2030 NBA Finals
#1 Philadelphia vs. #1 Dallas
We won our two matches against the Sixers but this team is on fire after storming home against Washington last series.
Point Guard
Jamil Fleming vs. Ledaryl McMillian
19.1 points, 12.5 assists, 5.2 rebounds vs. 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds
When Fleming was drafted number one a few years ago not many people thought he would be as good as he is now. The premier passing point guard in the league his court vision is amazing but what sets him apart is his rebounding a scoring. At only six foot tall he averaged 6.2 rebounds a game during the regular season and already has 15 triple doubles in his four year career. This kind can do it all and will push the Buzzsaw all the way.
Winner - Dallas
Shooting Guard
John Kelly vs. Haven Roberson
20.2 points, 3.6 assists, 4.7 rebounds vs. 8.3 points, 1.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds
As usual Roberson won’t play that much as Earl Oliver will be the main guy but Oliver will struggle mightly against the bigger Kelly. At 26 years old, Kelly is technically the best defender in the league, and he’s still growing. Kelly is also as good a scorer as Oliver while his passing would put many point guards to shame. This kid has it all.
Winner - Philadelphia
Small Forward
Jamaal Lewis vs. Jack Dawkins
14.7 points, 2.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds vs. 20.2 points, 7.1 assists, 5.8 rebounds
Another player who is an elite defender Lewis can do nearly everything well but not really anything top class. He is a great defender, stealer and decent scorer but he will need to stick to Captain Jack like glue because Dawkins will be gunning for his second title in a row.
Winner - Dallas
Power Forward
Jared Arenas vs. Terry McKenzie
19.8 points, 1.6 assists, 8.6 rebounds vs. 19.8 points, 0.9 assists, 9.7 rebounds
Apart from the Fleming/McMillian match-up this is the one to watch. Arenas is getting old (33 years old) but he can still bring it and is desperate for his first title. McKenzie is also desperate for his first ring and even though his last series was a disappointment he played well against slower opponents in the past.
Winner - Dallas
Centre
Justin Robinson vs. Corey Barnes
11.3 points, 0.9 assists, 9.4 rebounds vs. 11.8 points, 1.1 assists, 7.5 rebounds
An amazing shot blocker but a below average defender Robinson chases the ball too much to really be any threat. His scoring is coming along but his battle against Barnes won’t be looked at with the other battles happening around them. That was said about Barnes last series and he torched Schuyler Vanderwerken so don’t sleep on him.
Winner - Draw
Bench
Ian Ransom, Mike Bryant, Hector Carter vs. Earl Oliver, Mike Lingle, Corry Hackworth
Ransom and Bryant filled in nicely when Justin Robinson went down with a broken ankle at the start of the playoffs but other than those two there really isn’t any second unit Sixer who really steps up. On the other hand Oliver, Lingle and to an extent Hackworth are valuable members of the squad who will give some quality minutes.
Winner – Draw
Prediction – Dallas in six. This Mavericks team is just too talented to really be troubled by the youth of Philadelphia but if the Sixers can steal an early game then there could be a change of an upset.
In my euphoria of making it to the NBA Finals again I may have blurted out on national television that if we won the title I would buy every Dallas season ticket holder a jersey of whoever won the NBA Finals award. Not the owner, the guy who has bazillions of dollars, but me. Gulp. Let’s go Mavs!
Game one was immense, as we raced out to a 28-19 first quarter lead as the Buzzsaw ripped shreds of Jamil Fleming, scoring 14 points in the first term and saddling Fleming with three quick fouls. It was the polar opposite in the second as a whole team effort from the Sixers brought them the lead with a 32-22 second term and they held a slim 51-50 half time lead. Jamaal Lewis was great on Jack, holding him to tough shots while Haven Roberson must have missed the memo where he should never shoot, going 1/13 from the field for the game. Quarter three was tight but we wrestled a one point three quarter time lead to go into the last term with the slightest of momentum. In the fourth the flood gates were opened as the Buzzsaw took over again as we take the first game 113-106. Ledaryl was amazing, going 16/24 for 37 points and 6 rebounds. Corey and T-Mac were practically invisible as both fouled out in less than three quarters as Justin Robinson and Jared Arenas combined for 30 points, 16 rebounds and 7 blocks. The x-factor for us was Earl Oliver, who had 19 points on 5/8 shooting in only 25 minutes to push us over the line in the last term. He might not start the game but he sure as hell finished it.
Dallas leads 1-0
T-Mac finally woke up with 28 points and 13 rebounds as we scorched the Sixers 33-17 in the first quarter as the crowd was ballistic. The Sixers didn’t quit though, scraping and battling to bring the lead back in every quarter until it was level with 7.5 seconds to go. John Kelly had a tough night even though he had 26 points as he went 9/24 from the field but when the game is on the line the ball goes into his hands. Kelly caught the ball at the top of the key and the obvious flat set was called with the poor defender in Earl Oliver trying to hold him. Five seconds a screen from Justin Robinson comes out and Kelly dribbles to his right. Four seconds, the screen is a strong one as Oliver gets caught on Robinson’s big frame. Two seconds, Kelly raises up with Corey Barnes a half step away and drains the basket to steal the win on our court 119-117. The crowd put up their hands as one and a massive groan is heard as the Sixers rip home court advantage out of our hands and John Kelly is the hero. Damn.
Series tied 1-1
The last time Philly was in the NBA Finals was way back in 2000, thirty years ago and they got stomped by Shaq and Kobe. The last time they actually won the whole damn thing was way back in 1982 so if you think the fans are wanting this championship then you would be right. There are so many crazy rumours going on around here it’s hard to know what’s right and what’s made up. I heard that the tickets were completely sold out 35 minutes after they beat the Wizards. I heard that tonight that if anyone is wearing any Dallas paraphernalia then they wouldn’t be allowed in, even with a valid ticket. I heard that anyone with a Texas accent would be set on fire. OK, maybe that one wasn’t true but it’s like a mad house around here.
We still had a say in all of this and we got out to our regular fast start with a 10 point lead at half time behind Ledaryl’s 31 points. After the long break something must have clicked in the Sixers’ minds as they went on a tear, outscoring us 35-14 in the third and I couldn’t hear myself think where i was sitting. They cruised to a 113-101 win in the end to delirious fans and my ears are ringing. John Kelly continued on from his game winning shot with 24 points as Jack was held to only 6/20 shooting. In fact, apart from Ledaryl none of our guys shot 50% as we went 40% from the field which just isn’t our game. If our shots aren’t falling we aren’t winning the game.
Philadelphia leads 2-1
Oh my God it’s pandemonium right now as the two best Sixers players who haven’t done anything in the first three games actually stood up as Jamaal Lewis scored 38 points and 9 rebounds while Jamil Fleming added 26 points and 13 assists and we got embarrassed, going down 126-92 and to the brink of elimination. This city is buzzing at the moment as I’m pretty sure that the stadium will collapse if they win the next game.
Philadelphia leads 3-1
As the NBA Finals is played with a 2-3-2 format with their game two win in Dallas the Sixers now have a chance to finish this on their home court which is really a frightening prospect. Jack finally, FINALLY got out from Jamaal Lewis with 32 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds while Ledaryl had his usual great game with 27 points and 7 assists but the rest of the team stunk it up again as we lose the game and the series and the trophy 123-113! Jamil Fleming was again the man with 34 points and 14 assists while Finals MVP John Kelly continued his rise to fame with 31 points and 6 assists. Hell the Sixers shot 56% from the field to our paltry 45%.
Someone get me a drink...
Philadelphia wins 4-1