Seven Ate Nine
The 7-seeds took different paths to victory on Tuesday as the NBA Play-In Tournament opened—but to my eye, neither team looks long for the postseason.
Orlando Magic
In the East, Orlando’s stars were quiet on the scoring front but still impacted the game through rebounds and assists. Their role players stepped up and blew out Atlanta by 25.
- Trae Young, visibly frustrated, tried to take the ball with him off the court in the final five minutes.
- The refs kept the ball but still ejected him.
Looking ahead to Boston, it’s hard to imagine Orlando’s bench sustaining that kind of production across a seven-game series. There’s also fresh tape on how to slow down Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, forcing the ball into the hands of the supporting cast.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State, meanwhile, rode its two stars to a dominant first half, only for Memphis to claw back with impressive team basketball in the second. It’s always great TV when brand-name stars shine, but the Warriors’ lack of bench production is a major concern.
Memphis Grizzlies
In the East, Orlando’s stars were quiet on the scoring front but still impacted the game through rebounds and assists. Their role players stepped up and blew out Atlanta by 25.
- Memphis impressed. Zach Edey made a big impact off the bench
- Ja Morant remained electric even on a sprained ankle
- Desmond Bane found his rhythm from deep
- Santi Aldama disrupted with his length
The late-game inbound violation that cost Memphis a chance at overtime felt more like a coaching adjustment issue than a mental lapse. If they grab the 8-seed on Friday, we could get a great Round 1 series vs. OKC.
Take Away
Golden State has now lost two recent games where younger, more physical defenses bullied their stars—and the bench couldn’t compensate. One of those games? Houston. That’s who they’ll face next. If the series goes the full seven, I could see Stephen Curry pulling it out as “the best player on the floor.” Anything shorter favors Houston. Golden State will need all four days of rest they earned by clinching the 7-seed.
You Can't Win It All In April, But You Can Lose It All
You Can't Win It All In April, But You Can Lose
Baseball’s a long season, and I usually wait until Memorial Day before really watching the standings. But a rough first week can still statistically wreck your chances. That’s the strange thing—early losses can doom you, but early wins don’t guarantee a thing.
Take Atlanta. The Braves lost their first seven games. No team in MLB history has ever made the playoffs after an 0–7 start. They were projected to contend for the NL pennant, and now they may end up playing spoiler in their own division.
Aces Are Wild
Aces Are Wild
Roki Sasaki has been a fascinating watch—not in a dominant way, but like you’re waiting for a train to hit a stalled car. His stuff is electric, but the command issues are real. His eyes widen at every 2–0 count. Lack of control has become a theme in broadcast commentary.
Sasaki rarely pitches beyond five innings, and the Dodgers’ bullpen is already showing wear. Last Saturday, he allowed just one home run (another near-grand slam was caught at the wall), but the bullpen surrendered 15 more runs after he exited.
He’s got elite talent—reflected in his salary—but if he’s showing mental fatigue this early, that’s a concern. The entire rotation needs to shoulder more innings.
Nobody's Hero
Nobody's Hero
The Masters Championship has been well covered—Rory McIlroy’s win is already written into golf lore. I won’t go hole-by-hole here. Instead, I was thinking how golf stands apart from other sports.
In most sports, we dream of aging stars turning back the clock. But in golf, it’s actually possible. Because it’s less about speed or strength, a 45-year-old can still beat a 25-year-old. And Rory, though not 45, won with age. With experience. With perspective earned through personal tragedy. That’s a uniquely golf narrative.
I also tracked the LIV Tour players again—still convinced their lighter schedules might give them an edge. Patrick Reed finished third. Bryson DeChambeau tied for fifth. The theory holds.
Speaking of Bryson—he’s back in the public’s good graces, and that’s great for golf. Like it or not, kids love him. He brings new fans to the game, and that’s more than can be said for 99% of the field.
Post Script
Post Script
