L.A. “LAG”– “X”D Out And Down In These Playoffs

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.