The two best words in sport. GAME SEVEN!
And we get two of them in two days, as OKC forced a deciding game yesterday to join Utah and Denver in the pivotal first round deciding games.
While the Eastern Conference has started their 2nd round series with sweeps all over the place (3 of the 4 with Milwaukee winning in 5), the Western Conference playoffs have been a typical hard fought grind.
Boston were dominant against Philadelphia, as Toronto were against Brooklyn. Only one of these teams continued on their merry ways though, with Boston destroying Toronto in Game 1 of their series, leaving the reigning champions with plenty of questions to ask.
Milwaukee battled their way through Orlando in Round 1, and they showed they were still out of sorts against a Miami team that looks well up for this one after a cruisy first round sweep of their own against Indiana.
Jimmy Butler reminded everyone just how good he is come playoff time, exploding for 40 in Game 1 of their 2nd round series, and they look to pull off a huge upset vs the Bucks.
Philly fans must have their head in their hands watching Jimmy lead this young Miami unit!
The Lakers are awaiting the winner of Houston and OKC, as they disposed of a gallant Portland team dealing with a bunch of injuries (the biggest of course to their superstar Damian Lillard). We will never know what that series could’ve been if Portland were at full strength.
The Clippers had a very hard time against a young Dallas Mavericks team, defeating them in 6 games. Luka Doncic was nothing short of incredible, leading Dallas in his very first NBA Playoffs, and without Kristaps Porzingis for the back half of the series.
Just like Portland, Dallas were dealt a raw deal with the Porzingis injury. They will be incredible to watch at full strength next year. They’re a piece away from being a legit force in the West with Luka steering this team in the right direction.
Kawhi and his squad will await the winner of the Denver Utah series, which finishes up in the morning. Can we have an 8th game?!
Denver v Utah has been something special to watch.
Donovan Mitchell started the series as the man to watch, putting up 57 Pts in a Game 1 loss in overtime. He followed that up with another 51 Pt game in Game 4, rolling through Denver and collecting 3 wins in a row. The series looked over!
Enter Jamal Murray.
Murray (in his last 3 games) has come alive! He had 50 Pts 11 Rbs and 7 Asts in a game 4 Loss, 42 Pts 8 Rbs 8 Asts in a game 5 Win, and finally 50 Pts 5 Rbs and 6 Asts in a thrilling Game 6 Win.
If you aren’t excited about Game 7 of this series, questions need to be asked!
Houston looked to have had their series all wrapped up early on, taking a 2-0 lead against an OKC team who have far exceeded early season expectations.
But this OKC team are as hungry as it gets, looking to prove everyone wrong, and you have to look no further than their leader, CP3!
Chris Paul has been phenomenal this season, as everyone questioned whether or not he’d still be there come opening tip off. Well, he’s there alright, and he will be looking to put a dagger in the heart of his former team, who look to be on shaky ground trying to get Russell Westbrook back into the rotation, coming off his injury.
There are storylines galore where ever you look with both of these Game 7s, and the Clippers and Lakers are loving every minute of them, as they sit and wait while these 4 teams go at each other for the right to challenge LA in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Bring it on!
Bauky