Welcome to Glass Slipper! Someone draft the poor kid already; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

**NOTICE: Glass Slipper will arrive on Tuesday and Thursday next week.

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways midway through Round 1 of the NBA playoffs.

1. Klaw things.

Look, I’m fully aware that I’m getting ahead of myself. If the Clippers win the title and Kawhi hoists a third Finals MVP, he’s one of the 20 best basketball players ever. I’m in utter disbelief that he’s back at this level again.

2. An Orlando miracle.

The Magic committed some of the dumbest fourth-quarter fouls I’ve ever seen, Franz Wagner jacked up two hero bombs in crunch time, and Cole Anthony is worse than me at this sport. Yet, Orlando is one home victory away from sending things back to TD Garden all square. I’m having a hard time comprehending that.

The Celtics are closing in five, just so we’re clear. I’m just amazed that they dropped a game to this squad.

3. Get warm.

Jimmy Butler is probably going to suit up tonight, but his injury concerns have opened the door for a Jonathan Kuminga revival. Is the kid mentally prepared to contribute again?

On the most important day of Golden State’s campaign - that regular season finale against the Clippers - Steve Kerr told Kuminga to take a seat for three hours. Let’s see whether that decision sparked hunger or destroyed confidence.

4. A big Miami summer.

You can almost feel Pat Riley concocting splashy ideas, as he watches his painfully-average roster fall short again. I’m very confident that the Heat will be holding an introductory press conference for a star within the next few months. Could it be Kevin Durant? Trae Young? Zion Williamson. Time to crank up the rumor mill.

5. Worth it.

Minnesota forked over excess draft capital to keep Jaden McDaniels out of the Rudy Gobert trade in 2022, and people giggled. The Wolves then made a $136 million wager on the dude’s development, which prompted more laughs. Well, here we are. In a series that features five multiple-time All-Stars, Jaden has been the best player. The stoic 24-year-old is even letting the cocky quotes fly now.

If McDaniels is going to keep playing like this, we’ve identified a team in the West that can give the Thunder real problems.

6. The Joker special.

It’s coming, folks. In a few hours, perhaps. The Clippers have looked significantly superior, but I’d hesitate before declaring this war over. We all know that Nikola Jokic has a ridiculous 39-16-12 line waiting in the wings; I’m still not counting Denver out.

7. Forever underappreciated.

Here are Pascal Siakam’s numbers in these playoffs so far, despite being primarily guarded by one of the best defenders on the planet.

• Game 1: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 10-15 FG, 3-5 3P, 2-2 FT

• Game 2: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 8-16 FG, 2-5 3P, 6-6 FT

• Game 3: 28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 12-19 FG, 3-4 3P

This was Siakam’s seventh consecutive campaign averaging at least 20 points a night, and he has a ring on his finger. At what point does he receive his flowers?

8. A change of plans.

If getting outscored by 70 in the first two games of a series isn’t enough of a signal that a major offseason shake-up is necessary, executing a historic choke immediately after should do the trick. What a disaster in Memphis.

Grizzlies fans should feel flat-out disrespected if the front office runs this group back in the fall. Doing nothing is an unacceptable response.

9. Legacy boosts.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has missed 26 of his last 31 field goal attempts. We might have to give both LeBron and Jokic some bonus points in these all-time conversations, for temporarily turning this man into an essential championship piece.

10. Bad coaching.

Tom Thibodeau seems entirely unaware that the Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns pick-and-roll was among the most lethal offensive actions that any squad possessed all season. Tuomas Iisalo is inexplicably infatuated with Santi Aldama. Doc Rivers had the Bucks switching everything on defense in Game 2, and essentially gifted Indiana a free ride to 123 points.

Come on, guys. I’d like to think that the three of you are better than that.

Pressroom

Spin It

“Don’t Fight It” by Gavin Turek. You’ve never heard this song, and it’s about time we fix that.