NBA Notes - LET THE PLAYOFFS BEGIN - April 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

International Players Represent In The Playoffs - The Country With The Most NBA Players - Bill Russell Ruled the Boards - Phil Jackson Second Behind Russell With 10 NBA Titles

Saturday April 21, 2007

NBA Playoffs Begin with 59 International Players

It's that time again and the NBA playoffs begin today. At the beginning of the season there were 83 International players among the 30 NBA squads. There are 59 NBA players on the 16 NBA teams involved in the playoffs compared to 44 last season

For those teams involved this is really where the season beings. The first team to win 16 games will be crowned the NBA champion.

The playoffs consist of sixteen teams, eight teams from each conference Eastern and Western to play the best of a seven game series in the first round. The winners will advance to the second round that is referred to as the NBA Conference Semifinals in another best of seven series.

The winners will then proceed to the NBA Conference Finals and another best of seven game series. The two winners will then play in the finals another best of seven game series that are scheduled to begin June 7.

If the preceding series end early due to quick elimination the NBA can alter the start date to begin as early as June 5. June 21 is the NBA finals latest end date.

DID YOU KNOW???

The Houston Rockets Hakeem Olajuwon was the NBA's first MAJOR IMPACT NBA INTERNATIONAL PLAYER.

The Nigerian led the Rockets to two straight NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. He holds the NBA career record for blocked shots with 3,830

TRIVIA QUESTION?

What country has the most International players in the NBA? Answer below.

WASS-SUP? HERE'S THE DIF

Former NBA great Bill Russell played on 11 NBA title Boston Celtic teams 1957 - 1959 - 1960 - 61 - 62 - 63 - 64 - 65 - 66 - 68 & 69. He was also the player coach of the 1968 and 69 teams.

Today they make such a big deal out of an NBA team winning three titles in a row that is referred to as a three-peat. If you notice the Celtics won eight as in 8 in a row from 1959 through 1966. Red Auerbach who passed away this past December coached those teams.

Last season the Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett won the NBA rebounding title with a season total of 966 for an average of 12.7rpg (rebounds per game).

In contrast Russell registered under 1000 rebounds in a season ONLY ONE TIME that being his rookie year in 1956-57 when he totaled 943. His highest season total was 1930 rpg in the 1963-64 season.

His career regular season total was 21,620 for a 22.5 rpg average. He played in 165 playoff games and recorded a total of 4104 rebounds for a playoff average of 24.9. Russell had THREE 40 rebound games in the playoffs topped only by Wilt Chamberlains 41 rebounds in ONE game.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson is the only player and coach that can come close to Russell's NBA TITLE WIN TOTAL. He has 10 titles to his credit having played on one title winning New York Knicks team in 1973 and he won nine (9) as a coach.

Jackson coached the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls to two three-peat's 1991-92-93 and 1996-97-98. He then coached the Lakers to a three-peat title streak in 2000-01-02.

TRIVIA ANSWER

- SERBIA with eight (8) - The players and the teams they play for are:

Predrag Stojakovic - New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets

Zarko Cabarkapa - Golden State Warriors

Mile Illic - New Jersey Nets

Marko Jaric - Minnesota Timberwolves

Nenad Krstic - New Jersey Nets

Darko Milicic - Orlando Magic

Vladimir Radmanovic - Los Angeles Lakers

Zeijko Rebraca - Los Angeles Clippers

Other NBA dates of note are:

April 29: The early entry deadline for the players that wish to be involved in the NBA draft.

June 4-8 NBA Pre-Draft Camp - Players try out and show their skills to NBA teams, coaches and scouts.

June 8: NBA DRAFT - Teams select the players they wish to sign. The higher the player's selection translates into a bigger contract for the player.