How will the NBA’s rebooted season shake out the standings during its final eight regular-season games, and which first-round matchups should we be especially excited for once the NBA Playoffs begin? TBW staff writer Bob Bajek joins hosts Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes to break down each of the most fun scenarios for the opening round, including…
Tagged Houston Rockets
NBA PODCAST: Breaking Down Season Restart’s Schedule & Opt-outs
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen and Bryan Toporek discuss winners and losers of the seeding-game schedule as well as notable players who won’t join their teams for the rest of the 2019-20 season. Are the New Orleans Pelicans a lock to force a play-in tournament? Can the Boston Celtics jump the…
BbA 16: Weighing Each Conference Ahead of NBA’s Return
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…
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 Storylines to Watch as 2019-20 Season Resumes
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen and Bryan Toporek discuss the top storylines for when the 2019-20 NBA season reboots in late July. How will the extended layoff affect teams? Will any teams attempt to manipulate their seeding for easier early-round playoff matchups? Are the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Los…
The Numbers: Clyde Drexler & Hakeem Olajuwon Go for 40
On May 5, 1995, Clyde Drexler (41) and Hakeem Olajuwon (40), both grilled up 40 burgers in beating the Utah Jazz during Game 4 of their first-round series. It was just the third time in NBA history that teammates went for 40 in a playoff game. Drexler added six assists and nine rebounds; Hakeem added…
NBA Podcast: Ranking the Top Shooting Guards in 2020 NBA Free Agency
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen and Bryan Toporek discuss the top shooting guards in the 2020 free-agent class. Should Evan Fournier decline his $17.2 million player option? If so, where should he sign this offseason? What about Tim Hardaway Jr.? Which teams should be interested in Malik Beasley? Will Kentavious Caldwell-Pope…
5 Former Role Players Who Would Stand Out in Today’s NBA
One thing ESPN’s The Last Dance has really hammered home for me is just how stark the contrast in playing styles is between the modern game and even 20-30 years ago. That premise has gotten my mind racing: What players from that era would seamlessly fit in the modern NBA? Remove the brutish post-ups and…
NBA Podcast: Top Offseason Questions for Grizzlies, Mavericks, Pelicans, Rockets & Spurs
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the top offseason questions for every team in the Southwest Division. How much should the Memphis Grizzlies spend to retain De’Anthony Melton? What should the Dallas Mavericks’ top priority be this offseason? Is Brandon Ingram a no-brainer max for the…
BbA 10: Favorite Centers of the 90s; Meet Bob Bajek
In this 10th episode of TBW’s Basketball by Association podcast, Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes are joined by Bob Bajek to reminisce about their favorite paint patrollers of the 1990s. Inspired by Bob’s “The NBA I Grew Up Watching: When Centers Ruled the League”, they look back on why they loved (or hated) luminaries…