Andrew wrote:Bad news is that you lost, good news is that the series is a long way from over and you can see a way to win. Besides, a series doesn't start until a road team wins a game, right?
cavs4872 wrote:Vintage Iggy... that's odd.
GSW | 36 | 29 | 32 | 25 | 122 |
OKC | 29 | 30 | 25 | 33 | 117 |
Player of the Game: Stephen Curry
(36pts, 1reb, 7ast, 3stl, 1blk)
(14-27 FG, 6-13 3PT, 2-2 FT)
spiderxx7 wrote:Wow what a game from Adams. I''m sure you will bounce back
Andrew wrote:Ouch. Hopefully you can win the next four to move on without ever being on the brink!
cavs4872 wrote:Man, it's always the Dubs that give you fits.
OKC | 36 | 27 | 28 | 33 | 124 |
GSW | 23 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 195 |
Player of the Game: Paul George
(27pts, 9reb, 4ast, 1stl)
(10-17 FG, 2-4 3PT, 5-6 FT)
OKC | 40 | 33 | 25 | 39 | 137 |
GSW | 24 | 35 | 40 | 44 | 143 |
Player of the Game: Stephen Curry
(42pts, 3reb, 12ast, 1stl)
(15-29 FG, 8-18 3PT, 4-4 FT)
Andrew wrote:Heartbreaking indeed, not the result I was hoping to see when I saw the new title. As you said though, worst case scenario it does help with the offseason narrative, but it'd be awesome to see you pull off the comeback!
GSW | 28 | 18 | 14 | 41 | 101 |
OKC | 31 | 31 | 20 | 39 | 121 |
Player of the Game: Nerlens Noel
(23pts, 13reb, 4ast, 1stl, 2blk)
(10-15 FG, 3-3 FT)
OKC | 29 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 106 |
GSW | 24 | 25 | 41 | 37 | 127 |
Player of the Game: Stephen Curry
(42pts, 2reb, 5ast, 2stl)
(17-28 FG, 8-13 3PT)
The Philadelphia 76ers are NBA champions. The Process is complete.
Celebrations erupted all across the city of Philadelphia as the final buzzer sounded to end a thrilling game 6 at the Wells Fargo Center. It was the first title for the franchise in 36 years, and just their fourth overall.
It is a real David versus Goliath story, with a 42-win team defeating the 67-win overwhelming favourites.-----
This 76ers team has taken a remarkably similar path to the title as the 1994-95 Houston Rockets did. As a sixth seed, they equal the Rockets' record of being the lowest seeded team to win the NBA Finals.
They also matched the Rockets' feat of defeating four teams that had won 50 or more games during the regular season on their way to the title - Toronto (51-31), Milwaukee (55-27), Boston (59-23) and Golden State (67-15). A total of 232 wins, compared to the 238 total of the opponents that Houston faced.
Philadelphia also matched the Rockets by winning the title without having the home-court advantage during any round of the playoffs. This is also only the third time in 73 years that the champion has come from outside of a top-three seeded team. It's a truly remarkable victory by all measurements.-----
The 76ers' key players all contributed in a meaningful way. The even spread was reflected in their averages over the six games: Joel Embiid (19.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.2 blocks per game), Jimmy Butler (18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds), Ben Simmons (10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.8 assists), JJ Redick (16.6 points) and Tobias Harris (15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds).
In the end the Finals MVP trophy was a toss-up between Embiid, Butler and Simmons. The Cameroonian big man ultimately got the nod from the voters, partly thanks to his two dominant efforts in their game 1 and game 4 wins.
He put up 32 points and 14 rebounds in game 1 as the 76ers stunned the Warriors to win at Oracle Arena. He also dominated in the crucial game 4 victory which put his team up 3-1 in the series. He dropped 26 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocks as Philadelphia cruised to a 119-103 win.-----
As for Golden State, have we just witnessed the closing of their era of domination?
For five seasons in a row this historically dominant team has taken on all comers and largely come out on top. But ultimately they have fallen short of elevating themselves into the discussion of being the best dynasty in league history. And now they face a Summer of real uncertainty.
First of all, key players Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson suffered serious injuries during the Finals. Durant returned from a calf strain that he suffered a fortnight ago to start game 5 against the 76ers, but lasted just over a quarter before crumpling to the ground with an apparent Achilles injury. He is almost certainly set to miss an entire year of basketball.
Thompson landed awkwardly whilst attempting a dunk during the final minutes fourth quarter of game 6. He had been instrumental in keeping the Warriors in that game, which they needed to win to extend the series. His injury proved too distracting for his teammates as they lost the game 102-99 and consequently the series 4-2.
Scans revealed the next day that he had torn his left ACL. He is expected to be out for up to 10 months.-----
To add insult to injury, both Durant and Thompson are out of contract now. Will Joe Lacob and his ownership group be willing to incur hefty luxury tax penalties to keep two players who might not even step onto the court next season?
There have been rumours all season about where Durant will be playing next. He has been linked to the Knicks, Nets, Lakers, Clippers and of course a return to Golden State. Perhaps this injury will make him opt for the financial security of a long-term deal and that may something that the Warriors are not able to offer him.
Golden State will almost certainly also lose former all-star center DeMarcus Cousins in free agency due to their cap situation. His gamble of taking a significantly reduced salary in order to win a ring ultimately failed.
Depth players such as Jordan Bell, Alfonzo McKinnie, Kevon Looney and Quinn Cook could also be attracting lucrative offers in free agency. Veteran Shaun Livingston has a $7.7 million team option for next season that will probably be declined now that the Warriors won't be a serious contender.
Veteran role players Andrew Bogut and Jonas Jerebko will also become free agents. If the Warriors do look to retool their roster this off-season then veteran former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala may find himself traded to help relieve their cap squeeze.
Whether or not this is the final appearance in the Finals by this group, people will debate whether or not they were the greatest team ever.
One thing is undeniable though. They only won 3 out of a possible 5 titles during their run. That puts them level with the 2000's Spurs and Lakers, and 1980's Celtics teams. And well short of the 1990's Chicago Bulls, 1980's Lakers and 1960's Celtics.
Game 1
Golden State Warriors [12-4] vs Philadelphia 76ers [12-4]
Philadelphia shock Warriors by taking opening game in Oakland
GSW | 24 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 104 |
PHI | 21 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 108 |
Player of the Game: Joel Embiid
(32pts, 14reb, 1ast, 2blk)
(10-18 FG, 2-4 3PT, 10-10 FT)
Game 2
Golden State Warriors [12-5] vs Philadelphia 76ers [13-4]
Classic Curry performance leads Warriors to game 2 victory
GSW | 25 | 28 | 29 | 35 | 117 |
PHI | 18 | 27 | 24 | 31 | 100 |
Player of the Game: Steph Curry
(40pts, 5reb, 6ast, 2stl)
(14-23 FG, 7-15 3PT, 5-5 FT)
Game 3
Golden State Warriors [13-5] vs Philadelphia 76ers [13-5]
Sixers smother Warriors in fourth quarter as they grab 2-1 series lead
PHI | 26 | 30 | 18 | 29 | 103 |
GSW | 21 | 24 | 26 | 10 | 181 |
Player of the Game: Jimmy Butler
(18pts, 5reb, 8ast, 2stl)
(6-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-8 FT)
Game 4
Golden State Warriors [13-6] vs Philadelphia 76ers [14-5]
Comfortable win puts Philadelphia on brink of championship glory
PHI | 29 | 34 | 26 | 30 | 119 |
GSW | 21 | 30 | 27 | 25 | 103 |
Player of the Game: Joel Embiid
(26pts, 13reb, 2ast, 4blk)
(9-18 FG, 0-4 3PT, 8-10 FT)
Game 5
Golden State Warriors [13-7] vs Philadelphia 76ers [15-5]
Curry and Cousins help the Warriors delay 76ers' title celebrations
GSW | 40 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 117 |
PHI | 24 | 28 | 15 | 32 | 199 |
Player of the Game: Steph Curry
(32pts, 1reb, 10ast, 2stl)
(11-20 FG, 8-13 3PT, 2-2 FT)
Game 6
Golden State Warriors [14-7] vs Philadelphia 76ers [15-6]
Thrilling win gives Philadelphia their first championship in 36 years
PHI | 29 | 28 | 19 | 26 | 102 |
GSW | 18 | 34 | 18 | 29 | 199 |
Player of the Game: Ben Simmons
(16pts, 8reb, 10ast, 2stl)
(7-13 FG, 2-3 FT)
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