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Studio 46 - Non-TPiR Discussion => Out In Left Field => Topic started by: Nate Powalie on June 17, 2021, 09:25:29 AM

Title: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 17, 2021, 09:25:29 AM
I'll make sure to keep a running track of this, but as of the time I'm writing, here are updates on current series still ongoing:
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Atlanta Hawks vs Philadelphia 76ers
Hawks lead 3-2, game 6 Friday in Atlanta @ 7:30 PM EDT on ESPN
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets
Nets lead 3-2, game 6 tonight in Milwaukee @ 8:30 PM EDT on ESPN
Western Conference Semifinals: Los Angeles Clippers vs Utah Jazz
Clippers lead 3-2, game 6 Friday in Los Angeles @ 10 PM EDT on ESPN
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Ccook on June 21, 2021, 04:44:52 AM
Atlanta, the no. 5 seed in the East, eliminated #1 Philadelphia  and faces #3 Milwaukee in the East finals. Trae Young is getting the nickname "Ice Trae." Nobody gave Atlanta a snowball's chance at midseason; now they're a step closer to the championship.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: JarodJGames on June 21, 2021, 12:03:28 PM
Current Conference Finals Situation
West FINALS:
#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs #2 Phoenix Suns
Suns lead 1-0 Game 2 Tuesday 9:00PM EDT on ESPN (Immediately Following NBA Draft Lottery)

East FINALS:
#5 Atlanta Hawks vs #3 Milwaukee Bucks
Game 1 Wednesday 8:30PM EDT on TNT
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 22, 2021, 06:30:48 PM
My predictions for the NBA Playoffs Conference Finals: Suns in 6, Bucks in 7
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 23, 2021, 12:04:17 AM
After trading buckets back and forth in the fourth quarter, and a crazy alley-oop to Deandre Ayton from out of bounds, The Phoenix Suns escape game 2 with a 104-103 win over the LA Clippers and take a 2-0 series lead into game 3 Thursday night at Staples Center. The Suns now have won 9 straight playoff games.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: JayC on June 23, 2021, 10:20:14 PM
The Clippers have come back from 2-0 down to win the series twice already, they'll need to do it once again to advance to the Finals.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 23, 2021, 10:54:20 PM
Another wild finish sees the Atlanta Hawks storm into FiServ Forum and beat the Milwaukee Bucks in game 1 of the ECF 116-113. First Eastern Conference Finals game win in Atlanta's franchise history. First loss at home in the playoffs for the Bucks. Trae Young lead the charge with a double-double. 46 points, 11 assists, and 7 boards. What a game. Game 2 will be Friday night in Milwaukee, with tip-off set for 8:30 EDT on TNT.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 24, 2021, 11:36:09 PM
Well, the Suns' playoff winning streak is over. The Clippers successfully defend home court in Game 3 as they cruised to a 106-92 win. Phoenix still holds a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is Saturday night back at Staples Center, and it will be a 9 pm Eastern tipoff.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Ccook on June 26, 2021, 04:55:09 AM
Milwaukee rebounds and trounces Atlanta in game 2, 125-91. Game 3 in Atlanta Sunday night.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on June 26, 2021, 07:45:53 PM
I think rust may have played a role in CP3's struggles.  I don't know if he'll return to an MVP level form, but I doubt he and Devin will perform as bad as they did on Thursday.

As for the ECF, you just don't know what to expect there.  Milwaukee could struggle as a road team against Trae and company one game, and then play like a true successful road championship team in the other.


FYI: Game 4 is on ESPN (not ABC).  Everyone here likely knew that; but despite the fact that it's a weekend game, it's not on "free TV" which has been the norm in the conference finals round in the past during a regular line-up.  The other conference finals are truly exclusive to TNT
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 26, 2021, 11:55:45 PM
In the lowest-scoring playoff game in quite some time, the Phoenix Suns handle business and escape Game 4 with an 84-80 win over the LA Clippers at Staples Center. Game 5 is Monday night at Suns Arena in Phoenix, tipoff at 9 EDT on ESPN.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: mellongraig on June 27, 2021, 09:11:54 AM
The Clippers may very well have been robbed in game 4 when the referees did not review the out of bounds call in the final seconds of the game. If they did it would have likely been Clippers ball and the series could have been tied at 2-2.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Ccook on June 27, 2021, 07:25:34 PM
The line on game 3 of Milwaukee and Atlanta opened with Bucks giving 7-1/2. It's  now 4-1/2. Should be interesting.

Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on June 27, 2021, 08:20:00 PM
The line on game 3 of Milwaukee and Atlanta opened with Bucks giving 7-1/2. It's  now 4-1/2. Should be interesting.

Should be.  I guess the move is due to Giannis' "injury" coupled with the fact that the game's still in Atlanta against a Hawks team that was humiliated on the road in their previous game
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on June 27, 2021, 08:47:47 PM
The Clippers may very well have been robbed in game 4 when the referees did not review the out of bounds call in the final seconds of the game. If they did it would have likely been Clippers ball and the series could have been tied at 2-2.

If you think about it, they really could've been up 3-1!  Thanks to Phoenix heroics, L.A. ended up being down 0-2 & having to match that with 2 home wins.  I'm not a fighter of conspiracies, but I think the right thing is done if Kawhi is part of this series.  At least it gets reviewed.  It should have regardless of whether or not Leonard was healthy.  Statistically speaking, one's discretion when it calls for reviewing questionable plays or fouls usually favors the stars at the expense of their opponents, which in the Clippers case, is lacking their biggest star
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 27, 2021, 11:27:17 PM
Thanks to Khris Middleton going off for 38 points, the Milwaukee Bucks take a 2-1 series advantage with a healthy 113-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Game 4 is Tuesday night at 8:30 EDT on TNT.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 28, 2021, 11:13:42 AM
And folks, I apologize for not keeping this forum as up to date I should have been. I've been juggling a lot of stuff with family time and internship gig and all that. I just haven't had much of an opportunity to watch playoff basketball games this year.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on June 28, 2021, 04:36:40 PM
One thing I forgot to mention about the painful loss at the expense of the Clippers.  It indirectly gives the eventual East winner another disadvantage.  Phoenix might win tonight, at which point the Suns would not only get a ton of rest, they’d get said rest against their opponent who’ll have to travel from East to West following their series clinch no less than 3 nights apart.  A Suns win means they can stay put outright in Phoenix.  There is some consolation that Milwaukee can close out in 5 and it looks like they can, but they might not.  Heck, they might even go the distance and win (or lose to Atlanta) one week after a possible Suns victory!
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 28, 2021, 11:40:22 PM
Paul George pulls off 41 point, 13 rebound double-double as Clippers clean out Suns 116-102 in Game 5. Game 6 will be at Staples Center in LA, tip-off Wednesday at 9 PM EDT.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on June 29, 2021, 07:43:23 PM
As of 7:40 PM Eastern on Tuesday night, Trae Young is a no-go.  He was listed as questionable & a game-time decision before the decision, which was rather breaking, came down


The line on Game 4 for the ECF is not on the board as of present time.  I don't know or think it was even on the board to begin with; Game 4 for the WCF, which is more than 24 hours later, is on the board (Suns -1, O/U of 214.5)
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on June 29, 2021, 10:57:08 PM
Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury, likely more severe than Trae Young, offsets Milwaukee's advantage.  By the way, if Phoenix wins tomorrow, they'll regain their multi-day rest advantage against the East winner.

For what it's worth, the Bucks were awful the entire game.

Atlanta's 110-88 win turns the Eastern Conference finals into a Best of 3.  Still anything goes despite the stars falling due to injury.  Thursday night, 07/01/2021 at 8:30 is the Tip.  There will be a Game Six regardless of what happens on Saturday. 07/30/2021 at the same time EST
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on June 30, 2021, 11:48:20 PM
Thanks to a hot shooting night from the field, and an explosive performance from Chris Paul (41 points, 8 assists), the Phoenix Suns obliterated the LA Clippers in Game 6 by a final count of 130-103. For Paul, how sweet it is, winning a big game in Staples Center against his old team, the Clippers. The Suns are in their first Finals since 1993. Now they wait to find out who the Eastern Conference representative will be between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Atlanta Hawks. That series is currently tied at 2 games apiece, and Game 5 is tomorrow night in Atlanta with an 8:30 EDT tip-off.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 01, 2021, 10:40:43 PM
Blech. I meant Milwaukee. Game 6 is in Atlanta.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 01, 2021, 10:58:55 PM
No Giannis, no problem for the Bucks tonight. Four starters contribute 20-plus points (including a playoff career-high 33 from Brook Lopez) as the Deer clip the Hawks 123-112. The Bucks are now one win away from appearing in their first NBA Finals since 1974. Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta at State Farm Arena, with an 8:30 PM EDT tipoff.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 03, 2021, 11:14:22 PM
And for the first time since 1974, the Milwaukee Bucks are in the NBA Finals. Middleton and Holiday lead the Deer to a 118-107 win on the road in Game 6 against the Atlanta Hawks. Game 1 between the Bucks and the Phoenix Suns will be Tuesday night at Suns Arena in Phoenix, with a 9 o'clock tip-off. This should be a fun series.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 06, 2021, 07:21:08 PM
My prediction for the NBA Finals: Suns over the Bucks in 6 games. Chris Paul will finally get his first championship ring. (Also, hooray! 100 posts on the site!)
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 06, 2021, 11:33:05 PM
Chris Paul comes up one assist short of a double-double (32 points, 9 assists), but he still plays a key factor in tonight's Suns 118-105 win over the Bucks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Game 2 will be back at Suns Arena in Phoenix on Thursday, with tip-off expected to be around 9 PM EDT.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 08, 2021, 11:34:24 PM
Giannis drops 42 and 12 rebounds, but the performance is not enough as the Suns handle business against the Bucks in Game 2, 118-108. Game 3 is Sunday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with an early 8 PM EDT tip-off.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: JarodJGames on July 11, 2021, 11:22:26 PM
And with that the Brooms have to go Away as the Bucks beat the Suns in Game 3 120-100 and on Wednesday the Bucks can tie up the series. Game 4 Wednesday at 9PM EDT on ABC
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on July 12, 2021, 10:29:57 AM
The Phoenix Suns Community will now have to add a caret editing mark saying 3-1 between the words Suns in and the number 4.

Didn't really think Phoenix was winning in four games.  Milwaukee is a very good team without Giannis.  Not good enough to win the NBA Finals, but they're capable of some success.  Looks like Antetokounmpo is okay.  100% or not, he is good & healthy enough to participate in the Finals.  CP3 didn't do well at all, but this could be a situation where you're seeing two teams that can only do well on their home floor.  We're not going to know for sure until the conclusion of Game 4, but if it's status quo, then I think that the Bucks could win if they steal one game (which is imperative of course for them).  Phoenix might not be able to win on the road unless Chris Paul can roll away from home.

Didn't think much of the upcoming schedule upon the start of the Finals last Tuesday, coupled with Game 4 being on Wednesday as opposed to Tuesday despite the lack of travel.  Then I factored in the All Star festivities (HR Derby Monday night, and the obvious game Tuesday night), and with that takes care of a vacancy in terms of what's on television Wednesday night.

Nonetheless, the 2-day breaks between games are still intact.  That excludes the period between the final two games, and it might end up being a moot point.  The good news is that there will be a Game 5 on Saturday night regardless of what happens in a couple days.  That's a win-win for the league

Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 14, 2021, 11:37:46 PM
This game was a fun one to watch. Momentum was constantly trading hands with baskets going back and forth, and in the end, Game 4 will belong to the Milwaukee Bucks by a final count of 109 to 103, thanks largely in part to Khris Middleton having an electric 40-point performance. Game 5 will be Saturday night in Phoenix at Suns Arena, with tip-off set for 9 EDT. Once again, with the home team taking each of the first 4 games, it will be a best-of-3 to determine who takes this year's crown.
(note: Booker should've fouled out with about 3:30 in Q4, as from the replay, he clearly grabbed Holiday. I digress.)
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 18, 2021, 12:11:17 AM
And Milwaukee takes Game 5 123 to 119. Game 6 is Tuesday at Fiserv Forum with a 9PM EDT Tip-off. If the Bucks are able to defend home court, then they will acquire their first championship since 1971.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: JayC on July 18, 2021, 11:10:16 AM
What a game last night, and what a job by the Bucks to come back to life as they have after not doing much in the first two games.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on July 18, 2021, 03:50:30 PM
I think it's less to do with the Bucks coming back to life and more the Suns dying after Game 2.  To be fair, Phoenix had it in Game 4 on the road except not, and then following a double-digit lead turned double-digit deficit, they nearly turned the tables in Game 5.

It'll be tough for the Suns to beat Milwaukee.  I think they could with desperation on their minds; the problem is the Bucks are all but impossible to conquer with a lead, especially at home, coupled with a series lead
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on July 20, 2021, 09:02:19 PM
Final line before the tip features Milwaukee -4.5.  O/U is 221.  I haven't bothered to check the odds for the Finals MVP.  Middleton & Holiday can have the game of their lives, but if the series ends tonight, Giannis will be the Finals MVP.  He would be the third person to win that, league MVP and DPOY.

Despite my pick FTW, I'm hoping for the series to end tonight.  For one, I'm ready for some football.  Plus, I'd like to see it end tonight since I'll be heading out of town around the end of the week (now a couple days or so).  I'd rather not deal with travel & a winner-take-all game, especially if Phoenix loses at home again.  Especially given that the postseason felt like it's lasted forever.  OTOH, if the Suns win out, then it'll be worth it!
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: Nate Powalie on July 20, 2021, 11:45:04 PM
For the first time since 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks have won an NBA championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo puts up a mind-boggling performance with 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks as the Bucks defeat the Suns by a final count of 105 to 98.

And that is a wrap on the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Congratulations to the Bucks on their first championship since 1971, and a major thank you to everyone who contributed to this post. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a fun ride and a great NBA season. If one of the moderators would please lock this thread for me, as I don't know how to properly lock a thread.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: bigblue999 on July 20, 2021, 11:48:18 PM
I don't see a point for the mods to lock the thread. Other members might comment in it too.

Anyway what a collapse by the Suns. Chris Paul is still sadly still ringless.
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: JarodJGames on July 20, 2021, 11:56:50 PM
For the first time since 1971, the Milwaukee Bucks have won an NBA championship. Giannis Antetokounmpo puts up a mind-boggling performance with 50 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 blocks as the Bucks defeat the Suns by a final count of 105 to 98.

And that is a wrap on the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Congratulations to the Bucks on their first championship since 1971, and a major thank you to everyone who contributed to this post. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a fun ride and a great NBA season. If one of the moderators would please lock this thread for me, as I don't know how to properly lock a thread.
And that Performance by Giannis is good enough for him to get the Finals MVP award
Title: Re: NBA Playoffs Update
Post by: SeaBreeze341 on July 21, 2021, 12:00:59 AM
I don't see a point for the mods to lock the thread. Other members might comment in it too.

Anyway what a collapse by the Suns. Chris Paul is still sadly still ringless.


Ditto.  For one, the finals just ended (before the post).  There are several sports fans that have an input & typically share it.  I guess maybe after it dies down, but whatever.

Man, Milwaukee did it!  It was rather inevitable after their escape against Brooklyn.  Though I wonder how the series would've played out had a healthier LA Lakers team came out of the West.  Or the Warriors teams that have dominated in the past (except for last year).

I feel bad for Chris Paul.  It is what it is that they got fortunate to make the Finals.  It might be CP3's last shot (and Phoenix).

I know that the NBA Commish announces the MVP (or makes it official), but I don't see why Malika didn't just confirm it herself.  It was super obvious.  Dan Patrick used to crown the MVP (for the Super Bowl) by saying so; the NFL didn't need Roger Goodell to make a special announcement of it