Chris W. Crouse

I know I’ve said it before but covering Russell Westbrook this season has truly been such a privilege. The way he genuinely cares about his teammates and making them better through consistency—that’s leadership. It’s really inspiring.

Wemby admitted a few weeks ago that Jokic was better at him offensively (via convo with @ChrisWCrouse). Wonder how much that and him looking to beat the best in the NBA brought the results today with him (probably trying to do too much on offense) fortyeightminutes.com/the-story-behi…

Erik Spoelstra is great enough that he can beat the crap out of tanking and financially-priority motivated teams in a number of ways. One game it can be 83 points. The next, it can be a nice Saturday afternoon to out rebound the heck out of you and boost K Ware’s stock. It’s been an honor to be around excellence.

@TheChadWithrow Can’t wait for the Nashville Grizzlies

Nashville is a better place to live and visit than Memphis. These are facts. The virtue signaling and outrage from white media people that would also never want to spend any time in Memphis is hilarious.

The details of Victor Wembanyama’s MVP Locker Room debate with @JaredWeissNBA, @ByTimReynolds and myself that sparked a week of conversations. ➕ the contrast between Wemby and LeBron James in how they handle media and narratives. fortyeightminutes.com/the-story-behi…

Jayson Tatum tells me what he gained from remaining with the Celtics while injured earlier in the year and how it’s helped the team have success in integrating him back into the lineup once healthy. 🎥 From our Locker Room access last night in Miami 🌴 (Had to use the C’s logo to hide the Heat’s arena wifi behind him)

2.5 minutes worth of scenes from last nights’ Heat 🔥 win over the 5ers 🚫🧯 1 - My Q to Nick Nurse about injured players and if there’s any value in the vets sitting on the bench. 2 - Joel Embiid warming up. 3- Another look at the viral postgame on court convo between Joel, Bam, and Kyle (Kyle still really love the Heat organization btw). 4- Postgame locker room talk with Embiid (Joel was nice enough to turn off the replay of the Phillies game for @ginamizell’s question + he answered some of @Ky_Carlin’s Q’s).

There’s something to understanding the highs and lows of a season. The high of 83 point game doesn’t come without a come down. We may never get anyone to admit it because they don’t realize what’s happening to them. The exhaustion of churning the most out of this team for the past 6 months caught up with the Heat in that come down.

parágrafo interessante

The NBA presented three comprehensive anti-tanking concepts to its Board of Governors on Wednesday, with modifications expected to each before a formal vote in May, per ESPN sources. 1. 18 teams in draft lottery (seeds 7-15 in each conference) – flattened odds, with bottom 10 teams having an 8% chance, the remaining 20% odds distributed in decreasing order for 11 through 18, and and a lottery drawing for all 18 picks. 2) 22 teams in lottery using 2-year record (seeds 7-15, plus the four playoff first round exits in both conferences). Lottery teams would reach a minimum win total floor in each season, such as 25 wins. If a team falls short of the floor, it gets slotted to meet the floor. Top 4 drawn as part of lottery, as is currently. 3) 18 teams in a "5 by 5" lottery – bottom 5 teams have equal odds for the top pick, with lottery formed for picks 1-5. Bottom 5 teams have a floor at 10; those that fall out of top 5 get sorted in a separate drawing.

The story behind Victor Wembanyama’s Locker Room MVP debate that sparked a conversation: fortyeightminutes.com/the-story-behi…

@JaredWeissNBA @TheAthletic Was a great convo and moment. Appreciated the different angles, including how Wemby was genuinely trying to gain perspective.

I just had a 20-minute debate with Wemby about whether he should win MVP. Will have a story up on @TheAthletic soon, diving into how it all went down. (Spoiler alert: Wemby thinks he should be MVP)