Jersey has the Swamp Dragons, Golden State has the GOATs

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

SEVENTY-TWO: The Warriors sanded out a win against a fighting Spurs team in San Antonio, ending the hopes for an undefeated home record. Seventy-three is on the line Wednesday vs. Memphis.

WHAT THE WARRIORS GAVE US: Paul Flannery’s final Sunday Shootaround of the regular season goes lyrical on what contours the Warriors gave this otherwise impressive, story-rich year of basketball. Flannery also trots out the best pieces and quotes of the year. Check it out.

THE EAST FIELD IS SET: We know which eight teams will compete in the East playoffs. We just aren’t yet sure in which order. The No. 1 seed is actually still in play for Toronto. Atlanta could fall anywhere from No. 3 to No. 5. Boston and Miami are in play for Nos. 3-6. Charlotte’s in play for Nos. 4-6. Detroit and Indiana are going to be Nos. 7 and 8 in some order. We’ll see.

THE WEST FIELD IS ... NOT: Utah and Houston are going down to the wire. The Jazz need to win both remaining games to guarantee they have a playoff spot. If the Jazz go 1-1 and Houston wins out, the Rockets are in. Both teams could get in if Dallas finishes 0-2, too. It’s gonna be a wild few days in the West.

SCORES GALORE ...

CHA 98, WAS 113
LAL 110, HOU 130
DAL 91, LAC 98
MIL 109, PHI 108 (OT)
UTA 100, DEN 84
BKN 105, IND 129
ORL 96, MIA 118
GSW 92, SAS 86
TOR 93, NYK 89

FINAL GASPS: Matt Ufford on how Kobe’s accolades are matched only by his flaws.

LET’S CHECK IN ON LIBERTY BALLERS ... How is our Sixers blog, one that supported Trusting The Process, doing in the post-Hinkie world? Oh. Meanwhile, the franchise introduced Bryan Colangelo this weekend and was slightly defensive about the process of hiring him.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN JERSEY: Zach Lowe goes deep on what could have been the greatest team of all, the New Jersey Swamp Dragons.

COLD: Wave thundersticks in front of the Warriors’ broadcast team during a timeout, get called a “jerkoff” on TV.

ANOTHER DORIS BURKE HANDLE HIGHLIGHT.

PERFECTION: The Nuggets have Lion King Cam, which pressures parents to hold up their kids like Simba. Yes.

TRUE: Woj writes that the greatest victory of Kobe’s farewell season is that he’s actually healthy enough to play here at the end of it.

HMM: Sounds like Daryl Morey’s GM job isn’t secure going into the offseason.

SECRET OF THEIR SUCCESS: Inside the Warriors’ group text thread.

GOODNIGHT, BULLS: K.C. Johnson with the comprehensive eulogy on the Bulls’ season.

SO LONG, OLD BARN: Scott Howard-Cooper eulogizes Sleep Train Arena (née ARCO Arena), which hosted its final NBA game on Saturday. In related news, Scott Cacciola writes about the worst visiting locker rooms, of which Sacramento hosted the most notable.

ON THE AIR TONIGHT: NBA TV has Hawks-Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET and Kings-Suns at Please Do Not Waste Your Valuable Time O’Clock. A couple crucial games on League Pass: Hornets-Celtics, Rockets-Wolves (a loss would make it very difficult for Houston to get into the playoffs) and the big prize, Mavericks-Jazz. If the Rockets lose and Jazz win, our West field is set. If the opposite happens, Houston takes pole position on the final West spot. BASKETBALL!

Happy Monday. See you next time.