Chris Paul Leads The Same Calendar Suns To Their 3rd NBA Final

Last night Chris Paul, in his 16th season and now to his first final, hit for 41 points as the Phoenix Suns 6’d the first time ever in the semis, L.A. Clippers, nee Buffalo Braves with a devastating (130-103) rout in a “Catholic School” Breen tilt.

Phoenix will be making its third NBA final appearance, each in a same calendar year (’76 and ’93 were the others) and will meet the winner of the extend Marv Albert’s career semis between the opening series heavy favored Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks, whose game 4 home win was just their third in 17 NBA semis tilts, which is tied at two games apiece.

On a night Tampa or “Champa” Bay became overwhelming favorites for a third city/area title amidst its 3 teams’ four straight final round appearances, L.A. denied in hockey and “pig” after baseball and basketball “bubble” or non venue crowns last year, has now been denied in basketball.

Meanwhile the Suns, like the Canadiens, in their first final since ’93, are now a slightly high, as they are there vs a still undetermined opponent, (-210) “fave,” juxtaposed with the Canadiens (also a finalist in ’76 and winners in said final rounds in ’76 and ’93, going an incredible (28-5) in tilts while the Suns (0-2) in previous final rounds were 6’d each time, first by the Jo Jo White led Celtics in ’76 and by the Michael Jordan vs the king of over rated Charles Barkley and the Suns in ’93. A little less vitriol will spill, as the names “Jo Jo” and “Bailey” for Joan’s family dogs evoked Jesse’s Celtics’ reference to White and Bailey Howell), who down (2-0) to “Champa” Bay are say 10 to 1 underdogs.

Chris Paul, pictured above, as a Clippers’ player.