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- The Grip: The Embiid takes were bad
Tonight’s Must-Watch Games
The Opening Tip
Austin Reaves destroyed the Celtics
#FADETHEHAWKS
We are slightly mad about an All-Star snub
1. Joel Embiid’s week, told through the takes of Kendrick Perkins
NBA role player turned shouting ESPN man Kendrick Perkins was in his bag this week. And by that, we mean he reached the peak of blind hypocrisy while discussing Joel Embiid.
(Deep breath)
On Saturday, before news came out that Embiid would miss the 76ers’ game vs. Denver due to a foggy, nagging knee injury, Perkins climbed Take Mountain to yell this:
"Your big ass better suit up tomorrow. You better suit up and you better stand on business."
(Who talks about a person playing a basketball game like that?)
On Wednesday, after Embiid returned on Tuesday, looked awful, and tore his meniscus late in the game, Perkins did a complete 180:
Perkins: “If I'm the 76ers, I'd shut Joel Embiid down for this season.”
Michael Wilbon: “For the year?”
Perkins: “The rest of the year.”
What a few years in the NBA Take Economy does to a person.
[READ: Embiid has lateral meniscus injury]
[READ: Kendrick Perkins and the making of an NBA talking head]
2. Daily GIF: Reaves from deep
The Lakers were absolutely reeling this week … until they blew out the Celtics last night as 15-point underdogs without LeBron or Anthony Davis, with Austin Reaves dropping a game-high 32 points on 7 of 10 from 3.
3. Trivia
Which of these cities have the Sacramento Kings never called home?
• Omaha
4. Grip vs. the House
Welcome to Grip vs. the House, where we’re going to fade the Hawks, of course, but as part of a parlay this time.
The play: Kings ML (-146) + Suns (-3.5) vs. Atlanta = +218
The case for the Kings: Zero All-Star selections. They want revenge. Or, at least in our heads they do.
The case against the Hawks: They’re 12-35 ATS.
GVTH record: 3-1
Remember: If it hits, you are obligated to share The Grip with your friends. If it misses, you are an adult. We didn’t force you to do anything.
Quick hits
One All-Star take: We’re mad that the Lakers (25-25) have two All-Stars and the Kings (27-19) have zero.
The Knicks are incredible and Jalen Brunson is entering top-10 player range. Also, they’ve won nine in a row and are a half-game back of the second seed.
Full list of All-Star starters and reserves here.
A TV reporter in LA thinks the Lakers are going to trade LeBron, which is slightly less ridiculous when you look at his history of NBA insider-dom.
Check out Tyrese Hailburton’s fit last night.
The Grizzlies and Rockets made a random-ass trade last night.
Reads
Adam Silver’s biggest challenges in his next 10 years [The Ringer]
We’ve found him: America’s dumbest sports bettor [Defector]
KD and the wake of a failed superteam [The Ringer]
That's the buzzer.
Thanks for reading the 354th edition of The Grip.