The season looks set to continue for 22 of the NBA’s 30 franchises, but competitive play is over for the eight that had zero chance of reaching the 2019-20 playoffs. Sure, not even receiving an invite to Orlando suggests that these teams’ end-of-season grades will be low, but for some, there is light at the…
Many players struggle just to carve out an NBA career during their first season or two. However, once establishing themselves, they unlock new pathways and opportunities depending on their talent and production. Whether it’s earning a max contract, a greater role or even just proving to be a “winning” player, life comes fast before earning…
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a long history of being bad. They’ve made the playoffs just once since 2003-04. That was the only time in franchise history they had ever gotten out of the first round. Not coincidentally, they don’t have a very good track record of point guards following that same season when Sam Cassell…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) give their early impressions of how the post-trade deadline NBA is shaping up. Will the Houston Rockets’ small-ball experiment work? Should the Philadelphia 76ers keep bringing Al Horford off the bench? Does Marcus Morris make the Los Angeles Clippers title favorites?…
Eighteen months ago, the Golden State Warriors had just captured their third title in four years, and the Minnesota Timberwolves were fresh off their first playoff appearance since 2004. Champagne popped, optimism was in the air and then came the fall from grace. The two franchises now languish at the very cellar of the Western…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) react to the wild 2020 NBA trade deadline and break down the biggest deals from the week. Did the Golden State Warriors get the better end of the D’Angelo Russell / Andrew Wiggins trade? Why did the Detroit Pistons flip Andre…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the Jeff Teague-Allen Crabbe trade, Kyrie Irving’s leadership and the latest trade rumors involving Robert Covington, Andre Drummond and D’Angelo Russell. Who won the Crabbe-Teague trade? Was Kyrie right about the Nets needing more pieces to contend for a title?…
Let’s (mostly) run it back, San Fran. In their unbelievable misfortune through injuries and player departures, the Golden State Warriors have been afforded an incredible opportunity. They can use the 2019-20 season as a gap year for their main stars, preparing them mentally to be fresh for the next campaign. They will bottom-out in the…
Before the first game of the season, I threw out 50 fairly bold predictions for the NBA season, all of which were rooted in optimism and belief. As always, one subtle action can change how the dominos fall, whether it’s an injury (here’s looking at you, Stephen Curry) or the unforeseen ascension of talent. We’re…
Tom Petty’s 1989 angst-filled anthem Free Fallin’ perfectly represents a Golden State Warriors that team governor Joe Lacob once told the 2016 New York Times was light years ahead but who now looks to be in plummet a mere three years later. The 2018-19 NBA season should’ve been a fait accompli coronation for the Warriors, who…
