Andy B Sports

Oh the technology as I have been unable to copy/paste and thus no “Sooner or Later” or “Never Can Say Good Bye” as all teams (you check it, nobody else does and it is frustrating in this desert, but I think only the ’96 Bulls and 2018 Warriors went unbeaten at home in the NBA ‘offs in the 36 seasons (’88-2023), lose at home and though it called for it, perhaps for the better, I NEVER can “step in” big or even fairly big.

“Anywho” Miami “barked” as a roughly 3 to 1 underdog for an incredible sixth time in these ‘offs to square a “Breen” NBA final for the ninth time in his 18 (odd that it is chai, neither the Celtics or Lakers, bidding for a chai/18th title got there so all hail Breen, a product of Catholic schools).

Sorry for the paucity of details, even notes as now Denver, as I stated a too high 550/800 fave after #1 is a more reasonable (-265) series and (-2 plus) #3 in MIami Wednesday night “fave.”

One pick, though Miami resembles the 50 years ago, ’73 title winning Knicks with losses in #5 road semi and #6 home semi before winning at Boston in #7 and then losing #1 but winning #2 of the final, I doubt the Heat and likely favored Denver will win the next 3, thus Silver/ABC will get at least a 6th and maybe a fourth Breen #7.

As is so often said “always follow the $$$.

The Las Vegas Golden Knights, in their second NHL final round in their six year existence, scored three, third period goals, to (5-2) the Florida Panthers, handing them a fifth loss in as many final round games.

Zach Whitecloud had the go ahead to stay, game winning goal, breaking a (2-2) tie with 12:48 left in the third period.

“L.V.” is now (2-0) in NHL final openers, the Panthers by definition are (0-2).

After “Vegas” opened “Wash” on Memorial Day night in ’18, the Caps reeled off 4 straight wins to get what is their lone crown in 48 completed seasons. (Actually no NHL season in ’05).

This was the seventh straight win by the home team in the final round opening game, the third longest such streak in best of 7 (began in 1939) NHL final series. (The home team prevailed in a fairly incredible 13 consecutive final round openers (’53-’65), winning the title each time and 8 straight seasons (’71-’78), winning the crown 6 times).

The #1 winner became the NHL #1 in ’16 and ’17 (Penguins) and the last two seasons (‘Tampa Bay in ’21 and the geographically close to Las Vegas, Colorado Avalanche last year), while as cited, L.V. lost 4 straight to Washington in ’18 and the Bruins then under current “Vegas” coach, Bruce Cassidy, lost in 7 to St. Louis, each team doing so after winning game 1.

By the way and admittedly it is sour “cherry” to a degree, did Kenny Albert in his first full NHL final, on a day his father hailed 2 others, note what I noted? (Don Cherry is nicknamed grapes. Alas dreams and goals, especially those in broadcasting sans “pull,” do wither/hurt to an exponential power without the aid of the sun.

In a game I could have watched as the final round is beamed over the air, but did not, the phone “said” Denver first and (104-93) as 9 point game 1 “faves” at home vs the Miami Heat.

Though I still believe nobody goes unbeaten at home for the entire ‘offs and thus feel that and Silver/ABC not “chancing” another (3-0) could well yield Miami in #2 and conceivably the series, I might have to just hope Jamal Murray (26 points) and not Nikola Jokic (27 points) is the final round MVP in what appears an inevitable Denver first crown in this their 56th season (things end at 56 including Mr. Lincoln’s life and Joe DiMaggio hitting streak, among much else) and 47th in the NBA.

Regarding #2 on Sunday night in Denver (Nuggets are -8 plus, 3 plus to 1 game “faves” and though I think I see handwriting on the wall up ahead, a vigged/ 590/850 Denver favored price is too high), I will try to at least stay up.

In ’75, some research and my great recall seems to indicate Denver, in its first year as the Nuggets in what was the eighth and penultimate ABA season (they were the Rockets in their first seven) went (40-2) at home in their small arena.

However, led by the great play of a forgotten and too criticized star named George McGinnis, the Indiana Pacers who as is the case with the Nets are sans an NBA title in 47 completed seasons, (Only the Spurs, who notched 4 in 15 seasons (’99-2014) among the 4 ABA teams that remain have ever won a crown) won games 2,5 and 7 at Denver, to take their “semi. The next season, the ABA’s last, again the Nuggets had the ABA’s best record, however, in game 1 of the final round, a brilliant effort by Julius Erving led a/the series’ only road team win, at the new McNichols Arena.

The Nets led by Erving and a superb “radio only” (with John Sterling, no less), #6 on a Thursday night, by John Williamson took the last ABA crown.

Erving, a team jumper, went to Philly and for his first 6 seasons there, wearing #6, there was no Sixers/Philly crown.

Finally on Tuesday May 31, 1983 with Erving clearly behind the late great Moses Malone and before Jimmy Butler, a Celtics problem, Andrew Toney in team importance, the Sixers won their second, the franchise’s third (Dolph Schayes whose son Danny was on a Nuggets “semi” loser in ’85, led the Nationals to the ’55 title and as he said on my show as my mother was finally able to get the call through to Mr. Schayes, an exceptionally nice man–’twas George King who made the big plays in the #7 Nats’ win) and to date last crown.

Now forty years to the day of no 614, (still haunts!!), Denver gets a final round, opening game win and are (13-3), I believe (13-3) vs the spread and (9-0) at home in these ‘offs.

Very few NBA or NHL teams have gone unbeaten at home in say the 47 seasons of the Nuggets. Maybe Denver will be an exception. I still say no, but think they will “title.”

NEW YORK — Hoops Cabaret in New York City will be showing the UFC 289 event live on June 10th. Fans can view the matches while also enjoying the beautiful Hoops Cabaret girls who perform on stages and up close and personal. 

UFC double champion Amanda Nunes will face Mexican challenger Irene Aldana in the main event.

Nunes (22-5) is universally considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world. Aldana (14-6) is a former Invicta FC title challenger with an 8-4 record in the UFC. She has won six of her past eight.

The UFC 289 card also features a lightweight matchup between Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush.

The live show from Rogers Arena in Vancouver will be shown on the Hoops Giant Mega-Tron Video Wall and numerous HD TVs and flat screens throughout the three-story club giving every seat a clear view of all the action. 

Hoops Cabaret combines the excitement of a gentlemen’s club with the fun of a sports bar. Lots of gorgeous Hoops girls, and an exciting UFC card–sounds like fun! And, check out the VIP Man Cave!

HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar 48 West 33rd Street, New York City

*Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC

A 21st different, current NHL franchise will win the Stanley Cup as this year’s opponents, the slightly favored NHL West “1” seed Las Vegas Golden Knights and East “8” seed Florida Panthers, the latter as is the case with fellow South Florida “8” seed finalist, Miami (Heat) barely made the ‘offs, are both (0-1) in previous NHL final appearances.

In fact, each team has a 4 game final round losing streak.

The Golden Knights lost games (2-5) vs the Washington Capitals in the 2018 NHL final, the last time two teams sans a Stanley Cup crown, met in the NHL final.

Meanwhile the Panthers were swept out in 4 straight games (Uwe Krupp’s late Monday night 3rd overtime goal, the game’s only, clinched it. ? if Uwe Krupp scores late on a Monday night/Tuesday morning to clinch the Cup, does anybody see it? Then I watched almost all the games and certainly the Cup clinchers, now it is an all TNT final with Kenny Albert, the lead announcer no less. In days the NHL had no major U.S. TV contract and Albert’s “paved his way” father was the “lead,” I recall watching those tilts on over the air, albeit independent television stations), by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1996 final.

This year’s NBA final is a MIami/Denver redux of that ’96 NHL final with Denver (Nuggets) a too big 4 to 1 or so “fave.”

It was very easy for the Las Vegas Golden Knights, building a (3-0) first period lead and cruising to a (6-0) win at Dallas to “6” the Stars. It will be the Golden Knights’ 2nd final round appearance in the franchise’s 6 seasons.

More 6’s, as now Eric Spoelstra has guided the Miami Heat to a 6th NBA final round appearance (2-3 in previous) in 13 seasons (2011-2023), as they fairly comfortably “barked” (I warned but as seemingly always did not cash) plus 8 or so for a third at Boston win in their semi.

Teams down (3-0) fell to (0-151) in the NBA and to (4-202) in the NHL, (0-48) in semis..

Alas this was the first Celtics’ season after the great Bill Russell’s death and since last season we lost two of my heroes, Jim Brown and Bobby Hull.

Jim and Bobby, true greats won 1 title each while Mr. Russell, matched only by Henri Richard won 11.

Al Lewis talked of the death blow dealt the Celtics when Len Bias died. They had won their 16th NBA crown and as was the case after #14 (Bob Cousy’s # and how lame was the East Conference Trophy presentation, an award named for Cousy, as it was the road Heat that won) in 1981 when they had 40 percent of the NBA crowns, 16 in 40 was again 40 percent.

Now after 1 title in 37 seasons, they are still tied at 17 with the Lakers (5 in Minneapolis, so Boston has the most (ode to Johnny) by far of any NBA city) and 17 of 77 is 22 percent.

Harlan, 5 times a team overcame a (3-0) series deficit.

You named only 4, leaving out a Boston team, the Bruins dissipating such a series lead vs the Flyers in 2010.

Do your homework, Harlan!!

In 1981, the Boston Celtics defeated a team from Texas, the Houston Rockets in 6 games, to win their 14th NBA crown and after that win in a delayed tape broadcast, that number of titles represented an astounding 40 percent of the 35 NBA titles.

The Dallas Stars, then in Minnesota, as the North Stars, made its league’s final for the first time in what was the franchise’s 14th season, but were 5’d by a repeat New York Islanders crown.

While the Stars, as were the Celtics, down (3-0) in its “semi” (Boston/Miami and Dallas/Las Vegas), doubled the Golden Knights (4-2) in an ABC tilt to force #6 concurrently with the East 7th as Derrick White snuck in and put back a Smart miss, yielding #7 for TNT, with Boston opening as an 8 point fave in a now likely, even very likely (but be careful as the idiots that comprise the mainstream media, those same ones who ripped the Celtics and their coach Mazzullo, after they fell down (3-0), will consider a Boston #7 win, an automatic and it is not!) first in 151 occurrence.

Again, be careful as a Celtics’ win, while likely, is far from automatic.

Hopefully before #7NBA East and #6 NHL West, some better notes here.

The NBA does not deserve it, (certainly its gambling encouraging, “czar” named Silver, does not!!) but tonight it gets a #6/semis with Boston a 3 point “fave” (it is ok to cite lines as even the N.Y. Times did when it had no “lines” page back when), at Miami (Heat).

If the Celtics, bidding to end an 0 for 150 all-time loss skein for teams down (3-0) in an NBA best of 7 series, become the 4th team in that spot to force a 7th game, the NBA and TNT, which I refuse to pay extra to view, get a ratings bonanza Memorial Day night #7 (I guess with work the next day, maybe not that big, let’s hope in any case).

Boston has won on the road, facing elimination in the ‘offs, 15 times, twice already this season (#6 on a Friday night at Philadelphia vs the Sixers, a 4th such Friday occurrence–the others being #7/’68 semis, a no TV game that broke my heart and in consecutive years in the ’81 and ’82 semis when I rooted hard for Boston (as regarding James who is beyond great but over rated, I did not care for Erving, who was great in the ABA–all I will say– and in #4 of the current series vs Miami).