This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.
Sometimes in life things work out for you and you actually end up getting exactly what you wanted.
That happened last night as the Trail Blazers crushed the Nuggets to secure the No. 6 seed in the West.
Now, this isn’t really about Portland but Damian Lillard and Co. deserve a lot of thank yous for what they set up with that win.
I’m talking, of course, about how now the defending champion Lakers will now have to play Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the 7 vs. 8 play-in game Wednesday night. This is a dream play-in game, and one I begged for last week.
LeBron said a few weeks ago that whoever came up with the play-in tournament should be fired. I think the opposite and would love to see that person get a promotion. These play-in games are absolutely perfect and create some really good drama to start the postseason.
LeBron vs. Steph is going to be a lot of fun. So much fun. All the fun. The winner gets the No. 7 seed in the West and a date with the the Suns. The loser then has to play the winner of the Memphis-San Antonio game for the final spot in the playoffs.
LeBron and the Lakers are understandably frustrated with how their season has gone. Injuries to both LeBron and Anthony Davis are pretty much to blame for them being in this play-in round but now both guys are somewhat healthy and ready for the playoffs. They could very easily go on a run in the postseason like they did last year or they could have a lot of trouble on their hands with the Warriors and have to play another play-in game.
That’s what makes this format so beautiful.
In the East we’ll have a doubleheader on Tuesday with the Celtics hosting the Wizards in the 7 vs. 8 game and the Pacers hosting the Hornets in the 9 vs. 10 game.
The Celtics-Wizards game is a juicy one because like the Lakers, Boston entered the year with high expectations but now find themselves in a tough spot as they try to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Jaylen Brown is out for the rest of the year and the team is pretty much a mess.
Russell Westbrook has been incredible down the stretch for the Wizards and is always fun to watch in must-win games. Bradley Beal returned last night after missing the three previous games with a sore hamstring and scored 25 points in a win over the Hornets.
So yeah, the Wizards could be a very big problem for the Celtics.
The Pacers-Hornets game is a fun one because it puts LaMelo Ball on the big stage in what has been a stellar rookie year for the kid.
The doubleheader play-in round nights coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday are going to be awesome. This format is perfect and beautiful and I can’t wait to see how the drama unfolds.
Thanks, NBA. And thanks, Portland!
Quick hits: Red Sox fan causally snags a bat… Chris Webber and Jalen Rose have special moment… Liverpool goalie scores incredible goal… And more.
– A Red Sox fan on Sunday snagged a bat that went flying into the crowd and didn’t even have to get off his phone call to do so.
– Chris Webber and Jalen Rose shared a special moment on ESPN moments after Webber was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
– Liverpool goalie Alisson Becker scored a stunning, game-winning goal in extra time to save his team’s season and fans couldn’t believe it.
– Mike Sykes has a new episode of Special Delivery, in which he breaks down Kevin Durant’s new signature shoe.
– A minor league baseball time is selling “Beer Bats” at games and everyone rightly loves them.
– Phillies manager Joe Girardi got really upset with reporters over questions about a dugout confrontation.
[mm-video type=video id=01f5ns1fjns0ygyx2at8 playlist_id=01f09p3bf720d8rg02 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f5ns1fjns0ygyx2at8/01f5ns1fjns0ygyx2at8-447d9288db3519a706d50caee3cdc5b5.jpg]