Thursday, December 19th, 2019

• The 2008 Celtics are the pettiest group around

• Giannis’s per 36 numbers are as impressive as James Harden’s 

• The Wizards found an amazing way to lose last night

• Iverson left Philly 13 years ago today

Tonight's must-watch games

Tap the box to set a reminder

 The Lead: Even though no one is trying to silence them, the ‘08 Celtics will never be silenced        

Yesterday, an episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast featuring Kevin Garnett and Adam Sandler (in promotion of Uncut Gems) was released. Naturally, the conversation steered toward the Big 3 Celtics and their Rodney Dangerfield routine.Here was Garnett, on LeBron (with Sandler laughing in the background): 

“The C’s, we didn’t give a fuck about LeBron. We didn’t fear LeBron, and we didn’t think that he could beat all five of us. That’s how it felt. He was trying to consolidate because he didn’t want the pressure on him. You understand?”

KG was: 

1. 100 percent right

2. Backed up by Kendrick Perkins, of course*: “One thing about it, I'm never going against my big brother."

3. Not doing anything the 2008 Celtics haven’t been doing for more than a decade now

*In later years, Perkins turned into a LeBron chrony, but he’d never choose him over KG.They are the pettiest, most drama-loving one-time winners in the history of the league. They wake up on otherwise normal weekdays and detonate an anti-LeBron take. They get irrationally angry at post-Big 3 Celtics teams. They only like each other. And sometimes -- Rajon Rondo vs. Ray Allen -- they actually hate each other! They hold reunions on live TV. They’ve caused more Twitter outrage than the Big Wet Guy in the White House.The history of this behavior is rich, and it’s kind of what makes them endearing. The ‘08 Celtics will never go away, solely because the ‘08 Celtics won't allow it to happen. A few examples:Rondo, on if Isaiah Thomas deserved a tribute video: 

"What has he done? Do we hang going to the conference finals? What do we hang here?”

Doc

,

after the 2010 Finals

, expressing a sentiment he has repeated throughout this decade:

“They still have not beaten our starting five. Our starting five against the Lakers starting five has a ring. Tell (them) don’t forget that.”

Paul Pierce

, on whose better, him or Dwyane Wade:

"That's easy! I could say that off the bat. That's me."

Lastly

, a timeline of the fabled 2008 reunion:

January 2017: Rondo, who for some reason was the organizer, says Ray Allen will be invited to the reunion, despite leaving for the Miami Heat in 2012 after a heartbreaking loss to that same team in the previous playoffs.March 2017: Actually, Allen won’t be invited to the reunion trip! Sorry, Ray, but the ‘08 Celtics just don’t want any unneeded drama.May 2017: During KG’s TNT show, Perkins, Rondo, Pierce, Glen Davis and Doc, via video, have a live and on-air reunion. Allen is not there. “It was more than basketball for us,” KG explained. “It felt like a sour break up.”

[READ: I'm tired of hearing about the 2008 Celtics!]

 2. GIF: Bradley, FTEOL 

Our headline, un-acronymed:

Bradley, for the eventual overtime loss

After Bradley Beal’s smooth move and finish, the Wizards fouled Zach LaVine

during the inbounds

pass on the other end. He made both free throws and the Wizards blew the game in OT, 109-108. Washington, in the end, lost the battle but might still win the tanking war.

 3. 12/19/06: Philly bends to Iverson’s demands   

On this day 13 years ago, Philadelphia traded its iconic and beloved Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two 2007 first-round picks. It was a shock for 76ers fans, but created one of the most interesting duos in recent memory in Iverson and Carmelo Anthony … which flamed out in the first round three straight years.

 4. By the numbers   

43 points

In Arizona State’s game against St. Mary’s last night, the Sun Devils lost, 96-56. Only three players scored for ASU. One had eight, one had five, and Alonzo Verge, who came off the bench, had 43 points. 

36.5/14.8/6.1

Per 36 minutes, Giannis is averaging 36.5 points, 14.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists. 

2.81 miles

The race for most miles ran per game is a marathon, not a sprint. Ugh. CJ McCollum has been first in distance ran per game all year, and continues to be at 2.81 miles per game. 

50 percent

Terry Rozier is shooting 50 percent on catch and shoot 3-point shots, second in the league among payers who take one or more per game. 

73.4 passes

Nikola Jokic leads the league in passes per game, with 73.4. He’s the only non-primary ball handler in the top-five. 

93.1 percent 

Malcolm Brogdon is shooting 93.1 percent from the free throw line on 4.2 attempts per game. He’s 94 of 101 overall.

• A day after our high praise, the Pelicans snapped their 13-game losing streak against the Timberwolves last night.

• Kendrick Perkins, on Grant Williams: “He kind of reminds me of Big Baby, without the six personalites.” 

• State of the Pistons:Playing loud music at home to drown out let’s go Raptors chants.

• Jimmy Butler, on the Heat being called a one-star team: "This is a team of one star? Who is that? Bam Adebayo?”

• Kyle Kuzmanailed what Jusef Nurkic’s new look looks like. 

• A horrible non-call last night on Terence Davis had Nick Nurse fuming.

• Check out this ridiculous one-footed 3-point heave from Nikola Jokić.

• Enes Kanter’s outspoken, sometimes lone voice for liberty [The Boston Globe]

• Is Bucks-Lakers an NBA Finals preview? [The Ringer]

• Kyrie, Dinwiddie's dominance and the biggest Brooklyn Nets questions [ESPN]

Zach Lowe and Bill Simmons discuss early front-runners for MVP [The Lowe Post]