The stunning season ending injury to Notre Dames Natalie Achonwa, who is so valuable, doesnt mean ND still cant get it done. Go back to 1980. The Lakers vs a loaded 76ers team in the NBA Finals. In Game 5 of the Best of 7, Kareem Abdul Jabbar - the MVP of the NBA and the man who would become the all time leading scorer in NBA history - went down with a severely sprained ankle. He hobbled through the end of the game to help them win and go up 3 games to 2, but did not travel with LA to Philly for Game 6. He probably wouldnt have played Game 7, the injury was so bad. What happened? The others stepped up, just like the Irish will have to do. In what was probably the best game of his basketball career, point guard Magic Johnson started at Center, played all 5 positions, scored 42 points, had a game-high 15 rebounds, and handed out 7 assists. He took his game to a new level. And, he was just 20 years old. While Magic has always said people go goo goo gah gah over his game, he points out Jamaal Wilkes stepped up to a whole new level with 37 points. Jim Chones, who was a journeyman player for the Lakers, played lights out defense on monstrously talented 76er center Darryl Dawkins. Average player Mark Landsberger came off the bench to get all sorts of rebounds. Brad Holland, who rode the bench all season, came on to score 8 important points. The Lakers stunned the 76ers 123-107 in that Game 6 to win the NBA championship. Kayla McBride will have to pull a bit of a Magic Johnson, and Jewell Loyd a Jamaal Wilkes. Someone on the bench will have to be Brad Holland. It can be done, but they are going to have to raise their game. Like Kareem was the Most Valuable Player on that Lakers team and in the entire NBA, Natalie has probably been NDs most valuable.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:04:45 +0000
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