Yeah, I’m surprised the Sixers have squared up their series against the Heat. I’m even more surprised that James Harden is helping to key this Philly comeback. But you can’t ignore these Game Four numbers—31 points (including 16 in the fourth), seven boards and nine assists in 41 minutes. It probably doesn’t hurt the Sixers’ cause that Joel Imbiid is back on the floor and doing his best Raging Bull impression. Collars getting a little tight in Miami?
A “fan” assaulted Chris Paul’s mother and wife Sunday in Dallas. The “fan” put his hands on Paul’s mother and pushed his wife as they sat behind the Suns’ bench. No, Mr. “Fan.” You’re gone. Hopefully, forever. I concur with the content of Paul’s postgame tweet: “Wanna fine players for saying stuff to the fans but the fans can put they hands on our families? Eff that.” Eff that, indeed. As for the Dallas-Phoenix series, the Suns wouldn’t blow it again, would they?
Good to see Mike Brown getting another shot as an NBA head coach, this time with the Kings. Brown is currently an assistant coach with the Warriors, and will finish out their playoff run before moving on to Sacramento. Who has a better pedigree than he does? Eight years of previous head coaching experience with the Cavaliers and Lakers, and almost two decades as an assistant coach under the likes of Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr. I do not view Brown as a coaching “re-tread.” He’s a pro. He will need all of that experience and wisdom as he tries to get the Kings to the playoffs for the first time in 16 years.
Colts coaches and teammates are raving about newly acquired veteran QB Matt Ryan. “You feel him in this building,” is the way Indy DC Gus Bradley has described Ryan’s presence. Implied is the contrast to Ryan’s predecessor, Carson Wentz, whose locker room “presence” was always notably absent. I think Indy can be last year’s Cincinnati in the AFC.
I don’t know why I find this refreshing, but I do. After spending the first ten years of his NFC career with the Seahawks, linebacker K.J. Wright played for the Raiders on a one-year deal last year. Now, says Wright, “I want to go back home. I think it’s that simple. Seattle knows that I want to come back. They know how much they mean to me.” Pete Carroll says he is receptive to the idea. Maybe you can go home again.
Former Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon is transferring to South Florida. There’s a lot to unpack here. Look, Baylah is still nasty and will always be nasty. But I wound up watching a lot of Bears football last year, and that was a really, really good team. And Bohanon was an absolute beast, going 10-2 as Baylor’s starting quarterback. But he recently got beat out during spring practice by reserve QB Blake Shapen. (Huh? That dude is BETTER than Bohanon? If true, that’s scary for every team on Baylor’s schedule, but I digress.) To his everlasting credit, Baylor coach Dave Aranda informed Bohanon that he would be the backup QB in 2022 if he stayed at Baylor. That was truly altruistic. Can you imagine how comforting it would be for a college coach to have a guy like Bohanon as a BACKUP? Aranda gave Bohanon the option to enter the transfer portal. Bohanon says USF is the place for him. He has two years of eligibility remaining, and I hope he tears it up in Tampa.
After playing 17 games in 17 days, the Astros finally get a day off. Let’s hope it doesn’t prove to be a momentum breaker. Houston has won seven straight after finishing off a four-game sweep of the Tigers with a 5-0 shutout on Sunday. Aledmys Diaz hit a Mother’s Day grand slam in the third. The Astros’ starting pitching has been outstanding through the first 29 games of the season.
