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A16 sports
Wednesday 23 March 2022
Analysis: NBA scoring race could end up as one for the ages

By TIM REYNOLDS first-round series on that half
AP Basketball Writer of the bracket will be slug-
In 2022, the end of the sea- fests.
son might feel like 1978. But anything involving
If we’re lucky. James is certain to be in-
Let’s go back to the great- triguing. Same goes with
est scoring race in NBA Antetokounmpo. Same
history, one that was de- goes with Embiid. Put them
cided 44 years ago, the together, and the intrigue
epic to-the-last-day battle levels skyrocket.
between David Thompson The only downside to all
and George Gervin. of this is that it could have
Each had a game on April been a four-man race.
9, 1978, that season’s final Brooklyn’s Durant is fourth
day. Thompson’s game in the league in scoring,
was first; he scored 73 four-tenths behind James
points for the Denver Nug- and two-tenths behind An-
gets to take the scoring tetokounmpo and Embiid
lead. Gervin, playing a few at 29.6 per game. But Du-
hours later, would need 58 rant basically can’t win the
points to reclaim the top scoring title since he won’t
spot. meet the NBA’s minimum
He scored 63 for the San — 58 games in an 82-game
Antonio Spurs. The crown Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid goes up for a shot during the second half of an NBA basketball season — to qualify.
was his, 27.22 points to game against the Dallas Mavericks, Friday, March 18, 2022, in Philadelphia. Associated Press So, unless somebody gets
27.15 for Thompson. really, really hot down the
Imagine such a scene play- The last time a race ended to rest his body. If the 76ers James said, “all I care stretch, the scoring race is
ing out this season on April up that close between the have nothing to play for on about is wins and losses.” down to three.
10 — the scoring title once top three spots was, well, the season’s final day, one A scoring race, though, Trae Young, Luka Doncic,
again going down to the never. The closest three- wouldn’t expect him out would add just an extra di- DeMar DeRozan, Ja Morant
season’s final day. Only this way race was in 1985-86, there with only a scoring mension to the end of the and Jayson Tatum are all
time, with three players in when Dominique Wilkins title at stake. Same goes season, just another reason within 3.0 points of James’
the race. It could happen. averaged 30.3 points — a for Antetokounmpo; if the to tune in and pay atten- average right now (as is
Entering Tuesday, the NBA half-point better than both Bucks are locked into a tion to what’s happening. Kyrie Irving, who obviously
finds itself on pace for the Adrian Dantley and Alex seed, it would seem foolish The Western Conference won’t meet the minimum
closest three-man scoring English. And a decade for Milwaukee to play the race will long be over by games-played threshold).
race in league history. LeB- ago, Kevin Durant, then reigning NBA Finals MVP then; realistically, it is now, If any of those guys go on
ron James of the Los Ange- with Oklahoma City, held much, if at all. And the Lak- since there’s no way bar- an absolute spree — not
les Lakers is atop the list av- off the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant ers’ only path to the play- ring unthinkable, cataclys- unheard of in this day and
eraging 29.96 points (which by one-tenth of a point, offs is through the play-in, mic collapse that Phoenix age — they could make a
would round up to 30.0), 28.0 to 27.9 for the second- which means James might won’t be the No. 1 seed. run at the title as well.
Joel Embiid of the Phila- closest head-to-head race be called upon to play big The Eastern Conference The potential is there for a
delphia 76ers is second at ever. Obviously, the num- minutes — and potentially race is considerably tighter, thrilling finish, just like the
29.83, and Giannis Antetok- bers will change. Embiid put up big numbers — all and the potential is quite league had in 1978.
ounmpo of the Milwaukee might get a game or two the way to the end. high that regardless of who It would be the perfect ap-
Bucks is third at 29.80. more off down the stretch “At the end of the day,” ends up seeded where the petizer to the playoffs.q

Saint Peter’s Holloway a ‘rock star’

coaching commodity

with shocking wins over Conference champion- in front of me is trying to
No. 2 seed Kentucky and ship team practice for Fri- help these gentlemen ac-
No. 7 seed Murray State, day night’s Sweet 16 game complish their goals and
Holloway was rumored to in Philadelphia against No. dreams.”
be the top contender for 3 seed Purdue (29-7). Holloway is in his fourth
the vacant Massachusetts “I’m not worried about season at the tiny Jesuit
job. that,” he said. “I worry school that has an under-
St. Peter’s head coach Shaheen Holloway looks on in the Then last week, Seton Hall about the job I have right graduate enrollment of
second half of an NCAA college basketball game against coach Kevin Willard said now. I worry about the 2,134 students. Despite a
Monmouth during the championship of the Metro Atlantic that Holloway, a former team I have right now. I 10-22 record his first sea-
Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in Pirates player and assis- worry about what we do- son, he is 63-56 overall.
Atlantic City, N.J. tant, should get his job if it ing right now. That’s the The university has not dis-
Associated Press opened. Willard was hired only thing that is important. closed what Holloway is
By TOM CANAVAN commodities in college by Maryland on Monday. “Everything else, it’s just making but it is reportedly
AP Sports Writer basketball. Holloway was asked hoopla,” he added. “I $300,000 per year. Coach-
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) Even before the 15th-seed- about the job the rumors don’t get to rumors and es at major schools make
— Shaheen Holloway of ed Peacocks (21-11) be- and the accompanying that type of stuff. I focus millions. Willard will get $3.9
Saint Peter’s might be one came the Cinderella story distractions on Tuesday as on the mission in front of million in his first season
of the hottest coaching of the NCAA Tournament his Metro Atlantic Athletic me right now and what’s with the Terps. q