Good morning, it’s the saddest fight in NBA history

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

AN EMBARRASSMENT OF EPIC PROPORTIONS: My God, the “fight” between John Lucas III and Francisco Garciawas so comically sad that I almost love it. Almost. I’m convinced Lucas The Third was communicating “I want to fight you” in sign language as opposed to actually trying to hit El Flaco. Good lord.

How that skirmish started is actually pretty hilarious if you like watching little guards be annoying.

’HE’S FLOPPING’: Got it, Russ. Via Daily Thunder.

OH NO, GERALD: Gerald Henderson bricked a dunk really, really badly. Just be glad it was home where you won’t get mocked for the rest of the game by the crowd. Unless I have misjudged Charlotte entirely.

SCORES SCORE SCORES: All the recaps you need and, let’s be honest, a couple you didn’t.

GIANNIS ALERT: Woj profiles the Greek Freak.

WOOHOO: 538 is back. One of the launch posts is on the threes vs. midrange jumpers debate. Takeaway: the defense matters.

OH MAN: A hilarious GIF showing Dikembe Mutombo pulling the Lucy on Rocky, the Nuggets mascot, who is going up for a trampoline dunk. Followed by the finger wag. Too good.

KYRIE WATCH: He’ll miss two weeks with a bicep strain. Do you even curl, bro?

GUH: Breaking down Patrick Beverley’s dunk of the year candidate over Chris Bosh.

OH: Mark Cuban calls out Dirk Nowitzki’s defense after the Mavericks blew out the Thunder. Well then.

ALRIGHT!: A good ol’ fashioned five-point play from the Nuggets.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES: Draft reform is fine ... but be careful it doesn’t put in the NBA in a deeper hole when it comes to competitive balance.

SO MUCH POWER: Spurs and Clippers ride high in the official SBNation.com NBA Power Rankings.

THE BIG UNUSED TICKET: Kevin Garnett will miss at least a few more games due to his back. The Nets didn’t miss him Monday as they beat the visiting Suns in the Plumlee Bowl. (Yes, there was Gerald Green on Plumlee violence.)

PAUL F’N GEORGE: Paul George’s dunks are super nice, to be sure. But his primal post-dunk celebrations really make them stand out.

WHOA HEY: There was a lot of green out there for St. Patrick’s Day in the NBA! Who knew?

WHOOPS: Blake Griffin broke the broadcast table.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: How deep the impact of Steve Blake at Golden State has been.

RINGING ENDORSEMENT: Noted teambuilder Michael Jordan has faith in Phil Jackson. Zach Lowe writes about what Jackson needs to do in New York. Steve Kerr is laying the groundwork to be a candidate for the soon-to-be open Knicks coaching job.

WORTH NOTING: Union president Chris Paul is among those who oppose raising the age minimum.

Happy Tuesday. See you next time.