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<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

The Celtics Made Sure Kevin Durant Had The Playoffs From Hell

Ray Ratto

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 25: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts in the first half against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center on April 25, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Nets’ Making Was Their Undoing

Samer Kalaf

Ben Simmons Did That Little Practice Dunk For Nothing

Media Meltdowns

In The Game Of Basketball, One Must Be Careful To Avoid Sitting On A Whoopee Cushion While Laying An Egg

Patrick Redford

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Kevin Durant #7 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets look on in the final seconds of their 109-103 loss against the Boston Celtics during Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 23, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images).

The Brooklyn Nets Never Really Became A Basketball Team

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - APRIL 21: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks drives into Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 21, 2022 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson And The Mavericks Are In The Process Of Ending The Jazz Once And For All

That Was Painful

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 20: Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets stands for the singing of the national anthem before Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 20, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

BenWatch: Incoming

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Jerry West Didn’t Get Angry, Don’t Say He Got Angry On A Television Show

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 19: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans celebrates with Larry Nance Jr. #22 following Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Pelicans defeated the Suns 125-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Pelicans Are Rising To The Moment

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 18: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round at Wells Fargo Center on April 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Nick Nurse Is Grumpy With Joel Embiid

Jalen Brunson Torched Utah’s Shabby Playoff Defense

Barry Petchesky

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a picture with Grateful Dead musician Bob Weir following Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Chase Center on April 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

This Is So Stupid

Someone Out There Probably Wants To See This Photo Of Steph Curry And Bob Weir

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: JaMychal Green #0 of the Denver Nuggets and Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Golden State Warriors go for a rebound during Game Two of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on April 18, 2022 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Give Me Game 7 Or Go To Hell

Lauren Theisen

The Warriors Are Back, And They’re Incredible

Laura Wagner

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 16: A activist chains herself to the goal during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference First Round between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 16, 2022.

ESPN Wanted No Part Of The Latest NBA Playoff Protest

Albert Burneko

Trae Young Had The Game 1 From Hell

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 16: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves brings the ball up court during the first half of Game One of the Western Conference First Round against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on April 16, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that , by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Anthony Edwards Is That Guy

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates the game winning basket as Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the fourth quarter of Round 1 Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on April 17, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Nets 115-114. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Jayson Tatum’s Buzzer-Beater Was A Masterpiece Of Teamwork

A Richly Informative And In Fact Quite Punctual Preview Of The 2022 NBA Playoffs

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Miles Bridges #0 of the Charlotte Hornets is restrained after a foul is called and he is ejected during the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on April 13, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Miles Bridges

The Hornets Had Another Play-In Meltdown

Tom Ley

Let Patrick Beverley Cry His Happy Tears

The NBA Got The Play-In Tournament It Deserves

The Lakers Have An Opening For A Fall Guy

David Roth

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, seemingly looking at the Distraction logo.

Podcasts

The NBA Playoffs And Watching R-Rated Movies With Your Parents, With Rohan Nadkarni