Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Escaping the moment

And now a quick check-in on the NBA playoffs, which seem like they've been going on since the heyday of the Hapsburgs but really haven't been, and which so far have revealed these truths:

1. The Golden State Warriors are invincible and they're gonna sweep the Rockets.

2. The Celtics are peaking at exactly the right time.

3. Look, it's another playoff choke by the Raptors!

Oh, wait. Those were last week's truths.

This week ... well, this week has revealed that nowhere is a moment more escapable by its prisoners than in the NBA playoffs, where what's declared as a bedrock surety gets replaced by another bedrock surety the next day. Or so it seems.

Those Warriors, for instance?

Yeah, everyone said they were a lock after winning the first two games against the Rockets despite long stretches of apparent disinterest. But then James Harden started doing all his annoying James Harden things, and Rockets started making Steph Curry play defense, and Klay Thompson forgot how to shoot ...

And, voila. Series tied. And the latest take is that the Warriors might be in a spot of trouble.

Kinda like the Celtics, who took the Bucks apart in Game 1 and now have lost three straight, including two straight soul-crushing losses on their home floor. Kyrie Irving has missed his last 247 shots or some such thing, and can be found on the side of a milk carton now.

Latest take: Spread some jam on 'em. They're toast.

Oh, and the Raptors?

Headed for their usual flameout after going down 2-1 to Philly and losing Game 3 by 21 points.

And then?

And then, of course, Kawhi Leonard emerged from the phone booth in cape and tights, Joel Embiid reverted to an ailing Clark Kent, and the Raptors now lead the series three games to two after winning Games 4 and 5 -- the latter by 36 points.

Latest take: Kawhi is going to LeBron the Raptors all the way to the NBA Finals.

Stay tuned for whatever Moment comes next.

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