ON The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS”

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

With the first round officially over, we can now set our attention on the second round of action where the No. 1 Seeded Boston Celtics took down the pesky Miami Heat in 5 games. Patiently waiting for their next target to be announced which now we know will be the No. 5 Seed Cleveland Cavaliers who needed a game 7 to dispatch of a very gamed Orlando Magic. The Celtics have proven all year long that they were playing levels above their competition. On paper, this should be an easy series for the Celtics but if Donavan Mitchell and the rest of the Cleveland squad can keep up their momentum and not let themselves be bullied by the Celtics, they could make something special happen here and silence the naysayers who have already counted them out.

The No. 2 Seeded New York Knicks are still in the game and balling hard without the services of key player Julius Randle due to injuries but were still able to fend off the Philadelphia 76ers in 6 games with the stellar play of Jalen Brunson who has been balling out of his mind to keep the Knicks in contention. With the No. 6 Seed Indiana Pacers also needing 6 games to dispatch of a wounded Milwaukee Bucks team, they have shown us they have absolutely no problem taking advantage of an injured squad to get to their destination of the NBA Finals. This Pacers’ squad is tough and resilient when push comes to shove so I expect a serious battle come game night where the Knicks will have to bring the “NEW YORK” style of play to stay alive and competitive in this series. Definitely an interesting matchup to pay attention to. Real Talk!

Tune in this Monday night May 6, 2024, for round two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 73rd 2024 NBA All-Star Game”

The 2024 NBA All-Star Game

This year, the 73rd annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Indiana at the Indiana Convention Center February 18, 2024, and will feature the return of the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference classic matchup and traditional scoring system with four 12-minute quarters. The starters were chosen by the fans (50%), the players (25%) and the media (25%). The 30 NBA coaches selected the 14 reserves. The Western and returning leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James and the Eastern returning leading vote-getter from the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again serve as Captains of their respective Conferences.

Representing the Western Conference “Team LeBron” Starters this year are:

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Reserves

-Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
-Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
-Paul George (LA Clippers)
-Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers)
-Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Coach Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Representing the Eastern Conference “Team Giannis” Starters this year:

-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) Team Captain
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)(injury replacement player Bam Adebayo)
-Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
-Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
-Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)

Reserves

-Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
-Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
-Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)(injury replacement player-Trae Young)

Coach Doc Rivers (Milwaukee Bucks)

With the return of the traditional format back into play, the old-school atmosphere
of the NBA All-Star game will be in full effect vibe wise in the building at the Indiana Convention Center Sunday night February 18, 2024. “King of the Court” will be up for grabs once again, which squad will claim “GAME” when it’s all said and done.

Tune in and enjoy the entire festivities of the weekend starting February 16 to February 18, 2024 on NBA TNT.

On The Watch “It’s All About 2023 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS”

2023 NBA CHAMPIONS

Nikola Jokic has finally reached the mountain top of the 2023 NBA Season by closing out game 5 of the NBA Finals as best he could with a solid 28 points and 16 boards bailing out the squad as they were struggling heavily to maintain their hold on securing their first NBA Championship in franchise History.

I gotta tip my “B” hat to Jokic. This Dude’s strong mentality and solid composure throughout the NBA Season, the NBA Playoffs and the NBA Finals were levels above his peers, hands down. History was in the making the moment this year NBA Finals started. Jokic became the first player in history to lead the league in points (600), boards (269) and dimes (190) in a single postseason while practically averaging a triple-double per game, collecting averages of 30 points, 13.5 boards and 9.5 dimes. Worthy and deserving of the Bill Russell trophy as well as the NBA Finals MVP.

Record breaking accolades aside, Jokic couldn’t have completed these historical feats without a healthy Jamal Murray to release some of the responsibility and a driven and motivated squad that showed how battle tested they were throughout the entire Season with only one common goal in mind: the NBA Championship that they have now collected as a team.

The Heat should still keep their heads up high, real talk! Although they fell short once again at claiming the NBA Championship, they became the only second No. 8 Seed to make it to the NBA Finals after running through some very tough opposition. They balled hard night after night on both ends of the court but were met with a better team destined to enter the record books.

Congratulations to the Denver Nuggets for emerging as the NBA Champions of the NBA Season 2023. You Boys dominated the NBA Playoffs and the Finals in such a convincing fashion that the Championship could not be denied.

Well done!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2023 NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS”

2023 NBA Eastern Conference Finals

The No. 2 Seed Boston Celtics put a beating on the 76ers today to secure their position at the Eastern Conference Finals pinning them once again for the second following season against the No. 8 Seed Miami Heat.

This is an Eastern Conference rematch that saw Miami fall short on their quest succumbing to Boston in a game seven last year but these are different times this time around. The Celtics have proven to be the team to beat all season long. They are determined to reach the NBA Finals and once again hoist that Championship Crown but one major obstacle ahead is the rejuvenated heat seekers Miami.

The Heat have already taken down the No. 1 Seed Milwaukee and the No. 5 seed Knicks in a very convincing fashion proving to be every bit ready to tackle their biggest hurdle who have prevented them from ever reaching the NBA Finals.

Miami is walking into this battle as the underdog but the hunger that this team displays on the court says different. They are the 8 Seed this time around looking to defy and upset the betting favourites Boston Celtics on the biggest stage. The odds are definitely stacked against them but the Heat wouldn’t have it any other way.

Miami beating the Celtics is history in the making but Boston would rather be the last team standing when it’s all said and done.

That said both teams match up well at every corner making this series that much more intriguing than the previous years. Tune in this Wednesday night to see which team will have kept the momentum going in their favor.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2023 NBA WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS”

2023 NBA Western Conference Finals

The NBA’s version of the Final 4 is set to start this Tuesday night May 16, 2023 in the Western Conference, with the No. 1 Seed Denver Nuggets still going strong and ready to fend off the Play-In Tournament survivor Los Angeles Lakers who are fresh off a solid game six series win with the Golden State Warriors.

The way the season went on for the Lakers this year nobody expected them to crack the Playoffs let alone reach the Western Conference but they are here now and ready to rekindle the rivalry of their 2020 Western Conference Finals where the Lakers prevailed and eventually took the Crown that year.

Times have changed and this version of the Nuggets has gained massive experience and has a much healthier squad this time around to compete with the Lakers who have been playing some serious impressive ball as of late and will show resistance when push comes to shove.

The way the Lakers dismantled the No. 2 Seed Grizzlies and the Defending Champion Warriors is proof enough that the Lakers mean business and are quite motivated to win another NBA Championship but they have a formidable opponent that they must go through first in the Denver Nuggets, making this particular series must see TV.

Tune in this Tuesday night May 16, 2023 for game one of the NBA Western Conference Finals.

Blaze

ON The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS”

Eastern Conference Semifinals

With the first round officially over, we can now set our focus on the second round of attention-grabbing match ups. The only team claiming a four-game sweep in the first round of exciting action was the No. 3 seeded Eastern team the Philadelphia 76ers who fought tooth and nail and eventually overpowered the Brooklyn Nets game by game. If the 76ers can maintain their focus on both sides of the court, they can definitely bring that heat to the No. 2 Seeded Boston Celtics who have been looking stronger and stronger game by game. However, with Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown balling out of their mind as of late, I can only expect an incredible shootout come Game 1 of the second round. Real Talk!

With the fall of the No. 1 Seeded Milwaukee Bucks at the hands of the No. 8 Seeded Miami Heat, the Eastern Conference Playoffs have taken a serious shift. The Heat will have to capitalize on this great first round win and continue with the momentum when they take on the No. 5 Seeded New York Knicks. The Knicks have been looking sharp and motivated game by game, but that said Jimmy Butler has put the Heat on his back playing out of his mind and looking like an “Equalizer” that can’t be stopped. An intriguing matchup to pay attention too. Real Talk!

Tune in this Sunday April 30, 2023, for round two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The 72nd 2023 NBA All-Star Game”

The 2023 NBA All-Star Game

This year, the 72nd annual NBA All-Star Game will be hosted in Utah at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Sunday February 19, 2023. Once again, the starters were chosen by the fans while the rest of the squad was selected by the media and their peers. That said the Western and returning leading vote-getter from the fans is Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, and the Eastern returning leading vote-getter from the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo will once again serve as Captains of their respective Conferences.

Representing the Western Conference “Team LeBron” Starters this year are:

-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) Team Captain
-Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
-Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans)
-Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
-Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Reserves
-Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)
-Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
-Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
-Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)
-Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Coach Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets)

Representing the Eastern Conference “Team Giannis” Starters this year:

-Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) Team Captain
-Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)
-Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
-Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)
-Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)

Reserves

-Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
-DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)
-Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
-Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)
-Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)
-Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

Coach Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)

Now this year the NBA added a kink to the Draft-Style format. For the first time, the NBA All-Star Draft will take place right before the game. (unbelievable!) The two Team Captains Giannis and LeBron, will draft the team rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference.

The Draft will start at 7:30 PM ET on TNT on Sunday February 19, 2023.

Truth be told, I am not a fan of this new format but nevertheless “King of the Court” will still be up for grabs once again come Sunday night February 19, 2023 on NBA TNT. Which Squad will claim “GAME” when the dust settles?

Tune in and enjoy all the festivities of the entire weekend starting February 17 to February 19, 2023.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2022 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS”

2022 NBA FINALS CHAMPIONS

Stephen Curry has regained his rightful place atop the mountain of the 2022 NBA Season by closing out game 6 of the NBA Finals on enemy territory with a brilliant Steph-like performance scoring 34 points, holding down a modest 7 bords and 7 assists to bring the Golden State Warriors their 4th Championship in the last eight seasons. He also picked up the NBA Finals MVP for the first time in his career.

It was a tough journey back with injuries derailing the Warriors the last couple of years but they and their organization, never lost sight of the task at hand and stayed on course, rebuilt, regrouped and once healthy, to regained the reins.

This Warriors’ squad was built different but with the right pieces to complement one another. They went through the struggles together and shined bright together picking each other up when needed to celebrating together as a tight squad should.

Them Boys balled out all season in a very competitive league and took out some great teams throughout the Playoffs and silenced the No. 1 defensive team in the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

All Championships won have a different meaning to the Champions on that day but having seen what the Warriors have gone through as a squad to get to this point here today, makes this Championship No. 4 SPECIAL!!

Congratulations to the Golden State Warriors for creating a “Dynasty” and emerging as the New NBA Champions of the NBA Season 2022. Well done.

Blaze