NEWSLETTER
Milliseconds after the 1:14 mark in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James appeared on my right shoulder.
“Don’t do it,” he said. “You know who did it better.”
Seconds later, Tayshaun Prince landed forcefully on my left shoulder.
“Yup, me!” he screamed while still picking popcorn off his jersey and twisting beer out of his shorts.
The two started to go at it. Prince said he did it on a Hall of Famer. James replied he did it in a Game 7. Prince pointed out he did it first. James pointed out he did against one of the greatest teams of all time.
Meanwhile, my eyes grew wide, my jaw started to drop, and my arms started to raise. James and Prince turned to each other and then looked up at me: “NO, DON’T DO IT!”
With two simultaneous flicks, I launched both into the depths of my basketball subconscious. This was not the time to think. This was the time to appreciate greatness.
“THAT IS THE BEST BLOCK I’VE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. HOLY SH*TT!!!!!”
• Real-time …
So this is one of the best blocks we’ve ever seen, right? 😱
pic.twitter.com/WKnESV8dNI— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 15, 2021
• Slow motion …
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) July 15, 2021
• Still image …
THE BLOCK. pic.twitter.com/ZzzRJ2f6MI
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 15, 2021
• No matter how many times – or how many ways – you look at Giannis Antetokounmpo’s block on Deandre Ayton, it just becomes that much more impressive. Debates will rage on for years about where that ranks next to Prince’s chase-down swat of Reggie Miller and LeBron James’ stuffing of Andre Iguodala. For now, I would probably place him in front of Prince and slightly behind James. All were remarkable athletic feats, but I do think context helps establish a hierarchy. Prince’s came in a Game 2 of an Eastern Conference Finals. James’ came during a tied Game 7 of the NBA Finals with under two minutes to go. If the Bucks go on to win the series, I do think we could ultimately claim Antetokounmpo’s block as best of the best. But, hey, all three will be remembered forever.
• By the way, we all know where Antetokounmpo learned to block Ayton, right?
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 12, 2021
Giannis took notes 📝
(🎥 @chicagobulls)
pic.twitter.com/BCAt2bSWh9— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 15, 2021
• What happened between the 2:07 mark and the 27-second mark in the 4th quarter was one of the most clutch sequences I’d ever seen. Middleton took the lead on a smooth mid-range jumper; Antetokounmpo immediately pulled off the stunning block on the other end; Jrue Holiday beat out two Suns players for an offensive board (did not lead to a score but it drained more clock); the Bucks then poked the ball away from Chris Paul, and Middleton converted the fastbreak layup to pull ahead 103-99. As frustrating to watch as this Milwaukee “big-3” can be at times, that was an end-of-game masterpiece.
• When ya gotta go, ya gotta go.
"I went to take a tinkle and came back." 😂
—Giannis on leaving early in the first quarter in Games 3 and 4 pic.twitter.com/lChrvXy5ZS
— ESPN (@espn) July 15, 2021
• Props to Booker for doing everything he could.
Devin Booker's making history in his first postseason run 😤 pic.twitter.com/APiIj0MDWF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2021
• When Patrick Williams is not secretly giving defensive advice to the Greek Freak, he is watching some elite WNBA action. According to Williams’ Instagram story, he was in attendance for last night’s WNBA All-Star Game, which means he also got to watch the Chicago Sky’s Allie Quigley pull off her THIRD 3-point contest victory. Maybe she can give Pat a couple of pointers on his rainbow 3?
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1415466146317279235?s=20
"IT'S THE ALLIE QUIGLEY INVITATIONALLL" 😂
IG📸: @Candace_Parker pic.twitter.com/25ndcwl1BD
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) July 15, 2021
• We got some more troubling news out of Team USA training camp last night. Bradley Beal has entered health and safety protocols only a couple of days after Team USA Select Team members Immanuel Quickley, PJ Washington, and Miles Bridges were also removed due to COVID protocols. FWIW: Beal’s absence should only open the door for more Zach LaVine, but I sure hope he can find his way back on the court soon. The Olympics start in Tokyo on the 23rd.
Wizards star Bradley Beal has entered health and safety protocols at Team USA camp, placing his return to play status up in the air, sources tell me and @joevardon.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2021
• The headline might as well be, “Bulls Expected to Emerge as Suitors for Every Possible Starting Point Guard.”
Bulls Expected to Emerge as Suitors for Lakers PG Dennis Schroderhttps://t.co/WnBa1kM0C9 pic.twitter.com/EinLQNAwUl
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 14, 2021
• Another two head coach hires will soon be finalized.
Sources w/ @wojespn: The New Orleans Pelicans and Willie Green are nearing completion on a deal that will make him the team’s next head coach.
The deal is expected to be finalized this week.
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) July 15, 2021
Unseld Jr. — the son of Wes Unseld Sr., the Hall of Famer and former Bullet — has been a highly-respected assistant coach since joining the Wizards’ coaching staff in 2005. https://t.co/OBAlIK8xY1
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2021
