Good morning. Let’s basketball.
Gregg Popovich isn’t done talking about President Trump
Good morning. We have that and more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
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KEEP PORTLAND WEIRD: The Blazers have had an odd season. Just when they look like they are back on track, they fall apart. Just when all seems lost, they pick up a signature win. Paul Flannery talked to Damian Lillard and Terry Stotts about how even the Blazers have struggled to figure out the Blazers in this week’s Sunday Shootaround. Plus he has his All-Star reserve picks, the best quotes of the week, and more. Check it out.
WHO WILL STAND? I wrote about Adam Silver’s stated commitment to certain principles and values on behalf of the NBA and how that could collide with the nation’s principles and values under the new administration.
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MORE BOLDLY: Gregg Popovich lit into the early days of the Trump administration on Saturday. And the next day Steve Kerr tuned up Trump’s press secretary with a joke.
STRETCHING THE FLOOR: Why the Rockets shoot so man very deep threes ... on purpose.
SCORES GALORE ...
Warriors 118, Magic 98
Lakers 73, Mavericks 122
Suns 115, Raptors 103
Nuggets 108, Wolves 111
OH WOW: The Lakers scored 73 points on the 11th anniversary of Kobe’s 81-point game. It’s almost enough to make a man come out of retirement.
ALL-STAR RESERVE CONSENSUS TRACKER: While NBA coaches will vote on All-Star reserves, WinnersView is tracking who the media is picking here. It’ll be interesting to see how it lines up.
YES: LeBron claimed last week he has no rivals. Kawhi Leonard is actually LeBron’s biggest rival at this point. What a game Saturday night! Kawhi finally scored 40!
WELL, YES: LeBron also claimed that Pop is the greatest coach ever. I have no arguments with this, though I didn’t see Red Auerbach in his prime.
WELPVILLE’S SISTER CITY, YIKESVILLE: Jabari Parker was benched after slipping locker room concerns to the press. His teammates apparently voted on the punishment.
RUNNING THE JEWELS: Here is my official ranking of the three Run The Jewels albums in terms of how they fare as albums you listen to while running.
1. Run The Jewels 2
2. Run The Jewels 3
3. Run The Jewels 1
HERE COMES THE PROCESS: The Sixers are surging. Here’s why. And yes, #RaiseTheCat is the inexplicable rallying cry we need.
SCOTT CACCIOLA ALERT: Life at the end of the Warriors’ bench with James Michael McAdoo.
HUH: The Pistons and Wolves reportedly discussed a Ricky Rubio-Reggie Jackson trade. I don’t get it.
NEXT UP: TNT is showing Knicks-Pacers at 8 p.m. ET for some reason. Is this the NBA’s version of an inaugural ball in honor (but kind of not) for Mike Pence? Anyways, League Pass has Wizards-Hornets (7), Clippers-Hawks (7:30), and a big one, Thunder-Jazz (9).
AND FINALLY: Rest in peace to Michael H. Goldberg, the longtime executive director of the National Basketball Coaches Association. The coaches’ association will begin presenting its own coaching award in Goldberg’s honor each year.
Be excellent to each other.
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