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Howdy, folks. Welcome back to Layup Lines. It’s Sykes, once again, ushering you into another weekend of basketball. Before we get into that, though, let’s talk about Draymond Green.
European NBA players have been in quite the spotlight this week.
First, it was Kendrick Perkins asserting that Nikola Jokic was about to win his 3rd consecutive MVP trophy because he’s white and not because he’s currently averaging a 25-point triple-double on the best team in the West. Sure, Perk. That’s so unserious it’s not even worth touching.
But then, Draymond Green followed up with this gem in a conversation with Gilbert Arenas. On his podcast, Green asserted that European NBA players aren’t getting the same pressure to win championships as US players are.
He talked about how he saw a list from Stephen A. Smith detailing the players under the most pressure to win a championship this season. Nikola Jokic was 4th on the list. Luka Doncic wasn’t there.
That prompted Green to say this.
“I feel like over the years, European players have not caught the same flak of winning a championship as US players and I don’t understand that.”
Hilariously enough, Stephen A. Smith said he agreed with Green despite him actually creating the list himself. Then he explained his rationale behind it. And, honestly, it’s all just completely ridiculous.
Our memories are so short, man.
Right now, at this very moment, you have Nikola Jokic detractors saying he doesn’t deserve a third MVP trophy despite his performance this season because he hasn’t won a title yet. Perkins is at the top of that list.
It was also just a few seasons ago that folks were talking about Giannis Antetkounmpo couldn’t win a championship. A decade before that Dirk Nowitzki got the same treatment in Dallas.
So, no, Draymond. Sorry, Stephen A. It’s not true that European players don’t face the same expectations. They absolutely do — maybe even more so considering the stereotypes being a European player came with once upon a time.
When it comes down to it, though, we should hope that these players don’t receive the treatment players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan did when it comes to winning championships. The way they were treated was unfair to them. It’s not some rite of passage for all-time greats — it’s really just abuse. And it’s stupid. Those conversations bring absolutely nothing to the game at all.
The fact that things might not be as bad as they once were for the league’s new superstars is a great thing. We should celebrate that instead of clamoring for more of the same.
That’s what progress looks like.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
The Warriors didn’t pay any attention to Russell Westbrook on Thursday night when they played the Clippers. They kind of just…let him be. And that worked to perfection, my colleague Charles Curtis writes.
“But the Golden State Warriors took their defense of Westbrook to an entirely new level on Thursday night. Draymond Green and Co. left Westbrook SO WIDE OPEN. I’m not talking three feet here. They clogged the paint and dared him to shoot.
And on the night, he went an abysmal 3-for-12, including 0-for-5 from distance. Bleh. The clips from that game are amazing, though — it’s as if the Dubs are playing 5-on-4 basketball here!”
The Warriors legitimately dared Westbrook to shoot and he couldn’t. This is what it’s going to look like if the Clippers make the playoffs. Best of luck, man. They’re going to need it.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Suns (-3.5, -160) vs. Bulls (+140), O/U 222.5, 8 PM ET
You know, normally in this situation I would write about the previous matchups and how these two have fared against one another in the past. Today? Nah. Scrap all that. The Suns have Kevin Durant. Take them -3.5 and don’t look back.
Shootaround
— Russell Westbrook is broken and the Clippers don’t have a ton of time to fix him
— Dillon Brooks absolutely hates Draymond Green and, well, of course he does.
— From 77 cents to $18k? Prince Grimes has more on this absolutely absurd parlay. Holy cow.
—Here’s Bryan Kalbrosky on Deuce Tatum, maybe the coldest kid in the NBA.
