Picks 'n Pops: Caution with Porzingis, White goes full Boston, and misspellings

The Celtics have the luxury of being super-duper-ultra cautious (sorry for the technical jargon) with him and they're taking full advantage of it. And it’s a great way to work Xavier Tillman into the rotation, so, double-bonus. 

- I hope Mike Tyson hits Jake Paul with as many shots as Grant Williams has been taking lately. 

- Luke Kornet has been catching lobs at the same rate Robert Williams did last year. I’m not sure it means much but the stat just feels outrageous to say out loud.

- Derrick White chimed in on Joe Mazzulla’s contested post-timeout shot on Royce O’Neal: “I liked it. I tried to help him out by blocking it at the rim, so he didn’t make him look bad by making it, but I liked it. … That was a good contest. You want to defend without fouling at all times.” 

I want to see Joe take it a step further. If he blocks the shot, he has to run the break and try to score but one of the opposing coaches has to contest him at the rim. Fair is fair, right?

- I’m saddened to hear that Paul Pierce is joining Skip Bayless’ debate show. If hell does exist and it’s my fate to be punished for eternity, I’ll be locked in a room playing nothing but Bayless debate shows. Well, that and 90’s Heat-Knicks games that all end 82-79. 

Man, writing that down was jarring. I need to start apologizing to some people and doing more charity work.

- Good luck, Otto Porter, Jr., on your retirement. 

- Man, I haven't heard from Kate Middleton in a while. I wonder what she’s up to. Well, knowing the royals and the history of the British Monarchy, I’m sure whatever it is, it’s fun and not controversial at all. 

- DWhite embraces Boston stereotypes in a new Sam Adams ad:

I found that one amusing. Unlike the Vistaprint ads. I have sprained my thumb three times hitting the mute button on those. I need to amend my previous statement about my personal hell. All the commercials on the TV would be those Vistaprint ads. 

... now I feel like I need to join the priesthood. 

- Kornet’s post-Utah joke after White’s 24 points, six rebounds, and four stocks never got the love it deserved. “I haven’t seen a White kill jazz like that since Ryan Gosling and La La Land” was delayed-reaction funny. That joke has layers. Bravo. 

- The Detroit Pistons have won three of their last four games and are 4-6 in their last 10. 

- According to Shams Charania, “the NBA’s Competition Committee met on Tuesday and discussed ways to incorporate more defensive freedom, evaluating how to potentially allow more physicality.” To me, it’s just a matter of officiating. No need for new rules, just allow defenders to claim their space too. 

- Tobias Harris is crashing and burning in Philadelphia. He knows his time is up there after this season and his game is cratering because of it.

- Can we stop with all the Lakers/Warriors talk? They are play-in teams. I’ve never seen play-in teams discussed like they have a legit shot at winning titles before.

- A lot of people were silent about the 65-game requirement for making postseason teams until their favorite players were deemed ineligible.

- Honestly, the biggest thing that rule exposes isn’t the arbitrary nature of the 65 games, it’s the fact that too much money is tied up in postseason awards, and chasing that money is leading to some poor decisions and angry reactions.  

- Kobe Bryant’s stautue has three mispellings oon it. How could no one notice? (Editor's note: I think this was intentional ... you never know with Karalis.)

- Shaquille O'Neal has no respect for big men today. I wish he would have respected himself more and taken better care of his body when he played. 

- Boston’s magic number to clinch the East is seven. 

- Celtics-Pistons will have an all-female broadcast team, from the pre/postgame to the game call. Pretty cool moment for the team. 

- Between Jerry Stackhouse and Juwan Howard, it’s a tough stretch for the college stars of my generation. 

- My wife convinced me to watch Love Is Blind with her during some downtime. I’m happy to report my marriage has survived so far. Also, OH MY GOD Clay is SUCH and idiot for letting AD go. Man get out of your own way and realized you had love RIGHT THERE IN YOUR HANDS and you let it get away are you CRAZY?! And how AWESOME was Clay’s mom?? She put Clay’s dad in his PLACE!! 

… oh… I mean … Man these reality dating shows are dumb. 

- This week’s Bing AI-generated image: What it’s like trying to do a daily podcast about the Celtics as they run away with the regular season but there's still four weeks of regular season left to play:

- Your current NBA Belt champion: The Sacramento Kings

- Here’s my latest podcast, if you’re bored