The overwhelming series favorites, (the) Las Vegas Golden Knights and opening series line underdogs, (the) New York Islanders, won “semis” openers, allowing one goal vs the Montreal Canadiens (the Habs have either won the title, compiling a (17-2) mark in that round or lost in the semis 9 times in their 28 semis appearances since losing 2 straight final rounds to the Detroit Red Wings in ’54 and ’55, each in 7 games) and defending champion, Tampa Bay Lightning respectively. Some history notes, regarding the teams in “semis,” follows.
Ten of the 11 previous opening game/semis winners in Isles’ semis went on to win the series. (only in ’84, when the Isles won the last 4 to “6” the Canadiens, did a game 1 Isles/semis, loser win that series).
Las Vegas won (4-1) in game 1 vs Montreal, maybe, (though L.V. is now a 10 to 1 series “fave” now, having “opened” 5 to 1), not a good sign for them, as I note the Canadiens lost game 1 of both the ’79 and ’93 final rounds by that (4-1) “tune,” only to win the next 4, including home, (4-1) Cup clinchers in game 5.
Shea Theodore, pictured above, not only “opened” for Las Vegas ending the 7 plus games streak of the Canadiens not trailing, but also had the primary assist on Alec Martinez’ goal, which expanded the Vegas lead to (2-0).
Martinez, of course, scored in overtime in game 5 of the ’14 final, giving the L.A. Kings a second crown in three seasons.
Sadly, news came that the excellent pitcher and fantastic man, Jim “Mudcat” Grant passed on at age 85 over the past weekend.
I will post again what I wrote regarding Mr. Grant (wow Minnesota was where and for whom, Mr. Grant won 21 games and 2 more in the ’65 World Series and where another Mr. Grant, played by Ed Asner on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, would have in extended fiction, cheered for Mudcat) 2 years ago.
Once I called Claude Osteen and then years later repeated that I thought he and not Howie Reed, who sadly died far too young) gave up the #6/’65 W.S. home run to Jim Grant.
Maybe Reed can pitch to Grant again in the sky.
Click below as the link and my post includes Jim “Mudcat” Grant singing in tribute to the great Twins player, Harmon Killebrew, accompanied by Ric Oliva, the son of another “Minne” great, Pedro “Tony” Oliva. See Mrs. Killebrew’s truly moving reaction.
- Thoughts Regarding Jim “Mudcat” Grant on August 10, 2019
Though each team still has a chance (the oddsmakers demur), the quarterfinal series woes of both the Los Angeles Clippers (0-8 in such series, before losing the first two of a 2021 version vs the top ranked Utah Jazz) and Atlanta Hawks ((3-16) in such series since moving to Atlanta and starting with victories in the second and third years of best of NBA “qtrs” in both ’69 and ’70. Thus they have lost 15 of their last 16 such entities and trail the East top seed Philadelphia 76ers 2 games to 1. They have won less than a third of their 102 quarterfinal games, the record standing at (33-69) after last night’s loss) continue.
Elsewhere the Phoenix Suns are almost certain to go over the .500 mark by winning a 10th “quarter” in 19 such, as Chris Paul and Devon Booker have led them to a (3-0) series lead vs the Denver Nuggets, who again, almost certainly will fall to (4-7) in NBA quarterfinal series.
The overall favorite, Brooklyn Nets have a (2-1) series lead vs the Milwaukee Bucks.
After I would think an unprecedented 4 straight NIGHTS (capped by the Golden KNIGHTS doubling the top ranked Colorado Avalanche in a home 6th), in which a quarterfinal series ended, it will be L.V.(Golden Knights) and T.B. (Lightning) as heavy, heavy and heavy “semis”/faves respectively vs the two franchises, the Canadiens and Islanders (respectively), that each won 4 straight titles, encompassing all 8 titles from (’76-’83).
However, it has been 38 years since the last Isles’ crown while Montreal, which capped an incredible 15 titles in 24 seasons “run,” with that 4th straight crown won in ’79, from (’56-’79), has not titled (nor any other Canada based team), since “same calendar,” 1993.
As referenced above, L.V. doubled top ranked Colorado (remember the teams tied for the top spot in “reg” points) in #6, and won the last 4 to advance to their third “semi” in this, just their fourth season.
The night before (as cited here, on Monday the Canadiens completed a “qtr” sweep of the Winnipeg Jets and on Tuesday, defending champion Tampa Bay 5’d the Hurricanes) the Islanders repeated a 1983, #6 at Nassau Coliseum “wrap” of the Bruins. That was a “semi,” this a “qtr” and from ’68-’92, in 16 of 25 seasons the Bruins either lost to the champion (14 times) or titled led by Bobby Orr and current Isles opponent/Lightning (real homer, but I like Espo) analyst Phil Esposito. I will post TB/Isles notes from last season, T.B. opens over a 5 to 2 fave. L.V. over 4:1 vs the Canadiens is the other opening semis series line.
Las Vegas coach Peter DeBoer, who guided the New Jersey Devils to the ’12 final, called Alex Pietrangelo, pictured above and who was the Blues captain, when they won their lone Cup in ’19, the best player on either team in the Golden Knights 6 game triumph vs the Avalanche.
Yesterday, I happened to view a tape (remember those?!) from September 1987 and on it, from the days before ESPN was the all powerful monolith it is now, was a Penn State football show on which their last title season, the second of two under the “sanctimonious” Beano’s (Cook) word for him, Joe Paterno, was reviewed, before a preview of the new season, now nearly 34 years into the “rear window.”
The impact and perspective sharp, a degree, as though shards of glass from said mirror.
After Paterno talked about the game, a (14-10) Penn State win for which I still do not “forgive” Jimmy Johnson, Vin Testaverde and favored Miami, for losing, though along with Beano and Jim Lampley, who called me at Score Phone Turkey Day night to state Penn State would at least cover vs what would be “an off the juice” Miami team, I cashed some.
My dad, who surely at least related to the successful Paterno, (Beano thought he was an outstanding football coach, but alas, what always goes along with that–the souls strewn aside the veritable road) talked of how I was so often vs “successful people.” I never liked Paterno and as with M.L. Weiner, saw through him.
After Paterno, on comes Gerry Sandusky the defensive coordinator talking about his game plan and how effective it was vs Miami and it was. Of course, Mr. Sandusky later, much later and far too late, was found to be one, who sexually abused others.
Now this morning, all powerful ESPN reveals that the son of Bo Schembechler, another all powerful football coach, who also fired the great Ernie Harwell, when he ran the baseball Tigers, knew his son had been sexually abused and as with Paterno, did not respond properly. An understatement!
Again to Beano and a rant/notification, that I so often have been right as I see through the hypocrisy and “indict” not just the sexual abusers (I know this is advanced, but if you have that problem check in, get help and the system can take measures to help. The way it is now will only make things worse, as with almost any other undetected PROBLEM!!) but also the ESPN’s, which hype these coaches, players and worst of all, no talent “bags of wind,” such as S.A. Smith and to a lesser degree, Dick Vitale, he of the enormous bank account and Tampa Bay teams enjoyment.
When Schembechler died, Beano appeared on ESPN Radio. I asked him what he said and in a hurry he said as he often did that “he had to go.”
However, before getting “off the line” (even I am too young for that phrase) Beano said they praised Schembechler, adding “the only one they say something bad about when he dies is Hitler.”
Sorry Bo, but Beano also added that as a coach he lost too many big games and the hype for his life and career, I add was out of whack. Typical and so help me this happened, another sign, but alas, where and how to go anywhere with it?!!
Last night, in the NHL “quarters,” while the Las Vegas Golden Knights rode a Mark Stone goal in the first minute of overtime, to a third straight win (they have a (3-2) series lead) over the President’s Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche, Brayden Point had the opening/game winning goal as defending champion Tampa Bay (Lightning) (Mr. Brady recorded a go Lightning spot, I was part of one, doubt it was shown) advanced to a 5th semi in 9 years, (5 of the last 7, as Cooper/T.B. teams have lost twice in the first round, twice not qualified in the “non” semis seasons) under coach, John Cooper with a (2-0) win, that ousted the higher seeded, Carolina Hurricanes in 5 games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy, a truly fine and under rated goaltender notched his 3rd career ‘offs shutout (they have occurred in the last 3 series clinchers, starting with the title clincher vs the Dallas Stars) for the Lightning, a team that dominated the last full NHL season (2018-2019), only to be swept out in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets, at the time coached by the (at the time) lone Lightning Cup winning coach, John Tortorella.
Of course, the Lightning buoyed by Brayden Point’s FIFTH overtime goal which “opened” Columbus in last year’s opening round, T.B. (the area has a “T.B.” at quarterback in 7 time Supe winner, the aforementioned “cheerer,” Tom Brady (he did the same for other New England teams and they also won many titles when he was in the area. The baseball Rays came close and are up there again, but still no title) won it all and now with Point scoring the aforementioned opening/gamer, have made the semis.
The Lightning will next face the winner of the Islanders/Bruins “qtr,” which the Isles can wrap tonight, with a game 6 win, in what still might be the last Nassau Coliseum tilt. A seventh game, if necessary, would be Thursday in Boston. En route to their first and last of their 4 crowns, the Islanders ousted the Bruins doing so in game 5/”qtrs” at Boston in ’80 and in a home 6th in the ’83 semis.
Meanwhile the Golden Knights can advance to their third semi in their 4 season history, with a game 6 win at home, before what ought to be a raucous crowd, tomorrow night in “Sin City.” A 7th, if necessary would be in Colorado Saturday night. The ‘Lanche, who dissipated a (2-0) last night and led (2-0) with home wins in the first two tilts of this “qtr,” got the home advantage by virtue of a tiebreaker with L.V. as the teams had the same number of “reg” points.
The superb netminder, Andrei Vasilevskiy, pictured above.
The Brooklyn Nets are now almost actual favorites, no less plurality “faves” to win their first NBA crown and finally give Brooklyn another title to go along with the truly glorious John Podres led 1955 World Series crown.
Though they played sans their third annexed true star, James Harden, they annihilated the I am afraid, likely but not certainly, “never to be” Milwaukee Bucks these 50 years after their lone NBA crown, in game 2 and take a (2-0) “qtrs” lead into #3 at “Milw,” to be played tomorrow night.
The “books” not me, though even I won a bit, as the Nets were bet “VS” going from -2 to plus 1, cleaned up with the game 2 result.
After the L.A. Clippers (-6 and a fraction) KO’d all viable Dallas Mavericks’ “weases,” and broke an almost unprecedented “home disadvantage,” to advance to their 9th “quarter,” (they are (0-8) in such and will be slight “dogs” vs top ranked Utah (Jazz) in the upcoming one which will begin Tuesday in “Salt Lake”), it means a team from the NBA West, will bid for its first title, in this year’s final round.
Both Western Conference higher seeded teams, the Jazz and Suns are (0-2) in the final round while Denver (Nuggets) (0-4) in semis and the aforementioned, “never to a semi” Clippers, obviously have never titled.
In the East, now only 4 of the 32 NHL and NBA ‘offs teams have not lost at home, as the amazing/non bet Atlanta Hawks (4-1) (2-0) at home in these ‘offs, (plus 5’d) Philly (76ers) (now (3-1) at home in these playoffs) in their quarter opener.
The Hawks, picked against by 11 of 12 “experts” on ESPN.com, are (3-16) as the Atlanta Hawks in quarterfinal play. In “semis” play, they are (0-3) with a (1-12) record in such games.
However, even if they do not win another game, they have shone in these ‘offs, having been (0-2) and just (1-8) in ‘offs games vs the Knicks and (0-4) at home.
The good news for them is they have Trae Young, the bad news is I can not take it anymore and will bet on them.
Even without their third annexed star, James Harden, he of but one final round appearance, that a loss with Durant and Westbrook with Oklahoma City (Thunder, nee the Seattle Supersonics in ’12) (why could not all 3 have stayed there? “why oh why,” Dorothy, from neighboring Kansas asked? I know why and it is the root of all evil, as they say, however, try (which I must) living w/o it), the Nets now (4-0) at home “opened” the Bucks in their ’84 “qtrs” redux.
In addition to the Nets and Hawks the NBA east semi/NBA qtrs opening game winners, the Bucks who lost to the Nets at (2-0) and the top ranked, NHL team, the Colorado Avalanche (4-0) remain unbeaten at home. No team remains unbeaten in these ‘offs, whether in the NHL or NBA.
The Hawks’ Trae Young, pictured above.
The great player Kaw Leonard (no “Hi” no “high,” as I “needed” Dallas, more to deny ABC a 7th—among other problems, the road is being “paved” for Serena Williams in The French Open so that will either cost or … and I totally dogged it, with dare I call him, Phil), who disappointed me greatly when he jumped from Toronto, who he led to the ’19 title, hit for 45 points, as for just the second time in major sports league’s history, the road team won the first 6 (6 is operative, as the “Clips” opened “menos” 6 in the 3:30 Eastern /ABC tilt tomorrow–does ABC care that I knocked them, as I spelled their name correctly) when the L.A. team stayed alive with a game 6 win at Dallas, vs the Mavericks.
That series is the only NBA prelim to go 7 and the only other time in NBA, NHL or baseball annals that the road team won the first 6, they won the 7th when “Wash” took the 2019 W.S. (Bellman has Utah, claims to fear Dallas more than the Clippers, however, the experts (so help me, David Furst said “experts” as I typed it) “hang” other numbers. “2019” had Wash to win that 2019 title and has circumvented his “very, very sickness” to “kinda”/a degree of happiness,” juxtaposed with my almost complete emptiness. However, not only am I the better person, I strive to be a truly great one, who helps others, as is the case, with my friend Jesse).
Elsewhere and I “despise” the “3” point shooting, but oh do the likes of Devon Booker, who is one player I truly like, do it so well, hitting for 47 as Phoenix (113-100) at L.A. in #6, to “KO” the defending and 17 time NBA champion, Lakers. (Memo to “Little Jeanie” Buss it is/was bad karma to leave the great Jerry West off a list of the 5 most important Lakers).
In ’70 and ’72, when I so loved the Lakers, there were scores so close to (113-100) in the last game of the NBA final round, each involving L.A.
In ’70 the Knicks won the first of their 2 titles, both won vs L.A, winning (113-99) in game 7 of the final round. That season, the Lakers overcame a (3-1) series deficit to “7” the Suns in the “quarters,” the first of 7 series wins vs them (however, what once was a (6-0) Lakers lead vs Phoenix in series, is now (7-5).
Then in glorious ’72, the Lakers won the first of their 12 L.A. titles, beating the Knicks (114-100) in game 5, to clinch the title.
The Suns are now about 2 to 1 “quarters” “faves,” vs the Denver Nuggets, who also clinched Thursday past, “6-ing” Portland, whose coach, Terry Stotts was let go.
It was a reversal of Portland’s 6 game “qtrs” win vs Denver, en route to their lone title in 1977. Likely “reg” MVP, Nikola Jokic had 36 to lead Denver.
Top ranked Utah will face the Dallas/Clippers #7 winner in the other West semi/NBA quarter.
Among the 5 remaining NBA West teams only the Mavericks with one (that in 2011 vs the Heat, avenging an ’06 final round loss) have an NBA title.
The Utah Jazz and the Suns also have 2 final appearances, losing all 4, only the ’76 Suns’ loss to Jo Jo White and the Celtics, not occurring vs Mr. Jordan, he of (6-0) in the NBA final and cigars, and the Chicago Bulls.
Neither the Nuggets or Clippers have ever advanced to an NBA final round.
In honor of Jo Jo White who led the Celts to that ’76 final round win clinched not in Tucson, but Phoenix, Arizona on a Sunday afternoon, after the epic Boston 3 OT win in #5 of that series, view the one and only “The Beatles” evoke a fictional “Jo Jo” as they “rooftop perform” “Get Back.”
How do you say Big Mac in French is asked in “Pulp Fiction,” I believe it was Mr. Travolta’s character who answered “Big Mac.”
As you will see, “Jo Jo” is also “Jo Jo” in “espanol.”
Andy B Sports 