Wed, July 22, 2020

Bubble hotline — Rodman’s dad — Fisher-Barnes

July 22, 2020

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2020

  The Opening Tip

  • How will the NBA’s bubble hotline be used?

  • Dennis Rodman’s dad, a truly notable person, died recently

  • We have a new twist on the Derek Fisher-Matt Barnes beef

  • Kevin Garnett is getting Minnesota passive-aggressive

1. The Lead: Will people in the NBA bubble weaponize the anonymous hotline? 

The NBA is down to zero new COVID-19 cases. Scrimmages start today. The season is unquestionably going to restart in only nine days.Now, for the important stuff: How and when will the NBA community use the “snitch line”?To recap: In an effort to create an open line between players, coaches and the league, the NBA has created a 100 percent anonymous hotline to report possible health and safety violations. It has unsurprisingly been rebranded as the "snitch line."(Dwight Howard has already been told on for walking around without a mask.)Last week, Doc Rivers joked that he’s already taken advantage of the setup:

  • “I turned in LeBron yesterday. I'm turning in Pop today. I'm trying to turn all these guys in. I think it's phenomenal. We're going to be the only team left when this is done.”

As the saying goes, many a true word is spoken in jest.So, a hypothetical: What if, on the eve of a crucial game in the Eastern Conference Finals between the Raptors and the Bucks, Toronto coach Nick Nurse -- or another member of the Raptors -- sees Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton ushering in a lady from outside the bubble into the NBA’s little world?Does said Raptors member -- knowing the hotline is 100 percent anonymous -- dial up the number and rat worse than Jimmy Altieri in The Sopranos, knowing they won’t meet his fate?What if, on that night, Toronto was down 3-2 in the series and needed a win, and could take out the Bucks’ second-best player with one phone call? You can see the temptation. We’d bet this scenario bubbles up at least once over the next few months. 

 2. The Matt Barnes-Derek Fisher beef has made its way to baseball  

Your question: Why are we showing a mundane summer training home run from last night?Our answer: Because the baseball gods have a sense of humor.Our less vague answer: Because the pitcher’s name is Matt Barnes, and the hitter’s name is Derek Fisher.Why is that funny? Do we really have to spell this out for you?Fine: Because a different pair of Matt Barneses and Derek Fishers, two longtime NBA role players whose names are spelt the exact same way, have an ongoing beef that has lasted a half-decade, and started when Fisher began dating Gloria Govan, Barnes’ ex-wife.Last night’s Fisher on Barnes violence was simply another intersport and interracial chapter in the age-old Barnes-Fisher rivalry, which apparently has crossover appeal.(It is unclear at this time whether Baseball Matt Barnes is angry at Baseball Derek Fisher for any reason other than the home run he served Fisher last night at Fenway.)

 3. Dennis Rodman’s father, Philander Rodman Jr., passes away, leaving behind 29 kids     

(Dennis and Philander met once, in the Philippines, in 2012.)

The headline says it all, right?

  1. He died on July 14 in the Philippines, where he had lived since the ‘70s. He was 79.

  2. His name was actually Philander. Nominative determinism at its finest. 

  3. From his ESPN obit: Philander “has acknowledged being a father to 29 offsprings by 16 mothers,” one of which just happened to turn into a Hall of Fame NBA player. 

  4. Ol' Philippines Phil and Dennis met one time, in 2012, when Dennis was playing in an exhibition game in Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. Their lone encounter is pictured above. “I don't hate the guy that brought me into this world,” Rodman said at the time. “The fact is, if I saw him, I'll just tell him, ‘You know, you're a friend of mine.’”

4. Quiz: Fill in the blanks     

Below is the top-10 list for most assists in NBA history. Try and fill in the blanks. 

  1. John Stockton, 15,806

  2. ________, 12,091

  3. Steve Nash, 10,335

  4. ________, 10,334

  5. Magic Johnson, 10,141

  6. Oscar Robertson, 9,887

  7. ________, 9,607 (active player)

  8. LeBron James, 9,298

  9. Isiah Thomas, 9,061

  10. ________, 8,966

5. Kevin Garnett is trying to buy the Timberwolves 

Glen Taylor, current owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, has hired a bunch of rich guys to help him sell his team.Taylor is looking for “at least” $1.2 billion -- he bought the Wolves in 1995 for $88 million -- and will only sell to someone willing to keep the team in the Twin Cities, according to Sportico.Among the interested parties is a group of investors that includes Kevin Garnett, the Timberwolves great who is the sole reason for anything of remote positivity that has ever happened in the team’s terrible 31-year history. 

  • “I’m one of the groups trying,” KG said on his Instagram story yesterday. “LAWD PLSS LET MY GROUP GET THIS.” 

A Garnett-led group of owners would be awesome for a few reasons:

  1. The NBA has only one black majority owner, who happens to be the greatest player to ever play basketball. (It’s unclear if Garnett would become the majority owner, though he made $334 million in his career.)

  2. KG is one of the coolest people the NBA has ever produced.

  3. KG has a legit affection for the city of Minneapolis, and remained loyal to the city long after his initial trade to Boston. 

  4. KG has refused to have his number retired until Taylor sells the team because of a fuzzy-detailed beef that began after Flip Saunders died in 2015.

So, if KG does end up buying the team from Taylor, not only will his jersey be retired, but he’ll be able to give his signature of approval on whatever date he chooses.Hopefully, he gets his wish, so he doesn’t have to talk up a storm or get ready for war.

6.  Quick Hits 

  • After contracting COVID-19, Russell Westbrookis back in Orlando and practicing with the Rockets.

  • Here’s a look at one of the courts the NBA will be playing on, which includes a massive Black Lives Matter decal. 

  • This is why NBA players hate when reporters tweet out their quotes without context.  

  • It is impossible to understate how unfair high school Tyson Chandler was. 

  • Alex Caruso, who averages 5.4 points on 42.3 percent shooting, considers himself an idol. 

  • If you missed the #FreeWoj movement, here’s the lowdown.

7. Off the press 

  • How the NBA picked the barbers for the bubble [ESPN]

  • Sports are coming back. Is sports media coming back with it? [The Ringer]

  • Is this the healthiest Gordon Hayward has been with the Celtics? [The Boston Globe]