SNY's The Warm-up: Continued tributes to Kobe

Plus: UConn honors Gianna Bryant Get Today’s New York Sports Here Tweet of the Day Welcome to The Warm-Up. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today's viewing guide... - Knicks at Hornets, 7 p.m. 🏀 Today's word count: 619 words (about six minutes) --------------------------------------------------------------- The New York Minute - Did you [see]( the Empire State Building last night? - The Lakers-Clippers game scheduled for tonight has been [postponed](. - [Here's]( the Bill Gallo cartoon that Mike Breen was talking about Sunday. - We mentioned the 61-point night on Monday, but [here are the]( other great Kobe Bryant moments at Madison Square Garden. - The Diamondbacks [traded for Mets target Starling Marte](. More on that below. - Recently-fired Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens [is joining]( the Giants as a tight ends coach. 1. Begley: Why Sunday's games were played All eight of the scheduled NBA games were played throughout the surreality of Sunday, something not all players were comfortable with, [including Marcus Morris]( whose Knicks hosted the Nets: - "Honestly, I don't think we should have played, but it is what it is. It's devastating news and I just really pray for his family." Players, [like Tyson Chandler]( were visibly heartbroken while on the court. So, why play the games? SNY's Ian Begley spoke on Monday with someone who has knowledge of the NBA's decision-making process on why the games were not cancelled. A few reasons: - "The idea that Bryant, renowned for his drive and competitive nature, would want games to be played Sunday, under the circumstances." - "There was no strong push to cancel the games from the players or teams scheduled to play Sunday. And on the league side, the possibility of cancelling games was considered, but there was not a high level of support for the move." - "The idea that cancelling Sunday's slate of games would be setting a precedent that's challenging to uphold in similar circumstances. For example, if a player that isn't as well-known as Bryant dies, does the NBA have an obligation to cancel that day's games?" You can read the rest of Begley's article [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. UConn honors Gianna Bryant During UConn's exhibition game against Team USA on Monday, the Huskies [set up a jersey and flowers]( for Gianna "GiGi" Bryant, who loved the UConn women's team and attended a few of their games with her father. The UConn women's team account [tweeted]( the picture above with the caption: - "Mambacita is forever a Husky 💙" According to [this]( ESPN article, Kobe said "the 13-year-old was 'hell-bent' on going to UConn to play college basketball." Diana Taurasi, who was at the exhibition, [spoke about]( her relationship with Kobe, and his with Gianna: - "That relationship he formed with his daughters, that's when he was at his happiest ... when he was coaching his daughter." Geno Auriemma, on Kobe: - "He was just getting started. We used to talk about what defensive drills to do. I said, 'What, didn't you pay attention all those years in practice?' ... Nobody could score on him for 20 years and he's asking me about defensive drills. ... I don't think he got a chance." [Here's]( the clip of Kobe on the Jimmy Kimmel show, revealing Gianna's desire to play in the WNBA... ...And [here's another]( of Gianna sideline at a UConn game telling SNY's Justine Ward that she can beat her father 1-on-1. On SNY.tv: [U.S. Women's National Team players reflect on Kobe Bryant, daughter Gianna]( --------------------------------------------------------------- DAILY TRIVIA Who owns the record for most points scored in a single game at Madison Square Garden? 3. Martino: Why the Mets were out on Marte Longtime Pirate Starling Marte is headed to the Diamondbacks in exchange for two prospects. Long rumored to be a potential trade target of the Mets, the two teams hadn't kicked around any trade possibilities in weeks, [SNY's Andy Martino said on Monday](. In short, the Pirates' asking price was deemed too high: - "Brodie Van Wagenen kind of got stereotyped in the Seattle trade as the guy that will always give up his prospects for an established major leaguer, but he's in a different place this offseason (than) he was last offseason." - "And that's why this one never got off the ground at the same extent as the (Marcus) Stroman trade or the (Robinson) Cano trade." According to Martino, Mets players the Pirates were interested in included Brandon Nimmo and the Mets' top-ranked prospect, shortstop Ronny Mauricio. --------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Seton Hall No. 10, Rutgers No. 25 in latest AP poll (Rutgers guard Geo Baker after Saturday's win over Nebraska) In the latest men's AP Top 25 poll, [released Monday]( Rutgers dropped one spot to No. 25, while Seton Hall stayed in place at No. 10. Rutgers went 1-1 last week, losing on Wednesday to No. 18 Iowa on the road, 85-80, and beating Nebraska in New Jersey on Saturday. Seton Hall had a quiet week, beating Providence on Wednesday, 73-64. [In the women's poll]( UConn dropped a spot to No. 3. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRIVIA ANSWER No. 1: Carmelo Anthony, 62 No. 2: James Harden, Kobe Bryant, 61 No. 3: [Bernard King]( 60 --------------------------------------------------------------- That's the buzzer, folks. Enjoy your Tuesday! This email was sent by: SportsNet New York (SNY) 150 Greenwich st 50th floor New York, NY 10007 US [Unsubscribe]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Facebook](