Six of the eight NBA and NHL quarterfinal series currently stand (2-1), one was (3-0) now (3-1), the other is (1-1).
In the N.B.A. , all four “quarters” are (2-1), with home advantage teams, the top ranked Boston Celtics and East second seed New York Knicks ahead, vs the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers respectively, while sans home advantage, Dallas (Mavericks) vs West top seed, and Oklahoma City (Thunder) and Minnesota (Timberwolves) against defending champion (Denver) also have the aforementioned (2-1) quarterfinal series leads.
In the N.H.L. , The President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers got an overtime goal from Artemi Panarin to win #3 at series favorite/lower seed Carolina (Hurricanes) to go up (3-0) and now lead (3-1), while the home advantage team/ big series underdog, Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers exchanged one goal wins in “Van,” and now go to Edmonton, with their “quarter” tied (1-1).
Both the Florida Panthers vs the Boston Bruins and Dallas Stars vs Colorado (Avalanche) bounced back to win games 2 and 3, the latter on the road after dropping game 1 at home.
Speaking of home losses, 29 of the 32 ‘offs teams have already lost at home in these ‘offs.
The Orlando Magic will not, but were eliminated in the first round in an all home team wins series, by Cleveland (Cavaliers), leaving the aforementioned top ranked New York Rangers and Indiana Pacers, each (4-0), as the lone undefeated teams at home, with no team unbeaten home and away in these ‘offs.
The Celtics, by far the most likely NBA team to advance, despite another #2 series/home loss that yielded “balloons,” once had 16 of the NBA’s 40 crowns (1947-1986) but have won only one, that in ’08 in the 37 completed NBA seasons since that time.
Why Moses Malone, who died far too young at age 60, beside the fact he was an NBA great?
The Celts pattern in their series vs big underdogs, Miami (Heat) and Cleveland (Cavaliers) evokes memories of the ’81 NBA final when they 6’d Houston (Rockets) and the great Mr. Malone.
Then as in the 2 series these 43 years later, Boston eased in game 1 at home but lost #2 only to win easily in a Saturday game 3 on the road.
There is mucho I can type and same regarding literal and figurative tears, however, let’s keep it about great players dying, tops or near so at their positions, as is the case with SF #37, defensive back Jimmy Johnson, who died days back, at age 86.
Johnson was a first team NFL All Pro selection for 4 straight seasons (’69-’72) and had many other honors. The real often unseen and unheralded greatness of Johnson at his position was he was so respected, teams rarely threw at him or in his direction.
Maybe, right now Jimmy and his great brother Rafer Johnson, who died 4 years ago along with Rafer’s competitor and more important, friend C.K. Yang, Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson and Marty Glickman are discussing that when (my) so called internet “homepage” opened, it did so with a picture of the let’s face it, far more famous football coach, Jimmy Johnson in regard to a Hall of Famer dying.
The Niners Jimmy Johnson played 16 seasons, two on offense, and as stated above but worth repeating regarding this wonderful defender, was so great, that teams did not throw vs him very often, if at all. In the words of SF quarterback, John Brodie ask the top ones of the day, Bart Starr and John Unitas about that.
In later years he had a cast on his arm making him even more intimidating great!
Within a year, the two best running backs in my opinion, but if you count college barely arguably, Jim and O.J. and now another with J, two J’s, Jimmy Johnson, who was as great as any defensive back, have died.
C.K. Yang and Rafer showed great sportsmanship, the friends embracing after Rafer won the decathalon, with Yang second, at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
In my 1986 interview with the great broadcaster, Marty Glickman, himself denied an Olympics opportunity by complicity to the host country and its leader’s horrible actions and feelings regarding Jewish people (talk about understating it!!), lamented the 1980 and 1984 Olympic boycotts, by the U.S. and Soviet Union respectively.
The comradery and sportsmanship of Yang and Rafer were cited by me. Marty liked that.
Few know it and the greatness of Jimmy Johnson # 37, (in those days I and many like me, knew the #’s and adored a far less exposed football) is incredibly understated.
Two more greats, the aforementioned Bart Starr and John Unitas might be saying– Jimmy Johnson can play in our game up here, but we are still not going to throw at him or even in his direction very often, if at all!
Left to right, above Jimmy Johnson #37 defending vs the fine receiver, #18 Ben Hawkins of the Philadelphia Eagles and alone.
Sadly Ben Hawkins, (I think you can see he played without snapping in his chin strap, another wonderful memory/trivia note), died far too young at age 73. He might be in that game up there as well.
Last night the two NHL ‘offs tilts resulted in (4-3) overtime scores, while much more improbably, the two NBA games manifested in 95 points scored by the losing team with 120 and 117 by the respective winning teams.
“The President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers rose to (6-0) in these playoffs, overcoming a meaningful deficit, in fact (2-1) and (3-2), after leading (1-0), for the first time, on Chris Kreider’s tying goal before winning in the second overtime to go up (2-0) vs the series “faves, the Carolina Hurricanes.”The President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers rose to (6-0) in these playoffs, overcoming a meaningful deficit, in fact (2-1) and (3-2), after leading (1-0), for the first time, on Chris Kreider’s tying goal, before riding Vincent Trocheck’s winning goal in the second overtime, to go up (2-0) vs the series “faves, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Meanwhile in the Western Conference ‘offs, the 2022 champion Colorado Avalanche overcame a (3-0) deficit after one period while the game was on the backup channel, and roared back to hand the West top seed and overall second such, Dallas Stars, their 6th consecutive series opening game defeat.
The great player, Nathan MacKinnon tied the game in the third period, before Miles Wood won it in the first overtime.
Both NBA conference top seeds cruised in their “quarters” openers, the heavily favored, top ranked Boston Celtics (120-95) vs approximate, 10 to 1 series underdog, Cleveland (Cavaliers), while the Oklahoma City Thunder, only very slight series favorites, won (117-95) vs the Dallas Mavericks, as both Dallas ‘offs teams lost last in their “quarters” opening games.
Vincent Trocheck, pictured above.
Both the Sunday home teams, the NHL Dallas Stars, who had lost the first two games at home vs the defending champion, Las Vegas Golden Knights and Cleveland Cavaliers in an all home series vs the Orlando Magic, advanced to the quarterfinal round, with game 7 wins.
The Stars won a series for just the second time after losing its first two tilts, the previous one in their first NHL series, an NHL “quarter”/expansion Western Division semi-final vs the L.A. Kings in 1968.
Five “quarters” games have been played thus far and the big story is that the Minnesota Timberwolves won both games at defending champion, Denver, the second one last night in a devastating (104-80) rout.
That result, among “else,” means the defending champions lost on 3 straight nights.
The Golden Knights were eliminated in a (2-1) loss and after winning the first two at Dallas, vs the Stars nee Minnesota North Stars. Denver now after losing the first two games at home goes to Minnesota for games 3 and 4 vs the Timberwolves.
Elsewhere, Jalen Brunson joined Mr. Jordan and Bernard King, behind only Jerry West (6) (please Brian Anderson, cite him as Jerry West not as “The logo,”) with a 4th straight 40 or more points playoffs tilt in a (121-117) Knicks “quarters” opening game win vs Indiana (Pacers).
The game 1 winner won all 7 previous Pacers/Knicks series, “Indy” 4 times all in best of 7 series, (once in a “semi” before being 6’d by the first of 5 Kobe Bryant Lakers’ title teams) and the Knicks thrice, twice in semis, before title round losses in ’94 (alas O.J. ran so well in football, “ran” in ’94 with both the Knicks and eventual champion New York Rangers making big ‘offs “runs” and these 30 years later, the Knicks and Rangers are up (1-0) in their “quarters,” already qualifying as an ‘offs “RUN.”
While the aforementioned Rangers scored 4 goals, never trailing and holding off series favorite, but lower seed, Carolina (Hurricanes) in their late Sunday afternoon opener, the Bruins again down (1-0) won (4-1) at Florida vs the Panthers in their quarterfinal series opening game.
In that only other Stars, then the North Stars and Minnesota based, series win after losing the first two games, it was Cesare Maniago, pictured above in goal for the franchise.
Once again and for the fourth consecutive series, the Boston Bruins won a home 7th and deciding game vs the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last night’s game was the third straight (2-1) game, a second into overtime and the first one Boston won but win they did, as David Pastrnak, an interview subject just before the game (the sound you hear is Vince Lombardi rolling over in his grave, but alas, one must adapt, (see or read Mr. Darwin) even to the lesser, it would appear) scored in the first two minutes of overtime.
Hampus Lindholm was another game star, scoring the so important tying goal just 1:21 after Wil Nylander “opened” for the second straight game, doing so just shy of the third period’s halfway point, and setting up Pastrnak’s “gamer,” with a diagonal play that was both beautifully executed, however, aided by bad “Tor” defense and goaltending.
Lindholm is not related to the Canucks’ Elias Lindholm, the latter a subject of trade rumors to the Bruins. Another Bruins/Canucks link, each in the “qtrs,” for the first time since Boston won another game 7, that one in Vancouver, to claim their lone crown in the last 50 completed NHL seasons (1973-2023, with no NHL season in 2005).
It was only game 1 of their NBA quarterfinal series , however, after Anthony Edwards hit for 43 points in the Minnesota Timberwolves win at defending champion, Denver (Nuggets) (The Nuggets are just (2-4) ATS in these ‘offs), the series is now considered even, odds wise (maybe not so wise?!).
Meanwhile another Minnesota “T” team, the Twins have reeled off 12 consecutive wins and stand at (19-13), second to (21-12) Cleveland (Guardians) in the surprisingly 4 teams over .500 (the White Sox are (6-26) A.L. Central Division (“Cleve” was denied most March/April wins, dissipating late inning leads, in their April 28th and 30th games, the latter when pinch-hitter Victor Carantini lashed a 2 out, 2RHR lifting Houston (10-9) over the Guardians of Cleveland, which among other things, denied the so often winning, Gill Alexander a 65:1 “most March/April” wins and apparently his VSiN audience, finally learning the location of his/a great sushi establishment, in Sin City/Las Vegas.
Anthony Edwards, pictured above.
Tonight in Boston and to be telecast on ABC, with “localer,” Sean McDonough, a fourth consecutive 7 game series, between the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, will be completed.
Boston prevailed in the previous such games, all at home (2013, 2018 and 2019) coming back from a 3 goal third period deficit in the last 6 minutes, (in ’13) and winning in overtime, on a goal by a superb player, named Patrice Bergeron. (Picture below).
The Bruins have won 6 straight series from the Leafs, the three maximum games series cited above and three that totaled just one game more than the minimum 12, 4 game sweeps in ’69 and ’74 and a 5 game triumph, in route to a second crown in 3 seasons, in ’72.
Boston and Toronto have just one title in the 50 completed NHL seasons (’73-2023, no season in ’05) since that Bruins, with Bobby Orr crown in 1972, that won by the Bruins in 7 vs the Vancouver Canucks (the 2024 Canucks are into the “quarters” in a non-bubble season, for the first time since 2011, when they lost game 7 of the final round to the New York Rangers — the Rangers, Panthers and Canucks won their regular season “div” titles and will have home advantage vs the Hurricanes, Bruins/Leafs winner and Oilers respectively in the upcoming “quarters,” while “div” winner Dallas (Stars) has been forced into a first round/7th game game, vs defending champion, Las Vegas (Golden Knights). The winner of that tilt, tomorrow will face the 2022 champion, Colorado Avalanche).
Toronto has not reached the NHL final, no less won it, since winning a 4th title in 6 seasons (’62-’64 and ’67), which puts those teams, guided by George “Punch” Imlach in rare, great air.
The Leafs last series win vs the Bruins was clinched in game 7/’59 semis, at Boston, in the then, glorious, 6 team NHL semi-final round. A beyond great, Montreal Canadiens team won the fourth of a record five straight Stanley Cup titles, “5’ing” the Leafs in the subsequent NHL final.
Each team has 8 series wins in this storied ‘offs rivalry. Toronto amassed 4 in non best of 7 series (’33,’35,’36 and ’38) none of which were in title winning seasons. (Note: the ’36 series was the only one of the four that was not a semi-final and was decided in favor of the Leafs by an 8 goals scored to 6 margin).
Toronto won “semis” vs Boston in title seasons thrice within four seasons (’48, ’49 and ’51) and as cited above lost in the final after their last series win vs Boston (’59 semis).
The two other Boston series triumphs vs Toronto occurred in final rounds, in two of the first 3 NHL best of 7 such, in 1939 and 1941.
Patrice Bergeron (#37), pictured and cited above had the game winning overtime goal that capped an also above cited, incredible Bruins’ comeback win in #7 vs Toronto in 2013.
Tyler Seguin (#19) and Brad Marchand (#63) and the only remaining Bruins’ player from the ’11 title team are also pictured.
Six cities/areas had playoff qualifying teams in both the NHL and NBA, two such city/areas, New York and Los Angeles, getting 3 teams into post-season play.
Los Angeles, the beneficiary of less than complete titles resulting from the pandemic earlier in this now almost half gone decade with the Dodgers and Lakers in 2020, is “LAG”ging (L.A.’s airport is “X,” one in New York, named for Fiorello La Guardia is “LAG”) as within 3 days, both the Lakers and Kings were ousted in 5 games.
LA’s other ‘offs team, the NBA Clippers were routed in L.A. by Dallas (Mavericks) and trail their first round series (3-2), with #6 in Dallas tomorrow night.
New York’s top ranked Rangers are into the “quarters,” and perhaps surprisingly, are slight underdogs, despite having home ice advantage vs the Carolina Hurricanes. Meanwhile the NBA Knicks take a (3-2) series lead into Philly (will the crowd be filled with Knicks fans as was the case in #4 there?) for game 6 tonight. The ‘Canes 5’d the other New York area playoff team, the Islanders in first round play.
Denver, Colorado or Denver/Colorado has their two teams into the quarters, the defending champion to face the Minnesota Timberwolves beginning Saturday night on ABC, after 5’ing the Lakers. Meanwhile the 2022 NHL champion, Avalanche 5’d the Winnipeg Jets.
Boston and Dallas also have advantages toward getting two teams into the “quarters,” as respectively the top ranked Celtics 5’d the Miami Heat while the Bruins, up (3-1), now lead Toronto (Maple Leafs) 3 games to 2, with #6 in Toronto tonight, meanwhile the two Dallas teams won in games 5 last night, the Stars at home vs defending champion Las Vegas (Golden Knights) and the Mavs, as cited in L.A. vs the Clippers, to take (3-2) first round series leads.
The other city/area with 2 or more ‘offs teams, Miami,Florida or Miami/Florida got the NHL Panthers into the “qtrs,” as they 5’d Tampa Bay (Lightning) while the Heat were 5’d by the Celtics.
Thus, with 5 series germane to this “discussion,” at (3-2) either way, the other 5 city/areas have “advanced” a combined 5 teams (Celtics, Nuggets, Rangers, Panthers and Avalanche) and add another four (the Stars, Bruins, Knicks and Mavericks) with (3-2) leads. Only two teams from those 5 city/areas have been eliminated in ‘offs play (the Islanders and Heat).
Two L.A. teams, the Lakers and Kings are out while the Clippers are 8 point(s) underdogs, in #6 at Dallas vs the Mavericks, “just” to force a game 7.
Dallas Stars’ goaltender, Jake Oettinger (pronounced a la longtime public service figure/Congressman Richard Ottinger, who is now 95) pictured above, made a brilliant, late game save on Las Vegas player Chandler Stephenson to preserve a (3-2) #5 Dallas win and yield a (3-2) Stars’ series lead.
Last night, six days shy of 55 years later in another Monday night game, the Lakers, once so loved by me, that no longer the case, were eliminated from the NBA ‘offs, by the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets, again with a (108-106) final score.
Jamal Murray, for the second straight Monday night in Denver, hit the decisive shot (this with 3 seconds left tied, last week at the game’s literal end, also tied) as the defending champion Nuggets rose to (8-1) vs L.A. (the Lakers and yes, Leb James, who now ponders jumping teams yet again, for the most part, very well, respectively leading for three fourths of the series minutes and averaging nearly 30 points per tilt) in the last 2 playoff seasons and are now (2-7) all-time in ‘offs series. (Note: the Lakers/Nuggets series winner has gone on to 6 NBA final rounds, winning 5 (4 by the Lakers including one not so dignified one in a bubble) after the previous 8 such series.
Last night’s defending champion win was only a first round clinching game, juxtaposed with the Boston Celtics (108-106) win in #7, for “all the marbles,” in what was the last game for greats, Bill Russell and Sam Jones, giving the Celtics an incredible, likely never to be matched or certainly topped 11th title in 13 seasons–11 for “Russ” and 10 for Sam, who still gets so much less credit as he is one of the greatest clutch performers in any sport—
I “mourned” that night, however 19 years later when “my” still Lakers won (108-105) vs an already great and certainly to be such, Detroit Pistons team at the L.A. Forum on summer’s first night, I was fortunate to see the great Jerry West, he who lost so many to the Celtics and yes, twice to the now looming? Knicks, and noted the eerily similar score, in favor of the first repeat NBA champion since those ’69 Celtics.
Ahead? Likely the top ranked Celtics, though Mr. Porzingas left last night’s “cover/all tease” win at Miami to take (3-1) command? and East “2” Knicks will meet 50 years after their last semi clash, which was won in 5 by the Celtics, vs the defending champion Knicks in “same calendar” 1974.
Denver now is over a 2 to 1 quarterfinal series favorite, vs the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves. The latter team, the NBA West “3” (Denver is the “2” with home advantage, the “1” seed, also upstart Oklahoma City Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans and await the Clippers/Mavs series winner. Only 3 of the 16 first round series were/are (2-2), two involving Dallas teams, the aforementioned Mavericks and the NHL West top seed Stars vs defending champion Las Vegas (Golden Knights),– Wolves advanced in the ‘offs for just the second time in their 12 ‘offs appearances.
This, the day after Sunday’s 8 ‘offs games results yielded 7 victories by both the series leading and road team, only 2 of the 14 series that have completed 4 games, (none in the NHL) stand at 2 games apiece.
Two series (one with the top ranked Boston Celtics leading the Miami Heat and the defending champion Las Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the West top seed, Dallas Stars) are at (2-1).
Only the L.A. Clippers, who actually dissipated a 31 point lead, among the 8 series trailing teams in action yesterday, won and their series vs the Dallas Mavericks, joins the “all home thus far,” Cleveland Cavaliers/Orlando Magic encounter, as the only two (2-2) first round series.
Both the top Ranked New York Rangers and NBA West 3 seed, Minnesota Timberwolves completed 4 game sweeps winning on the road at Washington (Capitals) and terribly disappointing Phoenix (Suns).
Elsewhere the New York Knicks (at Philadelphia 76ers), Indiana Pacers (the lone 4/28 home win, it vs the still Giannis Antetokounmpo less Milwaukee Bucks) NHL Colorado Avalanche (at Winnipeg), Vancouver Canucks (a rare citing of individual details but I do so regarding Elias Lindholm’s OT winner in #4 taking a beautiful pass from Conor Garland and Brock Boeser had the “hat trick”) and Edmonton Oilers in a highly unlikely (1-0) tilt at L.A. vs the Kings, all took seemingly commanding 3 games to 1, first round series advantages.
Jalen Brunson, pictured above, broke Bernard King’s 40 year old Knicks’ team record for points in an ‘offs game, hitting for 47, one more than the total achieved twice by King in the ’82 playoffs.
It did not take long after the first 6 NHL ‘offs games went to the home team for the seemingly inevitable “every team loses at least once at home” maxim to manifest.
The “maxim” has now already “claimed” nearly three quarters (11) of the 16 playoff qualifying teams in just 23 games.
After the aforementioned (0-6) start, the road team is (12-5) in these ‘offs with 6 of the 7 lower seeded game 3 home teams losing in #3. At one point the road team was just (2-10), however a current (10-1) run has them at (12-11).
In ’70 and ’72 the Boston Bruins won the title (they have won one in the 50 completed NHL seasons since then) going (7-0) at home in ’70 and (6-2) in ’72. They are the only current East Conference, series leader that has a home loss.
The top ranked New York Rangers, plurality Cup favorite Carolina Hurricanes, last year’s league runner up Florida (Panthers) and the last 2 title winners, 2022 champion Colorado (Avalanche) and defending title holder Las Vegas (Golden Knights) are the five teams without a home loss.
The three East teams cited above, the Rangers, Hurricanes and Panthers have (3-0) first round series leads while Colorado won #3 at home (the only lower seed to do so) vs Winnipeg (Jets) to take a (2-1) series lead.
Defending champion, but West “8” seed, Las Vegas plays their first home tilt tonight, after two wins at Dallas, vs the league overall “2” seed, Dallas Stars.
Andy B Sports 