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…
Hey all, back again this week with another check-in on the evolving stories from around the NBA. This week kicked off with an amusing comment from Houston Rockets guard, James Harden, who essentially labeled leading (and rival) MVP candidate Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘a seven-foot-run-and-dunk-guy’. What Harden is defining as “skill” in regards to…
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…
Does anybody realize that the Milwaukee Bucks are on pace to be the third team in NBA history to win 70 games? With the way our national sports coverage landscape is these days, it’s safe to assume no. The Los Angeles Lakers grab most of the daytime spotlight with LeBron James in the league’s second-largest…
Though every NBA campaign is rife with injuries to notable players, every minute lost for one ostensibly opens up playing time for someone else. These opportunities often can be leveraged into bigger roles. Sometimes, even a career can be drastically altered simply by maximizing such a moment. (See: Draymond Green filling in for David Lee…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss who’s to blame for the New York Knicks’ miserable start and the impact of injuries to Gordon Hayward, Khris Middleton and De’Aaron Fox. Is head coach David Fizdale the primary culprit for the Knicks’ 2-8 start? How much blame do…
The second-most valuable player on an NBA contender holds a vital and often tricky role. They must be comfortable living in the shadow of the top dog while typically catering to his preferred playing style. When called upon, they must carry the team when the premier star is having an off night. Who are the…
It’s not often we gush about role players making the difference on a new team, but this maybe should be the exception. Kyle Korver and the Milwaukee Bucks are a match made in heaven. Long coveted for his three-point shooting prowess, Korver signed a deal with the Bucks this summer to help provide spacing to…
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Duncan Smith (@duncansmithnba) of Forbes preview the Central Division ahead of the 2019-20 season. How will the Chicago Bulls’ point guard rotation shake out? Are Cleveland Cavaliers guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland compatible? Will this be Andre Drummond’s…
After an entertaining, yet tumultuous pre-tournament schedule, Gregg Popovich’s men’s national squad arrived in China to defend its throne at the 2019 FIBA World Cup. He experimented with a variety of lineups throughout the exhibition slate, and it’s time to hone in on some optimal combinations. While the U.S. hasn’t lost a World Cup or…
