Batting Around is BC Sports' look back at the week's happenings in the world o' sports, presented in a lineup card format for some undisclosed reason.
The Lineup Card
1. F/C Kevin Garnett
2. WR Terrell Owens
3. #48 Jimmie Johnson
4. QB Tim Tebow
5. RB Chris "Beanie" Wells
6. 1B Aubrey Huff
7. K Phil Dawson
8. #38 Northern Iowa Panthers
9. SP Tom Glavine
Coach: Lloyd Carr
1. F/C Kevin Garnett — No one player on the Boston Celtics is standing out, but Garnett is the tallest, so let's go with him.
He, along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, are all averaging at least 20 points a game. (The next highest scorer is 10-points-per-game Rajon Rondo.) Admittedly looking way ahead nine games into an 82-game season, I was curious when the last time was that three players finished a season with 20 points a game.
The last time a team fielded three 20-point scorers was the legendary 1993-94 Clippers, who finished dead last in the Pacific Division. The Donald Sterling Triune of Dominique Wilkins (29.1), Danny Manning (23.7), and Ron Harper (20.1) finished 27-55.
Unless you can make seamless Harper-to-Allen, Manning-to-Pierce, and Nique-to-KG comparisons (and you can't, save for the latter), the three 20-point scorers stat may just be an aberration. After all, the Aught Seven-Aught Eight Celtics are 8-1 and the 93-94 Clips didn't have eight wins until they first had 10 losses.
Sorry, sports world. You just may have to endure another dominant team from New England.
2. WR Terrell Owens — I know hearing about someone's fantasy football team is akin to hearing what DVDs your girlfriend owns. Blah blah blah, we get it, you have a lot of DVDs, can I go up your shirt now?
But my fantasy football team's main problems — aside from the lack of the brain dead manager not rotating out injured and/or bye-week players — has been primarily at quarterback, running back, tight end, kicker, and defense. The bright spot is Owens, who caught four touchdowns in the Cowboys' 28-23 win over the Washington Redskins.
After the game, Owens said to Fox's Pam Oliver, "I'm playing with a chip on my shoulder. People still don't want to give me any credit." Really? With an NFC-leading 1,028 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, nobody wants to credit you as a large part of the Cowboys' success? How could one even ... wait. This is how you want to think. You want to play pissed off. You want to keep the illusion that people still hate you. It's this frame of mind that's helped the Cowboys to a 9-1 start, and the only reason I have fantasy football wins.
Article comments
1 - Nick
The 93-94 Clippers didn't have three guys averaging 20+ ppg throughout the season. They traded Danny Manning to the Hawks for Dominique Wilkins.
2 - Jay
"The last time a team fielded three 20-point scorers was the legendary 1993-94 Clippers, who finished dead last in the Pacific Division. The Donald Sterling Triune of Dominique Wilkins (29.1), Danny Manning (23.7), and Ron Harper (20.1) finished 27-55."
Dominique Wilkins and Danny Manning were actually traded for each other that year (Wilkins to LA, Manning to Atlanta at the trading deadline), so they never played on the same team.
But you are correct. The '08 Celtics are not the '94 Clippers.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Look, guys, I don't go into your articles and tear through their theses with reality, now do I?
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
Actually, no. They all averaged 20 points with the Clippers in that season, even if Manning and Wilkins never passed the ball intentionally to one another. I'm gonna stick with my answer, Regis.
5 - Laron
I have been sleeping on your articles. I have a lot of catching up to do! Great piece Matt!
Oh yeah, TO is WACK, the hell with him! (Hope that helps the fantasy stats next weekend)