Last time on The New Millennium, two of the greatest players of all time, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, led their teams to the top spot of their respective conference. Now, both look to cement their legacy, as Kobe looks for his fourth ring and LeBron hunts his first. Who will claim the ultimate prize and win the 2011 NBA Championship?
First Round
This time, there would no mistakes by the Lakers to start things off, as they cruised past the Nuggets to knock out the defending champions. In a hard fought five game series, the Clippers would advance to face their LA counterparts, as Dwyane Wade scored 25 points to win Game 5. Portland ousted Houston, and Dallas was taken all the way to five games by Vancouver before Zach Randolph slammed the door in Game 5, notching 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Out East, the Hawks hit disaster immediately, going down 2-0 before winning two games to send in to Game 5. But in that game, Dirk Nowitzki saw off the best team in the East, hitting a game winner to send the Wizards through with a big upset. The young Boston Celtics, led by LaMarcus Aldridge, Eric Gordon and Mike Conley, pummeled the Bulls in four games to face Washington in Round 2. Charlotte had no issues against the Magic, and the Nets survived a physical four game series to eliminate the pesky Detroit Pistons.
Second Round
This was Dirk's big playoff run in reality and he was determined to do the same here, dominating against the younger Aldridge. Nowitzki would score an impressive 29 points in Game 4, as the Wizards advanced again, only dropping one game to Boston. The Nets one upped Washington, sweeping the Hornets with ease, on the verge on their third NBA Finals appearance in a row.
In the Battle of LA, the Lakers and Clippers were tied at 2-2 entering Game 5. There, Kobe took control, dropping 29 points, before following it up with 32 more in Game 6, leading his Lakers to win both games and earn a trip to the Western Conference Finals. They would be joined by fellow top seed, the Dallas Mavericks, who took out the Trail Blazers in 5, Steph Curry putting on a show in the decisive Game 5, scoring 41 points and hitting a game winner to send Portland packing.
Conference Finals
The New Jersey Nets continue to be fantastic in the playoffs, ending the impressive run of the Wizards in just five games. They didn't have a star performer and didn't need one, as Jamaal Teague, Jason Richardson, Coty Porter and Stephen Jackson took turns leading the team in scoring. For the third year in a row, the Nets are in the NBA Finals.
The Lakers didn't have much of an answer for Stephen Curry to start the series, losing two of the first three games and allowing Curry to score 47 point in Game 1. But in Game 4, Curry fouled out after playing just 14 minutes, allowing the Lakers to steal a win in Dallas to tie up the series. Now heading back home, the Lakers felt safe. They shouldn't have, as Curry put up 31 and Edwin Underwood came off the bench to add 16 more, winning Game 5. Game 6 was more of the same, as Curry and Clifton Davenport combined for 57 point, center Derrick Flory grabbed 14 rebounds and Dallas booked their spot in the Finals.
NBA Finals
Game 1 in Dallas saw Jamaal Teague go big for the Nets, scoring 23 points, grabbing 19 rebound and blocking 6 shots. The Nets would force overtime, where Curry missed several big threes and the Mavericks came up short. Game 2 saw Dallas get their revenge, building up a big lead early and surviving a ferocious comeback attempt to tie up the series.
Game 3 in New Jersey saw Curry foul out yet again, and back-up Cliff Hobbs couldn't replace him, losing five key turnovers in a tough eight point loss. But the Nets had no answer for Curry's revenge in Game 4. Stephen Curry scored an astonishing 61 points, including 17 3-pointers, an onslaught no team could survive and one of the greatest single game performances in NBA Finals history.
Curry had 36 more in Game 5, but the key to Dallas' win was the shocking performance of Emeka Okafor, who scored 21 points off the bench to put the Mavericks a win away from a title.
But the Nets weren't going down that easily. On their home floor, Coty Porter to equal Curry's 21 points, Stephen Jackson added 21 more and Game 7 was needed.
At home, the Mavericks would race out to a 17 points halftime lead, looking to close the Nets out. But in the second half, New Jersey came alive, as Jason Richardson put the team on his back, slowly but surely making their way back into the game. Jamaal Teague would take over in the fourth quarter, and with Curry quiet, the Nets made it all the way to a 1 point game. But Travis Sanders hit several big shots, and Emeka Okafor forced a few steals, as Dallas pulled away in the end. For the second straight year, the Nets fell short, as just like in real life, the Dallas Mavericks are the 2011 NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Stephen Curry(31.7 ppg, 10 apg, 2.9 spg)
In only his second year in the league, Stephen Curry is already a legend, winning the MVP, scoring 61 points in a Finals game and bringing the trophy home to Dallas. This is surely the beginning of one of the greatest careers of all-time, one that could certainly beat the incredible accomplishments he's had in real life. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2011 offseason.
No comments:
Post a Comment