Darvin Ham is not the reason the Lakers are losing
News flash: The Miami Heat are a better coached team than the Los Angeles Lakers. It showed in the fourth quarter of their Wednesday night matchup. Erik Spoelstra has been with the Heat organization since 1995 — its head coach since 2008. Following nine seasons as an NBA player, Darvin Ham was an assistant with three teams over 12 years before getting his first head coaching job with the Lakers in 2022. The team in the gold jerseys stayed competitive for most of the night on Wednesday, but the Heat pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 110-96 victory — sans Jimmy Butler. – Stephen Knox Read More
Immanuel Quickley is the key to Toronto winning the OG Anunoby-RJ Barrett trade
On Saturday morning, the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors put their litigation aside long enough to agree on a trade exchanging OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn with RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second-round pick. – DJ Dunson Read More
The NBA’s participation policy wasn’t meant for guys like Dorian Finney-Smith
The NBA likely implemented its player participation policy — read: anti-load management protocol — so that fans wouldn’t attend games only to see LeBron James and Anthony Davis, or Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, in street clothes. – Cale Clinton Read More
Advice to sports media people: Hype any team but the Clippers
There are certain teams as a sportswriter that you simply should not trust. Despite the way the Detroit Lions are playing, their fans won’t hesitate to tell you a size-14 steel-toe boot is about to drop at any moment. We all know what tortured souls I’m talking about so let’s spare them further anguish, and just single out the one that people are falling for, yet again: The Los Angeles Clippers. – Sean Beckwith Read More
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ascending into the MVP conversation
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s dullest superstar, which has allowed him to sneak up behind the league while they sleep on his ascendance. On Tuesday night, SGA propelled the Oklahoma City Thunder to their latest signature win. After a two-week stretch in which they’ve made mincemeat of the NBA’s best defense, and the defending champs, and he tallied 36 points on 63 percent shooting and seven helpers in a win over the Boston Celtics. Whether he was being guarded by 6-foot-4 perennial All-Defense guards Derrick White or Jrue Holiday, SGA was undeterred. – DJ Dunson Read More
The NBA was on fire in its return to Thursday night on TNT
My original plan was to write about Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama going head-to-head on Thursday night. These two skyscrapers, who were born on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, played basketball like the Empire State Building if Dr. Octopus’ metallic arms were attached. Those two were spectacular during the Milwaukee Bucks’ 125-121 defeat of the San Antonio Spurs. That was enough excitement for one night but a bonus was provided when Nikola Jokić buried a 39-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Denver Nuggets to a 130-127 victory against the Golden State Warriors. – Stephen Knox Read More
Kyrie says he’s not reason rabbi’s ‘I’m Jewish and proud’ sign removed [Updated]
Updated Jan. 5: Kyrie Irving denied being why Jazz security asked a rabbi to put down his “I’m a Jew and I’m proud” sign despite an interaction between the two. – Cale Clinton Read More
NCAA-ESPN’s new broadcast deal is great for women’s sports
The NCAA and ESPN agreed to an eight-year, $115 million annual deal to broadcast 40 different championships including the women’s college basketball tournament. – Mackenzie Meaney Read More
Giannis Antentokounmpo says he thinks about the Pacers when he has sex
The Indiana Pacers have completely taken over Giannis Antentokounmpo’s brain.
Last night’s 142-130 win over Milwaukee Bucks marked the Pacers’ fourth victory over Milwaukee in their last five meetings. Indiana also served as the team to knock the Bucks out of the In-Season Tournament. – Cale Clinton Read More
Darvin Ham could be scapegoat for Lakers’ woes
The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a slump and it looks like the team’s woes will be pinned on Darvin Ham.
The Athletic detailed a “deepening disconnect” between the head coach and the players. The issue, according to six anonymous sources, is due to Ham’s extreme lineup rotation, and tweaking of the starting lineups, which is creating a lack of chemistry and rhythm for several different players. – Mackenzie Meaney Read More
