KNICKS TAKE CONTROL OF FINALS WITH MIRACLE COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY

 Last night's Game 4 of the NBA Finals lived up to the hype and did not disappoint.  The New York Knicks took a commanding 3-1 series lead with a 107-106 come from behind victory over the San Antonio Spurs.  The Knicks are one game away from winning their first title since 1973.

The Spurs jumped out to a 29-point first half lead and seemed destined to tie the series up at 2.  Then the second half started and the Knicks had other plans.  They chi[[ed away at the lead and finally took their first lead late in the fourth quarter.  San Antonio was up by one when Jalen Bronson got the inbounds pass and shot a quick three and missed. OG Anunoby followed with a tip in with 1.2 seconds remaining and what proved to be the winning shot.

The series now shifts to San Antonio for game 5.  The Spurs now must win the next 3 games if they want to become NBA Champions.  The knicks have now put themselves in the driven seat meedong just one win ion the next three games.

TIDBIT TUESDAY: PLAYING TIL THE END

 This week's Tidbit Tuesday takes us to Philadelphia and the NBA.  It's the 1961-62 season and the Philadelphia Warriors have a guy by the name of Wilt Chamberlain who set countless records that season.  The most notable record was his 100-point game against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962.  Wilt Chamberlain accomplished something else that season that will most likely never be done again.  Did you know in the 1961-62 season Chamberlain played nearly every minute of every game averaging 48.5 minutes per game.

This is an interesting feat for several reasons.  First there are only 48 minutes in a game, so not only did he play every minute of regulation but also in the overtime games his teams were in.  In fact Chamberlain played in all but 8 minutes of action that season.  The 8 minutes he did not play was because he was ejected from a game.

The other reason this is a tremendous feat is because this is something that won't even be attempted in today's NBA.  In today's NBA there is just a handful of players that play all 82 regular season games, much less everyone minute of those games.  The super stars take games off and try to preserve themselves for the playoffs.  That is something Wilt Chamberlain would never do, He played until the end. 

NBA FINALS PREDICTION

 For all you basketball fans tonight is Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks.  Games 1and 2 will be in San Antonio, whiles games 3 and 4 will be in New York.  The remainder of the series alternates home courts with the Spurs hosting game 5 and game 7.  

There are p;enty of storylines to hype up this year's Finals such as New York being in the Finals for the first time in 27 years and San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama leading the Spurs to the Finals in just his third season in the NBA.  The Knicks are coming off of a sweep of the Clevland Cavaliers, and the Spurs just dethroned the defending champs.

Both teams match up well against each other, which makes for close hard-fought series. Each game is going to be close and cam go either way.  As close as this series will be I don't see it going all seven games.  Wemby and the Spurs have been playing consistent and agressive throughout the playoffs.  I have San Antonio winning in 6 games, 4-2.

TIDBIT TUESDAY: BEAR DOWN

Tidbit Tuesday is back.  Every Tuesday I will provide a sports story about an interesting fact that you ,may or may not know about.  When i was a child the thing that kept me watching sports was hearing the commentator's stories and facts about what I was watching.  That sparked my interest in sports and so I bring you Tidbit Tuesday.

This edition of Tidbit Tuesday takes us to Tucson Arizona, home of the University of Arizona.  The school's Montra or battle is "Bear Down".  The schools mascot is a Wildcat.  So why is the slogan "Bear Down"?  The story behind it is heartfelt.

In early October 1926 some of the members of the football team, including QB John "Button" Salmon, were headed back to Tucson from a game in Phoenix and were involved in a car accident.  The accident happened in Florence and Salmon was severely injured and eventually died from his injuries. 

The coach at the time was J.F. "Pop" McKale and he visited Salmon several times in the hospital before his passing.  Salmon's last message to the team was, " Tell them....tell the team to bear down".  Coach McKale told the team and they won their next two games and the slogan was born.

Another interesting fact about this story is John Salmon died October 18, 1926, 53 years later I was born.

NICKS REACH NBA FINALS

 The New York Knicks are the Eastern Conference Champs and are headed to the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.  They advanced to the finals by sweeping the Clevland Cavs 4-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.  They will now face the winner of the Western Conference Finals, The San Antonio Spurs or the defending champs, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The New York fans are going crazy over the news of their team reaching the finals after 27 years.  The New York Knicks haven't won an NBA title since 1973.  Next Wednesday is game 1 of the NBA Finals and they will be seeking their third title in franchise history.  

Most people in Arizona don't have much of an opinion on the Knicks, maybe envy or even jealousy.  But the true Suns fan does have an opinion, and that opinion is Mikal Bridges.  Bridges played for the Suns ans quickly became a fan favorite until he was traded away for Kevin Durant.  an experiment that failed miserably.  True fans would love to see Bridges win a championship, especially if it's against the San Antonio Spurs.

 

WHAT'S GOING ON IN PHOENIX?

 The Phoenix Suns have 2 All-Stars on their roster.  One of them is one of this era of basketballs top 5 players.  They also have a championship winning head coach and on owner that is willing to do whatever it takes to win.  This was proven when just a few days after purchasing the team he pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Durant to Phoenix.

Yet the Phoenix Suns have a record of 26-27 as we head towards the All- Star break.  They are in 11th place in the Western Conference.  So what's going on in Phoenix?  On paper the Suns should be a top seed yet they seem to struggle to get to .500 basketball.

There are two problems with the Phoenix Suns that are keeping them from contending for a NBA tittle again.  The first problem is Bradley Beal and the second problem the Suns are missing that intimidating player.

Bradley Beal came to Phoenix to be part of the Big 3 along with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.  Beal's inability to stay healthy and contribute when he is healthy made this plan a failure from day one.  To make matter's worse Beals performance and the price tag his contract carries makes it impossible to move trade him.  Because no other team wanted him the Suns were unable to trade for Jimmy Butler, who ultimately ended up in Golden State, creating another problem for the Suns.

Most people say the Suns need a center and that this has always been a weakness of the Phoenix Suns.  This idea makes sense but the man there missing doesn't have to be a center.  The person just needs to be an intimidating player that won't back down from anyone.  The Suns recently had a Jae Crowder who fits this description well.  The fact that the Suns don't have anyone like this allows other teams to bully them.  The Suns aren't tough emough to hang with the top teams in the Western Conference.

  

TIDBIT TUESDAY: OCTOBER 1,2024

 This week’s edition of Tidbit Tuesday comes to us from the baseball world.  With the MLB playoffs set begin lets give you a piece of knowledge about America’s past time that you may not know.

 

Former Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose passed away yesterday of natural causes.  Did you know he was actually banned from baseball and not allowed into Baseball’s Hall of Fame?

 

Pete Rose was banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games while he was the manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

CAN DBACKS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?

 The Arizona Diamondbacks finished the regular season today with a strong performance beating the San Diego Padres 11-2.  They finished the season 89-73 just one spot out of a playoff berth.  But there is still hope.

The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets are just ahead of the Dbacks, both having a record of 88-72.  Due to the hurricane Helene The Braves and the Mets had to cancel two games last week.  They will make up those two games tomorrow when they play a double header.

Although the Dbacks chances to get in the postseason seem complicated they are not.  Its simple, if either team wins both games that team and the Dbacks are in.  If both teams split the double header those two twams are in and the Dbacks season is over.

Both teams have pelnty to play for, but here is the reaity of the situation.  whichever teams wins the first game is automatically in the playoffs and doesn't have anything to play for and will most likely rest their starters.  Keeping this in mind and the fact that last season the Dbacks were a wildcard team and got hot and went on to the World Series I would win the first game and rest my starters in the second game essentially eliminating a dangerous Dbacks team.

If the Dbacks fail to make the playoffs because of lasts seasons unexpected success this season would be considered a failure to many fans and the players.  Regardless of the outcome the Dbacks were a fun team to watch and have a bright future ahead of them.

LEGENDARY PHOENIX SUNS VOICE PASSES AWAY

 

Al McCoy, the voice of the Phoenix Suns for 51 years passed away on September 21, 2024, he was 91 years old.  McCoy retired after the 2023 and was and still is the longest tenured voice of any NBA franchise. 

McCoy was a fan favorite due to his unique play by play calling.  He coined several phrases such as, zing go the strings and heartbreak hotel.  McCoy was best known for the phrase Shazam.  So much so that Arizona Cardinals voice Dave Pasch used the phrase the day after McCoy died when Kyler Murray hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for the teams for score.

Growing up a Suns fan I experienced the legend in action many times.  When you ask Suns fan who their favorite Suns and many of them would say Al McCoy.  When I was a teenager the Phoenix Suns would show the games on TV and air them on the radio.  I was such a fan of McCoy that I would turn down the TV and listen to Mccoy call the game from the radio.

Al McCoy is one of the most famous names when it comes to Arizona sports and belongs on the states Mount Rushmore.  McCoy will definitely be missed and is a legend.  May he rest in peace.

GUESS WHOSE BACK?

 Guess whose back?  Back again,  guess whose back guess whose back!

That's right The Az Sports Guru is back!

Beginning this week I will be posting at least 2 articles a week.  I will cover all the Arizona sports, as well as all the most popular stories.  I will give commentary and opinion and hope you enjoy what you read.  Please read and follow my blog, as well as my Twitter and Facebook pages.