The Rush: Hawks erase 26-point deficit, Kawhi-less Clippers win and LeBron shreds the NBA
The Atlanta Hawks erase a 26-point deficit in the win vs. Philadelphia, Paul George powers the Kawhi-less Clippers past Utah, and LeBron shreds the NBA via Twitter over a rash of injuries.
Video Transcript
- Williams, Thybulle on him, gives it right back. Late clock here, down to four. Gallinari, big shot for the Hawks!
JARED QUAY: The Atlanta Hawks came back from the dead, literally.
- Literally?
JARED QUAY: In game 5 last night, shocking the 76ers 109 - 106, and taking a 3-2 series lead. At one point, Trae Young and the Hawks were down by as many as 26 points, but somehow found a way to claw their way back in, overcoming a combined 73 points from Joel Embiid and Seth Curry.
Atlanta entered the game on a 15-2 run, outscoring the City of Brotherly Love 40-19 in the 4th. I'm not sure what's worse? Philly fans realizing Rocky Balboa is a fictional character, or the Sixers epic collapse in game 5.
- It's hard to say.
JARED QUAY: Either way what a comeback for the Hawks, and what a dumpster fire ending for the 76ers. Trae Young and company will look to close out the top seeded Sixers at home on Friday.
Meanwhile, out west, no Kawhi equals no problemo for Steve Ballmer's Clippers, taking a commanding 3-2 series lead against the top-seeded Jazz.
- Makes his move on Gobert. Slips inside, and gets the roll!
[WHISTLE]
JARED QUAY: Check this out Clip Nation, your club is only one win away from its first Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history, let that sink in. Hard to imagine they never made it to the Western Conference Finals during Lob City Days. I'm not sure what's the bigger failure? Lob City never doing anything noteworthy in the playoffs, or Windows Vista?
- Sick burn.
JARED QUAY: Anyways, both of those are in the past, and relying on Paul George seems to be working, for now. Although, do we really think a guy dubbed Playoff P can lead the Clips to the promised land? Clippers fans make up 3.2% of the population, probably think he can. But the other 96.8 of us? No, probably it won't happen. Who knows?
N, O, Wednesday was not a good day for the NBA. There was some coaching changes, Chris Paul entered the NBA's COVID protocols, Kawhi Leonard's right knee, Kyrie Irving's ankle, and the list just goes on. The injuries are mounting up for some of the NBA's top players, and it's the wrong time for that to happen.
LeBron James, who's currently enjoying a nice off-season, sounded off on the league's condensed schedule via Twitter. The King said, quote, they all didn't want to listen to me about the start of the season. I knew exactly what would happen. I only wanted to protect the well-being of the players, which ultimately is the product benefit of our game. End quote. BronBron brings up some great points. It's time for the league to figure something out.
The 2021 NBA season kicked off just 72 days after the Lakers won the title last season, officially making it the shortest off-season in league history, and the shortest of the four major men's pro sports leagues here in the States.
- Mm hm?
JARED QUAY: You don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand the value of rest for top athletes, or just for people in general.
[BELL RING]
But clearly, Adam Silver, who went to Duke for undergrad, and the University of Chicago for law school, doesn't get it, even with those two degrees from high-end institutions. The way the execs run the NBA, you would think they went to--
- Greendale Community College.
Prayers up for speedy recovery for those who are being hampered with injuries right now. And Adam Silver, figure something out, man.