Good morning. Let’s basketball.
This Heat-Raptors series may never end
Good morning. We have that and more in Saturday’s NBA newsletter.
LET'S GO SEVEN: The hard-fought, dead-even Raptors vs. Heat series will be going to a Game 7. Why? Goran Dragic. The Slovenian outdueled Kyle Lowry in a point guard battle royale as the Heat won 103-91. Game 7 is Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Both teams were without their starting centers, though DeMarre Carroll and Luol Deng both played despite injuries. Bismack Biyombo is looking something like a god when Josh Richardson isn't crushing dunks on him. Meanwhile, rookie small forward Justise Winslow started at center for Miami, giving me worrisome heart palpitations. Bernie is right: the country is ready for positional revolution. (That's what he's talking about, right?)
The game also featured perhaps the worst goaltending call in the history of modern DVR capabilities. I’m actually a little concerned about Marc Davis’ depth perception, and wonder if he’s been to the ophthalmologist lately.
NO GAMES TODAY. ENJOY THE WEATHER! [LOOKS AT GLOBAL WEATHER MAP] WELP, SORRY ABOUT THE INSENSITIVE SUGGESTION INDONESIA, EASTERN CHINA, SIBERIA AND TEXAS. BE SAFE!
NOT DUNN YET: Phenomenal Ricky O’Donnell tale of Kris Dunn’s tough childhood, which makes the draft process look like child’s play. Rooting very hard for Dunn.
IS THIS REAL? A group of Rockets fans rallied in Houston to implore the team to ... hire Kenny Smith as head coach.
HAPPY 20TH: Against all odds, the WNBA is starting its 20th season on Sunday. Harvey Araton on the league’s dramatic beginnings. And a really illustrative Mina Kimes piece on how Skylar Diggins is trying to change the way WNBA stars market themselves.
ASTROPHYSICS AND POP: Gregg Popovich downplays the tragedy of the Spurs’ bench play in Game 6 by noting NASA announced discovery of some 1,200 habitable planets this week.
THEY’LL BE FINE, WE’LL BE FINE: Tim Cato on how though Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili might not be back, the Spurs’ ethos will live on through Pop, Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Here’s Harvey Araton on Duncan’s legacy. And a really nice Marc Stein piece on Big Fundamental as well. Here’s Russ Bengtson on how the mystery of Duncan’s future fits the player so well.
LET RUSS BE RUSS: I wrote about the failure of many to understand even at this point what makes Russell Westbrook Russell Westbrook.
ENDS OF THE BELL CURVE: Ken Berger on the extreme size limits of the NBA as explained by the draft prospects of Tyler Ulis and Zhou Qi. More NBA combine: the allure of Skal Labissiere.
FIXING DRUMMOND’S STROKE: Stan Van Gundy talked to Zach Lowe about many things, including how to fix Andre Drummond’s free throw shooting.
Happy Saturday. See you next time.
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