Steph Curry and Jayson Tatum put on a show Saturday night at the TD Garden. The two stars combined for 87 points and reminded us just how awesome basketball can be.
And yet, Jeff Van Gundy was gushing over … Julius Randle.
OK, then.
The Celtics defeated the Warriors 119-114, with the action picking up in a sensational third quarter. Curry kept hitting insane 30-foot jump shots and Tatum was driving to the hole with authority. So naturally, that's when the Randle love began.
While Curry was standing at the free throw line with 1:26 remaining in the period, ABC play-by-play man Mike Breen, who's also the lead announcer for the Knicks, starting hyping Sunday's matchup between New York and New Orleans. To accompany Breen's impromptu promo, the ABC crew threw up a graphic detailing Randle's 44-point effort Friday against the Mavericks.
That's when Van Gundy went all-in — screaming that Randle would be on his hypothetical 12-player MVP ballot (the ballot only goes to five, but why let details get in the way of a good tongue bath)?
"Julius Randle, he is a star now," Van Gundy said. "If I had a ballot that was 12 MVP guys, he would be on my ballot. I can't believe the improvement. He's definitely the most-improved player in the league. He's gone from 27 percent from three to 41 (percent); 73 (percent) from the line to 79 (percent). He's the best player on the floor almost every night the Knicks play.
Randle is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 23.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. As a longtime New Yorker and former Knicks coach, it's understandable why Van Gundy is so excited about the Knicks' surprise playoff run. For the first time in decades, competitive basketball has returned to Madison Square Garden.
But there was some pretty incredible basketball happening in front of Van Gundy Saturday, too. He brushed that aside to shower Randle with some more love.
"If you're doing the game tomorrow, Mike, start the MVP chant," Van Gundy said. "Go on out there at midcourt. This is guy is unguardable right now."
Calling somebody else "unguardable" while Curry couldn't miss is a bold move. Fortunately, ABC went to commercial break at the conclusion of the third, allowing Van Gundy to settle down, and focus again on the classic that was unfolding in front of him.
