Last time on The New Millennium, the Nets, Pacers and Bulls continued to control the Eastern Conference, while the Timberwolves just edged out the Mavericks for the top spot in the West thanks to new acquisition Jimmy Butler. Who will claim the ultimate prize and be crowned 2014 NBA Champions?
First Round
In the East, the Nets would not have it easy early on, as the feisty Magic pushed all the way to 5 before New Jersey got the job done. Atlanta had no such issues with the Celtics, as LeBron and company cruised to a sweep. The Bulls and Pacers were both pushed to 5 by the Hornets and Pistons respectively, but both advanced thanks to great performances by their star players. Dwyane Wade scored 36 to keep Chicago going, while Klay Thompson dropped 33 for Indiana to advance.
Out West, the first round was tough for everyone, as every single series would reach a Game 5. Game 5 between the Timberwolves and Lakers somehow turned into a shootout between Kevin Durant and Jodie Meeks, which Durant would win to keep the top seed Wolves alive. In a hard fought defensive series, the Trail Blazers ousted the Grizzlies thanks to Andre Douglas' 28 point Game 5 performance. In what was an upset on paper, the young Utah Jazz used their dynamic offense to take down the Pelicans, as James Harden combined for 48 points to win Game 5. Finally, in a battle between two Texas franchises, the Mavericks would eliminate the Rockets thanks to the ever reliable duo of Clifton Davenport and Stephen Curry.
Second Round
The Western Conference was thrown into turmoil in Round 2, as 24 year old Gordon Hayward out-dueled two time MVP Kevin Durant, and the Trail Blazers swept the Timberwolves in a stunning upset. But the chaos didn't stop there, as the former champion Dallas Mavericks ran into the buzzsaw known as Anthony Davis. The Brow, only in his second year in the league, dominated every game inside, and the Jazz advanced in 6.
Out East, the defending champion Nets couldn't handle LeBron James, as the King, upset at the lack of recognition for his game in recent years, took New Jersey out in just 5 games. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade was stellar for the Bulls in his pursuit of his first ring, putting together one great game after another. But the series was tied 2-2 entering Game 5 in Indiana, and Wade had had enough. Young Klay Thompson couldn't handle the veteran star, as Wade rolled to 41 points and a dominant win, before finishing it off in Game 6.
Conference Finals
2014 may have been the Year of the Horse, but these playoffs proved to be the Year of Dwyane Wade. After scoring 30 points to win Game 1, a double overtime thriller, he powered his team to a Game 2 win, before slowing down in Game 3, as Atlanta stole a win. But Wade closed it out from there, torching the Hawks for 39 in Game 4 and 32 in Game 5, both Chicago wins as the Bulls finally made their first NBA Finals trip in The New Millennium.
The Western Conference Finals between the Jazz and Trail Blazers was a back and forth affair through the first 4 games, with the series tied at 2-2. The pivotal Game 5 went to Portland in front of their home fans, as Gordon Hayward dropped 30. Facing elimination at home, James Harden responded with 31 points to force a Game 7. True to form, Game 7 was an incredibly tight contest throughout. With his team trailing by 1, James Harden delivered, hitting a fadeaway jumper as time expired to send Utah to the 2014 NBA Finals.
NBA Finals
Game 1 in Chicago saw the home fans leave disappointed, as Harden got some help from Anthony Davis and Kemba Walker, who combined for 40 points in a double digit win. But Game 2 saw the Bulls get revenge, as Dwyane Wade responded with 26 points and 11 assists in another double digit win.
Now at home, the Jazz faltered in Game 3, and the Bulls took advantage. Wade put on a masterclass in a 43 point performance, and got some help from bench guard Abe Fordham, who had 30 more in a 32 point win. Completely humiliated, the young Jazz fell apart in Game 4, scoring just 80 points and committing 13 turnovers, as the Bulls won by 19 despite a quieter night from Wade.
Game 5 was as close as it could be, as the Jazz finally recovered from their mishaps to put together a stellar performance. Kemba Walker showed himself to be a legit superstar, scoring 13 points in the 4th quarter, part of 30 overall. But in the end, this story was always about Dwyane Wade. After years of failure with the Clippers, including two Finals losses, Wade would strike the death blow to the young Jazz, with some incredibly nifty passing to go along with a couple crucial baskets. In the end, the emotional Wade was just too much for the Jazz to handle, and dribbled the clock out, before launching into a massive celebration his hometown fans. For the first time since 1998, which was also against the Jazz, the Chicago Bulls are NBA Champions!
NBA Finals MVP: Dwyane Wade(24.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 10.8 apg, 2.4 spg)
After years of being the best in the NBA in the regular season, plagued with constant playoff failure, the Chicago Bulls have finally given their fans another title. All they ever lacked was a true star, and in their blockbuster trade this last offseason, they finally got one. This is validation for the career of Dwyane Wade, who proves that even without the big names he played with in real life, he can still become the best of the best. Join me next time on The New Millennium for the 2014 offseason.
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