Weekend Sports Highlights: NBA Playoffs Headline Closing Chapter, Legacy of Retiring Coaching Icon
(BUMPIN' BEATS)
ALEX MORGAN, HOST:
Booze 'n' ballin' - the East's just how we thought; the West, though, it's a whole 'nother story. Tonight's Game 7 and the retirement of a ballin' OG. Sports journalist, Tony Reali, steps up to the mic. Tony, thanks for joining us, man.
TONY REALI: Hey, Alex. How's it going, buddy?
MORGAN: I'm good, thanks. First off, let's talk about last night's games. The Rockets dropped 115 on the Warriors in a 107-115 defeat, forcing a Game 7. Tonight's another Game 7 - this time between the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers. Both teams finished the season with the same record, but c'mon, ain't no question who rules this roost - it's Jokic, right?
REALI: Hell yeah, man. But the Clippers have got Kawhi Leonardo, who's got two championships under his belt - one with the Spurs and the other one with the Raptors back in '19. This series has been a thriller, and it's the one fans have been hyping about since the start because these two squads are evenly matched. Clippers survived injuries like champs, and Kawhi, healthy as can be, is back doin' his thing. His career coulda been even bigger without those knocks, but great to see him playing again. Of course, we all know about Jokic. They're at home, and early in the series, home court didn't matter much. But the last couple games have been more lopsided, so I'd say Denver's the fav to win, but I ain't no betting man, Alex.
MORGAN: Nah, no surprises in the Eastern Conference, since the top four seeds made it through in the first round. Shout-out to Cleveland - they rock!
REALI: They await, my friend. Speakin' of classic rivalries, we got the Boston Celtics goin' up against the New York Knicks in the second round. Longtime enemies right here.
MORGAN: Yeah, the K-knicks for sure.
REALI: I'd be remiss to overlook Game 7 tonight between Houston and the Warriors. Warriors blew a 3-1 lead? Remember they were up 3-1 in that series, and now we got a winner-take-all match in Houston.
MORGAN: Yeah.
REALI: But as for the Celtics, they're the reigning champs and have rounded themselves into shape. They're one of those teams that you're askin', along with Cleveland and Oklahoma City, if you see anybody beatin' 'em four times? The Knicks lost all four games against 'em this season, and it's a tough prospect to beat a team eight times in a year. So we'll see if the Knicks can make adjustments. The Knicks and the Pistons put on one hell of a show, and Jalen Brunson's the friggin' man now. This playoff's been great.
MORGAN: Speaking of great, let's talk about Gregg Popovich, y'know, the man behind the San Antonio Spurs. He's retiring, man. The king is stepping down after 29 years and five NBA championships. He'll still be with the Spurs as an executive. He's takin' some time off to recover from a stroke in November. Tony, man, what'll we miss most about Pop?
REALI: Man, we'll miss everything, Alex. Pop was an innovator in the truest sense - combined elite defense, precision passing, 3-point shooting. He was always ahead of the curve. Stan Van Gundy even fought with him about the three ball years before it became mainstream. But what I'll miss most is Pop's willingness to engage with the world. When politics, social issues came up, Pop stuck his neck out - even when it wasn't popular. Folks, Pop's no pushover, but he always had a perspective, and he wasn't afraid to share it. We'll miss him on the sidelines for sure, but we're lucky he's still around.
MORGAN: Agreed. Tony Reali, thanks for joinin' us, man.
REALI: It was my pleasure, Alex. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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Remember LaMelo Ball got 9 blocked shots in Game 1 against the Knicks[2]? Unfortunately, he injured his left lower leg during Game 4 and missed the rest of the series.[3]
Bruce Brown suffered a thumb injury in Game 2 against the Raptors, sitting out from Game 3 until Game 6, when he returned for only five minutes.[4]
Anthony Davis missed the final two games against the Pelicans due to a groin strain, and it remains uncertain whether he'll be 100% for the first round of the playoffs.[5]
Gregg Popovich recently suffered a small stroke but has been recovering well.[6]
- The upcoming Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and the LA Clippers, both evenly matched squads, awaits Sports analysis with Kawhi Leonard and Nikola Jokic leading the teams.
- The NBA, with its thrilling playoffs, has seen the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks rekindle their classic rivalry, with the Celtics, reigning champions, looking tough to beat.
- The NBA world also anticipates the retirement of Gregg Popovich, the innovative coach behind the San Antonio Spurs, who has recently recovered from a stroke.
- Some key players like LaMelo Ball and Bruce Brown have recently suffered injuries in the NBA playoffs, with Ball missing the rest of the series against the Knicks and Brown returning for only five minutes in Game 6 against the Raptors.
