Saturday Tighter, Yesterday Not So

The NHL and NBA ‘offs are well into first round play with one team NBA 68 wins/top ranked Oklahoma City (Thunder) having swept Memphis (Grizzlies) with 2 routs and 2 tough wins while after 5 of the 7 games involving a series not tied, resulted in a series trailing team win, yesterday 6 of 8 teams took seemingly commanding (3-1) series leads with road victories.

Thus in the NBA, certainly it is very likely to be top East seed Cleveland (Cavaliers) vs the Indiana Pacers and a 12th ‘offs clash between the only 2 original NBA teams that have stayed in one city (the Warriors of both Philadelphia and the San Francisco/Oakland area are the other NBA franchise that has played in all 79 seasons (1947-2025) and in fact have a (2-1) series lead vs Houston (Rockets) in a slower scheduled ‘offs first round entity) as both the defending and altogether 18 time champion Boston Celtics and New York Knicks (handing the Detroit Pistons a record tying 9th straight home ‘offs loss, tying a far better 4 year run of Philly Sixers teams, their streak starting with home losses in #’s 5 and 7 in 2 of the last 3 Wilt Chamberlain games as a “Philly” player as the Celtics down (3-1) overcame the Sixers on their way to a 10th crown in 12 seasons) took (3-1) first round series leads with road wins yesterday.

Then as I told the great director Chet Forte who did such for ABC/NBA telecasts, on my cable tv show in ’91, none of the last 3 games of that epic Celts/Sixers–Bill Russell vs Wilt were shown.

Now all ‘offs games are on and believe me none “hold a candle” to what the above referenced rivalry and history, (most (as in Johnny) in Boston’s favor), meant and the intense great action that manifested.