Some More Playoffs Notes You Will Not Find Anywhere Else

I have not said enough good things about the Golden State Warriors’ (67-15) regular season and their (83-20) record which includes the playoffs), that culminated in their first title in 40 years.

They were truly great going from first round elimination under coach Mark Jackson last year, to a title under first year coach Steve Kerr this year.

The “link” between the two title teams in the winter sports leagues the NHL Chicago Blackhawks and the NBA Warriors is Golden state coach Steve Kerr, who won 5 titles as a player.

He won three of those titles as a Chicago player. The other two were with the San Antonio Spurs.

Also both the Warriors and Blackhawks won games 1 , 4 , 5 , and 6 in the finals. This is just the second time both the NBA and NHL champions won the exact numbered games in the finals series, that went at least six games, in the 68 possible seasons starting in 1947, (there being no NHL season or playoffs in 2005).

The other time was 2008 when the NBA Boston Celtics and NHL Detroit Red wings each won games 1 , 2 , 4 , and 6 to win titles.

Finally this stretch: Certainly it is noteworthy that as coaches and in the case of Pat Riley as a team executive, that Phil Jackson or Pat Riley were part of an incredible 25 of the 33 NBA finals contested from (1982-2014).

Perhaps one can say a Riley, in this case Warriors’ star Stephen Curry’s daughter, was a part of this one. Alas one might also say Pat Riley after being jilted by LeBron James’ move back to Cleveland again had a successful rooting interest in the NBA finals.

Steve Kerr