NBA Week in Review: James Harden's Chipotle order, Clips' chaos and more
Welcome back to the Week in Review. This week, James Harden tells us his go-to order at Chipotle, the NBA is introduced to Sting and Russell Westbrook zings Stephen Colbert. You can read last week’s review here.
Game(s) of the Week
We have to reach back to the beginning of the week here, because the two best games from this week took place Sunday and Monday. First, Sunday’s contest between the Clippers and Raptors wasn’t particularly memorable, but Blake Griffin breaking his hand on an equipment manager’s face sure was. What in the world are you doing punching an equipment manager, Blake? Sure, you guys may be close friends, but a Clippers employee isn’t in a position where he can fight back against one of the team’s star players. As someone who wants to see Griffin on the court, this is just stupid. Don’t punch people.
Meanwhile, Monday’s Spurs-Warriors game turned out to be kind of a dud, eh? I still think San Antonio (and OKC) can give Golden State a fight in the playoffs. Until then, it’s hilarious to watch the Warriors continue to wreak psychological havoc on the rest of the league. Their latest victim? (Probably) LaMarcus Aldridge, who deleted all his social media accounts after playing poorly in Monday’s loss.
• MORE NBA: Biggest All-Star snubs | SI.com's second-half forecast
All-Star Interlude
Arguably the biggest piece of news in the NBA this week: Sting will perform at halftime of the NBA All-Star Game on Valentine’s Day. Is this a good choice? Here are 47 minutes of NBA highlights set to a Sting album to help you find out.
Tweet(s) of the Week
Vine(s) of the Week
#https://vine.co/v/iilv2A7dtD0
Roundup
Here are the biggest All-Star snubs ... Pistons owner Tom Gores is pledging $10 million for the residents of Flint ... Kristaps Porzingis got the Lee Jenkins treatment ... Adam Silver says the NBA will re-evaluate its All-Star voting process ... A look back at the best and worst trades of 2015 ... This Bradley Bealblocked dunk is a metaphor for the Wizards’ season ... Here are some highlights from a Georgian basketball league’s All-Star game ... How DeMarcus Cousins is pushing the Kings into playoff contention.
The Ben Golliver YouTube Corner
Shaquille O’Neal is easily the player I miss watching the most in the NBA. The Big Aristotle found out this week he would be getting his own statue outside Staples Center in Los Angeles. It is much, much deserved.
The Fashion Outlet
Stephen Colbert modeled a pair of glasses from Russell Westbrook’s Westbrook Frames collection. Colbert asked Russ why he sometimes wears frames with no lenses in them. Westbrook: “I see better without them.”
The One-Question Interview
Off the court only. Rarely one question. This week, players’ choice MVP and Houston Rockets star James Harden.
Rohan Nadkarni:What’s your go-to order at Chipotle? Do you have a certain thing you get every time?
James Harden: Well, not every time. But for the most part I get a double-chicken bowl with black beans, brown rice, corn, medium sauce, guacamole and a little bit of cheese.
Rohan Nadkarni:I respect that you spring for the guacamole, that’s a bold move.
James Harden: Yeah, guacamole is the best.
