Perhaps the Warriors ARE fraudulent

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

FRAUDS: The Warriors lost again. That’s three losses in 39 games. They only lead San Antonio by 2.5 games in the West. Should Golden State panic?

SCORES GALORE ...

ATL 84, CHA 107
MIL 101, WAS 106
NYK 104, BKN 110
IND 94, BOS 103
MIN 104, HOU 107
DAL 89, OKC 108
GSW 110, DEN 112
UTA 85, POR 99
NOP 109, SAC 97
MIA 90, LAC 104

HOLY SMOKES: Brian Windhorst with an exhaustive revisit of the Minnesota’s 2011 NBA Draft, aka the Greatest WTF Night in NBA History. I remember that night fondly -- here’s what I wrote in the immediate aftermath -- but looking back at what all those picks David Kahn laundered traded became is a real eye-opener.

SALTY: The Mavericks and Thunder tussled a bit and Charlie Villanueva tried to choke Russell Westbrook, which is NOT COOL, Charlie Villanueva.

YOW! Nikola Jokic is good at stealing the ball with his face.

WOO: I love a good open-court blocked dunk, and Kenneth Faried really delivered on this one.

THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE: The Bulls are clearly breaking up with Joakim Noah this season. It’s getting awkward to watch.

OKAY: I’m going to say it: this Dirk Nowitzki video sending up Trump is weird.

OUBRED: Oh look Bill Self is burying another five-star freshman recruit at Kansas. Ricky O’Donnell argues that it makes a little more sense with Cheick Diallo this year.

THE POWER OF SELF-BELIEF: Only Draymond Green believed in Draymond Green. Now we all wish we’d believed in him too, writes Zito Madu.

OH GOOD: The players’ union is filing a grievance on behalf of Matt Barnes, who was sanctioned for his run-in with Derek Fisher. Does this mean depositions? Fisher’s history as the old union boss makes this extra weird.

PROGRESS! The NCAA announced a rule change that allows underclassmen to better assess their pro chances before relinquishing their college eligibility. Instead of being forced to declare for the draft by the NCAA in early April, prospects can now make a decision after the NBA Draft Combine in May and still retain eligibility. Good reform, NCAA!

GOOD LUCK: Sean Deveney writes that Phil Jackson’s new job is to teach James Dolan patience.

MEET SALAH: Salah Mejri is a seldom-used big man who lit up the Thunder in garbage time.

NEAT: The latest Hardwood Paroxysm Quarterly is out. The cover art is spectacular.

HERE’S SOMETHING TO STRESS OUT ABOUT: Can freaking out over a buzzer beater kill you? Via REDEF.

THERE ARE WAY WORSE IDEAS: The Nets are considering Bryan Colangelo to fill their front office vacuum.

TONIGHT TONIGHT: A suspiciously full Thursday night slate with six games, including your TNT doubleheader featuring Cavaliers-Spurs (whoa!) and Lakers-Warriors. Pistons-Grizzlies is a nice temperature-reading game no one will watch because it competes with LeBron vs. Kawhi. Alas.

Happy Thursday. See you next time.