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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

You DID Hear It From Us: There's Normal Gossip Merch

NEW NORMAL GOSSIP MERCH!

Merch v3

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David Roth

Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich putting a mask on after getting pardoned for his many obvious crimes.

Former IL Governor Blagojevich Files Suit In Order To Run For State Office Again

Podcasts

Blowout Season, Graft Culture, And Magnanimous Husband Mode

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Patrick Redford

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 19: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 19, 2022 in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Boston Celtics v Miami Heat – Game Two

Marcus Smart Makes The Celtics Who They Are

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Luis Paez-Pumar

Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the third quarter in Game One of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at FTX Arena on May 17, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

Boston Celtics v Miami Heat – Game One

The Third Quarter Belonged To The Miami Heat’s Defense

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 15: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts on the bench during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 15, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics – Game Seven

Giannis Antetokounmpo Did Everything And It Wasn’t Enough

DALLAS, TEXAS - MAY 12: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first quarter of Game Six of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at American Airlines Center on May 12, 2022 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Phoenix Suns v Dallas Mavericks – Game Six

Chris Paul Is Disappearing At The Worst Time

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Jaylen Brown Has The Look

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Ray Ratto

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks reacts on the court during the second half of Game One of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on May 02, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 121-114.

Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns – Game One

Luka Doncic Is Going It Alone

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - MAY 01: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies goes to the basket against Andrew Wiggins #22 of the Golden State Warriors during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals of the NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 01, 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)

Golden State Warriors v Memphis Grizzlies – Game One

Jaren Jackson Jr. Finally Showed Up

Giannis backboard dunk-teammats

Come On, Giannis

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 26: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Jose Alvarado #15 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of Game Five of the Western Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Footprint Center on April 26, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Pelicans 112-97. 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)

New Orleans Pelicans v Phoenix Suns – Game Five

Jose Alvarado Is A Delightful Pest

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)

Boston Celtics v Brooklyn Nets – Game Four

The Nets’ Making Was Their Undoing

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)

Dallas Mavericks v Utah Jazz – Game Three

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

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Chris Thompson

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)

Brooklyn Nets v Boston Celtics – Game Two

BenWatch: Incoming

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)

New Orleans Pelicans v Phoenix Suns – Game Two

The Pelicans Are Rising To The Moment

Jalen Brunson Torched Utah’s Shabby Playoff Defense

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)

Denver Nuggets v Golden State Warriors – Game Two

Give Me Game 7 Or Go To 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)

Minnesota Timberwolves v Memphis Grizzlies – Game One

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)

Brooklyn Nets v Boston Celtics – Game One

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

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

New York Knicks v Denver Nuggets

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

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Laura Wagner

2021 NBA Finals – Game Six

That Was The Weepiest Finals Celebration Ever

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks celebrates winning the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award after defeating the Phoenix Suns in Game Six to win the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Bucks Exorcised All Their Demons

Giannis Antentokounmpo attempts a pass while being fouled by Chris Paul in Game 4 of the NBA Finals

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Talking About The Federal Limewire Enforcement Agency And The NBA Finals, With Gabe Fernandez

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Tom Ley

Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Clippers – Game Four

Was That Some Sort Of Prank?

Atlanta Hawks v Philadelphia 76ers – Game Seven

Let Us Now Watch Game 1 Of The Eastern Conference Finals, And Speak Of It Together

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