Tag: John Paxson

“I’m very direct, I think you see …

“I’m very direct, I think you see that,” Boylen told me last week, as we sat in the bleachers at the Washington Wizards’ practice facility, where Team USA worked out. “I was very direct in Chicago. I coached that Chicago team how John Paxson and Jerry Reinsdorf wanted it coached.” Boylen is the coach of Team USA, but not the Team USA that plays in the 2023 World Cup, or the 2024 Paris Olympics. That’s Steve Kerr’s job. Boylen is coaching the Team USA that is trying to win enough games to qualify for the World Cup. He has a roster full of G Leaguers, instead of NBA All-Stars, and the games are spaced months apart. The new job is going well for Boylen, who has collected three wins against one defeat so far.

Watch: John Paxson eliminates Phoenix Suns with 3 in 1993 NBA Finals

Remember what happened the last time the Suns were in a Game 6 of the NBA Finals?

[mm-video type=video id=01fb2mf3wfvbqydzjexj playlist_id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fb2mf3wfvbqydzjexj/01fb2mf3wfvbqydzjexj-8c200672aa7d8698e652858e2cf88685.jpg]

Like their last trip to the NBA Finals in 1993, the Phoenix Suns entered the 2021 edition with home-court advantage. Also like last time, the Suns are faced with a 3-2 deficit. The difference is the 2-3-2 format the finals had in 1993 is no more, so the Suns will have to beat the Milwaukee Bucks on the road in Game 6 to send the series back to Phoenix for a decisive Game 7. Undoubtedly, a tough task is at hand.

However, home-court advantage was anything but for the Suns in the 1993 finals as they lost all three games on their floor to the Chicago Bulls. None of those losses hurt more than the last one. With the Suns clinging to a two-point lead in the final seconds, Bulls guard and Notre Dame product John Paxson was found wide open behind the 3-point line. Paxson calmly sank the championship-clinching shot from there, and as the people involved with that Suns team will attest, it never should have happened:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsffXQmpwDY

To make things even more eerie, the Suns are facing another Notre Dame alumnus with a knack for 3-point shooting this time around. That alumnus is Pat Connaughton, and he’s already proven he can hit 3s in crunch time in this series. The only way history can repeat itself any further is if Connaughton makes his own legendary 3-pointer to give the Bucks their first championship in 50 years. In that case, the Suns better pray they don’t face an Irish product the next time they get this far.

[lawrence-related id=30776]

And in some sense, the fact the Bulls …

And in some sense, the fact the Bulls are drawing from executives who have varying backgrounds working for different franchises could help them. Each will bring different perspectives and predraft protocols to the table. The fact Karnišovas and Eversley are using holdovers like Brian Hagen and Steve Weinman also gives some of the previous regime’s flavor. That regime had more draft hits than misses. I’ve heard Karnišovas has valued his relationship with senior adviser John Paxson, who ceded complete autonomy but is willing to assist the new regime whenever they ask him for any input.

Notre Dame: This Week in Twitter

Another week of Notre Dame centric tweets can be seen right here.

Let’s take a look back at this week’s action on Notre Dame Twitter:

 

Happy Birthday transfer safety Nick McCloud

Happy Birthday to incoming freshman tight end Michael Mayer

Head Football Coach Brian Kelly changes his profile pic

Notre Dame Football account does the same

Kelly has been impressive during his tenure with the Irish

Head Baseball Coach Link Jarrett hired a year ago Sunday

Former Notre Dame basketball star John Paxson on his time in South Bend

Lou Holtz sticking up for the Fighting Irish nickname

As also was reported, the wild card in …

As also was reported, the wild card in all of this is chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who could play the role of governor and make that last-second call to save Boylen. It’s very unlikely, considering multiple high-ranking sources in the organization have doubled down on the idea that while the Reinsdorfs and former VP of basketball operations-turned-advisor John Paxson like Boylen, they will not step on the trust they have in the new front office to make the right decisions.

The Sun-Times has reported that …

The Sun-Times has reported that Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have already had detailed discussions with players and retained personnel, and were getting enough mixed feedback of what’s gone on the last year that they were leaning toward starting with a new coach of their choosing. Ownership and former VP of basketball operations John Paxson have given support for Boylen, but a source reiterated that COO Michael Reinsdorf was by no means influencing the front office’s decision on the coach and would allow Boylen’s dismissal if Karnisovas wants to go that way. No questions asked.

Who got the most air time in the Michael Jordan documentary?

Having conducted a vast amount of interviews, the crew behind “The Last Dance” gave voice to many people to tell the story of Michael Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls. But how exactly was interview time distributed in the final cut? We watched …

Having conducted a vast amount of interviews, the crew behind “The Last Dance” gave voice to many people to tell the story of Michael Jordan‘s career with the Chicago Bulls.

But how exactly was interview time distributed in the final cut? We watched the 10 episodes of the documentary clock in hand to find out.

Of course Michael Jordan was going to be No. 1, but you may be surprised to know Steve Kerr was second in the minute count and Scottie Pippen only No. 4. (Although that’s way better than Toni Kukoc, arguably the third-best player on the 1998 championship squad).

Among the notable omissions were MJ teammates Luc Longley and Craig Hodges.

Here’s the full ranking:

1. MICHAEL JORDAN: 46:30

Appears in all 10 episodes.

2. STEVE KERR, TEAMMATE: 12:25

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

3. PHIL JACKSON, COACH: 11:46

Appears in all 10 episodes.

4. SCOTTIE PIPPEN, TEAMMATE: 10:26

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

5. JERRY REINSDORF, OWNER: 7:01

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 7, 8 and 10.

6. DAVID ALDRIDGE, MEDIA: 6:57

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

7. DENNIS RODMAN, TEAMMATE: 6:01

Appears in episodes 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10.

8. BJ ARMSTRONG, TEAMMATE: 4:55

Appears in episodes 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

9. MARK VANCIL, MEDIA: 4:06

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 7, 8 and 10.

10. REGGIE MILLER, OPPONENT: 3:53

Appears in episodes 8 and 9.

11. MICHAEL WILBON, MEDIA: 3:50

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.

12. ANDREA KREMER, MEDIA: 3:23

Appears in episodes 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.

13. JOHN PAXSON, TEAMMATE: 3:09

Appears in episodes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9.

14. SAM SMITH, MEDIA: 3:06

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7.

15. HORACE GRANT, TEAMMATE: 3:03

Appears in episodes 4, 6, 7 and 8.

16. RICK TELANDER, MEDIA: 2:58

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7.

17. AHMAD RASHAD, MEDIA: 2:57

Appears in episodes 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

18. TIM GROVER, TRAINER: 2:52

Appears in episodes 4, 7, 8 and 9.

19. ROD THORN, EXECUTIVE: 2:50

Appears in episodes 1, 3 and 5.

20. DELORIS JORDAN, FAMILY: 2:39

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

21. BILL WENNINGTON, TEAMMATE: 2:33

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9.

22. DOUG COLLINS, COACH: 2:24

Appears in episodes 3 and 4.

23. DAVID FALK, AGENT: 2:20

Appears in episodes 1, 5 and 8.

24. ISIAH THOMAS, OPPONENT: 2:17

Appears in episodes 1, 3, 4 and 5.

25. MAGIC JOHNSON, OPPONENT: 2:15

Appears in episodes 1, 2, 4 and 5.

26. TONI KUKOC, TEAMMATE: 2:14

Appears in episodes 5 and 7.

27. WILL PERDUE, TEAMMATE: 2:13

Appears in episodes 4, 6 and 7.

28. BARACK OBAMA, POLITICS: 2:11

Appears in episodes 1, 5 and 10.

29. JA ADANDE, MEDIA: 2:02

Appears in episodes 1, 6, 8 and 9.

30. GEORGE KOEHLER, DRIVER: 1:57

Appears in episodes 7, 8 and 9.

31. BRIAN MCINTYRE, MEDIA: 1:53

Appears in episodes 1, 3, 5 and 7.

32. BOB COSTAS, MEDIA: 1:52

Appears in episodes 1, 5, 7, 9 and 10.

33. TODD BOYD, MEDIA: 1:41

Appears in episodes 3, 5, 6 and 8.

34. LARRY BIRD, OPPONENT: 1:39

Appears in episodes 2, 5 and 9.

35. JOHN SALLEY, OPPONENT: 1:31

Appears in episodes 3 and 4.

36. GARY PAYTON, OPPONENT: 1:30

Appears in episodes 3 and 8.

37. DAVID STERN, COMMISSIONER: 1:22

Appears in episodes 1, 5, 6, 7 and 10.

38. ANN KERR, STEVE KERR’S MOTHER: 1:21

Appears in episode 9.

39. JAMES WORTHY, OPPONENT: 1:15

Appears in episodes 1 and 3.

40. JOE O’NEIL, EXECUTIVE: 1:12

Appears in episodes 1 and 5.

41. ROY JOHNSON, MEDIA: 1:10

Appears in episode 5.

42. CHIP SCHAEFER, TRAINER: 1:09

Appears in episodes 4, 8 and 10.

42. KOBE BRYANT, OPPONENT: 1:09

Appears in episode 5.

44. TIM HALLAM, EXECUTIVE: 1:08

Appears in episodes 6 and 7.

45. JALEN ROSE, OPPONENT: 1:05

Appears in episode 9.

46. CHARLEY ROSEN, MEDIA: 1:04

Appears in episodes 4 and 7.

47. CHARLES BARKLEY, OPPONENT: 1:02

Appears in episode 6.

48. JOHN STOCKTON, OPPONENT: 1:01

Appears in episodes 9 and 10.

49. ROY WILLIAMS, COACH: 00:55

Appears in episodes 1 and 2.

49. TISHER LETT, GUS LETT’S WIFE: 00:55

Appears in episode 9.

51. WILLOW BAY, MEDIA: 00:54

Appears in episodes 5 and 10.

52. CARMEN ELECTRA, SHOWBUSINESS: 00:52

Appears in episodes 4 and 10.

53. BILL CARTWRIGHT, TEAMMATE: 00:48

Appears in episodes 3, 4, 7 and 9.

54. JUD BUECHLER, TEAMMATE: 00:47

Appears in episodes 3, 7 and 8.

55. JIM STACK, EXECUTIVE: 00:46

Appears in episodes 2, 3 and 5.

56. MIKE BARNETT, BASEBALL: 00:45

Appears in episode 7.

57. SCOTT BURRELL, TEAMMATE: 00:44

Appears in episode 7.

58. TERRY FRANCONA, BASEBALL: 00:42

Appears in episode 7.

58. BRENDAN MALONE, COACH: 00:42

Appears in episode 3.

60. DANNY AINGE, OPPONENT: 00:40

Appears in episodes 2 and 6.

61. HOWARD WHITE, BUSINESS: 00:35

Appears in episode 5.

62. MELISSA ISAACSON, MEDIA: 00:31

Appears in episodes 6 and 7.

63. RONNIE MARTIN, PLAYER: 00:30

Appears in episode 2.

64. ROD HIGGINS, TEAMMATE: 00:29

Appears in episode 1.

64. GLEN RICE, OPPONENT: 00:29

Appears in episode 8.

66. PATRICK EWING, OPPONENT: 00:27

Appears in episodes 1, 6 and 8.

66. RONNIE JORDAN, FAMILY: 00:27

Appears in episode 2.

66. HANNAH STORM, MEDIA: 00:27

Appears in episodes 4 and 7.

69. STEVE EAST, EXECUTIVE: 00:26

Appears in episode 2.

70. LARRY JORDAN, FAMILY: 00:25

Appears in episodes 2 and 7.

70. BILLY PIPPEN, PIPPEN’S FAMILY: 00:25

Appears in episode 2.

72. FRED LYNCH, COACH: 00:23

Appears in episode 2.

73. BUZZ PETERSON, PLAYER: 00:21

Appears in episode 1.

74. SIDNEY MONCRIEF, OPPONENT: 00:20

Appears in episode 1.

75. NAS, SHOWBUSINESS: 00:19

Appears in episode 5.

76. RON HARPER, TEAMMATE: 00:18

Appears in episode 3.

76. JOHN HEFFERON, DOCTOR: 00:18

Appears in episode 2.

78. BILL CLINTON, POLITICS: 00:17

Appears in episode 2.

78. PAT RILEY, COACH: 00:17

Appears in episodes 1 and 6.

78. ADAM SILVER, COMMISSIONER: 00:17

Appears in episode 5.

81. MARCUS JORDAN, FAMILY: 00:15

Appears in episode 10.

81. JOE KLEINE, TEAMMATE: 00:15

Appears in episode 2.

81. CHARLES OAKLEY, TEAMMATE: 00:15

Appears in episodes 2 and 6.

84. JASMINE JORDAN, FAMILY: 00:12

Appears in episode 10.

84. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SHOWBUSINESS: 00:12

Appears in episode 5.

86. BILLY PACKER, MEDIA: 00:11

Appears in episode 1.

87. RON COLEY, COACH: 00:10

Appears in episode 2.

87. JOE PYTKA, SHOWBUSINESS: 00:10

Appears in episode 8.

89. KEVIN LOUGHERY, COACH: 00:09

Appears in episode 1.

90. JEFFREY JORDAN, FAMILY: 00:05

Appears in episode 10.

The Last Dance: Five Notre Dame Connections to Michael Jordan

Have you enjoyed “The Last Dance” on ESPN? Michael Jordan never played against Notre Dame but he did have more than a couple connections.

If you’re like most of sports fans in the United States you probably spent a good amount of your last five Sunday nights taking in ESPN’s documentary, “The Last Dance”.  For a kid growing up in the nineties it was a great walk down memory lane and incredibly informative for stories about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty.

What connections to Notre Dame did the documentary have?  Let’s look back at just a few:

Michael Jordan’s Former Teammate Turns Notre Dame Coach:

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Grant joined ‘Pardon My Take’ in recent …

Grant joined ‘Pardon My Take’ in recent days, where he talked about his relationship with MJ, all the rumors saying he gave Smith inside information of the Bulls and more. He explained that Smith had quoted several other players in the book, including Bill Cartwright and John Paxson among others. He added that Smith talked with assistant coaches, Phil Jackson and even played golf with Jordan himself. “I don’t know where did they come with that I was the source behind the book. That’s a straight-up lie,” Grant said.