Sixers-Cavs and the Name Drop

By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)

Following their best performance of the season in a close loss to Milwaukee, the Philadelphia 76ers are back in action tonight against the defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Since the Bucks game, the team announced that going forward, recent roster addition Phil Pressey will be the back-up point guard behind T.J. McConnell, with Isaiah Canaan shifting to a back-up shooting guard role. Canaan’s play has been abysmal thus far this season and the writing seems to be on the wall for him to hit the road once any of the injured Sixers return to the lineup.

For Cleveland, J.R. Smith, who suffered a minor knee injury early in Monday’s game against the Sixers, will be out, meaning we will once again see more Matthew Dellavedova and Jared Cunningham.

Instead of offering a breakdown of the matchup against a team we just saw 4 days ago, I’d instead like to breakdown ‘The Name Drop‘. Backing up slightly, Cleveland wing Iman Shumpert, somewhat recently had surgery on his right wrist and is out until January. Apparently, he’s using his downtime away from the court continue honing his altogether-not-terrible rap skills. In his latest piece, ‘The Name Drop‘, he shouts out every member of the Cavaliers roster. Let’s take a journey through this sure-to-be instant classic.

Mo Williams: ‘Some would say Mo got it back (?) – The first player line thrown out is the only one I can’t totally make out. Is it just that Williams is back in Cleveland? Is he saying Mo was slumping, but now back in top form? He has been playing well filling in for an injured Kyrie. I’m cool with it.

Richard Jefferson: ‘R.J. on the breakaway’ – Richard Jefferson is 35 years old. Props to him for still being in the league, let alone in a rap song.

Anderson Varejao: ‘Andy doing his wild thing’ – When the guy’s nickname is ‘Wild Thing’, you don’t need to stray outside the box.

LeBron James: ‘Bron back on his business’ – Seems to be underselling one of the greatest players of all-time, but do you Shump.

Kyrie Irving: ‘Kyrie on the finish’ – Personally, would have loved an Uncle Drew reference here.

Timofey Mozgov: ‘Maserati, we in it’ – Maserati is an Italian luxury car. Mozgov, not Italian. Do better than a slant rhyme here, Iman.

J.R. Smith: ‘Swish ready to pull it’ – Perfect. Whether it’s a trigger on his smoking guns or just a regular jump shot, J.R. is definitely ready to pull it.

Sasha Kaun: ‘Sasha Kaun on his bully’ – I can’t get over the fact that Sasha Kaun is mentioned in a rap song. I love the NBA.

Matthew Dellavedova: ‘Delly cover a belly’ – A little on the nose, but Delly certainly does get up in people’s stomach regions.

Kevin Love: ‘Kevin back and he shootin’ – I really wanted some Kelly Olynyk shade thrown out here.

Tristan Thompson: ‘Tristan back on his war horse’ – This made me think of the SNL skit with Jimmy Fallon slapping his legs to play the War Horse.

James Jones: ‘James Jones from downtown’ – Guy has made tens of millions of dollars doing nothing but shoot wide-open threes thanks to Lebron, of course that’s what gets mentioned for him.

Joe Harris: ‘Joe Joe for the corner three’ – See Kaun, Sasha.

Jared Cunningham: ‘J Cunny’s on squad now – Newcomers have to earn a more colorful shout-out in time, I guess.

Iman Shumpert: ‘That logo head in the sky soon’ – Referring when the NBA told Shump to get rid of the Adidas logo shaved into his head. Shump is terrific.

While it may lack the grittiness of say, 40 Bars, Shump gets high marks for his flow and production value. Cavs by double digits tonight.