by Ryan Mercier
It may not be The Upside Down-levels of weird but there are a few odd occurrences happening in this year’s NBA championship.
Jayson Tatum’s Shoulder
What is going on here? It seems every game going back to the Miami series, Tatum grabs at his shoulder early on. The pain on his face sends Boston fans into a panic. The announcers point it out and the moment feels as if the Celtics star will head to the locker room at any second. Until the he favors his right shoulder, everyone has forgotten again that it was even an issue. Every game.
The strangest part is minutes later it’s forgotten about yet again. Tatum never seems to make any gesture toward the pained area for the rest of the contest. Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mark Jackson make no more mentions of it. It’s becoming the new Anthony Davis falling to the ground looking like he died every game, only to get back up and be totally fine.
The Warriors’ Rim was Two Inches Too High
Oh yeah, remember this little detail? Before Game 3 even began, there was a mystery afoot. Nope, nothing to see here. Just the hometown Celtics getting in a regular warmup while the Golden State Warriors are delayed watching this 10-foot wooden stick dangle:
Jaylen Brown After the 1st Quarter
In the first quarter of Game 2 and Game 3, Brown has scored 30 points on 15 shots with zero turnovers. Then, he just goes to sleep.
For the Celtics, it may not mean anything as, obviously, they have a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors. Still, it’s bizarre. The case could be made for either game being weirder for Jaylen. At home in Game 3, he scored 17 with three makes from deep in the first period but scored just 10 more the entire game with one 3-pointer. Back on Sunday, Brown scored 13 in the first and four more points the rest of the way.
Early on, Brown makes my MVP list look like an absolute joke. Then, things start to even back out.
Steph, Klay, Draymond, and Steve Kerr as the Underdog
This is unfamiliar territory. The Warriors recent history in the Finals can be recapped fairly easily as favorites.
- 2015: Cavs had injuries
- 2016: 73-win team
- 2017: Kevin Durant
- 2018: Kevin Durant
- 2019: Favorite until KD, Klay injuries
Now, of course, the Warriors opened as the favorite to win the Finals against the Celtics before the series began. But this is the first time without injuries or suspensions that the Warriors hopes for a title feel in jeopardy and they are a true underdog. Klay Thompson has fought back from impossible injury luck this season but the Warriors have been as healthy as can be going down in the series, 2-1.
Here’s hoping the rugby scrum where Steph Curry got piled on is a blip on the radar and does not hinder his performance. It will be fascinating to watch Golden State in a fully healthy, rally mode.
Struggling Actor Sports 