Last time on The New Millennium, the Lakers with new addition Joe Johnson were the best team in the NBA yet again, but the Bulls were once again fantastic and finished on an identical record. Who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2008 NBA Championship?
First Round
In the West, the Lakers and Clippers have set up a battle for Los Angeles in the second round, as the Lakers only dropped one game to the Spurs while the Clippers needed 5 to take out Portland. Sacramento also needed 5 to get the upset over Vancouver, and the Warriors went down in an upset to the Timberwolves, as young Kevin Durant dropped 26 in the decisive Game 4. Out East, the Bulls swept the Celtics and the Pacers outlasted the Magic, with Dexter Collinsworth scoring 32 to win Game 5. The Hornets swept the defending champion Raptors, and the Nets were pushed all the way to 5 before eliminating the Knicks.
Second Round
In the battle for Los Angeles, the Clippers stunned their cross town rivals, winning in 5 thanks to Dwayne Wade's heroics. Meanwhile, the Kevins put on a show, and in an incredibly tight offensive showcase, took out the Kings in 7 games. In the East, the Bulls playoff struggles continued, as they failed to get past the Pacers, as Indiana's defense won them Game 7 and the series. And in yet another 7 game series, the Charlotte Hornets punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals, as Ellis Rowland dropped 32 to win Game 7 and send the Nets home.
Conference Finals
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Hornets would take a 3-1 series lead, needing one win to advance to the NBA Finals. But in Game 5 in Charlotte, Jermaine O'Neal hit a game winning jumper to keep the Pacers season alive, and Indiana came roaring back to clinch another trip to the Finals. Out West, the Timberwolves gave the Clippers all they could handle, but LA's new kings had too much depth. In Game 7, Pau Gasol scored 26, Wade had 25 and Paul Millsap notched 20 off the bench to send the Clippers to the Finals.
NBA Finals
Game 1 in Indiana would go to overtime, where O'Neal blocked several key shots down the stretch and the Pacers won by 2. Indiana was much more dominant in Game 2, as O'Neal contributed 24 points and 11 rebounds in a big fourth quarter run to go up 2-0.
Game 3 was more of the same, as the Pacers won their sixth playoff game in a row, with O'Neal getting better and better, this time scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, to go along with 4 blocks. Game 4 was tight throughout, with the Clippers holding a lead late. But it was then that Justin Galloway was clutch for the Pacers, forcing several key turnovers from Dwyane Wade, and the Pacers finished it off, winning by 9. For the second time in The New Millennium, the Indiana Pacers are NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Jermaine O'Neal(21.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.8 blkpg)
The Indiana Pacers continue to be the definition of clutch, winning their second championship in their fifth Finals appearance. What is to come for The New Millennium? Join me next time for the 2008 offseason.
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