Panels:
First Half
Raptors have reason to be optimistic after Game 1 loss?
The first time in 7 years the Raptors have lost a game when two guys score 30 points Kawhi: 31 | Lowry: 30 (Via Tim Reynolds/AP)
“You feel good because you just want to play good basketball. I’d rather be them than the Blazers. You want to be in that spot. You can’t get too deflated by this loss” – Jefferson
“You can’t waste a 30-point game from Lowry. They didn’t win the half court. Milwaukee out executed them and that was without Giannis dominating. I am worried for the Raptors” – Windhorst
“Game 1, in this series especially, you don’t want to overreact. This is going to be a battle for this entire series” – Jefferson
“One of the things that the Raptors have issues with is that they get some guys play really well and then they give them nothing” – Windhorst
“It’s how you answer and respond and I think Toronto is in a very, very good place to respond because they have some confidence from game 1” – Jefferson
May 16, 2006 – Richard Jefferson (New Jersey Nets) flying in for the major slam vs the Heat!
Kawhi shot worthy of a Tattoo?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxfTZdlAR76/
Most impressive thing Brook Lopez did in Game 1?
First time he’s had double digit rebounds since 2017. 29 points and 11 rebounds
“The Bucks ran the play for him at the end. The shot that clinched the game” – Windhorst
Is there still room on the Spicy P bandwagon?
Fun nugget: There is a Spicy P hot sauce that is sold in Toronto
“They need spicer P” – Windhorst
IT’S BACK! Let’s…
Best baseline bangouts in playoff history!
2003: Kobe Bryant on the Timberwolves!
1991: MJ on Ewing!
2005: T-Mac on Shawn Bradley
Zion’s stepdad (Lee Anderson) saying they’re “excited” for New Orleans
Via Off The Bench 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge:
“I don’t have any other reason not to believe what he says” – Windhorst
Jefferson:
Nichols:
“Most importantly, the fact that Anthony Davis, the last No. 1 pick saying he wants out of there, doesn’t appear to have influenced Zion saying he’s okay going there” – Windhorst
Knicks brass “Confident” They’ll “Add a great player” using No. 3 pick
From Steve Mills and Scott Perry:
“I want to break that statement down: they didn’t say they would add a great player with the No. 3 pick. They said they are happy to have the No. 3 pick and they’re are confident they are going to add a great player” – Windhorst
“They got to give me something. I just need to see it happen” – Jefferson
Embiid: “I’ll be back even better and stronger”
Hell of a season. Proud of my guys and I appreciate all the support you guys gave us all season long. Extremely disappointed and fell short of our goal but this is the motivation I needed and best believe I’ll be BACK EVEN BETTER AND STRONGER #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/sN7ufCM1pD
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) May 15, 2019
“Keeping it real: he made the crying photo of him his Avi (on Twitter)” – Windhorst
“This man also trolls himself. Everything is open game. You can’t use that against him when that’s his profile picture. He wants better from himself. This is something that’s going to be motivation for him” – Jefferson
Nichols:
Second Half
Rachel’s one-on-one conversation with Stephen Curry:
Highlights:
On playing their old style from 2015-2016 before KD’s arrival:
“Without KD, we have to play differently and we have to highlight what everybody’s strengths are and do it by committee” – Curry
On losing KD:
“Nobody, it’s weird to say, gave us a shot” – Curry
On beating the Rockets:
“You saw the way we celebrated” – Curry
On playing without KD:
“It’s fun to win. I don’t care what the narrative is” – Curry
“We have the ability and experience to shift” – Curry
On dislocating finger in Rockets series:
“It’s been an interesting journey. I actually never had this happen before” – Curry
On facing Seth Curry in WCF:
“Definitely a special moment. It’s nerve-racking. I get nervous watching him play regardless” – Curry
“When he’s on defense, I could care less because I need to get my buckets and score. When I was guarding him [Game 1], he had a corner 3 in front of our bench; and it’s such a mix feeling. I’ma still contest really hard so it looks good on film, but I might be okay with him making it” – Curry
On his parents rooting either for him or Seth:
“They had so much nervous energy. So I didn’t know how it was going to play out” – Curry
On whether he made a bet with Seth for the WCF:
“No. Stakes are high” – Curry
Difficulties of Steph playing against Seth in WCF?
“There’s something special and fun about it. One thing that you don’t get: When you have a rival, you get a break from them. When you lose to your brother: You don’t get a break! When you lose, it’s a different type of bragging rights that go into that” – Jefferson
“Neither of them would be in this position if they weren’t competing against each other since birth. They’ve made each other better” – Jefferson
Red hot Warriors still missing Durant by Brian Windhorst
Source: KD out for Game 2 (Calf Strain), “Not close” to return (Via Ramona Shelburne)
“I saw him coming out of the Warriors practice facility and he was wearing some flip-flops, he had a slight limp still. From what I understand, all he’s been able to really do is upper body work in his rehab” – Shelburne
“If he’s not even touching any of benchmarks, he’s a lot further away than I think people think” – Jefferson
Zion hasn’t signed with an agent
Shelburne: Something
Jefferson: Nothing
“He’s the No. 1 pick. He doesn’t need to give an agent 4% right now”
Kawhi’s 2-point 4th quarter
Jefferson: Something
“You need to be able to give this guy a little bit of a break. You play two months of basketball you’re going to have an off game. He’s going to be fine. This was a bad 10 minute stretch for them in the 4th”
Milwaukee radio station not playing Drake songs during East Finals (Via 103.7 KISS FM in Milwaukee)
Fun nugget from Producer Danny: Drake has more No. 1 hits than the Beatles
Jefferson: Everything
“Do you know how difficult it is to replace 30 percent of your catalogue?”
May 16m 1997 – Larry Johnson (Knicks) with the tough no look reverse layup vs the Heat!
Overachievers
Magic & Larry Bird to receive lifetime achievement award at the NBA Awards (June 24 in Santa Monica)
JA to Memphis?
Sources: Grizzlies have sights set on JA Morant at No. 2 (Via Woj)
“[His ceiling] is very, very high. It’s all the other things that he can do: The passing, the shooting, the understanding of an offense. That’s what gets people excited. Those dunks are fun. But that’s not what’s going to make him a great player” – Jefferson
“It gives you an opportunity to trade Mike Conley or have him there as a mentor for JA in his first year” – Shelburne
What needs to change for Blazers in Game 2?
“Their defense. They’re going to bring Kanter and Collins up. They’re going to be a little more aggressive on Steph. The goal is to make those other guys beat you, not allow Steph and Klay be the most dominant guys on the court” – Jefferson
“The Blazers looked tired in the first game. Portland will come out stronger in Game 2” – Shelburne
“I’m looking for them to change their defense. Offensively, I expect things to change. Damian Lillard has the heart of a guy who will make things happen. He has been doubled, he has been trapped, he has been beat up there, physically going after him and this has been happening for a while now” – Nichols
Caesars: Knicks tied for 3rd-best odds to win 2020 title
