Tuesday, September 29, 2020

NBA Update

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

(1) Milwaukee 4 - 1 (8) Orlando
(4) Indiana 0 - 4 (5) Miami
(3) Boston 4 - 0 (6) Philadelphia
(2) Toronto 4 - 0 (7) Brooklyn

(1) Milwaukee 1 - 4 (5) Miami
(2) Toronto 3 - 4 (3) Boston

(3) Boston 2 - 4 (5) Miami 

WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 (8) Portland
(4) Houston 4 - 3 (5) Oklahoma City
(3) Denver 4 - 3 (6) Utah
(2) L.A. Clippers 4 - 2 (7) Dallas

(1) L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 (4) Houston
(2) L.A. Clippers 3 - 4 (3) Denver

(1) L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 (3) Denver

On the whole, I've enjoyed these NBA Playoffs a great deal.  The whole league (except for Toronto) plays a generally appealing style of basketball, and it's been exciting to see so many former Wildcats shine on the big stage.  I also think playing all the games on a neutral cite has improved the quality of play -- we haven't seen nearly so many blowouts as usual, and there have been a lot of close games.

I don't even mind the Lakers winning.  I don't dislike LeBron, and Anthony Davis is my favorite UK player of all time.  I'm also a big supporter of Rondo.

But I don't expect too much drama in the finals.  The Heat are a lot like Denver -- a very well-coached team that can outsmart and outwork most opponents.  But no one will outsmart or outwork LeBron -- you have to beat him with superior firepower, the way the Warriors used to.  The Heat do not have superior firepower, and I think they will struggle to win more than one game in this series.

1 comment:

  1. I spent much of July listening to folks on talk radio claim that the Lakers would be vulnerable to an upset in the bubble. Since the playoffs began, the Lakers are 12-3.

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