The Basketball Gods Need To Do Us All A Solid And Give Us At Least One Game 7 In The First Round Of These Playoffs

I don't know about anyone else, but I have been thoroughly enjoying the NBA playoffs so far. I love the chaos, I love the insane individual performances we seem to be getting on a nightly basis, I love the drama. All of it has been tremendous. 

But there's one thing that's been missing, and tonight is the final chance to get it.

We need at least one Game 7.

Last year, we did not see any Game 7s in the first round, and that was pretty unusual. Prior to the 2022 playoffs, here are the seasons over the last 20 years in which we saw a do or die Game 7 in the first round:

2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003.

So yeah, I'm going to need the Basketball Gods to step up and give us one after not having any last year. I don't care who it is really, I just need one. I'd be down for a GS/SAC Game 7 where we can see if the Beam has enough juice to get the Kings over the hump. LeBron in a Game 7? Sign me up for that immediately. 

Normally in this spot, you would expect to see The Extender aka Scott Foster get the nod for one of the games, because everyone knows when the league wants a series to keep going, that guy usually gets the nod. That is not the case tonight

Of the two games, my gut says MEM/LAL has the best chance, only because the Warriors at home when they smell blood are absolutely terrifying. It wouldn't shock me if we saw a performance more along the lines of Game 3 in GS compared to what happened in Game 4, and maybe part of my thinking is the fact that I will forever have Steph Curry PTSD, but hopefully, I'm wrong.

I don't care if we ultimately get GS/LAL in the next round, I just want the drama of a Game 7. There's truly nothing like it in all of sports. Add in the fact that it's only the first round, and these are some big name players that could potentially not even make the second round. One weird shooting night and your season is over. That's what we deserve as fans. It would be lame if both the games were wrapped up with no drama in Game 6s. These playoffs have had everything you could want so far, adding one or two Game 7s to the mix would be the cherry on top of an awesome first round. 

Having gone through many of these before, there's nothing like the stress and nerves of a Game 7 when your favorite team is involved. It consumes you. Every dribble gives you a legit heart attack. Every missed shot has you freaking out, every bucket gives you infinite joy. You spend what feels like an eternity waiting for the game all day, and then somehow Game 7s feel like the fastest 48 minutes of all time. You blink and it's already halftime. 

As someone with no rooting interest in either of these games, I would like to enjoy a stress free Game 7. I'm not picky, I don't care who it ends up being, it just needs to happen.