Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily. Hey! We’re in the playoffs now!
The Bucks survive and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Elsa/Getty Images.)
This is why we love basketball, right? Everyone giving their all to the point of exhaustion. Hell, I felt worn out just watching it. But in the end, the fatigue played a huge factor as the Milwaukee Bucks, throughout it all, won Game 7 and the series against the Brooklyn Nets, whose injuries really did bite them back in the end.
No rest for the weary in what seemed like a marathon overtime game. Kevin Durant and James Harden (despite having a really bad hamstring) never sat out a second of this game. Coach Mike Budenholzer, notorious for limiting the minutes of his starters, eschewed his usual ways and let Khris Middleton play all but 39 seconds of the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo went beyond 50 minutes. Jrue Holiday played more than 48. Brook Lopez went 46.
Both teams were on short rotations. Each team only played 8 players and Nicolas Claxton only played ONE play. The Bucks and the Nets exhausted their starters since, after all, this is the end of the series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the Bucks for most of the game. Middleton and Holiday were… not so great for the first three quarters. We’ll get to them in a bit.
Kevin Durant let it all out. Meanwhile, Harden did he could with his limitations. He was laboring out there and there was no explosiveness. But he gutted it out and, like I said, played every second.
Neither team was able to separate from the other. Harden made a huge three to put the Nets up five with about four minutes left but Middleton made a huge three to counter. A Giannis lay-up would tie it although he would miss the ensuing foul shot. However, they got the board and Holiday made a big three to make it an unconventional 5-point play.
Durant would counter each time the Bucks scored. Holiday and Middleton did their damage from the line although Holiday split his. With 8.1 seconds left and Milwaukee up by two, they had a horrible inbounds play as Brook Lopez did not know the shot clock was running down.
It set the stage for Durant.
ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREATS AT WORK. pic.twitter.com/FoaZPuAhNw
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) June 20, 2021
Some people say that sports can be a game of inches. Well…
The Nets were inches away from the Eastern Conference Finals on KD last-second shot in regulation. pic.twitter.com/dmjlUZItsk
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) June 20, 2021
We would go to overtime where we saw an exhausting grind. Bruce Brown made a quick putback early in OT…
Then Giannis made a nice hook shot from close to tie the game… with one minute left. Yes, neither team would score for three minutes. The Nets couldn’t counter and Middleton made a sweet turnaround shot to put the Bucks up two with 40 seconds left.
Middleton would miss his jumper and Durant had the ball with one possible last shot. Durant pulled up and tried to go for the win. The shot fell way short. It was a tired shot and Durant had given everything. Not that it matters but Durant’s final shot was a two-pointer. A late foul would give Nets foul shots for the final tally.
It was an epic Game 7. Giannis went for 40-13-5. Middleton would end with 23-10-6 AND 5 steals. Holiday did have 13-7-8 despite 5 for 23 shooting. Lopez had 19 points and four blocks, including a huge one against Durant in OT.
Durant had 48-9-6 in a loss. Harden despite shooting badly, nearly got a triple-double at 22-9-9. Blake Griffin fouled out but had 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Nets bench did NOT attempt a field goal, which included Jeff Green, who had a superb Game 5.
This would likely be a different story if Kyrie Irving and Harden were healthy. Unfortunately, they weren’t. The Bucks also survived a ton of bonehead offensive plays and in the end, went to their strengths. They go to their second East Finals in three years.
The Nets will be back. But for now, the remaining East team have to go through the Deer to get to the NBA Finals.
Bullet Passes
I don’t know why the Clippers barely get one day off as they face the Suns on SUNDAY AFTERNOON. Awful.
I should predict this series, huh? No Chris Paul to start. I have no idea about the Clippers getting Kawhi Leonard back at some point.
I just don’t think the Clippers can get these types of games from their supporting cast every time, right? The Suns have shown to be a well-oiled machine even without Chris Paul. And I do think Paul will be back at some point. It all comes down to the consistency of the supporting cast. Will Paul George have to carry the Clips every single game.
There’s too many things for the Clippers to go right here. So…
PREDICTION: SUNS IN 6.
Five teams are left as of this writing and, uhhhh, when was the last time they won an NBA championsip?
SUNS: NEVER
CLIPPERS: NEVER
SIXERS: 1983
HAWKS: 1958 (in St. Louis)
BUCKS: 1971
NEW BLOOD. YEAH.
NBA Playoff Scoreboard
June 19, 2021
NBA Playoff Series Count
EAST
#1 Sixers tied with #5 Hawks, 3-3.
#3 Bucks defeat #2 Nets, 4-3.
#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
#2 Suns will face #4 Clippers.
#4 Clippers defeat #1 Jazz, 4-2.
#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
Everyone will look at the Durant shot as iconic but, dude, they lost the game. Middleton deserves more props for THIS shot, which was the go-ahead and eventual winning shot for this series.
KHA$H MONEY!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/eSSpHrWsbl
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 20, 2021
The Bucks await for the Sixers/Hawks winner.
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.