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As we near the end of the released portion of the NBA’s schedule and head toward a bizarro All-Star Game and the stretch run of the season with fans in the stands, the actual basketball has been delightful of late. Protocols are working to keep players on the court, and after a condensed offseason, it appears teams are finally rounding into form.

There remains a glut of teams hovering around .500, but on the whole, the playoff and awards races are becoming clear. Here’s who’s up and who’s down this week in the NBA.

Stock Up: The NBA MVP race

It’s nice to actually have a debate for this award again! That’s not to say watching Giannis Antetokounmpo develop into a devastating two-way player and make the Bucks a contender wasn’t exciting in its own way, but this year’s race is shaping up to go down to the wire between three players.

For Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, there’s the chance to see whether a big man can win for the first time since Shaquille O’Neal. Both Philadelphia and Denver’s bigs are putting together career-best seasons, but their teams are trending in opposite directions. Jokic’s Wilt impression has been necessary just to keep the Nuggets afloat, while Embiid’s consistency and development have this Sixers team looking like they might finally break through to the conference finals or further.

And then there is, of course, LeBron James, who is in search of his fifth MVP trophy at age 36. The debate ratcheted up a notch this week when Anthony Davis claimed “politics” might get in the way of James winning the award despite the best shooting season of James’ career and his oversight of the team’s dominant record.

All three players are putting up incredible numbers, with teams built specifically around their skill sets. But the nod for me has to go to Embiid, in large part because of what he’s doing defensively in addition to the fact that he’s impossible to guard and has grown as a play-maker. The Sixers are nearly 21 points better per 100 possessions when Embiid plays versus when he’s on the bench, the best metric of the three candidates and among the best in the NBA.

It’s never smart to grade players on a curve compared to what they had done in the past, but that context helps understand why Embiid is so valuable now. He’s noticeably more engaged and energized late in games this year, and has mastered the balance in his scoring so that there’s almost no hesitation as he considers whether to try a three, settle into the post, or give the ball up. We focus mostly on Ben Simmons when we talk about the fit between the Sixers’ stars, but Embiid has done his part to make the pairing work better as well by becoming a better passer and decision-maker and bringing the same nightly energy that Simmons does.

Their two-man game, in particular, has become a sight to behold.

Though advanced metrics show Embiid may be slightly worse this season on defense than usual, he has, on the whole, taken his game to a new level and is our MVP leader.

Stock Down: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s offensive evolution

Coming off a 47-point night in a loss (without Jrue Holiday) to the Suns, Giannis is putting up numbers that rightly show off the additions he’s made to his offensive game. It looks like he and the Bucks’ coaching staff have finally committed to building out his repertoire as a shot creator outside of his quick attacks in transition and finishes inside. Whereas the focus in the past was to make sure Giannis could make threes when left open, he’s expanding even further in 2021.

That includes running more pick-and-roll (9 percent of his possessions this season compared to less than 7 last year), especially in smaller lineups, and getting increasingly comfortable taking pull-up jumpers and more broadly just taking advantage of the rhythm of the two-man game.

Nevertheless, Giannis has to feels a sense of urgency to put it all together more quickly in time for the playoffs, since what Milwaukee does will be ultimately judged by their ability to finally push through to the Finals and ideally win a championship. At the same time, Giannis will be more heavily scrutinized amid Khris Middleton’s career-best season.

Giannis continues to get late-game looks for the Bucks, but in situations like these, with little time available, Giannis’ deficiencies as a jump shooter could make Middleton more deserving of those opportunities than he is.

As Devin Booker said of the shot, opponents are “in good shape” when Giannis takes that shot. It’s good that he’s working hard to develop that part of his game, but the early returns are a reminder that he still has a way to go.

Stock Down: Mark Cuban’s long game

As Arizona State University professor Kenneth Shropshire said recently, Mark Cuban’s decision not to play the national anthem before games likely earned him good graces among players and fans and made him look like a “good guy,” and he raised an issue about our society’s default of playing the national anthem before big events that has been raised before. But Cuban’s stand ended when the league made clear two things: 1. It is fine to handle pregame however teams see fit for now and, 2. Once things are back to normal, the rules on the anthem will be followed.

But did Cuban accomplish anything? It’s another line in the sand that the NBA has drawn, but at the same time, nothing changed. If, during the offseason, team governors agree to alter the anthem policy of the league, many will look upon Cuban’s choice here as the beginning of something bigger.

In the short-term, though, Cuban’s actions have not been followed up with a more thorough description of his stance, except to state that he supported those who did not feel empowered by the anthem and encouraged others to listen to their perspective. What’s lost in all of this, however, is exactly how Cuban feels. By continuing to play the anthem, Cuban is once again laying real action at the feet of the disenfranchised rather than doing something truly risky in order to stand up for them.

Maybe Cuban himself, as his words indicate, does not feel as detached from the anthem as some of his players or coaches might. His statement sought to take his own perspective out of the picture, but it does matter how he feels. After all, Mavericks staffers were surprised at the decision, according to Tim Cato of The Athletic. It seemed to come directly from Cuban.

But rather than use the moment to affirm why the anthem tradition was not worthwhile to him or elaborate on why and how it perpetuates a false patriotism in his mind, Cuban backed off and shirked the responsibility he seemingly sought to grab hold of in the first place.

Get a pen and some paper and get ready to take notes because the latest episode of Culture Quick Bites is here to break down the biggest happenings in the world of entertainment and guys … Things. Have. Happened!

Host AJ Lodge is joined this episode by a special guest, Loan Hoang, to recap all of the topics you care about. That means they’re going all-in on the K-Pop takeover, fanning out over Blackpink’s virtual concert and that huge fundraising win for BTS. They’re also deep-diving into the latest Call of Duty updates — of which there are many — and hyping up the next season of Selena Gomez’s HBO Max cooking show. (Well, Loan’s hype, AJ’s going to stick to takeout. It’s the safest thing for everyone honestly.)

The hosts celebrate some good news from Marvel and Ryan Coogler who are working together to bring fans a Wakanda-set Disney+ series. After the success of shows like WandaVision, we can only expect greatness from this superpowered team-up. And to wrap things up, AJ and Loan do a bit of stanning over Stacey Abrams, the social justice icon who just nabbed her first Nobel Peace Prize nomination. We still can’t decide what she’s better at — saving our democracy or writing kick-a** romance novels.

Check out the video above for all the pop culture news you need.

The highly-anticipated film Judas And The Black Messiah was finally released on Friday, and with it came a star-studded soundtrack. One highlight is Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle’s “What It Feels Like,” which was the first official collaboration between the two rappers — and, sadly, the last: Nipsey was killed nearly two years ago at his Marathon Clothing store. In an interview with GQ, Jay-Z, the song’s producers Larrance Dopson, and long-time Nipsey Hussle collaborators Mike & Keys, and more sat down with the publication to speak about the new track and how it came together.

“This beat was born in 2013,” Dopson said. “2015 was when we added the horns. 2017, we put the strings on it and made [Nipsey’s line in his verse] ‘what it feels like’ into a hook.” He added, “We wanted to give you ‘Show Me What You Got’ 2.0,” referencing Jay-Z’s 2006 track produced by Just Blaze. Mike & Keys also revealed that they thought Nipsey didn’t want the beat at first due to his skepticism over certain songs. “When Nipsey says [on the song] ‘Drop another mixtape, my sh*t boomin out this b*tch’ he was talking about Crenshaw,” Keys said, speaking about the mixtape Nipsey released in 2013. “With Nip, you never know,” Mike added, “because a similar situation happened on Victory Lap with ‘Dedication.’”

Jay also revealed that his decision to participate on the song was rooted in his respect for director Ryan Coogler, who produced Judas And The Black Messiah, as well as the story the film told. “My relationship with Ryan, who I consider my little bro, [is what] brought me to the movie,” he said. “And once I saw it, I was blown away by what Shaka King brought to the table. I think I finished the song in the next day or two.”

(via GQ)

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump is serious business: It will see whether or not Republican lawmakers feel that a president accused of endangering their lives, to say nothing of democracy itself, is actually punished for his actions. But there have also been plenty of breakout instant comedy classics. There were My Cousin Vinny jokes. There were the two bizarre separate montages of Democrats (and Madonna!) simply saying “fight.” And on Saturday another member of the former president’s legal team got mocked for saying “Philly-delphia.”

His name is Michael van der Veen, and while he hasn’t received as much attention as his colleagues Bruce Castor and David Schoen, that changed on day five of the trial. Van der Veen was speaking out against Democrats’ upcoming vote to call witnesses — which eventually went through, with some help from pro-Trump senator Lindsey Graham — and he even suggested, absurdly, that anyone called should be deposed in his office in Philadelphia.

But van der Veen didn’t pronounce it correctly. He called it “Philly-delphia.”

Laughter exploded across the chamber, and it even left van der Veen confused. “I don’t know why you’re laughing?” he even told the crowd.

And so van der Veen became the latest legal representative to become a figure of social media fun.

Even the TCM fan account got on it (and, yes, The Philadelphia Story is airing late night Saturday).

As did Fox News.

One person charitably offered a theory about van der Veen’s slip.

But others pointed out that van der Veen uttered many more ridiculous things than that.

Anyway, hope the possibly broke president is paying these lawyers well enough to be so publicly humiliated!

A visibly shaken Lindsey Graham said he was “done” with Trump right after the failed MAGA coup on January 6, but that didn’t last long. The South Carolina senator stayed close by the former president’s side during his last days in office, and even demanded calm from Democrats after months of helping spread voter fraud lies. And he’s been one of his fiercest bulldogs during the Senate’s impeachment trial, swearing, among other things, that should Democratic lawmakers call witnesses, things will get ugly. So people were a little surprised when, on the trial’s fifth day, he was one of only five Republican senators to vote to allow witnesses.

Republicans, Graham among them, had openly called for a speedy trial, which they hoped would end with a simple acquittal. Graham was adamantly opposed to witnesses, offering veiled threats should they be called.

But after an oft-mocked week for Trump’s legal team — plus the revelation that Trump had seemed to side with the insurrectionists on an expletive-filled call with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy — Democrats stepped up their game on Saturday morning, calling for a vote to see witnesses. And that’s when Graham flip-flopped.

Some were puzzled by his surprise about-face.

Others, however, were not. Suddenly theories about what Graham’s next move will be were cropping up over social media.

Some speculated about who he’d call.

Others wondered how far he’ll take it — if, for instance, he’ll try to falsely equate Black Lives Matters protesters with violent failed insurrectionists who could have gotten him and his colleagues killed.

There were also jokes about witnesses.

Some wondered if his plan was simply to waste everyone’s time.

Whatever Graham’s reasoning, one thing’s clear: It’s time to buckle up.

After the failed MAGA coup, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell looked pissed — and not because he’d also just been demoted. He’d supported, even enabled, then-President Donald Trump over his four years in office, and even refused to interfere as he spent months baselessly contesting the 2020 election results. He hinted that he was ready to hold him accountable for stirring up the angry mob whose actions led to five deaths. But just over a month later, during the Senate impeachment trial he helped delay, he’s reportedly revealed that he plans to acquit the man accused of endangering his and his colleagues lives.

As per Politico, McConnell sent an email to fellow Republican senators claiming they couldn’t technically impeach a president who’s no longer in power. “While a close call, I am persuaded that impeachments are a tool primarily of removal and we therefore lack jurisdiction,” he wrote. “The Constitution makes it perfectly clear that Presidential criminal misconduct while in office can be prosecuted after the President has left office, which in my view alleviates the otherwise troubling ‘January exception’ argument raised by the House.”

The Senate impeachment trial, which began during the second week of February, stands in stark contrast to the House of Representatives, who voted to impeach Trump mere days after violent Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building, forcing some congresspeople and aides to hide in unsecured offices, praying for their lives.

When the news of McConnell’s decision hit on Saturday morning, some weren’t surprised.

Many reminded people that it was McConnell himself who delayed the Senate trial.

Others accused him of lying about his concern over Trump from the start.

And some pointed out that at least McConnell’s wife took a stand.

(Via Politico)

There’s been enormous hype surrounding LaMelo Ball ever since, well, he was a precocious middle-schooler launching half-court shots in his opponents’ faces. For years, we’ve been following his career as his bombastic father has curried interest in his basketball-playing progeny, and now that the youngest Ball has finally made it to the league, he hasn’t disappointed.

In fact, he’s been even better than advertised throughout the first half of the season in Charlotte, putting the full repertoire on display on a nightly basis as he dazzles us with his uncanny court vision and play-making capabilities, not to mention his penchant for rebounding at the guard position.

Now, it appears the league wants him to put that on display during the Taco Bell Skills Challenge at the All-Star Game in Atlanta next month, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

The NBA’s annual event will be a massively-scaled down version of the usual weekend-long extravaganza, with all events scheduled to take place on a single night — Sunday, March 7 in Atlanta. The tentative plans are to hold the skills challenge and the three-point shootout prior to the game itself, while the dunk contest will be held at halftime.

Many players have expressed reservations about holding the All-Star Game at all, given the ongoing pandemic, but the league has remained adamant about its plans to press forward with the event, regardless.

Karl-Anthony Towns made his return to the Timberwolves lineup earlier this week after missing 13 games as he battled COVID. Towns’ diagnoses came after his mother and six other family members died because of the disease in the past year, making his situation all the more terrifying for him and those closest to him.

Towns discussed what his scary ordeal was like as he suffered through difficult nights and how being in a high-risk category took its toll on his recovery. It made it all the more impressive that he was able to return to action and log 18 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday.

He was back in the lineup Friday night as the Timberwolves traveled to Charlotte to play the Hornets, but after news emerged that three of their opponents players — P.J. Washington and Caleb and Cody Martin — were ruled out because of COVID protocols, Towns admitted that his mind was elsewhere as the stark reality of the ongoing pandemic was once again front and center.

KAT says he was “mentally not there” in first half and was “spooked” by COVID situation in Charlotte

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 13, 2021

Context: Wolves were warming up when they found out Charlotte had a late scratch with PJ Washington because of COVID. Towns said he was worried for his teammates. Didn’t want them to go through what he went through.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 13, 2021

KAT says he talked to his father at halftime. Big Karl “calmed me down and gave me some advice.” He felt better in the second half.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) February 13, 2021

It’s a perfectly understandable reaction, given what he’s been through. Towns ended up finding his footing in the second half, finishing the game with 25 points, eight rebounds, and five three-pointers, albeit in a loss, as Charlotte ended up winning the game, 120-114.

Steady Holiday has been teasing her third studio album, Taking The Corners Gently, with a handful of breezy singles. Most recently, the singer shared the poignant ballad “Love Me When I Go To Sleep” with a video of her serenading her 92-year-old grandpa through the phone. She now celebrates the release of the record with a playful video alongside her track “Sunny In The Making.”

Directed by Isaac Ravishankara, the video is a spoof on a TikTok dance video. Steady Holiday tries her best moves, but she can’t seem to keep up the steadfast enthusiasm that’s oftentimes seen in viral videos on the app.

Speaking about the album in a statement, Steady Holiday said it’s her way of “embracing uncertainty:”

“Take The Corners Gently was written during a recent period of turmoil in my life. The details aren’t mine alone to share, but the experience was an opportunity to examine how deeply I pay attention to the people and world around me. To notice where I put my energy, and what I might be missing. It’s an album about embracing uncertainty, relinquishing what can’t be controlled, appreciating moments as they happen. And if we don’t get that far, it’s also about celebrating the attempt to.”

Watch Steady Holiday’s “Sunny In The Making” video above.

Taking The Corners Gently is out now. Get it here.

Much of Friday’s impeachment trial in Washington dealt with what Donald Trump knew about the MAGA riot he incited at the US Capitol last month and what he did to try to prevent it. But regardless of whether senators vote to convict Trump on his second impeachment charge, we know much more about what happened on January 6. And that apparently includes a massive shouting match between Republican leadership and Trump while rioters were inside the Capitol during the deadly attack.

According to CNN, Trump and House minority leader Kevin McCarthy got into an expletive-filled shouting match while rioters were inside the building, with McCarthy clearly labeling the people staging the attack as Trump supporters and pleading with Trump to publicly tell them to stop the insurrection which was an attempt to stop the certification of Electoral College votes that correctly said Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

According to the report, Trump refused, stating instead that rioters simply cared more about the election than McCarthy did.

“Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” Trump said, according to lawmakers who were briefed on the call afterward by McCarthy.

McCarthy insisted that the rioters were Trump’s supporters and begged Trump to call them off.

Trump’s comment set off what Republican lawmakers familiar with the call described as a shouting match between the two men. A furious McCarthy told the President the rioters were breaking into his office through the windows, and asked Trump, “Who the f–k do you think you are talking to?” according to a Republican lawmaker familiar with the call.

It’s a shocking report that illustrated just how little Trump seemed to care about what happened at the Capitol at the hands of his armed supporters, even while Republican lawmakers were trapped inside as Capitol Police failed to contain the mob. The report included other quotes from Republican lawmakers that contrasted a lot of the claims of Trump’s defense throughout the week, which tried to distance Trump from the mob of his supporters who hours before the coup attempt he directed toward the Capitol.

“He is not a blameless observer, he was rooting for them,” a Republican member of Congress said. “On January 13, Kevin McCarthy said on the floor of the House that the President bears responsibility and he does.”

The report isn’t official testimony, of course, and it may not do much to change the direction of the Senate trial and whether Trump is held responsible by Congress. But it continues to show the reality of what Trump did (and didn’t do) on January 6, even when lawmakers on his side of the aisle were in the crosshairs of a mob that had already proved deadly.