Brett Brown kept Philadelphia 76ers players’ and fans’ spirits aloft through the worst dog days of The Process. He led the early development of budding stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. He remained upbeat through 253 losses in four years. Now that the squad is a legitimate contender in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, however, the…
By Sara Peters
Sara Peters is a 17-year journalist who covers cybersecurity by day, basketball by night. She spent the past four seasons enduring a relentless barrage of losses as a featured New York Knicks columnist for Bleacher Report. She loves driving point guards, passing centers, scrambles for loose balls, buzzer-beating blocks, Allen Iverson, and tearful memories of Drazen Petrovic. Sara lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter @3FromThe7.
How Do Brooklyn Nets Become Relevant in NYC?
The Nets have been a bad luck franchise from the moment they joined the NBA. When Long Island’s American Basketball Association champion New York Nets joined the NBA as part of the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, they were forced to pay the New York Knicks $4.8 million for encroaching on their turf. A year later,…
‘The Giannis Era’ Can Now Begin
Lebron James is missing the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2005, but don’t be fooled: “The Lebron Era” isn’t over quite yet. His absence, however, does provide someone else an opportunity. A chance to declare, on an international stage, in no uncertain terms, “I got next.” Giannis Antetokounmpo—just 24, leader of the NBA’s winningest…
Predicting 2019 NBA Playoffs’ Unlikely Heroes
From the steaming crucible of the NBA Playoffs, one always emerges: the unlikely hero. On Game 1, casual opposing fans simply say “Who’s that guy?” More knowledgeable ones may mock, saying “He’s still in the league?” Yet, by Game 4 they will collectively declare “Who the <obscenity> is that <obscenity>ing guy?” By Game 6, they will…
Who Should Win 2019 NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
He should cause the best players to question themselves, force coaches to adjust their offense, then adjust it again. He should give teammates and his fans a general sense of calm as soon as he steps onto the court. Maybe he can guard any position to always stay on “Your Team’s Best Player”. Maybe he…
Mitchell Robinson Leads NBA’s New Perimeter-Defending Bigs
Seven-footers drain threes now. Someone has to guard them, but quick-switching defenses strand their own posts at the perimeter, anxiously facing guards known for wicked step-back triples, pick-and-roll dimes or devastating rim attacks. (Some threaten all of the above.) To handle these challenges, today’s big men must guard the arc as well as they protect…
Breaking Down Milwaukee Bucks’ Potential First-Round Matchups
The West’s legendary Golden State Warriors, the North’s well-armed Toronto Raptors and the upstart Philadelphia 76ers all have plans to top the No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference or NBA Finals. The banged-up Bucks have to get there first, though, and it might not be so easy. While Milwaukee struggles to recover from…
Breaking Down the NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Bubble
It’s not yet time to brag about that blowout win (or feign a season-ending injury after a few demoralizing losses). That’s because six NBA Eastern Conference teams balance on the playoff bubble, but only three will see the postseason. With a few weeks left to go, who are the best bets to secure a playoff…
The Psychology of NBA Tanking, Part 2: Lose Like a Champ
Editor’s Note: This piece originally ran March 9, 2019, but is so awesome we wanted to give more people a chance to read it. Is it possible to actually go through a “tank” with a winning record, high ROI, and no piles of corpses along the sidelines? Is that even a tank at all then?…
The Psychology of Tanking, Part 1: Can Winners Survive That Much Losing?
Editor’s Note: This piece originally ran March 5, 2019, but is so awesome we wanted to give more people a chance to read it. It’s a simple equation: tanking = top draft pick = NBA championship. The math satisfies the sensibilities of franchise owners, fans and Spike Lee alike… But what about the players? How much…