2012 Summer OlympicsNBA

By The Numbers: Basically All Of Team USA Sleeping On A Plane

This is what I was talking about in the last post. Even stories about the Olympics are about NBA players. David Stern is an evil genius. To close out the night, we take a look at the picture Kevin Love Instagrammed of six teammates (and Coach K!) sleeping on the flight to London. You’ve seen it already, but here are the numbers:

Players sleeping: 6
Coaches sleeping: 1
Sleep masks: 3
Nike Swooshes: 2
Chris Paul-branded items: 1
Team USA logos: 1
American flags: 1
Hats: 3 (who sleeps in a hat?)
Beats by Dre: 3 (maybe 4, Russell Westbrook’s earbuds are of indeterminate origin)
Comically large blankets overflowing into the aisle: 1
Comically reflective track suits: 1 (that would explain the sleep masks)
Sunglasses: 1 (Westbrook has an awfully peculiar attitude towards light during air travel)

There’s a lot to unpack here. Deron Williams, James Harden, and LeBron James are the only people sitting in window seats and they are all also the only people wearing sleep masks. Since they make very little splash here, perhaps they’re on to something.

Meanwhile, Coach K is in the back sleeping perfectly upright. I will never not be terrified of him.

It is curious to see Anthony Davis wearing a Redskins hat, although he has a history of wearing such hats. Being from Chicago, it’s strange he would be a ‘Skins fan, given their mediocrity for most of his life. Also, what is going on with the blanket? Where does he think they’re going?

That strangeness has nothing on Westbrook though. Along with those inexplicable sunglasses, he’s wearing a hat that says, “Maintain The Mystery.” You are, Russell. You are.

Most importantly, how is Chris Paul supporting himself? I too have traveled on airplanes, and I can assure you that the least comfortable way to sleep on them is leaning into the aisle. There’s only a thin armrest for support, and that is a devil’s gamble. There’s nothing worse than suddenly waking up because the arm that’s supporting you has slipped off of the armrest. Is it possible Chris Paul’s awareness is so great that he can keep his arm from slipping off an armrest while he’s asleep? He really is the best point guard ever.

[Photo: Instagram]