It's been a wild week in professional basketball, certainly one occupied by what, according to Charles Barkley, was supposed to be the "worst First Round ever". Well, so much for that. While Chuck tries to dislodge his foot from his throat, let's get into it:- The NBA was thrust into the spotlight of professional sports' greatest taboo, when longtime veteran Jason Collins announced he was gay in an interview with Sports Illustrated, becoming the first active pro athlete to publicly come out. A move that no doubt took an immense amount of courage will be greeted mostly with open arms - especially coming from a respected veteran - and will hopefully help build towards ending the type of discrimination that made this issue a big story in the first place. Maybe Chris Broussard will get the memo someday.
Collins made this historic announcement with humble confidence, and deserves to be commended for his bravery, regardless of the fact that his career is in decline. While he may not face the life of an openly gay professional athlete for long (as of today, his status as a landmark figure in the gay community currently heavily outweighs his status as a basketball player), if the step he's taken here makes it any easier for athletes who follow, or people in general, to be open about their sexuality and accepted among their peers - and it will be significant to an innumerably great measure - then Collins will make a legendary impact.
- While Collins' announcement came as a jolt of publicity to the NBA, what first looked like a predictably mundane first round has seen much of the Playoff bracket thrown in a blender during an exciting run of headline-filled basketball:
Most notably has been an ill-timed first career Russell Westbrook injury (thanks, Patrick Beverley!) and its ensuing impact on the seemingly-inevitable Finals rematch of OKC and Miami. While Kevin Durant could probably win a shoot-out with the Rockets by himself blindfolded, it remains to be seen if the Thunder can crack more evolved defenses without Westbrook's constant pressuring attack. Much has been said of his ball dominance being a leash holding KD back, and these coming weeks will be the ultimate testament to just how much of a catalyst his presence is for Durant, but regardless of any "addition by subtraction" that can be made, the Thunder just lost a player who's unquestionably among the 10 best in the NBA, and that hurts.
- Westbrook joined fellow All-Star David Lee (and Kobe, and D-Rose, blah blah blah) on the sidelines in suits, although someone forgot to tell the rest of the Golden State Warriors, who are riding a transcendent performance from Steph Curry to a 3-1 lead over a Nuggets team that's being rained on from all angles, looking as helpless as Billy Madison's primary classmates in dodgeball. Curry's deconstructing Denver like he was still playing a Davidson opponent, and doing it all on a freshly-tweaked ankle that this performance confirms is not made of papier-maché.
The Warriors have delivered an all-around inspiring performance that can't help but evoke memories of the "We Believe" odds-foe that ran over the Mavs in '07. Carl Landry has filled in for David Lee remarkably (although it isn't that remarkable given that Landry's possibly the most consistently underrated player in the NBA), Jarrett Jack has been spectacular, even Andrew Bogut is showing signs of emerging from rigor mortis. Mark Jackson's flexing his muscle as an NBA coach - especially in terms of motivating his team and having them at their best - and has George Karl's team in a void much larger than Danilo Gallinari's absence should account for.
- Also on an injury-defying course for an upset are the Chicago Bulls, after that marathon slugfest led by Nate Robinson channeling his inner Kobe Bryant and dragging his team to extra time. It evolved into a triple-overtime blockbuster that enveloped the entire first half of the following Grizzlies/Clippers game, and was finished off by the Bulls' consistent team execution after Nasty Nate fouled out. Their 3-1 lead is a testament to this team's toughness and togetherness (I refuse to use the words "Grit" or "Grind"), and Joakim Noah should stand out for his stoic response to plantar fasciitis, not only playing through terrible pain, but effectively enough to give his team an edge in a series few even thought they could win with him. He's coming up - to use an obvious pun - Big.
- After the Grizzlies lost any concept of #GNG in their dubious opening road losses to the Clippers, they re-discovered that sense of urgency that they've thrived upon but haven't felt in a while after a regular season where uncertainty and expectation awkwardly shook hands. Returning to the GrindHouse, Memphis slowed its pace down and dominated the Clippers in the half-court, handcuffing Chris Paul (as relative a term as that is), bullying Blake Griffin, and evening the series with enough momentum that they might be favored, even with only one game left at home. As corny as all the "Wild Wild West" jokes have been over the years, this conference never ceases to be exciting.
- If only the same could be said of the East, where the Heat are a successful LeBron James assassination attempt away from returning to the Finals. Don't get any crazy ideas, Knick fans. And sorry, it's not happening otherwise.
- The Hindenburg of a season the Lakers just endured finally came to a crashing halt yesterday, fittingly punctuated by a childish outburst from Dwight Howard, and a blowout loss. After nearly decapitating Cory Joseph with an elbow in the first half, Howard picked up a 2nd technical soon after halftime for whining at the refs, earning him an early dismissal from what very well could be his final game in a Lakers uniform. Between Dwight's "amicable" conversation with Mitch Kupchak on his way off the floor, his departure being closely followed by Kobe Bryant's sideline presence, the open Twitter-bashing from Magic Johnson, the talk of open anti-Dwight locker room rifts, and his persistent demonstration that his maturity has yet to evolve beyond that of a 5-year-old, it's hard to see why the Lakers would want to the renew "The D12 Experience" beyond its first season.
- And finally, this Banter update would not be complete without a fond farewell to David Kahn; the Minnesota Timberwolves GM who, for years, managed to provide unparalleled excitement from the front office, making the most hilariously mind-numbing decisions while somehow keeping his job, until reality caught up with him and he was fired this week.
Always a favorite of this blog, Kahn will be remembered as a groundbreaking draft strategist, who helped troubled talents harvest the most in their abilities, always spent Free Agent dollars wisely, knew exactly which players to commit to, how to treat his stars, and never once made a stupid comparison in a Summer League interview between a borderline Hall of Famer and a deplorable Draft-bust who he had just signed. He was a visionary before his time; a victim of circumstance who tried to make the most of having the odds against him. That the Wolves are letting him go is not their loss, but all of ours.
Best of luck, David. And in the odd event some team doesn't hire you as their GM again, one last time:
KAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNN!
Enjoy the rest of the first round.
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