“Quarters Report/Forecast” (8-0) Thunder/Hurricanes, Also Knicks 7 Straight Wins And Sweeps Notes

The top ranked defending champion, Oklahoma City Thunder completed a 4 game sweep of the L.A. Lakers (-11 plus) (115-110) in #4 in Los Angeles. “City” (0-8) ATS in road ‘offs tilts, however 2025 champions, are (8-0) and I believe (6-2) in these ‘offs, after handing the Lakers an eleventh sweep loss, nine (those over rated #’s and certainly over publicized event, of course unless it was “micro” to you) in best of 7 series, (thus (4-0).

The best of 5’s occurring ten years apart in ’57 and ’67, the former in a semi to the St. Louis Hawks, the latter to the then S.F. Warriors in a quarter. Both the Hawks and Warriors lost in the final round in those years, the former to the first of Bill Russell’s 11 titles, all with the Celtics, the latter to the first of what were only two Wilt Chamberlain crowns, that one with a record breaking 76ers team, the other with an also record breaking Lakers’ team in ’72).

Oklahoma City/Seattle SuperSonics franchise was swept by the Lakers thrice with this being a first “City” franchise sweep of the Lakers.

Meanwhile, the New York Knicks, winning games 3 and 4 (game 1 also) so easily, on the anniversaries of each of their 2 NBA crowns, swept the Sixers for a second time (Philly swept them in both the ’78 and ’83 “quarters,” the latter in route to their last title), having done so previously in the best of three/’89 prelims.

All even are the franchises in ‘offs entities, as the Knicks have won three straight series (’26, ’24 “Quarters” and ’89 prelims) after losing the first three ‘offs entities vs the Sixers (the above cited Philly sweeps in ’78 and ’83 and their 6 game “quarters” win in ’68.

For the record, the Knicks/Sixers nee Syracuse Nationals ‘offs mark stands at (5-5) with a (2-0) “quarters equivalent,” going (I wish I had gone to Syracuse and I had the requisite grades, alas the “slats,” sick ghosting, that could have and what might have been sadness) the Nationals way in ’59 (as a response to his sick ghosting, ode to Bing, (not, but I love Dave), Crosby and one day the cryptic will become more, if not entirely clear).

As noted in a previous post and in this one’s headline, the Carolina Hurricanes are “semis” entrants for the fifth time (2-3) in previous, having gone (8-0) this far in the ‘offs.They await the winner of the Sabres/Canadiens quarter, which Montreal (Canadiens) leads (2-1) with #4 tonight in Montreal, Canada.

Elsewhere and brief, the NHL top ranked ‘Lanche (Colorado Avalanche) exploded in the 3rd period to (5-2) the Minnesota Wild to take a (3-1) “quarters” lead with that series winner to face the Las Vegas (Golden Knights)/Anaheim (Ducks) series winner in the NHL semis/Western Conference Final. Currently “L.V. , ” tonight’s host in #5 and “An” are tied at two games apiece.

NBA where the Thunder and Knicks are in the semis, in which they will be the favorites, the other 2 “quarters” stand (2-2), those being Detroit/Cleveland in an all home with #5 in Detroit tomorrow night and #6 in “Cleve,” where the Cavs are (6-0) in these ‘offs–remember every ‘offs team almost always loses at least one at home but so far Oklahoma City and Carolina, each (4-0) and the just cited Cavs have not. Noting Orlando (Magic) (I did not go to the show) went (3-0) at home but were 7’d by Cleve in the prelims— and higher ranked San Antonio (Spurs)/Minnesota (Timberwolves).