Picks 'n Pops: Adjustments, sarcastic Adam Silver, and nicknames

Every week I gather some thoughts about the Celtics, the NBA, and beyond and dump them here. Because Adam Silver asked me to finally give some effort for once and I’m sick of him asking.

- Nikola Vucevic was 9-12 for 20 points in the first half against Boston. He was 1-7 for two points in the second half. 

“We changed the coverage a little bit and tried to make it more difficult. More active hands,” Derrick White said. “You see what they’re trying to do, what they like to do and try to make an adjustment to make it a little more difficult. It was Joe.”

Points in the paint were a problem early on in the game, and that was curtailed later. Meanwhile, Boston got whatever they wanted on the other end. 

The morals of the story: First, it’s a long game and getting killed by something doesn’t mean it has to continue. Second, Joe Mazzulla knows what he’s doing. 

- Adam Silver was pissed off after the All-Star game. You could feel it in his comments when he said "to the Eastern Conference All-Stars: You scored the most points. Well ... congratulations."

Silver and the rest of the NBA brass thought the message had gotten through to the players that they wanted a competitive game. The players didn’t care.

Ultimately, it’s going to cost them money. Silver is trying to sell a TV package and TNT pays a lot of money for the All-Star game broadcast and if they're not getting the return they want on it, they are not going to pay the money. 

Maybe that's what Silver should have led with. Or maybe players make so much now that they don’t care. 

- Inside The NBA is super popular, but everyone on that show (except Ernie Johnson) continues to find ways to dump all over the game. Kenny Smith’s extensive railing against Sabrina Ionescu and her shooting from the NBA line was a terrible look during the one event that got massive crowd buy-in. 

I’m not asking guys to be pom pom wavers in the broadcast, but maybe read the room some before you decide to snack on your sneakers. Take a cue from Larry Bird, who actually enjoys where the game is now. 

- The Doc Rivers “it’s not my fault” tour is electric. Nothing is his fault, but James Harden’s success in LA is partly his doing somehow. Doc even pushed the blame for trading Shai Gilgeous-Alexander onto Kawhi Leonard. It’s a masterclass in lacking accountability.

- Beyonce’s plan for world domination is going exactly to plan. Suddenly she’s doing country music and Verizon commercials? We’re already too late. Let’s just hope she is a merciful ruler. 

Also, Beyonce was the soul of Destiny’s child. Just wanted to say that for the record and completely unrelated to her impending takeover. 

-  Andre Drummond hit Luke Kornet with a “too small” celebration and Kornet responded by unleashing a series of put-back and alley oop dunks. 

No one asked Drummond after the game if he regretted poking the bear. 

- Jaylen Brown spent his short break in Puerto Rico.

As usual, Jaylen turns it over when you blitz him. 

- In all seriousness, Brown’s goal in Puerto Rico went beyond beach exploration. He was there to help people through his charitable foundation. 

Between this and the Tatum donation to single moms in St. Louis, it’s just another example of Boston’s stars enriching people around them and trying to make the world better. These guys need to be embraced for the total package of who they are, not just falling just short of a championship mid-way through their 20’s. 

- While I’m here, you absolutely cannot hold the 2008 Celtics in any high regard while crapping on Tatum and Brown. The 2008 team was a collection of guys in their 30s who assembled and sacrificed BECAUSE they couldn't win in their 20s. 

You have to have some historical perspective and understand how hard it is to win. If you love Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and Ray Allen but are annoyed by Tatum and Brown’s inability to win, then you need to reevaluate why you have different standards for different players. 

- Best wishes to Scot Pollard, who is recovering from heart transplant surgery. The good news is on his feet and starting to move around. 

- This block by Ticket Gaines might have saved Providence’s postseason chances

What an amazing play in that situation. Who doesn’t enjoy clutch defensive basketball plays? Also, who doesn't love a name like Ticket Gaines?

- It gets more and more hilarious that White didn’t make ESPN’s top 100. 

- Brown on next year’s dunk contest: “If they ask me and nobody else cares to do it, f--- it, I’ll do it again.”

'eh, what the hell... I'll do it if I have to'

- I’m not feeling the “cookies and cream” nickname for Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. I was lukewarm on it to start, then Brown said he didn’t like it, and then they used it 4,028 times on the broadcast last night and I think I’m just done with it. 

- Boston’s seven-game winning streak is the longest of Porzingis’ career. No wonder he’s always smiling.     

- Boston’s magic number to clinch the top seed is now 20. Any combination of Celtics wins and Cavs losses that total 20 gives the Celtics the East. 

- Sam Waterston’s run as Jack McCoy is over. Now THAT is an ironman run for the ages.

- The current NBA belt champion: Still the OKC Thunder:

- Today’s Bing AI generated image: Leaving the Cavaliers in their dust...

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