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Bill O'Rear @billohoops

A basketball lifer who has spent decades either playing, coaching or writing about the game. Blessed to be a San Diego State basketball fan.

Joined February 2015
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Jalen Brunson’s overall clutch performance in this year’s NBA Finals should rank as one of the top 5 Finals MVP performances in league history. The big-hearted Brunson did it through five games & came up the biggest when his Knicks needed it. #StandingO
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Jalen Brunson is a great example for young players wanting to play college & NBA basketball. He’s an undersized guard with a massive heart & a burning competitive fire that boosts his talent & leadership skills. And he “put in the work” to rise to his current superstar level.
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Game 5 Spurs comparison: — De’Aaron Fox, 37 minutes, 7 points, 3-15 FG, 1-8 3’s, 0 FT, 0 reb, 5 ast, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 1 /-. — Dylan Harper, 31 minutes, 25 points, 10-19 FG, 2-4 3’s, 3-5 FT, 5 reb, 4 ast, 0 turnovers, 12 /-. Who has a brighter future with the Spurs?
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Congrats to the New York Knicks. They overcame every challenge against the San Antonio Spurs, especially in closing games led by Jalen Brunson, and they earned the NBA title in an impressive performance. Spurs need to make some key adjustments & will be a force moving forward.
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Last year, I stopped listening to any Stephen A. Smith interviews or game analysis & I haven’t missed hearing his voice or self promotion. This coming season, I will try to skip Sir Charles as much as possible — although Ernie, Shaq & Kenny Smith can be very knowledgeable & fun.
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And although I have the utmost respect for the legendary Ernie Johnson, I no longer enjoy watching Inside the NBA since it’s become more of Charles Barkley’s constant rambling & trying to be funny or smarter than everyone else in basketball & it often falls short.
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I also enjoyed listening to the ABC game announcers — play-by-play man Mike Breen & analysts Richard Jefferson & Tim Legler. Breen is excellent while Jefferson & Legler were a good match in sharing their basketball knowledge, strategy & overall NBA experience as former players.
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The Spurs biggest decision will center around what to do with De’Aaron Fox, who struggled most of the series. The emergence of rookie Dylan Harper & Fox’s poor NBA Finals could force moving Fox & letting Harper become a productive starter & allow his star to continue rising.
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With their current roster & if the Knicks can stay healthy next year, they’ll remain a force with the strongest challenges coming from San Antonio & OKC. Could the Knicks repeat? Well, if you have Jalen Brunson, Kat & this same gang, anything may be possible?
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Athleticism & talent can take you a long way in the NBA. But if you don’t combine that package with a consistent level of playing smart basketball, you may never step up at the biggest moments & help your team win. Jalen Brunson understands that; De’Aaron Fox is still learning.
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The New York Knicks rallied from 29 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 on OG Anunoby’s tip-in tonight at MSG in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. It’s the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history & the biggest collapse in history by the Spurs. N.Y. leads the series 3-1.
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Why didn’t De’Aaron Fox just dribble the ball away with time running down after a steal and the Spurs leading by one point? Game could have been over or at least he might have been fouled with a chance to add to the SA lead.
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The physical San Antonio Spurs delivered a huge gut punch to the New York Knicks early in the first half tonight & the hosts were dazed the rest of the way heading into the intermission at MSG. The Spurs lead 76-49 at the break & on their way to evening the NBA Finals at 2-2.
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No doubt Game 4 will be called tighter to cut down on the physicality of both teams — too much holding, grabbing jerseys & pushing thru screens & on rebounds in Game 3. But both teams will still play very physical & that style favors the Spurs, especially with slowing up Brunson.
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But if the young Spurs earn the win, it’s going to set up a best-of-3 series that might be one of the most thrilling finishes in NBA history — with 2 talented & proud teams battling for the championship & establishing themselves as legit title contenders for the next few years.
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Will officiating decide Game 4? No, it’ll be the team that forces its will on the other & plays to its strengths. NY is better in the half court, with more ball movement & solid D. The Knicks are home & favored. The Spurs need Wimby & Co. to play confident & then a W is possible.
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The Knicks’ biggest problem in Game 3 was turnovers — 13 that led to 21 Spurs points — & fouls that led to SA shooting 24 free throws in the 2nd half. The Spurs’ physical play also got NY out of its offensive flow. So the Knicks must get back to their G-1/G-2 effort to prevail.
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In Game 3, the Spurs just hounded the explosive Brunson & forced him into some tough situations. That style of play has worn heavily on the Knicks star & he’s struggled at times. The Knicks need to get bigger contributions from Kat, Bridges & Hart to add to OG’s fine play to win.
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Clutch effort from the San Antonio Spurs in beating the New York Knicks 115-111 tonight in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at MSG. Wemby let the game come to him, scored 32 points & Stephon Castle had 23 to cut New York’s series lead to 2-1. Game 4 Wednesday in the Big Apple.
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Great coaches have their own special way to teach the game. The late Don Meyer was one of those legendary basketball coaches. He used elite discipline, a strong mind & humor to develop championship level players & teams. He pushed his players to be better — on & off the court.
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Livsey & his co-owners sold the Snow Valley camp to Nike Sports Camps in 2016. I was blessed to work in that final Livsey-run camp & it remains my all-time favorite since it was packed with some great coaches & marked an end of an era. The Snow Valley Nike camps continue on.
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