About the only complaint you ever hear about Jeremy Lin, America’s favorite ex-Harvard hoopster, is that he turns the ball over too much. It’s a fair criticism. In seven of his nine starts, he’s had at least a half-dozen turnovers. Too many.
Of course, this hasn’t (usually) kept the Knicks from winning. It also hasn’t Lin from scoring 20 or more points in eight of those games. Indeed, in two victories, Jeremy turned it over eight times – but made up for it by pumping in 28 and 27 points.
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Which got me thinking: What’s the most points a player has scored in a victory … in which he also had eight or more turnovers? My research (I went back to 1990) produced some interesting results – with a decidedly local flavor. For one thing, Gilbert Arenas’ name turned up twice. Also on the list were Bernard King, David Robinson (the former Navy Midshipman), Allen Iverson (the erstwhile Georgetown legend), Chris Webber (during his Kings days) and Jerry Stackhouse (during his Sixers years). Pretty good representation in the Top 20. The specifics:
● David Robinson, Spurs vs. Clippers, April 24, 1994 – 71 points, 8 turnovers. Won, 112-97. Yes, in the game of his life, one that clinched the scoring title for him (29.8 points a game), Robinson turned it over eight times.
● Jamal Mashburn, Mavericks vs. Bulls, Nov. 12, 1994 – 50 points, 8 turnovers. Won, 124-120.
● Allen Iverson, Nuggets vs. Sonics, Dec. 28, 2006 – 44 points, 9 turnovers. Won, 112-98.
● LeBron James, Cavaliers vs. Hornets, March 28, 2005 – 44 points, 10 turnovers. Won, 109-108.
● Gilbert Arenas, Wizards vs. Kings, Feb. 22, 2007 – 43 points, 9 turnovers. Won, 109-106.
● Kobe Bryant, Lakers vs. Bulls, Dec. 15, 2009 – 42 points, 8 turnovers. Won, 96-87.
● Dwyane Wade, Heat vs. Raptors, March 6, 2009 – 42 points, 8 turnovers. Won, 108-102.
● Wade, Heat vs. Cavaliers, Feb. 1, 2007 – 41 points, 12 turnovers. Won, 92-89.
● Arenas, Warriors vs. Wizards, March 23, 2003 – 41 points, 8 turnovers. Won, 113-107. In other words, Agent Zero accomplished the feat with the Wizards and against the Wizards. Gotta love him.
● Shaquille O’Neal, Lakers vs. Kings, April 14, 2000 – 41 points, 8 turnovers. Won, 121-114.
Click here for the second 10, if you’re curious.
Anyway, as Lin and all these other guys have shown, eight turnovers aren’t necessarily a killer – as long as you have a big offensive night. The bigger, the better … right, Admiral?
