Ben DuBose
@bendubose
Media content person. Likes include Houston and Mizzou sports, and dogs. rocketswire.usatoday.com
The Rockets quite literally had a better winning percentage (19-10 vs. 33-20) after the “burner scandal” reveal than before. And the playoffs were almost entirely without KD.
For the numbskulls who don’t understand why Astros fans are the way they are, here’s Exhibit 100,000. Six-plus years later, it seems stealing a pitcher’s sign in baseball is analogous to felony robbery and kidnapping.
“We can’t leave open the path of pursuing one of the NBA’s 10 best players, we’ve gotta lock down every roster spot 10 weeks before training camp. Can’t risk Jae’Sean Tate signing for the minimum somewhere else.” — very smart people
Also, I have no idea how reading comprehension is this hard. No one is saying the Raptors will be punished, dummy. What the NBA is saying is that there's no recourse for them to undo a trade if Kawhi ends up having his contract voided (i.e. becomes a FA) and/or gets suspended.
#Rockets assistant Will Dunn (summer league head coach) on his first impressions of Bruce Thornton: “He’s a tank. You can see it right away. He’s like a little bowling ball out there. He’s physical, he’s strong, he’s got a really tight handle. So when you guard him, you’ll feel it, for sure.”
Bruce Thornton on signing his first NBA deal: “It’s just a blessing, all of this. My job is to play basketball now. I’ve got the best job in the world. There’s no complaining.” On what he wants to bring to the Rockets: “Just bringing winning habits, each and every day, so I can hold that trophy.”
Fun and random PR pitch email from Action Network, which says the two most negative and profane NBA fanbases are the 76ers and Rockets. We fucking did it, @btoporek.bsky.social
Whispers: One of the underrated storylines of the 2024 cycle is that had Election Day occurred a few weeks earlier, Kamala likely wins (despite joining the race in late July). People get their news and form opinions at warp speed these days. There's time for a new candidate to have a real shot, IMO
It sets a common sense precedent. No one gets automatically suspended for the next round due solely to one in-game ref decision. Like every other sport on the planet, the in-game ref can remove from that game, and any further discipline goes to a separate panel. Apply to everyone. Problem solved!
Pretty encouraging sign for Josh Hader to consistently be at 95+ on his sinker during his second appearance in 20 hours. Averaged 95.5 last year, prior to injury
Translated, one or two people with zero standards of accountability can unilaterally decide to change history with zero oversight. Par for the course with one of the most corrupt and despicable organizations on the planet.
Overturn on appeal, ban Claus from ever reffing another FIFA game, and watch how quickly you can clean this up. They won't, of course, but I'm just saying it's quite easy and simple.
In the most American experience of all, Freddy has recognized the toxicity of Elon’s app (Good for him!)
These people want you to believe that Dems are the side that lost the plot and went extreme
If you go all in and pursue every big name on the market, just because you feel compelled to "do something," you end up with moves like 2019 Russell Westbrook and having zero assets for anything else. You'd think #Rockets fans specifically would understand this, having just been down that road
With all the noise about the Celtics and Giannis, an obligatory reminder that “prediction markets” had them out not even two days ago. Again, betting lines and prediction markets are lagging indicators. They are not actual sources of news, even though their creators would love it if they were.
Whispers: The only reason that’s “the discourse” is because a billionaire owner was told he needs more luxury areas to remain in the corporate Super Bowl/Final Four rotations and such. To appeal to other millionaires and billionaires.
The people who can’t understand the reasons someone would want to cover their face on the Internet are so weird
I used to like Josh Hart but now I guess Josh Hart is MAGA since you know who cheered for him in Game 3