For the final 4 seasons a sample has been rising. Since 2018, each dropping group within the NBA Finals wasn’t in a position to make it again the next 12 months.
It goes to indicate simply how laborious it’s to win back-to-back titles in consecutive seasons, not to mention really make it there.
Let’s forged our minds again to the 2018 Finals. It was a clear sweep from Golden State as they took out the primary 4 video games towards Cleveland uncontested. The Cavaliers went on to overlook the playoffs fully within the season that adopted.
In 2019, Golden State had one other clear sweep, however this time within the convention finals towards Portland.
Toronto’s convention finals ended with a six-game battle with the Bucks they usually have been in a position to take down the Warriors with the assistance of Kawhi Leonard. The next season, the Warriors didn’t qualify for the playoffs.
Who might neglect 2020? The bubble 12 months the place the Lakers took out the championship over Miami.
The convention finals have been a fierce battle between the Warmth and Celtics, and the Lakers and Nuggets. Though Denver heart Nikola Jokic averaged 21.8 factors, 7.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 5 video games towards the Lakers, it wasn’t sufficient to earn them a finals berth.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis made certain to get LA residence that 12 months, and the following 12 months Miami went on to lose 4-0 to the Bucks in Spherical 1 of the playoffs.
Milwaukee had been knocking on the door and in 2021 it was answered. They lastly acquired their first championship since 1971.
Their opponent was Phoenix, who bested the Clippers, a group who’ve by no means received league or convention titles. It was their first convention finals in 51 years however the Suns took a 2-0 lead early and the Clippers by no means absolutely recovered from it.
In the course of the finals, the followers have been handled to an unforgettable efficiency from Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored a playoff career-high of fifty factors and acquired simply sufficient assist from his teammates to defeat Phoenix in Recreation 6.
The Suns did attain the convention semifinals the following season however acquired destroyed on their residence flooring by Dallas in sport 7.
After all, final 12 months we skilled a heated battle between Golden State and Boston, who scored simply 97.9 factors per 100 possessions over the past three video games and 20 p.c of their possessions resulted in a turnover.
COULD BOSTON BE THE TEAM TO BREAK THE PATTERN THIS YEAR?
They’re off to a powerful begin and have silenced everybody with their 17-4 report. They’ve a 120.9 offensive score, which is a big FIVE factors per 100 possessions greater than second positioned Phoenix (115.9). A niche that’s equal to the margin between second and nineteenth positioned New York (110.9).
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are placing up ridiculous numbers. Collectively they AVG 56.9 PPG, 14.2 RPG & 7.9 APG this season. They’re probably the greatest duo’s within the league statistically and are actually accumulating the wins to again that up as nicely.
They’re nicely on monitor to make the playoffs as they’ve overwhelmed three out the 4 high groups within the West. Within the subsequent month, they may face different high groups just like the Bucks, Suns and Pacers so it will likely be an attention-grabbing take a look at for a aspect that’s hungry to interrupt a 14-year Championship drought and put the woes of final season’s playoffs behind them.
