So we are going through one of those forgettable periods in NBA history, where there are no great teams and you have a different champion every year. Here are the NBA Finals since COVID:
2020: L.A. Lakers 4, Miami 2
2021: Milwaukee 4, Phoenix 2
2022: Golden St. 4, Boston 2
2023: Denver 4, Miami 1
2024: Boston 4, Dallas 1
But that may finally be about to change. Here are the current odds to win the NBA title this year:
Oklahoma City: +180
Boston: +190
Cleveland: +600
L.A. Lakers: +1100
So, it seems very likely that the Celtics will reach the final for the third time in four years, and they have a good chance to repeat as champions. If so, they will be the first repeat winner since the Warriors repeated in 2017 and 2018.
Here are the matchups for the first round:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Cleveland (64-18) v. (8) Miami (37-45)
(4) Indiana (50-32) v. (5) Milwaukee (48-34)
(3) New York (51-31) v. (6) Detroit (44-38)
(2) Boston (61-21) v. (7) Orlando (41-41)
As you can see from the above, the oddsmakers have made the Celtics heavy favorites here. I probably won't pay attention until the Eastern Conference finals, and then only if the Celtics draw the Cavs.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Oklahoma City (68-14) v. (8) Memphis (48-34)
(4) Denver (50-32) v. (5) L.A. Clippers (50-32)
(3) L.A. Lakers (50-32) v. (6) Minnesota (49-33)
(2) Houston (52-30) v. (7) Golden St. (48-34)
Luka Doncic led Dallas to the NBA Finals last year, but this year -- as NBA teams often seem to do -- the Mavericks committed seppuku by giving Doncic to the Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis. This publication loves Anthony Davis, but he's 31 years old and unfortunately he may never be healthy again. So the Mavs are out of it, and LeBron has a running mate to help him make a run. We will keep an eye on the LeBron's to see if they can get to the Western Conference final. But the bookmakers have the Thunder as an overwhelming favorite to win the West, and they are probably right.
Here at the Heath Post, our top goal for the NBA would be for the Washington Wizards to become a great power. Since the Wiz only won 18 games this year, our goal for the playoffs -- as usual -- is to watch a Seventh Game in the NBA Finals. OKC v. Boston probably gives us the best chance for that matchup, but there hasn't been a Game 7 in the Finals since 2016, so we won't hold our breath.
Here are the odds to win the Eastern Conference:
ReplyDeleteBoston: -145
Cleveland: +185
New York: +1200
Indiana: +2500
Here are the odds to win the Western Conference:
ReplyDeleteOklahoma City: -155
L.A. Lakers: +600
Golden St: +800
Denver: +1100
Scores so far today:
ReplyDeleteIndiana 117 - 98 Milwaukee (Indiana leads 1-0)
Denver 112 - 110 L.A. Clippers (OT) (Denver leads 1-0)
New York 123 - 112 Detroit (New York leads 1-0)
The Lebron's are up 20-12 on Minnesota with 3:38 left in the 1st quarter.
L.A. led Minnesota 28-21 after the first quarter, but the T-Wolves outscored the Lakers 38-20 in the second quarter. At the half, in Los Angeles, the T-Wolves lead 59 to 48.
ReplyDeleteThis is the 54th iteration of the NBA playoffs that I can remember, going back to 1972. In the last 53 seasons, 18 different teams have won the NBA title. These teams have won it more than once:
ReplyDeleteLakers: 12
Celtics: 7
Bulls: 6
Warriors: 5
Spurs: 5
Pistons: 3
Heat: 3
Rockets: 2
The T-Wolves open the second half by scoring 11 points in a row. They lead the Lakers 70 to 48 with 10 minutes left in the third.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though the Mavs were destroyed in vain.
ReplyDeleteAfter 40 minutes, the T-Wolves lead 104-88.
ReplyDeleteOn the road, the T-Wolves roll to an easy victory in Game One of their playoff against the Lakers. Minnesota cruises, 117 to 95.
ReplyDeleteJustin Thomas won his 16th PGA Tour event today, winning the RBC Heritage in a playoff. It was his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship. The next big PGA event will be the Truist Championship, which will be held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club during the second week in May. And then the Tour will head to Quail Hollow, near Charlotte, N. Carolina, for the PGA Championship during the third weekend in May.
ReplyDeleteFrank Beard, who also attended Louisville St. Xavier, won 11 times on the PGA Tour. Bobby Nichols, another St. X alum, won 12. Gay Brewer won 10 PGA Tour events. J.B. Holmes won 5. Kenny Perry won 14. Justin Thomas has 16 PGA tour wins, including two PGA Championships. So I believe that we can now identify J.T. as the best Kentucky golfer in history.
ReplyDelete