Andrew Wiggins (This Andrew again watched none and fervently hopes there is no 7th, not because I want “G.S.” but because I do not want the hype. All my life, vs windmills and not good, smart or perhaps not even noble) had 26 points while Klay Thompson added 21, more than compensating for a Curry off night (just 16 points and 0 for 9 on those “ruined the game” 3’s) as Golden State (-3 plus) (104-94–all 5 have been decided by 10 points or more) vs Boston to lead the final, 3 games to 2.
The Warriors, who have won their last 2 potential title clinching games, however, doing so up (3-1) in ’17 and (3-0) in ’18 after failing in 4 straight, including 3 to lose the ’16 final after Silver, (now in protocol), in a horrible decision but what do you expect from a man encouraging gambling big time, suspended Dray Green.
The Warriors are (6-5) in potential title clinching games. Boston is a 4 point “fave” to force a 7th, which would be on a Sunday night in the Bay Area, a la the ’16 horror that cemented the greatness of the over rated Leb James, who watched all these playoffs as a BILLIONAIRE non participant. (Of course few cite THE SHOT by Kyrie Irving and the keep the Cavs in it #7 play of J.R. Smith).
#6 is a Thursday road tilt for the Warriors as was the case in ’16.
Andrew Wiggins, pictured above.
Only the ’85 Lakers have clinched a title as a road team, in Boston.
There will be other notes regarding the NHL Final in which the Tampa Bay Lightning are bidding for a third straight title.
I believe 15 times a team has won three straight crowns.
Surely I do not have all the times a team with two straight titles made the final in a bid for a third straight title, as is the case now with Tampa Bay, an underdog to the home advantage/Colorado Avalanche.
Thirteen years apart, three different two time champions, not only lost a final round entity in a bid for a third straight but were swept out in 4 straight games.
In 1963 the Los Angeles Dodgers, who would “title” again in 1965, denied the New York Yankees, by the way (44-16) (of the Roy and Brad’s once #), so far this season, a third straight title sweeping them in the World Series.
13 years later in ’76 the Montreal Canadiens won the first of four straight titles, denying the two time champion Philadelphia Flyers, sweeping them in the final series.
Another 13 years passed and in the ’89 NBA final, the Detroit Pistons won the first of their 2 straight titles denying the two time champion Lakers, sweeping the final in 4 straight games.
Isiah Thomas, pictured above, led the Pistons to 2 titles and 5 straight semis appearances from 1987-1991.
Steven Stamkos had both goals, the third period game winner just 21 seconds after the Rangers tied the score, as the two time champion Tampa Bay Lightning advanced to their third straight NHL final, winning (2-1) vs the Rangers in game 6.
Series star, Ondrej Palat (I had limited coverage of this series), who had last 90 seconds goals to win #’s 3 and 5 for “T.B.” had both secondary assists on the Stamkos goals.
The Lightning have now won 11 consecutive playoff series and will bid to become the first NHL team to win 3 straight titles since the New York Islanders won 4 straight from (1980-1983).
It will be, at least is “considered,” a tough task, as Colorado (Avalanche) is roughly a 2 to 1 series favorite.
Game 1 is Wednesday night in Colorado.
Steven Stamkos, pictured above.
The superb player, Steph Curry hit for 43 points, leading 4 point underdog, Golden State (Warriors) (107-97) at Boston, to square the 76th NBA final series at 2 games apiece.
It is only the second of the twelve Warriors’ final round series (the first three as Philly), that stands at two games apiece.
I actually watched most of it (John Most was biased but paradise by comparison to coverage that actually shrinks the screen to show vapid interviews with each team’s coach while the game, even in the 4th quarter proceeds), but am appalled that there was a sequence of say 4 minute unrealistic commercials promoting the mindless, followed by Steph bringing the ball up for seconds and then 4 more minutes of ads.
Game 5 is Monday night in San Francisco.
The Boston Celtics bounced back from a (107-88) road loss in #2 and won (116-100) at home in game 3, to take a (2-1) NBA final round lead vs the Golden State Warriors.
Again no close game and I watched none. Boston led by 12 at the half, again got outscored in the third quarter and as was the case in their game 1 road win, outscored “G.S.” decisively, (not as much as in game 1 when they trailed entering the “4th,” but did so by 13 points to win by 16, the # of points the Warriors had in the “4th” of game 1. Last night the Warriors had a pitiful 11), in the fourth quarter.
“Jay”len Brown led Boston with 27, “Jay”son Tatum had 26 while Marcus Smart added 24 for the Celtics, who had already achieved a road win in a final round series for the 21st time in 22 such entities. (Only in ’87 when L.A. took all 3 of their home tilts did Boston fail to win a road final round game).
It was a third straight game in which Steph Curry led all scorers, but it was not a win. Additionally Curry was injured, though likely and hopefully, will play in #4 on Friday night.
Click above for some highlights from what appears to be the Celtics’ game 5 title clinching win vs the Warriors in 1964. Then it was a 6th consecutive title.
If Boston, now over a 2 to 1 series favorite and (-4) in #4, prevails it would be just the Celtics’ second title in 36 seasons, (1/18) but a record 18th, one more than the Lakers, as the Celtics once had 16 of the NBA’s 40 crowns (’47-’86) (2/5 or 40 percent) and nearly half (11) of the first 23 NBA crowns (’47-’69) as they won an incredible 11 titles in 13 seasons (’57-’69).
This series is far from over!
Artturi Lehkonen scored an overtime, semi-final series clinching goal for the second straight season, lifting the Colorado Avalanche (6-5) OVER (I’ll say, but after (8-6), two “unders,” then this) the Edmonton Oilers to complete a 4 game sweep, that sends the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup Final since 2001.
Last year, Lehkonen scored in overtime of game 6, lifting Montreal to a big upset semi-final series win vs Las Vegas. This year his goal sends big series favorite Colorado to the final.
Tampa Bay (Lightning) beat the Canadiens in the subsequent, 2021 final. Right now, the New York Rangers lead the Lightning two game to one, in their semi-final series. That winner will face the ‘Lanche in the final, beginning who knows when (possible rust factor for Colorado, which will be the series favorite and they also have injuries).
Artturi Lehkonen, pictured above with the Habs (by the way, for a 28th consecutive season, there will be no Canada team Cup crown), scored at 1:39 of overtime last year and 1:19 of it this year to send the Habs and Avs respectively to the final round.
Below a good note transmitted on ESPN.com, however it ought to read Gordie did so in both the 1938 and 1939 semi-final round.
Lehkonen becomes the second player in NHL history, and first in 83 years, to score an overtime goal to send his club into the championship series more than once in his career. Toronto’s Gordie Drillon accomplished the feat in 1938-39.
Rafael Nadal, an, (if not THE) all-time great and rising star, Iga Swiatek took French Open crowns.
Nadal won his 14th such title, easing in straight sets vs Casper Ruud in the final. Nadal did “bark” as a near 2 to 1 underdog in the quarters vs Novak Djokovic, but otherwise, I believe was a prohibitive favorite in all his matches.
Ditto (I believe) Ms. Swiatek, who was a 5 to 1 favorite and also won a final in straight sets. She did so vs Cori Gauff.
Iga Swiatek, pictured above.
31 of the 32 NHL and NBA ‘offs teams have now lost at least one home game as Al Horford, called Big Al by a “would be ” Bucks’player (Giannis?) after the Celts 7’d defending champion “Milw” in the qtrs, hit for 26, as Boston outscored Golden State (now (9-1) at home in the ’22 ‘offs) (40-16) in the 4th quarter, in a (120-108) final round opening game win. (Only the other Boston winter sports team, the Bruins, did not lose a home ‘offs game, however, they were 7’d by Carolina in the NHL prelims).
Now the Celtics, opening line, plus 7 to 5 series u/dogs are roughly 8 to 5 series faves, putting Celts backers such as Jackie in pretty good shape, with a nice “hedging” option, seek to become the first team since the ’04 Pistons upset the Lakers to win both a road final round opening game and that series.
The Warriors fell to (8-4) in final round opening games, in losing a second straight such tilt. Home teams are now (10-2) in final round opening games, involving the Warriors.
(40-16) evokes memories of the great Wilt led ’67 76ers clinching 5th game, 1″40″ -1″16″ (oh to hear Andy Musser and Mr. Zinkoff regarding it!) semis win vs Boston, that broke the Celtics’ incredible 8 straight titles skein from (’59-’66). Those Sixers 6’d the Warriors in that year’s final.
Al Horford pictured above had played a record 141 ‘offs games without playing in a final round tilt until last night.
Tonight the NBA final to be contested by the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics commences.
Meanwhile one game in each NHL semi-final series has been played.
The New York Rangers scored 6 goals and the Colorado Avalanche allowed 6 goals, each team winning a home semi-final opening game.
Colorado is only (2-6) in previous “semis,” (0-2) as the Quebec Nordiques. Only in 2001, when they won their second and to date last title, did “Col” win both its home “semi” opener and said semi-final series.
It is even more “pronounced” regarding the New York Rangers, who have home advantage in a semi for the third time in their last four “semis” (had in ’15 and ’12, not in ’14) but for just the fourth time in 18 semis, dating back to 1950.
They opened a semi on the road 12 straight times also dating back to 1950 when they also last won both a home semi-final round opening game and that semi-final series.
In the NBA, the home team has prevailed in 15 of the last 16 final round opening games, (’05-2021 with the 2020 game(s) played in a so called “bubble.” Only the 2013 San Antonio Spurs won a final round opening game on the road in that span and they lost that final in 7 to the Miami Heat.
Detroit (Pistons) in 2004 were the last team to both win a road final round opening game and win the crown.
In 10 of the previous 11 Warriors’ final round opening games, the home team won 10 with the Warriors going (7-0) at home and (1-3) on the road.
“G.S.” is the only team among the 32 ‘offs participants in the NBA and NHL that is unbeaten at home (9-0) and advanced at least one round. (The Bruins were (3-0) at home but lost in 7 to Carolina, which in turn took a (7-0) home record into a #7 “qtrs” loss to the Rangers, who now have won a franchise record 7 straight home ‘offs games).
The great player, Rick Barry, pictured above led the Warriors to both the lone road team win by either team in a Warriors’ final and the subsequent series win in 1975.
In reflection I treasure an interview I conducted with Mr. Barry at the 1987-1988 season NBA “Hall” game, in which he talked about a late non call that went against his Warriors in the ’67 final, an eventual first title win for Wilt Chamberlain. A great Sixers’ team won that series in 6 games, winning a close 6th in S.F. after failing to clinch on TV in a home 5th.
Igor Shesterkin, the likely Vezina Trophy winner for the past regular season, made 37 saves and the New York Rangers eased (6-2) at Carolina in game 7, to advance to their first NHL “semi” since 2015.
They will face the two time defending champion, Tampa Bay Lightning, an early, roughly 9 to 5 series favorite, the same team that won the ’15 semi in 7 games.
That was the only time the Rangers ever lost a home 7th game, they are (8-1) in such and (11-6) in any 7th game, having won three straight road 7th’s, to be (3-5) in those tilts, all-time.
Meanwhile, since becoming the Carolina Hurricanes after leaving Hartford (Whalers), the franchise is now (6-1) in game 7.
In a 10 year, 11 season span, the Rangers have played two 7th games (more this season?) in one ‘offs season, four times. (’12, ’14, ’15 and 2022).
Igor Shesterkin, the outstanding New York Rangers’ goaltender, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 