The NBA is treading carefully because of the difficulty in addressing vaccine hesitancy in the Black community. It would not go over well for Adam Silver to get in anyone's face over this.
But I can't understand why the union is being as overly cautious. Or why it's not using Bill Russell or Kareem to help. (Kareem's post last week about Nicki Minaj and the anti-vaxxers is well worth the read.)
After Westbrook looks him off in the clutch for 37th time in 11 games, Lebron decides to step away from basketball and focus on his acting. Space Jam 3, 4, and 5 become Oscar-award winning films and Lebron goes down in history as the second best actor of all time.
In a dramatic reversal, Kyrie becomes a vocal vaccination advocate. In partnership with his teammate and noted strip club enthusiast James Harden, they launch a wildly successful public health program that provides vaccination (primarily the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) at strip clubs in return for free lap dances and alcohol (double shots for double shots!). Kyrie wins the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Awards for his outstanding efforts and dedication to the community.
Frustrated with a slow start, GM Brad Stevens signs a feisty 6”1 pass-first point guard out of DePauw university by the name of Brad Stevens. Frustrated with the lack of playing time, GM Brad Stevens fires Ime Udoka and reinstates himself as coach. GM Brad Stevens trades Marcus Smart to the Kings for three floppy disks in order to create more playing time for player Brad Stevens.
Giannis continues to average 30-10-10 and be a shining beacon of wholesome goodness in an ever-darker world. Jrue Holiday continues to play all-world defense and donate millions of dollars to charity. The media continues to question if you can win a championship with Middleton as your second best player. Grayson Allen becomes a frustratingly good player for the Bucks, the sneakiest athlete of the 2021-22 season.
Kawhi returns from his ACL tear in mid-January prompting widespread speculation that he is in fact a robot, or at least a cyborg. Whenever questioned about his suspiciously quick return from injury, Kawhi smirks and laughs not at all like a robot.
Embiid tears his meniscus in early January. In a stunning act of compassion between coach and player, Doc Rivers donates his vocal chords to Joel’s knee, allowing him to make a full recovery before the all-star break.
Zion requests that the New Orleans Pelicans trade themselves to Seattle. After his trade request is denied (much to his confusion), Zion requests that David Griffin trades himself for Elton John (the trade is accepted). In his first move as GM, Elton John orchestrates a blockbuster 3-way trade – Brandon Ingram and two first round picks for Ben Simmons and Myles Turner. The Pelicans run a 5-out system with Zion and Simmons never playing a single minute together. This style of play works well because Zion is out of shape and can only play 30 min a game and Ben doesn’t want to play in the 4th quarter. The Pelicans get the 5th seed.
The Basketball Gods smile upon KAT and the Timberwolves. Everything falls into place – KAT averages 27-12, DLo stays healthy and provides steady play at the point, Edwards improves significantly on both ends, and Beasley becomes a 6th MOTY candidate. The Timberwolves finish 10th in the west. Play-in banners fly forever.
Great, looking forward to it. Do you know, by the way, whether the NBA will be dropping players from the prior list (top 50) to make room if necessary for the more recent players or simply adding 25 more?
That makes sense. Should be interesting. And as a Nets fan going back to the days of Dr. J, Larry Kennon, Billy Paultz, Bill Melchionni, Brian Taylor etc., I nervously await Kyrie's announcement.
The NBA is treading carefully because of the difficulty in addressing vaccine hesitancy in the Black community. It would not go over well for Adam Silver to get in anyone's face over this.
But I can't understand why the union is being as overly cautious. Or why it's not using Bill Russell or Kareem to help. (Kareem's post last week about Nicki Minaj and the anti-vaxxers is well worth the read.)
"Yeah, a lot."
Jordan Clarkson is a low-key genius.
NBAstradamus is back! You heard it here first.
After Westbrook looks him off in the clutch for 37th time in 11 games, Lebron decides to step away from basketball and focus on his acting. Space Jam 3, 4, and 5 become Oscar-award winning films and Lebron goes down in history as the second best actor of all time.
In a dramatic reversal, Kyrie becomes a vocal vaccination advocate. In partnership with his teammate and noted strip club enthusiast James Harden, they launch a wildly successful public health program that provides vaccination (primarily the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) at strip clubs in return for free lap dances and alcohol (double shots for double shots!). Kyrie wins the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Awards for his outstanding efforts and dedication to the community.
Frustrated with a slow start, GM Brad Stevens signs a feisty 6”1 pass-first point guard out of DePauw university by the name of Brad Stevens. Frustrated with the lack of playing time, GM Brad Stevens fires Ime Udoka and reinstates himself as coach. GM Brad Stevens trades Marcus Smart to the Kings for three floppy disks in order to create more playing time for player Brad Stevens.
Giannis continues to average 30-10-10 and be a shining beacon of wholesome goodness in an ever-darker world. Jrue Holiday continues to play all-world defense and donate millions of dollars to charity. The media continues to question if you can win a championship with Middleton as your second best player. Grayson Allen becomes a frustratingly good player for the Bucks, the sneakiest athlete of the 2021-22 season.
Kawhi returns from his ACL tear in mid-January prompting widespread speculation that he is in fact a robot, or at least a cyborg. Whenever questioned about his suspiciously quick return from injury, Kawhi smirks and laughs not at all like a robot.
Embiid tears his meniscus in early January. In a stunning act of compassion between coach and player, Doc Rivers donates his vocal chords to Joel’s knee, allowing him to make a full recovery before the all-star break.
Zion requests that the New Orleans Pelicans trade themselves to Seattle. After his trade request is denied (much to his confusion), Zion requests that David Griffin trades himself for Elton John (the trade is accepted). In his first move as GM, Elton John orchestrates a blockbuster 3-way trade – Brandon Ingram and two first round picks for Ben Simmons and Myles Turner. The Pelicans run a 5-out system with Zion and Simmons never playing a single minute together. This style of play works well because Zion is out of shape and can only play 30 min a game and Ben doesn’t want to play in the 4th quarter. The Pelicans get the 5th seed.
The Basketball Gods smile upon KAT and the Timberwolves. Everything falls into place – KAT averages 27-12, DLo stays healthy and provides steady play at the point, Edwards improves significantly on both ends, and Beasley becomes a 6th MOTY candidate. The Timberwolves finish 10th in the west. Play-in banners fly forever.
I write at https://rogersbacon.substack.com/
How about a post on the NBA 75 all-time greats in celebration of the league’s 75th anniversary?
I'm going to attempt to get my NBA 75 list together before the official one is announced.
Great, looking forward to it. Do you know, by the way, whether the NBA will be dropping players from the prior list (top 50) to make room if necessary for the more recent players or simply adding 25 more?
I think it's a fresh ballot. I think it'd be impossible to limit the new additions to 25, so I imagine a good dozen will get the boot.
That makes sense. Should be interesting. And as a Nets fan going back to the days of Dr. J, Larry Kennon, Billy Paultz, Bill Melchionni, Brian Taylor etc., I nervously await Kyrie's announcement.