The Capela Gambit, and why do we find these NBA altercations so funny?

Is there something in the NBA’s water supply? Did Joker successfully get his aggression serum into the reservoir? What is going on with all these altercations? And why are they so dang funny?

Previously on Fastbreak Breakfast, we noted a spate of incidents from belligerent referees. Now it seems to have spread to the players. Rodney Hood [hilariously] smacked a phone out of a fan’s hand. Kyle Lowry and Ben Simmons were ejected and looked to “take it outside.” Nemanja Bjelica responded to Arron Afflalo’s haymaker by swallowing him in a headlock, like one might a little brother.

And obviously the week’s main event was a chippy Clippers/Rockets showdown on Monday night. That game culminated not just in ejections but in breathless reports of National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul leading a behind-enemy-lines excursion to the Los Angeles locker room while using Clint Capela as a diversion. So on our newest episode we break it all down frame by frame, picking apart our favorite moments of NBA faux-violence.

Also covered:

• Why didn’t any Magic players go listen to Jonathan Isaac give a sermon?
• Which NBA team collectively has the best hair?
• Is Hassan Whiteside superfluous for the Heat?
• Lou Williams wasn’t notably involved in the Capela Gambit, but he’s been on an incredible tear of late. Are there any historical comparisons to his statistical leap at age 31?

All Fastbreak Breakfast episodes are also available for download on iTunes and Soundcloud.

Original music provided by Codaphonic

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