Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. NBA Playoff Basketball is going on!
The Raptors have forced a Game 7 with the Celtics.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
That Raptors/Celtics game, man. It was another fantastic playoff contest.
I know we’ve had a lot of frantic finishes in the last week or so. But this might have been the best game overall. The only thing that would’ve made it better was if it came down to the final play.
But who didn’t love that this game went to two overtimes? I suppose the final plays of both regulation and the first overtime could’ve been done better; the regulation ending had Pascal Siakam flinging a three and the first overtime ending had Norman Powell going iso (who otherwise had a great game).
Still, we had all the makings of a heavyweight fight, as sportspeople have said over the years. Ali/Frazier. Tyson/Holyfield. Mr. Sandman/Super Macho Man. Both teams were trading shots in that second overtime. Blow-for-blow, if you will. Daniel Theis made a dunk to put Boston up, 112-110. Siakam tied it with a jumper. Marcus Smart and Powell traded three-pointers. Theis got another jam. Then OG Anunoby made a clutch three to put Canada up one. It was such a back-and-forth affair that made casual basketball-watchers tune in and hardcore basketball-watchers blush like they themselves are ready to score.
Powell’s steal and three-point play, though, gave the Raptors a cushion. And while Jayson Tatum stuck in a short jumper, Kyle Lowry made a fadeaway J that put the Raptors up four. Tatum made a 3 with six seconds left to make it uncomfortable for Toronto. The foul game was played, Powell made both foul shots, and Smart missed a desperation three. That was pretty much the ballgame.
Obviously, what made this great was both supporting casts were there to help their stars out. Siakam struggled with 12 points but he made a big jumper in OT. Lowry made the big shot to close out the Celtics; he had 33-8-6. Serge Ibaka made key three-pointers (13 points overall) while blocking three shots. Fred VanVleet hustled to get to 21-9-7, OG Anunoby was scoring (13 points) and rebounding (13 boards). And Norman Powell, who had a big season, came up big huge in Game 6 with 21 points.
As for Boston, Marcus Smart had a triple-double (23-11-10) while Tatum fell short (29-14-9). Jaylen Brown didn’t shoot particularly well but he ended with 31 points and 16 boards. Theis has been great all series; he had 18 points. It was Kemba Walker that struggled (5 points) although he did hit a big shot in OT.
So it all comes down to Game 7. We saw the intensity between the Nuggets and the Jazz last week as well as the Rockets and Thunder. This should be no exception. The Raptors are looking for a second straight trip to the NBA Finals and the Celtics are in the way, who are looking for their third ECF out of four seasons. Everything is on the line here.
And of course, you would want to face the Raptors in a Game 7 of an Eastern Conference Semifinal.
(VIDEO CREDIT: NBA.)
Kawhi Leonard may be out West now but as this series has proved, they have plenty of players that can make the big shot.
So who’s taking them and who’s making them…?
Bullet Passes
Speaking of Kawhi, Game 4 between the Clippers and the Nuggets may be the most unmemorable game of the postseason. Maybe it was because it was coming off the high of watching the Raptors and Celtics duking it out in the mosh pit, shaka brah. The Clippers jumped out to a 26-12 lead after one. The Nuggets did come back to tie the game but the Clippers overwhelmed them in the third with a slow-burning 21-5 run. Denver never threatened again. As a matter of fact, they never led in the game. The Fun guy finished with 30-11-9.
Michael Porter, Jr. scored 13 of his 15 points in the second quarter. But he didn’t have another point after the 4-minute mark of that period. Porter sure had something to say about that.
“To beat that team, we’ve gotta get more players involved.”
MPJ on wanting to get more involved on offense after Game 4 loss pic.twitter.com/iI7qRIHAeC
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 10, 2020
Well… I get it. BUT it’s probably not the best thing to say out in the open. I think MPJ is extremely talented and scary as a basketball player but the feel of the game has a lot to be desired, especially defensively and passing. He’s going to get an earful from his teammates if he hasn’t already.
Danuel House, Jr. may not play the rest of the series against the Lakers because he allegedly allowed a woman into his hotel room. The woman was apparently a COVID-19 testing official. Did he really break any rules, though, if the woman herself was tested? I don’t know. It seems all confusing.
I hope this gets resolved soon.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
Game 6: #2 TOR 125 vs #3 BOS 122 (2OT) (Series is tied, 3-3)
Game 4: #2 LAC 96 vs #3 DEN 85 (LAC leads series, 3-1)
Watch This Play
Lowry had a big shot but this felt like the big turning point. Powell picked Tatum and got the three-point play.
YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE GRIND pic.twitter.com/03Qh18wvFJ
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) September 10, 2020
Only one game on Thursday. The playoffs are getting thinner. I hope everyone in the bubble takes care of themselves and I hope the House issue gets solved soon.
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.