Ime Udoka was wrong to go at LeBron James
Everyone who works for the NBA or one of its franchises should always behave in a professional manner. That being said, the head coach is supposed to be the person in charge of the team. A head coach is like the general manager of a store. That person may not own the place, but the person does need to be its dignified captain. – Stephen Knox Read More
LeBron James wants to win the NBA Cup because Michael Jordan didn’t
The NBA Cup/In-Season Tournament finally concludes in Las Vegas this week. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted the Phoenix Suns in a scrappy game Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals. James put on a show against Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, scoring 31 points, dishing 11 dimes, and grabbing eight boards. For a tournament the jury is still out on, you’re probably wondering why the King is going all out for this crown. It’s simple when you factor in the overall scope of his career versus other greats. The NBA Cup champion is one title Michael Jordan can never have on his resume. – Criss Partee Read More
The NBA’s top 3 rookies are tough to watch (for reasons outside of their control)
The 2023 NBA Draft was supposedly a three-team draft. The main prize was Victor Wembanyama, with Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson in the trail positions. Regardless of which guard, wing, or big you got, each could be a franchise cornerstone. The caveat is what exactly would they be holding up? – Sean Beckwith Read More
The Clippers are starting to gel, but P.J. Tucker wasn’t wrong
NBA journeyman P.J. Tucker had some interesting comments about the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week about there not being enough basketballs to fulfill the team’s needs. Of course, he’s referring to his Clippers recently adding James Harden to a roster that already included Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook. – Criss Partee Read More
Anthony Edwards is salty about being called an All-Star
The next time you’re out and about and happen to run into Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, don’t dare refer to him as an All-Star. Even though he is indeed a one-time All-Star “selection,” he won’t acknowledge this fact. He doesn’t count it since he wasn’t a first-choice selection to the team. – Criss Partee Read More
Refs defend controversial LeBron timeout call
Officials from last night’s Los Angeles Lakers-Phoenix Suns game have confirmed the controversial timeout call that helped punch L.A.’s ticket to the In-Season Tournament semifinal. – Cale Clinton Read More
Selling the Mavs is a Faustian bargain for Mark Cuban
What do Donald Trump, casinos, the Holocaust, and the Dallas Mavericks have in common? The answer can be found in a comic book. In Art Spiegelman’s seminal tome on his family’s survival of the Holocaust, the graphic novel Maus, the underground comix writer analyzes the cyclical effect of trauma, not just how trauma’s effects beget equally loud acts of violence but also its tendency to perpetuate quieter, behind-the-scenes damage. – Jim Rich Read More
Tyrese Haliburton has the Pacers skipping the NBA waiting line
There are three tiers of NBA existence: Teams stuck in the mud, teams trying to fit through a championship window and future contenders waiting their turn. Prior to Tyrese Haliburton’s first full season as a Pacer, Indiana was rudderless and stuck on a road to nowhere. Aside from Haliburton, there wasn’t much to look forward to. The Pacers had notoriously avoided tanking for years, so the talent coffers weren’t as full as the ones in Oklahoma City or New Orleans. Benedict Mathurin was their first top-9 selection since 1989. As a result, The Ringer ranked them 14th in their future rankings behind the Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, and Charlotte Hornets. Each of the aforementioned teams’ offenses was orchestrated by some of the games’ young, neophyte point guards. – DJ Dunson Read More
Why is no one screaming about the NBA’s MVP race yet?
There’s one unquestioned upside to the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. The endless promos and exhausting exposure to promote Adam Silver’s baby — and debate over if it’s working or if it matters — has overshadowed the usual topic de jour as we hit the quarter-season mark: The MVP race. – Sean Beckwith Read More
Giannis and Zion sure sounded like they, too, didn’t take the In-Season Tournament seriously
The biggest questions facing the NBA’s In-Season Tournament were: Would people care? Would fans care? Would players care? Because if no one cares, then we’re back to square one of the Association’s conundrum and watching effortless (not the good kind) December basketball. – Sean Beckwith Read More
