Kevin Harlan Impressed Reggie Miller With Perfect Call of Chaotic Sequence in Game 5

May 31, 2024 Jimm Sallivan

Things got a bit sloppy during the first quarter of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, as both teams turned the ball over on consecutive possessions leading to an utterly chaotic scene.

Fortunately for those viewing back at home, TNT’s Kevin Harlan didn’t miss a beat with his call, providing outstanding commentary of the moment in order to help fans better keep track of who had the ball amid the flurry of possession exchanges.

Even Reggie Miller had to take a moment to express his appreciation for Harlan’s masterful call.

“How did you get that all in there?” he asked while laughing.

Kevin Harlan calls a chaotic sequence and impresses Reggie Miller and Stan Van Gundy. 🏀🎙️😂 pic.twitter.com/BquAbI3yfn

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 31, 2024

A Kyle Anderson turnover led to a mad scramble for possession, with the ball being tipped up in the air and batted toward Josh Green, who then sent a high bounce pass over to Daniel Gafford, who was fouled on at attempt at a layup.

Harlan was locked in, and he didn’t miss a beat as he navigated the hectic play with precision, showcasing why he’s heralded as one of the best in the business.

10 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Derrick White’s Controversial Block vs. Mavs in Game 2 Seals Celtics Win

The Dallas Mavericks lost Game 2 of the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics in a 105–98 defeat arguably filled with as many defensive highlights as offensive ones.

For Boston, Jaylen Brown expertly defended Mavs star Kyrie Irving in one lockdown sequence early on, and Kristaps Porzingis also made his presence felt with a crucial block late in the game. But it was Derrick White’s game-sealing defensive play with the Celtics up by five points and roughly 50 seconds left to go that essentially clinched Boston’s win and created buzz on social media for several reasons.

After the Mavericks stuffed Jayson Tatum in the paint on one side of the court, Irving and P.J. Washington blazed forward on a fast break looking to narrow Boston’s lead. Washington collected a pass and leapt for a dunk when White denied him at the rim with what appeared to be an epic block.

Fans were reminded of LeBron James’s clutch block on Golden State Warriors’ Andre Iguodala in the Finals eight years ago.

DERRICK WHITE ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/r5jc02yxEA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2024

Truly an amazing play by Derrick White. The hustle, the timing, the athleticism. Incredible. https://t.co/ZsmH66rjNd pic.twitter.com/umerV8fplo
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 10, 2024

DERRICK WHITE YOU’RE MY HERO
— Dante Turo (@DanteOnDeck) June 10, 2024

However, slow-motion replays revealed that Celtics forward Jaylen Brown appeared to have pushed Washington from behind during the sequence, and that White made contact with Washington’s hand on the block, meaning a foul easily could have been called.

ESPN’s Mike Breen admitted after the game was over that the officials did indeed miss the foul on Washington.

"There should've been a foul called." - Mike Breen on the Celtics' game-sealing block.
Boston takes a 2-0 series lead over Dallas.🏀 #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/Noyh002M0H
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2024

The Celtics nonetheless took Game 2 for a 2–0 series lead and will travel to Dallas for the next two matchups of the NBA Finals.

13 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Luka Dončić Was Not Impressed With Refs in Game 3 vs. Celtics

Luka Doncic fouled out in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night as the Boston Celtics defeated his Dallas Mavericks 106-99 at American Airlines Center.

Doncic finished with 27 points on 27 shots before he headed to the bench to watch his team's comeback fall short. His fifth and six fouls came in the fourth quarter on close calls that no Mavericks fan would ever agree with.

After the game. Doncic was asked about the whistles that went against him in the fourth. His response likely doesn't warrant a fine from the league, but reading between the lines, it doesn't seem like he agreed with the calls.

"I mean, I don't know," Doncic said. "We couldn't play physical so ... I don't know. I don't want to say nothing, but you know, six fouls in the NBA Finals? When I'm basically I'm like this. C'mon, man. [Be] better than that."

Here's that full Q&A https://t.co/c1xgCX3Bis pic.twitter.com/4OyQ6gs5GJ
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) June 13, 2024

While Mavs fans will certainly disagree with the calls that went against Doncic, everyone can agree that the officials were pretty bad in the fourth quarter. It seemed like everything was allowed early in the game, but by the end the only time officials didn't blow the whistle was when Derrick White grabbed Tim Hardaway Jr. right in front of a referee on purpose and pointed at the referee to confirm he was trying to foul and there was no call.

You can’t tell me changes don’t need to be made to officiating. Derrick white clearly intentionally fouled Hardaway looked at the ref, says foul, ref still doesn’t make the call. Refs have been horrible throughout all of the season but this is just embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/DdeKq8GCWd
— Fsncold (@HookEm4Life_) June 13, 2024

Just another night in the NBA.

7 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

List of Every NBA Finals Series to Go Seven Games

The 2024 NBA Finals tip off on Thursday night, as the Boston Celtics look to add an 11th Larry O'Brien Trophy to their trophy case, while the Dallas Mavericks look to secure the franchise's second-ever NBA title.

For viewing purposes, getting the opportunity to see a seven-game series between the Celtics and Mavericks would be wildly entertaining. It's somewhat uncommon for an NBA Finals series to go the full seven games, however. Throughout history, the NBA Finals has gone the full distance of seven games only 19 times.

Most recently, the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors was decided in seven games, but the past seven championships have been decided quicker than that.

Here's a look at every NBA Finals series that has gone seven games:

YEAR	MATCHUP
1951	Rochester Royals def. New York Knicks
1952	Minneapolis Lakers def. New York Knicks
1954	Minneapolis Lakers def. Syracuse Nationals
1955	Syracuse Nationals def. Fort Wayne Pistons
1957	Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks
1960	Boston Celtics def. St. Louis Hawks
1962	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1966	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1969	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1970	New York Knicks def. Los Angeles Lakers
1974	Boston Celtics def. Milwaukee Bucks
1978	Washington Bullets def. Seattle Supersonics
1984	Boston Celtics def. Los Angeles Lakers
1988	Los Angeles Lakers def. Detroit Pistons
1994	Houston Rockets def. New York Knicks
2005	San Antonio Spurs def. Detroit Pistons
2010	Los Angeles Lakers def. Boston Celtics
2013	Miami Heat def. San Antonio Spurs
2016	Cleveland Cavaliers def. Golden State Warriors

Game 7's have been few and far between in recent history. Since 1995, only four NBA Finals series have reached the coveted seventh game.

Of course, those that have gone the distance have resulted in some iconic moments, including the Cavaliers becoming the first team in league history to overcome a 3–1 deficit in the Finals in '16 against the Warriors.

Of the 19 Game 7's in NBA Finals history, only two have gone to overtime, and none since 1962 when the Celtics took down the Lakers.

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Kevin Harlan Impressed Reggie Miller With Perfect Call of Chaotic Sequence in Game 5

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Jimm Sallivan