Good morning. Let’s basketball.
The Sixers may never win again
Good morning. We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
0-15: The Sixers are as bad as the Warriors are good. A five-point loss to the Wolves gives Philadelphia 25 straight losses going back to last season and consecutive historically bad starts. Only eight teams now have begun a season 0-15. Philly has done it twice in a row! And it’s not over yet: Philly next plays the Celtics, Grizzlies and Rockets on the road. Losing those would tie the 2009-10 Nets for worst start ever (a mark the Sixers avoided by one game last year). Game 19 is against the 2-11 Lakers. So, there’s a chance.
DURANT IS BACK! And magically, the Thunder look incredible again.
ESSENTIAL RICKY: Enjoyed Yaron Weitzman’s dig-in on how essentially Ricky Rubio is to the Wolves’ attack.
BRUUUU-TAL: The Kings lost a 22-point lead in Charlotte. Kemba Walker killed them in overtime. These are the losses that drive teams right back into turmoil. But this Rajon Rondo lob at the end of regulation! (He had 20 assists.)
PICTURE IN PICTURE: While the NBA was happening on Monday, lots of fans were surely also watching presumptive No. 1 pick Ben Simmons show why he’s the presumptive No. 1 pick.
UH, OK: Byron Scott says that Kobe has earned the right to take awful shots. I just love watching the coach squirm to justify the stuff he’s running right now. Meanwhile, he says he’ll bench the young guys like D’Angelo Russell so long as they keep making mistakes.
MAJOR INJURY UPDATE: Martell Webster is out for the season after hip surgery. Jonas Valanciunas is out six weeks with a broken hand. Guh.
WELL THEN: New York’s Civilian Complaint Review Board found that there was no justification for police to arrest Thabo Sefolosha outside a nightclub last spring. The main cop involved could get docked up to three weeks of vacation days, though that’s up to the department’s discretion. The next step in this situation is quite possibly a civil trial for damages brought by Sefolosha.
THIS IS RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS: Steve Kerr compares the current Warriors to the 1995-96 Bulls team he was on. This is just a delight to read.
IT’S SIMPLE, REALLY: Kevin Ding argues that the Warriors are so flipping good primarily because Stephen Curry is so flipping good.
THE CASE FOR NANCY: Is Nancy Lieberman the most qualified candidate to take over the Kings if George Karl gets fired?
TONIGHT TONIGHT: The Warriors can set a new record for Best Start Ever by beating the Lakers (TNT, 10:30 p.m. ET). Celtics-Hawks (TNT, 8 p.m. ET), Wizards-Pacers (7 p.m. ET, League Pass) and Mavericks-Grizzlies (8 p.m. ET, League Pass) are your other notable games of the evening.
Happy Tuesday. Take care.
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