Today’s Sportstat: February 15, 2020
Antetokounmpo, Middleton represent Bucks at 2020 NBA All-Star Game
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game will be played Sunday at the United Center in Chicago. The Bucks will have a pair of players in the contest: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Middleton became the 12th Bucks player in team history to make the NBA All-Star Game two or more times in his career with the Bucks. Giannis, on the other hand, became only the fourth Bucks player to make four or more All-Star appearances in a career with the team.
In the Bucks history, 19 different players have made a total of 45 appearances in the All-Star Game. Leading the way is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar who, as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, made six appearances in the mid-season contest.
Here is a look at the 19 Bucks players who have been chosen to play in the NBA All-Star Game.
6 appearances: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
5 appearances: Sidney Moncrief
4 appearances: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Marques Johnson
3 appearances: Ray Allen, Vin Baker, Bobby Dandridge
2 appearances: Terry Cummings, Khris Middleton, Oscar Robertson, Glenn Robinson, Brian Winters
1 appearance: Bob Lanier, Jon McGlocklin, Ricky Pierce, Jim Price, Michael Redd, Alvin Robertson, Flynn Robinson
For the record, the only time the NBA All-Star Game was played in Milwaukee was in 1977 at the Milwaukee Arena. There were no Bucks in that game. Former Bucks draft choice Julius Erving was the MVP of that game. He was the first-round choice of the Bucks (12th overall pick) in the 1972 draft.
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Today’s Sportstat: February 8, 2020
Brewers players with most HRs in a season versus National League foes
Christian Yelich last season had eight home runs (in 16 games) versus the St.Louis Cardinals. That broke a more-than-a-decade old record held by Ryan Braun who slugged seven homers against the Cards in the 2008 season.
What’s interesting about this stat is that Yelich, due to injury that sidelined him from September 10 to the end of the season, actually missed three games against the Cardinals in the final month and may have added to his record-setting number of eight.
Yelich’s eight HRs against the Cardinals in 2019 is tied for second-most in Brewers team history in a season against one team. Former first baseman Eric Thames, now a member of the World Champion Washington Nationals, holds the team record with 10 home runs in 2017 against the Cincinnati Reds. Yelich’s eight homers against the Cards in 2019 ties him with Prince Fielder who had eight home runs against the Pirates in 2010.
Here is a look at the Brewers players who have the most HRs in a season versus each of the other 14 teams in the National League.
Braves: Richie Sexson, 5, 2003
Cardinals: Christian Yelich, 8, 2019
Cubs: Richie Sexson (2002 and 2003), Jeromy Burnitz (2006) and Ryan Braun (2016)… 6 each
Diamondbacks: Jeromy Burnitz, 5, 2001
Dodgers: Geoff Jenkins, 5, 2000
Giants: Richie Sexson, 4, 2003
Marlins: Prince Fielder (2009, 2010, 2011), Mike Moustakas (2019)… 4 each
Mets: Carlos Lee (2005), Corey Hart (2010), Prince Fielder (2011)… 4 each
Nationals: Geoff Jenkins, 5, 2001
Padres: Geoff Jenkins (2003), Ryan Braun (2012)… 4 each
Phillies: Ryan Braun, 6, 2012
Pirates: Prince Fielder, 8, 2010
Reds: Eric Thames, 10, 2017
Rockies: Travis Shaw, 4, 2018
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Today’s Sportstat: February 3, 2020
Bucks hoping a win in Game #50 will be portend to the end of the season
The Milwaukee Bucks defeat of the Phoenix Suns on Sunday upped their record to 42-7 for the season.
The Bucks will go to New Orleans on Tuesday to face the Pelicans in Game #50 for the 2019-20 season. It may just be another game on the schedule, but a win putting the Bucks record at 43-7, 50 games into the season, may be just the omen the team is hoping for.
With a win on Tuesday the Bucks would become just the eighth team in league history to have 43 or more wins on their 50th game of the season. What makes this accomplishment all the more interesting is that of the seven teams that had 43 or more wins at Game #50, all seven went to the NBA Finals that season… and better yet, six of the seven actually won the title that season.
Here’s a look at the teams who on Game #50 of an NBA season had 43 or more wins.
Philadelphia, 1966-67, 46-4, won the title that season
Golden State, 2015-16, 46-4, lost in the NBA Finals that season
Chicago, 1995-96, 45-5, won the title that season
Chicago, 1996-97, 44-6, won the title that season
L.A. Lakers, 1971-72, 43-7, won the title that season
Philadelphia, 1982-83, 43-7, won the title that season
Golden State, 2016-17, 43-7, won the title that season
Should the Bucks lose to New Orleans on Tuesday, they would be 42-8 on their 50th game of the season. They would become the fifth team to have 42 wins at Game #50. The big difference, however, is that of the four teams that were 42-8 at the Game #50 milestone, only one made it to the NBA Finals that year.
Here are the four teams that were 42-8 and how well they did in the playoffs that season.
Boston, 1964-65, 42-8, won the title that season
Portland, 1977-78, 42-8. lost in the Western Conf. semifinals that season
San Antonio, 2010-11, 42-8, lost in the Western Conf. 1st round that season
San Antonio, 2015-16, 42-8, lost in the Western Conf. semifinals that season
The Bucks are hoping a victory for win #43 at the 50-game mark this season will be good luck like it was for the other seven teams who reached 43 or more wins at game #50 in a season.
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Today’s Sportstat: February 1, 2020
Super Bowl starting quarterbacks
Quick trivia quiz: Can you name the 12 QBs who have won two or more Super Bowls? Can you also name the eight starting QBs who lost two or more Super Bowls? Finally, who are the four starting quarterbacks that have won two or more Super Bowls and lost two or more Super Bowls?
Answers below.
Patrick Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo will be the starting QBs in this year’s Super Bowl, both making their first starting appearance in the big game.
For the Chiefs, this will be their third appearance in the Super Bowl. The starting QB in their other two Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowl I and IV) was Lenny Dawson. For the 49ers, Garoppolo becomes the fourth QB to start a Super Bowl for the franchise (Joe Montana, Steve Young, Colin Kaepernick). This is the 49ers seventh appearance in the Super Bowl.
Tom Brady has made the most Super Bowl starts for a QB with nine… he is followed by John Elway with five. Brady is one of 12 Super Bowl starting QBS with two or more wins in the Super Bowl. The list of Super Bowl QBs who won two or more:
6-Tom Brady
4-Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana
3-Troy Aikman
2-John Elway, Bob Griese, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Jim Plunkett, Ben Roethlisberger, Bart Starr, Roger Staubach
Of these 12 QBs who have won two or more Super Bowls, only Jim Plunkett is not in the Hall of Fame. Brady and Roethlisberger are still active; Eli Manning just retired, and Peyton has been retired for a couple of years.
There have also been eight starting QBs who have lost two or more Super Bowls. They are:
4-Jim Kelly
3-Tom Brady, John Elway, Fran Tarkenton
2-Peyton Manning, Craig Morton, Roger Staubach, Kurt Warner
The only quarterbacks to win two or more Super Bowls and lose two or more Super Bowls? Tom Brady, John Elway, Peyton Manning and Roger Staubach.
It’s interesting to note that there have been three times when a pair of QBs faced off against each other twice in the Super Bowl… Staubach and Bradshaw, Aikman and Kelly, and Brady and Eli Manning. The same QB won both games… Bradshaw, Aikman and Eli Manning.
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