5.14.18

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S.E.: You probably got so caught up in Boston’s win that you forgot all about the lottery, huh? The Grip is here, for you, for a quick primer. Reaction to Boston’s win is just below.

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  The 2018 NBA lottery: Tuesday at 7:30 EST on ESPN

(Missouri's Michael Porter Jr. is expected to be one of the 14 lottery picks.)If there’s one thing the 2010s have taught lottery lovers, it’s not to count out Cleveland. In 2010, LeBron darted for warmer, greener, more lush, more talented and better managed pastures. The Cavaliers were instantly horrible, and won the 2011 lottery, drafting Kyrie Irving. They also won it in 2013 (Anthony Bennett, ha) AND 2014 (Andrew Wiggins, traded) despite a 1.7 percent chance. They flipped that one into Kevin Love after LeBron got back on board. Fun fact: The Cavs had the same odds as New Orleans in 2012, as Brian Windhorst pointed out on the Woj Pod, and a coin flip decided positioning. The Hornets (now the Pelicans) won with their ping pong balls and drafted Anthony Davis. (Yep, the Cavs were a coin flip away from winning four straight lotteries and currently having The Brow.) All of this is again relevant because the Cavs are back in the lottery, via Brooklyn, via Boston, via a sad face when remembering Isaiah Thomas. The 2018 lottery is this Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. It’s a unique sporting and viewing experience, where a bunch of errant ping pong balls decide the multi-billion dollar fate of downtrodden NBA franchises. It's actually pretty insane when you think about it. Here’s the order, from most likely to nab the No. 1 pick to least: 1. Phoenix (21-61) -- No. 1: 25 percent chance; Top-3: 64.2 percent 2. Memphis (22-60) -- No. 1: 19.9 percent; Top-3: 55.8 percent3. Dallas (24-58) -- No. 1: 13.8 percent; Top-3: 42.6 percent4. Atlanta (24-58) -- No. 1: 13.7 percent; Top-3: 42.6 percent5. Orlando (25-47) -- No. 1: 8.8 percent; Top-3: 29.1 percent6. Chicago (27-55) -- No. 1: 5.3 percent; Top-3: 18.3 percent7. Sacramento (27-55) -- No. 1: 5.3 percent; Top-3: 18.3 percent8. Cleveland, via BK (28-54) -- No. 1: 2.8 percent; Top-3: 9.9 percent9. New York (29-53) -- No. 1: 1.7 percent; Top-3: 6.1 percent10. Philadelphia, via LA (35-47) -- No. 1: 1.1 percent; Top-3:*11. Charlotte (36-46) -- No. 1: 0.8 percent; Top-3: 2.9 percent12. Detroit (39-43) -- No. 1: 0.7 percent13. Clippers (42-40) -- No. 1: 0.6 percent; Top-3: 2.2 percent14. Denver (46-36) -- 0.5 percent; Top-3: 1.8 percent*If that Philadelphia pick, via Los Angeles, jumps to No. 2 or No. 3 -- a 2.9 percent chance -- it will be conveyed to the Celtics. Here’s a good and recent mock draft if you’re curious. But just understand something: The Cavs, via Brooklyn’s pick, will win the lottery.Hopefully that reverse jinx works. 

Eastern Conference

No. 2 Boston vs. No. 4 Cleveland

Game 1: Celtics 108, Cavaliers 83 [Box Score] [Highlights]Game 2: Cavs @ Celtics, Tuesday, 8:30 EST, ESPN

First off, can we please take a second to recognize and appreciate the fact that LeBron James has a flawless and photographic memory? Stupid question from reporter: What happened to start the fourth? LeBron, in meticulous detail, answered in the most literal sense possible, reciting the first three possessions in step-by-step detail. It’s a must watch and a glimpse into the mind of a savant.But enough of that, let’s fire up the link machine from a brow-raising -- (shocking?) -- game one, where the Celts looked like a team from the future; a springy collection of 6-foot-8 shooters who pass, dribble, switch on defnese and shoot in unison.READ: How worried should LeBron be? READ: Cavaliers turn in a disgraceful performanceREAD: Celtics' Defense Exposes Cavs' FlawsREAD: Marcus Morris talked the talk, then walked the walkThere was a moment in the first quarter when Jeff Van Gundy came to a holy shit moment of realization while looking at the five on the floor for Boston. The Celtics had their starting five -- Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris and Al Horford. The Cavs had LeBron and four role players; three spot-up shooters and Tristan Thompson. One of Cleveland’s players was a “creator.” All five of Boston’s were, and all five were switching on screens on defense and picking up positions from point guards to centers. While we were all worried about Gordon Hayward, Danny Ainge had already constructed the team best fit to beat the Warriors. (Al Horford can grab a rebound and run as well as any center in the league)On this play, which gave the Celtics the lead for good and made the Cavs look old, Horford grabbed a rebound and Magic Johnson’d his way to a streaking Terry Rozier who made a purposeful dash to the corner. He easily floated past George Hill into the paint and opted for a high-percentage jumper without a rim protector near him. But he could have kicked it to Morris, a capable three-point shooter, who could have faked, drawn Korver from Tatum, then kicked it to Tatum for an even better shot. All night long, it seemed the Celtics had bountiful options on how to shred the Cavs defense, which looked flat-footed and aloof. (He can also play the shooting big man role perfectly)Here’s a simple pick-and-pop with Marcus Smart and Horford that George Hill and Kevin Love treated like the last question on HQ Trivia. Horford picks, then floats to the three-point line for a wide open three, which, if Kevin Love didn’t know, is a very good shot for Horford; he’s shooting 40 percent from the top-of-the-key-threes in the playoffs and 60 percent on wide open chances. Cleveland may have met its physical match. It also may sweep the rest of the series and win in five. We’re just trying to cover our bases. [READ: The Celtics have a special brand of toughness]

Western Conference

No. 1 Houston vs. No. 2 Golden State

Game 1: Warriors @ Rockets, Today, 9 EST, TNTGame 2: Warriors @ Rockets, Wednesday, 9 EST, TNT

It seems pretty bananas that this series hasn’t started yet. Guess that’s what happens when Adam Silver hits the panic button after every second round series was over faster than Bill Simmons’ HBO show. We covered the matchup in this past Friday’s Grip, so here is some very good writing about this heavyweight series instead. READ: Harden, Curry, KD and everything that will decide the WestREAD: Dynasty seeking Warriors face their toughest test yetREAD: ESPN’s roundtable discusses what Houston must do to win

What else happened?

• Terry Rozier game-recognize-game’d a lady sitting courtside with a Scary Terry shirt.

• Is LeBron Worried? “I have zero level of concern. I never went to college. This isn’t March Madness.”

• WATCH: Jaylen Brown’s swat-then-bucket sequence in the first half.

• A good highlight reel of Boston’s defense that held LeBron to 15 points. 

• Cleveland failed to make a three-pointer in the first half for the first time all season. 

• LeBron James actually got called for a travel. Yep, he complained.

• A Redditer points out: The Celtics traded or lost four of five starters from last year and are without their top-two scorers, and just matched last season’s postseason win total.

• Apropos of nothing, game six of the 1993 NBA Finals between Chicago and Phoenix is on YouTube in its entirety. Watch a few minutes and you'll notice how deemphasized the three-pointer was.