DEFEND-REBOUND-RUN

The Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns last night in game 1 of the western conference semi-finals, 125-107. Jamal Murray led the way with 34 points and 9 assists. Nikola Jokic scored 24 points and pulled down 19 rebounds. Game 2 is Monday night.

Nuggets head coach Michael Malone now has 26 playoff wins in Denver, he passed Doug Moe for all-time on Denver’s list. Malone has done a tremendous job in his 8 seasons in the Mile High. The great Phil Jackson has the most playoff wins with 229. Pat Riley has 171. Gregg Popovich 169.

Aaron Gordon chipped in with 23 points last night on 9-13 shooting, 3-4 from distance. I love the energy Gordon brings at both ends of the floor.

Denver’s never been in the NBA finals. But, their last season in the ABA, year before the merger the Nuggets, coached by Larry Brown lost to the New York Nets in the finals, 4-2.

Grant Hill was on the call for TNT last night. He said this about Murray: “We forgot how good he is.” No we didn’t. Maybe you did, but not the real hoop people. Murray shot 13-24 from the floor including 6-10 from downtown.

Nuggets made 16 3’s on the night. Suns 7. There was your difference right there. Devin Booker was just 0-1 from distance on the night.

Kevin Durant led the way for Phoenix with 29 points on 12-19 shooting. He also grabbed 14 rebounds but turned it over 7 times. I’d like to see KD go in the post. He dominates the ball at the top – takes a lot away from CP3’s game. They should have Durant coming off screens. Move without the ball.

Suns turned the ball over 16 times. Nuggets 9.

This past season Jokic averaged 9.8 assists per game. The highest for a center in one season in the history of the league. Nuggets were second in the league in assists per game this season (28.9) right behind the Warriors (29.8). Suns were 4th with 27.3 per game.

CP3 in the first round vs the Clippers had 41 assists and 6 turnovers. Last night he had 5 assists and 1 turnover. That’s an incredible ratio. He’s 3rd all-time in the league in assists. LeBron James is 4th.

I went back and researched the 1982 Nuggets team, the highest scoring team in the history of the league (126.5 PPG) where they made 40 3-pointers as a team. Billy McKinney shot 1-17 from deep that year. With the Nuggets in 3 years he was 1-34 total from deep. 3 for 48 in his career. (Source: basketball-reference)

Highest career scoring average in the playoffs? Michael Jordan 33.4. Luka Doncic 32.5. Allen Iverson 29.7 and KD with 29.4.

Happy birthday Luis Scola. He’s 43.

Always play the right way…

DEFENSIVE DISCIPLINE

The Sacramento Kings stayed alive Friday night beating the Warriors on the road, 118-99. We’ll have a game 7 Sunday in Sacramento. Kings were underdog 6.5.

De’Aaron Fox led the way with 26 points on 10-18 shooting. He also dished out 11 assists. Fox is the 2nd Kings player in franchise history to score 20 points or more in their first six playoff games. Oscar Robertson was the other (Thanks ESPN) Keep in mind Fox is playing with a broken finger. The kid has major game.

Malik Monk added 28 points in 31 minutes off the bench.

Best thing about this game was having Jeff Van Gundy on the call. How about his play-by-play guy, Mike Breen? “Both teams wanna play with pace.” Yeah no kidding.

Keegan Murray had an outstanding game – especially in the first half. The rookie from Iowa stepped in and drew a couple of charges. He played 45 minutes, 15 points and 12 rebounds. He made 4 big 3’s in the game. Murray’s dad had game back in the day. He was named Mr. Basketball in Michigan in 1992.

Mike Brown, Kings head coach tells his players, “Let it fly, if you’re open, shoot it.” My kind of coach.

Breen said the Kings were the highest scoring team in the league this year (120.7) – the most in 39 years. I researched a bit this morning; The Denver Nuggets in 1982 scored 126.5 per game, the most ever in one season. Check this out: Denver was 40-149 from distance that year. Sacramento this year shot 1,128 for 3,060. WOW! The game has changed…

Jordan Poole takes wild shots. There was one possession where he drove the ball on 3 guys, had Klay Thompson wide open in the corner and forced up an awful shot. He finished the game 2-11 from the field in 26 minutes. Pass the ball, ballhog.

Read an article where Draymond Green said it’s not Michael or LeBron who is the GOAT – it’s Steph Curry. No way my man, no way…

The Lakers ended the Grizzlies season last night in Game 6, 125-85. D’Angelo Russell led the way with 31 points including 5 3-pointers in 30 minutes.

Anthony Davis scored 16 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in 28 minutes. LeBron James had 22 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists in 31 minutes.

Ja Morant scored 10 points on 3-16 shooting.

In the series the “Bear Poker” shot 24-77 from the floor including 10-42 from distance. Stop poking bears and get in the gym and work on that jumper.

Lakers blocked 15 shots. Grizzlies 2.

Jack Nicholson was courtside. So was Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The Lakers will face the winner of the Kings-Warriors series.

Happy birthday God Shammgod. He’s 47.

Always play the right way…

DROP COVERAGE

The Boston Celtics beat the Atlanta Hawks Thursday night in Game 6 of the playoffs, 128-120. Boston wraps up the series and moves on to play the Philadelphia 76ers. It should be mentioned Vegas had Boston favorite by 7. SMH

Jaylen Brown led the way with 32 points. Jayson Tatum added 30.

Trae Young scored 30 points and had 10 assists for Atlanta but he shot 1 for 13 in the second half.

Spero Dedes, play-by-play guy for TNT called Young, “A 24 year-old gunslinger.”

Not a good description.

Gotta love Giannis’ response to a reporter following the Bucks being eliminated in game 5 of the playoffs against Miami: “There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days, some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not, some days it is your turn, some days it’s not. That’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. Michael Jordan played 15 years, won 6 championships. The other 9 years were a failure?”

Kings-Warriors and Lakers-Grizzlies tonight. Golden State and LA lead 3-2.

Happy birthday Chris Kaman. He’s 41.

STAY CONNECTED DEFENSIVELY

The New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in Cleveland, 106-95 to wrap up their series and send the Cavs fishing, 4-1. Cleveland was a disappointment in the series. Let’s start with Donovan Mitchell. As a Knicks fan, I am so glad he didn’t sign with New York in the off-season. New York made out much better by getting Jalen Brunson. I don’t care how many points Mitchell scores, give me Brunson over him. Mitchell shot 3-12 last night from distance. For the series he shot 13-45 .289 from deep.

Knickerbockers jumped out to a 33-26 lead after the first and it was over after that. They led after each quarter.

It’s the first time the Knicks have advanced to the second round since 2013. They will move on to face the Miami Heat.

Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley were great off the bench last night. 12 points and 19 points each.

The glue guy for the Knicks is not Josh Hart like everyone says – it’s Mitchell Robinson. 13 points and 18 rebounds in Game 5. 11 of those boards came at the offensive end. Do they know how to box out in the Land? Robinson outplayed Jarrett Allen in the series.

Julius Randle hurt his ankle during the game. Left for the locker room and New York looked even stronger without him.

Greg Anthony and Gus Johnson were on the call once again. That’s two nights in a row. I like them.

Luke Walton is an assistant coach with the Cavaliers.

Winston Garland fouled out last night after committing 6 turnovers. He was 1-6 from distance.

Knicks attempted 29 free-throws in game 5, Cavs shot 15.

Ricky Rubio to Evan Mobley: “Get to know the referees.”

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Los Angeles Lakers last night in game 5. Lakers lead 3-2 in the series as they head back to LA. LeBron needs to stop shooting 3’s. He’s 3 for his last 28 from deep.

How did the #1 seed, Milwaukee Bucks lose to the #8 seed Miami Heat 4-1? What a disappointment. Giannis shot 10-23 from the FT line last night. And he had 7 turnovers.

I love Kevon Looney of the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs are up 3-2 on the Kings.

Can the Hawks stay alive tonight at home in game 6? They trail 3-2.

Happy birthday George Gervin. He’s 71.

ICE TRAE TIME

Trae Young was unstoppable last night in game 5 against the Celtics. Young had 38 points on 14-33 shooting in 44 minutes as the Hawks avoided elimination, 119-117. Young made a 30-footer with 2 seconds left to play taking the series back to Atlanta. Celtics now lead 3-2. Young scored the last 14 points of the gane for the Hawks and added 13 assists on the night.

If you were Joe Mazzulla, Celtics head coach, wouldn’t you have had a second defender go over and double Trae on the last possession? Make someone else beat you.

Greg Anthony and Gus Johnson were on the call for TNT and Anthony had an amazing comment on the Hawks. “They have a lot of good basketball players.”

Speaking of Gus Johnson, he should replace Jim Nantz on the Final Four.

Blake Griffin made his first appearance of the series for the Celtics. 5 minutes. 0-1 FG, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls.

Marcus Smart flops way too much.

Atlanta played without starting two-guard DeJounte Murray. Bogdanovich stepped in nicely with 18 points.

Nuggets and Suns wrapped up their series; they’ll face each other in the next round. Devin Booker had 47-8 and 10. Nikola Jokic had another triple-double; 28-17-12.

Congratulations to Paolo Banchero – he was named Rookie of the Year.

Happy birthday Bill Wennington. He’s 60.

Always play the right way…

HIGH BALL SCREEN

LeBron James: WOW! Game 4 against the Grizzlies Monday night he was incredible. 22 points, 20 rebounds, 7 assists and 1 turnover in 45 minutes. Lakers win in OT 117-111 and go up 3-1 in the series. James tied the game in regulation with a strong drive to his right for a layup with 0.8 left. It was LeBron’s first 20-20 game of his career. The haters will point to hs poor 3-point shooting in the series (5-27, 2 for his last 19). LeBron’s played 154 minutes in the series, second only to Anthony Davis with 155. LBJ leads the playoffs with 13 rebounds per game.

Dillon Brooks in the series is shooting 17 for 51 .333 – from downtown he’s 6 for 27 .222

Jimmy Butler dropped 56 on the Milwaukee Bucks to give Miami a 3-1 lead in the series. It was a Heat franchise playoff record for most points scored in a playoff game. It was also the 4th highest scored ever in a playoff game in league history. MJ has the record with 63 points. BTW, Jordan scored 50 or more in a playoff game 8 times.

Butler leads the playoffs in scoring with 36.5 per game.

Shocked the officials didn’t T Butler up for hanging and yanking on the rim. The kids are watching. Stay off the rims.

Cody Zeller plays for the Miami Heat. Guy has been in the league 10 years.

Duncan Robinson is on fire in the Bucks series. 13 for 17 from downtown.

Miami Heat have 7 players on their roster who went undrafted.

Giannis made his return last night after missing the last two games and all he did was drop a triple-double; 26-10-13. The Greek Freak is playing hurt.

Jalen Brunson had a great quote in Slam magazine on his work ethic: “The one thing I obsess over is just my work ethic. If I’m always working, I’m always getting prepared, I will never have to just get ready. Don’t need to get ready when you stay ready.”

Emoni Bates of Eastern Michigan University has declared for the NBA draft.

Steph Curry pulled a “Chris Weber” in Game 4. Steve Kerr took the blame.

Kevin Durant leads the playoffs in minutes played with 43.8

Vince Carter didn’t like the Mavericks trading for Kyrie Irving. LOL. “I didn’t like it,” Carter said, “and it has nothing to do with Kyrie. I didn’t like how much they had to give up to get him. I do think (Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic) can work, the two of them together. But I feel the issue is the roster; that’s the problem,” Carter said.

Celtics, Nuggets and Suns all up 3-1 look to close it out tonight.

Happy birthday Timmy Duncan. He’s 47.

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

HE SAID, SHE SAID

Opening week of the NBA playoffs have been great. I’ve been locked in most games. But those late night starts are tough for me. I’m up at 5:30 in the morning.

Draymond Green: This cat is unreal. Love the fact though after he was suspended for game 3 (Warriors W) he came back in game 4 (Warriors W) and Steve Kerr brought him off the bench. Green was cool with it. Series is tied at 2.

“There’s a lot of guys who start to feel a sense of entitlement like that spot’s yours. I never want to reach that point in my career where I feel entitled to something. Those guys don’t fare well in the end,” said the Saginaw, Michigan native.

Dillon Brooks: Play better and talk less. “I poke bears.” LOL – Can’t disrespect LeBron.

76ers swept the Nets. Brooklyn looked bad. They’re hard to watch. Philly is without Joel Embiid now. They need him if they want to win it all.

Knicks up 3-1 on the Cavaliers. Madison Square Garden was rocking for games 3 and 4; both Knicks wins. I’m glad Tom Thibodeau kept Julius Randle on the bench in the 4th quarter of game 4. Randle was awful.

The podcast with Rick Rubin and Phil Jackson is really good.

Nikola Jokic wow! Nuggets up 3-1 on the Timberwolves.

The analysts doing these playoff games are awful. I can only listen to the Van Gundy’s and Hubie Brown. Everyone else is on mute. Why do play-by-play guys scream?

Kawhi Leonard is hurt. Why should he play? The Clippers should move back to Buffalo. Let’s bring back the Braves.

Russell Westbrook has been amazing despite the Clippers being down 3-1 to the Suns.

Chris Paul made an incredible pass to Devin Booker in game 4. But he always does that.

Celtics up 3-1 on the Hawks.

Des Linden has written a really good memoir; “Choosing to Run,” is a must read. Linden is a long-distance runner.

Congrats to Danny Hurley and the UConn Huskies. 2023 NCAA D-1 National Champs. Speaking of the Huskies, the Detroit Pistons should hire former Husky Kevin Ollie as new head coach.

Youth hoops in Vermont, a middle school boys game. A brawl broke out with the parents. No surprise there.

Hope all is well.

Always play the right way…

THE POINT

Outstanding documentary on Showtime, “NYC POINT GODS.” Believe it came out in July of 2022.

Five major omissions:

No mention of Vern Fleming.

No mention of Bob Cousy.

Needed Fran Fraschilla for information/stories on the players.

Peter Vecsey for info and stories too.

And, how can they leave out Ziggy from Brooklyn USA?

Brian Keating and Edgar De La Rosa (below) two solid point guards from my neighborhood. I looked up to both of them, they were fantastic. Brian played at Xaverian high school and later at Siena. Edgar played at Bishop Ford and played his college ball at St. Francis of Brooklyn.

BOB HURLEY

“When a winner makes a mistake he says, I was wrong. When a loser makes a mistake he says, it wasn’t my fault.”

Legendary high school boys basketball coach from Jersey City, New Jersey.

Woj did a terrific job on this one…

DAVID J. SCHWARTZ

“Every step forward pays a dividend.”