Ugliest courts ever? Plus, checking the NBA stock market, James Harden’s Clippers debut and more
This is the digital version of The Bounce.
If you want it earlier, start every day with The Bounce delivered to your inbox. Sign up here.
How do magnets and the In-Season Tournament work?
Getting to Vegas!
The In-Season Tournament has tipped!
On Friday, the In-Season Tournament started with one of the most bewildering viewing experiences in sports history (more in a minute on that). Here are the early results with a reminder these all count in the regular-season standings as well:
The most amazing part about Knicks-Bucks? Damian Lillard’s postgame interview with ESPN, during which he was asked about the tournament. His candor was priceless:
“It’s weird because the energy, you can tell like something is happening. But it’s new, so I’m not really sure what the hell is going on. I don’t really know what’s going on. You know something is going on. It seems like a moment — the court, the uniforms, TV game and all that. But nobody … I don’t think nobody really knows what’s going on. We’re just trying to get to Vegas.”
I don’t know if there’s better marketing than “It seems like a moment” or “We’re just trying to get to Vegas.” The In-Season Tournament sells itself.
We’ll get more tourney action this Friday. Let’s kick it out to Shams for an update.
The Latest From Shams
Clippers set to debut new-look lineup
With James Harden in the fold, the LA Clippers are going heavy on star power in their first unit.
Harden and coach Tyronn Lue confirmed Sunday that Harden will make his LA debut tonight against the Knicks, and league sources tell me and Law Murray that Harden is expected to start alongside Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.
Additionally, I’m told Lue met with his four stars late last week to reinforce the goal at hand — winning the franchise’s first NBA title — and the sacrifice needed to reach that goal.
Harden, whom LA acquired via trade last week, led the league in assists (10.7) last season with the 76ers, but I’m told the plan is for Westbrook to start games on the ball as the Clippers point guard.
LA faces New York, Brooklyn and Dallas on the road this week before returning home against Memphis on Sunday. Back to you, Zach!
These Courts, Though …
My eyes! The goggles do nothing!
Since the preseason, I’ve said we somehow undersold Victor Wembanyama’s hype. In that same vein, we underestimated how horrid these In-Season courts are.
Let me tell you; the red courts assaulted every part of your eyeball, whether you need thick-rimmed glasses or have perfect vision — or had perfect vision before this. No one had a better assessment of the Nets-Bulls design than @ArtButMakeItSports.
And don’t miss this other incredible find by the same account. Overall, the reactions on social media were phenomenal. When people turned on Wizards at Heat, they became Kramer when Kenny Rogers’ Roasters opened outside his window.
We all became Radioactive Man when staring at the bluest of blue courts in Indianapolis and Oklahoma City, respectively. It made Boise State’s football field look like Picasso’s Rose Period. That’s a great art joke. Please, clap.
There is no reasonable world in which your eyes must adjust to this visual simply to watch a basketball game.
Because it’s the internet, some people will say they like the courts and aren’t lying, but I assure you they are lying — every single one of them.
NBA Stock Report!
Checking early-season returns
Along with the tourney tip-off, let’s check out the NBA stock market based on the weekend’s action and see how to feel about these teams entering the week:
📈 : Atlanta Hawks. Don’t look now, but the Hawks are good. Atlanta recently buried the Pelicans with a 70-45 second half in New Orleans. The Hawks are 4-2, deep and not just relying on Trae Young.
📉 : Indiana Pacers. They had a 50-point third quarter on Saturday. Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and six assists in that quarter en route to a 43-and-12 night, but the Pacers lost by one … to the Hornets.
Down one in the final 29 seconds, Indiana missed a game-tying free throw, got the rebound, turned it over, blocked a shot attempt and got the ball back before LaMelo Ball didn’t let Haliburton even get a shot off as the clock expired.
📈 : Philadelphia 76ers. Philly beat the Suns at home 112-100 to improve to 4-1. The Sixers look comfortable on the court.
📈 : Cam Thomas. The Brooklyn Nets’ super scorer hit one of the most insane jump shots ever. He jump-stopped with his back to the basket, turned and squared up in mid-air to hit it over Jaylen Brown.
📈 : Wemby. Yes, the Spurs lost 123-116 to the Raptors on Sunday, but Wemby had 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and five blocks. He’s the only teenager to ever do that.
📉 : NBA courts. It’s not just the In-Season Tournament courts teams are using. The Heat are using a “culture court,” opening themselves up to endless ridicule due to the text in the middle of the key.
📉 : Social media images. CJ McCollum’s reaction to the image used to aggregate the news of his collapsed lung was great. The image choice itself was not.
Bounce Passes
Steve Kerr is looking to step down from Team USA after Paris.
If the Wolves are playing offense like this, look out.
Zach LaVine’s career goals are obtainable for Bulls, but how much does he want it?
Expensive teams are being aggressive during their contending windows.
Screen Game (All times Eastern)
- Main Screen: Clippers-Knicks (7:30 p.m.). Harden’s Clippers debut.
- Second Screen: Celtics-Wolves (8 p.m.). Minnesota just beat Denver and also wants to ruin Boston’s perfect start to the season.
- League Pass Game of the Night: Hawks-Thunder (8 p.m.). Two of the more entertaining teams to watch, although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seems likely to sit due to a sprained knee.
(Top photo: C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)
