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The NBA playoffs have had a ton of amazing moments – Deadandre Ayton’s buzzer-beating dunk, Kevin Durant’s historic Game 5 against the Bucks, and Trae Young’s numerous big-time games, just to name a few.
We’ve seen a young Suns make an impressive run that has them one win away form the Finals. We’ve seen a very fun Hawks team make an equally impressive run. And we’ve seen the Clippers never giving up, no matter how badly things look for them.
What I’m trying to say is the playoffs have been a lot of FUN.
But the playoffs this year has also been painful. Not in an entertainment way but in a physical way – too many big-name players have suffered injuries that have taken a lot away from the games and have left us all hopeful that they aren’t as serious as they looked when they happened.
The latest injury happened last night when two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo went down with a knee injury in the third quarter of Game 4 against the Hawks. He went back to the locker room for a brief time before coming back out to the bench but then quickly went back to the locker room for the rest of the game. The Bucks then announced he had a hyperextended left knee and wouldn’t be returning to the game.
LeBron James, Patrick Mahomes, and lots of others wished Antetokounmpo well after the injury and I’m hoping he’s OK and can be back for Game 5 tomorrow night.
The NBA is at its best when its stars are out there battling in these key moments and these players work too darn hard all year long to have these moments taken away from them. It has to make them absolutely sick to have injures rob them of these opportunities.
Speaking of the Hawks – they were without their star, Trae Young, last night because of an ankle injury he suffered in Game 3. Not having Young out there is a bummer for the Hawks and all fans who enjoy watching him do his thing. Atlanta was able to even the series last night with a blowout win but everyone missed Young’s presence.
The Clippers are still alive and have been battling without Kawhi Leonard since he injured his knee in the team’s previous series with the Jazz. Kawhi is one of the best players in the world and can take over playoff games whenever he pleases, which is so fun to watch. But it’s starting to feel like his season is over already, no matter what happens tonight in Los Angeles.
Those are three huge names – Giannis, Trae, and Kawhi – who are missing time during conference finals series that will send the winners to the NBA Finals. This is when all the big stars are supposed to be doing what stars do – having big moments at big times.
Instead, they and we are left with our fingers crossed, waiting to hear updates from doctors on their availability for upcoming games.
It’s been painful but here’s hoping they all get better ASAP because there is a lot more fun ahead of us.
Just no more injuries, please.
Quick hits: Serena’s emotional goodbye at Wimbledon… Clint Capela’s ridiculous shot… Fans crush MLB… And more.
– Speaking of injuries, Serena Williams got hurt during her first-round match at Wimbledon yesterday and tearfully waved goodbye to fans. Ugh.
– Clint Capela swished a ridiculous shot from behind the backboard in last night’s Game 4 and NBA fans rightfully went nuts.
– Fans crushed MLB after umps checked two position players who pitched in blowouts for sticky substances.
– J.J. Watt shared a very sweet 7-year-old Twitter moment he had with his now wife, Kealia Ohai Watt.
– The trailer for Sorpranos prequel – “The Many Saints of Newark” finally dropped and it looks pretty good!
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