In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top point guards in the 2020 NBA free-agent class. Which teams should be interested in Fred VanVleet? Will Goran Dragic receive more than the mid-level exception? Should teams prioritize veteran backups such as Jeff Teague or D.J. Augustin? Will…
When Kawhi Leonard bid au revoir to Canada for Southern California last July, fans and media members thought the Toronto Raptors did the same to their chances of repeating as NBA champions. The math seems pretty simple: NBA superstars are essentially required to winning the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy. This prevailing thought led both Los…
When you think of zone defense, the first thing that comes to mind might be high school or college basketball. The NBA has always been a predominantly man-to-man league, as it’s a more effective long-term antidote to the most prolific offenses on the planet. However, zone defense has crept into many coaches’ game plans during…
Coming out of the first heavy-spending summer since 2016, several teams are locked into their current core and will have trouble generating significant spending power over the next two offseasons. Of course, other teams are still riding out their own bad 2016 contracts and will look to get back in the game in 2020 and…
The news was devastating to the Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard was heading home to Los Angeles. As their dreams of a repeat championship disappear, the focus must shift onto what the organization can do to replace its Finals MVP. The team’s salary situation dictates either a complete blowup of the roster or replacing Leonard with…
The Toronto Raptors are one game away from toppling the injury-ravaged Golden State Warriors and winning their first NBA championship in franchise history. But regardless of whether Warriors star forward Kevin Durant returns at some point—he’s questionable ahead of Monday’s Game 5—no one should suggest the Raptors deserve an asterisk if they do win this…
Three things are true about NBA title teams: They’re defined by their (super)stars, resiliency is key, and some luck is required. It’s technically too early to declare a champion right now but, in the event that this current trend holds, the Toronto Raptors (3-1) are on their way. That’s because they easily meet all three…
The balance a coach must maintain between flexibility and rigidity is forever the most difficult part of the job. In a playoff series, it’s important for a team to adjust to an opponent’s particular strengths and weaknesses, but too many adjustments and said team loses the identity that brought it this far. This dance will…
After years of postseason shortcomings, the Toronto Raptors enter the 2018-19 playoffs under more pressure than ever. Once Kawhi Leonard declines his $21.3 million player option for 2019-20, he will become one of this summer’s most sought-after free agents, perhaps second only to Kevin Durant. Rumors abound about his reported interest in joining the Los…
It’s time for fantasy basketball owners to gear up for the NBA Playoffs. Your approach to the final few weeks of the regular season largely depends upon your place in the standings. If you’re cruising toward a playoff berth—or, better yet, a first-round bye—now’s the time to take gambles. Owners who can survive a short-term…
