We get a heck of a matchup between the best two teams in the league.
The NBA Finals have dawned upon us and somehow, someway, both the Boston Celtics and The Golden State Warriors have survived to be the last two standing.
Boston conquered established names like Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jimmy Butler in each of their Eastern Conference playoff matchups and now turn their attention to Stephen Curry to complete the gauntlet.
Golden State withlasted young superstars Nikola Jokić, Ja Morant(ish), and Luka Dončić in the West and now set their eyes upon Jayson Tatum to add a fourth championship to their franchise in the last seven years.
Let’s dive into the fun.
Scoring
Now with Golden State, everyone knows about guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the splash brothers. If you’ve watched the playoffs or read my previews on other series, you know about the emergence of fellow guard Jordan Poole.
Their offense has been hyper-efficient because of the play-making of Poole and Curry, along with forward Draymond Green initiating from the perimeter and creating havoc when defenses try to over-contain one of those guards mentioned above. Forward Andrew Wiggins came into his own last series against Dallas, and Center Kevon Looney grabbed every rebound. Their motion offense has created too many problems and too much confusion for any team to contain consistently.
Boston has their own unique ways to attack on the offensive end. Forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can beat you from the perimeter or inside. Fellow forward Al Horford, having found the fountain of youth, has been their do-it-all veteran. Guards Marcus Smart and Derrick White have both hit timely shots when needed. Center Robert Williams is the best alley-top threat on both teams.
While Boston survived against game seven against Miami, their execution the last three minutes was atrocious and nearly led to an all-time choke job. Boston has one-too many of extended offensive droughts and while their defense can usually bail them out of those situations, I wonder if they can survive those droughts against Golden State.
Defense
Beginning with the Celtics, they have at-times completely shut down every team they have played this postseason and a big reason is because of their length. Every player in their rotation has long arms and good defensive instincts, they play physical, create traps and lead to opportunities for transition baskets. Golden State’s biggest kryptonite is turning the ball over, especially early in the game. That could be the difference in a couple of close games, especially those played in Boston.
Golden State’s defense has been consistent and because of Boston’s length and athleticism, I expect to see the Warriors play a bit of zone, even for some extended stretches.
They’ve seemed to figure out teams trying to pick on Curry defensively, opting for Curry to hedge hard and then sprint back to his primary defender, instead of the two-time NBA MVP being stuck in an iso situation. I wonder if Boston counters this by sending either Smart or White into the post, where they are both capable of scoring, to keep Curry engaged defensively and not give him any time to rest.
Guard Gary Payton II, along with forwards Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. are all ‘questionable’ for game one Thursday, and Golden State will need them all at some point in this series to guard Tatum and Brown effectively.
X-Factors
Boston: Marcus Smart
The primary defender on Steph Curry and the primary ball-handler on offense, Smart is going to have opportunities to make life a on-court nightmare for Curry and the Warriors. Smart has historically played strong against Curry but things can change when seeing the same guy potentially seven times.
Warriors: Jordan Poole
I went Poole with the feeling his role in this finals will fluctuate, depending on his activity defensively. Poole is more than likely going to see 25 minutes a night at the minimum, but whether those minutes become higher will depend on his ability to stay in-front of any Boston offensive player while still being to get 15-20 points.
Extras
The Golden State Warriors have 123 games of NBA Finals experience on their roster compared to the Celtics’ 0.
Golden State is 9-0 at home in these playoffs.
Boston has not lost back-to-back games since March 28-March 30.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are the fourth pairing to make the NBA Finals while leading their teams in scoring while both being under the age of 25.
Prediction
The only thing that would surprise me is if this series ended in under six games. I’m going to lean slightly towards Golden State. Curry get his fourth ring plus his first Finals MVP.
This is one of the most unique conference finals matchups in my lifetime and when observing both of these teams, you can’t help but be amazed how both of these teams ended up here. Yet, here they are, and either the team of the 2010s is extending their dominance or a team led by a young superstar begins leaving their fingerprints on history.
Any basketball fan knows exactly what the Golden State Warriors have accomplished since 2015. Three NBA Championships. Five NBA Finals appearances. Yet, this team is much different than any of its previous championship runs.
Yes, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green are all still there. They are all still great. With those previous teams, their supporting casts were filled with veterans. This supporting cast, led by third-year guard Jordan Poole, feeds their superstar veterans the extra energy they have needed in these playoffs.
The Dallas Mavericks just beat the best team in the NBA record-wise in the Phoenix Suns, by 33 points, in game 7. On the road. The score doesn’t accurately reflect how much of a beatdown they put down.
Guard Luka Dončić is continually showing us that he’s a once-in-a-generation talent. Dončić averaged 32.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 7 assists per game in their upset victory over the Suns. What’s great about his performance in the playoffs this year is that he’s willingly letting his teammates get involved and catch their own rhythm. Backcourt mate Jalen Brunson has helped ease the offensive load from Dončić and Forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber have made teams pay when they leave them open for three.
Keys to Victory
Neither teams’ keys to victory are too complicated, both teams play a different style of offense and whoever executes better will win. Sometimes it’s that simple.
Golden State
Golden State is notorious for turning over the basketball too much, and this postseason is no different. Averaging 15.3 per game, they have been toeing the line and have bailed themselves out by timely, clutch shooting. Dallas’ defense is too strong to turn it over that much and it not result in losses.
Steph Curry has struggled (by his standards) shooting the ball this postseason, and the Warriors need a vintage Steph performance this series to get them over the hump. Klay Thompson has been as inconsistent as a great player can be, and Draymond Green has been a zero factor when it comes to scoring. All three need to be sharp and efficient in their own ways.
Defensively is what scares me. They have no guards for Dončić’s size, and I imagine he and the other Maverick guards will post up Curry, Thompson, and Poole consistently, or try to get them in iso situations and attack one-on-one. If you are the Warriors, figuring out if you want to help on those drives and leave shooters open or let Dončić score 40 a game and hold off the others is the most important thing on the defensive end.
Dallas
Dallas’ five-out offense has been impossible to stop. There isn’t not much teams can do when there’s zero Mavs players in the paint and allowing Dončić to work with all that space and their shooters are making defenses pay when they leave them open. I’ve mentioned the others playing a big part in their success, but Luka controls it all. It’s incredible. He’s an incredible player and he’s only 23(!) years old.
Defensively, their size on the wings has allowed them to go small and not lose any leverage. Granted, Golden State’s guards are much more proficient from outside the three-point line than Phoenix, so as their defense expands, it remains to be seen if their success can hold up.
Prediction
Everything I wrote above was on Tuesday night, and I had to sleep on this prediction. This series will have everything you’re looking for as a fan and unless you root for these teams every night, no outcome should upset you. That being said…
A rematch of the 2020 Eastern Conference Finals between two defensive juggernauts.
Part one of the fun. These NBA playoffs have been mystifying, exciting, and filled with edge-of-your-seat moments that make you fall in love with basketball all over again.
The Eastern Conference Finals pitting the one-seed Miami Heat vs. the second-seeded Boston Celtics feels right. Both of these teams deserve to be here, both have that “this team finds a way to win” feel to their season, and yet both teams took different routes to this round.
Miami hasn’t been healthy all year, still isn’t fully healthy, and none of that mattered. Guard Jimmy Butler, who many thought that he might be an aging superstar to begin this season, looks incredible on both sides of the floor. Center Bam Adebayo … words and stats don’t describe his impact, especially on the defensive end of the floor. After struggling to shoot the ball in games 3-4 against the Philadelphia 76ers, both losses, Miami re-captured their groove in their two wins to close out the series.
Boston is coming off a game 7 win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, closing out an all-time great second-round matchup. Forward Jayson Tatum, still somehow only 24, is an absolute superstar, besting Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo in consecutive rounds, respectively. 35-year-old Al Horford has found the fountain of youth, while players like guard Marcus Smart and forward Jaylen Brown continue to be aggressive and contribute to winning basketball.
There’s a lot to unpack in this series, but defense is both of these teams’ calling cards. I expect these games to look like modern 90’s basketball. Tons of physicality, moments where neither team can score, and lots of trash talk, all while three-point shots are being launched at a high rate. 1992 but in 2022!
Keys to Winning
Boston
I expect Boston to come out a little groggy in game one, and that’s okay considering the heavyweight matchup they just encountered in the prior series.
My key for Boston to win this series is the consistent play from Jaylen Brown, as well as their three-point shooting. Miami’s half-court defense is deafening, it feels like there are seven players on the floor at times. Boston needs to move the ball fast and take and make their open threes when the opportunities arrive because there won’t be many.
Center Robert Williams is off the injury report for game one after dealing with a bone bruise in the last round, and they need his athleticism to keep up with Adebayo. Horford, who put up 22 and 30 points in games 3 and 4, combined to score 16 points in the last three games of the series. He’ll be needed to produce on both sides of the court for them to win.
Jayson Tatum deserves every bit of praise that he has gotten in these playoffs so far, and I can’t wait to see how he handles this fast Miami defense, as well as potentially guarding Jimmy Butler. For me, there’s no pressure on Tatum. Just go us how great you are.
Miami
Starting guard Kyle Lowry is out for game one, and at some point, they are going to need his experience and toughness in this series. What’s fascinating is that even without Lowry, their offensive flow never changes. Guard Gabe Vincent comes into the starting lineup and can initiate the offense, be a spot-up shooter, and interchange his role in the offense with Butler.
Adebayo is going to have his hands full in the paint, but if he wins those matchups between Williams and Horford, he can open up the paint to cutters and three-point shooting, where he is one of the best big-man passers in the entire league. His front-court mate, forward PJ Tucker, should be able to help him out on both ends of the floor, but he’ll need to. Boston’s defense will be more than willing to give PJ open corner threes, and he must make them pay.
I’m curious to see how long their shooters can stay on the court. Forward Max Strus, along with guards Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, will all be targeted defensively. Whether it’s forcing missed shots or staying out of foul trouble, all three players are going to be needed to take and make big shots, with Herro being the most important.
It’s too tiring to doubt Jimmy Butler at this point, as I fully expect him to be great this series and go blow-for-blow with Tatum.
Prediction
This series will be war, in all of the best ways possible. Boston may be a little more talented overall, but Miami is slightly deeper and I’m too afraid of Miami’s half-court defense. Game seven being in Miami also gives them a slight edge.
Celtics Forward Jaylen Brown steals the ball from behind from Kevin Durant. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty images.
Let's make life easier for Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets while they try and overcome an 0-2 deficit to the Boston Celtics.
There’s not a single time in Kevin Durant’s career where I’ve felt like he can be shut down in a playoff series. The Boston Celtics have done a damn good job, however, of making his beautiful offensive game feel like sandpaper.
Head Coach Steve Nash’s offense isn’t very complex. He relies heavily on Durant and guard Kyrie Irving to do the heavy lifting on offense by beating their defenders one-on-one. The problem for Durant is, Boston has long-arm wings that can defend and stay with Durant consistently.
Getting Durant free is essential. Having whatever center Brooklyn is playing on the court screen for him near the paint that would allow him to catch the ball closer to the rim would be beneficial for their struggling offense. From there, Durant can post up and find his shot or find a cutter, or kick it out for three. None of his ten field goal attempts in the second half of game two came inside the paint, so getting him anywhere close would be a positive step.
Being the Screener
Let’s get rid of those long-arm wings for a possession.
Setting screens near the top of the key for Irving or any other guard is simple, and forcing a smaller Boston defender to guard him gives Durant a multitude of options. He can simply shoot over those guards, or if a double comes, find the open man. You don’t have to run a pick-and-roll like this every possession if you’re Nash, but if it’s at a point in the game where you just need a bucket, keeping it simple and finding a mismatch usually leads to good things happening.
Quick Decisions
What’s been so unusual of Durant is his six turnovers per game, and it’s usually come from holding the ball too long. No matter how he gets the ball in his hands, I’d love for Durant to make quicker decisions, as Boston has all five defenders looking at him. This means no more than three seconds once he touches the ball, a shot or pass is up. Durant’s teammates aren’t left off the hook for his struggles either. They usually try and space out for him to isolate, but right now, he needs cutters to the rim which can open up three-point shooters.
Point guard Ben Simmons is close to a return, possibly in game four, but for his return to mean anything in terms of this season, game three is a must win for Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.
A small glimpse into all eight first round matchups, plus predictions.
These 2022 NBA Playoffs are full of intrigue. Realistically, there are about seven teams who should believe that they can win it all in June. Two of those teams play in round one, and the collision course matchups will soon follow. That’s what makes this year so fun! Monster semi-finals and conference finals match-ups are waiting to be seen. We’ve got to get through the first round first, so let’s take a look.
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix Suns (64-18) vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans (36-46)
Phoenix feels like a team of destiny (and revenge) as they should be prohibited favorites to come out of the West. Their offense is a machine that doesn’t change for any opponent and they have a bunch of competitors on defense, along with a defensive player of the year candidate in forward Mikal Bridges.
New Orleans, originally the nine seed, creeped into the playoffs following wins over the Spurs and Clippers in the Play-in tournament. Props to first year coach Willie Green for rallying a team that started 1-12 to now a team who’s looking to build off of this season.
Matchup wise, New Orleans just isn’t deep enough to contend with Phoenix’s talent over the length of the series. To be fair, not many teams are.
Prediction: Suns in 4.
(2) Memphis Grizzlies (56-26) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36)
These two rosters are mirrors of each other. These are the top two teams in scoring (Minnesota one, Memphis two) and both are top five in pace. Memphis led the league in steals (9.8) and blocks (6.5) all while missing star guard Ja Morant for 25 games. Memphis feels like a contender right now while Minnesota is a year away or so.
Prediction: Grizzlies in 5.
(3) Golden State Warriors (53-29) vs. (6) Denver Nuggets (48-34)
All signs point to Warriors guard Stephen Curry returning from a foot injury to play in game one, and we finally get to see him, guard Klay Thompson, and forward Draymond Green play significant playoff minutes together. Just like the good ol’ days. If you haven’t seen much of guard Jordan Poole, you’ll be in for a treat.
It’s almost laughable that the Nuggets made it to 48 wins this year, because everyone outside of Center Nikola Jokic, that roster is below average, at best. There’s a reason why Jokic will win his second consecutive MVP and let’s just enjoy his greatness as long as we’re able to see him on the floor this season.
Prediction: Warriors in 6.
(4) Dallas Mavericks (52-30) vs. Utah Jazz (49-33)
It seems unlikely that Dallas superstar guard Luka Doncic plays in game one due to a calf injury sustained in the last game of the regular season, and that throws a loop in this entire equation.
Utah’s main core of guard Donovan Mitchell, Center Rudy Gobert, and Head Coach Quin Snyder seem to be on its’ last legs. At least one of those seems to be on the way out this off-season, if not two. All that is on top of this teams’ seemingly lack of mental toughness in close games and overall, just doesn’t look like they have fun playing together.
Dallas’ supporting cast is more connected with the likes of guard Jalen Brunson, forwards Dorian Finney-Smith, and Dwight Powell just to name a few, but this series will come down to how many games Doncic is forced to miss before he comes back, presumably at less than 100%.
Prediction: If Luka misses just one game, Mavericks in 6. If Luka misses more than one, Jazz in 6.
Eastern Conference
(1) Miami Heat (53-29) vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks (43-39)
After the Miami Heat tried to fight each other on March 23rd in a frustrating loss against an undermanned Golden State Warriors, they rallied to win six of their last seven to gain momentum heading into this postseason. Guard Jimmy Butler and Center Bam Adebayo can carry this team on both sides of the ball, while guard Kyle Lowry brings additional leadership and playmaking that will make them a tough out versus anyone they face.
Atlanta, like New Orleans, started as a nine seed and won two games in the Play-in tournament (Charlotte, Cleveland) to enter this postseason. I would imagine guard Trae Young sees a lot of Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, along with a bunch of traps on pick and roll offense.
Prediction: Heat in 5.
(2) Boston Celtics (51-31) vs. (7) Brooklyn Nets (44-38)
A titanic first-round matchup. Boston has the best record in the East since January 1st and is simply blowing teams out. Guard Marcus Smart is a Defensive Player of the year candidate/favorite, leads their defense, and will see plenty of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this series.
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has to be at least the second-best player in this series for them to win. For Brooklyn, I’m looking at Bruce Brown, their 6’4 do-all-the-dirty-work forward to not only spread the floor offensively but to be a pest and a difference-maker on defense.
There have been rumblings we could see both Nets guard Ben Simmons and Celtics center Robert Williams return from injury this series, only adding to the drama.
Prediction: Nets in 7.
(3) Milwaukee Bucks (51-31) vs. (6) Chicago Bulls (46-36)
Chicago started out red hot to begin this season with a 26-10 record. Since then, they’re 20-26 and without guard Lonzo Ball, simply aren’t a good team on either side of the court. Guards Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine play too much of a ‘my turn, your turn’ offense where it’s very predictable on how to stop them.
Milwaukee is on a mission to repeat as NBA champions and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has another postseason to show why he’s the best player in the world. Milwaukee is too balanced offensively with guards Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, along with them being able to switch defensively, thanks in part to the greatness of Antetokounmpo. I don’t see this series being very close.
Prediction: Bucks in 4.
(4) Philadelphia 76ers (51-31) vs. (5) Toronto Raptors (48-34)
There are no amount of words that can explain the giddiness that I feel when just thinking about this series.
It will be war.
For Philadelphia, Toronto has no real answer for center Joel Embiid over a seven-game series.
On the other hand, Toronto has a multitude of wings for guard James Harden to make his life difficult, whose performances to end the season has already been much to be desired.
Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has played out of his mind the last couple of weeks, but their offensive consistency may come down to guard Fred Van Fleet, who’s been battling knee issues, and rookie Scottie Barnes, whose incredible consistency on both ends has him in the Rookie of the Year race.
Oh, and it may be Doc Rivers’s last time coaching for the 76ers, as Toronto coach Nick Nurse is on another level compared to Rivers’ old school lineups. Their chess moves against each other could very well swing this series that should be very close.
Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Key matchups, X-factors, and predictions for all four games to start the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
After 1,230 games of a complicated, injury and covid-protocols filled NBA regular season, we’re here! The playoffs Play-in has finally arrived and nobody has to pain themselves anymore into thinking the Lakers might sneak up on any top team in the West.
We’re in the third year of the NBA play-in tournament, and it’s time to embrace it. It’s here to stay and at the very least, it gives us a nice preview of what to expect in the next two and a half months.
7. Brooklyn Nets (44-38) vs. 8. Cleveland Cavaliers (44-38)
Season Series: Nets 3-1
X-Factor: Kevin Durant
Key Matchup: Darius Garland vs. Kyrie Irving
Two teams entered this play-in matchup under wildly different circumstances. The Nets started this season off as the Vegas favorite to win the NBA Championship, with their trio of forwarding Kevin Durant, guard Kyrie Irving and fellow guard James Harden. Kevin Durant getting injured, Kyrie only playing 29 games, and Harden is now in Philadelphia, they find themselves in the seven seed, staring down a potential first-round rematch of last years’ playoffs with the Boston Celtics.
Cleveland on the other hand was only projected 26.5 wins in the preseason, knocking that number out of the park and into potentially their first playoff appearance since 2018 and their first appearance without LeBron James on the roster since 1998. Guard Darius Garland had a breakout season, and rookie forward/center Evan Mobley looks like a superstar in the making.
It’s easy to say Kevin Durant is the X-factor because he’s the best player on the floor a top three player in the world, but this should be a statement game. Cleveland struggled towards the end of the regular season (9-15 since the All-Star break) and is still missing their starting center, Jarrett Allen. The Nets may have struggled as a whole this season, but they are 36-19 with Kevin Durant in the starting lineup.
I like the Kyrie Irving vs. Darius Garland matchup, but it’s especially important for Cleveland. For them to have any chance, Garland must be special with close to a 30 point-10 assist stat line. I’ll be interested to see if Brooklyn simply traps Garland off pick and rolls and forces the others to beat them.
Prediction: Brooklyn has been notorious for playing down to their competition this season, so if they don’t turn it up now, then when? Nets win by double-digits.
9. Atlanta Hawks (43-39) vs. 10. Charlotte Hornets (43-39)
Season series: Tied 2-2
X-Factor: Miles Bridges
Key Matchup: Trae Young vs. LaMelo Ball
Two fun, inconsistent, non-defensive teams meet in the 9 vs. 10 matchup in the East. This is why the play-in was created in the first place, for teams like these to get a shot and potentially make noise.
Atlanta was extremely disappointing this regular season. This was a team who made the Eastern Conference Finals just last season and felt primed to take another leap forward, yet took a step back. Guard Trae Young led the league in total points and assists (the first player since 1972-73 to achieve that) and carried them afloat in the last month of the season to get them in this position.
Charlotte is a bit trickier. They play fast, they are one of the funnest teams to watch night-to-night on league pass and yet left a little to be desired. Forward Gordon Hayward has already been ruled out of the play-in with left foot discomfort, giving more opportunities to guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier to do the heavy lifting on offense. Ball, the third overall pick in the 2020 draft, was awesome this season, and any doubts about his ability to be elite in this league have been squashed.
Hornets Forward Miles Bridges is my X-Factor in this game due to Hawks forward John Collins still possibly being out, meaning they don’t have anyone to match up with Bridges defensively that can hang with him around the floor. It’s a big mismatch in a game that should be close.
I doubt they’ll guard each other, but for us to be able to watch Trae Young and LaMelo Ball go at it in a win-or-go-home scenario, we win as fans.
Prediction: Charlotte is a more talented team, more consistent than you think on the road (21-20) and sneak one out against Atlanta.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36) vs. 8. Los Angeles Clippers (42-40)
Season Series: Clippers 3-1
X-Factor: Patrick Beverley
Key Matchup: Tyronne Lue vs. Chris Finch
Minnesota finally feels like they are on the right path going forward. Karl-Anthony Towns is a superstar, Anthony Edwards is a rising star in this league, and the additions of Head Coach Chris Finch and Patrick Beverley provided a defensive identity to a team that has lacked that for years, where they are tied for third in the entire league in both steals (8.8) and blocks (5.6).
The Clippers missed Kawhi Leonard for the entire season due to a torn ACL, Paul George for 51 games for a torn ligament in his elbow, and yet find themselves in this situation with a chance to annoy a top team in the West in the first round. Reggie Jackson, Ivica Zubac, and Marcus Morris all had really good seasons but everyone on the roster has stepped up at some point and made significant contributions.
Patrick Beverley was traded by the Clippers last summer and gets a chance to beat them in the play-in. His counting stats never pop off the screen, but a couple of offensive rebounds and steals to go along with his overall chippy-ness might swing a close game in the T-Wolves favor.
Two top head coaches in this league, Chris Finch vs. Tyronne Lue is a chess match NBA die-hards will keep a close eye on, with both considered excellent in-game adjustors.
Prediction: Man, this is tough. Timberwolves slightly.
9. New Orleans Pelicans (36-46) vs San Antonio Spurs (34-48)
Season Series: Spurs 3-1
X-Factor: Herbert Jones
Key Matchup: Dejounte Murray vs CJ McCollum
Both teams had a strong finish to this season with optimism toward the future. New Orleans traded for guard CJ McCollum at the trade deadline in February and with CJ, they finished 13-13 while he averaged 24.3 points per game. With the future of forward Zion Williamson in question (who didn’t play this season), New Orleans at least has building blocks of McCollum and forward Brandon Ingram.
San Antonio watched guard Dejounte Murray blossom into an all-around stud, averaging 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game. Trading guard Derrick White in February opened shot opportunities for fellow guards Devin Vassell and Lonnie Walker, as well as forward Keldon Johnson. Those three players are under the age of 23 and Dejounte is just 25.
Forward Herbert Jones, a rookie for the Pelicans, has been sensational defensively for them all season long and has a big task in slowing down Dejounte Murray and the Spurs offense. I expect Jones to be on Murray early and often.
Both of these teams lean heavily on the play and shot-making of Murray and McCollum, and whoever has a better game will quite possibly determine the outcome of this game.
Prediction: I like this matchup for San Antonio and with New Orleans, more specifically Brandon Ingram, not being fully healthy, I got this scrappy Spurs team on the road.
Enjoy the play-in and a first-round preview will be up before Game 1’s on Saturday!
Organized youth basketball is where many young athletes begin their dream of playing in sports, with a hope to maybe, one day, become a professional athlete. Some even coach young players into becoming the best player they can be.
Oscar Elizondo has been coaching youth basketball since he was 13 years old. Starting with his local church team, he quickly transitioned to AAU, or Amateur Athletic Union, basketball. AAU basketball is primarily for higher skilled players, which includes scheduled practices, memorizing plays, and understanding all the rules relative to basketball, as compared to YMCA basketball or other organizations where everyone plays, no matter the skill level.
Elizondo has coached hundreds of players and has influenced coaches over time. Currently with the Next Level Raiders youth basketball organization in San Antonio, Texas, Elizondo has seen how drastic the AAU game has changed compared to when he first started coaching on the sidelines.
“It’s been awesome, I guess, the road to where I’m at now,” Elizondo said. “And just seeing the different styles of basketball, the evolution of youth basketball, and getting into it has been pretty awesome.”
“Players have changed. Certain things have shifted from 20 years ago to now and the biggest one to me is everybody has to be able to dribble, shoot, pass, rebound, and play defense.”
Cole Martinez coaching his team from the sideline. Photo provided by Cole Martinez.
Cole Martinez, currently coaching Junior Varsity basketball at LEE high school in San Antonio, coincidentally started coaching at 13 years old and feels the rapid changes in the world of youth basketball.
“When I started, I played two bigs, I ran more plays, I taught more traditional basketball,” Martinez said. “Now, sometimes I have five guards on the floor, we get up and down, shoot lots of threes, it’s all about space and pace.”
Three-Point Shooting
Top three three point attempt leaders in 2000-2001 compared to 2020-21. The two dark spots represent the league as a whole in those years, respectively. All stats via Statmuse.
In the 2000-01 NBA season, NBA teams averaged 13.7 three-point attempts per game, per basketball reference. One player (Antoine Walker) averaged more than seven three-point attempts per game. In the 2020-21 season, NBA teams are hoisting up 34.7 threes a game on average. An astounding 19 players are now averaging seven three-point attempts per game, with Stephen Curry leading the way at 12.1 per game.
How has that trickled down to youth basketball?
Freshman high school guard Liam Rangel, who Elizondo coaches, emphasized how big the three-point shot is to his repertoire.
“I think it’s a really big part of my game,” Rangel said. “Because now playing in this type of basketball, in this type of year, especially with the deep three-point shot coming in hand like you have to, you have to be able to hit that shot. I think it’s a big deal for me, and having the confidence to take that shot and not being afraid of hesitating in and doing something else with it.”
Elizondo adds that when looking at players to play for his team, shooting the ball is an absolute must in today’s basketball.
“The high school game, it’s the biggest part of it. I mean, we just had our tryouts for our high school kids on Sunday (at the time of the interview). We told them, if you can’t shoot the three-ball, why are you here? We can’t say it any other way. The value of the three-point has just skyrocketed since honestly, like 2015.”
Martinez echoes Elizondo’s sentiment.
“Kids love the three ball,” Martinez said. “…If kids get the foundation and strength to shoot it the right way (at a young age), then they become really hard to guard.”
Defense
With offenses scoring at a much more rapid pace, defense has been less of a force than in other previous generations. In 2000-01, NBA teams were allowing 94 points per game on average. Even in 2012-13, that number was slightly higher at 98 points per game. Now? Teams are averaging 111 points per game, the most since the 1971-72 season.
Elizondo believes this offense-first mentality is dominate through all levels of basketball.
“Nobody plays defense, nobody in the AAU world. It’s 40 minutes. And it’s crazy,” Elizondo said. “…And, you know, it’s, it’s part of the game. Yeah, the defense is very important. But it is non-existent. We do not play defense in this era of basketball at all anymore. And that’s from elementary and middle school, high school, right into the NBA.”
Martinez feels that newer rules cater to the offense.
“…Defenders cannot touch anyone,” Martinez said. “Points are what people want to see. Coaching now means teaching defensive rotations and closing out to guys on the three-point line.
Oscar Elizondo talking to his players during a timeout in a AAU game on March 21st. Photo provided by Kayla Pedroza.
Coaching
Elizondo and Martinez have been coaching for so long, they realize the adjustments to their coaching style and player development they’ve had to make to continue winning.
“Player development has become more basketball related than position related,” Martinez said. “Everyone that steps on the floor has to be able to dribble, pass, and shoot or they become a liability. “We spend a lot of time on skill development because ultimately, you need to (score) to win. Plays don’t work if your players can’t make plays.”
“If you let the players play, they’re going to create, they’re gonna make mistakes, nobody’s perfect,” Elizondo said. “But if you can allow them to play the game, and just learn the game, figure out what works best, who’s in foul trouble, who’s not a good defender, where can we attack and let the game take care of itself, your players are going to take over at the right time, they’re going to run the right sets because you’ve allowed them to do what they want to do.”
Another factor Elizondo has used is better communicating with his players off the floor, something he wasn’t able to do in the early 2000s.
“When I first started coaching, 20 years ago, I had to communicate with parents, as a 13-year-old, I had to communicate with parents about practice, about game times, schedule changes, you know, all that stuff that happens,” Elizondo said. “…now, I’m texting the players, the players are texting me.”
Elizondo also stresses how parents can make his life difficult as a coach trying to develop players.
“What parents, I think lose focus of, with your communication is the coaches telling them to do something as their child is on the court. If the parent doesn’t agree with them, they’re going to tell them no, don’t do that. No, do this. Now don’t worry about it do this, Hey, you got to do that. And it’s like now the kid, whether he’s a fifth-grader or an eighth-grader, senior in high school, now you’re putting that doubt in their head?”
Reporting/Social Media
Chuck Miketinac has been working for Fox Sports San Antonio since 1999. Photo provided by Miketinac.
Chuck Miketinac has been a Fox Sports San Antonio Sports Anchor since 1999. Not only does he cover all professional sports, but also as many high school sports as he can. Miketenic compared the biggest differences in covering high school players compared to pro athletes.
“Overall, you just have to say, you have to find the humanity and everything that you’re doing in terms of storytelling,” Miketinac said. “So, you know, if a kid in high school is nervous when you’re talking to him on TV, you can have empathy with that, because he’s probably never done it before. And then the pro athletes have probably done it 1000 times, so he’s a little better at expressing himself.”
Miketinac also expressed how savvy high school athletes can be in front of the camera.
“I think it’s because you all grew up with video cameras in your face, cell phones in your face, it was a constant performance, even when you were a kid,” Miketinac said. “So in that regard, it’s better because kids are savvier in front of the camera. They’re not as shy in some cases. It’s a case-by-case kind of thing.”
In terms of on-court product, Elizondo has been concerned with being afraid of ending up on a highlight tape can affect effort from the players.
“The kid could have beat him off one dribble and scored a lay-up, but he’s up here ready to make the next highlight, the next Snapchat, the next viral video on Ballislife,” Elizondo said. “If you would have just gone to the rim you could have had a bucket, you could have set your teammate up for a bucket, but it’s now how can I get the next highlight, not playing the right way at times.”
Martinez believes kids are distracted by social media off the floor, limiting their own development as players.
“I am happy when they watch basketball,” Martinez said. “I think kids spend too much time on Tik-Tok, video games, and other things instead of watching basketball and becoming students of the game.”
Women’s Hoops
Photo provided by Sophia Ramos.
San Diego State University junior guard Sophia Ramos played AAU basketball starting in Elementary School, and she credits that experience with her getting a basketball scholarship.
“AAU was the best experience… I remember joining my first team in second grade and just realizing how different and competitive it was,” Ramos said. “Ultimately … it’s what helped me get to play in college.”
Ramos sees similarities and differences between the men’s and women’s games, with one glaring difference being shot selection and overall basketball fundamentals.
“I feel as if the men’s game relies too heavily on the three-point shot,” Ramos said. “Many are looking to pull the three in transition, or even take a tough three-pointer instead of making an extra pass to create better shots.”
“If you ever just sit and watch a women’s game, whether it be pro, college, or even AAU, anyone can see how much more discipline and fundamental the game is.”
Ramos explains that just because women may not be as athletically gifted as men, it doesn’t take away any of the excitement from the game and only adds to what makes their game great for any basketball fan.
“The way that some of the women play using their (basketball) IQ, skill-set, and athleticism just shows that the stereotype that women’s basketball is boring is just not true,” Ramos said. “Especially not at the rate the game is changing.”
The Future of Amateur Basketball
With position-less basketball a mainstay all across basketball, the future of basketball seems open to more possibilities than ever.
“It’s as clear, you have to have three-point shooters on your team,” Elizondo said. “Regardless of who your height was, you got to be able to knock down the three-pointer. So from the second and third grade up to high school. That has now impacted the game… just monumental levels that I never thought would happen.”
“Basketball is imperfect,” Martinez said. “What was crazy 20 years ago is normal today; who knows what this game will look like 20 years from now.”
Elizondo coaching his team, even after a tournament championship victory. Video provided by Kayla Pedroza.
San Marcos – Injuries are a part of sports, and rehab can be one of the most mentally tasking challenges that any athlete can handle.
There are 8.6 million sports-related injuries occur every year, with 41 percent resulting in sprains, 20 percent in broken bones, and 19 percent in superficial injuries.
Getting injured, however, can change how you view playing a sport, and the mental strain of trying to rehab a part of your body to get it to full strength again can be overwhelming.
When starting the research for this article, I looked at the most common sports injuries, along with their recovery times.
Jordan Brown, a recent Texas State graduate who majored in physical therapy, said being honest with the injury and the process ahead is essential.
“Athletes coming back mentally is tough,” Brown said. “You need to be honest with yourself and understand rehab isn’t easy. That’s our job too. As a Physical/Occupational/Recreational therapist, our treatment is reassurance, trust, and open communication.”
James Barrows was a starting high-school running back when he tore his ACL late sophomore year stepping in a dead spot on the football field.
“It was in spring football, we were running plays against practice squad, and when I got the ball, there happened to be a pothole from track and field season,” Barrows said. “I had stepped in the pothole, my knee buckled in and out, and I tore my ACL.”
Barrows needed surgery and his recovery time was nine months, although he says he truly didn’t feel 100 percent until 12 months after surgery. The rehabilitation process was long and frustrating for Barrows, such as learning to walk again.
“Something you could do completely fine, is something you’re re-learning again,” Barrows said.
Ruchir Narula tore his meniscus while playing pick-up basketball in November 2017. He had no dreams of becoming a professional athlete, but he loves the game and competition of basketball.
“Playing on a outdoor court, you’re prone to a lot of injuries,” Narula said. “I twisted one way, I heard a pop, and I couldn’t feel my knee. I couldn’t put weight on it. I knew something was up, I had trouble walking back to my car.”
Narula opted for surgery instead of rehab, with the procedure being performed in January 2018.
James Barrows and Ruchir Narula both talking about their injuries.
“That January, I actually started my first semester at (UTSA) so I had to miss a few classes,” Narula said. “It was hard to walk, hard to get around. I couldn’t play basketball obviously. The removal of things I really liked to do was the hardest part.”
Jordan Brown talking about rehab from a trainers perspective and a little extra insight from my interview with Ruchir Narula.
Brown emphasizes that trusting the process is important when it comes to rehab. “Trust the process,” Brown said. “The rehab process will be slow but understand two things… First, these doctors are highly skilled at what they do. Medicine is their form of art just as sport is the athlete’s form of art. Two, anything worth value doesn’t happen overnight.”
SAN MARCOS- 2020 made most of us realize that we take the simple things for granted. The daily lives of millions of people continue to change and this year has been a constant adjustment. An aspect that gets lost in our new reality is the ability to play sports, specifically Basketball. With socially distant guidelines still in place, most gyms have shut down their Basketball Courts, and most parks simply removed the rims on the backboards. A sport that people use for socializing, cardio, and competition was removed in a instant.
Jake Kotzur was a three year varsity player in high school and was always playing basketball during his college years and into his early 20’s. When he looked for gym memberships, access to a Basketball court was essential.
Basketballs like this one has been stuck in garages and cars with very little use since March.
“A basketball gym was a huge factor in me deciding where to get a gym membership,” he said. “I would not have purchased a membership at a gym without a court.”
While Kotzur hasn’t been looking for active ways to get in some pickup games, friends and groups that he lives close to are always trying to find some way to play.
“Facebook groups, group messages, someone will find a place with a court open and we go play. But there’s very few places available, and we just get lucky most of the time.”
For Tez Dinero, having a Basketball gym was well worth paying the monthly membership, even if the court was the only thing he was using.
“I always like working out at home, so I just looked at gyms that I thought I would play the best players in town,” he said. “I play Basketball because I love the game dearly. This year has made it hard, I’m always missing that feeling of playing.” Dinero adds that while he runs to stay in shape, nothing replaces basketball. “Nothing equates to being on the court.”
For Joseph Rios, Basketball was always a fun escape, and something he didn’t realize he enjoyed so much.
“When everything first happened, it felt weird not knowing what to do on Monday and Tuesday nights, I almost felt lost,” he said. “Hopefully it returns soon, I miss the competition, it was a way to always see my friends, a lot of that has been gone since March.”
I contacted five LA fitnesses from San Antonio and Austin locations, the Gold’s Gym here in San Marcos, and all told me that they don’t plan on opening up their Basketball courts until the beginning of 2021, at the earliest, and that’s if positive numbers for COVID-19 fall in their cities. Essentially, there’s no guarantee for Basketball even at the start of next year, and that leaves many players stuck and looking for alternative options. Players are feeding their Basketball crave in ways other than physically playing.
According to Kitguru, NBA 2K20 is the highest-selling Basketball game ever made, with Take Two, the company responsible for the NBA2K franchise, reporting that they sold over 12 million copies this year with over $1 billion dollars in total sales. It was also the top selling sports game from March through July, meaning gamers and players decided to play after the pandemic had already hit and shut down the NBA as a league.
‘’The Last Dance’’, a documentary starring Michael Jordan and the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, was the most watched ESPN documentary series of all the time, with 10 episodes spanning five Sunday’s through April and May, averaging 5.648 million viewers, according to yahoo.
With the NBA resuming its season on July 31st, ratings have been inconsistent, with playoff games going directly against NFL games playing a factor. The Lakers-Nuggets Western Conference Finals was the least watched Conference Finals in 17 years, according to Sports Illustrated. However, with the NBA Finals set to start Wednesday, we will have a better indicator on whether or not the NBA should actually be concerned going forward, considering they do great on Twitter as far as Twitter interactions and other social media.
With the NBA season coming to a conclusion in less than two weeks, players who have made Basketball an integral part of their lives will continue to try and fill the void. We’re used to Basketball season starting in October, not ending. It’s an unknown territory we’re in, and this is the time to let the creative juices flow and make the best of what is happening in our world.
I would always wonder when I would get around to writing about Kobe Bryant. After all, he is my idol. He is the reason why I love the game of Basketball, why I watch it almost every day. He has made the biggest influence on my life outside of my immediate family. I imagined an article that would make sense of his career, a career that is so misunderstood. A career that was so accomplished, yet so many tried to diminish. He was so loved by many, and yet so hated by others. I wanted to try and make sense of all of it.. eventually. One day, I’ll write about his playing career. Today is not that day. I never thought I’d be writing about Kobe Bryant in the past tense.
Kobe and Shaq in 2003.
There was a presence that surrounded Kobe Bryant that transcended beyond the game of basketball. When Kobe came to town, you felt it. When you watched him play, you couldn’t take your eyes off him. His skills on both of the sides of the ball cannot be understated. His competitiveness was otherworldly. The Kobe Face? Legendary. The Mamba Mentality? Transcending not just basketball, but sports. He was larger than life. Even in death, he made the world stand still. His best moments on the court-81 points in 2006, 62 points through 3 quarters against a Mavericks team that reached the Finals in 2005, 61 in MSG in 2009, beating the Celtics to capture his fifth and last championship in 2010. Those moments come to mind immediately, and yet that’s a short story compared to the totality of his career and his life.
What hurts the most is how content he seemed with retirement from his playing days, how happy he was to spend time with his daughters and wife more. He wins an Oscar less than two years after his retirement, something so ludicrous only Kobe would even think about, and yet he accomplished it. His mentoring of younger NBA players, defining a new generation by inviting them to The Mamba Academy was something to behold. He was such an advocate for women’s sports, not just Basketball, attending sporting events with his daughters constantly. He coached his 13 year old daughter Gianna’s team, and he was ready to brag about her to whoever was willing to listen. He was going to make his post-playing career just as big as his Basketball career, and he was going to do it his way.
Kobe with his wife Vanessa, and his Three daughters Gianna, Bianka, Natalia.
None of this still feels real. It’s all so heartbreaking. None of it makes sense. Ever cry so much it feels like you ran out of tears? He was immortal. He made two free throws on a torn achilles. It hurts to even think about the possibility, that in actuality, is a reality. I pray for Vanessa, the three girls, and the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident. We were supposed to see Kobe become a billionaire and for him to share his wisdom for years to come. We were supposed to see Gianna become the face of the WNBA. That’s how the dominoes were falling. We will never see another Kobe Bryant interview, or him breaking down another players game tape.
My biggest regret is that all the outpouring of love he received in the shock of his death, he never fully received while he was alive. I don’t ever want to have another Kobe Bryant debate about how good he was, or where he ranks on the all-time list, at least not for a long time. It all just feels so silly now. I just want to think about all the good moments and all the memories he left, not just me, but whoever has picked up a basketball because of him. I will miss him every single day, and Basketball will never be the same without him. 41 years seems like a short time, but Kobe Bryant lived a life so full he fulfilled three normal lifetimes. The Mamba Mentality will live on through his life, and his influence on basketball players will be passed down for generations to come.
We’ve rang in a new decade, and in the NBA world, new superstars are forming that are going to carry this league through this decade and beyond. 2020 has a chance to be the best and biggest year the NBA has ever had, and this postseason is set up to be epic. What should you be looking for?
Zion Williamsons’ Debut
We’ve still yet to see Zion in an actual NBA game but from all the reporting, a debut is near for the 6’8, 280 pound rookie mammoth. It’s certainly a negative that we’ve yet to see him, considering the NBA built their early-season NBA TV schedule around the New Orleans Pelicans and instead of seeing Zion, we’ve watched the Pelicans lose to a bunch of teams they are less talented than. From what we saw in preseason, Zion looked like this slasher from another world, almost freelancing on offense while still putting up big numbers. A core of Zion and a fast-rising Brandon Ingram (25.2 PPG) is one the Pelicans can build around over the course of the ’20s.
Where does Andre Iguodala land?
Andre Iguodala, like Zion Williamson, hasn’t played a game this year, but for entirely different reasons. Since being traded from Golden State to Memphis in July, The Grizzlies and Andre have had an agreement that he can stay away from the team while they try and find him a trade partner. Iguodala has been heavily linked to both of the LA teams and will make a difference wherever he lands. It’d be quite interesting if he were to land in Dallas or Denver, both teams that have assets to give up while the Lakers and Clippers are dependent on Iguodala demanding he only go to LA. He’s a wild card and can make the difference to a championship winning team.
Trade Deadline-Buyout Market
The two stars that have been heavily linked in trades is Andre Drummond and Kevin Love, yet their situations are different. Kevin Love is owed 91 million dollars AFTER this season, which makes teams wary of trading for a power forward in his 30’s, and which would also debilitate their cap flexibility in the Summer of 2021, where superstars galore will be available via Free Agency. Andre Drummond has a player option for 28 million after this season, which he might want to pick up unless he really wants to get out of Detroit. Centers are a dying breed, especially ones who can’t space the floor, and I don’t think he gets a contact from a team close to that annual salary. If I had to make a guess, Drummond gets moved before Love, but I have my doubts either go anywhere.
As Far as the buyout market goes, you just never know who will get bought out and will enter free agency, but with the parity in the league going on, any solid rotation player can help contenders and give an edge over another team. Keep an eye on the Lakers and Sixers, two rosters that are very good, but a solid addition can push them over the top.
How many PPG does James Harden end up with?
What James Harden is doing right now is honestly ridiculous and comical at this point. Over the last month, he’s shooting 52% from the field, 38.3 PPG, 5.7 rebounds, 7.9 assists, while making 6 3’s a game at a 38% clip. His 38.4 PPG would be he highest PPG average since Wilt Chamberlain and theres a possibility Harden can push it to 40 PPG before the regular season ends. He’s been absurd and while his free throws per game have gone down each month, his scoring averages are sitting tight while his efficiency is continuing to improve. We’re watching the peak of a historic scorer.
MVP Race
I haven’t even talked about Luka Doncic, a player that has the potential to be the player of the ’20s, and he’s right in the middle of the MVP Conversation, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a top-4 seed in the Western Conference while almost averaging a triple-double. I just got done talking about James Harden and all of his shenanigans. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who we will talk about more later, is leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the best record in the league while posting 30 points and 13 rebounds a game, all in 31 minutes per contest. You can make the argument for either LeBron James or Anthony Davis to round out the top 4, with both players leading the Lakers to the top seed in the Western Conference. This is all the makings of an MVP race where no matter who wins, the group of players I mentioned will feel snubbed that they didn’t.
Playoff Seeding
We’re all looking forward a potential matchup between the Clippers and Lakers in the Western Conference Playoffs, and most expect it to be in the West Finals. However, it’s a realistic chance that it could be a second round matchup rather than the Finals, especially since the Clippers are insistent on resting Kawhi Leonard as much as possible during the regular season. That’d make teams like Denver and Houston very interesting, as they wouldn’t have to go through the LA gauntlet to reach the NBA Finals. In the East, with 6 teams (Milwaukee, Toronto, Boston, Miami, Indiana, Philadelphia) all legit contenders, matchups are everything. We saw it last year, we’re going to see it again.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Yes, he’s a free agent in 2021, a whole year from now. Depending on how this season turns out, it’s going to drastically influence his decision on whether or not he wants to stay in Milwaukee. If Milwaukee wins a championship this year, then it’s almost a 100% guarantee he stays. If they were to get knocked out before they reach the NBA Finals or even an NBA Finals loss, the endless chatter about where he can land is only going to get louder. If Giannis then declines the 5 year, 252 Million Dollar contract extension he can accept in the summer, Milwaukee is then going to be put in the impossible position of whether to look at trade offers or risk losing him for nothing.
NBA Stars Returning
While we expect Steph Curry to return to the court before the 2019-20 season ends, it won’t matter much since the Warriors are trying to tank into a top draft pick. So we’ll throw Curry in with Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and John Wall as all top players who should be on the court when the 2020-21 season begins. When these players are healthy, it makes for a better NBA product, and it also means the Warriors will be back at full strength, adding another team contending in the Western Conference.
A Different NBA Schedule?
While it’s still preliminary, the NBA Board of Governors plan on proposing a change to the NBA schedule starting in 2020-21. The proposed plan includes a Mid-Season tournament in which players get a $1 Million dollar payout and a 78 game schedule instead of 82. While the changes would add a new wrinkle into a schedule that’s been set in stone for so long, it’s hard to imagine players, who are already taking precautions making sure they’re healthy for the postseason, taking a mid-season tournament serious enough that doesn’t count the same as winning a NBA Championship. Either way, It’s a topic that’s going to be talked all the way until owners vote in April.
2020 Hall of Fame
Kobe. Duncan. Garnett. It’s must watch television.
Creating my own website for this semester was one of the best things that I could’ve done. It’s given me the platform to write with freedom and use my own ideas and let other people see my ideas and opinions. I’ve written articles for websites before but stopped because of school, so being able to do both has been a real benefit for me. I plan on keeping this website and will continue to use it to write my own articles and will use it to show future potential employers.
One of the things I wanted to change (and will change) is the name of the website. I need to change it to something basketball based, a catchy basketball phrase. Something that will stick. The layout is also something I will change eventually, as I was more focused on just content this semester. One way I could have better promoted it is maybe tweeting out my website once a week or so, just letting people know to go check my website out. The best thing about this semester is the platform this website has given me to write my own content. It’s why I want to keep my site running in the future. All this is going to benefit me long-term, writing as much as possible can only help me long-term. If I want to accomplish my long term goals, I must keep taking it serious and producing quality content.
My most popular post was my article about Kawhi Leonard and what he could potentially accomplish this season if he were to win an NBA Championship. It got almost 70 views, and while 70 isn’t a crazy amount, only the people that follow me on twitter and my professor were able to see it, so not too shabby. I believe it got the most views because of Kawhi’s popularity, and he’s a polarizing figure in San Antonio. I was surprised with even posts that I didn’t publish on my main twitter, I was still able to get views on them, and I think there’s potential to grow even if its my own website.
Me and head coaching legend Rudy Tomjanovich.Kawhi Leonard shooting a free throw during the Clippers’ games vs. the SpursLeBron James attempting a free throw during the Lakers’ first trip to San Antonio.One of James Hardens’ 24 free throw attempts during his game vs. San AntonioLebron James hanging back during free throw attempts, the Lakers second trip in San Antonio.
I’ve been going to Spurs games for a long time, a LONG time. 12 years to be exact. One of my biggest regrets during these twelve years is I haven’t taken enough pictures at the games, seeing these players during present times. Over the last couple of years, there’s been so much turnover in the NBA; Players switching teams, dynasties coming to a hault (Golden State). I knew coming into this season I wanted to take more pictures and give myself moments I can look back on 5-10 years from now.
I put the picture up of me and Rudy Tomjanovich up first because he’s a coaching legend and someone I was surprised to see at a game. It was after the game against the Los Angeles Lakers where were simply waiting for traffic to die out so we can go back to m parents. I take a look on my left and I notice a taller, older man and I immediately recognize who he was. I didn’t want to go over and bother him but my dad insisted I go talk to him and he was nice enough to let me take a picture with him. A little info on Tomjanovich; 2 time NBA Champion head coach with the Houston Rockets, and also played with the Rockets in the 1970’s where he was a 5x All-Star. Meeting him was one of the cooler moments I’ve ever got to experience.
The Rest of the pictures I have up are just some I took during downtime of an NBA game. It’s easiest to take pictures of a player when free throws are being shot and it’s pretty easy to take a good one. Choosing the players were the easiest part. LeBron James is on my favorite team and is one of the greatest players of all-time. Kawhi Leonard won the most recent NBA championship, then signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in July, where that team is considered one of the favorites to win. James Harden is the leading scorer of the NBA, and what he’s doing scoring the ball is unprecedented and is going to be hard for someone to replicate anytime in the near future. I’ve also written about all three of these players at some point this semester so another reason to take the pictures. I definitely plan on taking more as I go to more games throughout the year and can’t wait to post more of these in the future.
It’s a long NBA season, we all know it. We’re about 20 games through, give or take, a quarter of the season has already vanished. When we look at the landscape of the NBA, the two Los Angeles teams and the Milwaukee Bucks stand at the top of most power rankings. There have been quite a few surprises (Toronto, Miami, Dallas, etc.) However, there have been disappointments through the first quarter of the season and teams that haven’t met expectations. This doesn’t mean they can’t turn it around, but they need to be better.
Houston Rockets
Record wise, Houston isn’t off to a terrible start. They are 14-7, and just came off an impressive win against the Toronto Raptors in Canada. So what’s their biggest problem? For the most part, it’s been the James Harden show. He’s their Mr. Everything, and yes it’s going to win you regular season games, but it’s been proven to not work in May come playoff time. In July, the Rockets swapped PG’s with the Oklahoma City Thunder, trading Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook. Through 21 games, Westbrook is shooting under 40% from the field and 21%(!) from three. Teams are starting to double Harden once he crosses half-court, and they need Russ to not only playmate, but hit open 3’s. Right now, he’s doing not either well. That needs to change or Houston is going to come up short again and left answering the same questions on why they couldn’t beat elite teams in the playoffs.
Utah Jazz
Utah’s problems are a lot easier for the eye to see than say, the Rockets. In the preseason, most basketball heads viewed Utah as a top 4 team in the Western Conference and thought they would give serious problems to the teams they played in the playoffs. Instead, Mike Conley, their prized offseason acquisition, has been awful. Joe Ingles, a long-time starter, was moved to the bench and has somehow been even worse than Conley. Their last 3 games? A 20 point loss to Toronto, in which they were down 40 at halftime. They head to Philadelphia, lose by 9, where the score doesn’t indicate just how out of the game they truly were. Then, the Lakers come into Utah, fresh off of playing in Denver the night before, and run Utah right off the court in embarrassing fashion. Utah’s record is 12-10, and we need to see a sense of urgency from them soon.
Philadelphia 76ers
In a previous article earlier this season, I proclaimed that the 76ers were going to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. They have done nothing to help my confidence with that proclamation since. On paper, they are as talented as any team in the league and their defense is still really good. The offensive end, on the other hand, has been a true struggle for this team. Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons still look clunky on the floor, while their top two offseason acquisitions, Al Horford and Josh Richardson, haven’t spread the floor as well as they would like. It feels like this team is still missing a true sniper, a deadeye 3-point shooter to really complete this team. While 15-7 isn’t a bad record, the Milwaukee Bucks are 20-3, won 14 straight, and Giannis Antetokounmpo looks as dominant as prime Shaq. 76er fans should be concerned.
Honestly, I get it if you don’t like James Harden. His style of play isn’t for everybody, and there are times he’s more irritating to watch than you are amazed of his scoring prowess. He still hasn’t had his big playoff moment, where he leads the Houston Rockets to the NBA finals. There are times where he looks disinterested on the court, sometimes in big playoff moments. I get it. At some point though, it’s time to appreciate what he’s doing and realize that this is a once-in-a-generation type of scorer.
Last year, Harden averaged 36.1 points per game, a scoring mark only vested by Michael Jordan in 86-87 (37.1) and the most since Kobe Bryant in 05-06 (35.4). This is the type of scoring company we need to commonly put Harden in when we talk about historical context. And this year, he’s amped it up to 39.5 points through the first month of the season. The numbers he’s putting up commonly is comical at this point and it’s almost a surprise when he doesn’t hit the 40 point mark in the games he plays. He’s that good offensively. Right now, he’s only shooting 42% from the field when he’s a 44% career field goal shooter. From three point land, he’s at 32% when he’s a career 36% from downtown. Sooner or later, those shots he’s missing right now and he’s going to be averaging over 40 a night, a stat that seems impossible for almost any other player in the league.
You can say he’s a product of Mike D’Antoni’s run and gun system, you can say he manipulates the refs to get more foul calls (he’s averaging 15 trips to the free throw line. Insane), and you wouldn’t be wrong. No other player is going to put up those numbers regardless. James Harden is that good, that special offensively. He’s been doing it ever since he got to Houston. If he were to win a championship this year or in the next couple of years, he will be validated much more than he is right now. Whether he does that remains to be seen, but let’s appreciate what he’s doing right now.
The NBA season is officially two weeks old as of today, and storylines from all 30 teams surely aren’t going the way we all expected. We may know how some teams seasons’ are going to end (early in April) and there are some teams that are mysterious enough that it’s too hard to make a conclusion this early in the season. Players are breaking out, cases are being made; My five biggest takeaways from the first two weeks of Basketball.
The Phoenix Suns are good!!
When was the last time we could actually say that sentence without laughing immediately after? Phoenix started catching eyes when they beat the Clippers, and they verified that win with another win against the previously unbeaten Philadelphia 76ers. They are second in the league in assists, fifth in field goal percentage, and fifth in three pointers made (per NBA.com). Not to mention, both of their losses have been by one, against teams expected to make the playoffs. For years, I’ve always thought Devin Booker was a little overrated because I didn’t think he made his teammates better. Well turns out if you give him teammates who can actually play, he’s a damn good first option to have. Aaron Baynes has been just fantastic, and really just an underrated trade that many of us scoffed at. Monty Williams is proving how good of a coach he is, and his knowledge has turned the franchise around. This is a team you should root for to stay competitive.
Denver is.. good? Not good?
Fine, the headline may be a little misleading. It’s not like I’m going to say the Denver Nuggets are going to miss the playoffs, they’re too talented for that to happen. Yet, this team is starting to worry me just a bit. They remind me a lot of last years Celtics, a team that is so talented, maybe too talented for their own good. They have no Kyrie Irving nor do they have an ego problem the way the Celtics did, but it’s hard to tell a player that can start for ten other teams that they might not even play on a given game. It’s what makes Denver interesting and worth keeping an eye on, especially if they have a three or four game losing streak in January. If you start to hear rumblings of players being unhappy, then watch out, this season can turn out to be in disaster. With all this questioning I’m having of this team, they are still 4-2. Just keep an eye on them.
Luka Doncic is Special, SPECIAL.
Luka Doncic is my favorite player to watch in the league right now and it’s not even close, especially with Steph Curry going down with a broken hand. He’s so smooth with the basketball, and makes a lot of plays look so easy. Here’s a reminder: This is only his second year in the league and he’s 20 years old. 20!!!!! Just typing that is so exciting, we get to watch this man for at least another fifteen years. What’s great about that? His game isn’t depending on jumping higher than someone else, or being the fastest player on the court. His game is going to transition beautifully as he gets older, which means this level is play is something we should be expecting. He’s also twenty years old. We’re like.. six years away from seeing the absolute best version of him. If you’ve only seen him a handful of times, you’re doing yourself a disservice. He single handedly makes Dallas a must watch team, along with Porzingis. Don’t take Luka Doncic for granted, don’t make comparisons to other players this early, just enjoy him for what he is. He’s a future MVP. Take a look at Luka’s stats here
The Lakers need Andre Iguodala
Look, the Lakers are good. Like, really good. LeBron James looks rejuvenated not just offensively, but he’s bringing it on the defensive end as well. I thought he would coast through defensively to start, simply because evidence shows this is what LeBron does in the last five years. LeBron looks good, Anthony Davis is putting up big numbers, and their summer signings have, for the most part, looked good early. How about Dwight Howard?!? I couldn’t be happier for Dwight. BUT, the Lakers aren’t trying to win the regular season. You know they’re looking across the hall and seeing the Clippers, the only team they’ve lost to, playing just as well, and that’s a team who’s missing Paul George still. Two weaknesses I’ve seen with the Lakers early on is that their backcourt is a little weak and they most likely need another playmaker. Andre Iguodala checks both of those boxes and would make a playoff matchup with the Clippers even more compelling than it already is.
The Sixers are going to the Finals
A bold prediction! I’m usually not the type of person who just comes out and makes predictions, especially with the season being so early. Barring injuries, the Sixers make the Finals and it’s something I feel great about. It was a universal thought that the Sixers and Milwaukee Bucks were the two best teams in the East, and the choices were split. Just watching these two teams currently, the top eight players for Philly are head and shoulders better than the top eight players of Milwaukee. Defensively, they might be even better than the Clippers, considering their length and size of all five players on the court. Does the offense need tinkering? Yes, they need another shooter to spread the floor to be complete on both ends of the floor. They make it up with talent, and a roster that is just deep. The Bucks have the best player in Giannis if they play in a series, but Philly has too much size and too much talent for Milwaukee to handle. We’re going to see Philadelphia in June.
Anthony Davis being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers was one of the biggest moves of the entire NBA offseason and had a domino effect on the rest of the NBA. Not only did the Lakers benefit from the trade, the New Orleans Pelicans, Davis’ old team, got assets and good young players going forward that will establish a successful culture in the coming years. Dave McMenamin, a writer who covers the Lakers for ESPN, took a deeper dive into the Anthony Davis trade saga and and gave us a better understanding on how the trade came together.
Dave starts off the article with Davis spending the end of his summer night losing his wallet and not being able to track it down, even after recounting the steps of a night that ended at the movies. He talks about the trade request that Davis made at the end of January and how it backfired, leading to an end of season turmoil with the Pelicans. Gayle Benson, the Pelicans owner, didn’t want to trade Davis to the Lakers, yet it was truly her only real option. It helped the Lakers that the Pelicans replaced their previous GM with David Griffin, a championship winning GM who wanted the best package available for Davis.
McMenamin goes into a deeper dive of Davis’ relationship with LeBron James, a player AD has long admired and even went to his camp when he was in high school. It’s a perfect pairing, and both have gone out of their way to make sure they are comfortable with one another. LeBron even offered Davis the number 23, a number that is famously associated with both players. Both players want to be all in and on the same page for this upcoming season, a season inspired by hopes of a championship.
I thought Dave’s analysis of the entire situation through the trade was great coverage and gave us insight in just how intense negotiations were during the process. If that trade doesn’t happen, the entire landscape of the NBA is different. For the Lakers, their window for winning a championship is now. For the Pelicans, they have as good a future as anyone. A true win-win for both teams. Dave highlighted both of those extremely well.
Everyone owes Kawhi Leonard a big thank you for all the intrigue that this upcoming NBA season has. Fresh off of leading the Toronto Raptors to their first ever NBA championship and winning his second NBA Finals MVP, we all knew Leonard was looking to come home to Los Angeles as a free agent. If he joins the Los Angeles Lakers, he forms the best big 3 in NBA history with LeBron James and Anthony Davis and, assuming good health, they win the NBA title for the next two years, at least. Yet, he joined the Clippers, a franchise infamous for its losing, bad ownership, and consistent failures to produce basketball worth watching. He just took one franchise to their first championship, what if he does it again?
Kawhi Leonard in his new Clipper uniform.
Kawhi joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players to win NBA Finals MVP with two different teams; an elite, exclusive level of company. His legacy is as good as any players in the history of the league at the age of 28. If he wins an NBA championship with the Clippers, he is making history that no other player is really even close to accomplishing. How do we judge him among the all-time ranks of players? It’s a conversation we have with the greatest players of the generation (LeBron, KD, Steph, etc.) and somehow Kawhi doesn’t get talked about enough. Can he end up as a top 10-15 player before its all set and done? There’s still so many questions to a player that is so quiet, yet such an assassin. Kawhi has created a path for himself that is so unique to the point where you can’t make other comparisons to the legends of Basketballs past.
There are so many storyline’s to keep an eye on this upcoming NBA season, and Kawhi being a Los Angeles Clipper might be the most intriguing of them all. It’s not like he joined a so-so team; this was a 48 win team who took the almighty Golden State Warriors to 6 games in the first round of the playoffs. Let’s not forget they traded for Paul George, a Perennial All-Star who was in the top 3 of MVP voting last year. This team is loaded, and defensively, especially on the perimeter, is going to be a nightmare for 29 other teams. They’re going to need it, as the Western Conference is as loaded as its ever been. The Clippers might not even be the best team in their own building, as the Lakers still ended up creating a team around James and Davis worthy of winning an NBA title. Not to mention, all the lure and history of the Lakers that has kept the Clippers in the shadows ever since they moved from San Diego in 1982.
All these obstacles, and yet it still feels like Kawhi controls the league, and his stare down with history, with the palms of his (5XL) hands.
For a look at Kawhi’s stats and accomplishments up to this point.
For the first time in NBA history, both the Lakers and the Clippers have realistic chances to compete for an NBA title this upcoming year. For so long, it was the Lakers who dominated the city of Los Angeles and brought home championships. Over the past 6 years or so, the Clippers have been the better team record wise, but have yet to even make a conference championship series. This year, both teams have expectations not only to make the finals, but to win the whole thing. The basketball capital of the world for 2019-20 is Los Angeles, and all basketball fans are going to be tuned in. What team is going to win the battle of LA? Let’s dive into some deeper analysis.
The Lakers, the franchise known for its prestige, its winning, will be lead by LeBron James and newcomer Anthony Davis, who was acquired by the Lakers from the New Orleans Pelicans in June of this year. Having not made the playoffs since 2013, Lakers fans are excited about the possibility of a return to glory. The supporting cast around their two superstars is a little all over the place. Kyle Kuzma believes he can be the third star on the team, but he needs to show improvement after an up and down second season. Danny Green, whom the Lakers signed during free agency in July, might be the perfect player to play alongside not only LeBron, but AD as well. Then theres wildcards almost all the way down the roster. Can Rajon Rondo play defense anymore? Avery Bradley hasn’t been good in two years, can he bounce back? Dwight Howard? on the Lakers again? They have a-lot of questions that need to be answered.
For the Clippers, their roster has fewer problems to solve. They won 48 games last season and made the playoffs, and in the summer acquired not just one, but two superstars in Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. It was the dream summer everyone wanted but only the Clippers could cash in on. The supporting cast around Kawhi and PG are a little more refined than the Lakers. These players have clear roles and is something you can identify pretty easily. I would say if there’s one thing the Clippers need, it’s another ball handler for their bench. Other than that, it’s hard to spot real weaknesses on their team that I believe a team can expose during the playoffs.
There’s a lot of factors to consider before making a conclusion about these two LA teams. Paul George is out until at least November due to surgeries on both shoulders. The Lakers have an outstanding schedule to start out the years and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see them win at least 15 of their first 20 games. For the Clippers, it might be a slower process incorporating Kawhi and Paul George. Nonetheless, these two teams will be battling out for Western Conference and city supremecy come April and May.
Hello! My name is Jeremy Bochniak and this is my blog that is all about NBA Basketball. It is the fastest growing sport in the world and has become a sport you can talk about year round with people who even just casually watch. I go to Texas State currently and originally from San Antonio. Being from San Antonio and being able to watch the Spurs consistently has only made my love for Basketball grow. I’m not a Spurs fan first though, that will always be the Lakers. Basketball has always been my first love growing up and one day I hope to cover it for a living which means I would love what I do every single day.
It’s hard to describe how much of a Basketball fan I am, Especially since anybody can call themselves a Basketball “expert”. If I have free time, I am most likely watching old highlights on YouTube or watching something specifically for a reason. I might know too much for my own good? I always have the NBA league pass, meaning I can watch any game when it’s on live. I plat fantasy basketball as well, which gives me a reason to watch every team because of a certain player. Safe to say, Basketball is a such a big influence on my life and being able to write about it makes it so fun!
I want anybody to come read this blog and be able to understand Basketball. Whether you watch a lot just like me or is fairly new to the sport, I want you to be able to talk to your friends or family and understand things others might not. Will that mean everything I say is true? No, but because that’s impossible. However, I won’t say anything that will just lose you and therefore you can’t trust me. I look forward to people that read this and general NBA discussion!
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