to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
This year, the Oklahoma City Thunder are overwhelming favorites to win another title. The Denver Nuggets, led by the 3-time MVP NIkola Jokic, will be crowding out the Thunder, for the western pennant. In the East, the Cleveland Cavs should finally win it, if they remain healthy for the playoffs. Victor Wenbamyama will continue maturing with the San Antonio Spurs, while rookie Cooper Flagg gets us excited. Move over, Lebron. Watch out, Steph and Kevin. The next generation stars are here!
This year, the Pacers have taught us that games with 7 to 9 point-leads with a minute to go are no longer safe. A 3-possession ballgame, with a minute to go, can still be stolen. They have also showed us a great trapping defense that should be a basic staple for all aspiring coaches. Finally, the Pacers are showing us a pug-nosed determination and poise that should be a case study for all teams or organizations that are in difficult situations in their fields. The Pacers may be young, but they are showing us a refreshing stability under immense pressure.
Two former champs – the Nuggets and the Warriors – are banking on their veteran cage IQ to bring them to the next stage. The defending champs Celtics, on the other hand, are not (yet) showing any championship smarts in their series. This is a golden opportunity for the upstarts in the playoffs to learn, albeit on the fly, if they are to compete for the bigger battles ahead. Indeed, the playoff duels are a different set of games. And it will take more than just raw talent, physical strength and youthful exuberance to make it to the top.
Who moves up to the next round? Who goes deep into the postseason wars? Compare your picks with mine. You willing to bet your mother-in-law on this? 🙂
In May 8, 1970, a beleaguered New York Knicks team was playing in Game 7 of the NBA championship against the star-studded LA Lakers led by a trio of future Hall-of Famers in Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. It had been a tightly-contested NBA Finals, with the Knicks staring at a possible loss following an unfortunate thigh injury to Willis Reed, the Knicks captain and spiritual leader. The Knicks had led the series 3-2 before Reed injured his thigh. Without Reed in Game 6, Chamberlain would wreak havoc in the shaded lane, with monster figures of 45 points and 27 rebounds – both series highs – in a 22-point blowout win over the Knicks.
What a difference a regular season makes! We started the season thinking the LA Lakers had a lock on – at the very least –
Color My World 