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GAME. BLOUSES.
With 1 minute and 40 seconds left, none of it mattered. It didn’t matter that the Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t buy a bucket from deep all game (they’d finish 7-for-27 from 3-point range). It didn’t matter that for much of the contest Andre Roberson and Steven Adams had more shot attempts than Kevin Durant. And it didn’t matter that Stephen Curry was pin-balling around the court, back to hitting impossible, delightful shots. Hell, it didn’t even matter that after looking like a beast much of the series, Adams played for just 26 minutes while Durant and Westbrook played nearly double that number.
None of it was important because Durant was blistering the Golden State Warriors for seven straight points and the Thunder, though they had no business doing so, were threatening to snatch the game, only down by four points. And then … Steph.
On the very next possession, Curry pulled the okeydoke after noticing Serge Ibaka’s hand was caught in between Curry and the ball, so he rose up for the 3-point attempt. Foul. The game ended on that play for all intents and purposes, but that didn’t mean a dagger wasn’t still coming. Watch as Curry demoralizes the Thunder by dribbling like a madman and then he pulls out the shiv — WITH TIME TO SPARE!
THERE WERE TEN SECONDS LEFT ON THE SHOT CLOCK https://t.co/ADPMEfjdT0
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) May 31, 2016
Durant is going to get scorched for months and months after his team blew this series lead (and that’s largely deserved, slim reaper), but today should be about celebrating this ridiculous Warriors team. Draymond Green said when his team was down 3-1 that “if anyone can do this, we can,” and damn if he wasn’t right. We just witnessed history.
SOCIAL STATUS
In the second quarter when Green and Adams got locked in arms while battling for a rebound, it reminded just about everyone of wrestler Jake “The Snake” Roberts’ old finishing move: the DDT. No, seriously:
Steven Adams just hit Draymond with a damn DDT pic.twitter.com/BT7QIZ5yEt
— Dave Schilling (@dave_schilling) May 31, 2016
Jim Ross calls Draymond Green's DDT on Steven Adams. https://t.co/GbNrvLs2SD
— Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) May 31, 2016
Draymond DDT himself?
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 31, 2016
BLESSINGS!
Pre-injury Shaun Livingston was so dope. Never forget. pic.twitter.com/Tir3HOshWC
— Ryan Koenigsberg (@RyanKoenigsberg) May 31, 2016
When Shaun Livingston came into the NBA as a 19-year-old in 2004, he was dope. The fact that he has been so electric and important for the Warriors now after one of the most gruesome injuries imaginable (google it at your own peril) is really something else. It’s special. Salute.
SORRY, SLIM
And they said the curse was not real " The BasedGod" has never lied to me and like he told us.. The Warriors are going to the finals – Lil B
— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) May 31, 2016
With the Thunder losing a 3-1 series lead to the Golden State Warriors in such heartbreaking fashion, we see another year of the Based God Curse taking effect.
(*Starts doing the cooking dance to avoid being cursed by association*)
Yes, the Based God Curse exists. Like the Curse of the Bambino and whatever is going on in Cleveland … we have the evidence.
Exhibit A:
KEVIN DURANT WILL NEVER WIN THE TITLE AFTER HE SAID "LIL B" IS A WACK RAPPER,
"THE BASEDGODS CURSE"#THEBASEDGODSCURSE ON DURANT – Lil B
— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) May 26, 2011
One more time for the culture pic.twitter.com/TZB6IcVCbc
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) May 31, 2016
Just play Lil B in one-on-one, fam. You don’t even have to win the game. It hurts watching a great star be cursed by one of the greatest rappers to ever live. For more on the Based God Curse, ask James Harden.
"Boy If You Don't Get On That Damn Phone & Apologize To The Based God…" pic.twitter.com/Ky3HR5pxnF
— Lil Wifi/DJ Kurry Goat (@VanRidd) May 31, 2016
FOR THE CULTURE
- So there’s a confirmed collaboration project going on between Childish Gambino and Andre 3000. Yes, please.
- Chicago White Sox infielder Tyler Saladino lost his best friend and has an elaborate tattoo on his back that helped him work through the heartache of that loss.
- Here’s a photo of Louis Armstrong playing for the troops in 1941.
- The promo for Spike Lee’s 2 Fist Up, about the protest at the University of Missouri, released today.
- Sean Mock, formerly of Lamar University, continues to stand outside of the Houston Texans training facility, hoping to nab a tryout from the team.
TOP THREE TWEETS
Every morning we’ll hit you here with the best of what we saw on social media the previous night. Why? Why not?
1. MORE SHADE PLEASE
😏
— Reggie Jackson (@Reggie_Jackson) May 31, 2016
2. DION CHALMERS
True Dion Waiters story from his Cuse days: he considered his game a combo of Kobe and Dwayne Wade so he had teammates call him Kobe Wade.
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) May 31, 2016
DION CALLED FOR THE BALL pic.twitter.com/oz9pwgbYsp
— Becca Laurie (@imbeccable) May 31, 2016
3. Y’ALL PLAY TOO MUCH
ITS OV. pic.twitter.com/jsJcYCvq1l
— NBA RETWEET (@RTNBA) May 31, 2016
#ICYMI
In the midst of Game 7, the History Channel rolled out the reboot of Roots. The two-hour special was informative, riveting and intense. Here’s our own Soraya Nadia McDonald’s readers’ guide. She re-watched the 1977 version, read the book and can break down all of the little nuances.
Skillful, effective storytelling means high production values, sublimely-paced plotting, detailed character development, honest acting and clear, realistic writing and dialogue. These components serve to make most any story compelling and engaging. But when the story is about slavery — and in this case, American slavery — everything is that much more horrific and stomach-churning.
PICTURE PERFECT
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dkurtenbach) May 31, 2016