Those reports almost certainly were coming from Phil Jackson.

The Triangle worked because some of the smartest and greatest basketball players of all time placed their trust in a guy who turns out to have been too stupid to deserve it.

It doesn’t, but at least they don’t have to commit more than a year to the experiment. It’s not like they’d beat the Warriors or Spurs without making the trade. At least now they’ve got a fun and surely exasperating experiment to try for the year. If it somehow works then they could resign him for a 2 year deal or…

No, I’m not saying they’re better. The Clippers are definitely worse off, but that’s not the point. They were probably going to lose at least one—and potentially all—of Griffin, Redick and Paul, so they were looking at a downgrade no matter what.

Yep, you nailed the landing there: as a Warriors fan I’m perplexed by what the Rockets think Paul will do for them and relieved he’s not on the Spurs.

Beverly was there and that didn’t rub off. Plus, Harden’s problem isn’t that he’s soft–it’s that he’s spacey. He’s actually fairly fine in the post and 1-on-1 against guys who aren’t Kyrie-esque dribbling wizards. But watch him against the Spurs or Warriors. He gets back doored constantly, loses his man whenever the…

There goes the Blazers’ chances of knocking off a higher seed in the first round.

Not at all, man. DeAndre rim runs well for a big and Blake can too. They aren’t the problem here. CP3's always micromanaged his offenses. It works for him and it’s his style–will be interesting to see him try to work in transition.

I actually ... kinda ... like this trade more on the Clippers’ end? (phalanx of thinking emojis)

It doesn’t even look good on paper. So yes, it will be underwhelming.

If having 1 point guard is good, then having 2 point guards must be twice as good. I can’t be the only one who took science here...

Yes, this seems like it will be an entertaining, high-end mess. You have two alpha dogs who want the ball in their hands as much as possible, yet they are different “alphas” — Paul berates & demands and Harden is non-confrontational and goes with the flow which he expects to go through him (which D’Antoni designed the…

But you could also argue that Harden completely ran out of gas at the end of the season in the playoffs. I’m not saying you’re wrong and that this will work but that MVP season crashed and burned at the end and maybe Harden wants someone to share the load.

Harden had the best year of his career as a PG last year. Paul plays at a glacial pace. This seems like one of those things that looks good on paper but will be underwhelming.

Paul might be the most overrated player in the league.

Come on, the Clippers at least got some useful role-player guys (OK, maybe one useful one), whereas the Bulls got a few packs of gum and a box set of the third season of Friends (on DVD).

This will either be a fun pairing or a total disaster

I grew up as one of those brainwashed yokels. Believed the GOP party line, chapter and verse. But if you have any degree of intellectual curiosity you eventually get exposed to outside ideas. I’m not the only one in my hometown social circle who saw the light. Those that remain brainwashed choose to remain brainwashed.

My initial response isn’t positive, but I’m gonna try and overcome the urge to curse at them for their bad behavior and choices.

When pressed, Fisher says “has 7-9 good stories he could tell about Vince. But he is working hard every day to make them more competitive.”