Trae Young is just the coolest
This is the Morning Win, by Andy Nesbitt.
Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks are moving on in the NBA playoffs after dominating the Knicks for most of last night's Game 5 at Madison Square Garden and winning the series 4-1.
Young led all scorers with 36 points in the 103-89 win and joined Michael Jordan as just the second player to ever have 3 straight 30-point playoff games at MSG.
But it's how he finished things off last night that I loved the most. Because it was beautiful.
I'm talking, of course, about his bow. After nailing a step-back 32-footer in the final minute Young turned toward the crowd, blew them a kiss and took a bow. I mean, come on!
He had this to say after the game about it:
"I know where we are. I know it's a bunch of shows around this city. And I know what they do when the show is over."
GOODNIGHT NEW YORK ❄️ #WeMovepic.twitter.com/CpjHVbj3ON
- Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) June 3, 2021
How great is that?
This is Young's first time in the NBA playoffs and he's already making the most of it. He's been at home on this big stage, especially at a raucous MSG. He was like a young Reggie Miller out there - burying big 3-pointers and telling the NYC crowd to shut the you-know-what up after doing so.
It was awesome. All of it.
Young has quickly become must-see TV in these playoffs. If he's not hitting big shots from all over the place then he's talking trash to just about everyone on the other team, telling them about what's just done or what he's about to do. That's what the playoffs should be all about - giving everything you have to get a W.
After Game 2, which the Hawks lost, Young was seen walking off the court and yelling at the Knicks about seeing them in Atlanta and how things would be different down there. Then he went out and led his team to three straight wins and a trip to the second round.
It's one thing to talk the talk and it's another thing to back it all up, which Young did against a Knicks team that was fired up to be back in the playoffs for the first time in a long time.
Now Young and the Hawks face a bigger challenge as they'll take on the Sixers in Eastern Conference semifinals. Philly is the top seed and took care of things last night against the Wizards. Joel Embiid missed that game with a knee injury but he should be back for the Hawks.
Young now gets an even bigger chance to grow his stardom. Things only get more important the longer you stick around in the playoffs and it feels like Young can't wait for those opportunities.
And I can't wait to watch.
Quick hits: Padres almost fight themselves… Rajon Rondo's face becomes a meme… Mets pitcher throws ridiculous slider… And more.
- The Padres turned one of the strangest double plays of the season and then almost fought each other in the dugout.
- Rajon Rondo's reaction to Kawhi Leonard's airball became a meme after the Clippers' loss to the Mavs last night.
- Mets pitcher Miguel Castro threw a ridiculous slider that made Arizona's Ketel Marte look silly.
- These six records show just how incredible Mike Krzyzewski's time with Duke has been.
- Tom Brady finally admitted he lost track of the downs in that final minute against the Bears.