You’ll be surprised to learn the Lakers did not end the Warriors’ streak

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

16-0: As expected, the Warriors easily dispatched the Lakers to win their 16th straight game to open the season. That’s an NBA record. Huzzah! On that topic, Paul Flannery and I discussed whether the Warriors should continue to chase records or de-emphasize them. We also talked about whether the wheels are finally coming off of the Sixers’ process and Philadelphia’s patience.

When I said the Warriors “easily dispatched the Lakers,” by the way, I was being kind. The Warriors crushed the Lakers like they were empty beer cans at a Kid Rock concert. (Kid Rock fans are avid recyclers, in my experience.) Stephen Curry didn’t need to play the fourth quarter, and a 40-point win was still on the table late.

Even the fans were stunting all over the Lakers. The dude who hit a free throw for $5,000 or whatever gave L.A. the old throat slash. He’ll be hearing from the league on that one.

Your boy Kobe Bryant shot 1-of-14 in 25 minutes. Zito Madu writes that the defiance that once drove Kobe is now destroying him. Yep.

PRE-THANKSGIVING STUFFING!

THE PACERS! In other action, Paul George did his best Steph Curry impersonation. Indiana is GOOD.

EVOLUTION OF BLAKE: Blake Griffin is now hitting alley-oop threes! Now, out of necessity. Soon, by choice.

YES: Scott Cacciola talked to real ballerinas about Steph’s grace on the court because Scott is the best.

:-\ Jeff Teague scores on Isaiah Thomas, tells him teammates that he was able to do so because Isaiah is “too little.” Thanks, Jeff. I kinda want Kristaps Porzingis to say this any time he scores on anyone now. Dream Shake over Hassan Whiteside “Too little.” Putback amid a bunch of wings. “Too little. Too little. Too little.”

I CAN LOVE YOU LIKE THAT: As Jason Patt writes, Kevin Love is playing the best basketball of his Cleveland career right now. It’s just fitting perfectly right now.

AGAINST AGING: Michael Lee with a nice look at how the elder statesmen of the league, like Tim Duncan, preserve their bodies.

TIGHTEN IT UP, FISH: Chris Herring on the need to tighten up the Knicks’ rotation.

BRILLIANT: Packing tips from the Chicago Bulls, who are getting ready for the Circus Trip.

INTERESTING: Data shows that skilled big men are especially potent against second units.

CHILL MODE: Eric Koreen on why Kyle Lowry can’t carry too heavy a load this early in the season if the Raptors want to reach their ultimate goals.

SMALL BALL EVOLUTION: Zach Lowe’s weekly column looks at the Warriors’ cheat code lineup and the small ball revolution in total.

SIMMONS WATCH: One of the nice things about Ben Simmons being at LSU is that, as Ricky O’Donnell writes, LSU is using Simmons much like he will be used in the NBA.

HOOP CULTURE IN FRANCE: I found this CNN piece on the hoop culture of France fascinating. Via REDEF.

AWESOME: One of my favorite writers, Chris Ballard, on basketball success at Caltech.

IS THERE GOING TO BE A DANCE-OFF? PLEASE TELL ME THERE’S GOING TO BE A DANCE-OFF: The war of words between the refs’ union and the coaches’ association escalates over the Mike Budenholzer bump situation!

WHAT IF? Would it be best if the Sixers and Lakers just swapped Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell?

TONIGHT TONIGHT: 12 games! NBA TV has Grizzlies-Rockets at 8 p.m. ET. On League, the biggest games are Cavs-Raptors (Drake Night!, 7:30 p.m.) and Mavericks-Spurs (8:30 p.m.). Lots of other good options, though.

Happy Wednesday. I hope that in between the basketball you find yourself in the kitchen cooking pies with your baby. See you next time.