Tonight’s Must-Watch Games

The Opening Tip

1. We’re just going to say it: There’s too many points

On Wednesday night … 

… and they all lost.

For the year…

To blame a lack of day-to-day defense is like saying baseball is dying. Baseball’s been dying for centuries; the NBA has had a regular season defense problem since Wilt and Russell. 

Alternative theory: These offenses are too damn efficient. 

It’s sometimes fun to watch. It’s sometimes gluttonous. It makes it impossible to compare eras. It means a 25.7 PPG scorer shooting 43% from 3 might not make the All-Star Game. 

And it’ll only get better (worse?) unless a drastic change happens, which feels more like a David Stern move.

2. Daily GIF: Jokic FTW

Nikola Jokic hit this shot last night to complete a comeback from down 18 with 6:49 left to beat the Warriors. 

Also, Jokic has missed five shots in his last four games. 

[WATCH: Warriors-Nuggets highlights]

3. Trivia

Which rookie has the highest PPG in the 21st century?

Answer at the bottom.

4. It’s over for Darvin

No coach of LeBron’s has ever survived the anonymous and ominous midseason report. Sometimes, it’s a slow burn. Sometimes, it happens midseason, when your team is 30-11. 

But it always comes. And now the bell is tolling for Darvin Ham, who got anonymously reported on yesterday by Shams Charania:

The rift is over Ham’s consistent shuffling of the starting line up amid a terrible stretch for the Lakers, who have now lost 9 of 12 since the In-Season Tournament ended. 

The vibe in the locker room is ‘shit,’ said Austin Reaves. But soon, it seems, there will be a new coach, at least.

5. Quick hits

6. Reads

That's the buzzer.
Thanks for reading the 344th edition of The Grip.

Trivia answer: Blake Griffin (22.5)