Good morning, the Heat have exploded into flames
That and much more in Sunday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Let’s basketball.
RAY ALLEN! That was a fun little explosion from Jesus Shuttlesworth as the Heat pulled away in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead in the ECF. The Pacers jumped out to a massive early lead, but sloppiness reigned and the Heat took advantage.
LeBron seemed to take Lance Stephenson’s existence personally and more or less shut him down much of the game. Dwyane Wade got loose too, hitting a couple of threes and unleashing a couple of vintage Wade plays like this lane-jumping steal to set off a break.
One Heatian who did not have a good night: Christopher Bosh, who suffered foul trouble and got erased by Ian Mahinmi in cringeworthy fashion.
Backup Point Guard Fight! (Ban the double technical, please.)
You’re two wins away from a fourth straight Finals appearance. How do you feel, Bron?
TONIGHT: Spurs at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT. San Antonio leads 2-0.
I-BACK-A: So, uh, Serge Ibaka might play on Sunday, despite not having practiced or run since suffering his calf injury. Also, he appears to be walking like a 90-year-old pirate with a peg leg.
THE END OF SCOTT BROOKS: Eddie Maisonet on whether the Thunder have gone as far as Scott Brooks can take them.
JOERGER GONE: It appears that the Wolves will hire Minnesotan Dave Joerger to be the new head coach if they can work out compensation with a Grizzlies club that clearly doesn’t want him any more via ownership unrest. What a sweet landing for Joerger!
MEANWHILE IN MEMPHIS ... Marc Stein reports that the Grizzlies have interest in pursuing Jeff Van Gundy to take a role similar to the one his brother Stan just took in Detroit. So we could have two Van Gundys running two entire franchises. I’m not sure we’re ready for that. (And I’m really not sure The Notorious J.V.G. is ready to deal with an owner like Pera.)
ICYMI: Since we last met for coffee and basketball, reports have suggested Donald Sterling has conceded to allow wife Shelly Sterling to sell the Clippers. That means a lengthy court battle could be avoided.
ANOTHER STEINBOMB: Grant Hill is the face of a competitive Clippers ownership bidder, which stars billionaire investor Tony Ressler and billionaire investor Bruce Karsh. (Karsh is also a minority owner in the Warriors and a Duke University trustee.)
EVEN BETTER: Yao Ming and a group of Chinese investors will bid for the team. Yao!
DRAFT CONFIDENTIAL: Lots of good stuff in Ryen Russillo’s chat with anonymous scouts on the top draft prospects.
Happy Sunday. See you next time.
