NBA SIMS LEAGUE
NSL Insider - ECF Review!by jmac, updated on Wednesday, June 17 2020, 10:31 pm EST  2020 NSL PLAYOFFS: EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS CHICAGO BULLS (1) VS WASHINGTON WIZARDS (7) The two best performing teams from the East met in a highly anticipated series that included the biggest lock to make the Eastern Conference Finals in the Bulls, and the biggest surprise of the entire playoffs in the Washington Wizards. The MVP favourite in Anthony Davis and the rising star in Devin Booker. The public had enjoyed the Cinderella story narrative of the upstart Wizards, who had marched on and over two more favoured teams in the previous rounds. However, even their romantic sentiment couldn’t sway the resounding reality that the Bulls would win, backed in as more than 2/1 favourites. Chicago, arguably the best and most in-form team in the competition, had stomped out each of their previous opponents in the 76ers and the Heat, and to them, this matchup looked like nothing more than another bug on the sole of their shoe. Games 1 and 2 were in Chicago, games 3 and 4 were in Washington, and the rest was to be determined (if necessary). Game 1 shocked everyone, or more accurately, the two-thirds of the population that didn’t give the Wizards a chance. The final score ended up being a nail biting 2-point win to the Bulls, 106-104. The game was close throughout, with the Wizards leading with six minutes to go. For the Bulls, Davis was dominant in everything and the reason behind their win. For the Wizards, a spirited team-effort almost stole the home court advantage from the Bulls. Game 2 rolled around two nights later, with everyone wondering whether the Wizards could replicate the incredible efforts of Game 1. The Wizards looked for real, exploding in the first quarter and half, taking a 10 and 17-point lead at the breaks, respectively. The score in the second half, unfortunately, was something out of a horror movie for the Wizards, with some absolute supernaturally awful stuff happening to their team. The team all but stopped playing basketball, and one has to wonder if the controller strayed onto the Wizards side and they were rendered useless. The Bulls ended up rolling the Wiz by 19, a 36-point swing in the last 24 minutes. The Game 1 heartbreaker and the Game 2 falloff might have ended the series for Washington, with too much toil to come back from. Game 3 saw a lethargic Wizards sputter in front of their home crowd, With Davis powering to another MVP-like 41 points. This time, he had an efficient 25 points from Lou Williams, and the Wizards went down by 18. Booker lead the team with 28 points, but some average shooting and defense showed that they just aren’t up to the Bulls standards in 2020. Game 4, and possibly the last game for the Washington season, was much closer than the previous two games, with neither team really taking much of a lead throughout the game. For the Bulls, there was too much Davis and Lou Will, again, with the due scoring 60 points on about 35 shots. Booker put the cherry on top of a terrific season and playoffs, netting 47 in a losing effort. For the Bulls, it was onto the next one and just what everyone expected. 4-0 is dominant and Davis is one of the greatest in the game. The Wizards were the surprise story of the playoffs and only gained fans throughout their spirited run. Congratulations to the Chicago Bulls on their achievement of making the Finals. Commiserations to the Washington Wizards on the series loss, but well done on an epic Playoffs run. |
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