Good morning. Let’s basketball. And ping pong ball.
Good morning. Let’s ping pong ball.
That and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
IT’S LOTTERY TIME! The night we find out whether the Knicks will get a payoff for their horrible season, whether the Lakers will keep their pick, whether the Basketball Gods will smile upon or smite the Sixers. It’ll be on ESPN at 8:30 p.m. ET, right before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals (9 p.m. ET, ESPN). (Per tradition, every neutral basketball fan will be too wrapped up in lottery ramifications to pay attention to the first half of that game.)
As a fan of a team that has been in the lottery every season since 2007, may I offer a word of advice? Expect the worst. Something even worse will typically happen -- like, your team will trade down to “land” John Salmons and then pick Jimmer Fredette, leaving Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard on the board -- but at least the overriding sense of dread begins to become a part of you. You’ll need that later in life.
FINAL QUESTIONS: Ryan Nanni and Dan Rubenstein break down the keys to the conference finals as only they can.
PANIC VS. PATIENCE: I argue that though the collapse was epic, the Clippers shouldn’t overreact to their exit.
THE ORAL HISTORY OF KG: Brilliant piece of work by Howard Beck. The inherent argument here is that Kevin Garnett changed basketball, and the argument is made convincingly.
HEAD OF THE CLASS: DeAndre Jordan will soon be an unrestricted free agent, and he will be popular. There’s a report from Fox Sports’ Bill Reiter that Jordan and Chris Paul had a falling-out, which could spur some rumors as we walk toward July.
GOOD: The Pelicans will interview Alvin Gentry for their opening. Gentry deserves another shot. The bad news is it seems the Pelicans might be biding time until the Bulls make a move on Tom Thibodeau. The Magic may also be sniffing around Thibodeau.
JUST CALL ME TRACY MURRAY: All 290 of rapper Action Bronson’s sports references, many of which are shout-outs to slightly obscure basketball players. Now Eater needs to break down A.B.‘s infamous wealth of culinary references. “The olive oil virgin, first press, it’s never blended kid / I’m straight raw like Carpaccio”
[AIRHORN BLAST]: R.J. Hunter scouting report!
AND YOUR JAHLIL OKAFOR SCOUTING REPORT: Well, actually, this is just proof he can fit 13 tennis balls in one hand.
JAMES HARDEN AS VILLAIN: Bethlehem Shoals argues that Harden is the villain the playoffs need.
SEEMS ACCURATE: 538’s model suggests LeBron has been as good as MJ in the conference finals. But not in the Finals.
THIS IS PRETTY COOL: A 10-year-old once invited Jason Kidd to his birthday party. Kidd didn’t make it. The kid is now 24, and Kidd celebrated that milestone with the young man.
AS DOES ANY REASONABLE PERSON: Carmelo Anthony fears cats.
IS THAT A COMPLIMENT? LeBron says that Paul Pierce merits a couple of notes in King James’ story of trials and triumphs.
SOMEWHAT OMINOUS: Draft prospect declares he wants to dunk on Serge Ibaka; Ibaka announces he will be waiting for said prospect.
Happy Tuesday. See you next time.
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