Three Things to Know: Harden, Simmons introduced… but when do they play?

By Kurt HelinFeb 16, 2022, 9:00 AM EST

Three Things is NBC’s five-days-a-week wrap-up of the night before in the NBA. Check out NBCSports.com every weekday morning to catch up on what you missed the night before plus the rumors, drama, and dunks going that make the NBA great.

1) Harden, Simmons introduced… but when do they play?

James Harden was introduced as a 76er — then Tuesday night he rang the bell before the game.

Welcome home to South Philly, @JHarden13! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/paHRiZhuDM

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 16, 2022

Ben Simmons made his first appearance anywhere as a Net and said he’s been happy so far in Brooklyn.

Both stars of the blockbuster deadline trade were introduced by their new teams at their respective press conferences and… meh. It gives the media something to write about, but both said exactly what they were expected to say. A little pageantry and performance to make the PR team happy, with zero meaning.

“I just knew for a very long time this was a perfect fit,” Harden said of the 76ers, via the Associated Press. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime.”

“I think it’s going to be scary,” Simmons said of the Nets. “Having those guys run alongside me, multiple different weapons on the floor and I think at the pace we want to play at, it’s going to be unreal.”

Yawn.

What we should care about: When will they play? That’s when Simmons and Harden have to start answering the fundamental questions about fit, about whether getting what they want was really good for them and their new teams. Most importantly, we start to see whether these teams are truly contenders this season.

The Nets are targeting Feb. 25 in Minnesota for Harden’s first game.

The 76ers are not putting a return date out there for Simmons. He needs to both get his physical conditioning up to par, and deal with the personal challenges and mental health issues that kept him off the court in Philadelphia.

At some point in late February we start to answer the real questions. What we got Tuesday was a show, and not a very exciting one at that.

2) Celtics blow out Harden-less 76ers by 48

It’s tempting to draw a line from the item above — about Harden not playing and the 76ers being shorthanded without him or Seth Curry — to the Celtics blowing the doors off the 76ers on Tuesday night.

Don’t do it. This was just one of those games. Boston has been an elite defensive team of late (allowing less than a point per possession over the last 10 games), but Philly was also just off, shooting 28.8% on the night. On the other end, the Celtics shot an unsustainable 55.6% on 3-pointers. Jaylen Brown was red hot and had 29, Jayson Tatum added 28.

That’s nine straight wins for the Celtics, who (as we noted a couple of days ago) and looking more and more like a playoff threat with this defense. If you’re the 76ers, you flush this game and move on. Every team has a couple of these a season.

The one big concern for Boston: Marcus Smart rolled his ankle and had to be helped off the court, not to return. No details yet, but he could miss some time with this injury (I’d be surprised if he plays again before the All-Star break at the very least).

Marcus Smart heads to the locker room. A look at the play that caused the injury here: pic.twitter.com/rTzJ6SUtDq

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 16, 2022

3) Giannis Antetokounmpo looks like an MVP and drops 50 on Pacers

Centers Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are dominating any recent MVP discussions.

Don’t leave Giannis Antetokounmpo out of the conversation — and he plays center, too (43% of his minutes this season). There should be a top three in the current MVP conversation (at the least, there are a lot more guys deserving of ballot consideration than there are spots this season).

Tuesday night, Antetokounmpo staked his case dropping 50 on the Pacers in another Bucks win.

The Bucks at 36-23 sit third in a tight top of the Eastern Conference, with a top 10 offense led by Antetokounmpo (the defense is just outside the top 10, they miss Brook Lopez). Those teams in Philadelphia and Brooklyn grabbed all the headlines lately, but the Bucks should still be the favorite to come out of the East. They have quietly cruised through the regular season, acted like champions (which includes being bored with the regular season at points), they are expected to get Lopez back…

And they have Antetokounmpo. He can drop 50 like this any night.

Highlight of the night: Bam Adebayo dunks off his own head

At full speed, it looks like Miami’s Bam Adebayo misses a dunk. The replay showed he just dunked on his own head and the ball bounces out.

Should that count? Not as I read the official rule, which is:

“A legal field goal or free throw attempt shall be scored when a ball from the playing area enters the basket from above and remains in or passes through the net.”

This did not remain in or pass through the net because Adebayo’s head got in the way. There are basket interference rules — the Mavs’ Dwight Powell could not run over and punch the ball out of the net — but Bam is so good at defense he blocked his own shot.

Yesterday’s scores:

Atlanta 124, Cleveland 116
Dallas 107, Miami 99
Boston 135, Philadelphia 87
Milwaukee 126, Indiana 119
Minnesota 126, Charlotte 120
Memphis 121, New Orleans 109
Phoenix 103, LA Clippers 96

Nick Nurse reportedly enticed by idea of working with Morey again with 76ers

By Kurt HelinMay 28, 2023, 8:20 PM EDT

Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

When news came out about the Milwaukee Bucks hiring Adrian Griffin to be their new coach, one part of that was a report that Nick Nurse pulled himself out of consideration for the job. That felt a little chicken and egg — did he pull out because he realized he would not get the job?

Either way, he is interested in the Philadelphia 76ers and particularly working again with Daryl Morey, reports Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inqurier. Morey was the GM of the Rockets when Nurse was the coach of their G-League team, the Rio Grand Valley Vipers.

Sources have said that reuniting with Morey is very much enticing to Nurse…

A source has confirmed that Nurse pulled out of being considered for the Milwaukee Bucks head-coaching job, leading to the team hiring his former Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin on Saturday. Nurse interviewed with the Sixers on Monday before meeting with the Suns on Thursday. The 55-year-old coach is pondering the best destination for him, according to sources. However, a source would not say if the Sixers offered him the gig.

Nurse makes intuitive sense for the 76ers or Suns, an out-of-the-box coach who won a championship four years ago to teams with title aspirations next season and beyond. His connection to Morey has had some around the league thinking that would be his ultimate destination from Day 1.

However, the stars of those teams will have a say, as Giannis Antetokounmpo did in the Bucks hiring Griffin (a former player, something Antetokounmpo reportedly prioritized). How does Joel Embiid feel about Nurse? What about Kevin Durant and Devin Booker? Marc Stein reported that Booker endorsed Suns assistant Kevin Young for that job.

Both teams are reportedly getting close to deciding on their next head coach, but for contending teams that need to get this hire right they do not want to be rushed.

Report: Mavericks have no interest in Irving sign-and-trade with Lakers that brings back Russell

By Kurt HelinMay 28, 2023, 12:59 PM EDT

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Kyrie Irving may say he doesn’t want to be in the middle of NBA free agency speculation, but when he sits courtside in Los Angeles at a couple of Lakers’ playoff games he has to know that will spark talk.

LeBron James has sent his not-so-subtle message he wants more help, and the rumors he’s open to a reunion with Irving are nothing new. All of that has driven a lot of speculation in recent weeks of a Lakers’ sign-and-trade to reunite the core of the Cavaliers’ 2016 title team. While Irving is a free agent, the Lakers have made clear they intend to re-sign Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura as restricted free agents, making signing Irving directly off the table (unless he wants to take a massive pay cut and play for the midlevel exception, which his actions indicate he does not). If Irving comes to the Lakers, it’s on a sign-and-trade.

Then who goes back to Dallas in this trade? The speculation centered on free agent D'Angelo Russell signing and trading to play next to Luka Dončić. However, the Mavericks have no interest in that, reports Marc Stein in his latest newsletter.

A popular topic all week, in the wake of Denver sweeping the Lakers out of the Western Conference finals, was the notion that L.A. could emerge as a potential sign-and-trade destination for Dallas’ free agent-to-be Kyrie Irving.

While we await a clear indication about the Lakers’ intentions there, with no verifiable signal to date that pursuing Irving is among their offseason priorities, league sources say that the Mavericks would have no interest in a sign-and-trade with the Lakers that features D’Angelo Russell as the primary Dallas-bound player. All indications are that the Mavericks remain intent on re-signing Irving

While the questions of fit between Dončić and Irving remain, when the Mavericks traded for Irving they committed to this path, both financially and on the court. If Irving walks in free agency Dallas has no way to replace him, and they are better off with him than without him. Irving is a much better player than Russell and with Dončić on the roster the Mavericks are a win-now team. Their preference is clear.

As for Irving, he wants to get paid (remember he opted in with the Nets rather than leave to play for less, then pushed for a trade when Brooklyn would not give him the extension he wanted). There is logic for both Dallas and Irving to work out a new contract and, if this marriage doesn’t work out, trade him down the line. The only questions are money, years, and does Irving really want to be in Dallas (he has said he does).

League sources have told NBC Sports that the Lakers’ front office’s primary focus is not on Irving. While the Lakers could clear as much as almost $30 million in cap space, free agency is not the path the Lakers appear to be walking. Re-signing Reaves and Hachimura and putting them next to LeBron and Anthony Davis — both of the Lakers stars make more than $40 million next season — plus rounding out the roster has the Lakers quickly pushing above the cap and into the tax, and the second tax apron is within sight. The Lakers are more likely to make moves like picking up the $16.5 million team option on Malik Beasley and trading him and or other players for the shot creation and shooting they want. A Russell sign-and-trade is certainly in play, or they could bring him back, just not on anything near the max Russell likely wants (more likely a deal starting around $20 million a year). Russell was good for the Lakers in the regular season and had a 31-point playoff game to close out the Grizzlies, plus a 21-point game against the Warriors, he just was in a bad matchup against Denver.

Irving to the Lakers is a long shot. But if LeBron wants it, and Irving wants it, nothing is off the table.

Reactions from NBA players to White’s game-winning putback for Celtics

By Kurt HelinMay 28, 2023, 11:15 AM EDT

It was an all-time classic game, one that could be part of a legendary chapter in Celtics’ lore. Boston was on the verge of being sent home for the summer by the Miami Heat when Derrick White‘s putback as time expired won the Celtics Game 6 and forced a Game 7 Monday night.

NBA players were as stunned and excited as fans everywhere. Check out the reactions from players around the league — and a few others — to the Celtics’ dramatic win.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhuhhhhhhhh
Let’s goooooooooooooooooooo

— Paul Pierce (@paulpierce34) May 28, 2023

Boston gonna beat Miami now .. it’s over!😂

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 28, 2023

Still waiting pic.twitter.com/57bIntvtnP

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) May 28, 2023

Omg that’s my boy

— Richard White (@RamblinWreck34) May 28, 2023

😱😱😱

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 28, 2023

D White OMGGGG

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) May 28, 2023

DWHITE!!!!!!!! Wowowowwoow 😱

— Dejounte Murray (@DejounteMurray) May 28, 2023

D Whiiitttteeee!!!!

— Danny Green (@DGreen_14) May 28, 2023

This game was wild 🤯

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) May 28, 2023

YOOOOOOOOO😭😭😭😭😭😭

— Immanuel Jaylen Quickley (@IQ_GodSon) May 28, 2023

OMG

— Juan Toscano Anderson (@juanonjuan10) May 28, 2023

GAME 7 BABY🔥

— Juancho Hernangomez (@juanchiviris41) May 28, 2023

Great Game!!

— Matt Barnes (@Matt_Barnes22) May 28, 2023

Wow…what a game, what a finish…wow

— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) May 28, 2023

Gotta love the game of basketball😮‍💨

— Kev (@KevKnox) May 28, 2023

Wowwwwwwwwwwww

Game 7 in Boston!!!

This is what the playoffs are about!!
🔥🔥🔥🔥

— Damion Lee (@Dami0nLee) May 28, 2023

That was wild‼️‼️

— Theo pinson (@tpinsonn) May 28, 2023

Three takeaways from wild night where Celtics force Game 7 thanks to Derrick White

By Kurt HelinMay 28, 2023, 3:21 AM EDT

You were not alone in being stunned, blown away or whatever other description you can conjure up for the finish to Game 6. Look at the reaction from around the NBA.

😱😱😱

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 28, 2023

Wow…what a game, what a finish…wow

— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) May 28, 2023

D White OMGGGG

— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) May 28, 2023

The Celtics won 104-103 on a dramatic putback from Derrick White to force a Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

1) What. An. Ending.

When was the last time any of us saw a game this entertaining, this dramatic? Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, highlighted by the LeBron James chase-down block on Andre Iguodala? Game 7 of the 2019 second-round series between the Raptors and 76ers, the one with Kawhi Leonard‘s corner shot that bounced around on the rim three times before falling? There are others on the list, but whatever game you choose, this one enters the conversation of all-time greats.

On a night where they struggled from 3 — 7-of-35 for the game — the Celtics were still up 10 midway through the fourth quarter and seemingly in control. Then Boston gave it all away, slowing the pace down and not executing — or Miami seized the moment, depending on your perspective. While the Celtics got tight and struggled with their shot in those final five minutes, the Heat went on a late 15-4 run sparked primarily by Jimmy Butler (15 points in the fourth) and Duncan Robinson, with Miami attacking and pushing the pace, drawing fouls and getting to the line. It was a stunning turnaround.

JIMMY IN TAKEOVER #PLAYOFFMODE

GET TO TNT FOR THE FINAL 2.1 SECONDS, CELTICS LEAD BY 2! https://t.co/cctZtfU1cS pic.twitter.com/dtk8JedC8O

— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2023

Those drawing fouls included Butler drawing a three-shot foul on Al Horford with :03 seconds remaining. Butler drained all three free throws to put the Heat up one. Boston called a timeout to set up the final play, which didn’t go to plan — Marcus Smart took a turnaround 3 — but worked out thanks to Derrick White.

DERRICK WHITE SAVES THE CELTICS SEASON. pic.twitter.com/566F29RWEV

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 28, 2023

“I was passing it in. [Gabe] Vincent was on me, and he kind of was up top denying [Jayson Tatum], so I couldn’t get him the ball,” White said of the play. “And they did a good job of denying [Jaylen Brown], too and [Marcus] Smart flashed, hit him, and there really was nobody on me, so I just spaced to the corner, and when he shot it just tried to crash. Ball came to me, I made the shot.”

If Boston wins Game 7, White’s putback will be remembered in Boston sports lore like Dave Roberts stealing second for the Red Sox in their legendary 0-3 comeback against the Yankees. It was that kind of moment, that kind of play which capped off the wildest of nights.

2) The Heat will need more from Butler, Adebayo in Game 7

This was almost a culture win for the Heat. They were going to win because their role players stepped up — Caleb Martin (starting over Kevin Love) was the Heat’s best player on the night scoring 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting with 15 rebounds. Gabe Vincent returned from his sprained ankle to score 15, Duncan Robinson had 13 off the bench, and Max Strus added 10.

All of that made up for the fact Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were not good enough for the first 43 minutes of this game. The two Heat stars shot a combined 7-of-35 up until that late run where Butler got a 3 to fall and got to the line a few times. It was almost enough, but the Heat need Butler to set a better tone in Game 7.

“Like I told the guys on the bench, I told the guys in the locker room, that if I play better, we’re not even in this position, honestly speaking,” Butler said. “And I will be better. That’s what makes me smile, because those guys follow my lead. So when I’m playing better, I think we’re playing better as a whole.”

“Jimmy leads with everything — his spirit, his soul, his competitive nature,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Butler pregame. “It’s all out there on his sleeves. That’s what we love about him.”

Butler looks a little tired and a little less explosive, but give the Celtics’ defense credit, they have packed the paint and cut off Butler’s drives, and their length clearly bothers his shot inside. Joe Mazzulla, who drew the wrath of Celtics fans early in this series, deserved credit for his adjustments.

Butler and Adebayo have to rise above them in Game 7. Caleb Martin can not again be the best Heat player on the floor. Spoelstra is right, everything with the Heat starts with Butler and he has to summon up one more elite game.

3) Jayson Tatum owned the first half as Celtics’ best players stepped up

While Miami’s best players struggled, Boston’s best players stepped up.

At the front of that line was Jayson Tatum, who 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting with two assists in the first half. While he wouldn’t score in the second half until some free throws midway through the fourth, Tatum hit some clutch shots down the stretch and finished with 31.

Jaylen Brown added 26 points despite battling foul trouble all night, and Marcus Smart finished with 21.

All of that made up for a dreadful night shooting from 3, the Celtics were 7-of-35 on the night. Shoot 20% from 3 in Game 7 and they will lose, that Boston got away with a win on an off-shooting night like that is lucky.

However, their stars are used to stepping up in elimination games, they have just done it three times in a row, and they did it in Game 7 against these same Heat a year ago. Do Boston’s stars have one more great game in them?