NBA And NHL Playoffs Update

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.