Khris Middleton hit for 32 points and the Milwaukee Bucks scored 118 points, the same number they scored in game 4 of the ’71 final, to claim their lone title, winning (118-107) over the Atlanta Hawks, to advance to their first final since 1974.
When the Bucks titled in ’71, it was in an eerily similar, (118-106) win vs the then Baltimore Bullets.
Now they face, the also now (3-7) in semis, Phoenix Suns, the latter a 6 point and 9 to 5 series “fave,” in a final between the two ’68-’69 expansion teams, who had the famed coin flip won by the Bucks, who gained the great player Lew Alcindor/Kareem Abdul Jabbar.
Only me: There have now been 64 seasons of two best of 7 semi-final series and this year and ’92 (Bulls over the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers over the Jazz) are the only one in which both were clinched in road team game 6 victories.
Khris Middleton, pictured above. The Hawks, a truly good story and a good, non bet by me, wagering proposition in 2021, remain a woeful semi failure at (0-4) in series and the “reverse Ron Perranoski ’63 record,” of (3-16) in semis games.
The Tampa Bay Lightning by virtue of a second straight year Friday night final round win that was their third in the entity, are almost certain to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions and a 7 to 5 favorite to complete the first Cup final sweep since 1998.
Tyler Johnson, somehow with the excellent T.B. coach, Jon Cooper for 10 straight seasons, had 2 goals while greats, Nikita Kucherov and last year’s Conn Smythe winner, Victor Hedman each had a goal and an assist in the Lightning “doubling” of the Montreal Canadiens (6-3) in #3, giving the defending champions a truly commanding (3-0) final round lead.
Last year in the “Edmonton bubble, the Lightning won a game 4 Friday night final round tilt on Kevin Shattenkirk’s (he is no longer with T.B, however, Pat Maroon still is. Mr. Maroon is almost certain to play on a third Cup winner in 3 seasons, the first with the Blues and the next 2 with the Lightning. I know Bill Skowron, with the somewhat similar sounding to Maroon, nickname of “Moose,” played on 2 straight Yankees’ title teams and then on the ’63 Dodgers who swept the Yankees in the W.S) overtime goal to take a (3-1) final round lead. The “tail wags the dog” schedule called for a game 5 the next night, which Dallas won to force a 6th game, on the following Monday.
The Lightning won their second title that Monday night, each won on a Monday. They will seek a third “Monday clinched title” 2 days hence as this year, “wag the dog” yielded an extra day off, though #4, as was the case with #3, will be played before 3500 fans in Montreal.
Tyler Johnson, pictured above.
The Milwaukee Bucks, hoping to join the Phoenix Suns with a (3-7) semis record in the upcoming NBA final, took a (3-2) series lead in a semi or final for the first time in 5 such tilts last night, easing vs the now (3-15) in semis, Atlanta Hawks, in a home tilt last night.
They lost #5 of a (2-2) semi at L.A. vs the great ’72 Lakers (the Bucks were also a tremendous team that season and essentially in Lew Alcindor/Kareem’s first 5 seasons ’70 -’74) and to Toronto (Raptors) just 2 years ago. Both the Lakers, arguably the NBA’s greatest champion and the Raptors, quite the opposite 6’d the Bucks and went on to their first titles in that still current venue.
In both the ’01 semi vs the Sixers of Philly and the ’74 final vs the Celts of Boston, Milwaukee lost 35 of a (2-2) series and were beaten in game 7.
The #6 loss to the Lakers on April 22, 1972 coincided with an Astros at Giants tilt, in which Fran Healy the Giants’ catcher withstood a collision with Doug Rader, to apply the tag for an out, denying Tom Helms an rbi single.
Healy was born 2 years after Rader in 1946 and hit .250 lifetime while Rader, who once won 5 straight Gold Gloves for N.L. third baseman, hit .251 for his career.
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.
The defending champion, Tampa Bay Lightning rode the brilliant goaltending of Andrei Vasilevskiy (40 saves on 41 Montreal shots) and a perhaps even more brilliant goal by Blake Coleman, a “backbreaker vs Montreal,” with ONE SECOND remaining in the second period, to (3-1) Montreal and take a (2-0) final round lead.
Per the headline, the Lightning, in their first (2-0) final as the other 3 were (1-1), have won the first two and now are say 12 to 1 “faves” (I gave in as always, called “Bell” Oh I can’t understand it “Mr. Watson” as to why others have, some worthy, but most not, while I HAVE NOT–and he and Ms. Alvari have TB and over 6 to 1 to “title”) to strike again, in the form of a repeat crown.
Anthony Cirelli, who OT’d the Isles out with an overtime in #6/2020 semis and assisted on Yanni Gourde’s “only and shorthanded goal” that 7’d them in this year’s semis, “opened,” a terrible sign for the low scoring Canadiens (they had squared their last 4 final round openers with game 2 wins, going on to win 3 of those series, all 3 series wins with 4 straight wins after the opening game loss) and their good but vastly over rated netminder Carey Price (Charlie Hodge, Rogo Vachon, not to mention Lorne “Gump” Worsley, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy and Jacques Plante have titles, Price likely never will get one even if NBC and its “not allowing Canada” policy/fix, will relinquish its telecasts, unfortunately not before “allowing” “Lucky Sperm Club,”Kenny Albert to call one, after this one).
After the Habs, who before involvement in the 4 straight (1-1) final rounds, had been in 7 straight and 9 of 10 that were (2-0), tied the tilt on Suzuki’s goal, Coleman, who had the insurance goal in last year’s title clincher, with help from Barclay Goodrow, who made a great pass, scored his incredible goal. Game over, likely series over, Bell wins, I lose!
“B”lake Coleman, pictured above. Another “B’ as in “B”rayden Point, Tampa “B’ay’s “B”rady and “B”ucs. Add “B”iden as President (he likely will win his “bet” on the final with Mr. Trudeau, also what a betting winner this current President is!),”B”ama and “B”aylor as college champions and others.
It was clear and in front of me, though I tried not to watch, that a crime and wrong doing was done, in the case of George Floyd’s death.
However, though I feel the verdict was just, I take no pleasure in seeing the man go to jail.
Today people seem upset Bill Cosby, a truly talented, bright entertainer, but, as with all of us flawed human being, about whom my aesthetic fluctuated, seeing him as so cool (Cosby yes or no, nada is “cool” on this sweltering day) on “The Bill Cosby Show,” but as an unrealistic, sweater wearing, “rake it in” on the Cosby Show. (By the way, Phylicia Rashad, his TV wife who stuck by Mr. Cosby, as did his real life wife Camille, is beautiful, talented and classy.)
I know nada or little about the case, maybe G-d/force does and again got no pleasure from seeing Cosby in jail and react with hope of good, upon his arrival home. So many innocent have been found guilty and I espouse the better a thousand guilty go free, than one innocent suffer. Many people do not.
Trust me in the case of certain people, who combined with the horrible system that limits our long term care or even basics, as we grow old in this, last I looked or smelled–highly industrial country, and killed my mother 5 days less than 20 years ago, I still try not to hate. This is made far more difficult as they offer no contrition and do not even deem to pick up an incoming call, no less, make an outgoing one.
Back to the sweaters on the Cosby Show. Of course they were nice, but since my incredible memory, “punches up” that the evil aunt praised said sweaters, I do not like them.
Phylicia Rashad with Andy B. now too many years back.
My father worked hard. Perhaps I could/ought to have. We can not all get paid to endorse jello. I love jello, but it is a (-) when we get too commercial!!
Oh do I wish Serena Williams would retire!! I keep betting on her in major tournaments to avoid what would be the sickening hype were she to win. Having said that, “que lastima” (what a shame), that she had to withdraw at Wimbledon, especially since I do not get my money back.
I certainly do NOT want her (look at the NBA injuries which has and will have incredible impact, as to which team will be the prostituted NBA’s 75th season champion) or anybody to be injured, however, I root vs Williams and others, in her case because I think she is a spoiled, “given so much,” baby. Remember her press conferences and taking away from opponent’s victories.
As stated, the NBA is a prostituted joke and the injuries to star players, perhaps even likely because of the condensed number of games, leaves the playoffs wide open, as I “jumped the gun,” with the very likely “coin flip” NBA final.
Do not get me wrong, it figured to be that (Suns/Bucks) and even with the Hawks’ rout win in #4 and more relevant the injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo (the Hawks were bet vs, from plus 6 to 9, as their star Young was out–Brad Weiner “informed” that the Hawks have “MLK” on their uniforms and I cite another Young, with my name and cause, Andrew–, which I, having watch none of this upstart team’s games, did not know) still might be.
Tonight is game 1 of the 2021 Cup final between the Montreal Canadiens and the nearly 3 to 1 favorite, defending champion, Tampa Bay Lightning.
After tonight’s game 1 tilt, there will be a note by most of the media that a high percentage of game 1 final round winners went on to win the crown.
Will they (hey Kenny Albert, given so much, will you at least give us some notes?! I will not know as I will not listen to him. It should have been Forslund, although that would have just been a lesser of two bads, there are many worse than either and I could never bdcst hockey, so it is not that painful, unlike typing from a distance, as I am doing now. Forslund said the Habs/Canadiens were 500 to 1 underdogs to title. He, in very sloppy fashion “added a zero,” pretty much indicating he has “no clue” regarding such) note that Tampa Bay, going in is (0-3) in final round openers, but they won 2 of the 3 previous final round entities. They won after a game 1, at Tampa Bay loss in ’04, but lost after such an occurrence in ’15. Last year they “titled,” despite losing the final round opener in the Edmonton bubble.
Will they note that the Canadiens have lost 4 straight Cup final openers, going into to tonight, however, rallying to win 3, each with 4 straight victories (’79,’86 and ’93)?!
The long shot but NBA West second seed, Phoenix Suns have a seemingly commanding (3-1) semis series lead vs the L.A. Clippers, thus are on the brink of a third final round appearance, all of which, if this one manifests in same calendar years, (1976, 1993 and 2021).
Chris Paul has returned to the Suns lineup while Kaw Leonard, who got greedy and jumped to L.A. surely is out. Toronto had titled, you couldn’t have stayed one more year there. The great Wilt Chamberlain had issues with the ’67 title winning 76ers management, but out of respect to his long suffering fans like me, stayed in Philly for the ’67-’68 season, which ended in heartbreak but at least, unlike Leonard, at least he stayed one more season.
You fans root for laundry, ‘nuts” like me against same and oh how much better my life would have been if I did laundry rather than “mainline” sports.
The Suns are (2-8) in previous “semis,” while the Clippers of L.A. are in their first, after finally winning a “qtr” in their 9th appearance which includes 3 as the Buffalo Braves.
Andy B Sports 