Grind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Kelcey Wright Johnson weigh in on the most pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week right here.
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 10:49 PM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: IMHO
Kelcey! It’s IMHO, super late job by me!
We are now about two weeks into the postseason, which feels a lot like the seeding schedule, since everyone is playing on the same courts and in the same Bubble. And we’ve seen a couple of surprises — I don’t think anyone had the Sixers getting swept in round one, even without Ben Simmons. The Mavs looks great, until they didn’t. The Blazers were red hot, and then Dame Lillard went out with an injury. The Thunder weren’t supposed to compete this season, but here they are tied up with the Rockets after four games.
So out of everything you’ve seen in the first round thus far, which team has been the biggest surprise? And which team would you say is your biggest disappointment?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 2:50 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
Hey Lang,
The playoffs in the bubble have been better than I even imagined — other than maybe Indiana’s performance. And what’s crazy is that their 4/5 sweep isn’t even what’s been most disappointing to me.
The team that was the biggest disappointment has been the Sixers. The 3-seeded Celtics swept the 6-seeded Sixers for the first time in 15 playoff series, and Philly didn’t even put up a fight. Sure, there was no Ben Simmons but we’ve seen teams like the Mavs play without one of their stars too and make the series a tiny bit exciting.
If I’m being completely honest, I’m just upset we won’t have anymore Matisse Thybulle bubble vlogs anymore. Thanks a lot, Philly!
As for biggest surprise; THE DALLAS MAVERICKS! I wouldn’t believe anyone if they told me they thought this 2/7 series would be as exciting as it’s been (especially without Kristaps Porzingis).
Of all the injures we’ve seen throughout these playoffs (not unlike any other playoffs in NBA history) – Porzingis, Simmons, Lillard, Beverly, on and on and on… Which injury do you think affected their team the most?
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 3:03 PM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: Re: IMHO
Before I answer your question, I think the most disappointing thing for me out of the bubble was the Pacers firing Nate McMillan, just two weeks after giving him a contract extension. I’ve always thought he was an underrated coach and have enjoyed my interactions with him as a media member. To get fired while the ink on your extension isn’t even dry? Cold world.
The injury that had the biggest effect on a team has to be Ben Simmons. I know the Sixers were trying a new attack with Shake Milton as a more traditional point guard, but Simmons is the guy who makes the Sixers go and is a walking mismatch on offense. Whether or not he was going to become a three-point threat never really got determined, as his knee injury put him on the chilling list before we got a chance to really see how it would play out.
Now Brett Brown is gone, and the Sixers, who went though all those years and years of being downright awful, are trying to rebuild from the first rebuild. I don’t know what GM Elton Brand is going to do, but to me the Sixers stand as an example of the potential perils of a rebuild. Sure, sometimes it might work out. But it’s tougher than it seems.
Kelcey, last week we saw the NBA Draft Lottery take place, and while the Grizz didn’t end up jumping into the top four—which means our pick conveys to the Celtics—we know that the T-Wolves ended up with the first overall selection, with the Warriors in the two spot. If you were either of those two teams, who would you take with your lottery selections?
From: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 9:52 PM
To: Lang Whitaker
Subject: Re: IMHO
There is always some coaching changes in teams’ off-seasons, but you’er right; I don’t think anyone saw the Nate McMillan news happening when it did! That coaching carousel is a wild ride. The Bulls. The Pelicans. The Knicks. The Pacers. The Sixers. Sheesh.
With the draft coming up (still a few months away) it gives us something to look forward to once the playoffs wrap up. If I’m the Wolves, the roster seems to be lacking a big-bodied center that can play back to the rim and grab rebounds. So, I’d go with James Wiseman. Then if I’m the Warriors, do I go with LaMelo Ball even if I’ve got three players who can play the PG position? Or do they take him and trade him to get something back that they need more? Maybe someone who can hit shots and space the floor? KIDDING!
I don’t know 100% what I would do and that’s why I’ll never be a GM or president or coach, and have to make those big decisions!
You’ve got some GM experience under your belt with Grizz Gaming; put yourself in the GM shoes of those teams. What do you think you would do?
From: Lang Whitaker
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2020 3:03 PM
To: Kelcey Wright Johnson
Subject: Re: IMHO
Well Kelcey, I intended to write you back with something typically humorous and engaging about being a GM, etc., and then the NBA stopped. Like, stopped completely, following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. NBA players in the bubble saw what was happening outside the bubble, and they decided not to play the games that were scheduled for Wednesday night. This carried over into other sports, and for the last few days, as I write this, we’ve seen work stoppages across most American sports as the players make a statement about social justice and institutional racism.
You can call it a boycott or call it a strike or call it whatever you want, but at the end of the day, the NBA players used the leverage and power they had at their disposal and made a statement: Enough. Stop treating people differently because of the color of their skin. By stopping playing, the players drew worldwide attention to this issue.
Hopefully this serves as a reminder and a refresher that the fight is only just beginning.