Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Good morning. There is a new King James.
That and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter. SUBSCRIBE!
THE REBOOTED CELTICS: Danny Ainge has done a pretty amazing job of completely rebooting the Celtics over the past two years. Paul Flannery breaks it all and notes that with Isaiah Thomas in place for a song, Boston is well within playoff contention in the East. Plus there’s all of the usual goodies in this week’s Sunday Shootaround. Check it out.
TERRIBLE WEEKEND NEWS: The snakebitten Russell Westbrook got kneed in the face by Anthony Roberson on Thursday. He had facial surgery and will be re-evaluated in a week. What a disastrous season for OKC. (One that could still conceivably end with an NBA MVP and a championship.)
HOLY SMOKES: Cavaliers-Rockets lived up its billing, with Houston winning after a pair of missed free throws by LeBron. Good thing it’s 2015 and we don’t harp on that kind of thing any more. I would be totally fine with this as a Finals preview after that show. I’m not sure LeBron would be fine with James Harden kicking him in the groin again.
OH NO: The Cavs’ loss to Houston left LeBron taking sad mirror photos because apparently there is a new King James. Oh no.
THIS IS GREAT: I love celebratory gestures and Kings James II stirring the pot to indicate he’s cooking is just fantastic.
YESSIR: Joey Crawford did it again.
DOWN WITH THE TRAVEL TRUTHERS: If you tweet highlights semi-regularly, you’ll know that there is a whole population of internet denizens whose self-appointed job is to accuse any nice move of being a travel or a double-dribble or a balk or whatever. DO NOT BE ONE OF THESE PEOPLE.
SPEAKING OF WHICH ... The only infraction on this Chris Kaman gem was Being Too Awesome.
THE QUIET KILLER: Chris Paul has been low-key trashing opponents this season. Like, he’s even putting Mike Conley on his tailbone!
TODAY IN MASCOTS: Detroit’s Hooper is kind of the worst.
WELCOME TO FREE VALE: The Sixers are waiving JaVale McGee after all. He’s owed $12 million next season. That will really put a dent in Philly’s oh wait never mind they aren’t going to spend any money this summer either. The good news is that McGee can sign with a contender where he won’t get any minutes in the postseason.
SOME GUYS NEVER HAVE A SHOT: Nice Matt Osgood piece in VICE about the life of a D-League player.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS: How would Anthony Davis fare in a game of basketball against ... 75 children?
NOTES FROM SLOAN: Matt Dollinger’s 50 notes, quotes and anecdotes from Sloan, which was this weekend.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: Friday’s GMIB reported that the Thunder beat the Suns on Thursday. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Happy Monday. See you next time.
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