Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the playoffs now!
The Hawks are shockingly one win away from the East Finals.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ebony Cox/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)
I guess we should’ve known, right? Although I did joke that the Bucks would win by like 47 points in Game 6.
It’s not 47 but the Bucks never trailed in this game. I mean, this is what should’ve happened in Game 5 to begin with. We should be talking about how the Bucks are in the Conference Finals at this point but the playoffs have been super weird this season.
We weren’t too sure if Kevin Durant was going to have another beyond-epic performance like he did in Game 5. Durant did have 32 points and 11 boards; certainly a fantastic game but not an all-timer.
Meanwhile, Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo came through. Middleton went for 38-10-5 and even 5 steals. Giannis had 30 points and 17 boards. Let’s add Jrue Holiday with 21-8-5 and four steals.
More importantly, they didn’t settle when the Nets tried to rally. They still continued to take advantage of their size, hit timely shots, and didn’t go iso. Again, this was what should’ve happened in Game 5.
Durant didn’t get much help. Blake Griffin can still go at times but he wasn’t decidedly great here. We knew Jeff Green as one of the most inconsistent players ever and he disappeared on Thursday. Joe Harris has had trouble making shots. James Harden did what he could on a limited basis but 16-5-7 and four steals weren’t going to be enough.
They’re going 7 games. Anything goes although there are a few notes we should remember. Kyrie Irving is still likely to be out. Harden is still limited and will be for the next few weeks should they win Game 7. And no home team has lost yet in this series.
We’ll see what weird thing happens in that 7th game.
Bullet Passes
A trade happened earlier on Friday as Kemba Walker was unloaded by the Celtics. The Celtics also sent their first round draft pick and a 2025 second round choice.
Who did the Celtics get back in return? Their ol’ vet, Al Horford. They also get Moses Brown and a 2023 second-rounder.
Horford hasn’t exactly been the same since he left Boston so maybe he’ll have a bit of a resurgence in his return. As for Walker, he didn’t exactly have the best year this past season. Not sure if this is the endgame for Kemba as the Thunder are a team on a rebuild. It also makes me wonder if they’re going to try something with Kemba and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as their backcourt. Or are the Thunder going to also give up on Shai?
Either way, we continue to have crazy things happening in this league.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 17, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#5 Hawks lead #1 Sixers, 3-2.
#2 Nets tied with #3 Bucks, 3-3.
#1 Sixers defeat #8 Wizards, 4-1.
#5 Hawks defeat #4 Knicks, 4-1.
#2 Nets defeat #7 Celtics, 4-1.
#3 Bucks defeat #6 Heat, 4-0.
WEST
#4 Clippers lead #1 Jazz, 3-2.
#2 Suns defeat #3 Nuggets, 4-0.
#1 Jazz defeat #8 Grizzlies, 4-1.
#4 Clippers defeat #5 Mavericks, 4-3.
#2 Suns defeat #7 Lakers, 4-2.
#3 Nuggets defeat #6 Blazers, 4-2.
Watch This Play
A powerful rebound by Giannis is followed by this malicious slam.
FLEX ON ‘EM, GIANNIS!! pic.twitter.com/pYps2Vkzaw
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 18, 2021
GAME 7 SOON.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.