Comebacks, Draft Picks, and a Rocky Start 🪨
Smallball-ers, it was another wild night in the NBA playoffs…Plus, you asked for it so we’re diving into the NFL Draft, and we’ve got some surprises along the way.
🏀The main event: NBA drama
If I told you two of last night’s games came down to the last minute and one was a blowout, which game would you pick as the blowout?
Remember, we expected the Thunder to beat the Grizzlies (~80% chance), Clippers to beat the Nuggets (~65%), and Knicks to beat the Pistons (~55%). Let's see the scoreboard!
WOW! The Clippers dominated the Nuggets in Game 3, with four Clippers scoring 19 or more points and sinking 11 more three-pointers than the Nuggets.
➕➖ How many more points did the Clippers score on 3-pointers?
What about the other 2 games: what’s the story behind the score-y (ugh)? You’ve got to see this to believe it:
KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns) and Jalen Brunson power New York to victory
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander (SGA) and Chet Holmgren surge historic OKC comeback
Let's focus on OKC's comeback. Yesterday, we saw ESPN's win probability chart. Today, let's explore the NBA's lead tracker to see the game's momentum shifts.
🎤 Can you and your parents figure out what each of the 5 numbers at the bottom means? Do you think all of the players went on a 16 mile run? 😂
Now let’s zoom out and look at the overall playoff bracket. Remember, the team in each series that wins 4 games wins the series and moves to the next round.
After zooming in on OKC's comeback and out on the playoff bracket, let's now look UP! Smallball-ers, meet Tallball-er Zack Edey on the Memphis Grizzlies, who had 9 points and 7 rebounds last night. He’s the tallest player right now in the NBA at 7’4”. But he’s a little shorter than Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, who are both retired, but at 7’7” are the NBA's tallest players ever.
Here’s Edey on a jump ball against San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, who is listed at 7’3”. Wemby looks taller than Edey to me… what do you think? 🎤
And here’s a preview of tonight’s games: Tonight’s games
☘️ Boston Celtics @ 🪄 Orlando Magic (Celtics leads 2-0); experts say: 67% chance the Celtics win
🏎️ Indiana Pacers @ 🦌 Milwaukee Bucks (Pacers lead 2-0); experts say: 55% chance the Bucks win
⭐️ Los Angeles Lakers @ 🐺 Minnesota Timberwolves (tied 1-1); experts say: Coin flip! 50% chance for both teams to win
🏈 You asked for it: NFL Draft update
Yesterday we asked if you wanted more NFL, NHL, or MLB. Half of you said NFL and half said stay focused on the NBA. So half of you better stop reading here!
🤔 What exactly is the NFL Draft and how does it work?
The NFL Draft is the league’s annual event where teams select eligible college players to join their rosters. Held over three days, the draft consists of seven rounds, with each of the 32 teams receiving one pick per round.
The selection order is set based on the teams' records from the previous season, with the worst-performing team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. Teams can trade picks and players, adding drama to the process.
🎤 Why do you think last year’s worst team gets to pick first in the draft?
🔍 Spotlight on the first 3 picks (here’s the basics on football positions if helpful; images from The Ringer’s NFL Draft coverage):
Tennessee Titans Select QB Cam Ward (Miami): The Titans picked Cam Ward, a dynamic quarterback from the University of Miami. Ward is known for his strong arm and mobility, traits that drew comparisons to Patrick Mahomes during the pre-draft process.
Cam Ward Jacksonville Jaguars Trade Up for CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado): In a bold move, the Jaguars traded multiple picks, including a future first-rounder, to acquire the second overall pick from the Cleveland Browns. They selected Travis Hunter, a versatile athlete from Colorado who excelled as both a cornerback and wide receiver. Hunter's unique two-way play and athleticism make him a rare talent.
Travis Hunter New York Giants Pick EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State): The Giants addressed their defensive needs by selecting edge rusher Abdul Carter from Penn State with the third overall pick. Carter is praised for his explosive first step and relentless pursuit, qualities that the Giants hope will bolster their pass rush.
📈 Overall, the Offensive Tackle and Defensive Line position had the most players drafted in Round 1 (5 each).
An offensive tackle is a key player on the offensive line whose job is to protect the quarterback and open running lanes. They usually line up on the far left or right ends of the line—the "edges" of the offense—and face off against the defense’s fastest and most dangerous players: the edge rushers.
Why are offensive tackles so important? Tackles are the bodyguards. They protect the quarterback’s blind side and give them the time they need to make great throws—especially on passing downs.
Looking at where Round 1 Draft picks went to college, Ohio State led with 4 followed by Georgia, Texas, and Michigan with 3 each.
🎬 Rounds 2 and 3 of the NFL Draft happen tonight. One of the top prospects still available is quarterback Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. Despite high expectations, Sanders slipped out of the first round. Some experts raised questions about Sanders' on-field decision-making, noting tendencies to hold onto the ball too long and challenges in processing defenses quickly.
⚾ Last thing: Last place
The Mets, Padres, Dodgers, and Giants are off to hot starts, but who’s ice cold? Drum roll…it’s the Colorado Rockies who are off to the worst start in the MLB at 4 wins and 20 losses. The Rockies aim to halt their early-season struggles against the Cincinnati Reds tonight at Coors Field. Here’s a pre-game summary!
That’s all we’ve got for today. Have a magical Friday, Smallballers!