Donovan Mitchell is dunking the Cavaliers to the top
A great weekend for Cleveland, a team that might be elite.
Good morning. There are a lot of video clips in this newsletter, so I strongly recommend you click the headline to open it in a browser if you’re seeing this in your email client. Otherwise it will get clipped and you might miss the Zion Williamson highlights or some Luka Magic or a really hilarious video at the end of the newsletter. Also, there’s always the Substack app! Let’s basketball.
Kyrie The Would-Be Mute
Sure, he’s out here sharing what are said to be terribly anti-Semitic films on his very heavily followed Twitter account. Sure, he’s posting old Alex Jones videos. Sure, he’s denying that sharing this material with his millions of followers is “promoting” it. (Notice that he’s not even litigating the anti-Semitic nature of the material, just trying to claim that posting it without comment is not equivalent to promoting it. This is the NBA post-game podium version of “RTs are not endorsements.”)
What gets me about his argument with ESPN’s Nick Friedell here is how annoyed he seems that people care what we says and does. For someone who framed himself as a freedom fighter with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate — he has continued to tweet about that topic in recent weeks — and as a truth teller who cares not for the repercussions of his words … he seems to really wish people who don’t agree with him would stop paying attention to him.
That’s not how this works. You don’t get a platform without responsibility or scrutiny.
Needless to say, anti-Semitism in all of its forms is despicable and dangerous. The fact that it is reported to be on the rise is troubling. It’s not new. These free thinkers are peddling bulls—t that has been circulating for two millennia. Kyrie frames himself as an open-minded free thinker who won’t be cowed by mere decency or consensus thought, someone focused on peace and progress. What he is in this case is a tool for some of the foundational hate movements of civilized Earth. And he’s really mad that anyone dare call that out.
I do think Kyrie is intelligent and I think his plea that he’s most interested in love and peace is sincere. For what it’s worth, on Sunday he deleted the original tweet. I wish he was able to use his intelligence to realize the impacts his embrace of hate-inspired conspiracy theories might have on others, both those young people who look up to him and those who might be victimized by the propagation of the hate-inspired conspiracy theories. One who respects all faiths doesn’t amplify messages that sows hate for one of most historically persecuted faiths.
The Brooklyn Nets are 1-5.
Scores
FRIDAY
Hawks 136, Pistons 112 — Detroit appears to be worse than I expected. Cade Cunningham, however, is exactly who we thought he is: 35-9-8, 60% shooting, 8 FTAs.
His assists aren’t cheap, either: he’s setting up easy buckets in the paint. Good signs. Meanwhile, Atlanta is off to a great start. That starting five looks impressive.
Hornets 93, Magic 113 — Orlando is on the board! Paolo Banchero scored 20 AGAIN. In other news: Bol Bol.
I SAID BOL BOL!
Cavaliers 132, Celtics 123 (OT) — We have a new Dunk of the Year contender. Maybe a champion.
More angles:
Meanwhile … what a win for the Cavaliers with Darius Garland still out! Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert each dropped 41 points on efficient shooting. This team might be really real.
He’s had an odd career, but I maintain that there are few non-MVP types more fun to watch than Caris LeVert when he’s on. Takes me back to the mid-2000s style instantly.
Sixers 112, Raptors 90 — Joel Embiid sat, James Harden only took nine field goals … and the Sixers blew out the Raptors in Toronto. Sure. How? Bad Raptors offense and future All-Star Tyrese Maxey exploding for 44 points on 15/20 shooting with nine threes. Just an unreal shooting display here.
Knicks 108, Bucks 119 — 30-14-9 for Giannis. Bucks stay undefeated while starting Grayson Allen and Jevon Carter.
Lakers 102, Timberwolves 111 — Russell Westbrook came off the bench and it didn’t go terribly. But Anthony Davis missed the game and the Lakers starters got blown off the court (Patrick Beverley was a -23 in 29 minutes). The Lakers still have shooting woes even if you bring Westbrook off the bench, it turns out!
Bulls 124, Spurs 129 — Spurs? We sure about this?
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