What matters in an NBA Playoff series when momentum and homecourt advantage no longer hold as much weight? Which teams in the Eastern Conference want to avoid matching up against one another? Which Western Conference squads have a chance of forcing a play-in series between the No. 8 and 9 seeds, and who could be…
Tagged chris paul
Evaluating Denver Nuggets’ Most Likely Playoff Matchups
The Denver Nuggets are one of the NBA’s most unique teams. In a league that has migrated to a fast pace, perimeter-oriented style of play, the Nuggets stand out as a group that continues to make their mark with the more traditional, slower half-court game that thrives on a variety of inside looks. Per Advanced…
NBA Podcast: Top Offseason Questions for Jazz, Nuggets, Thunder, Timberwolves & Trail Blazers
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen and Bryan Toporek discuss the top offseason questions for every team in the Northwest Division. Should the Utah Jazz try to trade Mike Conley this offseason? Did the Denver Nuggets miss their window for a consolidation trade? Should the Oklahoma City Thunder try to sell high…
The 2008 USA Redeem Team’s Unique Place in History
I was too young to appreciate the 1992 USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Dream Team. And although I was old enough to enjoy the 1996 and 2000 American gold medalists, I took their success for granted. It wasn’t until the disappointment of the 2004 bronze and the ensuing 2008 “Redeem Team” campaign that I understood the…
The NBA I Grew Up Watching: The Undersized Underdogs
We’re used to basketball withdrawals in August or September, not mid-March. But here we are, feeling a weird emptiness without the NBA after the league rightfully and smartly shut things down on March 11. It didn’t take long for us to realize how much we love hoops and how much more we’ll cherish it once…
Meet the New Chris Paul, Same as the Old Chris Paul
There is a new Chris Paul, but it’s not Alfonso Ribeiro. It’s the old Chris Paul. The one who has rejuvenated his career while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to an unexpectedly good season. After a notable decline in his numbers last year (his final with the Houston Rockets), Paul has returned to form, somehow…
Olympics 2020: Building a Gold Medal Roster for Team USA Men’s Basketball
The last time Team USA played in an international tournament was an embarrassment. The inaugural FIBA World Cup took place in China this past summer and, after taking home the gold in the previous five events, the Americans finished seventh. They lost back-to-back games against France and Serbia to close out the tournament. It was…
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the ‘Other’ Star From 2018’s NBA Draft Class
The NBA has seemingly forgotten about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (again). But don’t worry, that’s not going to last much longer. SGA was overlooked entering college as well. Though he was offered and accepted a scholarship to the University of Kentucky, he wasn’t the traditional five-star recruit that John Calipari and Big Blue Nation had been accustomed…
PODCAST: Which Teams Should be Sellers at NBA Trade Deadline?
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss which teams should be sellers ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline. Who should lottery-bound franchises like the Cleveland Cavaliers (3:27) and New York Knicks (12:47) be looking to part with? What should the Washington Wizards do with Davis Bertans?…
Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Become a Superstar?
Unorthodox in nearly every manner, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the Oklahoma City Thunder in scoring early in the year, a massive leap after putting up 10.8 points as a rookie. The move to Oklahoma has given him a new chance to prove himself, not just as a wiry mismatch slasher, but a focal point. His…