Wembanyama and Brunson Highlight a Pair of Classic Game 1's

     It's been quite a start to the NBA conference finals. In the Western Conference, the Thunder and the Spurs played one of the best games I've ever seen, in what is sure to be the beginning of an intense rivalry. Both teams won at least 62 games and don't appear to have any weaknesses. They are both young, quick, and poised, led by the two best players in the league, SGA and Victor Wembayana. 
    On the night SGA won his second MVP award in as many years, Victor Wembayana broke through in a "coming out party" as the best player in basketball, and probably will be "the face of the NBA" for the next decade. In a double OT thriller sprinkled with epic moments, Victor scored 41 points and had 24 rebounds, altering at least 20 shots on defense. The Thunder were so intimidated they wouldn't even try shooting in the paint when he was around. Not since Shaq have a I seen a center this dominant (Shaquille was more dominant on offense, whereas Wemby is on defense). His capstone was a 30-foot logo 3-pointer in the first OT to tie the game, keeping the Spurs alive and giving them a chance in the second OT. He simply willed that team to win, and that's what they did. 

    The defending champs had swept through the first two rounds, winning by an average margin of 16 points. They are even better than last year when they dominated the regular season and won the title, albeit going through a couple 7-game series. They looked like the 2001 Lakers, who weren't as good in the regular season as they were the previous year, but who totally steamrolled through the playoffs. The Spurs put an end to that streak, and may possibly eliminate them, though I think the Thunder will "right the ship" from having a bit more playoff experience. I picked them to win in seven games.

    In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks mounted a 22-point comeback in the 4th quarter to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in another OT game. Like Wemby, Jalen Brunson put the team on his back, willing them to win by scoring 11 straight points. The Cavs are unlikely to recover from such a devastating loss, particularly with the baggage of having James Harden and the history of his mental collapses in the playoffs (this may be his worst one yet). I couldn't believe he was the primary defender on Brunson in the 4th quarter, as he is notorious for "falling asleep" on defense. While the analysts are lambasting James, the Cavs' coach should also be held accountable for giving him too much to handle, and for not calling enough timeouts when his team was clearly tired.

    Jalen Brunson has loudly become the most clutch player in the league. It's ironic how he led an epic comeback in the same Madison Square Garden that Tyrese Halliburton and Aaron Nesmith did a year ago, when the Pacers came back from being down 15 by in two minutes. This was a complete reverse of that event, with the home team winning this time. 

    That was another unforgettable game 1 in what has become a good trend for the NBA. Interest in the league has seemed to slip in the last few years, with Lebron James' career winding down, the Warriors no longer relevant, and no eminent dynasty or dominant player emerging. The latest top stars, like Jokic and Doncic, are overrated because they don't play enough defense. Anthony Edwards and Giannis do play defense, but their teams have struggled to maintain good talent around them (neither has had a strong second-option in my option). Now that we have SGA and Wemby, who are elite defenders and are surrounded by ballers, these playoffs are poised to determine the next cycle of drama and magic moments that fans will come to appreciate for many years. The league has never seen anyone like Wembayana, a 7'5 center who can handle the ball, shoot deep three-pointers, and cover more ground in the paint than two big men. Every time I watch him, something happens I've never seen before. That alone will be enough to save the NBA from its doldrums of the 2020s.