Nobody is happier the Timberwolves avoided a sweep than the Celtics
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Prince J. Grimes.
What's up hoops fans. Thanks for tapping in for another Layup Lines. I thought I'd be coming here today to preview the NBA Finals for you, but the Minnesota Timberwolves had other ideas.
Facing a sweep Tuesday, Minnesota finally fought back against the Dallas Mavericks and came away with a win to force a Game 5 Thursday. Anthony Edwards led the way with 29 points, saying the potential of being swept is why he took the game so personally.
"I've never been swept, so I took it personal," Edwards said after the game. "I didn't want to get swept. I definitely didn't want to get swept."
And so Minnesota is down 3-1 now, instead of eliminated.
While I can't say I'm excited to see this series go any longer just for it to end the same way it could have yesterday, think about how bonkers it would be to see a team finally come back from a 3-0 hole.
We still lose our minds over the Cavaliers coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 finals. This would be more improbable than that. Teams that go down 0-3 in a series are 0-155. None have ever successfully fought their way back.
That's why nobody is happier with Minnesota's win than the Boston Celtics.
No matter what happens in the Western Conference, the Celtics won't be playing again until June 6. They'll have a full nine days off between their last game and Game 1 of the NBA Finals. But the longer the Wolves and Mavericks continue battling, the less time those teams will have to rest and recover.
That's especially concerning for the Mavericks, who remain overwhelming favorites to advance with -550 odds at BetMGM. Luka Doncic has been nursing a knee injury since the first round of the playoffs and Dereck Lively II missed Game 4 with a sprained neck. They could probably use that extra time off more than anyone.
Instead, Dallas will have to grind out at least one more game to get past the Wolves. And it might be more given Minnesota's renewed confidence.
After the game, Edwards told Cowboys star Micah Parsons he'd see him back in Dallas for Game 6 to give him a fresh pair of his AE1 shoes. Oddsmakers seem to think that's a possibility too. The Wolves are 4.5-point favorites for Game 5 in Minnesota.
Somewhere, the Celtics are grinning from ear to ear.
JJ Redick to the Lakers might really be happening
I have to admit. When I first saw rumblings about the Los Angeles Lakers potentially being interested in JJ Redick for their head coaching position, I mostly dismissed them.
Sure, I could see how people connected the dots from LeBron James' seemingly random friendship with Redick -- made public through an admittedly great podcast -- to assume the two were interested in expanding their relationship to the basketball court. But I just thought there was no way the Lakers would take a chance on a recently retired player with no pro or college coaching experience to take over a team with championship-or-bust expectations.
However, where there's smoke there's fire, and these reports aren't going anywhere. In fact, the latest from TNT insider Chris Haynes makes it sound like a done deal.
"I will be very surprised if their next head coach is anybody but JJ Redick," Haynes said Wednesday on the Dan Patrick Show. "Everything that I'm hearing is JJ Redick. From what I know, he's doing some background, calling some assistant coaching candidates who might be able to join his staff or might not be able to join his staff. And so yeah, I'm pretty positive it'll be JJ."
And there it is. I for one am shocked this is the direction LA is going given the roster and expectations, though I'm not opposed to the idea Redick can't or won't be a good head coach. It's just the untraditional path he took from player to broadcaster to Lakers coach is stunning to me.
Must read: Meet NBA draft prospect Devin Carter
One to Watch
(All odds via BetMGM)
Las Vegas Aces (-190) at Minnesota Lynx (+4.5; +155), 8 p.m. ET
From my best bets for Wednesday, May 29:
This should be a fun matchup between what is currently the top-ranked offense in the WNBA (Vegas) and the league’s top-ranked defense. And while I’m aware Minnesota’s success to this point will mean nothing when the ball goes up against the reigning champs, I do think there’s something to the Lynx’s 4-1 start to the season and 5-0 record against the spread. This team is stingy and won’t make anything easy for the Aces.
Prince’s Pick: Lynx +4.5
Shootaround
-- The Suns' odds to draft Bronny James took a big jump after reports of his workout plans
-- Sabrina Ionescu privately coaching Kobe Bryant's daughter is so heartwarming
-- Shaq gave the perfect honor to the late Bill Walton during his moving tribute
-- 4 Mavericks got hysterically frustrated in unison at Maxi Kleber for being late to the huddle
That's it from me y'all. Have a great night.