Bron, Brow and the O'Brien

A dominant duo and a supporting cast that did what it took.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

Several strong forces collided on Sunday night. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the entire L.A. Lakers rotation absolutely did not want to go to a Game 7. They were ready to finish this NBA Finals series, to party now, to go home. The purpose and intent the Lakers played with all night was very energetic and tense. They played as if it was the fourth quarter of Game 7 — locked in on defense, fighting for every 50-50 ball, hunting mismatches and abusing mistakes. They fought like their season depending on it, which … it might have.

The Miami Heat looked absolutely gassed. You would be too! Erik Spoelstra in recent games went to a 7-man rotation and relied heavily on Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Jae Crowder. The Lakers’ defense wears you out, and then someone has to go guard LeBron and A.D. on the other end. When it was clear early that Butler was still feeling the effects from his 47-minute all-time performance on Friday, the Lakers pressed him. Rajon Rondo drove on him a few times, smelling blood. The Lakers threw different looks at Adebayo, and he didn’t look comfortable on offense until glorified garbage time. Robinson continued to dart off screens, but Kentavious Caldwell-Pope effectively face-guarded him into the fourth quarter. Tyler Herro’s rookie season was weird with the long break, so I don’t know if the concept of the Rookie Wall applies. But he might have hit it before Game 6.

Finally, Bron and the Brow are just simply one of the greatest two-man combos in this era. Davis played some of the best defense I’ve seen in the Finals in a generation. He was everywhere and rarely made mistakes. It was a master class in controlling action from the weak side all series long. LeBron was a perfect table setter, completing his artistry from the regular season in which he won the assists crown. He was also plenty aggressive when the situation warranted it — he finished with 28 points on 20 shots, with 12 of those shots at the rim. Davis took more jumpers and finished with 19 on 7-17. He ended up as the high scorer for the entire 2020 playoffs, finishing two points ahead of LeBron.

When LeBron and the Lakers arranged to trade for Anthony Davis last summer, it was clear that L.A. would end up in a really, really good position. Many (including myself) picked them to win the championship despite the Clippers’ talent coup and everything other contenders did. But that doesn’t mean that this championship was expected or given or obvious. They had to earn every piece of it, and they did. LeBron, long dubbed a coach killer for sometimes justified and sometimes overwrought reasons, bought in completely to Frank Vogel’s system and expectations and set the example all other Lakers would follow. Davis didn’t fall in love with individual glory so much as he doubled down on what differentiates him from other unicorns: his extraordinary defense. Bron and Brow became the best versions of themselves possible at this stage of their respective careers, the rest of the motley rotation fit in and played hellacious defense and took smart shots (usually). The result is eternal glory.

It was never certain or a given that Bron and Brow would win a title together. Now that they have, it’s not certain or a given they can do it again. In a few months we’ll find out how motivated they are to do so and whether anyone else can stop them. Until then, this is a well-earned celebration.

Photo by Getty Images Sport

Thank You

Admission time: I had been thinking about (daydreaming, perhaps?) leaving SB Nation and starting a paid newsletter for about a year or so before Vox Media unceremoniously booted me amid their reactionary AB 5 spasms. In that sense I saw the instant upheaval of my sportswriting life as much as an opportunity as a curse, though it was certainly both. It was the push I needed to make a move I probably never would have. Staying with SB Nation even as Vox Media continued to strip it of resources and churn through supreme talent was something like stability. Hanging my own shingle was a risk.

As it turns out, the fears and hopes were all warranted. I do make less money on the newsletter than I did at Vox. I do miss having editors and collaborating with talented writers and basketball thinkers. I do miss being in a Slack channel with people I like during crazy games and moments.

But there’s an incredible joy and pride I feel in having such a direct connection and relationship with readers, in knowing that they choose to pay for what I’m doing in order to keep me doing it. For someone who has a lifelong relationship with imposter syndrome, it’s a huge confidence boost. The freedom of chasing the narratives I feel are important, the knowledge that I’m not going to step on colleagues’ toes, the lack of need to churn out content I don’t think is a great use of anyone’s time — those are all bonuses. The relationship and trust with readers like you: that’s the prize.

So THANK YOU from the bottom, top and middle of my heart, for making this possible. We’re going to keep on basketballing.

Programming Notes

Longtime readers of Good Morning It’s Basketball know that the offseason is just as active as the regular season and playoffs. So do not fret! GMIB will continue to hit your inboxes on the regular schedule through the 2020 NBA Draft (November 18) and free agency (probably early December). And whenever the next season begins, we’ll be back in full swing.

This is going to be a really weird draft and really weird free agency period, and we’ll start talking about it in more depth on Tuesday.

Links

It appears the Lakers team bus forgot Quinn Cook at the arena when it left for the hotel. He alerted them in the comments of J.R. Smith’s IG Live. Incredible.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

The Lakers team bus forgot Quinn Cook at the arena so he went on JR's IG live and told them to come back 🤣 (via @TheRealJRSmith)

Speaking of Smitty, he was shirtless before the final buzzer.

Marcus Thompson in The Athletic on the polarization of LeBron. ($)

Dan Devine in praise of the MFing Miami Heat. One of the most lovable teams in memory.

Rob Mahoney on the growing legend of LeBron.

Hall of Famer David Aldridge in The Athletic on LeBron’s real basketball forefather, Magic Johnson. ($)

GM LeBron for Executive of the Year?

Chris Herring on the Lakers’ supporting cast.

Ramona Shelburne on the Lakers fighting through every moment that could have broken them.

Ramona Shelburne on Jimmy Butler cementing his legacy in the bubble.

Mike Sykes on how Drake’s next collaboration with Nike looks much more promising than their previous work.

John Hollinger in The Athletic on how Miami’s deep run changes its salary cap outlook. ($)

The Las Vegas Aces have some interesting times ahead.

Year 24 of Ricky O’Donnell’s Western Illinous dynasty.

Sabrina Ionescu talks about her injury rehab.

Be excellent to each other. See you in the morning.