By “Nunnie” Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
Not every NBA series will be as exciting or captivating as the Monday night game between the Lakers and Nuggets, a highly competitive contest featuring the present Goat, LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets’ Nicola Jokic, arguably the best player in the game today. Although the Lakers led in each contest at the end of the first half, they failed to hold back the defending champions in 4 of the 5 games played. Denver, leading 3-1, finished the deal at home because of two overt Lakers flaws: second shots / offensive rebounds allowed after a missed shot and their inability to make critical free throws in crunch time. Though LeBron made 2 crucial free throws to tie the game at 104 prior to Jamal Murray ending their season after one playoff series, the Lakers, including LeBron, Spencer Dinwiddie and 88% free throw shooter Austin Reaves, missed at least 6 free throws with less than 3 minutes in game which could have provided a lead despite Denver consistently making game winning plays at crucially important moments. That is why they are moving on to the next round to face the number one defensive team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, possessors of the second coming of Michael Jordon, the sensational Anthony Edwards. The Lakers, in the meantime, are left picking up the pieces, having to answer questions about LeBron’s plans for next year. Retirement is not an option with his son Bronnie declaring for the draft while leaving a $51,000,000 player option seems unlikely.
As you may or may not be aware, the Timberwolves swept the Phoenix Suns as did the Oklahoma City Thunder over the New Orleans Pelicans. All series are not equal.
In the East our Miami Heat,now trailing 3-1, can only defeat the Celtics if they shoot threes at a 50% clip or better, highly unlikely and improbable. However, that doesn’t diminish or takeaway from the Heat Culture, something I believe all Heat and NBA fans can be proud of.
If Joel Embiid were completely healthy, I think they would beat the Knicks easily in a 7 game series. That series, as does Miami‘s, moves back to New York and Boston respectively with the home teams holding a commanding 3-1 advantage. In addition, injuries to Milwaukee Bucks superstars Yanis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard have all but eliminated their post season chances of winning the championship as they trail the Indiana Pacers 3-1. The most compelling in either conference may be the one between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers, presently knotted at 2 games each. Luka Doncic is amazing and Kyrie Irving is one of the top 5 guards in the league. The Clippers, on the other hand, have Paul George and the enigmatic “ Beard,” James Harden. If Kawhi Leonard were healthy, they would have a definitive edge, but as it stands now, either could win the series and advance.
The Florida Panthers closed out the series with state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-1, and now move on to face either the Boston Bruins or the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Eastern Conference of the NHL. (The Bruins have an 3-1 lead in series). Our Panthers have a legitimate claim to the Stanley Cup in 2024.