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 Kawhi Leonard
The NBA’s Hustle Leaders I’m Excited to Watch Again
I can feel that familiar rush of excitement coming back. The NBA is coming back, and I can’t wait to see real game action (not to mention, the playoffs!), even if it will be in a uniquely fan-less environment. Now I can zoom back in on the players I love watching the most. In an…
The Numbers: Warriors Make 5 Straight Finals
On May 20, 2019, the Golden State Warriors made history when they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 119-117 to make it to the NBA Finals for the fifth straight time. They joined the Boston Celtics (who went 10 straight years from 1956-66) as the only teams to do so. Stephen Curry led the way with…
5 NBA Questions: Can Miami Heat Cool the Playoffs with Frigid Defense?
The past couple of weeks have seen some contenders unravel themselves (looking at you, Houston Rockets, losers of 3 straight) while others have seemingly bolstered themselves with key late-season pickups. The Los Angeles Lakers—with their additions of Markieff Morris and Dion Waiters—and L.A. Clippers (via Marcus Morris, Reggie Jackson and Joakim Noah) all certainly qualify. …
Clippers Thriving as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard Hit Their Stride
The Los Angeles Clippers rocked the basketball world when they assembled a dynamic duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, two of the best two-way wings in the league. The pairing gave hope to Clippers fans that a title could finally be in the very near future. However, due to injuries to Paul George and…
Can Toronto Raptors Repeat as NBA Champs?
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…
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…
PODCAST: Willie Cauley-Stein Trade, Zion First Impressions & Clippers Chemistry
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the Willie Cauley-Stein trade, Zion Williamson’s regular-season debut and behind-the-scenes drama with the Los Angeles Clippers. How much will Cauley-Stein help the Mavericks in the wake of Dwight Powell’s injury? How concerned should Clippers fans be about reported behind-the-scenes tension?…
10 NBA Questions: How Obnoxious is the ‘Giannis Leaving Milwaukee’ Chatter?
How much more obnoxious can this made-up storyline get? The answer is none. None more obnoxious. (But it somehow will.) And thus the reason why so many people hate the “big boys” of sports media and its talking heads who typically have no idea what they’re talking about. Instead of analyzing the games using anything…
Early Returns From Kawhi, PG13 Era Should Have NBA Fearing L.A. Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers finally got to see their offseason dreams fully realized. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George suited up alongside one another for the first time in a 107-104 overtime victory against the Boston Celtics on Nov. 20. They followed that up with a close win against the Houston Rockets and a blowout of…