Dwyane Wade will talk to Pat Riley one of these days

Good morning. I’m in for Tom most Wednesdays. On this day more than ever, let’s basketball.

NO OFFENSE, BUT ... Dwyane Wade gave a fascinating interview to CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill explaining why he left the Heat. He insisted he had “no hard feelings” toward Pat Riley, then proceeded to explain how he hasn’t kept in touch with him and how his lack of communication throughout his final days in Miami didn’t help. No hard feelings? Sure, because Wade is trying to embrace his new situation. But I wouldn’t say there are happy feelings either.

THE ROBOTS ARE COMING: Mark Cuban tells us why he banned ESPN reporters Tim MacMahon and Marc Stein from covering home games. There’s a lot to process in Tim Cato’s excellent reporting, including Cuban’s admission that he wanted to ban them before the season opener before Adam Silver intervened. Cuban’s central gripe, as I understand it, is that MacMahon’s attention will be divided covering other teams in addition to the Mavericks, and this is a slippery slope toward robot sportswriters covering individual teams, or something. Using MacMahon and Stein as the examples to make a point seems silly, but maybe specifying two prominent ESPN reporters to raise awareness for his larger message is the whole idea. I dunno. I just hope the Mavericks let those two excellent reporters do their jobs properly and we can all move on. (Here’s Cuban’s full email to us, unedited).

CA-CAW! The Hawks stormed into Cleveland and handed the Cavaliers their first loss. The Cavs can simply point to May of the last two years as a response. Dennis Schroder carved up Cleveland’s defense and Kent Bazemore hit big shots down the stretch.

*CUES BENNY HILL MUSIC* The end of the Nuggets-Grizzlies game was a bizarre comedy of errors. Memphis threw the ball away to allow Denver to take the lead, then threw it away again ... and survived because Denver then threw the ball away, setting up Marc Gasol’s game winner. Got all that?

SPEAKING OF BIZARRE MEMPHIS THINGS: Here’s the Grizzlies’ mascot stripping and dancing to “Pony.” It’s ... something.

SCORES! Since you were probably following the election instead:

Hawks 110, Cavaliers 106

Timberwolves 110, Nets 119

Nuggets 107, Grizzlies 108

Suns 121, Blazers 124

Mavericks 109, Lakers 97

Pelicans 94, Kings 102

DRAMA IN NEW YORK? NO WAY: Kurt Rambis, who is still somehow on the Knicks’ coaching staff even though the idea of hiring him to be the full-time head coach proved to be ridiculous after last season, is now going to be put in charge of the team’s 30th-ranked defense. Carmelo Anthony’s response: “Whether we’re comfortable with it or not, it is what it is so we have to buy into it.” Can’t wait to see how this goes! (Also: Phil Jackson is reportedly annoyed that the Knicks don’t use the Triangle enough. Is this mad libs?)

HMMMM: The Warriors look mortal and the Clippers look dominant. F&Z wonders if this is finally the year.

BE YOURSELF: Zito Madu on why Stephen Curry needs to keep gunning.

FREE AT LAST: Jordan Clarkson explains to Silver Screen and Roll why the Lakers are over-performing.

GREAT QUOTE: Isaiah Thomas on why he wants to be known as the “5’9 Kevin Garnett.”

Tom will be back tomorrow. See y’all then.