Every documented incident involving Shaquille O’Neal, his own feces, and his teammates
Victor Wembanyama on if he feels the weight of Tim Duncan and David Robinson as Spurs franchise legends: “I wouldn’t say, weight, no, I would say, I feel safe. It feels like if you trip, you know there’s a lot of hands that are ready to catch you.”
LeBron James is closer in age to Michael Jordan than he is to Cooper Flagg.
[Sirius XM] Jeanie Buss: “Well, I’ve always said I want to see him (LeBron) retire as a Laker. But he’s going to be a free agent. It’s really his decision to make. He is a valuable player in this league, even in his 23rd season… Maybe he just wants to go out quietly.”
Adam Silver says the NBA could adopt a “division of European teams” due to many of the league’s best players being from Europe, and due to “advancements in supersonic air travel”
Bill Simmons admits the play-in affected his awards voting: “The play-in did change my 6MOY vote. I had Jaquez over Keldon Johnson, but then Miami lost on Wednesday, and I was just like, ‘I’m going to have the 6MOY on a team that couldn’t get to the last round of the play-in?’ I switched it.”
Joe Mazzulla on being in contention for Coach of the Year: “I haven’t made one basket all year. Our staff hasn’t made a basket. We haven’t gotten a block. We haven’t ran back on defense. We didn’t play in a back-to-back. We didn’t have to play hurt. We haven’t really done shit.”
Spurs Twin Towers in attendance for Wemby’s playoff debut.
Victor Wembanyama passes Duncan for most points in a playoff debut in Spurs history as they take game 1 against the Blazers: 35 PTS, 5 REB, 2 BLK, 1 AST on 13⁄21 FG, 5⁄6 3P, 4⁄5 FT in 33min
[Charania] The Brooklyn Nets have signed head coach Jordi Fernandez and the entire coaching staff to multiyear contract extensions, sources tell ESPN. This solidifies a long-term commitment for Fernandez after two seasons at the helm.
[Highlights] All the 11 fouls that were drawn by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in game 1 vs. Phoenix Suns (119-84 W).
He went 15⁄17 (88.2%) from the free throw line, playing 29:11 minutes.
He did not play in the 4th quarter.
Most interesting subplot for Game 3 of Portland-San Antonio: is Tom Dundon too cheap to pay for the crowd to have special t-shirts?
40 years ago (April 20, 1986) Michael Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics. A still standing playoff record.
[Post Game Thread] The Orlando Magic (1-0) defeat the Detroit Pistons (0-1), 112-101.
[Highlight] Wemby pulls up in the corner for a triple
[Highlight] The camera pans to a smorgasbord of Spurs Legends™ as Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan, George Gervin, David Robinson and coach Gregg Popovich are in attendance for tonight’s Spurs/Blazers playoff game
[Highkin] In the latest of Tom Dundon’s cost-cutting measures, the Blazers are the only playoff team that didn’t send their two-way players (who are ineligible to play in the playoffs) on the road for Games 1 and 2 this weekend.
Victor Wembanyama at Half Time in his First Career Playoff Game: 21 PTS | 8⁄13 FGS | 3⁄4 3PTS | 2⁄2 FTS | 17 MINS
[ESPN] Sheel Tyle, co-owner of the Blazers, posted on X that “we are doing something else [instead of t-shirts],” but the team hasn’t said or posted anything further on the matter.
[Charania] The Brooklyn Nets have signed head coach Jordi Fernandez and the entire coaching staff to multiyear contract extensions, sources tell ESPN. This solidifies a long-term commitment for Fernandez after two seasons at the helm.
[Post Game Thread] The San Antonio Spurs (1-0) defeat the Portland Trail Blazers (0-1), 111-98.
[Highlight] Wemby runs the floor, spins around Avdija for the score
The Pistons have now lost 11 straight Home Playoff games
[Highlight] Scott Foster telling the mic operator to “Do your job” after his mic malfunctions
[Highlight] A “WE WANT BOSTON!” chant breaks out at TD Garden as the Celtics lead the Sixers by 32
[Charania] The Chicago Bulls have started the search process for their new head of basketball operations, receiving permission to interview Minnesota’s Matt Lloyd, Detroit’s Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta’s Bryson Graham, Cleveland’s Mike Gansey and San Antonio’s Dave Telep, per ESPN sources.
[Highlight] Wemby elects to drain a 3 (5⁄6 on the night, the most threes in a Spurs’ playoff debut)
Youngest one claps back at Jaylen. Locker room turmoil.
[Highlight] Wemby puts Deni Avdija in the blender and leaves him there
[Shelburne/Slater] The Golden State Warriors offered substantial draft capital and multiple valued players for Kawhi Leonard at the trade deadline before being turned down. The Warriors are expected to revisit trade talks with the Clippers this Summer.
[Highlight] The San Antonio Spurs defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 111-98 in Game 1 of their series. It’s the first home playoff victory for the Spurs since April 25th, 2019 when they defeated the Denver Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round.
Jayson Tatum (2,961) has a chance pass Kawhi Leonard, Russell Westbrook and Klay Thompson in career playoff points this postseason, which would place him in the top 25 all-time.
[Highlight] Deni Avdija calls iso on Wemby. Drives to the middle, bumps him back, and shoots over him for the middy
LeBron on playing with Bronny tonight: “I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career … My mom got to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. That’s crazy.”
[Highlight] Isaiah Joe with a perfect defensive possession against the Phoenix Suns last night, in Game 1.
Going through all the screens, doesn’t let anyone get by him, and forces a bad shot on Dillon Brooks at the end.
Stephon Castle in his playoff debut against the Trail Blazers: 17 PTS, 7 REB, 7 AST (first Spurs guard getting 15/5/5 in playoff since Tony Parker)
James Harden has a higher TS% and the same EFG% as SGA in the playoffs.
Deni Avdija in his official playoff debut: 30/10/5 on 12⁄21 FG, 2⁄5 3PT and 4⁄6 FT
Brandon Ingram on only taking 1 shot in the 2nd half: “Coach wanted to use me as a screener. He noticed that my man wasn’t coming off me so he wanted me outside of the action and being a receiver. At the end of the day, me shooting 9 shots is not going to win basketball games.”
Devin Vassell receives the honor to beat the drum for the postgame celebration, as the Spurs win Game 1 against the Trail Blazers
Kevin Durant to a Laker fan: “Get that grown man d*ck out of your mouth.”
NBA Hall of Famers Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan’s long frosty relationship could finally be thawing, starting with golf during the offseason. Barkley: “We talked in the last 72 hours. We just decided to get together and play golf as soon as basketball is over.” Trying to mend friendship.
[Post Game Thread] The Oklahoma City Thunder (1-0) defeat the Phoenix Suns (0-1), 119-84.
Scoot Henderson despite the loss: 18/3/3 on 7⁄11 FG
Tatum seems to be done for the day: 25-11-7 on 9-17 shooting in 32 minutes: a +20
[Foul] Brooks hits Chet in the face. Gets Flagrant 1.
Paolo Banchero in the win: 23/9/4 on 8⁄15 FG
Derrick White: “I played 3 playoff games last year without you, I didn’t like that.” Jayson Tatum replies: “Don’t get used to that. I’m back.”