Miami Heat Becomes the First Five Seed to Make the NBA Finals in NBA History

Miami Heat made history yesterday, becoming the first #5 seed in NBA history to make the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat face their most formidable challenge of the playoffs, going against a LeBron James lead team and a dominant player in Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers. 

LeBron James accounted for two of three championships in Miami history; it’s a perfect storyline to play against the team. He won his first NBA championship and went against his former Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. 

Miami Heat lives for the underdog title and love taking down teams no one expected them to beat, such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics.

If you think the Los Angeles Lakers will have an easy walk into a championship win, you haven’t watched the Miami Heat play this year; they play gritty and with a chip on their shoulder. 

Jimmy Butler is the epitome of what the culture is with the Miami Heat a hardworking and leave it all on the court type player. Butler has been averaging 20.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 1.9 steals per game. Butler will need to average a little more then 20 points if he wants the Heat to pull the major upset over the Lakers. 

The young nucleus for the Heat has been the main reason for their late playoff run. Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson have played phenomenal. 

Tyler Herro has been a huge boost off the bench and will be a significant factor in the NBA Finals due to the scarcity of depth to the Lakers bench. Andre Iguodala will be another key off the bench; they need his championship pedigree to have the young guys ready for the bright lights since he is the only one on the team with championship pedigree outside of Udonis Harlem, but he doesn’t play. This is Igudola's sixth straight NBA Finals. 

Bam Adebayo has played phenomenal in the playoffs finishing last night game with 32 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists in an elimination game. He will need to come close to those numbers as he prepares to go up against the best Power Forward in the league in Anthony Davis.

The Heat's wildcard is Goran Dragic; if he plays in the NBA Finals as he did in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Lakers, who are suspect at best at the guard position, the Heat will give the Lakers all they can handle. 

Game 1 will be this Wednesday at 9 PM ET on ABC. 

I predict the series to go seven games, with the Los Angles Lakers winning the 2020 NBA Finals. 

For more update news, follow us at social media @blogaccess1on1 

Subscribe to our email list so that you won’t miss any podcast episodes, blog posts, and contest giveaways.

Also, subscribe to our podcast by searching Blogaccess1on1 on Anchor, Apple Podcast, Spotify, etc. Subscribe, listen, and leave a comment on our podcast.

8-0 not Enough to Receive Playoff Berth

The Phoenix Suns wrapped up their bubble show with another astiunding win against the Dallas Mavericks 128-102. This tallied their win total to 8-0 in the bubble.

However, this was not enough for the Suns, to secure a playoff spot, nevertheless a playin game invite.

 

Fans were all looking forward to a play-in game this Saturday between the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers, two teams that have been electrifying in the bubble.  

Unfortunately, the Memphis Grizzlies came into the bubble with a 3.5 game lead for the 8 seed. The Memphis Grizzlies struggled immensely in the bubble with a record of 2-6, but was able to pull off a win last night against the Milwaukee Bucks 119-106. The Grizzlies have struggled with injuries, the major one being with young promising star Jaren Jackson, Jr.

Devin Booker has filled up the stat sheet in the bubble he has averaged 30.3 points per game,  six assists per game, and 3.8 rebounds per game. He has unequivocally put the Phoneix Suns on his back.

In my opinion, since the Grizzlies and Suns had the same record the fans should have voted on who gets the last play-in spot since this is the first time we ever had a play-in game in NBA history. 

The NBA should keep the play-in game format for seasons to come when everything returns to normal, I feel like it brings more engagement and excitement to the NBA. 

In the end the future is bright in Phoenix, if they build from the momentum they created in the bubble barring any big offseason trades.

For more updated sports follow us on social media @blogaccess1on1 on Twitter and Instagram.

Check out our podcast channel on Apple Podcast and Spotify by searching Blogaccess1on1 subscribe and listen! 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blogaccess1on1/id1466430762?i=1000486081156‬

‪https://open.spotify.com/episode/1YcFwVi5PUquUmYmrKy5KF?si=zXAO3Tp-T5SNoi82O9Ienw‬

‪

Toronto Raptors Shock the World by Winning Their First NBA Title

 Toronto Raptors handled business last night by winning game six 114-110, to win their first NBA Championship in franchise history.

First KD went down, then Klay Thompson went down with a knee injury late in the third quarter of game six, that later ended up being announced as a torn ACL. Despite all the injuries, the Warriors still fought, but it wasn’t enough Toronto Raptors was hungry for a championship.

Kawhi carries the team throughout the playoffs, but last night it Kyle Lowry who carried the Raptors in a closeout game. After being mocked for years about choking in the playoffs. Kyle showed Philly toughness and showed up where it mattered the most finishing with 26 points, ten assists, and seven rebounds.

Fred VanVleet was another key contributor in the Raptors winning in game six, finishing with 22 points, after hitting clutch three after three to take the life out of the Golden State Warriors.

Pascal Siakam has another clutch performance in one of the biggest games of his career thus far. Siakam finished with 26 points and ten rebounds. He was dominant in the paint and was getting any shot he wanted in the paint.

Serge Ibaka came off the bench and score 15 crucial points.

Kawhi Leonard, 2019 NBA Finals MVP, finished with 22 points and six rebounds.

Golden State missed nine three throws in this game and surprisingly only lost by four. Free throws could have helped them force a game seven, even with all the injuries that happened to them.

Steph Curry missed a game-winning three, he struggled shooting 3 for 11 behind the arc, but nonetheless still finished with 21 points.

Before Klay Thompson, went down with a knee injury, from a dunk attempt, that leads to getting fouled by Danny Green, he was shooting lights out. Klay Thompson ended with 30 points.

Draymond Green had another superb all-around game, finishing with 11 points, 19 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Andre Iguodala stepped up this game finishing with 22 points.

DeMarcus Cousins finished with 12 points off the bench.

With the offseason coming up, we will soon see if in fact will the Golden State Warriors dynasty break up.

We already know it’s a strong possibility Kevin Durant will sign a lucrative contract elsewhere in free agency.

After Klay Thompson, didn’t make any All NBA Team, which makes him ineligible for the super max deal, could he look to play elsewhere and have his own team? Only time will tell.

Will other GM’s start to be more aggressive to create for a championship contender roster, even it means trading one of their best players for it to happen?

Masai Ujiri made a gutsy call trading away Kawhi and firing Dwayne Casey, but it leads to an NBA Championship who can argue with those results.

We will soon what move Ujiri will make this offseason for the Toronto Raptors. They will need to do everything in their power, to retain Kawhi Leonard and sign him to a long term max deal.

Toronto Raptors vs. the Golden State Warriors 2019 NBA Finals Preview

Tonight will start game one of the 2019 NBA Finals between Toronto Raptors vs the Golden State Warriors.

This might end up being one of the most lopsided NBA Finals were about to watch.

Toronto Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard averaged 31 points and 8 rebounds throughout the playoffs, but will he be able to match that performance when he will more than likely have to chase Steph Curry around screens. Also, Golden State has a plethora of defenders to guard Kawhi, such as Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and possibly Kevin Durant if he plays.

A key factor to the Raptors even making this a respectable series, is which Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol will show up? Both players have been up and down throughout the playoffs, but as of late have shown up in big moments. If they don’t get star struck and show up this s could possibly be an interesting series.

Also, Fred VanVleet and Norman Powell must play well as they did in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Basically, the Toronto Raptors team has to play perfectly in order to have a shot of beating the Golden State Warriors.

The Golden State Warriors come into the NBA Finals banged up, but that really hasn’t affected them throughout the playoffs. There’s a reason why this team has gone to five straight Finals, they have gone through each adversity and persevered through it. 

There are rumors that DeMarcus Cousins will play tonight in game one, if that’s true it could be a long series for the Toronto Raptors. 

Steph Curry has been averaging 27 points per game, six rebounds per game, and five assists per game.

Klay Thompson has averaged 19 points per game and 1.5 steals per game.

Kevin Durant who’s still questionable to play in the finals is averaging 34 points per game.

I have the Golden State Warriors winning 4-1 against the Toronto Raptors. Comment below or mention us on Twitter @blogaccess1on1, to let us know who you think will win the 2019 NBA Finals. 

The Golden State Warriors Rout the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game One

Last night game one of the NBA Finals was everything we expected and then some.

The first quarter was a dunk fest. One of the most impressive dunks of the game, was when LeBron James dunked on JaVale McGee. At the end of the first quarter, the Golden State Warriors led 35-30. You would think it was going to be a close game.

In the second quarter, the Warriors slowly started to pull away. The tandem of Steph Curry & Kevin Durant continued to torment the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, & Kevin Love did all they could to counter the Warriors dominance.

In the third quarter, the Warriors stopped throwing jabs to the Cavs. The Warriors started throwing haymakers that were connecting. Steph Curry & Kevin Durant made three-point shot after three-point shot. Even Draymond Green chimed in with a three-point shot of his own. At the end of third quarter, the Warriors lead the Cavaliers 93-72.

In the fourth quarter, both teams knew this game was over and had their bench players in the game. The Warriors went on to win game one of the NBA Finals 113-91.

The Golden Warriors had a lot of positive spots in game one. Kevin Durant finished with 38 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Steph Curry finished with 28 points, ten assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Even through foul trouble, Draymond Green finished with nine points and 11 rebounds. Even Zaza Pachulia finished with eight points and six rebounds. Anytime Klay Thompson struggles shooting the ball and only finishes with six points and the Warriors still win by 22. The Cavaliers are in deep trouble.

Although the Cavs played horrible last night, they did have a few bright spots. LeBron James finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks. Kyrie Irving finished with 24 points. Kevin Love finished with 15 points, 21 rebounds, and three blocks. Tristan Thompson was nonexistent finishing with zero points and four rebounds. Tristan must play better if the Cavs want to have a shot of beating the Warriors.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished with 20 turnovers, whereas the Golden State Warriors finished with only four turnovers. Turnovers were a key to Golden State's rout of the Cavs.

Game two will take place on Sunday, June 4, at 8 PM ET on ESPN at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
 
For more updated sports news follow my twitter page @blogacccess1on1.

2017 NBA Finals Preview

 Today starts the 2017 NBA Finals, a rematch between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Last year the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers. 

This past off season the Warriors signed, superstar small forward, Kevin Durant to replace the horrific shooting of Harrison Barnes in last year's NBA Finals. The signing of Kevin Durant turned the Warriors team from a great team to a juggernaut. 

The Cavs and Warriors played twice against each other this season. The Cavs won the first game on Christmas Day, in Cleveland, on a game-winner jumper by Kyrie Irving 109-108. In the second game, the Warriors gave the Cavaliers a reality check beating them 126-91 at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Ca.

The key to the Cavaliers winning the NBA Finals is winning game one tonight to set the tone. Also, LeBron can't be passive at all this whole series he needs to be aggressive at all times. Kyrie just needs to continue to be Kyrie. The wildcard for the Cavaliers, if they want to upset the Warriors in the series, is which Kevin Love will show up the Minnesota Kevin Love, or the stand around and watch Kyrie and LeBron do all the work, Kevin Love. Iman Shumpert must find a way to at least slowdown Klay Thompson. Last but not least, the Cavaliers need their shooters, JR Smith, Kyle Korver & Channing Frye to knock down their three-point shots. 

The keys to the Golden State Warriors winning this NBA Finals is, Kevin Durant just needs to play better than Harrison Barnes did last year. Steph Curry just needs to be Steph Curry. Draymond Green needs to continue to be the energy guy, do the dirty work on the rebounds, score, and pile up assists. Klay Thompson needs to play every game this NBA Finals like he played game five of last year's NBA Finals. The last key for the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Finals is their bench must give them production. Everyone else just needs to just needs to play their role and play it well. 

The 2017 NBA Finals starts tonight 9 PM ET on ABC. Saying this series will be exciting is an understatement.


For more updated sports news follow my twitter page @blogacccess1on1.