During the bubble, the Kings will have a record of 3 wins for 5 losses and a total of 31 wins and 41 losses. They won't go to the playoffs. But that didn't stop some players from showing up, despite the circumstances.
Hector exploded within this bubble. With 13 points, 12 rebounds, and more than 3 assists (plus a steal and two blocks), he showed that he could not be more than a simple screen initiator and defender of the circle. The last two games finished with two wins; he posted two games with more than 20 points and 10 rebounds with at least 3 offensive rebounds.
The recovery is taking place in a context marked by the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. After an Afro-American man was shot multiple times by a police officer in Wisconsin on August 23, and the unrest ensued with the killing of two people by a far-right activist, the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play the fifth round of the first round of the playoffs against the Orlando Magic. The NBA allows players to use political expression, such as kneeling on the ground during the national anthem and displaying "Black Lives Matter" on the court.
In the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks got home-court advantage. The irony is that they face Orlando at "home." 4-1 victory for the Bucks, who generously gave a victory to the Magic. The runner-up in the East and defending champion, the Toronto Raptors, sweep the Brooklyn Nets. Ditto for the third, the Boston Celtics, who beat Philadelphia. And the Heat finished that sweep party against the Indiana Pacers. They are the only non-seeded team to have won their series. Three sweeps in the East and a series in 5 games show the gap in the level that there were these teams.
In the West, it was tighter. No sweep but a 4-1 Lakers win over Portland. The Clippers beat the Mavericks in six games. The other two series had to decide in Game 7. The James Harden and Russell Westbrook Rockets defeated Chris Paul's Oklahoma City Thunder and the talented SGA.
And the incredible series between the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz with Donovan Mitchell and Jamaal Murray in fusion ended with the laughter of the latter. Accompanied by Nikola Jokic as they lost 3-1, they won and will face the Clippers in the second round.
The individual awards are out. Giannis Antetokounmpo was voted MVP for the second time in a row. He finished ahead of James Harden of the Rockets and LeBron James of the Lakers. And he also won his first DPOY (Defensive Player of the Year), ahead of Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis. In addition, he joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the only players to win MVP and Best Defender awards in the same season—a small circle.
Ja Morant unanimously wins the Rookie of the Year award. (Contrary to what happened, the vote for Zion Williamson is a lack of respect for Ja.)
He finished ahead of Kendrick Nunn and Zion Williamson. Hector finished at the foot of the podium, but he was in the NBA All-Rookie First Team: Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies), Kendrick Nunn (Miami Heat), Brandon Clarke (Memphis Grizzlies), Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), and Hector Herrera (Sacramento Kings).
All-NBA First Team: Giánnis Antetokoúnmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers), Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks), James Harden (Houston Rockets), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers).
All-NBA Second Team: Nikola Jokić (Denver Nuggets), Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder), and Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors).
All-NBA Third Team: Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat), Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), and Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets).
Back to the playoffs, the confident Milwaukee Bucks, with the MVP winner and top-seeded, were unexpectedly trapped by the Miami Heat led by Jimmy Butler on a mission. Big upset 4-1 from Miami, who reach the conference finals. They will face the Boston Celtics, who also beat the No. 2 seed, the Raptors, in a Game 7 and win the spot to challenge the Heat. The 3rd and 5th of the conference will compete for a place in the final.
Victory without appeal 4-1 as in the first round. The Denver Nuggets become the first team in NBA playoff history to return twice from a 3-1 playoff deficit. In the first round, they defeated the Utah Jazz in 7 games and returned twice-feat against Paul George and Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round. This place in the NBA Finals will take place against the Los Angeles Lakers still as royal against the Rockets.
They will face the Lakers for a spot in the NBA Finals.
(PS: The final two chapters of the rookie season will be released tomorrow, and the real stuff will start at the end of the second season. Expect an ordeal for the Kings, it will be almost like the real season.)