2019 NBA FINALS: Far From Extinct?

Who would've thought at the start of the season that Kawhi Leonard -- not Lebron James-- would be the player with the best chance to move closest to Jordan status?

What has Kawhi done to remove himself from the Jordan conversation? 

The fact is, Kawhi is the player with the most to gain in this NBA Finals.

A Toronto Raptors loss to a Golden State Warriors team making it's 5th straight finals appearance would be the status quo.  A win for Toronto, however, making it's first Finals appearance in it's first year with Leonard as the unabashed leader, would vault Kawhi into the all-time great conversation, rather than the all-time contemporary conversation, which the 27 year-old undoubtedly belongs in already to this point in his career.

The comparisons to Michael Jordan are warranted.

Phil Jackson has said that what seperated Jordan from the greatness of Kobe Bryant was not tenacity, but simply hand-size.  Jackson believed that MJ's ability to manipulate the ball in one hand with great control enabled him to have a greater advantage against the defender.  Kawhi is definitely built in that mold.  Greg Popovich and Doc Rivers, two coaches who have seen a fair amount of both Jordan and Kawhi (Rivers also played against Mike) share the Leonard being Jordan-like sentiment.

To this point in his career, is there anything Kawhi has done to erase himself from the conversation?

Kawhi has a Finals MVP already; playing on a team that had Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.  The way his tenure ended in San Antonio was much scrutinized but less than a year later, the storyline is nothing short of an afterthought (unless, of course, you're a Spurs fan).  The bulk of the heavy lifting yet remains, but the path is still a worthy journey to embark.

'No more Brown in Black & Yellow?'

Brown had 104 catches for 1,297 yards and 15 TD's in 2018, but was benched in Week 17 for disciplinary reasons. 

The more I think about it what does the word "spoiled" even mean?

We think about spoiled as someone who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth and is entitled to everything, because they always had it from the get-go.

But then I see a guy like Antonio Brown, who came up in Liberty City, and it's said he had to sleep out of a car some nights from poverty.  Worked his ass off to get barely recruited by any of the major colleges and ends up going to Central Michigan.  Gets drafted by one of the greatest organizations of all time in the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Makes it to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer in his early years before becoming one of the top wide receiver in the franchise and also one of the best wide receivers in the league over the past six, seven years and then he finally gets his money and it seems like he has this 'it's me' type of personality.

He feels entitled, yet he came from nothing.

What does spoiled even mean if someone like Antonio Brown can end up being in the situation that he's in?

'A Bron, Strange Trip'

Magic must've been on LSD when he compiled this roster.

What a strange, trippy roster that is the 2018-19 Los Angeles Lakers.  Luke Walton might have to borrow some of his dad's psychedelics to conjure schematically any semblance of balance to his rotations.

Luke ready to ask Farrakhan for wisdom?

Rajon Rondo, Lonzo Ball, and LeBron James all playing at once seems unfeasible, since each is strength in distributing the basketball.  Either Kentavious Caldwell Pope, 2018 Summer League MVP Josh Hart, or Bones Ingram would have to be on the floor at any given time as the only noted guards with perimeter shooting skills (see Lance Stephenson circa 2014-15).

Kyle Kuzma can be the Kevin Love role (or better yet, Chris Bosh role?) but offers little defensive resistance. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed Ivica Zubac and rat tailed JaVale McGee are the only true 7-footers on the roster, which means supercool Michael Beasley (the pride of Fitchburg, Massachusetts) will need to play a stretch 4-5 role.

KCP on the court. PCP in the front office. 

Rookies Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Moritz Wagner will have a bad time trying to work their way into the mix.

And then there's Luol Deng (see All Day E'ry Day Sportz post from July 6, 2018).

Time to breakout the hookahs and the hemp incense, Luke.  You're gonna need 'em.

2018 NBA PLAYOFFS: 'Show Tito Some Love'

The Kevin Love that used to be will never be again, but could become the Al Horford that is and continues to be.

When defenders become spectators. 

It takes Al fractions of a second to decipher
a mismatch and immediately backs his man into the post.

Guarding Horford in the post is a hopeless position, as he can finish with either hand over either of his broad shoulders.

His perimeter game is at it's best when he's trailing on a fast break.  The man guarding him helps stop ball and Horford stops at the 3-point line, feet set and square, ready to take the open shot.

The indifference towards physical contact on offense sets the tone for his defense.  It's like he wants to play you tough on defense, so he can quickly get back on offense, in order to wear you out some more.

Tito shows no love in the post.

Love will have a first hand view of what he could be in this series, although the view might not be too savory.

NBA IRRELEVANT STAT OF THE WEEK: 'Which Way Did He Go, Gorgui?'

Minnesota Timberwolves reserve forward Gorgui Dieng moved into second place on the franchise's all-time shot block list (376) last Saturday passing Stephen A. Smith's favorite player, Rasho Nesterovic (373).

Dieng has a long way to go to catch Kevin Garnett, who swatted 1,590 shots in a Wolves Jersey.

Anything's possible?  Right, KG?

ICYWW:  Karl-Anthony Towns has 294 career blocks, which is good for sixth on the all-time list.  Towns needs only seven more denials to pass Christian Laettner (299) and Al Jefferson (300) to move into third.

Kobe and Drake and Dez.

Bryant 59, Louisville 102

Kobe scored 59 on Lousville by himself?  Or is that just the small New England school that Rick Pitino had scheduled to funnel some of that adidas money to his paisans back in Rhode Island?  Kobe Bryant is not walking through that door.  Did I get that right, Rick?

If you're reading this....

Kenyan Drake reeled off almost 200 total yards as the Miami Dolphins (6-8) took care of the New England Patriots (12-3) 27-20 in South Beach in a Week 15 matchup.  It was the best game Drake has ever had as a pro, now in his 3rd year out of Alabama, where he was part of back-to-back National championship team.

In college basketball, Drake showed signs of pulling off the upset of Minnesota, but in the end, the Gophers were too good, and prevailed 68-67.  Drake -- a mid-major school located in Des Moines, Iowa -- started from the bottom as a 20-point underdog in the game.

Dez DIDN'T catch it.

Two plays after Dak Prescott scrambled out of the pocket to find Dez Bryant downfield for a 29-yard reception, Dez let a pass thrown slightly behind him deflect off his two hands.  The tipped ball floated softly in the air and was easily corralled by a Seattle Seahawks linebacker for an interception.  The Dallas Cowboys (8-7) went on to lose the game, which eliminated them from playoff contention, and when asked about the play, Dak had this to offer (per @DavidMooreDMN):

Dak Prescott on his INT that went through hands of Dez Bryant: “I think I have to throw him a better ball. Just put it right there on his face mask and don’t give him a chance to drop it, I guess.”

But then again, this DID happen the week before against the New York Giants: