Fratello’s Fun Stats

Ray Allen is poised to break reigning champ Reggie Miller’s all-time 3-point shot record in tonight’s Lakers vs. Celtics matchup. Allen is just two history-making threes away from passing five-time NBA All-Star Miller’s 2,560 career tally. The current TNT analyst Reggie Miller himself will be front row at the TD Garden to pass the torch and broadcast basketball history in the making during the nationally televised game.

According to Hoopedia, the 3-point rule was first tested in an NCAA game between Columbia and Fordham, and the NBA officially adopted the three-point shot in the 1979–80 season.

The distance from the 3-point arc to the basket varies from 23’ 9” inches to exactly 22’ at its closest point along the sidelines. During the 1994–95, 1995–96, and 1996-97 seasons, the NBA shortened the overall distance of 3-pointers to a uniform 22 feet around the basket. So in Ray Allen’s rookie season of 1996-97, the NBA 3-point arc was 22 feet even from the basket, and the following year it was reverted back to its original distance of 23’9.”

For the sake of some fun statistics, if we go with the past and present distances from the top of the arc:

Ray hit 117 3-point shots (22 footers) his rookie year, so 117 X 22 feet = 2574 feet

This means that when Ray hits the record breaking 2561st 3-pointer of his career, he will have shot approximately 11.5 miles worth of 3-point field goals:

(2444 X 23.75) + (117 X 22.00) = 58,045 feet + 2574 feet = 60619 feet

60619 feet / 5280 feet (1 mile) = 11.5 miles (the “Ray Allen”)

The driving distance from the TD Garden to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is 91.8 miles. So the distance from the TD Garden to The Basketball Hall of Fame = 8 “Ray Allens.

On the Road with Mike

Thanks to all of you who participated in last week’s tie vote. The geometric design took first place by a narrow margin of victory and made its television debut during TNT’s Spurs vs. Mavs broadcast.

Gameday Dish: Pacific Division Rivals Suns vs. Warriors

I hear a certain pro contest set to take place somewhere in Ohio tonight is causing quite a stir.  Something about a Florida team, some eighth-year pro, hard feelings, high drama …

Well, while Cleveland pursues a collective catharsis out East, here in the Bay Area the Warriors and coach Keith Smart will welcome Alvin Gentry’s Suns for a Pacific Division matchup. And neither side is taking a ‘cavalier’ approach to this first meeting of the 2010-11 season.

Though the postseason is a ways out, it looks like both teams could very well be among those fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the West based on their current conference standings.

Phoenix last played on Sunday when they lost to the host Denver Nuggets 138-133 in the highest scoring game this season in the NBA. Golden State is also coming off of a defeat. They were bested 118-98 by the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

However, Golden State had a few bright spots in the lopsided affair to hearten their outlook heading into tonight’s battle. Steph Curry scored 32, and David Lee had 18 points and 7 boards in his second game back after missing an 8-game stretch with an elbow infection, during which time the Warriors went 1-7.

The last regular season meeting between these two squads was on March 22nd with Phoenix winning 133-131 in Oakland. During the 2010 season, the Warriors lost 3 of 4 against the Suns, and have lost 8 of the last 10 overall.

Phoenix ranks first in the league in points per game at 109.4.  But the flip side of that coin is points allowed at 111.9, which is 30th and last overall in the NBA. Either way you add it up, this evening’s competition should be a high-scoring one.

Golden State’s young guns Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis will face Phoenix’s veteran backcourt comprised of Steve Nash and Jason Richardson, who spent his first six years in the league playing for Golden State. Curry and Ellis are averaging a combined total of 45 ppg, while Richardson and Nash are combining for 40 ppg.

Part II of tonight’s double-header on TNT gets underway at 10:30 PM ET. Lebron’s hyped-up Heat vs. Cavs homecoming match is sure to get your blood boiling, so stay tuned to the Suns-Warriors afterwards for an up-tempo cool-down brought to you by Kevin Harlan and the Czar.

Gameday Dish: Magic Host Wall and the Wizards

Since 1980 only three guards have been selected #1 overall in the NBA draft – Allen Iverson in 1996, Derrick Rose in 2008 and John Wall this past May. To say that this latest first-pick point guard will be heavily scrutinized and constantly analyzed is almost an understatement. With the Wizards entrusting the future of their franchise to this one-and-done, record-breaking Kentucky Wildcat, 20-year-old Wall already carries a lot of weight on his rookie shoulders.

Named Most Outstanding Player at the Las Vegas Summer League, Wall led all players in scoring (23.5) and assists (7.8), giving Wizards fans good reason to be optimistic. Tonight Wall and the Wizards travel to central Florida to play the Orlando Magic in what will be both teams’ opening game of the 2010-11 NBA campaign.

Washington had the fourth worst record in the league last season and was only 11-30 on the road. On the other hand, the Magic possessed a formidable home-court advantage by going 34-7 at the Amway Center.

People aren’t talking about Orlando as much since LeBron announced his move to Miami and took the media spotlight with him. But let’s not forget that last year Orlando won 59 games, and they are anchored by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, also a #1 overall pick (2004 draft) and First-Team All-League player.

Howard averages double-figure points and rebounds, and he’s one of the premiere shot blockers in the NBA. Led by their super-center and bolstered by a deep roster, the Magic will go head to head with the Heat and Celtics for a shot at the title. Orlando hopes to start this season on a better note than they ended last season when they lost to Boston 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Because Orlando felt they didn’t match up well against Boston’s bigger front line (which got even bigger with the additions of Shaquille and Jermaine) in the playoffs, they have been experimenting with Rashard Lewis starting at the small forward position during the preseason and will likely continue to explore whether this can be a successful strategy come playoff time.

The Wizards will be without three-time All-Star guard Gilbert Arenas, who has a strained tendon in his right ankle. Arenas missed most the 2010 season due to a 50-game league suspension for a felony-gun conviction.  He’s also generated some curious and negative publicity for the Wiz and himself this pre-season by faking a left knee injury in a bizarre attempt to give some playing time to teammate Nick Young.  Newly acquired guard Kirk Heinrich, a former Chicago Bull, will fill in for Arenas in the Wizards starting lineup.

Even if Arenas were playing tonight, this contest is all about John Wall’s debut as an NBA pro. Will Orlando’s newly anointed Wizard cast a proverbial spell on his opponents? Marv, Steve and I will be back in the booth when the Washington Wizards vs. Orlando Magic airs live at 8:00 PM EST on TNT.