Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Good morning. Check out all of these NBA coaches getting hired!
That and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
LET’S OVERANALYZE THE FINALS: With a week between the end of the conference finals and the start of the NBA Finals, we’re all going to beat all possible angles on this series to death. You’re probably going to get bored by the time Thursday rolls around. So I’ll do my best to compartmentalize the finals content in GMLB this week so you can skip it if you have finals exhaustion.
GOOD MORNING! IT’S FINALS CONTENT.
Wow! The Warriors have determined that Klay Thompson, who got knocked silly by Trevor Ariza’s flying knee, did in fact suffer a concussion. What a stunner. Thank goodness he didn’t actually go back into Game 5, or the NBA would be in a tough spot. The practical impact is that Thompson has to go through the league’s concussion protocol before he can participate in practices or games. Everyone expects he’ll be ready for Game 1.
Fear the Sword asks if the Cavaliers can effectively defend the Warriors.
Tim Cato offers up an explanation of how Cleveland can win the Finals.
Jason Lloyd’s breakdown of the LeBron-Curry relationship includes this amazing factoid: “James has been in the league exactly twice as long as Curry -- 12 seasons vs. six -- but he’s only three years older.”
Someone got a premature Cavaliers trophy tattoo, thereby jinxing the team.
Stephen Curry is sinking over-the-shoulder halfcourt shots because why not? He is also riding around on miniature ponies. He is Steph Curry.
There is a group of ladies who call themselves the LeBron James “Grandmothers” Fan Club. They are our greatest Americans.
THANK YOU FOR ENJOYING THAT FINALS CONTENT!
And now, the rest of the league ...
WELL THAT’S SETTLED: Kevin Love “truly expects” to be suiting up for the Cavaliers in the first game of next season.
THE CLIPS ONE YEAR LATER: Ramona Shelburne has a great piece looking at the first year post-Sterling for the Clippers. It includes an interview with Shelly Sterling.
THE WADE QUESTION: Dan Le Batard drops a bomb on the Dwyane Wade-Heat situation. He also includes some factoids from years passed, like that Shawn Marion’s demand for a max deal derailed a Kevin Garnett to Phoenix trade in 2007!
ALVIN AND THE PELICANS: New Orleans has hired Alvin Gentry as head coach. This is great. He’ll need to focus on fixing the Pelicans’ defense.
SKILES IS MAGIC: The Magic hired Scott Skiles as coach. I don’t believe anyone mentioned Scott Skiles as a serious head coaching candidate before he was tied to the Orlando job. That said, the dude can coach.
WHY NOT HOIBERG? The Bulls are fully expected to hire Fred Hoiberg. That could have an interesting domino effect as there has been speculation that Iowa State -- where Hoiberg is officially still coaching -- would chase Jeff Hornacek. Hoiberg made more at Iowa State than Hornacek makes in Phoenix. And there is no indication the Suns will offer Hornacek a raise to end this flirtation. Well!
YES, THAT SOUNDS RIGHT: Tom Thibodeau once delayed a Little League team’s practice because he was busy prepping on the diamond for his chance to throw out the first pitch at a White Sox game.
THE NEXT STAGE: Complex caught up with Larry Sanders and his amazing jewelry.
I CAN FINALLY BREATHE AGAIN: Kevin Love has texted Kelly Olynyk to forgive him for ruining his life.
YOU’RE IN LUCK: If you’ve ever wanted to see Metta World Peace lose his mind and get ejected while wearing his panda bear sneakers, you’re in luck.
Happy Monday. See you next time.
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