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Good evening, folks. It’s Sykes, once again, here to usher you into tonight’s playoff action. But before we get into that, a quick word on the Pelicans.
New Orleans sure didn’t look like a team that belonged in the playoffs when they started the season 1-12.
But after their first-round series against last year’s Western Conference champions in the Phoenix Suns? There should be no doubt that these Pelicans not only belonged in this postseason, but they’ll almost certainly be back.
It took literal perfection from Chris Paul — one of the best three or four point guards of all time — to knock them out.
Brandon Ingram is an absolute star. CJ McCollum is the veteran point guard they’ve needed for a while. Zion Williamson will be Zion Williamson when he comes back. And that’s just the beginning of their core.
We can’t forget about Herb Jones who is already one of the best defenders in basketball as a rookie (even if it didn’t look that way in this series). There’s also Trey Murphy III who was the best shooter in this rookie class and Jose Alvarado who is the next generation’s Patrick Beverley.
We’ve seen this story so many times before. A young, up-and-coming team challenges a juggernaut and then eventually becomes a juggernaut following the lessons learned from defeat. That’s how these very Phoenix Suns became what they were. Sure, it took acquiring Chris Paul, too. But the special sauce was already there.
These Pelicans are up next. Good basketball is coming to New Orleans and it’s coming soon. And after this playoff run? It’s pretty clear the city is ready for it.
I’m excited to sit back and watch it.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves have a chance to force a Game 7 against the Grizzlies tonight on their home floor. Things might work out for them tonight so long as they don’t get in their own way.
Draymond Green has some advice to that effect for Karl-Anthony Towns, our Prince Grimes writes.
The first layer to this is Towns’ trash-talking, which does seem to backfire on him a lot. According to Green, that’s not really who Towns has been in his career.
“At some point you probably should just be yourself, because it hasn’t been going right for him when he does that,” Green said. “I’ve never known Karl Towns to be such a big talker.”
No shushing. No trash talking. Please, KAT. Just hoop.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Timberwolves (+102) vs. Grizzlies (-1.5, -112), O/U 228.5, 9 PM ET
We’ve yet to get a Game 7 to this point in the playoffs. But, with the way this series has been, you could easily see it going that far here.
With that being said, I think the Grizzlies pull this off. No Steven Adams means lots more Brandon Clarke and he’s been their third-best player in this series so far. There will be an urgency from the jump for Memphis and I think it leads to a pretty sizable win. I’m taking Memphis -1.5 tonight.
Who’s in and out?
—Steven Adams (COVID Protocols) is out for Game 6 against Minnesota on Friday.
—Ziaire Williams (knee) is listed as doubtful for the game with knee soreness.
Shootaround
—It’s great that Nike is releasing Kobe’s shoes again. But this isn’t going to go well with exclusive access — at all.
—Tobias Harris needs to know this grandma is safe before the 76ers can play the Heat. He has to know, y’all.
—A few Sixers are about to play their former teammate Jimmy Butler. Ky Carlin has their reaction here.
—Jaylen Brown’s hamstring is the biggest story heading into the Celtics-Bucks series on Sunday. Here’s Justin Quinn with more at Celtics Wire.
That’s a wrap, folks! Til next time.
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