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…
During former UVA guard Malcolm Brogdon’s three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks, he ascended from an unassuming second-round pick to a legitimate top option for a contending team. He entered the league with a handful of accolades to boast from his four seasons under accomplished coach Tony Bennett, but the four-year college prospect nonetheless slipped…
The 2019-20 season is almost here, so it’s time to be bold about what we think will actually happen. For some, these predictions may not seem incredibly bold while they may be preposterous to others. But basketball is back, and that in itself is worth celebrating: 1. Ben Simmons makes 11 three-pointers Let’s dive right…
After a summer of roster reshuffling that resulted in many players finding new homes, one thing has remained consistent, Vegas’ odds on the Defensive Player of the Year award. The same three players listed as the favorites for last year’s honor in mid-April, return as this season’s odds-on favorites: Rudy Gobert (+145), Giannis Antetokounmpo (+375)…
In a shock to no one, not all stats are created equal. One player’s points, rebounds or assists are not the same as another’s. Yet, there are a few reasons some guys’ stats are more empty than others. The first is that some stats are fungible. An average game is about 100 possessions on offense…
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…
The 2019-20 NBA season is just around the corner. After an offseason chock-full of player movement, the title race appears as wide-open as it has been in years. Over the coming weeks, we will examine one big question hanging over each team heading into the season. We’ll continue today with the Central Division, where the…
Basketball is a team sport, first and foremost, but it’s also a star-driven game. One or two elite players can often lift a team above an opponent with more collective talent. Such is the case at the FIBA World Cup where depth matters but stars ultimately win games. After the first two rounds of group…
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…
We’re trudging through the dog days of the NBA offseason, and the final weeks before the 2019-20 tipoff won’t fly by fast enough. Other than watching USA’s C-team play in the World Cup, there’s not much to do other than wait patiently for the upcoming season if men’s basketball is your thing. Fortunately, it’s never…
