The Bounce Newsletter 
| That is The Athletic’s each day NBA publication. Enroll right here to obtain The Bounce straight in your inbox.
Hey, it’s Zach Harper! I’m again from Europe! Massive due to Jason Jones for writing killer editions of The Bounce in my absence. We all know the season is correct across the nook as a result of social media is letting us know Ben Simmons is figuring out and prepared. 🙄
Metropolis or 💩-y?
New metropolis unis are tanking for Cooper Flagg
Possibly jersey designs are simply damaged normally. I bear in mind not loving what Adidas did with the NBA uniforms, particularly after they tried to make fetch (sleeved) jerseys a factor. When the NBA uniform contract went to Nike, I bought excited. Nike usually has good concepts with uniforms — simply take a look at a few of the cool stuff they’ve completed with the College of Oregon! However within the period of assertion, icon and no matter different jersey names they’ll provide you with as a substitute of claiming “house and away,” we’ve seen some actual wrestle designs.
The newest peek on the Metropolis Version jerseys for the upcoming season left many people saturated in disappointment. Of the 30 sneak peaks revealed this week, I’d argue that possibly 5 of them are in “I don’t thoughts it” to “these are legitimately good” territory. Listed here are the 5 I can settle for/take pleasure in (courtesy of NiceKicks):
On a scale of 1-10, I’d give the 76ers a 9.5, the Grizzlies a 9, the Spurs a 9.5, the Jazz an 8 (we’ve seen it earlier than, nevertheless it distracts from the unhealthy fashionable jerseys) and the Blazers a stable 7, possibly 7.5. San Antonio and Philadelphia completely nailed their designs. I like the idea of what Memphis goes for right here. I’ve at all times thought Portland had top-of-the-line appears to be like on the court docket, so that is shut sufficient, though it’s a bit of uninspired. Now, let’s get to those I hate essentially the most!
I’m not right here to argue with you if you happen to like them. I hate them. The Celtics get a 0/10 for channeling the Seahawks, highlighter Jazz and the Timberwolves into one jersey. There’s a solution to do a cool H-City jersey. This isn’t it, Houston (1/10 for you). The Pelicans proceed to wrestle with their jerseys (2/10), and the Lakers don’t have any clue what they’re doing right here (1/10, and it will be much less offensive to return to MPLS jerseys at this level). Additionally, the Wizards (1/10) are channeling some unhealthy wannabe script like a tattoo store in 2009.
Listed here are the remaining jersey grades/roasts:
Remaining thought: I don’t care in regards to the deeper significance of sure designs or colours used. Dangerous is unhealthy. 🤝
Worst Summer time Ever?
Does it really feel just like the Celtics received the title?
Bear in mind when the Celtics dominated the 2023-24 season, marched via the playoffs, cruised to the championship and obtained their much-awaited validation? All the pieces in that sentence appears to have occurred besides for the validation half. The Celtics have actually had the weirdest championship summer season I can ever bear in mind. It’s solely getting weirder as their title protection nears.
Final week, the New York Submit reported the Celtics are being offered as a result of Wyc Grousbeck’s dad is just not proud of the crew shedding cash. I do not know if it’s true, nevertheless it added to the weirdest summer season attainable for a dominant crew. Right here’s the timeline for the reason that title:
I’m actually baffled at how unsatisfying this summer season seems to be for the Celtics. At this price, there will likely be a typo within the banner on opening evening.
WNBA Finale
What to know as common season ends
At this time is the final day of the 2024 WNBA common season, and we’ve bought fairly a little bit of drama piling up as we head into an important playoff stretch. The playoffs start Sunday, and these are the big-ticket objects to know heading into the ultimate regular-season motion.
- Growth! Town of Portland will get the fifteenth lively WNBA squad in 2026. The crew will make its debut together with Toronto that season. And we have now the Golden State Valkyries beginning in 2025. Congratulations to the Rose Metropolis on becoming a member of the W!
- Playoff spots clinched: The Liberty and Lynx are 🔒at No. 1 and No. 2. The Solar retains the No. 3 seed in the event that they beat the Sky. They’ll drop to 4 with a loss and an Aces win over the Wings. The Storm, Fever and Mercury are your 5, 6 and seven, respectively.
- No. 8 seed up for grabs: If the Dream beat the Liberty tonight, they take the No. 8 seed. If the Dream lose and the Mystics win, they take the No. 8 seed. If the Dream lose, the Mystics lose to Fever, and the Sky beat the Solar, then Chicago will get the No. 8 seed. I’m 65 % positive I’ve completed the tiebreakers accurately right here.
- Aces trying to 3-peat: No one has received three straight WNBA titles for the reason that Comets received 4 straight from 1997-2000, the primary 4 titles in league historical past.
- Is likely to be the Liberty’s time: If the Liberty win tonight, they’ll have the second-most wins in a season ever and the fifth-best win share in league historical past. Is that this their yr for a title run?
- The Fever are harmful: Caitlin Clark’s crew has received 13 of 20 since beginning out 7-12. Might Clark preserve the hype rolling with some postseason upsets?
- Sheryl Swoopes doesn’t just like the Caitlin Clark impact: We’re getting fairly the library of quotes from Swoopes downgrading the Clark expertise. Lately, she mentioned CC’s averages of 19.5 factors, 8.4 assists, and 5.7 rebounds are good however not dominating. We thrive on hate!
- A’ja Wilson is the very best on this planet: She’s operating away with the league MVP for her third such award in seven seasons. She set the single-season scoring file. Dropped 1,000 factors in a season for the primary time in W historical past. Don’t guess in opposition to her and watch to see how her tweets match Bam Adebayo’s tweets. 👀
Bounce Passes
Shoutout to Fred Katz transferring from the Knicks beat to nationwide writing. Shoutout to Josh Hart supporting Fred. Shoutout to James Edwards III going from the Pistons to Knicks beat.
Will the Giannis-Dame pick-and-roll be unstoppable subsequent season?
Okay, LeBron James is simply messing with us, isn’t he? 👏Properly completed.
Most-clicked in Monday’s publication: Is that this final dance for the Timberwolves?
(Prime photograph: Maddie Meyer / Getty Photos )
