Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – The NBA Playoffs are well into the Conference Semi-Finals stage and the intensity of play has risen with each game, just as it normally does come playoff time. In the most physical of series, the Milwaukee Bucks took a 2-games-to-1 lead over the Boston Celtics Saturday with an exciting 103-101 last second victory.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo bounced back from a Game 2 subpar performance by scoring 42 points and making the go-ahead basket with 44.3 seconds left in regulation as the Bucks defended their home court. Boston’s star forward Jason Tatum shot only 4-for-19 and 0-for-6 from three-point range in scoring 10 points for the Celtics in the losing effort. Center Al Horford had 22 points and 16 rebounds for the C’s

Milwaukee has put up a defensive wall at the rim, anchored by 7-footer Brook Lopez and Antetokounmpo, forcing the Celtics to shoot 37% from the floor. The Celtics were down 14 points in the 4th quarter and managed to claw back but a final minute frenzy saw the Bucks prevail as a Celtics basket came after the final buzzer

In the other Eastern Semi, the Miami Heat took care of business in Florida but lost Game 3 in Philly to set the series at 2-games-to-1 going into Sunday’s Game 4. The 76ers were fined $50,000 for violating league injury reporting rules as the club failed to disclose center Joel Embiid’s playing status for Game 3.

Similarly in the West semi, league-leader Phoenix took care of home court but lost Game 3 in Dallas while the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies split the first two games in Tennessee.

The NBA could be looking at a schedule with, at least, three series going the full seven games with the exception being a Miami edge over Philadelphia.

In-series coaching, scouting and adjustments will become the dividing factors, along with staying healthy. Milwaukee’s loss of 6-7 forward Khris Middleton looms large, but the Bucks are getting the “next man up” from 6-10 Bobby Portis who scored 15 points with 11 rebounds in helping the Bucks steal home court advantage in Game 1.

Predictions here believe Milwaukee will defeat Boston in six games but Miami will outlast the defending champion Bucks and the Heat will head to the NBA Finals.

Out West, the Phoenix Suns will prevail over the Mavericks and the Memphis Grizzlies will knock-off the strong and mighty Golden State Warriors. The Suns go the Finals vs The Heat in a very hotly contested seven-game series. Edge: Suns.

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HERE NOW, THE NOTES – If you’re $10 million in the hole, you’re in big trouble and might think of settling up and calling it a day. For a professional golfer, like Phil Mickelson, your career winnings are covering most of it, right? … Ole “Lefty” would surely make it back with an appearance or 10 at golf tournaments around the world. Hell, he might even do some speaking engagements for his loyal sponsors or PGA Tour connections. … At $20 million, it was time to get some serious help. At a reported $40 million, you’ve made a deal with the Devil and it’s getting hotter and hotter.

Mickelson’s vice is noted in a new, unauthorized biography completed by author Alan Shipnuck. It’s the same book that plopped Mickelson into very hot water with his comments on the Greg Norman-led LIV golf venture, backed by Saudi money. … Shipnuck dropped some more scuttlebutt on May 5 when he posted excerpts of his book on the Fire Pit Collective site he participates in regularly. … You must wonder if, aside from its concerns about Mickelson applying to play in the LIV Tour (undoubtedly to raise some cash to help cover his 2010-14 parlays and shortcomings, the PGA Tour might come down on “Lefty” to discipline the rampant gambling problem?

Tell-all books seem to be the common denominator for old gambling stories of long, long ago. It was 1992-93 when “Michael and Me: Our Gambling Addiction … My Cry for Help,” was published by associates of a publisher and investor from San Diego, California – the site of the USA Basketball Dream Team mini-camp of the Summer of ‘92. The over-reaction was predictable and terrible.

Considering the hullabaloo created by Michael Jordan’s reported $1m (settled for $300,000) short falling to Richard Esquinas in 1993, where speculation had the NBA suspending Jordan or the most ridiculous and unfounded/unfair claims that MJ’s golf losses had something to do with his late father’s murder, the PGA Tour might get further involved to secure the integrity of the sport, a sport where gambling is very much a part of the culture.

SPEAKING OF USA BASKETBALL – Back in late September of 2021, USA Basketball’s Chief Communications Officer Craig Miller announced he was stepping down from his post after 31 years of service to the USA’s governing body for basketball. Miller’s USA career spanned from 1990 through 2021 and included service on every level of the USA program, both men’s and women’s. of course that time period included eight Olympic Games for USAB, including the 1992 Dream Team and the amazing 1996 USA Women’s national team – I called them “The Supreme Team,” but no one else liked that moniker.

In the past month, Miller’s cohort in hoops, Caroline Williams, decided to step-down as well, ending her incredible 27 years working for USA Basketball and helping the likes of Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley, Theresa Edwards, Sheryl Swoopes and dozens of others win gold medals and – in many cases – reach the pinnacle of induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame. … All the while, whenever she had a second to spare, she was right in the thick of it, assisting the Men’s team and Miller to take USA Basketball all over the world, building relationships and goodwill.

From the “Ups” of ‘92 to the “Downs” of 2002 and everything in between, USA Basketball counted on an incredibly dedicated and professional PR team. They were second to none and both While We’re Young (Ideas) and TLwish Craig and Caroline much personal happiness and professional success in whatever they choose to do in the near future.

“A month ago, after 27 years of working for USA Basketball, I made the difficult decision to resign and begin to look ahead to new challenges in life,” wrote Williams. “I have enjoyed my long tenure here (at the Colorado Springs HQ of USA Basketball) and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work with the best of the best in the basketball world for nearly three decades.”

DI💎MOND DUST-UPs – During a two-game stretch against the Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins infielder Carlos Correa was hit by a pitch on the hand and it was feared he’d broken a bone in his right middle finger. X-Rays showed no broken bones and Correa and the Twins dodged what could have been a six-to-eight week setback. Correa was hitting stride with his new club, with a .412 batting average (14-for-34) and eight RBIs in his past eight games.