Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Good morning, the Heat are lords of the East
That, more Sterling and other links for your Saturday morning NBA newsletter.
Mike Ehrmann
LORDS OF THE EAST: Miami smoked Indiana by 25 (it wasn’t remotely that close) to claim their fourth straight Eastern crown. LeBron was the star, bouncing back from that hideous Game 5. In the first half, the Pacers got basically nothing from anyone but David West and Lance Stephenson; Paul George racked up a bunch of empty stats in the second half.
Speaking of Lance: he had some more fun with LeBron. I’m glad the Pacers are done because I’m a bit afraid of what Lance would do next.
The Pacers finished the series with the absolute funniest buzzer-beating halfcourt shot ever.
After the game, Frank Vogel compared LeBron to MJ. Welp. Also, when asked whether he wants Lance to be back next season, Paul George began his answer “I mean, I don’t know ...” The full answer was nuanced and pro-Lance, but I mean, I don’t know, Paul.
The Finals begin Thursday, and either way the Heat will begin on the road.
TONIGHT: The West finals could end early too, if the Spurs can find a way to win in OKC. The game is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT. A Thunder win forces a Monday Game 7.
L’AFFAIR STERLING: Shelly Sterling may have just pulled off the greatest Machiavellian move in recent NBA memory. On Friday we learned that Shelly had Donald tested for and diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which led to the mental incapacitation declaration that put Shelly in charge of the Sterling Family Trust, which controls the Clippers. Then Shelly cut the $2 billion cash deal with Steve Ballmer.
On Friday, she reached a deal with the NBA that ends the league’s attempt to strip the team from the Sterlings and proceeds with a sale to Ballmer. As a part of that deal, Shelly agreed to indemnify the NBA against any suit by Donald. That means that if Donald beats the NBA in court, the Sterling Family Trust will cover the losses. So Donald would be suing himself, basically.
Of course that’s exactly what Donald is doing: he filed a $1 billion suit against the NBA Friday afternoon.
GETTING THERE: Paul Flannery updates PG’s rise.
THE RELUCTANT X-FACTOR: Eddie Maisonet on Boris Diaw’s impact.
Happy Saturday. See you next time.
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