Good morning, everything is terrible (except for the rapping Mavericks)
Let’s abandon sadness and fear with horrible rhymes and TOO MUCH MONTA.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
FIRST, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE NBA RIGHT NOW: This Mavs video featuring a rapping Dirk Nowitzki, Monta Ellis and Chandler Parsons. Simply incredible.
THE KING IS DEAD: LeBron had a pretty yikesville re-debut in Cleveland and the Knicks beat the Cavs 95-90. Mike Prada offers up three lessons from the stunning upset. The crowd was superb, though, and we did get the famed Love-to-LeBron outlet pass.
EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE: Russell Westbrook now has a small fracture in his hand. He played only nine minutes on Thursday before exiting. Mr. Mayberry says he could miss 4-6 weeks. Everything is terrible. Everything is terrible. Everything is terrible.
(Before the injury, Westbrook did show out on the the catwalk in the bowels of STAPLES Center.) Also, the Clippers beat the Thunder 93-90.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED: Here’s Tim Cato with our nightly recap of the biggest results and plays.
THE REAL RONDO: Paul Flannery on the return of the classic Rajon Rondo.
STATE OF THE TIMBERWOLVES: Someone taped a ticket to the Wolves’ home opener to a light pole because in Minnesota they are too nice to throw things like that away. But then the Wolves beat the Pistons, so ...
WHY BOSH IS A MATCHUP NIGHTMARE: Prada on the rebirth of the Heat star.
FIGURES: Taylor Swift, queen of the very public breakup, has apparently dumped the Knicks for the Cavaliers. Melo knew she was trouble when she walked in.
THE CHUCK RULE: Charles Barkley made a demand we can all agree with (even our friends in purple and gold): for the love of all that is holy, no more Lakers games on national TV, please.
MJ! First, check out Air Jordan’s reaction to Kemba’s Wednesday game-winner. Then check him calling out the President of the United States of America for his woeful golf skills and excising him from his dream foursome.
GOD BLESS JOSH SMITH: Kenneth Faried said that the Nuggets beat the Pistons Wednesday because they let Josh Smith shoot Detroit out of the game. (Smoove was 3-10 in the second half.) So of course Smith responded by calling Faried a clown and saying he refuses to respond to any basketball player with dreads. SMOOVE!
HMM: Howard Beck makes the argument that the Bulls are better off for having struck out on Melo, and not because Melo isn’t great.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE BEST THING OF THE SEASON TO DATE: That Mavericks video. Can I change my title prediction to Dallas now?
Happy Friday. See you next time.
