Rarely do you get a chance to face the Cavaliers without LeBron James for any meaningful time in the NBA playoffs. The dude plays an insane number of minutes (barring garbage time), never gets injured, and hasn’t been called for a foul since 2009 ...
The Celtics really blew that one
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... until Tuesday night, when LeBron shockingly picked up four fouls in the first half. LeBron with foul trouble?! What a gift to the Celtics. And Boston led by 10 when LeBron picked up No. 4 with 6:46 left in the second quarter. Surely they were able to extend that lead and ...
... nope. Kyrie Irving stepped up with some key shots, and the Cavaliers entered halftime still down 10. They were tied nine minutes later and pulled away in the fourth as Kyrie racked up 42 total and LeBron hit shots down the stretch. The Cavs take a 3-1 series lead.
When you’re gifted an absence of LeBron, you have to take advantage. The Celtics didn’t, and they missed a chance to actually make this series interesting.
This late baseline isolation move LeBron put on the rookie Jaylen Brown was so, so nasty.
Why do we remember LeBron’s bad games so vividly? Because he has so few of them.
Tim Cato on Manu as one of basketball’s greatest winners.
Gregg Popovich says the Warriors are far more than their talent.
Ira Winderman reports that the league, Heat, and players’ union are collaborating on a deal to let Chris Bosh leave Miami and potentially resume his career while allowing the team to have some certainty on its salary cap situation. Bosh would still need to find a new team and be cleared physically, but the Heat wouldn’t be at risk of losing cap space if he plays next season.
Charles Barkley claimed in an impromptu diss battle of sorts that Shaq rode Kobe’s coattails. This is a deeply hurtful comment.
New Kobe video, this one on the Warriors.
That was quick: Soon after hiring Jeff Weltman to run the front office, the Magic added John Hammond as general manager. Hammond is best known for drafting Giannis Antetokounmpo. Justin Zanik (an ally of Jason Kidd) has been promoted by the Bucks to general manager. Zanik had been hired a year ago away from the Jazz.
Mohamed Bamba, who is headed to Texas, is the most interesting basketball prospect in the world, writes Ricky O’Donnell.
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