Post by Miege22 on Mar 11, 2019 10:33:48 GMT -5
From afar, it can almost seem pre-determined. The Memphis Grizzlies, owners of the best record in basketball, the best three-year run in league history, cruised through the Western Conference playoffs. They blitzed Utah for the second straight year, then took out the upset-minded Kansas City Kings. It felt almost too easy, but after the last two seasons ended in heartbreak prior to the Finals, "easy" was welcomed on Beale Street. The Grizzlies entered the previous two postseasons as the prohibitive favorite to win the title; instead, they proved that anything can, and does, happen in the playoffs. Memphis lost Joel Embiid in 2017, then lost to the Utah Jazz in the first round by just one shot. Last year, they were stunned in the conference finals by the Portland Trailblazers, losing by just 2 rebounds. Now, the Grizzlies are finally here. One step away from that elusive NBA title and looking to confirm that other age old adage... the third time's the charm.
In their way is the Eastern Conference champion, the defending NBA champion, and the most successful franchise in league history, the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets' 5th appearance in the Finals is, arguably, their most surprising. After a thrilling run to the title last year, the Nets turned over almost their entire roster. Only LeBron James, James Harden and Cedi Osman remain from last year's title winner, as Brooklyn entered into a semi-youth movement. Nine of the fifteen players on this Nets roster have less than 3 years of experience on the NBA level. It's a team not built for today, but winning anyway, thanks in large part to their two stars. Both LeBron James and James Harden have proven themselves capable of winning on the biggest stage, and they're here, again, to do what they've done so many times before. Win.
CUE THE NBA ON NBC THEME MUSIC!
How They Got Here
Memphis is the #1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing 15-1. They were first in the Midwest Division. They defeated the 4th-seeded Utah Jazz in round one, 7-1-1. In the Western Conference Finals, they beat #3 Kansas City, 8-1. This is the first Finals appearance in Memphis' history.
Brooklyn is the #2 seed in the East at 11-5. They finished 2nd in the North Division. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round, 6-3, and the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks in the Eastern Conference Finals, 5-4. Brooklyn is making their 5th appearance in the Finals, entering with a record of 3-1. They are the defending champions.
Regular Season Meeting
These two faced off in week 13 (Jan. 7 - Jan. 13), a 7-2 victory for the Grizzlies.
Key Injuries
Memphis - Markelle Fultz (shoulder - out); Victor Oladipo (quad - out); Karl-Anthony Towns (knee - DTD); Derrick Rose (load management - DTD)
Brooklyn - Mo Bamba (leg - out); Jaren Jackson Jr. (leg - out); LeBron James (load management - DTD)
In their way is the Eastern Conference champion, the defending NBA champion, and the most successful franchise in league history, the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets' 5th appearance in the Finals is, arguably, their most surprising. After a thrilling run to the title last year, the Nets turned over almost their entire roster. Only LeBron James, James Harden and Cedi Osman remain from last year's title winner, as Brooklyn entered into a semi-youth movement. Nine of the fifteen players on this Nets roster have less than 3 years of experience on the NBA level. It's a team not built for today, but winning anyway, thanks in large part to their two stars. Both LeBron James and James Harden have proven themselves capable of winning on the biggest stage, and they're here, again, to do what they've done so many times before. Win.
CUE THE NBA ON NBC THEME MUSIC!
How They Got Here
Memphis is the #1 seed in the Western Conference, finishing 15-1. They were first in the Midwest Division. They defeated the 4th-seeded Utah Jazz in round one, 7-1-1. In the Western Conference Finals, they beat #3 Kansas City, 8-1. This is the first Finals appearance in Memphis' history.
Brooklyn is the #2 seed in the East at 11-5. They finished 2nd in the North Division. They defeated the Chicago Bulls in the first round, 6-3, and the Tampa Bay Bull Sharks in the Eastern Conference Finals, 5-4. Brooklyn is making their 5th appearance in the Finals, entering with a record of 3-1. They are the defending champions.
Regular Season Meeting
These two faced off in week 13 (Jan. 7 - Jan. 13), a 7-2 victory for the Grizzlies.
Key Injuries
Memphis - Markelle Fultz (shoulder - out); Victor Oladipo (quad - out); Karl-Anthony Towns (knee - DTD); Derrick Rose (load management - DTD)
Brooklyn - Mo Bamba (leg - out); Jaren Jackson Jr. (leg - out); LeBron James (load management - DTD)