CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

In the East…

76ers-Heat

Bucks-Celtics

I’m going with Miami and Milwaukee

In the West…

Warriors-Grizzlies

Suns-Mavericks

Gimme Golden State and Dallas.

50-50 BALLS

Chris Paul was amazing Thursday night in Game 6 against the New Orleans Pelicans. In the closeout game the Suns beat New Orleans, 115-109.

Phoenix wins the series 4-2. Paul scored 33 points 14-14 FG 5 rebounds 8 assists

In the series Paul played 220 minutes, dished out 68 assists, and turned it over just nine times.

An NIL agent for a college basketball player (yeah, there are such people now) says his client who plays for the Miami Hurricanes said if the Canes don’t get his client a better deal, that they are transferring. You knew it was a matter of time. Players have leverage.

Mavericks eliminated the Jazz Thursday night winning the series 4-2.

TNT posted a Mavericks stat during last night’s game: Most playoff games with 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, & 5+ assists. Dirk did it 4 games. Luka in 3 and Brooklyn’s own, Rolando Blackman did it once.

Who comes back to play first, Zion or Brooklyn Ben?

Speaking of Brooklyn Ben, before anything he should suit up for Australia in the summer.

Warriors eliminated the Nuggets 4-1. 3-point shooting for Golden State was bananas. Klay 22-48…Steph 19-47… Poole 15-31… for a total of 56-126. Denver was 56-157 as a team.

GREAT GAME. BAD BUSINESS

There’s no denying the game of basketball has changed over the years; not just on the court but off it as well.

Let’s start with blaming the coach. Now I understand finger-pointing and scapegoating has been around for decades but for some reason it seems to be at an all-time high these days. When things go wrong, fire the coach.

Case in point; the Brooklyn Nets were swept by the Bostont Celtics in their first round matchup. There are people actually saying Steve Nash is not the right guy for the job. It’s only his second year in charge. Do we hold the players accountable? Do we mention how poorly certain guys played? Or, how about the guys who refuse to play?

Kyrie Irving wasn’t very good in the series; that’s not Steve Nash’s fault.

Nic Claxton shot 1-11 from the free-throw line in game 4. Was that Nash missing those shots? No of course not. Nash is a 90% career free-throw shooter. Wonder if Claxton was in the gym today working on his weakness? The Nets have 20 assistant coaches – you would think one guy would grab Claxton and get in the gym with him to rebound. Maybe they have? Claxton should make 100 free-throws every day this off-season. He was 1-11 last night, 4-22 in series.

There’s blame to be shared all around. Blame the coach if you want but Steve Nash is not why the Nets were swept. The Celtics were tougher and played harder.

I’m not a Kyire Irving fan, I don’t think you can win with him as your point guard. Wait, you can win a few games with him but he can’t take a team to the next level. Great player. And like Jay Williams said, “highly skilled.” But being skilled doesn’t always equate to winning. Irving had 21 assists in four games. That’s not good enough. He’s the point guard. Good thing is he only had 7 turnovers. He’s gotta share the ball more. He looks to shoot first, pass second.

The Nets were without Joe Harris, their starting shooting guard. He would have made a huge difference. Let’s look at the final scores from the four game series.

115-114

114-107

109-103

116-112

All close games. It’s not like Boston blew the Nets out of the water.

Kevin Durant had 2 offensive rebounds in 176 minutes. That’s unacceptable. Would love to see him get in the post and also crash the offensive glass.

Anyone who thinks Steve Nash is not the right guy to coach Brooklyn is clueless.

Everyone should be held accountable. Not just the coach.

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

MOST SKILLED OR A WINNER?

Miss the days of waking up early on Saturday and Sunday to go play ball. Those were the days my friend.

Do you want a highly skilled player or do you want a winner?

How about the Boston Celtics? This squad is ballin’.

Jayson Tatum did work Saturday night against the Nets to give the C’s a 3-0 lead in the best of seven. (45 minutes, 39 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 6 steals) Tatum is the first Celtics player in their franchise playoff history with 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game.

There were a ton of Boston fans at Barclays. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have to be better.

Jaylen Brown added 23 points for Boston on 9-16 shooting.

Durant finished with 16 points on 6-11 shooting and 8 rebounds. He did dish out 8 assists. He also turned the ball over 5 times. KD was 2-3 from 3 and 2-2 from the line.

Kyrie had 16 points – including 0-7 from 3. He was 6-17 overall from the floor. 9 assists and 2 turnovers.

And of course Twitter is killing Steve Nash. So easy to blame the coach because well, people like easy. And they like to point the finger.

Brooklyn had zero juice. Boston played harder and tougher. It seemed like the game meant more to them. The energy and effort was non-stop by the C’s. Nets looked like they were on cruise control. Like it was a game being played in January.

Mark Jackson was talking about Celtics fans earlier in the year saying they should trade Brown or Tatum. Jeff Van Gundy replied, “That’s why if you listen to the fans, you’ll end up sitting with them.”

Basketball reference may just be the best basketball website on the net. Only junkies need to visit. Last night they posted this incredible fact:

Jayson Tatum is the 12th player to have at least 35 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, and 5 STL in a playoff game. He joins: Rick Barry Jimmy Butler Patrick Ewing Magic Johnson Khris Middleton Johnny Moore Gary Payton Isiah Thomas Russell Westbrook Allen Iverson Michael Jordan.

WOW!

Payton Pritchard has played very well in the series. In 36 minutes off the bench he’s 10-13 from the field. 3-6 from downtown. Last night he had 10 points in 12 minutes.

JVG was in rare form last night: “Sometimes there are no good answers. But you gotta keep on trying to find them.”

One more from him:

“When your best player is committed to the defensive end of the floor, as a coaching staff, you can push the others to give commitment and effort.”

Mary J Blige was sitting court side along with Trevor Noah and Spike Lee.

CP3

“I will always bet on great players with great character.” -Jeff Van Gundy

Chris Paul has been amazing against the New Orleans Pelicans in their best of seven series.

In the first three games in which Phoenix leads 2-1, Paul has 38 assists and 2 turnovers in 111 minutes. That’s an incredible ratio even Hubie Brown would like.

Last night in the Suns 114-111 win CP3 had 14 assists and 0 turnovers. Matter of fact he’s now gone two straight games with 28 assists and 0 turnovers. Crazy.

Detroit native Willie Green has done a very good job in his first year as head coach of the Pelicans.

Speaking of Detroit, the Tigers fans are wrong – walking Miguel Cabrera was the right thing to do.

How about Grayson Allen of the Bucks last night? 22 points on 5-7 from distance.

Luca Vildoza, the player who Knicks fans thought were going to help their franchise last year made his NBA debut last night for the Bucks. He knocked down a 3. Van Gundy said, “Once a Knick, always a Knick.”

Today’s playoff schedule:

2:00 PM 76ers-Raptors. Philadelphia looks for the sweep.

4:30 Mavericks and Jazz. Luka has not played the first 3 games, Mavs up 2-1.

7:30 Celtics are in Brooklyn. C’s up 2-0. Flatbush and Atlantic avenues will be rockin’.

10:00 Grizzlies-Timberwolves. Memphis up 2-1.

Enjoy the games…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

EVERYONE LOVES DRAYMOND

Draymond is the captain of the All-PTRW team.

The Golden State Warriors lead the Denver Nuggets 3-0 in their best of seven series. Draymond has 25 assists in the series with just 5 turnovers. The Saginaw, Michigan native had a big steal last night on Nikola Jokic to secure the victory. Warriors were up 5 with :35 left in the game and Jokic started to back Draymond down. Green made a nice steal and it was all she wrote for the Nuggets. The guy is incredible. Has been for many years.

THURSDAY NIGHT PLAYOFFS

Three games tonight:

Grizzlies at Timberwolves: Series tied at 1.

Mavericks at Jazz: Series tied at 1. (No Luka for Dallas)

Nuggets-Warriors: Warriors up 2-0.

I’m going to miss Jay Wright at Villanova. The Wildcats played the right way.

Did you see Joel Embiid knock down the game winning 3 Wednesday night in OT. This cat is unreal.

Celtics up 2-0 on the Nets as the series shifts to Brooklyn. They’ll be rockin’ on Flatbush and Atlantic Saturday night.

Grant Williams gave the Celtics a big lift in Game 2. In 32 minutes he was 4-4 from the field including 3-3 from distance and 6-6 from the free-throw line for 17 points.

Nets need Ben Simmons – his defense that is.

J.J, Redick is whack for saying Bob Cousy played against firemen and plumbers. One thing you can’t do is compare players from the 1950’s and today. I try to stay away from all that talk but I know it’s fun.

R.I.P. Marty Cohen. Marty was a good dude from my neighborhood in Brooklyn.

Enjoy the games…

SOLID BASKETBALL

I’m really impressed with the first few days of the NBA playoffs.

Earlier this season I was down on the league. Matter of fact I stopped watching for a good part of the season.

News out of the college game, Jay Wright is retiring. Who replaces the legend? Not going to be easy. Wright is one of the Top 3 Coaches in the college game.

Marcus Smart was named Defensive Player-of-The-Year but Draymond Green is the best defensive player in the game. Smart not only defends well but he also has the record for most 3’s in a single game for Boston with 11. Larry Bird and Danny Ainge each hit 7 for their high.

Bob Oliva, former coach at Christ the King High School in Queens, New York has died. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2022/04/19/bob-oliva-disgraced-former-new-york-city-high-school-basketball-coach-dies/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Carrie&sh=32aa903e75a9

NEW COACH FOR THE LAKERS

Day 3 of the playoffs I was only able to catch 76ers-Raptors and some of the Jazz-Mavericks. Missed Warriors-Nuggets. This old man wakes up at 5:30 AM so for the first time in my life I am putting move value into sleep over watching late night NBA playoff games.

Sixers over Toronto, 112-97. Philadelphia takes a 2-0 lead. Joel Embiid 31 and 11.

Mavericks beat Utah 110-104 without Luka. Jalen Brunson drops 41.

Warriors 126-106 over the Nuggets. Golden State takes a 2-0 lead. Curry and Poole combine to shoot 10 for 20 from distance. They made 5 each.

The league fined Kyrie Irving $50G’s for giving the Celtics crowd the middle finger.

Brendan Haywood is a good analyst. Listened to him during the Mavs-Jazz game last night.

I would go with Juwan Howard or LeBron James. If anyone can be a player-coach, it’s LeBron.

My ideas for All-Star Weekend. H-O-R-S-E competition, One-On-One tournament and a game of “21” – Would love to see Jalen Brunson vs Fred VanVleet in a one-on-one battle. In 21, Jokic, Embiid, Giannis, KAT, Jarrett Allen and Rudy Gobert.

“He’s got the ultimate green light.” -Nick Nurse to TNT sideline reporter on Fred VanVleet

Jordan Poole interviewed by TNT sideline reporter was asked: “Does being in the starting lineup matter?” Poole: “Being able to impact the game is what matters to me. Being around these guys we have a bigger goal at hand. Just continue to play my game and be me.”

Three more games tonight:

Hawks-Heat 7:30. Miami leads 1-0

T-Wolves-Grizziles 8:30 Minnesota up 1-0

Pelicans-Suns 10:00 Phoenix up 1-0

Enjoy the games…

“Shoot it up and sleep in the streets.” -Kevin Loughery, August 1970

MAKE A PLAY

Day 2 of the Playoffs was terrific.

Heat over the Hawks. Duncan Robinson drops 27.

Celtics beat the Nets at the buzzer. Al Horford 20 and 15.

Bucks over the Bulls. Giannis 27 and 16.

Suns beat the Pelicans. Chris Paul 30 points, 10 assists.

Three more games tonight…

Raptors-76ers

Jazz-Mavericks

Nuggets-Warriors

Marcus Smart was named Defensive Player of the Year but Draymond Green is the best defensive player in the NBA.

Not telling Steve Nash how to coach…he’s done a great job but my man Patty Mills has to play more than 12 minutes. Game 1 was his shortest run of the year. Mills averaged 29 minutes per game this year. On Sunday he made his only shot attempt, a 3. He was a +8. Gotta play Patty more.

“When your best player is willing to get down in a stance, get active, and then on a 2-on-1, give it up, you got a chance to go places.” -Jeff Van Gundy

Jordan Poole interviewed by TNT sideline reporter was asked: “Does being in the starting lineup matter?”

Poole: “Being able to impact the game is what matters to me. Being around these guys we have a bigger goal at hand. Just continue to play my game and be me.”

Enjoy the games…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com