The Grip -- Wed, 12.27.17

A Christmas spent NBA binging

December 27, 2017

12.27.17

LAST NIGHT'S SCORES

Pistons 107, Pacers 83Heat 107, Magic 89Spurs 109, Nets 97Suns 99, Grizzles 97Mavericks 98, Raptors 93Bulls 115, Bucks 106Nuggets 107, Jazz 83Clippers 95, Kings 73

🎶 Joel, Joel đźŽ¶

While you were busy ripping up wrapping paper, ripping on your relatives, and ripping into that seasoned ham, we were busy feverishly watching every minute of all five NBA games, waving away the cry for attention from the people that love us most while focusing on the one true love of ours: basketball.Here’s your two line recap of each game from Christmas day:

Philadelphia at New York: Quick rant: How do the Knicks continue to get so much celebrity power at each game? Seriously, everyone from Shakira to that kid from Baby Driver was in attendance to see a near .500 team. Kanter put up a season high 31 points and 22 rebounds, but Michael Shamshak forgot to fill out his Draft Kings lineup and none of it mattered the Knicks fell short to Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the 76ers. In the last minute of the fourth, after the game was clearly over, a native New Yorker gave Embiid (and the national broadcast) a piece of his mind.

Final score: 76ers 105, Knicks 98

Cleveland at Oakland: No Steph Curry but no Isaiah Thomas so no excuses. After a sluggish but tight three quarters of basketball, both teams started to try in the fourth. Lebron tried to take over down the stretch but got two crucial non-foul calls. It was partially LeBron mishandling the ball, but also soft fouls that are usually called for superstars.

Final score:  Warriors 99, Cavaliers 92

Washington at Boston: Two of the best guards in the East -- Kyrie Irving and John Wall --  went head-to-head. It was gritty, good basketball that displayed both great offense and great defense. Up 95-90 in the fourth, most people expected the Celtics to pull away, but the Wizards went on a 12-0 run behind Kelly Oubre (of all people) and stunned the Celtics at home, who were playing at The Garden on Christmas day for the first time in 69 years. Legend has it, Red Auerbach refused to host on Christmas because he wanted the stadium’s staff to enjoy a holiday off. The Celtics are now 5-6 in the last 11 games.

Final score: Wizards 111, Celtics 103

Houston at Oklahoma City: Finally, the true power of the Thunder was on display as they showed the West that they can compete. Paul George and Carmelo Anthony shot efficiently, Westbrook did his thing, and the Rockets normally strong fourth quarter was dismal, scoring only 19 points and losing to the Thunder. Chris Paul’s absence was certainly felt.

Final score: Thunder 112, Rocker 107

Minnesota at Los Angeles: Lonzo Ball didn’t play, and the TNT camera crew still did a sideline interview with him. And we’re still talking about him. Anyways, the Timberwolves finally got some national TV love and looked good doing it. Karl-Anthony Towns got his usual 20 and 10 and Minnesota, fourth in the west, cruised to a fairly comfortable win while the Inside the NBA crew called the game from the sidelines.

Final score: Timberwolves 121, Lakers 104

It was a wonderful day of appreciating our loved ones and treasuring what we have in life watching five great games of the best basketball players in the world ball out on national television.

We need more Twitter Bill Russell in 2018

In twenty years, people probably won’t be that fond of 2017. They’ll think this year was a bit much. But there is one great thing that will live on from this year: Bill Russell made a Twitter, and not one of those fake, PR-run Twitters, an honest-to-goodness account run by the 11-time champion.

Need proof? Look no further than this pixelated and poorly cropped picture with Samuel L. Jackson that he tweeted out:

You think a PR man would hit send on that puppy? Don’t think so!Russell, a humanitarian, activist and purveyor of fine art, who broke the NBA coaching color barrier and led a summit of black athletes alongside the likes of Jim Brown and then-Lew Alcindor to determine whether or not to back draft-dodging Muhammed Ali, has a wide-ranging array of topics that he likes to tweet about. He also uses hashtags wonderfully, and seems always to be thanking people. After a lifetime of humility, we at The Grip would like to thank you, Bill. Here are some of his best.

Activism: 

His quest for verification: 

The passing of Connie Hawkins, which hit close to home here at The Grip: 

A coach on the Astros wearing socks with his face on them: 

Chilling with Kareem: 

His near existential crisis:

Making fun of Chuck:

Lastly, making fun of Kenny:

(When Kenny Smith was a rookie on the very bad Sacramento Kings, Russell, who was the coach, would make Kenny sit next to him on bus rides, in the front.

He didn’t want Kenny sitting in the back with the older guys because, as Russell said, “Those guys are already losers.”)

An American icon, who tweets exactly how you’d think an 83-year-old man who's lived one of the most meaningful lives ever would tweet.

  • It seemed a little strange there were no Christmas-exclusive NBA jerseys this year, right? Nike can’t make rip-proof uniforms, either.

  • TANK WATCH: The last in the West place Mavericks (10-25) beat the first in the East Raptors (23-9). A fluke of a game that pushed the Raptors out of first while the Mavericks conveniently stayed in last.

  • BULLS WATCH: The Bulls (11-22) beat the Bucks (17-15) which means they apparently still believe in themselves.

  • Chris Ballard of Sports Illustrated shows his appreciation for the raw talent that is Jamal Crawford in a nice profile.

When he was a 16-year-old at Rainier Beach High, the SuperSonics invited him to an open run, even though he looked 13 and weighed a buck-forty. Jamal? He dribbled down in transition, saw Detlef Schrempf—three-time NBA All-Star Detlef Schrempf, pride of Seattle Detlef Schrempf—and, well, “I can’t even articulate what he did,” Sonics assistant Steve Gordon later told the San Jose Mercury News. “He basically broke Detlef’s feet at half court. We thought Detlef was hurt.”

          To keep reading,

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  • Fabulous Flournoy, a 44-year-old Bronx native, is a coach for the Newcastle Eagles of the British Basketball League. He’s been in the BBL (yes, a thing) for 22 years and was made Member of the Order by Prince Williams.  [Tap Here]

  • It’s time to revisit this classic from March on the NBA’s secret addiction: peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It’s an ESPN piece, and the web design by itself is worth the click. [Tap Here]

A LOOK AHEAD

Tonight, 12/27The Raptors (23-9) visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (19-15)8 PM EST

The Nuggets (19-15) visit the Minnesota Timberwolves (21-13).8 PM ESTThursday, 12/28The Rockets (23-9) visit the Boston Celtics (27-10) as both try to bounce back from tough losses.8 PM ESTThe 76ers (15-18) visit the Portland Trailblazers (17-16).10:30 PM EST