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.
The defending Stanley Cup Champion, Tampa Bay Lightning (what a run for “Champa”/Tampa Bay as their 3 teams have made their sport’s last 4 final round entities, winning 2 of 3 but beware as “chalk heel” so often wrong, Barry Melrose picked them vs the Canadiens) rode the game’s only goal, a shorthanded one by Yanni Gourde to a (1-0) win in #7 vs the Islanders.
T.B. netminder, Andrei Vasilevskiy recorded a series clinching shutout (he stopped only 19 shots as T.B. had a wide edge in play as they “semi’d” the Isles for a second straight season) for the 4th straight time, most notably in the first such, a (2-0) win on September 28, 2020 in the Edmonton “bubble” that gave the Lightning their first title and second ever, the previous one in 2004.
Anthony Cirelli whose overtime goal in #6 of last season’s above referenced “semi,” had the lone assist, making a great play, then feeding Gourde, who shot the puck past the excellent Isles’ goalie, Semyon Varlamov, who stopped 30 of 31 Lightning shots.
Artturri “L”ehtinen scored at 1:39 of overtime, lifting the 4 to 1 opening and 7 to 1 after game 1, underdog, Montreal Canadiens (3-2) in #6 and to a (4-2) series triumph, vs the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Golden Knights may have dropped the “L”as,” but it is a “L”oss, as “L”ehtinen joined Jacques “L”emaire (’68 in game 5 vs “Chi”) and Yvon “L”ambert, on a similar goal to Lehtinen’s last night, as he took a pass from Mario Tremblay–last night the pass to “L”ehtinen was from Phillip Danault, (Lambert in #7 vs the Bruins) as “L” players, who scored semi round, OT clinchers at Montreal, for the Canadiens. (By the way, there are other OT semi round clinching goals for Montreal, I recalled the great Jean Beliveau doing so at Boston in #6 in ’69, John Ferguson in #4 at the New York Rangers in ’67 and the immortal Maurice “Rocket” Richard vs Detroit in ’57 and maybe others. It is not easy to research this).
Vegas lost as an OVER PRICED (the Habs have an excellent goaltender, Carey PRICE, who stopped 37 of the 39 shots he faced) favorite, a semis loss as a favorite for the second straight season, this one costing the local Vegas backers/suckers and was a boon to the “houses” in the desert.
Cole Caufield (in the Clippers’ first ever quarters clincher, it was a Terrence Mann, in “Field of Dreams,” that name was used for the James Earl Jones played, supposed J.D. Salinger character. Of course, Mr. Salinger wrote “Catcher In The Rye,” with its main character being “Holden CAUFIELD”) and Shea Weber, the latter to play in his first final series in this his 16th NHL season, also had Montreal goals.
Speaking of overtime late round series clinchers, Alec Martinez, who had the Cup clincher for the L.A. Kings in ’14 vs the Rangers and Riley Smith had the Vegas goals.
“Les” Canadiens will face the winner of tonight’s game 7, Isles at “L”ightning tilt, with the winner getting home advantage in a series that may, even likely will start on Monday June 28th, the day after “The Mand” turns 66, but is forever young and circling end for a touchdown run that “showed” the guys. Additionally “we” hope and pray for the great Guy Lafleur.
Before Mr. Lambert’s goal on a pass from Mario Tremblay, a somewhat similar right to left pass as Danault to Lehtinen last night, Guy Lafleur tied that game 7/1979 semis with a perfect shot.
The goal above with the immortal Danny Galivan on the call with I believe Lou Nanne as the analyst.
Andy B Sports 