Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Good morning. Chris Paul is making friends everywhere!
That and more in Thursday’s NBA newsletter. SUBSCRIBE!
TESTY TESTY: Portland and the Clippers had a heavyweight match, with L.A. coming out ahead thanks to 41 from Chris Paul. But not before CP3 tapped Chris Kaman below the belt, leading Kaman to give an ejection-worthy two-hand shove to CP3’s back, which led to a classic NBA staring contest between the teams, which led to Big Baby Davis FLOPPING DURING SAID STARING CONTEST. LaMarcus Aldridge pushed him a bit, and Davis went flying. Good grief.
THE RACE OUT WEST: Things are insanely tight. Memphis and Houston are tied for No. 2. The Clippers are 1.5 games back. The Spurs are just one more half-game back. Portland is a half-game behind them but can’t fall below No. 4 as the presumptive Northwest champs. San Antonio as a No. 2 seed is still in play. So is San Antonio as a six seed, which makes that No. 2 seed all the more valuable. Gonna be something.
THE RACE IN THE EAST: Also tight! The Bulls and Raptors are fighting over who gets to face the Bucks -- Toronto has an advantage as a division champ. The Nets have somehow knotted up with the Heat for No. 7! Miami’s season sweep of Brooklyn keeps the Heat in that spot for now, though. Boston is fighting to wedge in there. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
THESE DUDES ARE NOT JOKING: Still fighting for the MVP, James Harden drops a very necessary 51 on the Kings. (Who got a triple-double animal-style from Boogie M.F. Cousins!)*
* A double-double animal style is 20 points and 20 rebounds. A triple-double animal-style is 20 points, 20 boards and 10 assists or blocks. It is known.
A CODA FOR OUR FRIENDS THE KNICKS: Their season distilled in one Vine.
AFTER THE CRASH: Jonathan Abrams on memories of Bobby Phills.
ON RUSSELL WESTBROOK: Lee Jenkins gets the best quotes from the guys he profiles.
NEVER TOO EARLY FOR THE DRAFT: The Limited Upside guys talk about the draft.
NEVER TOO EARLY FOR HAIKU: I did my annual Haiku Mock Draft. It was as bad as ever.
THE NEW OLD VINCE: Nice Scott Cacciola piece on Vince Carter’s evolution.
CAREER OPTIONS: If Steven Adams weren’t an NBA player, he’d have a surefire career as a condiments sommelier.
WHO’S NO. 1? High school All-Americans decide who will go No. 1 in the June draft. HINT: it’s none of them because age limit.
SIM CITY: The Kings have called up 7’5 Sim Bhullar, the first NBA player with Indian heritage. (The Kings’ majority partner is American pro sports’ first Indian franchisee.) He’ll be active Friday, apparently.
Happy Thursday. See you next time.
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