This Tale of Two Brothers Walking, titled “The Van Gundy Brothers Walk, Talk, and Bond in the NBA Bubble,” is appealing to me on so many levels. First, there’s the “walk” angle: I find it hilarious and fitting that they get up early each day in Orlando to walk the cart paths of a golf course before there are actual golfers out to spoil the solitude. For a guy like me who’s an early riser, and one who loves walking and hates golf, it doesn’t get much more poignant than that.
Next, there’s the “fraternal” angle in which far-flung brothers re-connect under the highly unusual circumstance of pandemic NBA-bubble life. Of course I more-closely identify with Jeff, the younger of the two. And it’s not only because he’s bald and bespectacled. It’s also because – as an NBA commentator – he’s by far the bigger smart-ass of the two. Maybe Stan was a better coach, but I say you just don’t find that much snark in such a pretty package as you get with Jeff. OK, maybe I’m biased. So sue me.
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Of course any story of the NBA playoffs at this point in 2020 has to include a shout-out to the surprising Denver Nuggets, who kick off their Western Conference Final series against the LA Lakers tomorrow night. Though that’s got nothing to do with “A Tale of Two Brothers Walking,” you can still watch the game on TNT. And that means – sorry, Jeff! – we get Stan doing the color.
Watch out LeBron: Go Jamal & Joker!