Quote of the day
“He’s an idiot. Alright. That’s what we’ve got to say about that.” - Kevin Durant, in response to Mavericks owner Mark Cuban saying Durant is the only superstar on the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also had some choice words for Charlie Villanueva.
About last night . . .
Mark Cuban was definitely wrong
Mark Cuban has an estimated net worth of $3 billion. He bought a professional sports franchise when he was only 42. His team won a title a few years ago. He’s been right a lot in his life. But boy, was he wrong when he said Russell Westbrook wasn’t a superstar. Westbrook responded with 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to lead the Thunder to a series win against Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban has earned a damn heavy sack of klout he can casually toss around, but maybe, juuust maybe, don’t say the guy who just recorded the most triple doubles in a season since Magic Johnson, isn’t a superstar.
Blues survive to eliminate their nemesis
The most entertaining first-round series of the postseason -- and I mean NBA and NHL postseasons combined -- ended with St. Louis eliminating the defending Cup champions. Troy Brouwer scored the game-winner on a play where he was left so wide open, he had time to hit the post, whiff on the rebound and then finally tap it in before the Chicago defense of Corey Crawford could get to him. With the Hawks and Kings eliminated, and the Bruins not even making the playoffs, we’re guaranteed a champion that hasn’t won in 2010s.
Clippers find new ways to lose even more
With Steph Curry being out at least two weeks (more on that below), the Los Angeles Clippers stood to be the team that benefits the most. Just beat the Blazers and get at least a few games against a Curry-less Warriors squad. Well, beating the Blazers apparently isn’t a sure thing, and now Chris Paul has a broken hand, so … Basically it’s illegal for the Clippers to have nice things.
Hornets protect home court
Charlotte evened their series with the Miami Heat at two games a piece with a win last night. Charlotte’s two series wins came on their home floor after two not-all-that-close losses in Miami. Obviously the dynamic of the series has shifted a bit since those first two games, but Charlotte is still going to have to win one on the road because math says so. They’ll have their next shot Wednesday night.
Another game 7!!!
Nashville beat Anaheim to force a game seven and this is wonderful news because these two teams are really fun to watch and game seven in the NHL playoffs is the sports equivalent to snorting cocaine and flying on the back of a Pterodactyl through a maze of fire. I think Def Leppard had a song about that. . . Anyway, for whatever it’s worth, and it doesn’t feel like much because both teams have won twice on the road in this series, home teams are 98-63 all-time in NHL game 7s. The ultimate game of the series is Wednesday night.
Steph Curry is hurt :(
Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit shit shit shit. Shit. Steph Curry has a strained MCL, which is going to keep him out for at least two weeks. Fingers crossed the Warriors can finish off the Rockets and at least tread water for a while in round 2 without him, because every basketball fan that isn’t a fan of a direct Golden State opponent is going to be furious if we are robbed of watching the cherry be placed on top of the greatest NBA single season ever because some schmuck teenager with a sweat mop couldn’t be bothered to do his job properly.
Deflate-gate is back! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy[jumps off tall building]yyyyyyyyyyyy[splat]
According to a court of appeals, Tom Brady’s suspension is back to four games. Now there are a few options. 1. He accepts punishment. 2. He appeals to 22 judges in 2nd court of appeals. 3. He appeals to the Supreme Court with no shot of them hearing the case. 4. He negotiates a lower suspension with the league and admits wrongdoing. For our sake I hope it’s 1 or 4, but it won’t be, because now the NFL has a court precedent protecting the power of the commissioner and in order to reduce that power the player’s union will have to cede something to the league--money--in the next round of collective bargaining. That’s the only reason this is still going on and the only reason it matters to either side.
Things to read today
Here’s a good way to waste time today
Not a lot of great sportswriting happened yesterday, but SB Nation published a random minor league baseball franchise name generator. My generated teams were The Gresham Steppe Swine, The Sterling Heights Rain Bears and The Paterson Dirt Oysters and you won’t convince me those aren’t all real minor league baseball team names.
Predictions! From Math!
Fivethirtyeight has seen enough of the MLB season to put out playoff projections. At the end of April. This is just a chart with numbers, but it’s still fascinating. Unless you’re Brad Ausmus. Brad Ausmus probably doesn’t want to look at this chart with numbers.
The best of the rest
A routine popup was hit to Tyler Collins and it did not go well . . .
That’s not good. Let’s get a better look at that.
Cameron Payne is the guy who dances pregame with teammate Russell Westbrook, and it turns out he can also dance by himself.
You had one job, cameraman. You also had one job, show director.
But really, Chicago, could you have been eliminated by a more doofy goal?
No need to be sorry, friend
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