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Japanese whisky is booming and has been for some time now — with an approach similar to that of Scotland, in that the main focus is on blends and single malts. But just because they spell “whisky” the same way, doesn’t mean that the Japanese and Scottish methods totally overlap. The climate, water, mashing, distilling, aging processes, and blending practices in Japan represent a wholly unique subset of whisky-making.

The main barrier to getting into Japanese whisky — especially living in the U.S. — is the price. Like scotch, the juice has to travel across oceans to land in the United States, where it’s then tariffed. That adds to the costs of production and the final sticker price. None of which is to imply you can’t get quality, inexpensive bottles of Japanese whisky. But it’s certainly harder than finding a solid bourbon on the cheap.

To help you take your first steps into the world of Japanese whisky, we thought we’d call out a few expressions we love. This list isn’t meant to be comprehensive. Think of it as a starter course. An overview so that you can get a taste of the blends, the single malts, and the special casks. Plus some of the pricey stuff thrown in at the end for good measure.

Hatozaki Japanese Blended Whisky

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Kaikyo Distillery
Average Price: $40

The Whisky:

This whisky is named after the oldest lighthouse in Japan, which dates back to the 1600s. The juice is a blend of single malt and grain whiskies from Japan and abroad that are aged in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and Mizunara oak.

Tasting Notes:

You’re immediately met with floral notes and cherry next to a hint of lemon and orange. The sip has a real malt underbelly with a honey sweetness next to a whisper of oak that leads towards the finish. The malt sustains through the end as a hint of pear next to peach arrives late.

Bottom Line:

I enjoy sipping this one in a highball. It’s super fruity and works well as a late-summer thirst quencher. It also makes for a nice break from the headier (and heavier) American whiskeys out there.

Tenjaku Blended Whisky

ABV: 40%
Distillery: Sourced Blend
Average Price: $45

The Whisky:

This is a fascinating blend that utilizes corn and barley with ex-bourbon barrels for aging. It’s not a bourbon by any stretch but uses that as an interesting touchstone.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a bit of a “blended” quality upfront on the warm nose next to hints of pear and dried fruits with a wisp of smoke. There’s a creaminess in the mix, too — with a stone fruit supporting note that leads towards a mild oakiness. That oak carries on as the fruit and cream fade out quickly.

Bottom Line:

This is definitely a highball whisky that works well with hard and very fizzy mineral water.

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Nikka Whisky Distilling
Average Price: $70

The Whisky:

We’re already getting into the pricier side of things. But, we’d argue that this one is well worth the price tag. The “Coffey Grain” in this whisky refers to the Scottish Coffey stills and the corn “grain” mash bill.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a hint of bourbon vanilla on this nose but it’s a ghost. The real star of the show is the fruit — mango, banana, orange — next to a hint of sweet corn. The sip leans into the fruit with undercurrents of citrus followed by a bit of toffee. Finally, that hint of vanilla returns alongside the orange and toffee with a nice rush of oak on the semi-long end.

Bottom Line:

I love this one on the rocks. Though, a single rock in a dram works well, too.

Kamiki Cedar Cask Japanese Whisky

ABV: 48%
Distillery: Sourced Blend
Average Price: $70

The Whisky:

This is a fascinating dram. The blend is comprised of single malts from around Japan and hand-selected international single malts. The juice is then finished in yoshino-sugi barrels — that’s a Japanese cedar that imparts a big flavor profile into the whisky.

Tasting Notes:

This sip opens with a note of peat next to spicy baked apples cut with orange zest. More floral orange notes and stone fruit wind towards a mossy cedar forest on a rainy day. The oak kicks in late with a bit more of that initial spice as the wood becomes resinous and dry on the long finish.

Bottom Line:

This is an easy sipper with a rock or a little water. It’s also kind of magical in a cocktail with few ingredients.

Ohishi Whisky

ABV: 45%
Distillery: Ohishi Distillery
Average Price: $75

The Whisky:

In another departure, this single malt whisky is made from malted and unmalted rice. The mash bill is 30 percent gohyakumanishi rice that’s grown in the distillery’s own fields. The rest is Kumamoto mochi rice. The juice is then aged in ex-sherry casks. The final blend is a marrying of the 27-year-old, ten-year-old, and seven-year-old whiskies.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a definite rice liquor note up top next to a floral essence and an almost molasses sweetness. Those florals give way to nuttiness and a spicy edge that hints at salted black licorice. The end is longish with the spice hints lasting the longest.

Bottom Line:

This is an interesting enough dram to enjoy with a rock or some water. But it’s also really fascinating as a cocktail base with bitter and botanical mixers like Campari and sweet vermouth.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

ABV: 43%
Distillery: Yamazaki & Hakushu Distilleries (Beam Suntory)
Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

This blend marries the single malts from Suntory’s Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries with a grain whisky from the famed Chita Distillery. The whiskies are aged in five types of oak, including the much-sought-after Mizunara. Finally, master blender Shingo Torii creates a blend that exemplifies Japanese whisky in a single bottle.

Tasting Notes:

That signature fruitiness of Japanese blends is on display from the first whiff with a focus on bright, tart berries and honey-soaked cinnamon apples, and a note of orange marmalade. All of that fruit carries on and adds juicy, sweet peaches before a spiciness kicks up a notch while a creaminess counterbalances the sip. The oak and spice carry on towards the end as a final hint of sweet toffee lingers on the slow fade.

Bottom Line:

This might be my favorite Japanese sipper on the list. Add a rock and watch the world go by.

The Matsui The Peated Single Malt

ABV: 48%
Distillery: Kurayoshi Distillery
Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

This is a cool bottle visually (utilizing Hokusai’s “Great Wave”) and in taste. The peated malt is reminiscent of the Port Ellen Islays Scotch single malts with a Japanese essence and a bourbon barrel edge. All of that makes this a very unique dram to taste.

Tasting Notes:

Peat! There’s a very earthy and slightly funky peat note present next to billows of smoke and bready malts on the nose. A dash of bourbon vanilla arrives on the palate next to apples covered in spicy-yet-creamy caramel with plenty of oak and another dose of that peaty smoke. That peat lingers the longest as notes of apple and caramel drop in on the slow fade of this dram.

Bottom Line:

If you love the peat, this is the dram for you. Personally, it’s a little much for me — unless it’s in a highball.

Hakushu Aged 12 Years

ABV: 43%
Distillery: Hakushu Distillery (Beam Suntory)
Average Price: $150

The Whisky:

Okay, we had to include one stellar, albeit spendy bottle to cap off this list. Hakushu 12 is a sort of Japanese highland whisky made in the pine forests near the Japanese “Alps.” The juice is a combination of three whiskies produced at Hakushu: A non-peated whisky aged in ex-bourbon, another non-peated whisky aged in ex-sherry, and a peated whisky aged in American oak.

Tasting Notes:

This sip is grassy, nutty, floral, and slightly bitter on the nose. The dram then leans into ripe yet tart fruits, lemon citrus, and a herbal tea note while a wisp of smoke and an undertow of creaminess arrive. A fresh ginger spice arrives with a note of orange zest as the sip quickly fades away with a final floral note.

Bottom Line:

This is a solid once-a-year celebration whisky to have on hand. Pour one for you and a loved one with a little water or ice and enjoy it slowly.

Tyler The Creator and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream are once again teaming up for a flavor collaboration after the success of their previous collaboration, the two-toned “Snowflake” flavor, in 2019. The new flavor is “Pluto Bleu,” a color-contrasting combination of blood orange and tropical blueberry. The collaboration between Tyler’s Golf Le Fleur and Jeni’s will be available in a pint carton designed by Tyler himself beginning online September 17 at 9am PT and nationwide September 21 at Jeni’s locations. Fans can also purchase Tyler’s Picks, a four-pack of flavors including Pluto Bleu and three of Tyler’s favorite flavors.

Tyler’s 2020 has otherwise been relatively quiet. Aside from remixing La Roux’s “Automatic Driver,” he hasn’t put out much music — although he apparently has been making some, as suggested by Pusha T this spring. Tyler did win big at the 2020 Grammy Awards, taking home a golden grammophone for Best Rap Album, despite calling it a “backhanded compliment” from the Academy.

It seems likely that — like many artists’ plans in 2020 — Tyler’s designs for the year were derailed by the onset of a global pandemic, as well as a wave of social justice uprisings which escalated in some cases to acts of vandalism. Tyler’s own store in Los Angeles was one of those damaged during protests, but Tyler himself didn’t sweat it, saying “this is bigger than getting some glass fixed and buffing spray paint off.” Clearly, working on his new flavor with Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream helped him keep his cool.

On Monday, Taco Bell announced that beginning this week the chain would roll out their first official wine, dubbed Jalapeño Noir and — Wait a minute… Really? Is this why the 7-Layer Burrito and the Mexican Pizza had to die, so Taco Bell could throw their hat into the wine space?!

Well… whatever. This year has us absolutely fried anyway.

Jalapeño Noir, which is a 2018 Pinor Noir and not, as the name would suggest, a Jalapeño infused wine, will be releasing exclusively in the Canadian Taco Bell market beginning September 16th, according to Food & Wine, alongside Taco Bell Canada’s Toasted Cheesy Chalupa.

“The rich taste and crunchy texture of the beloved Toasted Cheesy Chalupa complement notes of wild strawberry, cherry, and beetroot in this silky red wine,” a spokesperson for Taco Bell told Insider. The Cheesy Chalupa features melted, aged cheddar cheese toasted on a chalupa shell with seasoned beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. It’s tough to say if it really will taste good alongside a glass of Jalapeño Noir because who in the world would think to try that?

For the most part, Taco Bell fans on the internet seem pretty psyched about the announcement, but remember, they’re still reeling from the loss of the Mexican Pizza.

The Pinot Noir is produced by Ontario Canada’s Queenston Mile Vineyard and will be priced at $25 CAD ($19 USD) and sold with three different labels to encourage collecting. (“Hello fellow wine collector, is that a silver label Jalapeño Noir from 2018? That’s Pandemic Era, m’boy, it’s worth a fortune!”)

To pick up a bottle, hit up the Canadian Taco Bell website or select locations in Canada, or via UberEats.

The 2020 edition of the Pitchfork Music Festival may have been one of the casualities of pandemic safety cancelations, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the fest entirely. On Saturday, September 26, Pitchfork will have a special screening of the Best Of Pitchfork Music Festival which will include both a drive-in in Los Angeles and a livestream on Pitchfork’s website and YouTube channel. The performances were selected from 15 years of the festival, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Movement For Black Lives. The stream will also feature a button to donate.

Performances will include appearances from Angel Olsen, Big Thief, Blood Orange, Carly Rae Jepsen Charli XCX, Danny Brown, FKA Twigs, Grimes, Jamila Woods, Kamasi Washington, LCD Soundsystem, Mitski, Perfume Genius, Rico Nasty, Robyn, Run the Jewels, Sleater-Kinney, Solange, and Wilco, with a live DJ performance from A-Trak. The flyer also promises surprise guests, which could be just about anyone with this festival’s eclectic history.

The livestream is set to begin at 7pm ET while the live screenings will take place at Los Angeles’ Hotel Figueroa at 7pm and 9:45pm PT. Masks will be required. Tickets for the screenings can be purchased here. For more information, visit Pitchfork.com.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Where there’s a will, as they say, there’s gotta be a way. The Disney+ Marvel Cinematic Universe shows are getting back in motion with WandaVision reportedly still on track for the planned December release. Sebastian Stan is also back as Bucky with the Short Hair on the Atlanta set of Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He’s joined (according to set photos posted by JustJared) by Emily Van Camp (as Sharon Carter/Agent 13) and Georges St-Pierre (as returning villain Batroc the Leaper).

Of course, there’s enjoyment to be had on the set amid the pandemic worries. Anthony Mackie’s Falcon has arrived and is doing his cigar-smoking thing. Stan captured this essence while posting a photo of his own exaggerated stance with this caption: “Friends. Social distancing since November ’19.”

The photo has prompted some speculation that Mackie might be wearing new Captain America digs, although that hasn’t been confirmed. The black-and-white nature of this photo doesn’t help much in that department, but it’s definitely noteworthy that Daniel Brühl returns for this show as Baron Zemo, and we’re once again going to see Cap nemesis Baltroc following his appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The series will be a limited one, planned for six one-hour episodes.

As of now, there’s been no revised release date for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but ideally, the rest of production will go off without the kind of hitch that struck Warner Bros.’ The Batman a few weeks ago.

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got a new track from Beabadoobee’s anticipated new album, a groovy dance number from Djo, and Robert Smith’s first song appearance in years on a new Gorillaz track. Check out the rest of the best new indie music below.

The Flaming Lips – American Head

If new Flaming Lips music wasn’t great news on its own, Kacey Musgraves joins the band for a handful of songs on American Head. After spending much of the 2010s working on esoteric projects, American Head is a welcome return for the veteran psychedelic band, airing closer to Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots or The Soft Bulletin than a full-album cover of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon or Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.

William Tyler – New Vanitas

William Tyler has been pretty prolific over the last year. The 39-minute EP New Vanitas marks his third release since 2019, and takes on a more ethereal guitar-driven approach. The EP is comprised of what he calls “ghostly and otherworldy self-recordings” that were captured during a period of studio sessions earlier this year.

Beabadoobee – “Worth It”

On the third track from her forthcoming debut album Fake It Flowers, 20-year-old Beabadoobee looks back to the height of alternative guitar rock with “Worth It.” It’s a track that “borrows its aesthetic from guitar-driven ’90s indie-rock, although it manages to avoid sounding old and played out while doing so,” according to Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx.

Djo – “Keep Your Head Up”

Last year, Stranger Things star Joe Keery quietly released Twenty Twenty, his debut album under the moniker Djo. Marking a new era for the solo project, “Keep Your Head Up” takes on a more hi-fi approach, and “boasts crunchy synths and Keery’s feel-good lyrical delivery,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx.

Matt Berninger – “One More Second”

With his debut solo record Serpentine Prison just around the corner, Matt Berninger has shared “One More Second,” the latest in a string of advanced singles. The track is what Berninger calls his interpretation of a “desperate love song,” with the writing intended as a response to Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” It’s a more moody number than the previous two singles, and shows a nice range of what can be expected from Berninger’s solo debut.

Gorillaz – “Strange Timez” (ft. Robert Smith)

The roster for Gorillaz’ Song Machine series has been far from lacking in guest appearances, and the world got a bit bigger this week with “Strange Timez,” featuring vocal contributions from the goth king himself: The Cure’s Robert Smith. Less upbeat than previous tracks on the project, “Strange Timez” has what Derrick Rossignol calls for Uproxx “an uneasy and alternative energy,” the latest preview of a star-studded tracklist.

Waxahatchee, Bedouine, Hurray For The Riff Raff – “Thirteen” (Big Star Cover)

We’ve been waiting for Azniv Korkejian of Bedouine, Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee, and Hurray For The Riff Raff‘s Alynda Segarra to record music together ever since their collaborative 2017 tour. Now, the trio has teamed up for a cover of Big Star’s “Thirteen.” “With just a sleepy guitar and the three musicians’ soaring voices,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx, the cover puts on full display the raw talent of the three singers.

Slow Pulp – “At It Again”

Slow Pulp is gearing up for the release of their debut album Moveys next month and “At It Again” is a melodic shoegaze track that manages to take the shape of a pop song across its short runtime. If Moveys is as engaging as Slow Pulp’s 2019 EP Big Day, we are in for a treat when the rest of the album drops.

This Is The Kit – “Coming To Get You Nowhere”

You might recognize This Is The Kit from their support slots alongside The National, Sharon Van Etten, and more. For her new album Off Off On, Kate Stables teamed up with producer Josh Kaufman (Taylor Swift, The Hold Steady, The National) to push the boundaries of her songwriting. The resulting “Coming To Get You Nowhere” is an impressive entry into the catalog of This Is The Kit, and a promising indicator of what’s to come with the full-length album.

Shame – “Alphabet”

British post-punk outfit Shame has been more or less silent since wrapping up the support of their 2018 album Songs Of Praise. “Alphabet” marks the official return of the quintet, a surging and thrashing rocker that reminds us what was so great about the group in the first place. “At the time of writing it, I was experiencing a series of surreal dreams where a manic subconscious was bleeding out of me and seeping into the lyrics,” said frontman Charlie Steen in a statement.

Rhye – “Helpless”

Rhye (aka Michael Milosh) is an example of someone who has used their time in quarantine to expand their creativity. “Helpless” is a love song about Milosh’s partner, with whom he has been quarantining for the better part of 2020. While there is no indication that a new full-length Rhye album is on the horizon, it would seem that isolating with his partner has served as a source of inspiration for Milosh, and “Helpless” shows the potential for how fleshed-out and impressive his quarantine output can be.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Summer Walker’s debut album Over It is now platinum, which provides her the perfect opportunity for a sensual late-night performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The singer/part-time conspiracy theorist is well-known for her passionate performances and her latest was no exception, once again making the most of the social-distanced, pre-recorded format (as befits the self-described introvert).

This time around, she sings “Body” in a room filled with flowers. The space appears to be a warehouse with loft windows behind Summer and her band and a smoky sunset shining through. A fan in the corner keeps the crew cool as Summer croons her way through the Over It favorite in a skintight green dress. It offers a simpler concept than her BET Awards performance of “Come Thru” with Usher but as usual, she makes it work for her, keeping the focus on her magnetic performance.

Along with her live performances Summer kept herself in the proverbial spotlight this year with her Life On Earth EP, which charted two songs on the Hot 100 — “Let It Go” and “My Affection” with PartyNextDoor. She’s also provided a selection of feature choruses for other artists, including the remix of Justin Bieber’s “Yummy,” DVSN’s “Flawless,” and Aminé’s “Easy.”

Watch Summer Walker’s Tonight Show performance of “Body” above.

“The dominant trait of Conan as I know him is the wild chaos and turbulence of the creative and whimsical mind. It is that which must be captured.” That assessment is from Jordan Schlansky, human observer (or observer of humans) and Associate Producer on CONAN when I ask him about how he’d portray his boss, Conan O’Brien, if he was trying to do what I was: recreating a moment from the TBS late-night series’ lore with crafts and toys. It’s a uniquely Schlanskyesque response, but also an answer that inspires a question: How do you recapture the “wild chaos and turbulence of a creative and whimsical mind” with popsicle sticks and paper props?

For many CONAN fans, the challenge of that (and the lure of a fun project) was enough of a driver to contribute to the upcoming DIY CONAN (airing 9/21 on TBS at 11/10 PM Central). An entirely fan-made episode, the special is sure to be filled with crafty and clever twists on selected moments like the classic Shrub Cop or the time Conan confronted Schlansky over his end of the week tardiness only to get a truly memorable tour of his daily routine (the clip I chose to try and re-create). Several hundred fan-made clips were submitted and dozens will be used with methods ranging from stop motion animation, live-action, CG, and ones I can’t even think of as CONAN fans take advantage of an opportunity to shine, create, and pay tribute to their mutually beneficial fandom. It’s something they’ve had the chance to do before, notably crowdsourcing an episode in 2013 under the title Occupy Conan. It’s also something that’s right in line with the ethos of the show and that “creative and whimsical mind” that drives it.

DIY Spirit

I’ve previously said O’Brien embodied a punk spirit from the start, and there’s a thread that runs across almost 27 years of television and two networks that still connects with that. The silliness and aggressive weirdness of his shows for sure come from a place of necessary inventiveness owing to a shoestring budget and a hanging-by-a-thread existence in those early days. Not to mention a chip on the shoulder that pushed the show to stand out against the competition. All of those things seemingly solidified as a calling card by the time O’Brien became the comedy cool kid’s host of choice. And that’s still the case. Conan still looks and feels a little different from the field and it still takes big creative swings as evidenced by DIY Conan and Conan Without Borders.

From a hand puppet to syncro-vox interviews, and a cavalcade of other sneakily clever but lo-fi creations and bits, the DIY spirit has always been alive with O’Brien’s shows. But DIY isn’t a label rigidly applied to arts and crafts comedy only, it’s a mentality and creative ID that extends to O’Brien’s willingness to make comedy out of what’s available and in reach. Evident when he parachutes into situations and mines the funny from real interactions, be they at a bus depot in Houston, a doll store, the back of a rideshare, South Korea, a van exploring the world of online dating, or in the stupefying company of Jordan Schlansky.

The Craft

“Even with my explicitly intimate self-knowledge, I’ll always lack the objectivity of the external observer,” Schlansky says when commenting on what it feels like to have people try to reimagine on-screen moments with him and O’Brien. “As I spend my lifetime examining others, in the spirit of balance and symbiosis, I’m always curious to understand how others, in turn, might perceive me,” he adds. When I ask how I can capture his essence, his answer is simply, “exterior stoicism often belies a deep and dynamic psychology within.” Gotcha. For Jordan, I select an 8″ wooden art pose mannequin with doll jeans and paper sunglasses. For Conan, I cheat.

This entire process was utterly and surprisingly messy, requiring me to push past multiple layers of “don’t do that, you’re supposed to be a serious writer” blockades. But chances are high that I want to do something like this again. It involves toys and a part of the brain that most adults don’t get to use that often. It’s play, really. But I swear you find yourself putting a level of care and energy into these creations that surprise you. Because it’s just supposed to be fun and light and a lark and then you want it to be more and better and you’re scouring your action figure collection at 7AM for an alternate shirt for a wood doll because the tropical print one that came with the other doll clothes just won’t do.

I started thinking this would be a very quick and low lift thing, I ended up with an office covered in glue, doll parts, fishing line… sorry, I just got distracted by an errant oat still on my desk. (OATS! Oats, everywhere.) In the middle, I found myself daydreaming about my shot list, staring at my desk/makeshift stage, and stressing that I was going to lose light and not be able to match the thing I’d shot in a stolen moment hours earlier during my workday. Thank goodness the result was only a 2-minute video. Much more and I think the chances are high that I would have been lost to madness or the creation of my own YouTube channel.

Again though, this was fun. I can’t say that enough. I hope you like the end result, but it honestly isn’t about that. Instead, I feel like I found a few minorly original ways to express myself with what I could mine from my mind and my supply run. DIY, punk, whatever you want to call it, but it feels great. Save for the glue gun burn on my finger.

I haven’t seen the DIY Conan episode yet, but I can’t imagine my experience was unique and that fans who participated didn’t get as into it as I did, honoring the absurdity of the act as much as the show that they love while, for just an instant, getting a closer look at the “wild chaos and turbulence of a creative and whimsical mind.”

‘DIY CONAN’ airs 9/21 on TBS at 11/10 PM Central

The Denver Nuggets strung together a pair of memorable performances, coming back from two consecutive double-digit deficits to even the series against the L.A. Clippers. On Tuesday evening, the Clippers still enter Game 7 as seven-point favorites against the Nuggets but, in a winner-take-all scenario, anything can happen.

With that as the backdrop, we’re highlighting three keys that could swing the result in Game 7, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers waiting for the winner in the Western Conference Finals.

1. The Montrezl Harrell conundrum

Montrezl Harrell is a good basketball player. The 26-year-old big man won the NBA’s 2019-20 Sixth Man of the Year award and, during the regular season, Harrell was both efficient and productive, averaging 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor. Those are strong numbers under any circumstances and, considering his impact on a top-flight team like the Clippers, it is easy to see why Harrell was a leading candidate and, eventually, the winner of a league-wide award.

In this series, however, it has been a struggle for Harrell, and that puts a tremendous focus on him in advance of Game 7. Harrell had to leave the Orlando Bubble for a family matter and, as a result, he missed the Clippers’ seeding games, only to return at the outset of the playoffs. On the whole, his counting numbers look just fine, especially when taken on a per-minute basis, but Harrell has been a notable weakness for L.A. against Denver.

Over the course of six games, the Clippers have outscored the Nuggets by 1.9 points per possession. That figure would be (much) more impressive if not for back-to-back collapses from L.A. but, in short, the Clippers have been the better team by point differential. With the exception of Reggie Jackson, who essentially vanished from the rotation and has only played 29 minutes in the series, Harrell has the worst on-off splits of any Clipper, and that is only backed up by the eye test.

The Clippers are being outscored by 11.3 points per 100 possessions in the 108 minutes with Harrell on the floor through six games. That translates to a -29 over 108 minutes and, in the midst of a close-fought series, the minutes with Harrell in the middle have been costly for the Clippers. Harrell is, quite easily, the more prominent player when compared to Ivica Zubac, but Zubac has been notably better in this series.

Broadly speaking, Doc Rivers might lean in the direction of keeping Harrell engaged. After all, he is a very strong player and Harrell has been a key cog for the Clippers all season long. In the crucible of a win-or-go-home scenario, however, it will be quite interesting to see just how long Rivers is willing to stick with Harrell. He is a shaky defender, especially when Nikola Jokic is on the floor, and Harrell isn’t bringing the same kind of offensive impact since returning from his extended pre-playoff absence.

Can Rivers really just remove Harrell from the rotation? Probably not, but he should be on a (very) tight leash given how the rest of this series has gone. If he plays too much, the pendulum may swing toward the Nuggets.

2. Can Denver’s supporting pieces make three-pointers?

The Nuggets were unbelievable offensively in the second half of both Games 5 and 6. It goes without saying that Denver’s comebacks were highly unlikely but, in addition to the “help” provided by struggles from the Clippers, the Nuggets scored 1.39 points per possession against a strong defense. Much of that can be attributed to the lights-out work of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, just has it has been throughout the season. Still, that duo can’t carry the entire load, and the Nuggets have to get something from supporting pieces.

While there are other ways to make contributions, one practical impact could be simply knocking down three-pointers. Members of the Nuggets not named Jokic and Murray are just 38-of-120 from three-point range in the series, converting at only a 31.7 percent clip. That isn’t fully damning but, if presented with the choice to accept that rate in Game 7, Doc Rivers would likely jump at the chance.

In the last two wins, though, Denver’s supporting cast is 12-of-33 from three-point range. That only jumps to 36 percent in that small sample but, in a “make or miss league,” one or two connections could mean the difference.

As noted above, the Clippers could play a shallower rotation and, in a Game 7, offense is often at a premium. It won’t be a breeze, but the Nuggets getting something from the likes of Michael Porter Jr., Monte Morris, Jerami Grant and Paul Millsap from long distance would go a long way toward pulling the upset.

3. Who’s the best player on the floor?

After winning the 2019 NBA Finals MVP on the way to a championship, Kawhi Leonard made a leap into rarified air. He is a tremendous player by any description and, with the experience of operating as a superstar at the highest level, it is exceptionally difficult to pick against Leonard. In this series, Leonard certainly hasn’t been the problem for the Clippers, averaging 26.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game on strong efficiency, but Nikola Jokic has also been outrageous for Denver.

Jokic’s numbers are predictably strong, both for the playoffs overall and this series specifically, but the All-NBA center put up 28 points, 14 rebounds and six assists per game while nailing big shot after big shot in the last two wins. It would be far too aggressive to suggest that Jokic is better than Leonard in a broader sense, but it is also entirely possible that he flashes enough to be the best player on the floor in a single game.

In a sense, it is far too simplistic to suggest that the best player in Game 7 will get the victory. That is especially true in a series that also includes a legitimate star in Paul George and a rising stud in Jamal Murray. However, the Nuggets likely need Jokic to throw a (near) perfect game to get a third straight win and, if Leonard plays at his absolute best, the Clippers should rightly expect to win.

Mike Budenholzer earned criticism for his work in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, as the Milwaukee Bucks flopped in a five-game loss to the Miami Heat. While at least some of the underwhelming performance can be attributed to the players (and plenty of credit belongs to what the Heat did to the Bucks), Budenholzer’s reputation proceeded him as a coach hesitant, or sometimes unwilling, to make adjustments at the highest levels and, by the time Milwaukee made some changes after Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury, it was simply too little, too late for the Bucks to make it a series.

As Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals looms on Tuesday evening, the Boston Celtics are in an interesting position, with five games of tape on how the Miami Heat were able to upend the top-seeded Bucks. To be fair, the Celtics had their hands full in a seven-game battle against the Toronto Raptors but, with a schedule that included a brief hiatus between series, Boston had time to regain their legs and dive into some of the high-level strategic analysis needed to attack a top-flight coach in Erik Spoelstra.

While much of the attention paid to Budenholzer’s showing in the last round centered on the limited deployment of his best players, one significant criticism was Milwaukee’s inability to make adjustments on either end. The Bucks laid back in their conservative defensive scheme, failing to attack the Heat with consistent ball pressure until very late, and the results didn’t swing their way in the fashion that led to Milwaukee’s No. 1 defensive rating in the regular season. That was, in many ways, predictable, but it was actually the other end of the floor that arguably led to Milwaukee’s downfall.

The Bucks simply didn’t score enough to beat the Heat, averaging only 1.06 points per possession over the course of five games. Again, some of that is tied to struggles of players like Eric Bledsoe but, in short, Milwaukee did not take full advantage of a Heat defense that, while solid, has some holes to exploit.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo are tremendous two-way players, operating at a star level on offense and performing well in both individual and team concepts on defense. From there, Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala are strong veteran defenders, with experience at the highest levels and the ability to function in various matchups over the course of an extended series. However, Miami wasn’t quite as dominant defensively during the regular season, ranking ninth in the NBA in defensive rating, as one might think, and a look at the team’s rotation reveals some tangible concerns.

Late in the conference semifinals, the Bucks (finally) elected to let Khris Middleton hunt favorable matchups, and the All-Star wing averaged 29.5 points per game in the final two contests. Milwaukee arguably didn’t do it enough but, when they did, it was tough to ignore, and the Heat have some potentially flammable defensive lineups.

For example, Duncan Robinson enjoyed a breakout season, knocking down a mesmerizing 44.6 percent of his three-point attempts while getting up almost 14 per 100 possessions. He is one of the best shooters in the NBA and, when he’s cooking, the opposition is almost powerless to stop him. However, one of the adjustments the Bucks did make in the last round was keying on Robinson, culminating in Game 5 when Robinson played fewer than 14 total minutes. While Robinson’s gravity still aids Miami’s offense even when he’s not firing away, his defense is a potential question, and he isn’t alone among Miami’s perimeter players.

The Heat were actually outscored by 5.8 points per 100 possessions with Robinson on the floor against Milwaukee. The sample size of 136 minutes is relatively small but, on the defensive end, Miami was torched to the tune of 117.6 points per 100 possessions. That figure is hideous under any construct, but it is something that the Celtics can aim for again, using their cavalcade of wing options to attack Robinson. To be fair, the former Michigan sharpshooter isn’t a completely hapless defender but, much like one of his well-chronicled archetypes in Kyle Korver, there are certain danger matchups for Robinson, and Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, with their ability to isolate, would qualify.

Elsewhere, the Heat deploy the likes of Tyler Herro, Kendrick Nunn and Goran Dragic on the perimeter, all of which could be targeted by Boston. Herro is feisty and athletic but, as a rookie, he can be hunted and, for all of his offensive promise, he is still a 6’5 combo guard with limited length and physicality. Nunn may be out of the rotation at times, as evidenced by only 67 minutes in the last round, but he isn’t a fantastic defender either, and the Heat may lean on other more capable options against a Boston team that gives you nowhere to hide.

As for Dragic, Miami’s veteran point guard has found rejuvenation to this point in the playoffs, averaging 21.1 points and 4.7 assists per contest in the first two rounds. By any standard, Dragic has been fantastic offensively and he, along with Butler and Adebayo, is the biggest reason for Miami’s offensive jump when compared to the regular season. Still, Dragic has never been an excellent defender, and he is limited in size, physicality and on-ball tenacity.

There are varied ways for the Celtics to attack Miami’s perimeter deficiencies on defense, and Brad Stevens would appear to be a more likely candidate to exercise them than Budenholzer proved to be. Can Dragic hold up on Kemba Walker over the course of a full series? That remains to be seen. Can Herro, Robinson and/or Nunn avoid being hunted by the likes of Tatum and Brown? Quite honestly, even Marcus Smart might have the edge against any of Miami’s quartet of offense-leaning players, especially given his brute force and aggressiveness.

To be fair, the Heat can (and will) field lineups with only one shaky defender, surrounding Dragic (or Herro or Robinson) with Butler, Adebayo, Crowder and Iguodala. That is a five-man unit that can hang with anyone defensively, as the problems don’t begin to mount until you have more than one defensive hole.

As the series persists, Spoelstra’s goal must be to find a way to succeed defensively while keeping his offensive firepower on the floor. On the other side, Stevens must attempt to force Spoelstra to take his offensive weapons off the floor, taking advantage of the fact that Boston’s best offensive lineups also feature limited places for the opposition to attack on the other end.

Robinson, Herro and especially Dragic are capable of being so good on offense that it (almost) doesn’t matter how the other end of the floor unfolds. Still, the Celtics will likely attempt to bet against that reality and, if nothing else, Miami’s non-Butler perimeter options will need to prove they can hold up defensively, or risk being marginalized over the course of what could be a lengthy series.