If you haven’t been following the NBA Playoffs, let’s get you caught up really quick!
Western Conference Semi-Finals!
#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 LA Lakers:
If you remember that this LA Laker team that virtually zero votes to get beyond the Houston Rockets in the previous round, we are not going to pretend they would even have a slight opportunity to even win 1 game in this matchup vs the defending champions in Oklahoma City. The Lakers actually showed up with a solid defensive game plan that kept them in these games longer than expected. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only able to put up 18 points in the home opener and it was interesting late in the 3rd quarter when the Thunders deep bench took over the game and the series. Would this be the last playoff series for Lebron James? I don’t believe so. The last game of his Laker career? I don’t believe this either, the man can still do work and give you 35-40 minutes a game when it matters, especially with roster missing an MVP Candidate in Luck Doncic.
#2 San Antonio Spurs vs #7 Minnesota Timberwolves:
The upstart San Antonio Spurs were finally going to get a real test from a known playoff contender and future assassin in Anthony Edwards. Even without a solid defender and 3 point artist in Dante Divincenzo, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to pull of a Game 1 heist in San Antonio. In a critical game 4 where the Spurs won 2 in a row for a 2-1 series lead, Victor Wembanyama was ejected for an intentional swinging elbow. Yet, this allowed Minnesota to muster up just one more win as the young and hungry dept of San Antonio would win the next two games sending Minnesota home in 6 games. As the Spurs are now proving to their hype is real and advance to the next round, where does this leave Minnesota as the young squad had previously made the previous two conference title rounds? We’ll have to find out when Anthony Edwards can fulfill a another playoff run with a better bill of health.
Eastern Conference Semi-Finals!
#3 Detroit Pistons vs #4 Cleveland Cavaliers:
A very interesting outlook of this series had me unsure of who I was rooting for and/or which team would prove to be for real? The young #1 seed Detroit Pistons clawed themselves back from the dead in a 3-1 series hole in the previous round. The promising Cleveland Cavaliers allowed things to become interesting in their 7 game series vs the Toronto Raptors. It appeared Detroit had learned a thing or two by jumping out to a 2-0 series lead vs a healthy combination of youth and veterans in the Cavaliers. Was this going to be it already for the Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Jazz? Did James Harden again, choose the wrong team to try and get back to a Conference Finals since 2019? No, both Mitchell and Harden would eventually prevail in 7 games vs a young and bright Detroit Piston team. I envision this Piston team to improve and hang around for a few years. This Cavalier team, it could be the last shot for a few guys on their own roster.
#4 New York Knicks vs #7 Philadelphia 76ers:
As much as I was impressed with the Philadelphia 76ers in the previous round by eliminating the #2 Boston Celtics, I actually had some hopes of a great series between two teams that embody some of the best sports towns in America. I’m still waiting for that series to begin. I think we all know how good this New York team has been for the past few years, especially since Jalen Brunson arrived, but to dispatch of a heavily experienced Philadelphia team in 4 games? Lots of discussions will definitely need to be had in the 76er organization. I would say that the rosters are evenly matched up as far as talent goes, but this New York team is a bit younger and bit hungrier. The Knicks are determined to finally get back to the NBA Finals and aren’t looking back. I imagine there’s a player on 76er team that should be looking ahead out of Philadelphia or they will be the next one to get caught up in the failed Process.
Crowd Noise Weekly 