The NBA finals have kicked off with the Warriors from the Western conference and Raptors from the Eastern.  The Raptors led by Kawhi Leonard took game one with Leonard scoring 23 and Siakam adding 32. The Raptors proved that they are ready to play and already did better than the cavaliers last year.  They made a statement that they will not roll over and let the Warriors kill them in 4 games. The series will definitely be very entertaining and better than last year’s.  I still believe that the warriors will win in 6 or 7 games.  I really want to see the Raptors get the win and get their first finals as a franchise, but I think the Warriors have too much firepower.

2019 NBA Finals Preview and Prediction

Round two of the nba playoffs is currently going on and the standings are currently, in the west,  Warriors hold a lead 2-0 over the Rockets, The Nuggets and Blazers are sitting at 1-1, and in the east, the Sixers and Raptors are tied 1-1 and the Bucks and Celtics are also tied 1-1. My prediction for the winners are, Nuggets, Raptors, Warriors and Bucks will advance to the next round. All of the series that are currently tied have good chances to get to game 7 and will bring a lot of great games with them. The Rockets are currently fighting and uphill battle and they may get swept but I think they will take it to at least five games.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-playoffs-today-2019-live-scores-tv-schedule-thursday-round-2-games/smhyj4qh7k5y18mghtplbonis

The NBA playoffs have brought a lot of action and rivalries between players. One of the biggest is Westbrook and Lillard. They have been going back and forth all season talking trash and trying to get under each other’s skin. The playoffs have brought intensity and the two have been going at each other the whole time. The Blazers currently hold a 3-1 series lead over the Thunder and Lillard has been outplaying Westbrook all series. The Blazers have been outplaying the Thunder all series and look like they will move on to the second round.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/jenkins/article/Russell-Westbrook-vs-Damian-Lillard-is-the-13782966.php

Yesterday was the final game in the careers of both Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki. They are two, well-respected legends of the game that will be missed.  Wade had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the Nets, and the final assist went to longtime heat veteran and teammate of wade, Udonis Haslem. Dirk had 20 points and ten rebounds in his final game against the Spurs. Both players leave behind legacies that will go down in nba history including all star teams, all-nba selections, finals, and thousands of points and countless memories of the game.

https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2019/2/14/18224548/dwyane-wade-villain-dirk-nowitzki-dallas-mavericks-miami-heat-rivalry

In my mvp race I currently have Giannis Antetokounmpo leading due to his ridiculous year so far. He is leading the bucks in points, assists, steals, rebounds and is second in blocks. The bucks are currently sitting at second in the eastern conference. At second I have Kawhi Leonard, he is the leader for the first place  Raptors and their team is a lot better with him. Third I have Lebron James, the Lakers are 5th in the tough west and he has played very well with a new and young team. At fourth and fifth I have Steph Curry and Joel Embiid.

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/nba-mvp-winners-2002

Before the start of the 2017-18 nba season the bulls trades Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves for a package that included Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn, and the 7th pick Lauri Markkanen. At the time it looked life the Timberwolves committed highway robbery, Dunn hadn’t looked good and Lavine was rehabbing a torn acl. Butler was an all star and one of the best players in the league. He helped lead the Timberwolves to their first playoff berth since 2004. Butler and his teammates did not get along at all and stories were breaking of him not liking his teammates. He was recently traded to the 76ers for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second round pick. Looking back it is safe to say that the Timberwolves won the trade short term, but the Bulls smoked them in the long run and got three good, young players.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/jimmy-butler-demanding-trade-sixers-should-stay-away