Your constant reminder of what the hell we’re talking about:

Lion Face: NOVA-ITZKI

I heard about it before I saw it. Then I saw it, and I couldn’t believe. Are you kidding me? I see his point total at 7:21 remaining in the 4th. A respectable 13 points with free throws coming, likely to get to around 20 in a loss.

And then of course, the NOVA. I’ve had a renaissance with Nowitzki over the last year. I was just as livid as anyone when he won the MVP, outraged at what I felt was a terrible selection. But then I started to actually watch Dirk’s game, not in the context of wins and losses and individual matchups, but just as a seven foot tall German dude shooting the rock like he’s able to control the rain.

The guy’s release point is so high it’s insane to think he’s ever been blocked. It’s like lining up a missile. But tonight, that was just part of it. He was unconscious, which is a key element of going Nova. You have to have that flow where you’re just scoring. Not thinking, not analyzing, not deciding, just getting buckets. And Nowitzki did everything. Random loose ball ends up in his hands for a fading three? Yes. Slide off the off-ball screen and grab the inlet pass off the glass? Indeed. Stop pull-ups with a little bit of fade in the key? Danke.

You almost half to feel bad for the Jazz. Almost.29 points in the fourth quarter, 40 points total, with 5 blocks. And a reminder that when Nowitzki is in that zone, that level, he can take a game that you feel is on lockdown to absolute disaster. Don’t look away. It’ll hurt more if you don’t see it coming.

Lemon Face: The Utah Jazz

I’m sorry, Jazz fans. I am. You deserve better than this. You deserve a team that reflects its coach. Honest. Dedicated. Talented. Intense. But you can look at shooting percentages or defensive efficiency or rebounds or whatever you’d like but even little old empericist me can tell you that the problem with this team isn’t in numbers. They were relieved with seven minutes to go versus Dirk. You could see it. Laughing, walking around, shoulders back. They were ready to get out of Dallas. No need to finish this game. Someone else will. Okay, surely Dirk will start missing.

The Jazz are lost right now. Lost in identity. Lost on offense, lost on defense. Lost on mission and lost on time. And this whole thing could break open very quickly if they don’t turn it around. I’ve said before there’s always one team that takes a giant step backwards. It could be Utah this season.

Lion Face: Etan Thomas and Jeff Green

The Thunder lost to the Lakers, as of course they had to. There is an order to this universe, and a team without an offensive set cannot beat the best team in the league. but Etan Thomas and Jeff Green made them earn every single inch of it. Thomas has been revitalized with the youngsters. He’s setting good screens, running the screen and roll, cleaning up misses, and very loudly protecting the paint, his lair, his cubs. Green in the span of four minutes in the fourth hit a pull-up jumper post-pump fake, jumped so high I really thought he cleared the rim to intercept a lob, and absolutely annhilated Ron a block that was called foul. There’s a fascinating mentor relationship forming between the two,and seeing both men working is something of a lost art right now. Green is turning into something special and Thomas is simply NOT the guy you want to run into in a dark and stormy back to back. There are a lot of reasons the Thunder lost. These two are not a pair of them..

Lemon Face: Kevin Durant and Scott Brooks

That’s what you come up with? The SECOND worst possession in the history of basketball? That’s the plan? Really? The Thunder had ample opportunities to end this and received more than their fair share of whistles, some even coming on Kobe. But the Thunder repeatedly failed to identify any sort of planned offensive excution and instead directed players to stand and watch Durant shoot a 35 foot three that airballed.

On one hand, it’s awesome that the Thunder are good enough to almost beat teams with Durant.

The Bad News is that the Thunder are not actually good enough to beat teams without Durant. Whatever Henry Abbot’s poured into your head, Durant, get it out, get it out, getitout.

Lion Face: Jamal Crawford

27 points, 7 assists on 16 shots. A win over Portland. And the revelation that maybe, just maybe, Crawford really is what Atlanta needs, more points who work with speed.

Lemon Face: Anyone having to play Boston. I don’t envy you. Run. Very fast. And very far.

Lion Face: Brandon Jennings versus Derrick Rose

Do you realize how lucky we are? We get to watch this at least eight times in two seasons before one of those guys figure out where the money’s at. Jenning’s length and fearlessness verusus Rose’s confidence and newfound veteran poise. Jennings has incredible range, Rose can get to a spot so fast , it’s almost illegal. Just a fantastic game from both players. Looking forward to these sequels infinitely.