The only time the Dallas Stars won the NHL crown was 25 years ago in 1999. That year in the semi-final vs the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas prevailed vs the Colorado Avalanche, doing so with a home win in game 7.
That season, as is the situation this year, the Stars lost game 1 at home, won #2 there, won the third (road) before losing (road) 4th and home 5th games.
Edmonton (Oilers) won (3-1) in #5 and lead their semi vs Dallas 3 games to 2.
As stated here yesterday, incredibly, the current Florida Panthers (3-2) lead in their semi-final series vs the New York Rangers, has the same road/home wins configuration as the Rangers/Devils semi that preceded the team’s lone title, that 30 years ago, since 1940 in 1994.
Then, as is the case in their current “semi” vs Florida and as stated yesterday, in both the ’99 and current Stars’ “semi,” the home advantage teams, the Rangers and Stars each lost a home #1, won #2 there, won the third (road) before losing both #4 (road) and the 5th at home.
10 of 10 repeats, what are the odds?!!
Roughly those odds are 2 to the 10th power or 1,024 to 1.
While the NBA final is set, (a first ever Boston/Dallas ‘offs entity, no less a final, is still a week away), both NHL semis are still as close as possible after 5 and 4 games played. This is in sharp contrast to the NBA semis, in which a record tying low 9 games were played.
Last night the Florida Panthers won (3-2) at New York vs the Rangers to lead (3-2) while the Dallas Stars/Edmonton Oilers “semi” is tied at 2 games apiece.
Incredibly and likely only here, this note: The Rangers last won the title 30 years ago while the Stars’ only crown was 25 years back. Both teams won those crowns after winning a 7 game semi, with home advantage that had a Road, Home, Road, Home, Road, Road, Home wins configuration.
This year through 9 games, 5 in the Florida/Rangers series that same configuration has manifested. What are those odds?!
Click below to view Jamie Langenbrunner “opening” in the Stars #7/semis win vs the Colorado Avalanche in ‘1999. Dallas (Stars) went on to win the title.
It is not quite a 180 degree difference in a “competitive” measure between the NHL semis (as close as possible, theoretically not so, as the series home advantage team Dallas (Stars) leads (2-1) — compared to that round in the NBA, in which, Boston (Celtics) swept Indiana (Pacers) and Dallas (Mavericks) is now up (3-1), after Minnesota (Timberwolves) won at Dallas last night.
Meanwhile with the last 3 games overtime tilts, Florida won one such last night, to square their series with the New York Rangers at two games apiece.
Surely, you will see and hear that 155 times out of 155 (3-0) NBA series, the team up (3-0) prevailed. Only 4 teams down (3-0) forced a 7th game (it took Rochester (Royals) 7 vs the New York Knicks in 1951 (final), Utah (Jazz 7 to oust Denver (Nuggets) in the ’94 “quarters,” the Mavericks ditto vs Portland (Trail Blazers) in a 2003 first round series and Miami (Heat) needed to win as a big #7 underdog, which they did in a rout at Boston, vs the Celtics last year).
It is likely that only here, it is cited that the Rangers in 15 semis starting in ’67, the last year before NHL expansion, when playoff entry put a team in the semis, have been game 3 winners in a (1-1) series 5 times and lost game 4 each time, including last night.
In ’71 vs Chicago sans home advantage and 2012 vs the New Jersey Devils with it, they lost the semis series.
Meanwhile in both ’79 when they eventually lost the final to a 4th straight title, still great Montreal Canadiens team and ’94 when they ended a 54 year title drought, the Rangers won their semi after losing #4, up (2-1).
In ’79 they won #5 at the New York Islanders, the last time in 5 seasons, the Isles, so underpublicized compared to the Rangers, failed to make the final, (The Islanders won in the first four of those final round appearances), and won the series in 6 sans home advantage.
1994’s classic semi-final series was/is the same as this, through 4 games with the Rangers opponent, (N.J. in ’94 and Florida these 30 years later) winning at the Rangers in game 1, losing there in #2, the Rangers winning on the road, both times in overtime in #3 before losing a game 4 road tilt.
Anders Hedberg, pictured above, scored a late third period goal in #5 at Long Island, lifting the Rangers to their game 5, road victory in the 1979 semi-final round vs the New York Islanders.
Believe me I did not know that the great player, Bill Walton, who died too young at age 73 was suffering with cancer.
Look and see I put a picture of Bill in my post, a scant 2 days before, as he was a big contributor to a great 1986 Boston Celtics title team.
Yesterday, I engaged in conversation with a man named Kyle from St. Louis, advising ordering Dr. Brown’s soda at the famed Katz’s Delicatessen in New York City. Then it happened, the ubiquitous mobile phone (his) and it/he said Bill Walton had died.
Beyond the coincidence?–Walton, when healthy was as great as any NBA center and in college, only his friend Kareem Abdul Jabbar, then Lew Alcindor was better.
Bill’s incredible title game performance in 1973 vs Memphis State, continually taking lob passes, most? from Greg Lee or turning and hitting time after time, off the glass, (44 points, 21 of 22 shooting) is certainly the best in a college title game. (That game was in St. Louis, see the third paragraph, where 5 years later Jack Givens had an all-time great title game, hitting for 42 points in Kentucky’s win vs Duke).
That ought to stop me right there and reflect, however Mr. Walton his usual outgoing and friendly self when I interviewed him very close to the end of the last century in 1999 and when on a Saturday, I called him at a New York City hotel and knew he was listening to his beloved “Grateful Dead,” was so great/”grate,” at not so important basketball, I “cite” on.
’74 with its same calendar was a “downer” for Bill, in that the great David Thompson and the North Carolina State Wolfpack (see their surprising “run” to the national semis this year) overcame a 7 point second overtime deficit and ousted the two time champion U.C.L.A. Bruins with Bill, the then Keith, later Jamaal Wilkes, and coached by the great John Wooden.
Bill’s first 2 NBA seasons, marred by injuries that would continue and inhibit a still great 2 titles pro career, were tough, but oh 1977!! Oh that Sunday #6 title clinching win in frenetic Portland, for the home team, Trail Blazers, still their lone crown.
My call: Julius Erving, Lloyd (before he was World Be) Free and George McGinnis, who as cited here at least twice-we lost within the season, all missed, Bill knocked the ball out, fans stormed the court and Bill was seen sans shirt. I am still upset CBS switched to the Kemper Open (Golf) denying us the Portland team celebration.
In 1978 Portland was even better, an incredible (41-4) but Bill got hurt. The team, a great one one of the greatest from the ’77 ‘offs until Bill got hurt ended up “quarter’d” out by an upcoming SeattleSupersonics team.
Finally just 2 days and 1 post before, I pictured Bill Walton, recalling his immense importance to a great ’86 Celtics title team.
There is much to process here–St. Louis, Memorial Day juxtaposed with Bill protesting that insane war, how about no war, rather than remembering those who died in humanity’s sick, perhaps inherent need?!
One more, maybe the straight laced, truly good human being and Bill’s college coach John Wooden will be more outgoing and hanging out with Bill in heaven.
It is all happening too fast, but on we go and I am glad, Bill Walton was and perhaps is a part of it.
Click below to view Bill’s beloved “Grateful Dead” perform “Truckin'” in a live 1980 performance.
Left to right, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and his friend Bill Walton.
While both NBA “semis” stand at (3-0) (a first ever Boston vs Dallas playoffs matchup, no less in the title round, is imminent) for the second straight year, the NHL series are as close as possible after 3 games played in “el” East and two in the West.
The New York Rangers, with a second consecutive overtime win, lead the Florida Panthers 2 games to 1 in the Eastern Conference Final, while the Edmonton Oilers head home for games 3 and 4, having split the first two games in Dallas, vs the Stars. (The game 1 Stars’ loss was their 7th straight in a series opener).
After Barclay Goodrow had the overtime winner in #2 at New York, Alex Wennberg scored in O.T. , lifting the Rangers (5-4) in game 3, and into the aforementioned (2-1) semis lead.
Igor Shesterkin, pictured above, despite Florida tallying 4 times, was brilliant in the Rangers (5-4) game 3 win.
Sure it is/was an almost unprecedented “paved road” (read that easy) to the NBA final round (it would not quite be The Red Sea parting, but close, if Indy comes back) for the 23rd time, having gone (17-5) in previous such entities.
However, they were once (15-1) and (16-2), and have only one crown since their 16th was won in 1986.
That great ’86 Celtics title team and the next year’s ’87 Lakers’ such, went undefeated at home in the playoffs, but only the ’96 Bulls and ’18 Warriors have accomplished that feat since then.
Now 31 of the 32 NBA and NHL ‘offs teams have lost at home.
Only the Orlando Magic, who lost an all home team wins/7 game first round series to Cleveland (Cavaliers) did not.
A truly great player, Bill Walton, pictured above was a tremendous addition to those ’85-’86 Celtics, who went (50-1) at home that season.
They were (37-1) at Boston Garden (remember they have but one title since leaving that hallowed ground, the Canadiens have none, in fact no Canadian team has titled since ’93 when still playing at the great Montreal Forum, the Habs last won the crown. Meanwhile the Yankees won it all in ’09 their first season at the third Yankee Stadium but first up the Bronx geography, but have not even a pennant since), (3-0) at Hartford Civic Center in the “reg,” before winning all 10 home tilts, one despite 63 points by Mr. Jordan, at Boston Garden in the playoffs.
Both the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks, respectively overwhelming pre series favorites and winners of the first two games on the road, making them 5 to 1 series faves, after being say 8 to 5 pre series underdogs, have (2-0) “semis” leads making a first ever Boston vs Dallas playoffs clash in the NBA final, somewhat likely.
After he hit THE shot, a tough tying 3 pointer in game 1 with 3 seconds left in an eventual Celtics’ overtime win vs the Indiana Pacers, Jaylen Brown hit for 40 points as Boston, (-9) won (126-110) in game 2 and lead a semi (2-0) for just the 12th time in this their 35th best of 7 semi-final series (’58-2024).
Meanwhile again Luca Doncic, with help from the team’s other star, 2016 title team member with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving, was the star, hitting a decisive “3” with 3 seconds left (see Brown in #1 for Boston and now the likely Boston/Dallas final but remember the final does not commence until June 6th-) lifting the Mavericks (+6) (109-108) and handing the Minnesota Timberwolves (0-5) all-time in semis home games, a fourth home loss in their last 5 home ‘offs tilts.
A great playmaking guard, 5 time NBA champion (4 times with the Minneapolis Lakers and one time with the St. Louis Hawks), Slater Martin is pictured above.
Unofficially but pretty well documented or researched (well documented said on NPR “as” I typed), the Minneapolis were (13-3) in NBA semi-final games (’49-’59).
In their next semi with Martin playing his last NBA game in #5 for the Hawks, (a Lakers’ road win), the Lakers lost 2 of their home games, #’s 3 and 6, in a 7 game series loss, after having lost both home games in the ’59 final vs the Celtics.
Adding it up, Minnesota NBA teams are (1-9) at home in their last 10 semi-final and final round home games.
Dallas is the only city area with a team in both the NBA and NHL semi-final round.
Last night, the NBA Dallas Mavericks, (in their 6th “semi”–(2-3) in previous such) “opened” the Minnesota Timberwolves (in just their second semi and it is also only the second time the team won a first round series), winning (108-105) (+4 plus) at Minnesota, a third home loss for Minne in their last 4 home ‘offs tilts.
Tonight the NHL Dallas Stars open their semi-final series vs the Edmonton Oilers.
The Stars hope to end a 6 game losing streak in playoffs series openers.
Last night’s Mavericks win was the first in 6 series openers under coach Jason Kidd.
Luca Doncic, pictured above was great in the Mavericks’ game 1 win.
Three of the 8 NBA and NHL semi-final round qualifiers have never won its league’s crown, two have won it only once, while the other three have a combined 1 title in the last 85 aggregate, seasons.
Let’s cite 1984, and years ending in 4, as this one does.
In 1984, both the Edmonton Oilers (slight series u/dogs vs the Dallas Stars) and Boston Celtics won it all. That was the only year that both the NHL and NBA title was won by teams still going in the 2024 ‘offs, whose semis commenced with top heavy, series favorite Boston (-10) winning (133-128) in overtime, at home, vs the Indiana Pacers.
The Celtics are actual plurality and roughly 3 to 2 “faves” to win a fourth, “4” year crown, as they won NBA titles in 1964, 1974 and aforementioned 1984.
Edmonton, which as with the situation regarding the Celtics, whose incredible 11 titles in 13 seasons with greats such as Bill Russell and Sam Jones, on all but one of those teams, had a great “dynasty type run” of 5 crowns in 7 seasons (’84-’90).
However, the Oilers have gone 32 completed seasons sans a crown, while the Celtics, who once had an incredible 40 percent of the NBA’s 40 crowns (16 in the league’s first 40 seasons, ’47-’86) have but one title (’08) in the 37 seasons since.
Meanwhile the New York Rangers whose last title was in a “4” year, (1994) and it ended a 54 year title drought.
New York again is a series underdog, roughly 7 to 5, despite having home advantage vs the Florida Panthers, last year’s final round losing team and looking for their first title in this, what is to be their 30th completed season, their first being 1994.
Two NBA semis qualifiers, the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves have never won a crown and have but one NBA final round appearance combined, that by “Indy” in 2000. (The Pacers, who won 3 ABA titles are in their 48th NBA season, the Wolves are in their 35th.
Minnesota is a decent sized series “fave” (say 8 plus to 5), vs the Dallas Mavericks, who as is the situation with fellow Dallas team, the NHL Stars, has one crown in their franchise history, the latter’s going back to its 25 years as the Minnesota North Stars.
Certainly, Bob Cousy, pictured above, an integral member of the first 6 Celtics’ title teams and 95 years old, ought to be cited along with Bill Russell, Sam Jones and many others, part of what “The Cooz” called the greatest of the sports dynasties, 11 titles in 13 seasons (’57-’69).
Yesterday, both road teams, first the Indiana Pacers, who ripped the New York Knicks and then the Minnesota Timberwolves who ousted the defending champion Denver Nuggets, prevailed in a game 7 to move into the NBA semi-final round.
It is likely only I “link” it as a repeat of a #7 played in the first season of the current 50 season span (1975-2024).
That ’75 game 7 was in the ABA West final and the Pacers, who have never met the Nuggets in the (each team has been in the NBA for 48 seasons) NBA ‘offs , won in Denver for the third time in that series, as the Timberwolves did vs the Nuggets last night.
The current Pacers, playing with a tribute to the great George McGinnis on their uniforms, won 3 ABA crowns, with McGinnis the most important of many excellent players on the repeat title teams of 1972 and 1973.
Indiana, now a huge series underdog vs the top ranked Boston Celtics, and the T-Wolves, a decent fave con home advantage vs “the sent to the foul line/semis,” Dallas Mavericks, have never won an NBA title and only Indy in 2000, when L.A. 6’d them in the final, has a final round appearance, in the two team’s combined 82 completed NBA seasons.
Aaron Nesmith, pictured above as a Boston Celtics player (the Celtics are say 9 to 1 series “faves” vs Indy), hit all 8 of his shots from the field, as the Pacers made it 5 of 6 wins in their last 6 series vs the Knicks, with incredible 67% shooting the key factor.
Many more notes ahead, but back to ’75, when the Pacers won 3 games at Denver including #7, as Minne did, completing such yesterday.
The Nuggets were an incredible (44-2) at home (regular season and playoffs, including a game 1 win vs the Pacers, before losing their last 3 home tilts and getting ousted by “Indy” in those ABA semis).
Andy B Sports 