Today, a Saturday and no ‘offs action on April 30th as the NBA is on to the quarters with no 7th games in their prelims while the NHL playoffs finally are upon us as the endless “reg” has just the meaningless, make up Seattle at Winnipeg tilt tomorrow.
“We” previewed and noted Celts/Bucks where the Middleton injury is an “odds key.”
Now Miami has moved from just under a 2 to 1 series fave to just under 4 to 1 as Sixers’ key player Joel Embid is out indefinitely.
Oh the injuries and do they ever realize the longer the ‘offs season (it ended on this date in ’71 with the current champion Bucks’ first title) goes, the more likely there will be injuries. It is about attrition more and more and less and less about the best or even better team.
In the Western Conference, Devon Booker is seemingly back and top ranked Phoenix (Suns) are a nice favorite vs the Dallas Mavericks.
The Warriors will be nice favorites vs the Memphis Grizzlies, I would think.
The great player, Oscar Robertson, pictured as a Cincinnati Royals player, won his lone title in his first season with the Bucks.
Milw (118-106) on a Friday night, 51 years ago on this date to clinch the crown.
One of the four NBA quarterfinal series is set and it will match the East “2” seed Boston Celtics and the defending NBA champion, East “3” seed, Milwaukee Bucks.
A Bucks star Khris Middleton is injured and Boston is nearly a 2 to 1 series favorite.
Even before this, what will be their 4th “quarters” clash, the Celts and Bucks had the rare distinction of meeting at all 4 levels of playoffs series competition, as they met in a memorable NBA final in 1974, when the Bucks were housed in the NBA’s Western Conference.
Boston won that series in 7, winning thrice on the Bucks’ home court including #7 on Mother’s Day (Milw won twice in Boston) and are (5-2) in previous ‘offs series vs Milwaukee.
The Celts won both semis clashes, each in route to the title, going (8-1) in such wins vs the Bucks in ’84 and ’86.
Milwaukee has the edge (2-1) in previous quarters, winning the last 4 and the ’19 quarter in 5 and sweeping Boston in ’83. Boston won in 7 in ’87.
In the lone prelim clash, the Celts prevailed in 2018.
It will be (1-1) and (2-2), a tough series, but I will “go” fair sized “chalk,” and say Celts in 6. (None of the previous 7 Celts/Bucks series, all best of 7, ended in 6 games).
The great John Havlicek, pictured above was the 1974 final series MVP.
That series was on CBS with Pat Summerall, so much better known for football, as the lead broadcaster.
In the American Basketball Association’s nine seasons, the Indiana Pacers (3) and then New York Nets (2) combined to win more than half of the league’s titles.
They and the Denver Nuggets, three of the four teams “absorbed” into the NBA, beginning with the ’76-’77 season, have never won an NBA crown.
Only the San Antonio Spurs, who have an impressive five, none in their first 22 seasons, among the four “absorbed” teams have won an NBA title.
Click below to view a nice piece narrated by Bob Devorshak about the ABA’s first title team, the Pittsburgh Pipers led by Connie Hawkins.
Three teams took (3-0) NBA preliminary round series leads, the ’67 NBA final opponents, the Warriors and 76ers and last night the Celtics, in every final from (’57-’69) except the one in ’67.
Philly still leads Toronto (3-1) while Golden State today at Denver, and the Celtics tomorrow at truly underachieving Brooklyn, will attempt to complete 4 game sweeps.
Likely “quarters” opponents for the Sixers and Celts, are the Miami Heat and defending champion, Milwaukee Bucks, each with (2-1) series leads vs Atlanta (Hawks) and Chicago (Bulls) respectively.
Why do I feel there will be yet another Sixers/Celtics semi. There is still a long way to go before that manifests, if it ever does.
The following players, coaches and officials involved in the referenced 1967 NBA final, won by Philly in 6 games, vs the then S.F. Warriors, made the “Hall.”
| Hall of Famers |
76ers:
|
|---|
Trust me, this is not easy or fun, however, perspective manifests, thinking how the truly great player Guy Lafleur, who died too young at age 70, exceeded the great expectations regarding him, ones I recall “Ike,” (Dr. Howard Eichenstein) stating one long ago day on a stairs landing when we were still in high school.
As the (Montreal Canadiens) team’s superb netminder, Ken Dryden stated and as I cited regarding such as Bill Russell, Joe DiMaggio and another Canadiens’ legendary superb player, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur was the best player on the best team.
The (’76-’79) Canadiens, who titled in each of those seasons, were no ordinary “best team,” they were as I have opined in past posts, close to the best hockey team ever and on a short list of any sport’s greatest teams.
Lafleur led that team, scoring 50 or more goals in all 4 Cup winning seasons, 6 straight overall (he also was on the ’73 title winning team coached by Scotty Bowman, who coached 5 title winners in his 8 seasons as Habs coach).
Those Canadiens teams, especially the ’76 and ’77 vintage were so dominant and almost made all others including excellent Bruins, Flyers, and Islanders teams (the Isles would have their day and it is so sad that we lost greats, Mike Bossy and Mr. Lafleur within a week) playing for second best.
Guy had the Cup winning goal at Philadelphia, breaking a tie fairly late in the third period of game 4 in ’76.
Lafleur was my choice as “Athlete of the Year” in 1977, as the Habs had an incredible 60 wins, 8 losses, 12 ties (remember ties and I add the juxtaposition of that Canadiens’ team and the current one’s awful mark is truly sad) in 1976-1977 and again won the title, this time losing 2 ‘0ffs games, one more than they lost going (12-1) in the ’76 playoffs.
Lafleur had both assists including an overtime set up of the superb player, Jacques Lemaire, who finished the series with a goal in overtime of game 4, at Boston, as Montreal swept the final series.
It took 6 games to win vs the Bruins in ’78 and it was Mr. Lafleur that ruined Gerry Cheevers great effort in goal for the Bruins, with a goal in overtime of game 2, as I fruitlessly rooted for Boston, watching on a little television in my room with my father and a man named Pasquale “Pat” Bartolone.
We all were effusive in our praise of the one and only “Flower” or “Le Demon Blond” (oh how his hair moved, as he skated with increased speed, evoking memories of “The Golden Jet,” Bobby Hull) after the tilt.
My most special memory and I believe the greatest of all Guy’s moments came in the following playoffs season, one in which the Canadiens would again prevail, but not without a real struggle.
They did not get the league’s top mark (it went to the Isles, who were semi’d in 6 by the Rangers, a crushing low point for the “still no crowns or even a final round appearance Islanders–oh how that changed in the next 5 seasons!) and in the semis, Boston led Montreal by a goal (4-3) late in the third period of #7 at the fabled Montreal Forum on a Thursday night in May 1979.
Yes, Montreal got a break when Boston was penalized for having too many men on the ice but as is often the case the media dwells on the negative and not the fact, it was a perfect shot by Lafleur that got by Gilles Gilbert, who played one of the greatest games ever for a goaltender, albeit in defeat when Yvon Lambert won it for Montreal in overtime, to tie the game in the last minute or so.
I know Guy was nearly killed in a car accident, what over 40 years ago, but his death took a man that was too young, and too soon.
Somehow, the three other Canadiens honored with statues outside the Bell Centre (let’s not sugarcoat, Montreal has not “titled” since moving from The Forum, the Celtics have but one post Boston Garden crown and even the Yankees have just one World Series win, that in their only pennant winning season since moving Yankee Stadium’s location another stop north on the 4 train), Howie Morenz, who died tragically young at age 37, Maurice “Rocket” Richard and the classy Jean Beliveau, the only one of the four I met, will greet Guy Lafleur welcoming him to their “place,” a different concept of one Guy shared with them on earth and in Montreal Canadiens annals, as the greatest player on an era’s greatest team.
The 8 NHL East ‘offs participants have essentially been known for quite a while. There is still major uncertainty involving the positions, however, the eight teams are known.
Five of the eight have won The Stanley Cup since 2006 (The T.B. Lightning having won the last two, Pittsburgh Penguins won in both ’16 and ’17 as well as ’09, the “Wash” Capitals won their first and only crown as recently as 2018, the Boston Bruins won it in 2011 and the Carolina Hurricanes took the title in 2006.
The other 3 East ‘offs qualifiers have won but one title in 133 possible seasons (’68-2021 with no season in ’05, the Panthers’ first season was ’94) since the Toronto Maple Leafs won one in 1967. (As stated here before, the late Alex Trebek narrated that year’s Stanley Cup highlights film).
That crown was won by the New York Rangers, a 2022 surprise team that is battling Carolina for the “reg” Metropolitan Division title and the 2 seed, behind the Florida Panthers in the East, having done so in “same calendar” 1994.
Florida has never even won a Cup Final game having been swept out by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1996 final. Do not look now, (I will look at the West down the road) but the ‘Lanche and Panthers will almost certainly be conference top seeds, which however, has meant very little in terms of ‘offs success.
Joe Sakic, pictured years back as a player, helped lead the ‘Lanche to titles in ’96 and ’01 and is now a team executive.
This is truly a terrible year for the New York Islanders. Terrible for them is their disappointing “miss the playoffs” season. Virtually tragic, is the fact two greats from their glorious past, Clark Gilles and now the superb/ all-time type goal scorer, Mike Bossy have died far too young.
I knew Bossy was sick and though news of his death was not a shock, it resonates in hurt/lost time and “oh so much loss,” ways.
His great glory was exhibited on so many occasions, one I believe a Saturday night when he hit the 50 goals scored mark in his fiftieth game. The feat electrified the Nassau Coliseum crowd!
Even greater glory to me anyway, watching in ’82, with Dad and Ike, none of us really or even “at all,” Islanders’ fans and seeing Mr. Bossy grab the Conn Smythe Trophy as outstanding ‘offs performer, as the Islanders clinched their third straight title, completing a 4 game final round sweep, on a Sunday night in Vancouver vs the Canucks.
Bossy was an incredible goal scorer and the Islanders were an incredible team, winning 4 straight titles (’80-’83), reaching 5 straight final rounds (’80-’84) and making at least the “semis” nine of ten times from (’75-’84).
39 years have passed since title #4 in same calendar 1983. Gillies and Bossy have died, next year the same “40 years” derision aimed at the Rangers’ failures can be aimed at the Isles.
Alas, that and any of the derision is not my CUP (pun intended) of choice. Those Islanders rank with any team and one might choose them over any, save the greatest of the Montreal Canadiens’ teams.
Mr. Bossy born in Montreal may not have been the greatest goal scorer ever, but it sure does not take long to call his name on that list.
Another true great gone. So sad, but some solace in having seen his goal scoring, sniping, brilliant play.
Click below to view Mike Bossy matching the legendary Maurice “Rocket” Richard with his 50th goal in 50 games. Jiggs MacDonald an excellent broadcaster makes the call, Ed Westfall a fine player and decent analyst adds some words.
Recently I was fortunate to see a truly, fantastic, emotionally moving play, Eugene O’Neill’s “A Touch Of The Poet,” at The Irish Repertory Theatre (134 West 22nd Street in Manhattan, that is N.Y. not Kansas–the latter state having the 2022 NCAA title winners).
Directed by Ciaran O’Reilly and with a brilliant actor Robert Cuccioli (my friend, actress Chris MacLeod, who also liked the performance, has admired and even had a “crush” on him since seeing him in “Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,”) leading an amazing cast, “A Touch Of The Poet,” set in 1828 Boston is entertaining, humorous, and still resonates as a story of fitting in/adjusting as immigrants to a “stacked vs whomever” system, that sadly still applies nearly 200 years later.
Cuccioli pulls off the angst, wit and all that is the complex ‘Cornelius “Con” Melody, getting great support and scenes, especially from his determined, feisty daughter, ‘Sara,’ played so effectively by Belle Aykroyd and his wife ‘Nora,’ played in marvelous fashion by Kate Forbes.
The whole cast is stellar. It includes James Russell, Andy Murray (between tennis matches), Mary McCann, David Beck, Rex Young, David Sitier, John C. Vennema and Emma O’Donnell.
What an experience, seeing a Eugene O’Neill play at a great venue, The Irish Repertory Theatre!
Robert Cuccioli, as Cornelius “Con” Melody in a “Touch Of The Poet.”
After there were no World Series rematches in the first weekend of baseball, there were 2 during the second patch of games and one this weekend.
In the 1965 World Series redux between the L.A. Dodgers and Minnesota Twins, played in Minne, where L.A. 7’d the Twins 57 years earlier, L.A. repeated by the same winning scores as their home wins in #’s 4 and 5 in the ’65 World Series.
Then (1965) Don Drysdale and L.A. won (7-2) in #4, the same score the ‘2022 Dodgers won last Tuesday. On Wednesday, L.A. won (7-0), getting 7 perfect innings before shamefully being lifted, from Clayton Kershaw, repeating the win behind Sandy Koufax in #5 of the ’65 World Series.
That year Sandy pitched a perfect game on September 9th and is among the greatest pitchers ever, in my opinion, the best since Robert Moses “Lefty” Grove.
Kershaw has been a great pitcher in the “reg,” not so in post-season. I am not a big fan of Kershaw, however, he deserved a chance at becoming one of the so few to pitch a perfect game.
There was one redux game of the ’85 World Series. That year the K.C. Royals 7’d the St. Louis Cardinals, holding them to one run thrice and shutting them out (11-0) in #7. (In the ’34 World Series, St. Louis won at Detroit by the same (11-0) score in #7).
“St. Loo” won (6-5) on Tuesday.
The third redux involves the ’54 W.S. opponents the Giants, then in New York and now in their 65th year in San Francisco vs Cleveland, until this season the Indians and now the Guardians.
In ’54 the Giants swept Cleveland. Both this weekend and for the year, I predict up for Cleveland and down for the Giants after their 107 win season last year.
Johnny Antonelli, pictured above, won game 2 of the World Series for the Giants in 1954.
Andy B Sports 