Wednesday, March 20th, 2019

An NBA-obsessed newsletter for the info-craved basketball mind. Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Sign yourself up here.

Written while listening to Biggie Smalls' Where Brooklyn At

For once, it’s good to be a Clipper

After moving on from Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan over the last few years, the Clippers this season were planning on entering a soft rebuild.They didn’t account for a veteran coach freed from his overwhelming role as general manager and a bunch of solid NBA players.  Since trading Tobias Harris on Feb. 7, the Clippers have won 12 of 17 games, including an 8-1 mark in March and a six-point win over the Pacers last night.They’re currently in the eighth spot in the West but sit just 3.5 games from the third seed, and their roster of good-but-not-great players is an impressive collection: Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari, rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luc Mbah a Moute, JaMychal Green, and, of course, Lou Williams the most prolific sixth-man scorer in NBA history.L.A. also stole Landry Shamet in the Harris trade from the 76ers; in 16 games with the Clippers, he’s averaged nearly three made 3s and 12 points.[READ: Doc Rivers lost some power, and everybody won]The Clippers are playoff-bound, fun to watch, and might have an entirely different-looking team next year. They have enough cap space to shell out for two max-money free agents, and the scuttlebug is Kawhi Leonard could be on his way, which would also explain the disinterest in keeping Harris long-term.  It’s all going swimmingly for the Clippers, and it all sucks right now for the Lakers. Need further proof? Ancient columnist Peter Vecsey floated a rumor that Rivers may leave his team for the Lakers next season. Rivers responded by thoroughly debunking such claims, then announced an extension with the Clippers. 

Another reason to shame the Lakers...

Last night, the Nets came back from a 25-point deficit after three quarters to beat the Kings in Sacramento.They outscored the Kings, 45-18, in the fourth quarter, good for the fourth largest fourth quarter comeback in NBA history.Of those 45 points, 27 came from former future journeyman D’Angelo Russell, who finished with 44 points, 13 assists, four rebounds and four steals overall.Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who didn't even play in the first half, ended up scoring this ridiculous game-winning layup:The Nets are providing New York basketball fans with a great opportunity to support a playoff team that has a coherent plan for their future, and Russell is leading the way.(The same Russell who the Lakers chose at No. 2 overall, then traded two years into his career to relieve themselves of Timofey Mosgov’s horrible contract.)

Isaiah Thomas finally got his closure

Isaiah Thomas came back to Boston, finally got his tribute video, played pickup with Emerson kids, which produced the worst shot of all-time and made some outlandish claims, which is to say, it felt for a few days like he never left.All of Monday night was a lovefest for a since-forlorn player who never made the NBA Finals and only was with the Celtics for two and a half years, which tells you what type of person he is.  Here’s what he told The Boston Globe leading up to the game:

“I’ll remember how the city treated my family, how ever since I came here, it was special to me. So this will always be home, this will always be like how [my hometown] Tacoma feels to me. It’ll always be something that’s bigger than basketball here, and I can’t thank this city and organization enough for that.”

And here are the

on the Wizards in a playoff game.

  Quick Hits

• Mo Harkless’ pull-up foot block of a dead-ball shot would make Kevin Garnett proud.

• James Harden has now scored 30-plus points against every team in the league, the first player to do that since Michael Jordan’s 1986-87 season.

• James Harden, making Kent Bazemore look like a fool.

• J.J. Redick recorded his first career double-double in yesterday’s win over the Hornets. He was shocked he recorded 10 rebounds.

• The Ringer made a “Sell the Team” music video for all suffering Knicks fans out there.

• Giannis Antetokounmpo is eager to learn some new moves from Pau Gasol.

• The press release announcing M.J.’s return to the NBA was so bad-ass.

 Concrete Reads 

• How the Los Angeles Lakers blew it [The New York Times]

• All Anthony Davis did was request a trade [Deadspin]

• I love Duke. Please forgive me. [Wall Street Journal]

• Where it all began: Spartanburg excited for Zion’s return to SC [The Raleigh News & Observer]

  Podcast Pick

The basketball podcast Western Standard Time breaks down the four regions, the sleepers, the Final Four, and who’s gonna win it all in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which starts for real on Thursday [WST Podcast]

Best upcoming games

Tonight, 3/20

How to Watch: ESPNOdds: PHI -3The Grip Picks: Boston CelticsWe need a betting win like we need a sponsor, and Boston has owned Philly of late. Philly also played on the road last night. Take the underdog.  

How to Watch: ESPNOdds: OKC -4.5The Grip Picks: Toronto RaptorsIn the battle of the league’s two most delusional fan bases, pick against the one with Stockholm Syndrome. 

Last week’s picks: 0-2For the season: 0-2

Thursday, 3/21