Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Coach Pop is the meanest man alive
Good morning. We have that and much, much more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
OH, WE READY: Because we’re crazy and because we love you, Paul Flannery and I are doing our FLANNS & ZILLZ conversation pieces for every team in the league this preseason. On Monday we talked about the Hawks, for whom we’re sorta optimistic, and the Mavericks, for whom we are not remotely optimistic. The annual blog preview bash has also begun: here’s Peachtree Hoops on ATL and Mavs Moneyball on DAL. Two teams per day coming at you over the next three weeks.
MEDIA DAY SHENANIGANS!
THE HEAT ARE DOOMED: I learned everything I needed to know about the Heat in this clip of Dwyane Wade lip-syncing “This Is How We Do It.” Udonis Haslem is on one with hat K-Ci and JoJo, though ...
COUNTERPOINT! Seth Rosenthal defends Wade’s Montell Jordan act.
OKAY, RICK: In discussing DeAndre Jordan, Rick Carlisle declares that if “cows were kittens, there’d be a milk shortage.” But there’d be plenty of adorable to go around! Look on the bright side, Coach. Hey, there’s JaVale McGee!
SWEET! Did you know they’ve green-lit BLADE 3 but given the role to Frank Vogel? (They made a BLADE 2, right?)
REJECTED JOKE FOR THAT LINK: I always thought of Frank Vogel as a Hufflepuff, but he’s clearly a Ravenclaw.
THE BEST THING ABOUT DEJUAN BLAIR USING A PHUNKEEDUCK AROUND MEDIA DAY ... is that if he falls off, we know he can’t tear his ACL!
MEDIA DAY NEWS!
I, FOR ONE, AM SHOCKED: It sounds like Wesley Matthews might not be back until after Christmas. I love Wes and appreciate dedicated craftsmen who push themselves off the court. But the idea that any player can will themselves to a fast-forward recovery from a traumatic injury is absurd. The human body has limitations. It’s no knock on you if you submit to them.
ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE ... Some fun photos from Dallas.
WELP: Derrick Rose is already thinking (and talking) about free agency in 2017. I’m usually behind Rose, but this is one helluvan easy way to turn even more Chicago fans against you. You’ve already lost the folks who thought you were too cautious in coming back and the fools who scream about any athlete who doesn’t fully live up to their potential or contract. You start talking about leaving? The line waiting to boot your tail out will get longer.
WELL THAT’S GOOD: Markieff Morris showed up to Suns media day ... and smiled!
SOMETHING ELSE I TOTALLY BELIEVE: DeMarcus Cousins and George Karl claim their relationship is solid.
FROM THE “I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN I SEE IT” DEPARTMENT: Kobe says he’ll end his career with the Lakers.
GOOD MEDIA DAY, NBA!
MONEY AIN’T A THING: Why David West gave up $11 million to join the Spurs.
THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING? Mike Miller really appears to be interested in signing with Denver. I can only think of one reason.
SNEAKER WAR II: Adidas is back and trying to knock down Nike. Matthew Shaer of GQ digs in. Via REDEF.
STEPH CURRY IS AWESOME: Part The Infinity.
ALSO AWESOME: JOHN F’N WALL. John Wall surprised a D.C.-area homeless children’s charity with a $400,000 donation to help build a new child development center. What a hero.
NEAT: The Do Something campaign is urging folks to collect used sports equipment and donate it to kids who cannot afford their own equipment. This is a much better idea than leaving it in your closet or selling it at a garage sale to another human who will just put it in their closet. Find out more at DoSomething.org.
PREACHING TO THE CHOIR (I HOPE), BUT ... it’s really disgusting what women in sports face on social media. We need to find a way to stop this. It poisons our culture.
That was a long newsletter, wasn’t it? Ah well. 150 words and we’re out tomorrow, okay? Happy Tuesday. See you next time.
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