Good morning. All men must die, except Tim Duncan.
That and more in Thursday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. There is a *lot* to cover. Let’s basketball.
HOLY S--T: Spurs-Clippers is something else. We all had high hopes for the series. It had exceeded them. San Antonio picked up the Game 2 win in overtime after conceding a lead as hack-a-DeAndre failed to have the desired result. Blake Griffin (who kept dunking) had a turnover that will haunt him to end regulation; Patty Mills had more clutch than a heiress walking out of a Gucci store.
But the story of the game was Tim Duncan, who dominated the first half and hit some gnarly shots late to clinch the win. He finished with 28 points. He will turn 39 on Saturday. He is insane.
Also, Chris Paul had the best mini-tantrum of all time. Of All Time.
GRIT ‘N WIN: Memphis is up 2-0. Portland can’t do anything against the Grizzlies. (I lied: Nicolas Batum nutmegged Z-Bo. Small victories.) And Damian Lillard is getting totally trounced by Mike Conley. Is ... is Mike Conley mad about the All-Star thing? He seems mad.
IN THE ATL: Hawks vs. Nets has been a surprisingly close series. Here’s how Atlanta held off a Game 2 rally by Brooklyn to go up 2-0.
Meanwhile, the Hawks announced that Tony Ressler (an L.A.-based finance guy) is leading the group purchasing the team. Inside Stuff host and former Sprite enthusiast Grant Hill is also a member of the ownership group. No firm numbers released, except that it appears the $1 billion mark was not hit. David Aldridge says $850 million, which includes arena debt.
WELPVILLE: The Mavericks announce Rajon Rondo is out indefinitely with a back injury that is definitely not a cover story for a massive rift between the mercurial point guard and Rick Carlisle nuh uh no way. I mean, Carlisle even told reporters he doesn’t expect Rondo to ever wear a Mavericks jersey again.
(Chandler Parsons is out, too, for different reasons.)
Here’s Tim Cato on the Night The Rondo Trade Died. Here’s Satchel Price explaining why the Rondo era in Dallas went sideways.
OKC U L8R: The Thunder fired Scott Brooks. Here’s why.
Kevin Ollie or Billy Donovan are the favorites for the job. Ollie, currently coaching at UConn, was a veteran leader on early Thunder teams; he is adored by Kevin Durant. I think the Thunder pretty much have to hire Kevin Ollie if he’s willing to leap, and I think he should absolutely be willing to leap.
LITERALLY THE SPLASH BROTHERS: Jimmy Spencer on the brotherly love between Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
THROUGH THE WALLS: Zito Madu on what John Wall overcame to become a legitimate NBA superstar.
BAD PRECEDENT: TNT sideline reporter Lewis Johnson took off his shoe and sock and drew a big red X on where Mike Conley is suffering from pain on the arch of his foot. Me, I’m just glad Conley doesn’t have a sprained ass.
THIS IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL: I looked at data to determine whether, over the course of his career, LeBron’s Finals runs have been less difficult than those of his contemporaries who play in the West. The results will not surprise you but may lead you to call me names, if the comments and my Twitter mentions are any indication.
OH GOOD: Ratings were not just way down on ABC this season, as TNT also saw fewer NBA viewers. The good news is that teams are watching their local teams more frequently through regional sports networks.
$12 IN MY POCKET: This exit interview with Chris “Birdman” Andersen from the Palm Beach Post is incredible.
PRAY BE UNTO BALL MOVEMENT: The gospel of Coach Bud, by Kevin Arnovitz.
Happy Thursday. See you next time.
