Where: STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA
When: Thursday, January 26th, 2012 @ 7:30PM (PST)
TV: TNT
Radio: KFWB News Talk 980
PG: #3 - Chris Paul SG: #1 - Chauncey Billups
SF: #5 - Caron Butler PF: #32 - Blake Griffin
C: #6 - DeAndre Jordan
Reserves
Williams | Foye | Gomes | Evans | Jones
During the summer of 1968, Los Angeles construction businessman Jim Kirst bought the struggling Anaheim Amigos. Kirst immediately moved the franchise to Los Angeles where it became the Los Angeles Stars. The team's home court in Los Angeles was the Los Angeles Sports Arena (capacity 13,325). A 5-game local TV contract was signed and Jim Hardy was named general manager.
In their best move of all, the Stars signed former NBA-great Bill Sharman (left) as their new coach. Sharman left a high-paying job as head coach of the San Francisco Warriors (a team he took to the NBA Finals in 1967) to come to the Stars. Sharman had also previously coached the L.A. Jets and the Cleveland Pipers in the ABL.The Stars had always lacked a dominating center. Dennis Grey, Ed Johnson, and Billy McGill had all fallen short. In January 1970, with the team's record at 16-22, Jim Hardy made the move that propelled Los Angeles into the playoffs: he acquired 6'11" Craig Raymond from the Pittsburgh Pipers. For the remainder of the season -- for reasons unknown -- Raymond consistently played the best pivot of his life. After Raymond's timely arrival, the Stars became a very dangerous team. With hustling Mack Calvin, gunner George Stone, and Jackson providing the firepower, the Stars finished two games above .500. They barely squeezed into the playoffs, edging out New Orleans by only one game.
In the playoffs, the Stars simply shocked the basketball world. They faced an uphill battle, because they did not have the home court advantage in any series. Still, they managed to upset the favored Dallas Chaparrals in the first round, 4 games to 2. Then, in the second round, they cruised past league-MVP Spencer Haywood and the Denver Rockets, 4 games to 1. In the 1970 ABA Finals, Los Angeles faced the powerful Indiana Pacers. The series went to six games before the "Cinderella Stars" succumbed: Raymond was injured early in Game 6 and the Pacers, led by Roger Brown's 43 points, won the ABA title, 111-107. Of course, the key to the Stars' incredible playoff run was Raymond, who dominated the boards and scored clutch baskets. Tom "Trooper" Washington (who, like Raymond, had been acquired from the Pipers) helped by hitting a blistering 62.4% from the field in the playoffs.
1968-69 Season
Record: 33-45, Fifth Place in Western Division
Missed Playoffs
1969-70 Season
Record: 43-41, Fourth Place in Western Division
1970 Playoff Results:
1970 Western Division Semifinals vs. Dallas Chaparrals (45-39)
Stars won series, 4-2
1970 Western Division Finals vs. Denver Rockets (51-33)
Stars won series, 4-1
1970 ABA Championship vs. Indiana Pacers (59-25)
Pacers won series, 4-2Remember the ABA
Chris Paul will be wearing customized pair of his CP3.V's that are influenced by the LA Stars colors.
PG: #11 - Mike Conley #8 - Tony Allen
SF: #22 - Rudy Gay PF: #5 - Marreese Speights
C: #33 - Marc Gasol
Reserves
Selby | Mayo | Pondexter | Cunningham | Haddadi
The Memphis Tams only lasted two years (1972-73 and 1973-74) But, even during this short time period, the Tams proved over and over again that they were one of the most bizarre teams in professional basketball history.
Thirty years later, it is unusual to find anybody who actually attended a Tams home game - the team had significant attendance problems. Those die-hard Memphis basketball fans who did venture out to see the Tams came away with some truly unique and strange memories.The players' uniforms were also quite a sight to behold. The Tams had green, gold, and white tops, plus green, gold, and white trunks. During the 1972-73 season, Finley had the team wear these colors in all possible combinations. Some of the combinations were unbearably ugly--for example, at home the Tams sometimes wore their white tops with their green trunks. On the road, it was even worse when the Tams wore their green shirts with their white trunks.
1972-73 Memphis Tams
Record: 24-60, Fifth Place in Eastern Division
Missed Playoffs
1973-74 Memphis Tams
Record: 21-63, Fifth Place in Eastern Division
Missed Playoffs
Inactive List:
None to report.
Darrell Arthur (Torn Right Achilles) and Zach Randolph (MCL, Right Knee) are out.
Team Leaders and Statistics
Blake Griffin - 21.3 Points (9th) and 11.3 Rebounds (4th)
Chris Paul - 8.8 Assists (3rd) and 2.6 Steals (1st)
DeAndre Jordan - 2.9 Blocks (1st)
Team Performance
97.0 Points Per Game - 8th Overall
40.6 Rebounds Per Game - 27th Overall
21.3 Assists Per Game - 11th Overall
96.1 Points Allowed - 21st Overall
13.9 Turnovers Per Game - 3rd Overall
14.6 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 16th Overall
Offensive Rating: 106.3 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 7th Overall
Defensive Rating: 105.4 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 25th Overall
Rudy Gay - 18.4 Points
Marc Gasol - 10.2 Rebounds (8th) and 2.4 Blocks (3rd)
Mike Conley - 7.4 Assists (9th) 2.6 Steals (2nd)
Team Performance
95.1 Points Per Game - 14th Overall
41.8 Rebounds Per Game - 18th Overall
19.4 Assists Per Game - 21st Overall
92.6 Points Allowed - 10th Overall
14.9 Turnovers Per Game - 12th Overall
18.2 Turnovers (Opp.) Per Game - 1st Overall
Offensive Rating: 102.6 Points Scored Per 100 Possessions - 15th Overall
Defensive Rating: 99.8 Points Allowed Per 100 Possessions - 10th Overall
Eric Bledsoe has been cleared to play basketball and was assigned to the Bakersfield Jam earlier today. He will play in tonight's game against the LA D-Fenders. The game tips off at 7 and can be viewed via live stream on Futurecast.
