PLAYOFFS (FINALS)NBA FINALS
- Code: Select all
GAME 1 | GAME 2 | GAME 3 | GAME 4 | GAME 5 | GAME 6 | GAME 7 |
(4) CHI 110 (0) | CHI 110 (1) | CHI 130 (2) | CHI 128 (3) | CHI 119 (4) |
(1) LAL 124 (1) | LAL 102 (1) | LAL 119 (1) | LAL 126 (1) | LAL 103 (1) |
GAME 1 (Staples Center)
In a game that was never really in doubt, the Lakers easily defeated the Bulls 124-110. The Lakers shot 56% from the field and went into the half time break leading 63-47. The Bulls made a run in the third quarter, closing the gap to 88-84, but never got any closer than that and the Lakers pulled away down the stretch. LeBron James scored 24 points and Kyle Kuzma added an additional 23 points to Anthony Davis's game high 33 points. Kyrie Irving led the Bulls with 30 points and 11 assists in defeat.
POTG: Anthony Davis - forward (LAL) 33 points / 5 assists / 15 rebounds / 4 blocks / 4 steals
GAME 2 (Staples Center)
The Lakers Anthony Davis had his worst game of the year and eventually left the game after only sixteen minutes with a mysterious injury. It was the only game that Davis failed to score in all year and the Bulls took full advantage of his absence, outscoring the Lakers 39-28 in the final quarter. It is no secret that Davis is the key to the Lakers, but LeBron James stepped up and scored 36 points and L.A. led 74-71 at the end of the third quarter. Ultimately, the game came to down free throwing shooting and the Bulls went 23 of 23 from the free throw line, with Kyrie hitting 11 of 11 of his own. The series now shifts back to Chicago for game three and it remains to be seen if Anthony Davis will be in the Lakers starting lineup.
POTG: Kyrie Irving - guard (CHI) 38 points / 8 assists / 4 rebounds / 1 blocks / 0 steals
GAME 3 (United Center)
When it was clear that Anthony Davis was going to start game three for the Lakers, no one would have predicted a Bulls victory, but I guess that's why they play the games. For the most part the Bulls held the Lakers in check and the triple threat of Davis, James and Kuzma combined 71 points. However, the Bulls starting five out scored the Lakers starting five 108-79, leaving the Lakers bench to make up the slack and they weren't up to the task. So, the Bulls taking a surprising or should I say, shocking, two games to one lead in the series, with a pivotal game four to be played at the United Center. Although Laker fans certainly have reason for concern, no one is ready to jump off the bandwagon just yet, but a Bulls victory in game four would dramatically diminish the odds of an L.A. repeat. In other words, live it up now LeBron haters, because it might not last.
POTG: Kyrie Irving - guard (CHI) 43 points / 11 assists / 6 rebounds / 1 blocks / 0 steals
GAME 4 (United Center)
What is happening! Seriously...I'm going to take a moment to step outside of the game and say that there have been a lot of very interesting things to happen during my short time playing DDSPB20. They have mostly felt realistic and accurate, but this...I'm really having difficulty believing this is really happening. One game away from an NBA title, with the best shooting guard on the team out with an injury? Not to mention it is against the best team in the league that features Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma?!? I set the game to be as realistic and difficult as possible (at least I think I did) and I understand that there is always a certain bit of randomness to any simulation, but this doesn't "feel" quite right. I say that, because I would never have expected a team comprised of Kyrie Irving, Jaren Jackson, Rui Hachimura, Derek Favors and Lou Williams to win an NBA title. Even before the playoffs started, I was already thinking about who might be a good addition to the team, because we were still missing one or two players to make us a serious threat. Granted, we haven't exactly won the NBA title...yet...but even if we lose three straight, just coming within a single game, with this team, is a wee bit difficult for me to fathom. Okay, back to the game report...
The Chicago Bulls are poised to pull of one of the greatest NBA upsets in recent memory. When the playoffs started, no one would have predicted that the Bulls would make it to the NBA Finals, much less hold a three games to one lead over the defending champions. If the Bulls do indeed pull of the impossible, it will likely be because of game four. This was quite the game, as there were 33 lead changes, 16 ties and the largest lead of the game was a mere nine points. The home town fans certainly got their moneys worth, to say the least. Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 33 points and all five Chicago starters were in double figures.
At this point the Lakers must be scratching their heads. They dominated points in the paint 76-46, second chance points 21-12 and fast break points 22-18, but still somehow fell short? Well, if you were paying attention and dig a little deeper into the post game stats, you would likely identify the Lakers downfall without too much difficulty. It was their free throwing shooting, again. Yes, the Bulls shot 40 free throws compared to the Lakers 25, but of those 25, the Lakers only made 13, for a 52% free throw shooting percentage. In contrast, the Bulls shot 70% from the free throw line. So, it's back to Los Angeles for game five. The Lakers have their backs against the wall and the Bulls only needing a single victory to snatch the title away.
POTG: Kyrie Irving - guard (CHI) 33 points / 13 assists / 5 rebounds / 0 blocks / 1 steals
GAME 5 (Staples Center)
The Chicago Bulls are the NBA Champions! Bulls fans and LeBron haters around the world rejoice, because the L.A. Lakers just completed one of the most unlikely collapses in the history of professional sports. Down three games to one and at home, the Lakers squandered a 23 point lead and then were outscored 20-4 in overtime. That's right,
twenty to
four! The Lakers jumped out to an early 33-14 lead in the first quarter and led 55-40 at the half. However, the Bulls clawed their way back and outscored the Lakers 38-23 to push the game to extra time. In overtime, the Lakers couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat and the Bulls raced away to capture their first title since the Michael Jordan era.
Now that the question of who will be the NBA Champion has been answered, there are still many questions on peoples minds. Like...How did the Lakers manage to throw away a 23 point lead? How did the Bulls manage to win four straight against the defending champs? How did LeBron James go 5 of 19 and 0 of 5 from three, in the most important game of the year? Is the Lakers collapse on par with the Falcons 28-3 choke in the Superbowl?
...and finally, how good are the Bulls...really?
Okay, back to the real world for a moment. Honestly, I'm still stunned. Don't get me wrong, I believe I've assembled a pretty decent team, but winning the NBA Championship with the current roster just never crossed my mind. It was simply too much of an impossibility and I am hesitant to actually enjoy the success. It still doesn't feel real or possible. We just won an NBA title with the second lowest payroll in the league. Only Charlotte has more room under the cap than we do and they stink on wheat. I hate to say it, but the championship feels a little hollow right now...I really don't know what else to say.
Hurray?!?
POTG: Jaren Jackson - forward (CHI) 23 points / 1 assists / 9 rebounds / 6 blocks / 0 steals
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