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 Russell Westbrook
Evaluating Denver Nuggets’ Most Likely Playoff Matchups
The Denver Nuggets are one of the NBA’s most unique teams. In a league that has migrated to a fast pace, perimeter-oriented style of play, the Nuggets stand out as a group that continues to make their mark with the more traditional, slower half-court game that thrives on a variety of inside looks. Per Advanced…
The Numbers: Clyde Drexler & Hakeem Olajuwon Go for 40
On May 5, 1995, Clyde Drexler (41) and Hakeem Olajuwon (40), both grilled up 40 burgers in beating the Utah Jazz during Game 4 of their first-round series. It was just the third time in NBA history that teammates went for 40 in a playoff game. Drexler added six assists and nine rebounds; Hakeem added…
The Numbers: Russell Westbrook Goes for 40/10/5
On May 27, 2014, there was still hope for a championship in Oklahoma City. Though the Thunder had dropped their first two games to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, a Game 3 win and marvelous performance by Russel Westbrook in Game 4 had evened things out. Westbrook notched 40 points, 10…
The NBA I Grew Up Watching: The Jerseys
When I started watching basketball back in 1995, the season kicked off by celebrating the NBA’s 50th anniversary in style. This era brought graphic designers to the forefront, making uniforms pop with engaging images in time for the organization’s golden season festivities. Count me among the legions of kids who became obsessed with NBA jerseys. Cool…
5 NBA Questions: Can We Find a Good Zion Williamson Comp?
This is a fun time of year if your franchise is in the thick of it, as “all the games matter” for seeding or even a spot in the postseason itself. If your favorite group has already dropped out of that race, you at least get the intrigue of watching rookies, G-League callups, 10-day contract…
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…
Joel Embiid’s Post-Ups are Cause of, Solution to, Sixers’ Offensive Challenges
In early January, ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan and Kirk Goldsberry tag-teamed a fantastic article about the death of the post-up in the NBA’s new pace-and-space era. Perhaps unsurprisingly, back-to-the-basket greats like Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal were on hand to perform the eulogies. “Get in, get your butt on the block and dominate,” Ewing said of…
Will Going All-Small Ball be Houston Rockets’ Downfall?
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Houston Rockets are trading Clint Capela to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday as part of a massive four-team trade which brings back Robert Covington and Jordan Bell to the Rockets. They also send out their 2020 first-round pick and get back the Golden State Warriors’ 2024 second-round pick.…
NBA PODCAST: All-Star Snubs, New ASG Format & Knicks’ Lows
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss All-Star snubs, the new All-Star Game format and the New York Knicks hitting a new low Wednesday night. Should Devin Booker have gotten into the All-Star Game over Russell Westbrook? Does Bradley Beal have a legitimate gripe as a snub?…