Good morning, these NBA playoffs need more overtime
Because like every other game just isn’t enough.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
I HAVE A FEVER, AND THE ONLY CURE IS MORE OVERTIME: These teams really do not like letting us sleep. The Blazers and Rockets went to overtime in Portland in the late game, with it wrapping up around 1 a.m. Eastern.
Portland won that game, by the way. Read all about the incredibly slopmazing finish to both regulation and overtime. The Blazers lead 3-1. Don’t blame Dwight Howard, even though he totally botched an open dunk.
The Raptors pulled even with the Nets as Brooklyn went cold late. All of those dang Raptors fans in Toronto watched the game outside!
Trevor Ariza dropped 30 on the Bulls (get money!) and so the Wizards automatically won due to the NBA’s well-known Roleplayer Scoring Explosion Rule. Washington leads 3-1.
And of course there were the Clippers, who were back in action against Golden State. They never had a chance. Steph Curry came in piping hot and the Warriors blew ‘em out to knot the series 2-2. Joey Crawford was the only guy who could stop Curry.
Before we go deeper on the subject of the Clippers ...
TONIGHT: More basketball, of course.
Heat at Bobcats, 7 p.m. ET, TNT | Miami can sweep
Hawks at Pacers, 8 p.m. ET, NBA TV | Series tied 2-2
Spurs at Mavericks, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT | Dallas leads 2-1
REST IN PEACE, DR. JACK RAMSAY. ESPN reports that the 89-year-old coaching legend passed away Sunday night. A brilliant basketball mind and, by all accounts, a great man. The Breaks of the Game gives you a lot of insight into the good Doctor. Thoughts with his family.
STERLING DAY 3: More audio was released early Sunday, this time by Deadspin. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t make Sterling look like any less of a scumbag!
The Clippers did stage a small protest on Sunday: they wore shooting shirts and practice jerseys inside-out, and wore black socks and wristbands. (The Blazers and Rockets wore black socks in their game, too.) Doc Rivers indicated the team is totally distracted, and may be even more distracted when they get back in L.A. But the players are considering a louder statement against Sterling on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Magic Johnson and his buddies the Guggenheim Partners -- who collectively own the Dodgers -- want to buy the Clippers, according to Woj. Meanwhile meanwhile, Doc demurred on whether he’d be back with the Clippers next season, saying he “doesn’t know yet.”
I wrote about whether the NBA owners will fight to excise Sterling as hard as they fight against players.
And I bet you’ll never guess who had the hottest take of them all? BETTE. F’N. MIDLER.
A CLEANSING MOMENT: Okay, let’s wash the Sterling off by watching Shaq set into a trash can and fall on his face on the Inside The NBA set. Watch it a few times, in fact.
... IN NEW YORK: Steve Kerr met with Phil Jackson regarding the Knicks’ coaching job.
FRUSTRATION: Dwight Howard, who’s had a strong series, is feeling frustrated about the lack of urgency from some of his teammates. More on the subject.
HOW FAR FITNESS HAS FALLEN: If our ancient ancestors had a time machine, they would laugh at how unfit even the most athletic among us are compared to them. But they’re too stupid to build a time machine, aren’t they? Scoreboard. (Via Ryan McCarthy.)
Happy Monday. See you next time.
