With the passing of famed British actress Diana Rigg, writer James Hibberd has shared excerpts from his upcoming book on the making of Game of Thrones that include fascinating anecdotes of Rigg. The stories show that she was just as mischievous and badass as her character Olenna Tyrell. In fact, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss expanded the Tyrell matriarch’s role far beyond the source material entirely because of Rigg’s performance.
As cast and crew recounting working with the late actress, they shared stories about her showing up to her first table read with her lines fully memorized and being a downright battle axe with episode directors when they tried to tell her how to enter a scene. During one memorable moment in season six where Olenna addresses the Sand Snakes, Rigg was ready to do her scene and was not in the mood to suffer delays. Via Entertainment Weekly:
“She walked onto the set, and she went, ‘I’m ready now!’” recalls Jessica Henwick, who played the whip-snapping Nymeria Sand. “A cameraman came over and went, ‘Well, okay, but we haven’t finished setting up.’ She interrupted him and said, ‘Roll the cameras!’ And she just started doing her lines. She did two takes, and then the guy came over and was like, ‘Great, now we’re going to do a close-up.’ And she just stood up and she went, ‘I’m done!’”
“Now, she can’t walk fast. She has to be helped. So basically we just sat there and watched as Diana Rigg effectively did her own version of storming off the set, but it was at 0.1 miles per hour. She cracked me up. I loved her.”
Of course, that kind of no-nonsense attitude is exactly what endeared Rigg to Benioff and Weiss who looked back at their first meeting with the actress. “She was funny, she was bawdy, she was everything we wanted for that character,” according to Weiss. “She said with a big smile, ‘There’s an awful lot of bonking, isn’t there?’”
Last year’s Savage X Fenty Fashion Show brought out some big guests and performers: Either performing or appearing for Rihanna’s big event were Migos, Big Sean, ASAP Ferg, DJ Khaled, Halsey, Tierra Whack, Normani, and 21 Savage. Well, last year’s event and this year’s have a lot in common. Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 will also be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, and there will be plenty of major names involved this year, too.
Today, Amazon has shared a trailer for the event, which will be viewable beginning on October 2, and revealed who is involved. Performing will be Travis Scott, Roddy Ricch, Rosalia, Miguel, Bad Bunny, Ella Mai, and Mustard. Meanwhile, making special appearances are Lizzo, Bella Hadid, Big Sean, Cara Delevingne, Christian Combs, Demi Moore, Irina Shayk, Laura Harrier, Normani, Paloma Elsesser, Paris Hilton, Rico Nasty, Willow Smith, and “many more.”
Amazon is about to be the home of even more great Rihanna content. Earlier this month, it was reported that a documentary about the multi-hyphenate star will hit Amazon Prime Video at some point in 2021, likely around the Fourth Of July.
Watch the trailer for this year’s show above.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Big Sean has made much of his emotional and spiritual journey in the course of making his new album Detroit 2, and in the home-bound video for his latest single from the project, he takes that practice even further. “ZTFO” — an acronym for “zenned the f*ck out” — finds Sean meditating so hard he taps into the mystical side of the metaphysical practice and begins levitating as in more fantastical depictions of yoga like Jonny Quest and Street Fighter.
While the album version of the song features Young Thug, here, only Thugger’s ad-libs can be heard — likely as a result of coronavirus precautions and Thug’s notorious tendency to just not show up for video shoots. Another recent Young Thug collaborator, Aminé, also skipped casting the elusive rapper in the video for “Compensating,” instead opting to shoot a home-bound video of his own — albeit one set in a huge mansion with a tennis court.
In comparison, Sean’s video is relatively simple, but it seems he’s embraced a more minimalistic lifestyle in the video. It’s a choice that has bled out into the videos for his other singles from Detroit 2, including “Body Language” (where he again meditates, this time alongside girlfriend Jhené AIko, “Lithuania,” “Harder Than My Demons,” and “Don Life,” all of which disply a simplified aesthetic that reflects Sean’s newfound worldview.
In a stacked cast, including Jessie Buckley, Timothy Olyphant, Jason Schwartzman, and Ben “Voice of Paddington” Whishaw, it’s Chris Rock’s name at the top of the Fargo season four call sheet. The actor-comedian-guy who once got c*ckblocked by Donald Trump previously called crime syndicate leader Loy Cannon the “best part I’ve ever done and, honestly, probably the best part I’ll ever have,” and he was equally enthusiastic about his involvement with the FX series in an interview with Variety.
“Look at every movie that’s come out in the last five years and every television show with an African American lead, and I want you to show me a better part,” Rock said. “Is there a better part for me? Not really. Nothing even close.” Is anyone else picturing Chris Rock as Darius on Atlanta? Because I am, and it’s very weird. Speaking of Atlanta:
Rock, who had watched the first three seasons long before being approached about the fourth, had been offered countless series roles. “But nothing like this,” he says. In the past several years “it’s Game of Thrones, Atlanta, Fargo. These are the best shows on TV.”
Two of the three title favorites in the NBA failed to make it out of the second round of the playoffs, as the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers each suffered rather stunning defeats in their respective conference semifinal series.
For both teams, it was an inability to finish games that pushed them to an early exit from the Disney Bubble, with the Clippers blowing three consecutive double-digit leads against a feisty Nuggets squad that flat-out dominated them in the second half of Games 5-7. The Bucks, meanwhile, were unable to answer the bell when Jimmy Butler and the Heat turned it on in the fourth quarter. In the wake of those two disappointing ends to the season, there’s been plenty of chatter about what comes next for both franchises, which enter critical seasons next year given their superstars can all enter free agency if they want in 2021.
The hardest thing to do in situations like the Clippers and Bucks find themselves in is to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it, because for teams that showed, at various times, the ability to be completely dominant, falling short by as much as they did is a shock to the system. Both can pin this on plenty of excuses, from the disjointed nature of resuming a title chase after a four-plus month layoff, to injuries and personal emergencies that kept them from being together on the court once the Bubble minicamp began.
There’s certainly validity to that, but there’s also something more at play. For Milwaukee, they didn’t lose a coin-flip series, they got outplayed in critical moments and their best player was neutralized by a gameplan they’ve now seen a number of times in the playoffs and failed to counter and adapt to. For L.A., they had full control of the series — and control of all three games they lost down the stretch — only to fail to put away a Denver team that showed more heart and willed themselves past the more talented Clippers.
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Blame lies at all levels, and the hardest thing for both teams is to figure out who can learn from their mistakes and who needs to be replaced. Both coaches refused to make changes to their rotations even as evidence presented itself that they needed to. Montrezl Harrell’s minutes against the Nuggets were a disaster, but Doc Rivers insisted on continuing to match him up with Nikola Jokic. Mike Budenholzer’s insistence on going 10-deep with his roster and continuing to limit the minutes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton to the mid-30s drove just about everyone that watched the series insane, particularly as we saw other teams ramp up the minutes of their best players (as happens every postseason). Both of those coaches seem safe, but must learn from their mistakes and reckon with the need to be more adaptive to matchups and the realities of the postseason going forward.
As for the superstars on each team, there’s plenty to look at. The Game 7 performance from Paul George and Kawhi Leonard was rather stunning. They were shut out in the fourth quarter as Denver ran away with the win. Leonard, for his Herculean efforts last year and spectacular play against Dallas, seemed bothered by the Nuggets’ scheme and never quite found his usual level of efficiency as they sent doubles and pressure at him. George was unable to consistently alleviate pressure from Leonard, shooting well one game and then disappearing the next. Their partnership has to figure out how to work off of one another better to create problems for defenses in scheming for them, something that simply didn’t happen late in their second round series.
For Giannis, it might be time to adjust his focus on where he really needs to get better. The focus on his three-point shooting might be misguided, as it’s his inability to score in the in-between zone — from the foul line to the restricted area — that seems to hold him back the most. Becoming more diverse in his ability to score while driving by adding a floater and/or short pull-up, rather than simply being a battering ram with a lethal Euro-step, would make it far more difficult to simply build a wall and neutralize his effectiveness. Like George, Middleton has to be more consistent in what he gives the Bucks, as he would have a great half and then slow down when the Bucks needed star production for 48 minutes.
These stars likewise aren’t going anywhere, which leaves one area for there to be real adjustments made to these teams: the supporting cast. But it’s also where things get tricky. Both teams enter the offseason without any cap space, meaning options for free agent additions are limited to exceptions and minimum deals, and on top of that, the perceived strength of both teams was their depth. They must figure out which players can still fit in and which, to steal LeBron’s line, need to fit out and go elsewhere.
In Milwaukee, Eric Bledsoe shoulders the most blame as the third highest-paid player on the Bucks and the one whose playoffs woes have been the most consistent since arriving to the team three years ago. For whatever reason, when the playoffs arrive, Bledsoe’s productivity craters. This year, he remained a positive on the defensive end, at least, but he continued to struggle shooting the ball (25 percent from three) and was not consistent enough at getting to the rim to alleviate pressure from Antetokounmpo and Middleton to be the sole creators on offense. It would seem that we have enough evidence to this point to say it’s just not a fit in Milwaukee, but the question remains whether the Bucks can get anything of real value for Bledsoe on the trade market, as his value for a fellow contender isn’t exactly high right now given his playoff history.
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Brook Lopez remains a cornerstone piece, both with what he does anchoring the defense and his ability to stretch the floor as a shooter, and he seems like a lock to return. Donte DiVincenzo was the bright spot of their younger rotation players, and it’s possible they elevate him to a greater role next season. Wesley Matthews was excellent defensively and his floor spacing is a welcome touch, so Milwaukee should want him back. Everyone else, though, probably should be up for evaluation. That’s not to say they need to change the entirety of their roster aside from those five players, but I don’t think anyone else is safe from being part of a trade package to move off of Bledsoe or a lock to be retained if their deal is running up.
George Hill went from the league’s best spot-up three-point shooter in the regular season at 46.8 percent to a slightly below average 34.8 percent three-point shooter in the playoffs. Pat Connaughton was targeted at times on defense and struggled to be a factor offensively. Kyle Korver shot the ball well overall, but his minutes were a true roll of the dice defensively, plus playing him took away a ball-handling option on the perimeter. Marvin Williams played the most minutes of any of the reserves in the frontcourt and was great, but he’s now retired and must be replaced.
The Bucks’ top priority has to be trying to upgrade the point guard spot from Bledsoe, even if they’re not going to participate in the Chris Paul sweepstakes. Beyond that, they are going to need to bolster their frontcourt rotation behind Lopez and, if there are no Bledsoe takers, shuffling the deck on the wing and seeking out some more guys that can put the ball on the floor and create. The Bucks have enough data at this point to know running it back simply isn’t enough and changes must be made, but finding the right moves to make upgrades with an eye on the playoffs rather than regular season depth is easier said than done, especially for a team that won’t have cap space to make splash signings in free agency.
For the Clippers, things are even more complicated. While the Bucks have seen this same squad flame out twice now, L.A. has just this one, very strange season to look back on with this team, and they have some key players to make contract decisions on. As mentioned previously, Harrell’s minutes against the Nuggets were a disaster, but the Sixth Man of the Year enjoyed a tremendous season up until the stoppage and then missed significant time in the Bubble dealing with the loss of his grandmother. He now enters free agency looking for a new deal after ending his season on a sour note, and the Clippers have to determine whether his postseason play this year was the result of extenuating circumstances or represents a significant ceiling on his impact on a championship team.
That’s not easily done and certainly represents the most difficult decision this offseason for the Clippers, because the money they allocate (or don’t) to Harrell will dictate the rest of their moves. If they choose not to re-sign Harrell, the most obvious and pressing need would be to address their frontcourt rotation. Ideally they will get JaMychal Green to pick up a $5 million player option to stay around or else they get very thin upfront. Reaching an agreement to keep Harrell makes sense, if for no other reason than letting him walk doesn’t open up any cap space and he’s likely going to still be the best big they can sign this summer thanks to his Bird rights.
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If that ends up being the case, the options for upgrading the roster are even fewer. They brought Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson in this season to bolster their depth on the wing and at point guard, but only Morris cemented his spot in the rotation. He’s a free agent this offseason and could command plenty of interest elsewhere given his emergence as an above-average three-point shooter. L.A. would probably like to keep him around, but being able to pay what he costs (he was making $15 million this year) might be tricky. At point guard, they just paid Patrick Beverley handsomely, but could use a more creative offensive player on the roster, something they hoped Jackson could bring but simply didn’t work out. I’d expect them to go searching for someone to fill that role, but the cap crunch in L.A., like in Milwaukee, means barring major shakeups via trade, they’ll have to hope for internal improvement and filling gaps around the fringes.
And that is the crux of the issue for both teams. These aren’t young teams that suddenly became contenders and have cap space to play with; they were built this past season to win a title and simply failed to do so. That means there isn’t an easy fix and the realities of the NBA’s financial situation amid the pandemic further tighten the belts on what they will be capable of doing to their rosters this offseason. The Clippers cited chemistry issues as part of their problem this postseason, which isn’t exactly what you want to hear when your best option might be “run it back.” For Milwaukee, it seems less an issue of chemistry and more an issue of predictability and stubbornness that has placed them in this position, and as such, making changes might give them some more adaptability.
As Draymond Green once said, there are 16-game players and there are 82-game players. It seems both of these teams have a lot more of the latter than the former. The question both must ask is whether they have guys that can become playoff players or not, and whether anyone lurking on the market is more capable of adding that postseason punch they each desperately need.
Even so, barring blockbuster trades which neither team at the moment seem capable of or willing to pull off, the most likely result is a pair of squads that look very similar arriving to camp next season, whenever that is. As such, the improvement must start with the players and coaches already in these organizations, and the only way to do that is to have an honest reckoning with the failures of this postseason, rather than buying into the easy excuse of a postseason under unique and never before seen circumstances.
Given both teams’ problems this postseason stemmed from a stubborn refusal to adapt, there certainly has to be concerns that learning from their mistakes won’t be in the cards, and they’ll just hope next year is just, somehow, different.
What started with a viral photo from Meyers Leonard of Jimmy Butler’s Bubble coffee shop has blossomed into a full-fledged business for Butler, who is now seeking a trademark for “Big Face Coffee,” according to a report from Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The specifics of the filing, which Winderman acquired, are both pretty funny and very Jimmy Butler:
“The mark consists of The words BIG FACE over the words COFFEE, an asterisk before the C in the word COFFEE, a smiley face design in the O in COFFEE, and an asterisk after the E in COFFEE, with a squiggly line below the word COFFEE, and the words NO I.O.U.s in a white box beneath the squiggly line.”
Trademarking the brand name won’t be just a matter of jumping out in front of Floridians trying to make a buck. Lee told Winderman that Butler intends to sell a whole assortment of products and try to turn Big Face into a legitimate business.
More from Winderman’s report:
The filing said the Big Face Coffee operation includes goods and services such as “general apparel including hats and shirts,” “general housewares including mugs and cups,” “general café items including coffee beans, coffee grounds, candy bars, nuts, tea bags, loose leaf tea, sandwiches; baked goods including scones, muffins, cupcakes, bagels, cakes, cookies, bread, scones, cinnamon rolls, muffins, marshmallow rice treats.”
But wait, there’s more, with the filing also including, “produce including whole fruits, packaged, fruits, vegetables,” and, of course, “non-alcoholic beverages including coffees, teas, sodas, seltzer, bottled water; alcoholic beverages including wine and beer.”
The news of Butler’s entrepreneurial hopes come after Nick DePaula of ESPN reported on Wednesday that Butler had formed a partnership with the athleisure brand Lululemon with branded Big Face apparel, which Butler debuted in the Bubble this week.
Sources: Jimmy Butler’s “Big Face Coffee” clothing is made by Lululemon.
Butler has been wearing their apparel throughout the NBA restart and is closing in on a unique long-term partnership to become arguably the biggest face of the athletic brand. https://t.co/fWy0V2n26W
Not only is Butler making his conference finals debut in his first year with the Heat, but he’s also taking full advantage of the spotlight that playing on a great team gives him, as well as the marketing advantages of playing in the Bubble.
Seeking the best bourbon — or best anything for that matter — ends up being, at least in part, an exercise in futility. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder (or the sipper, in this case). Yes, we all have a unique palate and certain things speak to our sensibilities more than others. But there really is no universally agreed-upon “best” of anything.
There are things we like and things we don’t. Pretending it’s more than that is a lie.
AND YET! We have to admit that just like some people cultivate really good taste in music — Rick Rubin, Pharell, our own Aaron Williams and Steven Hyden — others cultivate really good taste in whiskey. That’s why we asked some bona fide whiskey experts to reveal what is speaking to their palates with regards to bourbon at the moment.
The six bourbons below are bottles that wow people who work with whiskey every single day of their lives (yes, that includes me). Are these “the best?” Who knows? All we know is that they’re certainly worth tracking down and giving a try because some people who care about this stuff an awful lot believe that they’re goddamn delicious.
Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon — Jared Himstedt, Head Distiller and co-founder Balcones Distilling
Treaty Oak Distilling
ABV: 47.5% Distillery: Treaty Oak Distilling, Dripping Springs, Texas Average Price:$50
The Whiskey:
There’s something about the Texas climate that you can’t get away from, and Treaty Oak is achieving a better mix than anyone else in the state. It has just enough familiar characteristics that speak to the Texas flavor that melds together nicely. Treaty Oak rides a line that helps transition people who are more skeptical about buying local bourbon.
Tasting Notes:
The body is really tight. It’s not washed out at all. It’s dry and lends an air of maturity to it. It’s a nice refresher to what you can typically find in Texas. You get notes of caramelized sugar, vanilla, cream soda with hints of cinnamon Red Hots. Herbal flavors like cola or bitters round this one out.
ABV: 45% Distillery: Wild Turkey Distilling, Lawrenceburg, KY (Campari) Average Price:$38
The Whiskey:
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year has become my go-to bourbon when I am visiting a friend or want to introduce someone to bourbon. The Wild Turkey Reserve selection has been a consistent overall great value from their portfolio. A sip of Jimmy Russell’s whiskey always brings me back to all the smiles and laughter when I am with him or his son Eddie sharing a bourbon.
It’s a small batch bourbon from bourbon barrels that are at least ten years old. Based upon their current shelf price of $38, it’s a terrific value. It also won a Double Gold in our 2020 New York International Spirits Competition.
Tasting Notes:
Bottled at 45 percent ABV, you still do not lose the fullness of the nose to alcohol. Wafts of vanilla that you expect from Wild Turkey fills your nose along with hints of leather and oak. It’s a solid bourbon with a hint of rye on the top of the tongue. The vanilla from the nose is still present in the mouth. The finish is not a long syrupy finish but a concise light medley of spice as it slowly enters into your chest with the warmth you desire.
ABV: 50% Distillery: Heaven Hill, Louisville, KY Average Price:$50
The Whiskey:
There are two bourbons I’ve had this year that I think are truly extraordinary. The first is a straight bourbon whiskey by definition, but also a Tennessee Whiskey, so I hope that’s okay.
Nicole Austin, the master distiller and general manager of George Dickel, is doing something truly special with her Bottled-in-Bond. Her first BiB was greatly lauded, but ironically, I prefer her newest bottle. For obvious reasons, I am biased to stellar Tennessee Whiskeys so you’d be hard-pressed to get me to choose a bourbon as my definitive “best.”
That said, a couple of weeks ago my husband picked up a bottle of the new Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond, and I must say, it may be the single best straight bourbon whiskey I’ve ever tasted.
Tasting Notes:
The nose was pure caramel and vanilla, and the palate was a perfect match to the nose. I may be late to the party with trying this award-winning bourbon (it’s won some of the most prestigious awards our industry has to offer), but I sure as hell am happy I finally made it to the celebration.
ABV: 50% Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory) Average Price:$35
The Whiskey:
Choosing a ‘best’ bourbon is a colossal task, but Knob Creek Small Batch edges to the top of my 2020 list for several reasons. The first reason is more symbolic. 2020 marked the return of the age statement to the popular whiskey after being absent for several years. At an age where a lot of age statements are going the way of the dodo, Knob Creek is doubling down on them with the re-introduction of this 9-year-old bourbon as well as a new 12-year-old expression.
It’s also easy to find on shelves for a very affordable price. That’s a massive plus in my eyes (and to my wallet).
Tasting Notes:
At 100 proof, Knob Creek Small Batch from Jim Beam is the perfect sipping proof. No ice or water required. The nose carries lovely hints of honey roasted nuts, caramel, oak spice, dried apricot, and sweet tobacco leaves. Taste-wise, candied fruit and caramel kick things off. Orange peel, salted peanuts, and oak spice soon develop. There’s not a lot of the slightly young-ish roasted corn found in some younger bourbons, making this release a bit more refined. The finish is long and somewhat sweet.
ABV: 68.7% Distillery: Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY Average Price:Varies
The Whiskey:
When I first started working to resurrect my family’s distillery in 2006, my first “Industry Event” was WhiskyFest in New York. Meeting some of the legends of the whiskey world was an unforgettable experience. It was even more meaningful to meet a couple of rising stars closer to my age: Preston Van Winkle and Drew Kulsveen. They couldn’t have been nicer and more helpful. It’s folks like Drew and Preston — and all of the legends — who help ensure that the whiskey community feels like family.
So when I think about the best bourbon I have drunk in 2020 — other than any Belle Meade or Nelson’s Green Brier product, of course — my mind goes straight to Willett Barrel No. C22D, coming in at 137.4 proof.
Tasting Notes:
It’s a beast of a bourbon, packing an enormous amount of flavor. I think of it as a hot fudge sundae. The base is built with scoops of dark chocolate and creamy vanilla with black cherry chunks inside, then topped with toffee, hazelnut, cinnamon sugar, graham cracker, toasted marshmallow, a hint of coffee, and malted milk balls crumbled on top alongside dried apricot chunks.
ABV: 47.2% Distillery: Michter’s Distillery, Louisville, KY Average Price:$180
The Whiskey:
A barrel of this juice sold for $200,000 at auction this year. It’s also being lauded as a damn-near perfect bourbon. I was lucky enough to get to drink this stuff recently and it 100 percent stands up to the hype. It’s also fairly straight forward. The juice spends ten years in white oak. The barrels are hand-selected for their exactness.
This is a clear example of what bourbon can be when treated with utmost precision and care.
Tasting Notes:
Maple syrup and oak greet you on the nose. A rush of creamy toffee mingles with charred oak bitterness as the signature bourbon vanilla lurks in the background. It’s shockingly light for an old bourbon with a whisper of orchard fruit. The sip lingers for just the right amount of time as it retraces its steps through the oak, vanilla, and syrup with a hint of spicy warmth.
With police violence on the news seemingly every other night these days, the subject has become something of a preoccupation in hip-hop circles. The genre has always tackled the subject, but lately, it’s been much more overt. YG’s “FTP,” DaBaby’s “Rockstar” remix, Lil Baby’s “Bigger Picture,” and Denzel Curry’s “Pig Feet” have all emerged this year to take on the persistent, pernicious predicament of institutionalized violence in policing.
The latest artist to join the trend is the outspoken and eloquent Rapsody, who contributes the new song “12 Problems,” which plays on the street name for police and points out how their ever-present threat adds to an already insurmountable list of obstacles to overcome for the average Black person. “I got 99 problems and 12 still the biggest,” she chants on the hook, “I got 99 problems / Batons, bullets, triggers.” She also points to the hypocrisy of using “Black on Black violence” to counter anti-police protests using the death of Nipsey Hussle as an example. “33 Nip, gotta a heavy heart / His killer in jail, y’all don’t get that part / Cops kill lawfully, no remorse.”
“12 Problems” will appear on Roc Nation’s upcoming Reprise compilation aiming to bring light to social issues like “police brutality, hate crimes, and other violations of civil rights.” Some proceeds of the project will benefit organizations fighting these injustices and supporting their victims. In July, the initiiative shared Jorja Smith’s “By Any Means.”
It’s been nearly two years since Saba last released a solo track, but that doesn’t mean the Chicago rapper hasn’t been busy. The low-key Windy City native was busy all 2019 helping to promote his Pivot Gang crew’s debut full-length album, You Can’t Sit With Us, as well as appearing on group member MFnMelo’s “What A Life” and generating buzz for the Ghetto Sage supergroup album featuring Smino and Noname with “Häagen Dazs.” He also shared a standout verse on Dreamville’s Revenge Of The Dreamers III cut “Sacrifices.”
Today, though, Saba began teasing the long-awaited follow-up to his critically-hailed 2018 album Care For Me with the video for “Mrs. Whoever.” After building up buzz with cryptic clues via social media for the past week, Saba shared the moody song with its simple music video that finds him roaming through an orchard, zoning out with his headphones and lamenting the ways public life has short-circuited his personal relationships. He also details the lesson in watchign a former flame switch her attitude once he’s acquired fame: Patience and persistence pay off in the long run.
Saba also shared a statement that may help explain why it’s taken him so long to step back into the spotlight. “For me, releasing music is me letting go and getting out of my own way,” he admitted. It’s me shutting down my own ideas of perfectionism, and me accepting my shit for what it is. I can keep holding on to shit and looking for the next best thing, which I think I’ve done my whole life, but I wanna combat that idea of something not being enough by just letting go and sharing my thoughts in real time.”
When the Houston Rockets dealt Clint Capela and acquired Robert Covington in February, the intent was to usher in a micro-ball brand of hoops that separated themselves from everyone else. They’d always have at least four shooters on the floor, enabling James Harden and Russell Westbrook to feast off of what the organization perceived to be the best spacing in the NBA.
While other teams might tout a talent advantage, this “optimal” offensive context would be enough to compensate and turn the Rockets into a title contender. Bigs were to succumb to the chaos of constant perimeter responsibilities and nobody else had the personnel to mirror their small-ball lineups. Or, at least, that was the hypothetical in which they invested. A second-round matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers, who formulated a counter contingent on Anthony Davis’ rare blend of rim protection and mobility, ensured Houston’s vision remained a hypothetical on the grand stage.
In Davis, the Lakers rostered a scheme-breaking variable unaffected by Houston’s equation. The result was a 4-1 series victory for Los Angeles that illuminated precisely why Davis finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting this season, showcasing his versatility.
Scanning through any raw data from these games without having watched them would make it challenging to uncover how the Lakers thwarted the Rockets’ distinct philosophy. Houston’s offensive rating of 106.8 was poor, but not abysmal. It shot 36.8 percent from deep and 60.8 percent at the rim, two reasonable clips in line with its post-trade production during the regular season. The crux in execution, though, was slowing the Rockets’ tempo and limiting their offensive volume, a plan that mandated Davis as the bedrock.
In 22 games following the Covington trade, Houston launched an average of 48.6 threes and 28 shots at the rim, and zipped around at a pace of 103.83. With Westbrook on the floor, the latter number jumped to 106.6. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder in round one, the Rockets hoisted 51 long balls and 33 shots at the rim each game, playing at a pace of 100.65 (106.04 with Westbrook). This past round, those marks depreciated to 40.8, 24, and 97.1, respectively. Westbrook suffered dramatically, seeing his pace dip to 99.35 for the series. Such a sizable decline was not deliberate from Houston. It was the collateral of a dominant run from Davis, who delayed and deterred a bevy of shots to elongate possessions.
On the ball, he assumed Westbrook as his primary assignment. Sprawling enough to contest jumpers if Westbrook settled and agile with the size to contain drives, Davis erased most of the 2016-17 MVP’s offensive value. The power and burst package Westbrook wields to compromise defenders, generating looks inside or collapsing help for kick-out threes, dissipated in impact. Davis enveloped him, prompting passes after futile slashing attempts or bothering his pull-ups, holding the former All-Star to 9-for-25 shooting for 25 points across 78.4 partial possessions in the series. These were not gimmes sometimes associated with NBA.com’s matchup data, either; Westbrook incurred roadblock after roadblock against the big man.
Once Westbrook’s dribble penetration was curbed, his decision-making shortcomings exacerbated the downward spiral offensively. His easiest reads, those derived from his rim pressure and athleticism, dried up and he unsuccessfully replaced them with off-the-bounce attempts hinging on a deteriorated jumper. Davis limited Westbrook’s advantage creation and manifested his drawbacks when asked to turn elsewhere for offense. Houston’s attack was constrained because the micro-ball experiment necessitated his slashing to thrive in space and as a complement to Harden’s pull-up wizardry, which often induces traps.
That deteriorated jumper also permitted Davis to be aggressive in his help defense strategy. He baited Westbrook into threes or exploited his lack of shooting gravity by brazenly leaving him open off the ball. The Lakers did not concern themselves with Westbrook beyond the arc. Thwarting any other offensive action took priority. Davis’ combination of length (7’5.5 wingspan, 9-foot standing reach) and mobility coalesce in an elite recovery speed and shot contest domain for a big man, and were the at the core of his expertise as a team defender against the Rockets.
Although Davis spent the most time defending Westbrook in this series, he bounced across assignments, embodying a sort of “delayer” role on the perimeter and interior. Houston’s three-point rate of .518 and rim frequency of 30.4 percent resembled its post-trade regular season outputs (.551, 31.8 percent), so Davis didn’t radically shift its shot profile. Rather, he reduced the volume, as articulated earlier. With the Rockets short on big wings or anyone boasting consistent dribble-drive prowess outside of Westbrook and Harden, Davis’ weaponized his 7’5.5 wingspan to deter threes while playing far enough off or brandishing the lateral quickness to dissuade anyone from attacking the rim.
Harden bested him on some drives, but Davis also significantly affected the eight-time All-Star’s pull-up three volume. During the regular season, 48.9 percent of his shots were pull-up threes; against the Lakers, that dropped to 37.2 percent. Some of the fall is attributed to Los Angeles trapping him regularly or funneling him to the bucket, but Davis’ efforts warrant credit as well. On various occasions, he negated a shot in the paint and from deep in the same possession. His defensive performance off the ball and on the perimeter against the Rockets was a masterclass intersection of instincts, physical tools, and awareness. Davis created hurdles all over the court for his counterparts.
His range of coverage on the floor extends to lengths virtually nobody else in the NBA matches. This past round, he could have a hand in the outcome of almost any play defensively. Deterrence is priority No. 1. Davis checked that box. Alteration is priority No. 2. Davis also checked that box. Rather than acting as the traditional rim protector whose services are largely confined to the paint, he acted as a shot protector, applying his size wherever necessary. Location almost felt immaterial (buckle up, it’s a lengthy and worthwhile compilation of plays).
Avoiding hyperbole about Davis’ defense in this series is a delicate tightrope. He isn’t the lone reason Los Angeles tripped up Houston. Danny Green, LeBron James, and Alex Caruso were all very good on that end. Fellow rotation players had their moments, too. Properly timed traps and doubles against Harden, thrusting others into ill-suited decision-making and creation duties, proved highly effective. But it was starkly apparent the degree to which Davis stamped his defensive mark and how the Lakers’ entire approach stemmed from his skill-set.
Trapping, in which he was intermittently featured, relied on him picking up any cutters/slashers or bounding out to make shooters second-guess themselves. Those ball screens the Rockets love that yield switches for Harden weren’t as profitable as they’d prefer when Davis was involved. He rooted himself near the level of the arc to contest any potential Harden three and even stayed in front on enough drives to convince Houston this tango wasn’t the “mismatch” it should consistently target.
Most centers cannot regularly factor into both rim protection and three-point defense. Davis did exactly that because he is not most centers. Moreyball’s hierarchy of these shots and the franchise’s roster construction was unprepared for Davis, who might be the only defender capable of the performance he authored last round (maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo).
Daryl Morey, James Harden, and the Rockets fashioned a legitimately unique brand of offense. Their ruination was an anomalous big man with the arsenal to unravel this style accompanied by the requisite surrounding personnel. Few opponents bring about the entirety of Davis’ defensive versatility. Houston is one of them, and he illustrated his elite malleability for a Lakers club that resembles the title favorite at this juncture.
A Western Conference Finals bout with the Denver Nuggets will present a varied challenge. Nikola Jokic, often operating from the elbows and high post, is going to draw Davis farther from the rim while also confronting him on the block. Denver’s off-ball motion is more complex and prevalent than Houston’s, requiring him to be even more attentive in help. Davis will be tasked with quelling Jamal Murray, too, whose budding pull-up shooting and initiating craft have morphed him into a star of the playoffs.
The Nuggets should serve a stiffer all-around challenge for the Lakers and Davis, but Denver will not roll out the same platform as the Rockets that reinforced what makes him one of the NBA’s three most valuable defenders.
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