After making a crucial mid-range shot in the fourth quarter of his first NBA playoff game, an energized Austin Reaves jogged back on defense and screamed toward the L.A. Lakers bench saying, “I’m him! I’m him!” The meme-mable moment was one of the defining images of the 2023 NBA playoffs. It was extra special for … [Read more…]
Christmas Day for basketball fans is the unofficial start of the “real season,” when contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders. Seven of the top 10 teams and seven of the 10 best players in the NBA are playing on Christmas Day. There’s no shortage of star power when ABC starts its live marathon … [Read more…]
Finding fault in a coach who has won 50 games three times and 60 once in the last five years sounds a bit ridiculous. But if you’re Oklahoma City, the time is now to win a championship and Scott Brooks may not be the right guy to get the Thunder over the hump. As good … [Read more…]
The Spurs made it to the NBA Finals and had the Miami Heat on the ropes, but were unable to prevent LeBron James and Co. from winning their second straight title. This year, San Antonio should still be the class of the Southwest Division, but the gap is narrowing. The rest of the division is … [Read more…]
Playing defense is more than just racking up impressive numbers in steals, blocks, and rebounds. A great defender can go unnoticed because you don’t see the spectacular block or steal on SportsCenter or NBA Game Time. And more often, the best defenders come from teams that put a premium on defense. Of the 15 teams … [Read more…]
Rudy Gay, the overpaid and underperforming small forward, is on his way to Toronto in the latest and most dramatic move in the Memphis Grizzlies’ money-motivated makeover. The Grizzlies agreed to trade their star swingman to the Raptors on Wednesday, parting with the leading scorer on a team that has aspirations of making a run … [Read more…]
The Southwest Division is one of the tougher divisions in the NBA and it is still led by the San Antonio Spurs, who may be getting older, but that is just a different word for experienced. 1-SAN ANTONIO SPURS — They didn’t go out and sign any flashy free agents, but that isn’t the Spurs … [Read more…]
The Los Angeles Clippers are obviously not the same team that went up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Their two best players, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, have been slowed by injuries and it has affected the entire complexion of the series. Paul has an injured hip flexor and sore groin, … [Read more…]
The Memphis Grizzlies are on the brink of elimination in the playoffs because they simply have no answer for L.A. Clippers All-Star point guard Chris Paul. From the start of the series to Game 4, CP3 has been the best player on the court. He willed his team to a 21-point comeback in the fourth … [Read more…]
The L.A. Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs are likely not going to lose in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, so let’s not even waste our time discussing possible upsets in the 1-8 and 3-6 matchups. The best matchups are in the 4-5 and 2-7. Second-seeded Oklahoma City will take on defending … [Read more…]