The Lakers are nothing if not grateful

Luka wins his first battle *against* the Mavericks.

Good morning. Let’s basketball.

The Chess Game; John Singer Sargent; 1907

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Dee Has Left The Building

Diana Taurasi announced her retirement from basketball in Time Magazine. One of the greatest of all time. Maybe the greatest of all time. There are some great stories in the Time piece. This will be a favorite of all NBA fans.

During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the women’s and men’s U.S. basketball teams again stayed on a cruise ship. Players from both teams, a group of NBA and WNBA stars, were sitting around one night, having a few laughs, a few drinks, and talking some serious smack, as is the habit of super competitive and successful athletes. Draymond Green, a noted NBA rabble-rouser known more for his defensive instincts, physicality, passing skills, and penchant for drawing technical fouls and suspensions than his shooting and scoring ability, was going on about something. Taurasi said, “Hey, Draymond, how does it feel to be the only person in this room who’s never been double-teamed?”

Got ‘em.

The WNBA put out a 2-minute highlight reel. It should be two hours.

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Scores

Celtics 111, Raptors 101 — Jayson Tatum is getting zero MVP buzz but … he might be No. 3 on my invisible ballot? Speaking of MVP, I didn’t have Nikola Jokic on my preseason predictions ballot primarily because I’m an idiot that was doing things too fast. I suspect he’ll finish No. 2 this season (and has a real case to win it again). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is set up to win it. Tatum has never finished higher than No. 4. I think as of right now it’s Tatum or Giannis for No. 3, Donovan Mitchell at No. 5. You can make a case for Mitchell over Giannis and maybe Tatum. You can make a case for any of these folks over Shai and Jokic. It won’t be a good case. But you can make it. By the way, obviously all of those folks were on my preseason longlist, which deserves an update.

Cavaliers 122, Magic 82 — We are so far away from the Game 7 between these teams last season.

Is Evan Mobley the Most Improved Player? Or is it Ty Jerome? Or Dyson Daniels? Or Jaren Jackson Jr.?

Spurs 103, Pelicans 109 — Worth noting that De’Aaron Fox is not having the kind of impact you’d expect with Victor Wembanyama out. Defenses are keyed in much more and Fox has always been helped by a second player who can provide real pressure.

Suns 148, Grizzlies 151 — Game’s on the line? Call Ja Morant.

Phoenix started the season 8-1. It’s hard to remember that. 19-30 since then and 2.5 games out of No. 10 in the West … and just two games ahead of No. 12 Portland.