NBA Finals

DoubleDipper wrote:Warriors and Cavaliers begin play tonight, and with all the deserved attention the Oakland/Golden State Warriors have been getting there have been a number of articles about the star players, including Klay Thompson.

I recently saw an article with a picture of Klay as a toddler with his mom, Julie.  Does anyone else think Julie from the early 90's looks familiar?  I saw only a couple of UP volleyball games in the mid-80's, but I believe she was a Vancouver area high school volleyball star who played volleyball at UP for a couple of years in the mid-80's.  Hmm, wasn't Klay's dad Mychal a Blazer around that time?

Also, Klay is quoted as saying, "We got our height thanks to (Dad), but our athleticism came from Mom…."

Anyone else remember her from that time, or am I just hallucinating, again?  

heavy.com wrote:Back when she was Julie Leslie, she attended Ridgefield High School in Washington, where she was a track and volleyball star. She then went to the University of Portland before transferring to the University of San Francisco and dominating as a star setter.

After setting multiple records at the University of Minnesota, Mychal Thompson was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the No. 1 pick in 1978. He and Julie met at a gym at the University of Portland, and they married in 1987.

DoubleDipper wrote: If Irving can't come back for the Cavs, it could be a short series.

DoubleDipper wrote:

DoubleDipper wrote: If Irving can't come back for the Cavs, it could be a short series.

PG Kyrie Irving is apparently done for the series with a broken kneecap.

So once again SMC grad Matthew Dellavedova will have to step into the breach.

If there’s a glimmer of hope in what is a bad Cavaliers situation, it’s Dellavedova’s recent track record when forced to take on more minutes. He's already had to play four 30-plus minutes games in the postseason, and the Cavs have won all four by an average of 12.8 points. Dellavedova has averaged 14.0 points in those games, shooting 40.7 percent from beyond the 3-point line.

DoubleDipper wrote:One word: Dellavedova!

Cavs up 2 games to 1.

OregonLive wrote:Reveno said he figured, even after Dellavedova was not drafted in 2013, that he could have a place in the NBA.

"He's the kind of kid that I would never bet against. If he got in the right spot, the right situation, you never know because of his high skill level and his toughness," Reveno said.

 After being hospitalized with dehydration after exhausting himself during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the hustling guard was upright - a good sign for the Cavaliers.

Dellavedova was released from the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday and said he's ready to play Thursday night against the Golden State Warriors, who have spent the past three games being bothered by the pesky Australian.
 

DoubleDipper wrote:Well, the best TEAM won!

IMO LeBron James is the best athlete and basketball player playing now, but the Warriors "Strength in Numbers" is not just a marketing slogan, but a team philosophy.

Dean Murdoch wrote:Most recognizable UP alum in NBA circles right now - Malika Andrews or Erik Spoelstra?

Dean Murdoch wrote:Most recognizable UP alum in NBA circles right now - Malika Andrews or Erik Spoelstra?

up7587 wrote:John Canzano points out the Portland connections in the Eastern Conference finals.

It’s Portland State (Udoka) vs. the University of Portland (Spoelstra). It’s Jefferson High (Udoka) vs. Jesuit (Spoelstra). Nevermind that the Trail Blazers didn’t make the playoffs — those paying close attention immediately noted that Portland made the conference finals anyway.