal still have to play — and then I ranked them all, in order of difficulty: City's non-penalty xG differential at

Get ready to learn Jontay Porter, buddy

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Like clockwork, a betting scandal hits the NBA. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

How Sweet It Is

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

More Caitlin Clark History. A Ridiculous NBA Rally. Sho & Tell. NFL's Hip-Drop Ban & More... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Sweet 16: The Revenge Tour?

Monday, March 25, 2024

Purdue, Duke & More on Madness Revenge Runs. Women's Sweet 16, USMNT's CNL Dub & More... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Why Is European Soccer Still So, Uh, I Don't Know, Dumb?

Friday, March 22, 2024

A couple weeks ago, I moderated a panel at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference with the following people: -Sarah Rudd, co-founder of src | ftbl, former head of analytics at Arsenal -Ian Graham,