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 Los Angeles Lakers
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…
NBA, WNBA Continue Fighting for Social Justice
George Floyd’s murder last month at the hand of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin appears to have jolted much of America’s collective conscience from an apathetic slumber. People of all ages, races and backgrounds have taken up their First Amendment rights of assembly to redress grievances—namely the extra-judicial killing of unarmed Black men by America’s…
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…
The Numbers: Isiah Thomas’ 25-Point 3rd Quarter
On June 19, 1988, Isiah Thomas went off, dropping 25 points during the third quarter of the Detroit Pistons’ NBA Finals Game 6 with the Los Angeles Lakers. He actually put down 43 for the game, but it was the third quarter that was the most amazing, not just because of what he did, but…
NBA Podcast: Playoff Free Agent Signings, Bradley Beal Trade Rumors
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen and Bryan Toporek discuss some of the latest Bradley Beal trade rumors and go over possible free-agent targets for teams ahead of the 2019-20 season resuming. Should the Brooklyn Nets go all-in on a third star and trade for Beal? What could the Los Angeles Lakers…
BBA 15: Does Anyone Really Know How the NBA’s Reboot Will Work?
As anticipation and excitement build for the NBA’s 22-team, late-July return in Orlando, Florida, we’re still left with more questions than answers. And we’re not the only ones: Both the league and the NBA Players’ Association have not even finalized terms yet and continue to debate the details. So what are the long-term ramifications and…
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: Larry Bird’s 31.6 Game Score
Despite being during the range of NBA Finals dates, June 10th hasn’t been the kind of landmark historic day in the history of basketball that we’ve previously featured in this series. But that doesn’t mean it’s completely shabby. The best game any player had on this day was Larry Bird, who had a Game Score…
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…