The Bounce: Mind games with Donovan Mitchell

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Scottie Barnes had one of the worst ejections possible. What a league.

Beantown Drama

Celtics Choke Against Cavs

Donovan Mitchell rattled both the Celtics and the rim in the Cavs’ 118-114 overtime win last night, a thunderous punctuation to a ridiculous ending.

Let’s back up. At the end of regulation, Boston’s Grant Williams got fouled on an offensive putback attempt. As he stepped to the line with 0.8 seconds left in a tied game, Mitchell tried to get in his head, to which Williams emphatically replied, “I’ll make both.” I counted at least two such declarations.

Williams short-armed the first attempt. Still, hitting the second would likely win it for Boston.

J.B. Bickerstaff’s Cavs had an impressively strategic response. His two substitutions took their sweet time checking in. It was like watching Lee Smith stroll in from the bullpen to close out a game. Williams stood at the line for 45 seconds, like a kicker being iced after already missing a kick. The second clank prompted overtime.

During the final frame, Mitchell went just 1-of-5 from the field but ensured his lone make was this vicious poster dunk. The Cavs overcame a 15-point deficit to walk away with the win.

Boston has now lost four of five and tied its longest losing streak of the season (three straight). Maybe the Celtics need to start refocusing on end-of-game execution.

The Latest From Shams

The NBA’s investigation into the Ja Morant situation is ongoing, and now police in Colorado have also begun an investigation. Depending on how both unfold, more disciplinary measures could be the result. Morant is currently on an undefined leave from the Grizzlies, which they said would last “at least” two games.

I’m told by sources around the Grizzlies that the team believes Morant has taken some level of accountability, trying to be understanding, showing himself to be vulnerable and identifying a need for help to overcome what has been a series of bad choices.

I’m also told by sources around the team that there had already been a recent players-only meeting, led by veteran Steven Adams, who spoke about the team needing to show better discipline and that players should avoid going out when they are on the road.

The Grizzlies are 12-20 on the road. I’m told everyone in the room for this meeting knew exactly whom the message was for. Clearly, that message was not received by Morant at the time.

Now, the onus is on him.

Egregious Ejection, Scott Foster

Scottie Barnes Deserved Better

Picture this scenario. The Nuggets are up one with 28.3 seconds left in the game. Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl gets called for a foul for contact with Denver’s Aaron Gordon. It’s a questionable call with a seemingly allowable amount of contact taking place, but worse calls have been made.

All of a sudden, Scottie Barnes gets ejected by the infamous Scott Foster. Barnes doesn’t even seem to realize it at first….