NBA Takes End of Season Edition – Goodbye to an exciting season, Hello play-ins
And a little of this and that!
1 – The LA Lakers did not want to be in the play-in. As a matter of fact, LeBron James stated “Whoever came up with that (expletive) needs to be fired.” But last year when he was in the top spot in the Western Conference, Mr. James had this to say, “One thing you can’t just do is go straight to the playoffs because it discredits the 60-plus games that guys had fighting for that position,” said James during the Road Trippin’ Podcast in March 2020.
Well, LeBron, welcome to the play-in game you initially pushed for when your Lakers weren't involved, then said whoever came up with this idea should be fired when you realized your Lakers were plunging toward it. Should you be fired?
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 17, 2021
2 – The Portland Trail Blazers are not in the play-In. But it wasn’t easy to make the top six. The Blazers had a hard time this season, and many wondered what was wrong. In my opinion, every game Portland plays can’t be Dame Time. Someone else has to step up and help Lillard.
When Dame missed three games in mid-April with a hamstring, his team lost two of three. After Lillard came back, the Blazers lost three straight. It was all part of a 2–9 run from April 6–25.
Reality must have kicked in; the Blazers played their best basketball at the end, going on an 11-2 run to close out the season. Even though the team was on a hot streak, they had to beat Denver in the last game of the season to avoid the play-ins. Sunday night, Dame and company defeated the Nuggets soundly to finish sixth in the West and send LAL to the play-in.
3 – Sound the alarm, stop the presses! The New York Knicks are in the playoffs! Not the play-ins but the playoffs. NYK even has the home-court advantage in round one. Who saw that one coming when the league tipped off in December?
They are the East’s fourth seed and will play Atlanta in the first round. Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, and Derrick Rose (yes, that Derrick Rose) had phenomenal seasons. Under new coach, Tom Thibodeau the Knicks exceeded everyone’s expectations. After an eight-year absence, it will be great to see postseason basketball at Madison Square Garden.
And so it begins
If you are a basketball fan like me, you will be in front of your television on Tuesday to watch the Boston Celtics host the Washington Wizards for the first game of the East play-in. After that game, the Indiana Pacers host the Charlotte Hornets to see who will win or go home.
On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies host the San Antonio Spurs to see who plays the winner of the LA Lakers vs. the Golden State Warriors game.
Wow. I know that’s a lot. If you can’t keep track, don’t worry. I’ll be back to let you know who’s going to the playoffs as the seventh and eighth seed in each conference as we get ready for the NBA Takes Playoff Edition. Maybe then this will all make sense.
It’s the play-in season! We’ll see you soon when we take a look at the final playoff brackets and start on the road to the NBA Championship! Stay safe!