THE Western Conference champion will win the NBA crown! Those were the words of Dennis Que, my neighbor and constant analyst through the years during the NBA Playoffs.
“It’s either Golden State or Houston, assuming the Warriors beat New Orleans and the Rockets beat Utah Jazz,” said Dennis. “The West have been dominant all season long with Houston owning the best record. Warriors finished second because of various injuries but now they’re all healthy.”
The East? We know what happened this week: Just when LeBron James was celebrated as Michael Jordan-like with his Game 5 heroics, it was a different ending yesterday. The Pacers embarrassed the Cavs, annihilating them by 34 points. Basketball is five on five and even if LeBron is the world’s best (though he’ll lose the MVP crown to James Harden), this game is a team sport unlike boxing or tennis or gymnastics. LeBron may be Captain America— but it takes The Avengers to win the NBA trophy.
For the Cavs-Pacers, Game 7 is scheduled tomorrow (Monday) 1 a.m. (Phil. time). LeBron has been involved in six Game 7s and he’s won four of them.
“Game 7, I always said, is the two greatest words in sports,” LeBron said. “So us having a Game 7 on our floor, our fans are going to be truly excited to be a part of that.”
As excited as the fans will be, the state of Ohio will be anxious. If Cleveland loses, the city will say goodbye to LeBron. Still, granted that the Cavs win tomorrow, they’ll likely be defeated by the squad from Canada.
“I’m boldly predicting that Toronto Raptors will dethrone the King and Cleveland,” said Dennis Que. “Four straight years of losing in the East has given Toronto enough motivation and experience to win. Plus they have continuity; this team has been intact the last four years. I predict the Raptors will face the Philadelphia 76ers in the East finals.”
The Wild Wild West: Will it be GSW or HR? Winners of two of the last three crowns, if Steph Curry is back and the Warriors are complete, they’ll be champs.
As to the movie that has everyone lining up to watch, there’s an article in Thescore.com entitled, “What would The Avengers look like if they were made up of NBA stars?” by Chris Walder. His answers:
Hawkeye (Klay Thompson, “both expert marksmen and often overshadowed by others on their respective superteams”). The Incredible Hulk (DeMarcus Cousins, “the temperamental Cousins is built like an army tank”). Ant-Man (Giannis Antetokounmpo). Black Panther (Victor Oladipo, “Too easy. If you don the mask, then you’re up to task. Oladipo has the blessing of the Wakanda king himself”). Groot (Rudy Gobert, “I am Gobert.”) Drax the Destroyer (Draymond Green, “like the almighty Hulk, Drax is a loose cannon who can become unhinged in the heat of battle”). Rocket Raccoon (Chris Paul, “diminutive in stature but always packing a ton of heat”). Star-Lord (Stephen Curry).
Spider-Man (James Harden, “When Harden’s spidey sense is tingling, the bearded wonder flips the switch and takes over, swerving and euro-stepping his way through the tightest of crevices to get buckets.”) Dr. Strange (Kyrie Irving). Thor (Russell Westbrook). Iron Man (Kevin Durant). Captain America (LeBron, “a super soldier who never needed serum injections to gain his chiseled frame.