Tagged Kawhi Leonard

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…

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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…

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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. …

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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…

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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?…

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