The Conference Finals

Portland vs Golden State

After 19 years, the Portland Trailblazers are back in the Western Conference Finals. Their last WC Finals appearance was in 2000 when they engaged and lost to the LA Lakers in seven games.  In that series, the Blazers were down 1-3 but recovered and forced a deciding game, which the Lakers eventually won on the way to the first of their three straight NBA titles.

Portland last won the NBA championships in 1977 against Philadelphia and they had been to the NBA Finals twice after that, in 1990 losing to Detroit in 5 games and in 1992, losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 2 games to 4.

I had my doubts of the Blazers going past the first round of the playoffs with the season ending injury to big man Jusuf Nurkic but the backcourt tandem of CJ McCollum and Damian Lillardalternated with the scoring load along with an assortment of teammates who contributed when needed.   They are well coached and will try to bring down the mighty Golden State Warriors down where no other team had done since five years ago.

Portland needs to take advantage of Kevin Durant’s absence for at least two games in this series and must win a game or two at the Warriors’ homecourt.   In support of Lillard and McCollum, Seth Curry should find his range and let big brother Steph know that he hit the big shots.

The Warriors are still the heavy favorites, with or without KD.  And for the Curry family, one of their sons will surely go to the NBA Finals.

Toronto vs Milwaukee

In 2001, the Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers were in a win-or-go-home battle for the right to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals which Philly won.  18 years later, the same scenario happened but roles were reversed. In both 2001 and 2019, Milwaukee waited for the winner for the Conference Finals.

With a full week of rest, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks come to Game One of their series with the Raptors with fresh legs.  But the Bucks is not all about Giannis as other starters Nikola Mirotic, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez andEric Bledsoeall score in double figures.

Kawhi Leonard is Kawhi Leonard, nuff said about him.  The problem Toronto will be having is how to contain Giannis.  As long as they can fence off his driving lanes, the Raptors will have a fighting chance.  Serge Ibaka, PaskalSiakam and Marc Gasol will have their hands full in the middle.  Now is the time for Kyle Lowry to show up and play and for Danny Green to consistently drain his shots if they plan to move on the NBA Finals.

The Bucks are favored in this series but Toronto, with Kawhi willing the rest of the Raptors, could just advance to their first ever NBA Championships.