Grind City Media’s Lang Whitaker and Michael Wallace have been covering the NBA
since shorts were short and socks were long, but their opinions about the League
don’t always mesh. #IMHO is their weekly chance to weigh in on the most
pertinent news from around the NBA. What’s lit? What’s lame? Find out each week
right here.
From: Lang Whitaker Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 9:28 AM To: Michael
Wallace Subject: #IMHO
Mike,
I’m sitting here at my desk watching highlights of last night’s Toronto Raptors
game, and man it’s weird to watch Marc Gasol out there hitting threes and
throwing perfect backdoor passes wearing that red uniform. It’s been nearly a
week since the trade deadline passed, and we’re still getting used to seeing how
everything shakes out from the trade deadline frenzy — 26 of the NBA’s 30 teams
made a move!
But these days the trade deadline is only one part of the late-season roster
shuffle teams are able to make, as veterans take contract buyouts and hit free
agency. And these aren’t vets with nothing in the tank – these are guys who at
the very least can come off the bench and contribute to squads making a
postseason push.
We talked about trade deadline impact last week, but which veteran buyout player
do you think will make the biggest contributions the last few weeks of the
season?
From: Michael Wallace Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 10:20 AM To: Lang
Whitaker Subject: RE: #IMHO
First off, that’s great for Marc. I know this was not an easy process for Gasol
or the Grizzlies. Parting with the most decorated player in franchise history is
never easy. And I’ve either covered it closely or monitored around the league
plenty of times with plenty of teams over the past two decades.
Marc is a perfect fit for Toronto, because he’s a facilitator first-and they
have closers in Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry, in addition to knock-down shooters
and great slashers. He’ll be the fourth option in Toronto, but can be the
second-best playmaker on that team-and be just fine with the role.
Now, to your question. Absolutely everything lines up for Wes Matthews, who was
bought out by New York after being acquired in the trade from Dallas, to step
right into the void created by Victor Oladipo’s injury in Indiana. If Wes can
regain his shooting touch that landed him that big-time contract in free agency
three years ago, the Pacers will not only get back on their feet, but also be a
legit headache in the East again. But credit Indiana and coach Nate McMillan for
grinding their way through this latest batch of adversity. They went on a
five-game winning streak BEFORE they even picked up Matthews, and he knocked
down a clutch 3 to extend the streak to six in a row in his Indiana debut on
Tuesday.
Lang, not to keep beating a dead horse-or however that saying goes. But where
there’s smoke, there’s usually fire. I’m on a cliche’ roll here, but what’s up
with the Lakers and all of these tampering allegations? Magic Johnson and
company have now been called out repeatedly about their tactics with regards to
potential free agents and other teams’ key players. Magic is one of the greatest
players in NBA history and so is LeBron. But they’re becoming a bit like the New
England Patriots when it comes to the stigma of stretching the rules.
The latest episode is this situation with Ben Simmons, who apparently was trying
to establish a mentor-mentee type role with Magic as a fellow ‘big point guard.’
Simmons happens to be represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, the agency run
by LeBron’s longtime friend and business partner. Is there nothing to see here,
or the latest chapter in what should be a disturbing trend to the league office?
From: Lang Whitaker Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 9:02 AM To: Michael
Wallace Subject: RE: #IMHO
Mike, I appreciate your cliche roll – that’s one of my go-to orders at Sakura.
According to the NBA, there’s nothing to talk about there with the Lakers and
Sixers. It was the Sixers who initiated contact, apparently, and then also the
Sixers who decided it was a bad idea, I think? And so no harm no foul, according
to the statement from the NBA. Which all reminded me a bit of this scene from
The Naked Gun…
As we know, this isn’t the Lakers’ first rodeo when it comes to talk of
tampering (see: James, LeBron and Davis, Anthony). The truth is, because of
Magic’s stature, anything he does will probably be blown up bigger than it is
and most likely misconstrued. I saw Lakers fans pointing to Hakeem Olajuwon
being on the Rockets staff while he mentored players from opposing teams,
although Hakeem was never the Rockets’ president of basketball operations. And
as far as I can recall, a top five player under contract to one team never
publicly tried to force his way to the Rockets. Nobody knows what really happens
behind the scenes, but at the end of the day, LeBron signed with the Lakers, and
where Anthony Davis eventually ends up remains to be seen.
Let’s talk about a different sticky subject, one that’s been on my mind a lot
recently: Officiating. The Grizz have had a few games recently with quizzical
calls down the stretch: against Sacramento, a late jump ball was somehow changed
to a foul; against the Hornets, there was a late uncalled backcourt violation;
and then last night against the Spurs, the Spurs were whistled for zero fouls in
the fourth quarter until there was literally one second left in the game. Also
this week we saw the official Twitter account of the NBA referees tell us that
Bradley Beal taking six steps without dribbling was actually legal.
The offensive player gathers with his right foot on the ground. He then takes
two legal steps, before losing control of the ball. After regaining possession,
a player is allowed to regain his pivot foot and pass or shoot prior to that
foot returning to the ground. This is legal. https://t.co/0hVqgHw3w7
So what is going on? Is this just a case of a bunch of weird happenstances
happening around the same time? Or is this, to employ one of your cliches, a
case of where there’s smoke there’s fire?
From: Michael Wallace Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 11:18 AM To: Lang
Whitaker Subject: #IMHO
I’ve been at all three of those games you mentioned that involved the Grizzlies
and the questionable – if not egregious – officiating at key stages. Listen,
it’s an extremely difficult job and I know I probably would miss a few calls and
get caught up in the emotion of a game at times, too. They are professionals and
it’s their jobs to endure that and still protect the integrity of the game. But,
again, I don’t envy refs at all.
The Grizzlies have indeed caught a few tough breaks when it comes to this topic.
Mike Conley doesn’t get nearly the respect as he probably deserves on calls and
non-calls in games. I’ve joked with him that this will finally be the year-after
nearly 800 career games-that he gets his first tech for blowing his temper about
a call.
Overall, transparency is a good thing and I appreciate the steps the NBA refs
are taking to publicly explain matters and hold themselves somewhat accountable.
But it’s clear they’re in transition now, ushering in a new crew of officials to
replace many who have retired or are recovering from injuries. At the end of the
day, Jaren Jackson Jr. had two free throws with the game on the line and he
split them. Yes, these are two different issues. But still…
Let’s wrap on this, Lang: After the All-Star break, we’re headed into the
stretch run of the season. Give me one bold prediction as the NBA regular season
winds to the finish. Here’s mine: The Lakers WON’T make the playoffs. Maybe
that’s not too bold, considering they’re on the outside looking in right now.
But it’s still hard to fathom a LeBron-led team missing the postseason. He’s
gone to eight straight NBA Finals and hasn’t failed to make the playoffs since
his second season in the league in 2004-05. But it’s headed that way in a hurry
right now.
From: Lang Whitaker Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2019 9:13 AM To: Michael
Wallace Subject: #IMHO
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last two decades covering the NBA,
it’s to never bet against LeBron. It’s now one of my life rules. Always wear
socks to the airport. Always charge your phone while you sleep. And never, ever
doubt LeBron. I’ve been watching him since he was a sophomore in high school,
when we started covering him back when I worked at SLAM magazine, and no matter
how he gets challenged or doubted or whatever, somehow LeBron always manages to
win.
So I am loathe to count the Lakers out. I know it seems unlikely that they make
it, and they got like 75-percent of their remaining games against playoff teams,
but still. I’ve seen LeBron do some pretty ridiculous stuff. Getting this team
to the postseason might end up being his best trick yet.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis
Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Lang Whitaker and Michael Wallace are
solely their own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its
Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors.
Their sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and they have no special
access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being
an NBA accredited member of the media.
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