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This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! For years, people have talked about how nice the NBA is these days. One of the main complaints people seem to have is that the players are too friendly with each other.
That's not new talk — it's been that way for years now. That stretches back to the origins of the banana boat crew. We just haven't had too many instances of players legitimately not liking each other to add a little spice to the games we watch.
But the Pacers and Bucks are restoring the feeling.
These two teams legitimately seem to have beef. Tyrese Haliburton was blunt about it after Tuesday night's Pacers win in Game 2.
"We don't have to sit here and act like it's any secret," Haliburton said. "We don't like them, they don't like us, and that's just what it is. And I think they live for this, we live for this, so I could [not] care less. I'm out here just trying to help my team win a game."
Not quite sure what it stems from. If I had to guess, it'd be the moment the Pacers tried to sneak a game-ball away from Giannis Antetokounmpo after he scored a career-high 65 points on Indiana. That was back in 2023.
Maybe it was when Haliburton stole Damian Lillard's celebration that one time. Dame certainly didn't seem to like that. Again, that was in 2023. But those sorts of things linger, as we saw when the two of them exchanged words in Game 1.
MORE ON LILLARD: His return didn't matter very much in Game 2, as predicted here.
These are just underlying threads in a narrative that has developed between these two teams that they seem to have no problem leaning into.
Here's what I think the real problem is: These two teams have played in nine regular-season games over the last two years and now eight playoff games, including the two they've played this year. That's 17 matchups total in two seasons. When you see a team enough, you start to hate them. They're always in your way. That's just how it goes as competitors.
Whatever is driving this, I'm here for it. Rivalries are fun. What would make this even more fun, however, is if the Bucks decided it was time to fight back. Because the Pacers are up 2-0 in this series and it hasn't been particularly close so far.
Say what you want about JJ Redick. He might have gotten the Lakers' job because of his friendship with LeBron James. Maybe he skipped a few (a lot?) of steps in climbing the head coaching ranks. That's all fair.
But what you can never say about the dude is that he's afraid to rip his team. He absolutely tore into the Lakers after the Timberwolves cut LA's lead down to 11 in the third quarter.
He calls a timeout here and just eviscerates them. You can hear the beginnings of it. It's bad.
WARNING: There is some NSFW language in this video
That's rough. I can imagine that it probably wears on the Lakers' players quite a bit. To have another grown man cursing you out like that is...not fun. At least for the players, anyway. Seeing JJ lose it like this from the comfort of my couch is worth it every single time. The dude looks like he's about to explode.
But it was effective! The Lakers went on a 7-0 run right after this and closed the game out. LA responded the way Redick needed the team to. In the end, that's what matters.
But I'm sorry. This is hilarious.
The Giants' broadcast decided to reward these two little fans for sticking things out during a stinker. San Francisco was losing 11-2 to Milwaukee, but that didn't stop these two fans from having the best time ever.
So they were awarded with some baseballs to take home from the game.
This game stunk, but this is a moment they'll surely remember forever. This is what sports is all about, man. You love to see it.
— Here's Christian D'Andrea with three NFL draft traps that the teams at the top should avoid. Plus a bonus trap for the Cowboys.
— A coach anonymously ripped Shedeur Sanders ahead of the draft. This is pretty weak. Charles Curtis has more here.
— This LeBron James-Kevin Gates beef is...weird. That's all I can really say about it.
— Cory Woodroof has five potential NFL draft surprises for you here.
— Heck of a way for a ninth inning rally to end. Andrew Joseph has details here.
— Stephen A. Smith peels another layer back on the Luka Doncic trade. Man. This is bad.
That's a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading. Peace.
-Sykes
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Bucks and Pacers rivalry in NBA playoffs is so good
Continue reading...
Good morning, Winners! For years, people have talked about how nice the NBA is these days. One of the main complaints people seem to have is that the players are too friendly with each other.
That's not new talk — it's been that way for years now. That stretches back to the origins of the banana boat crew. We just haven't had too many instances of players legitimately not liking each other to add a little spice to the games we watch.
But the Pacers and Bucks are restoring the feeling.
These two teams legitimately seem to have beef. Tyrese Haliburton was blunt about it after Tuesday night's Pacers win in Game 2.
"We don't have to sit here and act like it's any secret," Haliburton said. "We don't like them, they don't like us, and that's just what it is. And I think they live for this, we live for this, so I could [not] care less. I'm out here just trying to help my team win a game."
Not quite sure what it stems from. If I had to guess, it'd be the moment the Pacers tried to sneak a game-ball away from Giannis Antetokounmpo after he scored a career-high 65 points on Indiana. That was back in 2023.
Maybe it was when Haliburton stole Damian Lillard's celebration that one time. Dame certainly didn't seem to like that. Again, that was in 2023. But those sorts of things linger, as we saw when the two of them exchanged words in Game 1.
MORE ON LILLARD: His return didn't matter very much in Game 2, as predicted here.
These are just underlying threads in a narrative that has developed between these two teams that they seem to have no problem leaning into.
Here's what I think the real problem is: These two teams have played in nine regular-season games over the last two years and now eight playoff games, including the two they've played this year. That's 17 matchups total in two seasons. When you see a team enough, you start to hate them. They're always in your way. That's just how it goes as competitors.
Whatever is driving this, I'm here for it. Rivalries are fun. What would make this even more fun, however, is if the Bucks decided it was time to fight back. Because the Pacers are up 2-0 in this series and it hasn't been particularly close so far.
JJ Redick rips his team into shape
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Say what you want about JJ Redick. He might have gotten the Lakers' job because of his friendship with LeBron James. Maybe he skipped a few (a lot?) of steps in climbing the head coaching ranks. That's all fair.
But what you can never say about the dude is that he's afraid to rip his team. He absolutely tore into the Lakers after the Timberwolves cut LA's lead down to 11 in the third quarter.
He calls a timeout here and just eviscerates them. You can hear the beginnings of it. It's bad.
WARNING: There is some NSFW language in this video
That's rough. I can imagine that it probably wears on the Lakers' players quite a bit. To have another grown man cursing you out like that is...not fun. At least for the players, anyway. Seeing JJ lose it like this from the comfort of my couch is worth it every single time. The dude looks like he's about to explode.
But it was effective! The Lakers went on a 7-0 run right after this and closed the game out. LA responded the way Redick needed the team to. In the end, that's what matters.
But I'm sorry. This is hilarious.
This is the best
The Giants' broadcast decided to reward these two little fans for sticking things out during a stinker. San Francisco was losing 11-2 to Milwaukee, but that didn't stop these two fans from having the best time ever.
So they were awarded with some baseballs to take home from the game.
This game stunk, but this is a moment they'll surely remember forever. This is what sports is all about, man. You love to see it.
Quick hits: NFL draft traps to avoid ... Shedeur Sanders gets anonymously ripped ... and more
— Here's Christian D'Andrea with three NFL draft traps that the teams at the top should avoid. Plus a bonus trap for the Cowboys.
— A coach anonymously ripped Shedeur Sanders ahead of the draft. This is pretty weak. Charles Curtis has more here.
— This LeBron James-Kevin Gates beef is...weird. That's all I can really say about it.
— Cory Woodroof has five potential NFL draft surprises for you here.
— Heck of a way for a ninth inning rally to end. Andrew Joseph has details here.
— Stephen A. Smith peels another layer back on the Luka Doncic trade. Man. This is bad.
That's a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading. Peace.
-Sykes
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Bucks and Pacers rivalry in NBA playoffs is so good
Continue reading...
