April 16th, 2024
Last playoffs, the Warriors were eliminated in the second round by the Lakers (yeah, well, four!), who were then swept in the Western Conference Finals by the Nuggets (four). The Finals pitted two players on my personal starting five against each other, Nikola Jokic and Jimmy Butler. I got the feeling back during the middle of the regular season that the Nuggets would win it all when Aaron Gordon had one of the greatest dunks I’ve ever seen, a Christmas Day gift during over time, on Landry Shamet. (You know, I want to take this time to compliment Shamet: his shoes stayed on.) But in the East, the Heat fought back from the very edge, the second round of the play-in games, to get to the Finals, confirming for fans, in case they didn’t already know, that one can never count out this Miami squad, Erik Spoelstra, and Jimmy Buckets. Though they were lumpy, especially after another seven-game war with the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. And ultimately Jokic, the Serbian superstar big man drafted in the second round who had triple-doubles almost nightly, Michael Malone, and the Nuggets prevailed, bringing the first NBA championship to Denver in its 50-plus year history.
This season: The Nuggets, in pursuit of a dynastic run, are in position to repeat, sitting in second going into the playoffs, just behind the young, inexperienced, but undeniable Oklahoma City Thunder, led by rising Canadian superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who does that dance in the paint like no other. The Heat, meanwhile, are in much the same position they were a year ago: the play-in (like the Warriors, who must win two elimination games, on the other team’s court, for a chance to meet the Thunder in the first round—needless to say, a tough road to the top). I don’t claim to know much about balling. But I will say this: it took me…three regular season games to decide that the Celtics, with its new starting five, would dominate, and they did even when Kristaps Porzingis was out. With them, there’s one fact I’ll keep in mind: almost no championships have been won in NBA history by a team without a league MVP (such as Jokic or Steph Curry or Giannis Antetokounmpo, to take the three most recent examples). One of the only exceptions had a previous Finals MVP. And, though they had the best record in the league by a significant margin and earn home court advantage through the entire playoffs, the East has at least a few teams that I’m sure won’t let them cruise back to the Finals….
April
17th, 2024
Lakers vs. Pelicans, in New Orleans:
Free throw disparity. The Lakers got to the line a lot more and made
most everything. As Kevin Harlan and Reggie Miller discussed how many fouls
they were drawing, LeBron James drew a foul and winked at them. Injury. Zion
Williamson was having a game worthy of his star player, first-option status,
leading all scorers. By the fourth quarter, the Pelicans had closed the gap. They
had momentum. Then, with about three minutes left, Williamson landed awkwardly
after an offensive possession and went limping off the court, to the locker
room. It’s one reason there are doubts about him: He’s on the heavier side but plays
fast and leaps high. So far in his career, as one might predict with his combination
of size and explosiveness, he’s proved to be injury-prone. The Lakers held on
to a slim lead and got the W. They claim the seventh spot and face off against
the reigning champs in the first round.
Warriors vs. Kings, in Sacramento: This year the fair weather fans booed the Warriors at home. To be sure, it was a rather rough season, on and off the court. The core is relatively old. And a question for every team with a superstar is: who’s going to take over when he’s resting on the bench or out for a stretch? Jonathan Kuminga has shown marked improvement and Klay Thompson is capable of having 30-plus points on the night. But there didn’t seem to be a consistent supporting player on the offensive end for Steph Curry. Still, this is only a couple of years removed from a championship that extended a dynastic run. The Warriors also have impactful rookies (Trayce Jackson-Davis, Brandin Podziemski) and solid veterans that put together win streaks. The Rockets, with their own lengthy streak, nearly seized the tenth spot. Then Tari Eason felt the need to taunt Golden State with a Warriors movie reference: “Warriors, come out to play.” That was uncalled for. And it appears he forgot how that movie ends. Now he knows! So I waved farewell to the “fans,” to the Rockets, and thought Golden State could put up a fight, especially against a Kings team missing two key players.
Not on Tuesday. The Kings controlled most of the game, preventing the Warriors from establishing flow on offense. Steph Curry’s shots were almost entirely difficult. Klay Thompson made zero of his. In the end, the starters were taken off the floor. I’m happy that the Kings have had more success in recent years, De’Aaron Fox is a blur. But I’m not that happy. Kings: W. They face the Pelicans next. Warriors: Damn. Blown out. The trade speculation and rumors start with them.
April 18th, 2024
Heat
vs. 76ers, in Philadelphia. On this night I discovered that 76ers fans are
quick to boo! In the first half, the home team looked outmatched. Reigning MVP
Joel Embiid, still recovering from injury, wasn’t at his best. Tyrese Maxey
didn’t fill the void. Tobias Harris, always under pressure to perform well
against Jimmy Butler, shot air balls. The team had a number of turnovers. And
there was a noticeable lack of energy. But there was a whole nother half to go
and the lead the Heat built wasn’t insurmountable. I thought: Dry those tears,
people. Maybe they’re sore about the organization’s history of post-season
disappointments and setbacks, react unfavorably to any play that resembles past
failures. Then the second half came. By the end of the third quarter,
the 76ers steadily looked invigorated. Nicolas Batum, a recent trade
acquisition and veteran player off the bench, hit nearly all his 3s, sending
jolts through the crowd with each and far surpassing his regular season average,
and was dogged on defense. Mike Breen, reflecting on playoff basketball: “You
never know who’s going to emerge as a hero.” The game was tied up with a minute
to go. Praise the DJ, who put on the Rocky theme, “Gonna Fly Now.”
76ers:
W, by one point. The team takes the seventh spot and face off against the best Knicks
team in decades.
Bulls
vs. Hawks, in Chicago. I’ve learned that there are two kinds of basketball:
essential and inessential. I enjoy seeing where any team is at developmentally
through most of the regular season, looking for standout players who could bolster
another roster. But as the playoffs approach, my focus turns to the teams that
have the best chance of winning it all (them and, this season, a rookie with
San Antonio who’s getting some attention, Victor Wembanyama). This game would
go past midnight and I value sleep. And neither the Bulls nor the Hawks,
dealing with injuries and middling play, stand any chance against a healthy
Celtics squad. For the purposes of saving time: this is inessential basketball. First quarter highlights: I went with raviolis. While the water boiled,
I washed dishes. Still had a good buzz going. Guinness is the preferred beer of
DA playoff coverage….
The
Bulls had their biggest quarter of the season: 40 points. Alex Caruso, the ace
defender and all-around helpful player, got injured by his own teammate, Andre
Drummond, who was jogging back on defense and stepped on his foot. He didn’t
play the rest of the game. But the Bulls pressed forward anyway, with a career-high from Coby White. Trae Young was a week from full recovery after a hand
injury and came back anyway. He didn’t look like himself. Bulls: W. They move
on to face the Heat in Miami.
April
19th, 2024
Bulls
vs. Heat, in Miami. No Jimmy Butler but the Heat didn’t look the least bit
unsure without their leader. The team went on an early run and commanded the
game from there. The play of the night: Tyler Herro, who would end it with a
near triple-double, charging toward the basket, passes behind his back midstride
to Caleb Martin, who hits a three. Slow motion on the two slapping hands. Near
the close, the crowd began chanting: “We want Boston!” The Heat are 0-3 against
the Celtics in the regular season. That fact means less with this team. Heat: W.
They take the eighth spot in the East.
Pelicans vs Kings, in New Orleans. Pelicans, without Zion Williamson: W, eighth spot in the West. (Cut of beef, steamed broccoli, glass of cranberry juice.) Next, they face Oklahoma City.
