Picks 'n Pops: An egregiously missed call, tournament floors, and proper pronounciation

Every week I gather some thoughts about the Celtics, the NBA, and beyond and dump them here. Because I finally got my eyes to focus after watching the Chicago Bulls In-Season Tournament game.

- The NBA says Joel Embiid stepped out of bounds with 4.8 seconds left in the loss to Philadelphia. There was an official staring right at his foot … even as Embiid obviously shifted it. 

I’m a big believer in when it comes down to an official’s call, the team that needed it should have done something more earlier in the game to avoid that situation. And I believe that now. Boston didn’t lose because of that call. 

However, this wasn’t some judgment call. This wasn’t a case of an official deciding to let them play through contact. This was an out of bounds, and an obvious one direct in front of the official’s face. Her job is to call that. That's a potential game-changing call. There are potential tiebreakers involved. 

And as much as Boston didn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt, why did the Sixers, who blew a big lead over two minutes, deserve it that much more? 

I’m not bothered by the loss, and I’m not pinning the loss of the refs. But this was a massive officiating mistake that needs to be addressed. 

- I cannot print the words to accurately describe the technical foul Kristaps Porzingis got for hanging on the rim. That whole officiating crew needs to be reevaluated. 

- I looked everywhere for JuJu Smith-Schuster’s green hooded sweater and I couldn't find it. I need something for the BSJ holiday party and I just know it would be perfect on me. You think maybe it’s a Burlington Coat Factory thing?

- Congratulations, Jayson Tatum, on reaching 10,000 points. It’s a different kind of achievement in the 3-point era, but no less impressive. 

- It’s time to stop complaining that the Celtics take too many 3-pointers. We’re entering “old man yells at cloud” territory. Four teams have taken 50-plus 3-pointers in a game this season (Boston, Brooklyn, Memphis, Sacramento). We’ve already had 58 games of 40 or more. The amount of 3-pointers isn't the issue, it’s the quality. 

So if they take 50 good ones, then I’m fine with that. If they take 30 bad ones, then I’m not. A high volume of 3-pointers is how the NBA works right now, so we need to get used to it. 

- The Celtics added a row of flags to the practice facility. Nice touch by the Celtics to recognize all the countries and nationalities represented by the team’s players and staff.

- Tonight is an in-season tournament game. The league is going out of its way to make this a big deal, for us to take it seriously, and for teams to treat it with added importance. 

Today at shootaround, Porzingis was asked if the guys have talked about this being a little bit different. 

“Honestly … no.”

Huzzah! Three cheers for the in-season tournament! NBA action … it’s FAAAAAANTASTIC!

- When in doubt, sex sells. Right, Atlanta Hawks?

Well that gives new meaning to … wait, no, I can’t say that here. 

I guess you can say they're … oh whoops, I’m not allowed to make that joke either. 

Does that mean Trae Young is going to … nope, that one will get me canceled for sure. 

Ugh. Can I sue the Hawks for putting all these thoughts in my head? 

- Nikola Jokic’s nickname is “The Joker” … mainly because too many people couldn't wrap their heads around “Yo-kitch” so they just gave him a nickname to cover their own butts. 

Side note: What an American thing to do. “Hey you, I can’t say your name. So I’m calling you this now.” 

Anyway, he actually lived up to the nickname this week when someone slipped in a chair during his postgame press conference. 

So he does have a personality. 

- On a related note, I’ll never understand how we all figured out and accepted Krzyzewski is “Sheshevski” but we can’t figure out other basketball names. 

- Scientists reportedly can’t decide if social media is addictive. The boyfriends of girls 16-24 on Instagram would all like a word with those scientists. 

- Robert Williams’ season is over due to a right knee injury. Unbelievable (but believable, I guess). 

- When did Landry Shamet learn to do this?

- How about a Tacko Fall, Kristaps Porzingis double big lineup?

If this happened, all of the Celtics media contingent would need shoulder surgery by the end of the year to correct the damage of holding our recorders way up over our heads so much. 

- The league might get their in-season tournament to stick, but these new courts might go down in history as a debacle. 

Even Porzingis said the all-red courts were too much on his eye watching the game. Nice idea by the league, but poor execution. 

- People really are in a big, damn hurry to fire Bill Belichick.

This is the ruthlessness of sports. The instant people think you have nothing left to offer, they want you gone. That's why I don’t have many issues with players requesting trades. It can work both ways. 

Let the man finish the season. I think he's earned that.

- A new study finds the last 12 months on Earth have been the hottest ever. Thanks, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. 

- I still believe the Bucks are going to figure it out. They have plenty of time. And if they fall to third seed because of it, I’m pretty sure no one in Milwaukee will give a damn as long as they figure it out by then. 

- I don’t care if Trae Young hits these shots

He’s not a good 3-point shooter. The numbers bear that out. He has one season where his shooting was just above league average. That's it. 

Now the rest of his game, from drawing fouls and making great passes, is high-level. But Young’s reputation from deep is fueled by hitting a stupid shot like this once every two months and people only seeing highlights of it because no one watches Hawks games. 

- Alex Caruso might be the trade deadline’s biggest prize.

- Dillon Brooks is thriving in Houston and I think Ime Udoka is fueling it. They are a perfect match. 

- I don’t believe in the Clippers one bit. Like, not at all. Even if they go on a run, it will cost one of their huge egos too many touches. I think they're screwed. 

- NEVERMIND! I FOUND IT!

- Adam Silver wants analysis of the games to be more in-depth, like football. 

I’m all for it. As a person who likes to add a teaching element to the coverage, I think it’s a great idea. 

At the same time, there are at least a dozen games a year when “they wanted it more” literally is the analysis. Let’s try fixing that too, Adam. 

- How do you toss Giannis Antetokoumpo out of a game for this?

Refs really need to relax. Maybe figure out how to call a travel before worrying about this. 

- Regarding Joe Mazzulla’s interaction with Gary Washburn: it’s up to Gary to tell you how he felt in that moment, but the 3-point thing has been a running theme between the two of them since the start of training camp.

Mazulla is a ball-buster, and I think this was some good-natured ribbing from him. I don’t think he meant it as a petty jab or something negative.

And if someone wants to answer with a “how would you like it,” I’d say bring it on. I spend my days challenging how these guys do their jobs. If they want to challenge me on how I do mine, so be it. It’s possible every once in a while that I need a little checking. 

Maybe.

- Congrats to Papa x2 Derrick White. 

- Here’s my latest podcast, if you’re bored.