It was not raining, (it is so hot) however, “Thunder happened,” in the form of the franchise’s first and Oklahoma City’s only pro crown, winning #7, (103-91) vs the Indiana Pacers.
A (9-0) third quarter “Thunder rumble” (the 9 points on consecutive 3’s by final round MVP Shai Gilgeous- Alexander (29 points), Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams (20 pts.) put “City” ahead to stay denying a game “Indy” team, whose star player, Tyrese Haliburton suffered an achilles injury midway or so, through the first quarter and of course did not return. (As with Tatum of Boston, next year play is also unlikely, one would hope not, but think so) was the highlight.
The Thunder, as both the Seattle SuperSonics and current form are now (2-3) in NBA final rounds with a (14-16) mark in such games, while Indiana (the state is (0-4) as in consecutive years, ’55 and ’56–first Dolph Schayes, George King and the Syracuse Nationals 7’d and Philadelphia Warriors with Tom Gola 5’d the Fort Wayne Pistons) is (0-2) in final rounds and (5-8) in games.
Chet Holmgren had a big game for the title winning (84-21) Thunder hitting for 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. In defeat, T.J. McConnell of the Pacers impressed, scoring 16 points and as an indicator of “City” going up 22 points, had all of his team’s points for a 13 minutes, one second span minutes span in which the 56 all score, became (90-68) “Ok City.”
While for a 31st consecutive, completed NHL season a team from Canada was denied the NHL crown, Canadian player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (pictured above) of the title winning Thunder (12 assists in #7) won the NBA final round MVP, “reg” MVP and scoring title in 2024-2025.
Oh, thunder only happens when it’s raining Players only love you when they’re playing
Eight years apart, two great players, first Roberto Clemente in 1971 and next Wilver “Willie” Stargell in ’79 led the Pittsburgh Pirates (remember when they had a chance, were viable or both?!) to 7 game World Series triumphs, clinched at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, vs the Orioles.
After that “Buccos” road win in the 7th game of baseball’s final round/the World Series, home teams prevailed in #7 of a league final an incredible 18 consecutive times over the next nearly 30 years before another Pittsburgh team, the NHL Penguins won the ’09 title with a game 7 of the final round win at Detroit, vs the defending champion Red Wings, who had 6’d them, the year before.
Starting with that Pens’ road triumph, the road team has gone a so impressive (7-2) in # 7’s of final rounds in the three of four major sports leagues (the NFL contests a one gamer for the crown most always at a neutral site, better known as the Super Bowl), big league baseball, the NHL and NBA–the last of those having one tonight.
Each league has a current road team win skein in such a game, (3-0) NHL– the aforementioned Pens in ’09, the Boston Bruins with current “Fla” champion (their parade is today, again the NBA title is to be decided tonight) Brad Marchand on their roster, in ’11 at Vancouver (Canucks) and the St. Louis Blues winning their lone crown, in 2018, at Boston, vs the Bruins and Marchand).
In the last #7 of an NBA final round, Cleveland upset 73 win(s) Golden State on the road in 2016.
Baseball also with 3, the Cubs ending a 108 year title drought, vs the Cleveland Indians in ’16, the Astros first title win in what was their 55th completed season in 2017 and the Washington Nationals only crown either as the Montreal Expos or “Wash,” vs the ‘Stros in an all road teams win, 2019 World Series.
Before the Penguins’ above referenced road #7/final round win in 2009, the last such was 38 years earlier in 1971.
Click above to hear the great broadcaster Danny Gallivan’s calls, as Henri Richard scored the decisive goal and the game’s conclusion.
Tomorrow night’s Pacers at Thunder #7, will be the 20th such in NBA final round annals in 79 possibilities, (1947-2025).
Starting in 1951, the 5th season, #7’s in the final were “rolled,” in half (10)–(in ’51,’52, ’54,’55, ’57, 60,’62,’66,’69 and ’70–the Celtics going (5-0) in those, the Lakers (2-4) with both wins while in Minneapolis) of the next 20 seasons.
That percentage is in sharp contrast with just the same 10 final round 7th games occurring in the next 55 seasons, counting this one, which was deemed unlikely before it began, from (1971-2025).
Home teams won the first eight before the Celtics in what was Bill Russell and Sam Jones’ last tilt, won at L.A. despite 42 by Jerry (West) in ’69.
Overall, the home team is (15-4) with the ’74 Celtics (at Milwaukee Bucks), ’78 Washington Bullets at Seattle SuperSonics (now the Thunder and also routed in a road 6th, as the Thunder were, forcing the upcoming 7th) and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ky Irving’s “3” “el” most important play, winning at the record breaking (73-9) Golden State Warriors, in 2016.
These Thunder had a stellar (68-14) “reg” and are (15-7) in the ‘offs while (50-32) Indiana (Pacers) are also (15-7), (7-4) on the road. The Thunder are (10-2) at home and pretty big #7 favorites.
Finally, the Thunder hope to “play the pattern part of the ’84 Celtics with “Indy” as L.A.–then a la the 2025 Thunder, the Celts lost games 1, 3 and 6. They won the crown with wins in games 2 (Gerald Henderson’s steal and tying driving lay in an NBA all-time play) 4, 5 and 7.
“Indy” opts for ’94 as the Houston Rockets with “Ok City” as the New York Knicks. Then as with 2025 Indy, the Rockets won games 1, 3 and 6. Houston, at home, won #7, while Indy, unlike ’84 title winning Boston, cited above, is on the road, for this highly anticipated, “all the proverbial marbles” game.
That’s correct, Gerald as that is the one and only Celts legendary broadcaster, Johnny Most, who once worked with NBA broadcasting pioneer, along with the largely forgotten Hilliard Gates, Marty Glickman, on the call.
The low television ratings of the 2025 NBA final will get a “spike,” as there will be a game 7, that manifesting after the Indiana Pacers eased in #6 vs the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It” will be contested Sinday night at (68-14) Oklahoma City, an 8 point favorite vs (50-32) Indy, however, the Pacers have been the better, by far ‘offs story/”thing” with “City” struggling on the road in its 10 road ‘offs tilts.
Playing in Seattle as the SuperSonics, the franchise (now 0-2 in #6 of the NBA final, each on the road at the Bullets in ’78 and to a “Chi” clincher in ’96) lost #7 to the Bullets in ’78 before bouncing back to “5” them for the crown the next season.
Indy, sans an NBA crown, just (2-10) in semis lost in 6 to the Lakers in the 2000 final round.
Playing in the A.B.A. the team went (3-2) in final rounds, one a 7 game triumph, clinched on a Saturday afternoon, TV’d by CBS (Don Criqui?), that in sharp juxtaposition to the Sunday night telecast 2 nights hence.
The late, great “D.J. ,” Dennis Johnson, left off the top 50 NBA players list while alive in ’97 (he was a posthumous top 75 choice recently), went 0 for 13 in #7 vs the Bullets in ’78, only to bounce back and win the final round MVP the next season.
Some noted that Sam Reinhart’s 4 goals in a Cup clinching tilt, (2 into an empty net and yet Tkachuk not he got/gets credit for the prestigious Stanley Cup winning goal) tied “Babe” Dye’s record set 103 years ago when Dye’s team, the Toronto St. Patricks also clinched the title with a (5-1) win.
Did anyone note that goals by both Reinhart and Dye gave their respective teams (1-0), (4-0) and (5-0) leads?!! Dye made it (2-0) and deservedly is listed as the Stanley Cup winning goal scorer, while Reinhart, who made it (3-0) with his second goal, more or less ridiculously, is not.
Oh Corey Perry, you did win one (’07 with Anaheim) but this is the 5th time in 6 seasons, with 4 different teams that said Perry team, lost in the NHL final.
Finally with likely more from both the NHL and NBA ahead, the Florida/Miami area now joins New York (really if it was not for the Yankees …), Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles as the 7th to have teams with at least 2 crowns in all 4 major sports leagues.
Miami: The Heat (3-4) in final rounds lead with three titles while the Marlins, yes the Marlins (2-0) in the entity, Dolphins (2-3) and now the Panthers (2-2) have each won 2 crowns.
Cecil “Babe” Dye is pictured above.
The Florida Panthers [ (2-2) in NHL final rounds and (9-13) in such games, once (1-8)–have repeated as Stanley Cup Champions, having 6’d the Edmonton Oilers in this year’s final after winning in 7 games also vs “Edm” (once (5-1) in final rounds, they are (5-4), (28-22) in such games, once (20-10) and (20-6) after losing in 4 straight games to the New York Islanders in 1983).
Last season, Sam Reinhart had the Cup winning goal, a truly legitimate one, as it put Florida ahead to stay and was #7’s last tally, as the Panthers, once up (3-0) in the series, prevailed (2-1) in game 7, as was the case last night, in a Panthers’ home Cup clinching game.
“About” last night, Reinhart “R”ifled 4 goals, 2 of which were empty net–(he “opened” and made it (3-0) yet the quirk gave Matthew Tkachuk, another “ringer” on a Paul “The Magnificent” Maurice coached team of many such, credit for the Stanley Cup winning goal, the immortal Gord Howe once told me in an interview, he was so proud to achieve), in a (5-1) #6, title clinching win.
Sam Bennett who had 15 ‘offs goals and 4 in the final won the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the most valuable of the playoffs performer while Brad Marchand (he won #2 in O.T. and opened /made it plus 3 in the pivotal 5th game at Edmonton) and the brilliant netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, to name 2 were major contributors to the Florida crown.
A Florida team has made the NHL Final the last 6 seasons, winning 4, repeating twice, the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021 before losing to the ‘Lanche (Colorado) in ’22 while “Fla” after being 5’d by Las Vegas (another Sun Belt U.S. team, no title yet again for Canada, has now copped 2 straight crowns, each clinched at home.
The Oklahoma Thunder, whose Friday night past, #4 win was/is the key one, moved within 1 win of their first Oklahoma City based crown, riding Jalen Williams’ forty/40 (ode to Chet, who directed NBA games also on ABC, which to me anyway, were done so much better than now) to an 11 point(s) win over the Indiana Pacers, in game 5 and into a (3-2) final round lead.
Regular season and still likely final round MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose great game in #4 was and barring the unforeseen, will be this series most important, added 31 points.
Now will it and to me, if “City” wants the high regard that would accompany a (68-14) title team, do it in 6 not 7 (they conceivably could lose #7 at home and even last night in a tilt which Ok City led throughout, the game Pacers, did cut a once 18 point lead to 2) be clinched Thursday night in Indy or will there be a 7th on Sunday night?
Sorry for the “chalk,” yet fully aware it could still be Indy, certainly in #6 and maybe even 7, though again I doubt it–thus in “Anticipation,” some notes follow.
The Thunder, as both the SuperSonics and based in “Ok City,” are (4-1) in NBA final round games 5, winning to go up (3-2) vs the Bullets in ’78, clinching the crown in ’79, staying alive from (0-3) to (2-3) vs Mr. Jordan and the Bulls in ’96 and being eliminated by the Heat in 2012 before last night’s win.
Eight times in 31 “such,” has the #5 winner in an NBA final round series that was tied 2 games apiece lost the series.
One of those 8 was the Bullets, whom “Sea” 5’d the next year, winning in 7, the last game at Seattle (Mitch Kupchak’s big “put back” play and I remember Mark Splaver, look him and the ’78 Bullets run up) doing it vs “Sea” in ’78.
The Florida Panthers are one win away from repeating as NHL champions, after a pretty easy (they led (2-0) as stars Brad Marchand “opened” and Sam Bennett notched his 5th goal of the Cup final, then (3-0) (3-1) (4-1) and (4-2)–after a (5-2) Saturday night win, at Edmonton, vs the Oilers.
Last season, the Panthers had a (3-0) final round lead vs the Oilers, before needing a 7th game (thus a home loss in #5) home (2-1) win (Sam Reinhart had the game winning goal, Evan Rodrigues “opened” and “Bob,” Serg Bobrovsky was stellar in goal) (2-1) win to claim their first title and hand the Oilers a second straight 7th game final round defeat, the other at the Carolina (Hurricanes-that area’s football team the Panthers are (0-2) in final rounds/Super Bowls), in 2006.
This is the first of the eleven combined Cup final rounds in which Florida or Edmonton appeared, that the series was (2-2) and not (3-1) or complete after 4 games. The last “such” was the eventual 2019 St. Louis Blues’ 7 game triumph, winning at Boston (Bruins), a big Panthers’ rival, yet they dealt the superb player, Marchand, to “Fla” at the trade deadline this year, after failing to title in a home 6th game.
While Edmonton, which had overcome a (3-0) deficit after one period in #4 (“Fla” has outscored “Edm” (7-0) in the last three first periods and scored first in 4 of the 5 tilts thus far) and won (5-4) on Leon Draisaitl’s second overtime goal of the series, but are now likely, but far from certain, to lose in a third straight final round, a la the NFL San Francisco 49ers, after winning in 5 consecutive such entities.
Paul Maurice’s Panthers failed to clinch at home up (3-2) vs Toronto in the “quarters” and ahead (3-1) vs Carolina in the semis plus the above cited 3 failures in games in which they did not face elimination, one at home in last year’s final round series vs Edmonton.
Sam Bennett, pictured above, with 15 goals in these ‘offs is I suppose the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the entire ‘offs most valuable player if Florida does win a second straight crown.
Bereft of great musical acumen, however, with one of his many tunes blurting in fashion, I attempt a tribute to the great, gifted, troubled and one who leaves so much good, Brian Wilson, a co-founder and member of the iconic group, “The Beach Boys.”
“Mr. Wilson,” (a symbol of the ’60’s both the real and the fading innocent, perhaps Brian would appreciate an ode to Joseph Kearns and Gale Gordon as “Mr. Wilsons” on “Dennis The Menace”) died days back at the age of 82, adding kudos to those, who better analyze the music he brought, emphasizing the incredible album, “Pet Sounds,” placing it with eloquence, alongside “The Beatles’ ” “Sgt. Pepper” album.
Less aware, I still know the many, incredibly many, songs of “The Beach Boys,” so many via Brian Wilson a fondly recalling seeing them, both live and on television and cherish listening and hopefully always will.
The era, replete with visions, dreams, cars and girls so beautifully expressed via Brian Wilson and “The Beach Boys” flashes true “better place to be.”
Older, veritable once classics, “The O” chose “God Only Knows” (that absentee landlord has some “‘splaining” to do”) while the “Cheese” opted for “Good Vibrations,” as their most treasured “Beach Boys” songs.
Memories flow, dreams continue and that more than anything rationalizes the life, the angst, father/money/”Shrink” issues Brian and so many encounter in some form, during that most precious of all gifts, even greater than music, time.
Yet that thing/concept– time, (I believe father is often attached), so often is difficult to navigate, making the beauty of music, certainly that of Brian Wilson, such an important “chip” in the continual quest to well, continue.
Thank you Brian and perhaps watch over, in this time.
Later “covered” by the great B.J. Thomas and though it did not “turn out” the way I wanted, “Don’t Worry Baby” speaks to me in a profound way.
I am glad Mr. Wilson (one of two brothers, John the other who predeceased Brian and each an original “Beach Boy” along with cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine, a nice guy and the lone member of the group I encountered during “time,” was Dennis and ode to Jay North who also recently died and was “Dennis” calling as we do here in tribute to Brian, “Mr. Wilsonnnnn.”) truly loved this song.
Brian Wilson performing at Live 8 in Berlin at Siegessäule on the 2nd July, 2005. Organised by Sir Bob and The Band Aid Trust to raise money to fight poverty around the world, the event was viewed by around 2 billion people.
Yes, that spelling of organized and what a great combination, musical greatness to help others, less fortunate.
The incredible Indiana Pacers (14-5 in these ‘offs and (13-6) ATS–Ok City is (0-8) ATS in this year’s road tilts), who had lost their previous #3’s however up (2-0) in series they would win, went up (2-1) in the NBA final, winning (116-107) in game 3 as 5 plus point(s) u/dogs vs the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Bennedict Mathurin a reserve led all scorers with 27 points a big part of the Pacers’ (45-17) scoring advantage involving reserve players.
Tyrese Haliburton added 22 including another go ahead to stay, three point shot, when this much earlier (6 and change remaining), but Indy never ceased the lead that shot produced).
A.P. noted 33 of the 41 #3/NBA final round series game winners “titled” and added “advantage Pacers.”
Smarter than them regarding the perception anyway, those who make their lucrative living regarding such disagree as pre series 7 to 1 fave, (68-14) Oklahoma City is still over a 2 to 1 series “fave.”
The great Freddie Lewis, him I would like to see there as he was an integral part of all 3 Indy ABA title teams and is still “with us” as opposed to other Pacers’ greats, Roger Brown, coach Bob “Slick” Leonard, George McGinnis and Mel Daniels (sorry regarding others not named).
Alas Oscar (Robertson) was there, another joy, not so seeing the cited and hyped Cait Clark and the annoying (not as much as Lee), Reggie Miller
A 10th-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Royals in 1966, he (I add Lewis for the link) earned a spot as Oscar Robertson‘s backup, averaging 4.7 points and 1.3 assists per game. “Oscar taught me a lot,” Lewis is quoted on remembertheaba.com about the legend from Indianapolis. “(He) taught me how to be cool, how to handle situations instead of running all over the court helter-skelter.”
Andy B Sports 