Pick And Pop To The Pantheon 🏛️
We’re watching legends in the making… and we’re using legendary words to describe them.
A Herculean effort. An Achilles heel.
The way we talk about sports today? It’s built on stories that are thousands of years old. Stories we’re ready to dive into today!
But first, let’s hit the 3 things you need to know. 🏀👇
1️⃣ Thunder vs. Wolves: Second-Half Surge
OKC dominated Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 114–88.
SGA was smooth as ever, scoring 31 points and handing out 9 assists. But like OKC’s Game 7 win over the Nuggets, the real storm came after halftime...
That’s when the Thunder turned a tight game into a tidal wave, outscoring Minnesota 70–40 in the second half.
2️⃣ Knicks vs. Pacers: Big-Time Rematch Tonight
Two teams. Two stars. A big Game 1 chance to take the lead in a playoff rivalry that goes way back.
🗽 Jalen Brunson is calm under pressure and has been scorching hot all postseason.
🏎 Tyrese Haliburton is pure pace with fast breaks, fast passes, and a fast mind.
It’s a rematch of last year’s Eastern Semis, when the Pacers knocked the Knicks out in 7 games. And it echoes a classic era: in 1999, the Knicks beat Indiana to reach the Finals. In 2000, the Pacers returned the favor, and reached the Finals themselves.
🎬 Wanna see more history?
Now, 25 years later, these two are back. And both believe it’s their turn again.
🎯 Experts say… 52% chance Knicks win Game 1
🎤 Who you got for Game 1: Brunson and the Knicks or Haliburton and the Pacers?
3️⃣ Pick-and-Pop, Please!
Back in the 1990s, when the Knicks and Pacers were battling it out, one play ruled the NBA: the pick and roll. Big guys would set a screen, roll to the basket, and look for a layup. It was all about power.
Today? We’ve got a remix.
It’s called the pick and pop… and it’s a perfect fit for the modern game. After setting a screen, instead of rolling in, a big pops out behind the three-point line. That stretches the defense and gives the ballhandler a wide-open teammate ready to shoot.
💡 Think of it like this:
The roll is about muscle… sprinting to the rim, ready to dunk.
The pop is about space… stepping back, ready to shoot.
Teams use the pop when their bigs are great shooters. It forces bigger defenders to guard in space, way outside their comfort zone.
📊 Here's the difference, side-by-side:
🎬 Want to see it in action?
It takes teamwork and timing. Ballhandlers need to draw the defense, and poppers need to be shot-ready… feet set, shoulders square.
Why does it keep coming up now?
Because the remaining playoff teams are full of great players like Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) who are perfect for the pick and pop.
Now, Smallball-ers, it’s time to trade basketball shoes for sandals… we’re heading to ancient Greece.
🏛️ Deep Dive: Myths Meet Sports
Last week, we watched 5 of the unluckiest bounces in sports history.
Today, we’re going even further back… all the way to ancient Greece. Modern sports are filled with influences from Greek history and myths.
So we’re counting down our 5 favorite myth-meets-sports moments.
And the best part? You don’t need a toga to keep reading.
5️⃣ Herculean Effort 💪
In Greek mythology, Heracles (who the Romans later called Hercules) was no ordinary hero. He had to complete 12 impossible labors… things like wrestling lions, cleaning giant stables, and catching monsters.
It wasn’t just about being strong. It was about being relentless.
In sports today, we still use his name. Not just for big muscles, but for big moments that feel impossible:
🏀 An epic last-minute comeback.
⚽ A miracle shot that hits the back of the net.
🥇 A perfect race to win gold.
We don’t just say it’s impressive. We say it’s Herculean. Speaking of impressive…
4️⃣ From Olympia To Paris 🕊️
Today’s Olympic Games are huge: over 200 countries, thousands of athletes, sports from swimming to skateboarding.
But where did it all begin?
🏛️ Ancient Greece, nearly 2,800 years ago.
The first Olympics were held in a city called Olympia, in honor of Zeus, the king of the gods.
Back then:
There was only one winner per event.
Athletes competed naked! (We do not recommend that today.)
The prize wasn’t a gold medal… it was a wreath made of olive branches.
So what’s stayed the same?
🔥 The tradition.
🥇 The glory.
🌍 The idea that the world can come together to celebrate courage, effort, and dreams.
When we say the Olympics are historic, we don’t just mean old. We mean meaningful.
Which brings us to a great Olympic event…
3️⃣ The Marathon’s Mythic Start 🏃
Why do marathon runners go exactly 26.2 miles?
Because of a story from ancient Greece.
Legend says that after the Battle of Marathon, a Greek soldier named Pheidippides ran all the way to Athens — about 26 miles — to deliver news of victory.
He said one word: “Νενικήκαμεν.” (neh-nee-KEE-kah-men… translation: We have won.)
Then he collapsed.
Today, every marathon is a tribute to that run.
💡 Fun fact: The “.2” part was added later… to finish in front of the Queen’s box during the 1908 London Olympics!
Our feet hurt just thinking about it…
2️⃣ Achilles’ Heel 🦶
You’ve heard the phrase. You’ve seen the heartbreak. A torn Achilles tendon can sideline even the mightiest stars.
It just happened to Boston’s Jayson Tatum… one of the best players in the world. His postseason ended not with a missed shot, but with a step… and a snap.
Why do we call it an Achilles?
Because in Greek myth, Achilles was an unbeatable warrior… except for one tiny spot on his heel. One weakness. One arrow. One fall.
Now, modern legends on the court and on the field have the same weak spot.
Better lace up some good shoes…
1️⃣ More Than a Swoosh 👟
Remember the A’ja Wilson Nike ad we watched last week?
Before it was a global sports brand famous for shoes, Nike was a winged goddess… the spirit of victory.
The Greeks believed she flew into battle and crowned the champions. She moved fast. She moved silently. And when she showed up? It meant someone had won.
That swoosh on your sneakers? It’s her wing. (Smallball’s rocking them too.)
Every sprint. Every jump. Every last-second shot still carries her magic.
Nike didn’t invent greatness. But it gave greatness a symbol.
And now, every time someone laces up to chase victory… they’re chasing her.
💡 What We Learned Today
Sports aren’t just about stats. They’re about stories.
And some of those stories are REALLY old.
The Achilles heel. The wing of Nike. The effort of Hercules. The torch of Olympus. The grueling marathon.
These myths aren’t just memories… they’re alive in some of the legendary moments we get to watch every single day.