Kawhi Leonard might be too good a defender

Good morning. Let’s basketball:

SO RUDE: Steph Curry nailed a three in Jrue Holiday’s face and responded by high-fiving Pelicans assistant coach Darren Erman. Erman, if you’ll recall, was fired by the Warriors in 2014 for secretly recording the conversations of the rest of the coaching staff.

I CHOOSE ALL OF THEM: Paul and John rank the best young franchise players in the NBA in the latest Drive & Kick podcast.

I WISH I COULD CHOOSE ALL OF THEM: Paul and Tom try to pick their All-Stars teams to date and find it impossible. Why is this so hard? The league is overflowing with great players, but we’ve also been lucky that no star (other than Dirk Nowitzki) has missed extended time due to injury this season. Knock on wood.

SCORES!

Grizzlies 86 Cavaliers 103

Magic 131 Hawks 120

Timberwolves 99 Bulls 94

Warriors 113 Pelicans 109

Knicks 111 Suns 113

Thunder 95 Blazers 114

LONELY KAWHILAND: Fascinating piece by CBS Sports’ Matt Moore examining one of the league’s weirdest statistical quirks: The Spurs have been significantly better defensively by the numbers when two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard is on the bench. Moore’s theory -- and it is just a theory -- is that teams essentially use Leonard’s own assignment as a decoy and go 4-on-4 against the rest of the Spurs, which is easier to do now that Pau Gasol is there. I suspect that the trend will reverse itself as the year goes on, but this is as good a theory as any.

NOT SO HOTLANTA: The Hawks began the season 9-2. They’ve lost 11 of 14 since, including an ugly home loss to the Magic in which Atlanta gave up 130 points to the league’s second-worst offense. There’s nothing inspiring about the Hawks right now.

BIGGER THAN HOOPS: Kevin Durant donated $57,000 to allow homeless Oklahoma City kids to go to school.

STAY HEALTHY, DREW BREES: Anthony Davis won’t be replacing you anytime soon.

THE BEST TRADES ARE THE ONES YOU DON’T MAKE: Yup, those Jimmy Butler for Kris Dunn rumors had legs.

FOOTING THE BILL: The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor on the art of NBA footwork.

KRISTAPS HAS A MEAN STREAK: Marquese Chriss realized that after he took KP down on a fast break.

THE ETERNAL QUESTION: What kind of team do the Nuggets want to be? As usual, they are straddling the line.

UNSUNG HERO: Indy Cornrows explains why C.J. Miles is always underappreciated.

SUUURE: Tom Thibodeau insisted he had no hard feelings toward the Bulls. I’m sure Tuesday’s win was just like any other.

THIS IS AWESOME: SB Nation’s Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun raised enough money to send 1,000 underprivileged kids and their chaperones to a recent Suns game. Thanks to all who donated, including Jared Dudley and Earl Watson.

TONY PARKER PLAYING TUG OF WAR WITH A JAGUAR

Tom returns Thursday. Talk to y’all then.