NBA Week in Review: LeBron James’s mustache, sad Chris Paul and more
Welcome to the NBA Week in Review, a look back at the week’s best offerings on and off the court. Today, we have LeBron’s mustache, sad Chris Paul vines and Greg Monroe answers one of life’s toughest questions. Read last week’s review here.
Game of the Week
Let’s not get cute here. The most intriguing matchup on and off the court this week was Clippers vs. Warriors. The palpable disdain between each team makes this so much more fun than just about every other regular season matchup. But we have to get something straight: no one is disrespecting the Warriors! Who exactly is questioning this team’s brilliance? Doc Rivers gave one not-completely-benign quote about how you need to catch a couple breaks to win a championship, and people reacted as if Rivers yelled “fire!” in a movie theater.
The Warriors are not disrespected. Have you seen Twitter during a Golden State game? Stephen Curry could shoot a baby from 40 feet out and people would still marvel at his quick release and chastise the defense for not trapping the pick-and-roll. Also, which owner would be worse to get a beer with, intense Steve Ballmer or creepy Joe Lacob?
• Data Dimes: Curry's crazy stats to start the 2015–16 season
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
The Good:Derrick Rose scored 29 points in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and wore one of the coolest t-shirts I’ve ever seen.
The Bad: Are the Bulls trying to break up with Rose? Surely, Chicago fans are taking this report in stride.
The Ugly:
Rookie Watch
We got beef! Denver Nuggets rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay had a decent comeback for Lakers coach Byron Scott, who explained why L.A. chose DeAngelo Russell over Mudiay in too much detail. But Mudiay’s first real NBA squabble would have been much better if he went in on Scott for not really being a coach. Seriously, the Lakers should just have Scott coach with “TANK” written across his forehead. Or have no coach at all. It won’t make a difference.
Tweet(s) of the Week
He’s not wrong.
If only the Thunder had a shooting guard.
• MORE NBA: Five factors that could define ’16 NBA title
Vine(s) of the Week
This week’s vines are dedicated to Sad Chris Paul:
Chris Paul listens to Adele’s “Hello.”
Chris Paul listens to “Mad World.”
#https://vine.co/v/eLeVBAbque0
Chris Paul listens to “Everybody Hurts.”
Chris Paul listens to “The Sound of Silence.”
• MORE NBA: The Fundamentals: A look at Rubio the scorer
Roundup
The NBA is embracing the three-pointer more than ever before ... Five factors which could decide the NBA title ... Ken Berger writes that the Bulls can still win with a reinvented Rose ... The Clippers disciplined the person responsible for the “#didntloseby50” tweet ... Jason Lloyd wrote a very thorough review of LeBron and Kevin Love’s relationship ... Tristan Thompson is working on his jump shot ... Dwyane Wade has at least 20 points in each of his first five games ... Chris Mannix’s Open Floor podcast with Al Jefferson was a hot topic of conversation around the office.
The Ben Golliver YouTube Corner
Video from around the NBA...
Big Al may have had a pleasant conversation with Mannix, but things got heated with coach Steve Clifford on Thursday:
The Kobe three-point struggle video is hard to watch:
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The Fashion Outlet
Let’s talk about LeBron James’s mustache.
I’m a fan. LeBron is finally embracing his inner old man. All fathers should have a mustache at some point in their lives, and this is the perfect time for LeBron to do so. The mustache makes it all the more hilarious when James toys with someone like Justise Winslow. LeBron is seeking out rookies and high-flyers, letting them crowd him on defense, then unleashing unguardable fadeaways all while looking like their uncle. LeBron James is entering his 13th year in the league. The mustache is a symbol of his dad/old-man/veteran strength and how tired he is of your nonsense.
Also, this:
• MORE NBA: Inside the NBA's sneaker revolution
The One-Question Interview
Off the court only. This week, Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe.
Rohan Nadkarni: If you could only eat one for the rest of your life, soft tacos or hard tacos, which one would you choose and why?
Greg Monroe: Oooooooh. Wow. That's tough. Is it Doritos Locos? If it’s Doritos Locos then I’m going crunchy shell for sure.
RN: Cool ranch or nacho cheese?
GM: Cool ranch.
Check out SI.com next week for more from Monroe. H/t to Freda for inspiring this week’s question.
