Adrian Wojnarowski: LeVert is eligible for his rookie e…
May 11, 2024 | 2:07 pm EDT Update
Brian Robb: Jaylen Brown: “We have to come out and be the harder playing team.”
Gerald Bourguet: Statement from Mike Budenholzer: “I am honored to be named head coach of the Phoenix Suns, the team I grew up watching. I would like to thank Mat Ishbia, Josh Bartelstein and James Jones for the opportunity to lead this team. pic.twitter.com/ep0mUJ21s7
ClutchPoints: “It’s a regular season award, and usually… The best player on your team usually represents the best team… I thought Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander] should have had [the MVP].” Kevin Garnett on Nikola Jokic winning the MVP 👀 (via @allthesmokeprod) pic.twitter.com/ZwXHQ9moV5
Chris Forsberg: Jrue Holiday on Charles Lee landing Hornets coaching job: “I was really happy. Sad to see him go but extremely happy. He deserves it and been with him for a minute now. To see him as a head coach and to beat him every time we play him, it’s going to be great. “
Andrew Lopez: Here are the on-stage and drawing room representatives for the teams for tomorrow’s NBA Lottery: pic.twitter.com/DAnU1epa16
May 11, 2024 | 12:00 pm EDT Update
The NBA reportedly chose fine over suspension because Murray did not have a history of trouble, but some league sources believe there was something larger at play as the Nuggets took an 0-2 series deficit into Minnesota. “We all know what’s going on here,” said one team executive. “And it’s a bad look. This was about protecting the TV audience for the next game — or games.” Added another front office source, “You’re supposed to prioritize the safety and integrity of your referees. They should not be assaulted. They should not be made to feel intimidated or victimized while they’re working their job. And you have to protect the health and safety of the players.” “Well, what you just said by fining Jamal Murray $100,000 is that we’re prioritizing the ratings at ESPN for that big game they have for Friday night over both the referees and the players. “So at this point, who’s happy? The referees and the referees’ union should be pissed, and so should the players and the Players’ Association. Can you imagine if some player had stepped on that hydrocollator and suffered a serious injury? I guarantee you there would have been a suspension then. “But who’s happy? ESPN’s happy. ESPN got their game. They’ve got a playoff game of great interest on a Friday night in prime time.”
One player told Heavy Sports that it’s a touchy issue for those in uniform. “You don’t ever want to go against another player when it’s between him and the league office, but this would have been a whole lot different if someone had gotten hurt,” he said. “Jamal’s a good guy. That’s his rep around the league. And it’s always tough when a guy loses it like that in the moment. But I can’t tell you what I would have done if one of my teammates had tripped over that heating thing and got hurt bad.”
While some defenses will give up the defensive switch, allowing a maestro like Doncic to dictate his preferred matchup, Dort often sticks with his primary assignment, acting as the glue that bonds the Thunder’s defense. “You can screen him hard and it doesn’t impact his next pursuit,” Daigneault said of Dort. “You can make a tough shot on him and it doesn’t impact his next shot contest, and you can have a great game against him and it doesn’t impact his next outing. It’s just what he is. It’s what he’s been all along.”
But really, how does one successfully screen Dort? “You have to square him up and brace for the hit,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He’s gonna deliver the hit.”
Jorge Sierra: Nikola Jokic passed Steve Nash, Jaylen Brown and Moses Malone (who also has three MVPs, one Finals MVP and one NBA title) in playoff scoring last night. Jamal Murray moved past Sidney Moncrief, Donovan Mitchell, Earl Monroe, Joel Embiid and Vlade Divac.
