The NBA We’ll Tell Our Grandkids About

Tuesday night’s NBA slate featured two matchups we’ll likely use to browbeat the younger generation that this era is better than theirs

[Ed. note: This article was originally published at raymondsimms.com, a temporary personal blog I ran during the 2022-23 basketball season. It was ported over to Crucial Baskets on April 20, 2024.]

Last night was an evening that surely brought oldheads and future oldheads together. Game one was another chapter in the vaunted New York Knicks-Miami Heat rivalry. The second game was another clash between LeBron and Steph, just two rounds earlier than we’re used to. Both games delivered on intensity and excitement. Just a banner night for The Association.

New York Knicks 111, Miami Heat 105

The things that hit me foremost in Heat-Knicks was the atmosphere and the intrigue of how Miami was going to pull through without Jimmy Butler. Firstly, MSG during a playoff is a hard atmosphere to beat. When New York is truly engaged with the Knicks, it takes a game to another level. So that has been great to see over the first two games. Luckily, we’ll be able to enjoy it at least one more time in this series.

Secondly, it was interesting to see how Miami would pull through without Jimmy Butler. Butler, than big story behind the team’s First Round upset over the Bucks, rolled his ankle in Game 1 and was held out of this game as a precaution.

Credit to Miami, they almost figured it out! The role players stepped up in a major way. Caleb Martin finished the game we 22 points, Gabe Vincent had 21, and Max Strus had 17. They held a 93-87 lead with 7:06 left in the fourth quarter. However, the home team reeled off a 24-12 run to close the game, and we leave New York with a tied series.

I admit that we were 7:06 away from me questioning everything I thought about the Miami Heat. If they were truly able to beat New York on the road without Jimmy Butler, I’d definitely sit forward in my chair and start wondering if this was a Team of Destiny. But the current result has set those fears to the side for me. For now.

Los Angeles Lakers 117, Golden State Warriors 112

The first game of this much-anticipated series lived up to the hype. It also came down to an expected result for me. While that was a damn impressive Game 7, the Warriors’ flaws can’t be ignored. Stamina and rotational reliability had me side-eyeing the Dubs all season way more than their bizarrely-bad road record.

Golden State’s veteran guile got them past the youthful Kings, but now they’re bringing their problems to a Lakers team that has basically been a well-rounded contender since the trade deadline. I feel like that’s going to ultimately spell trouble for the Warriors in this round.

Their shot-making is going to need to be on point to keep them in this series. It will surely win them at least two games. Heck, it almost won them this game. At the end of the day, though, I think Tuesday’s game is a microcosm of how this series will ultimately unfold.