0 comments by Matt Zemek on 5/20/2016
The NBA’s Eastern Conference playoffs have provided a number of timely reminders to sports fans. One reminder is that the playoffs need to be desegregated in terms of conferences, and ideally turned into a conference-free bracket. The NBA’s need for conferences no longer exists. The concept has outlived its usefulness. Another reminder is more specific […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the injured yet still scuffling Toronto Raptors are drawing very little reaction from #BasketballTwitter… and really, who can blame folks for not having much to say about this series? Say this much for Cavs-Raptors, though: At least one team’s playing well. Sometimes, neither team does. You […]
0 comments by John Cannon on 5/19/2016
After spending the second half of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals impersonating a non-73-win basketball team, the Golden State Warriors got back to business in Game 2, running the Oklahoma City Thunder out of Oracle Arena. Now the series moves (after another three-day break, of course) to Chesapeake Energy Arena, where Game 3 […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors feels… oh, what’s an apt expression for the series right now… ah, I got it: up in the air. The series is as “up in the air” as Stephen Curry’s body is in the cover photo for this story. To be […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
The arrival of Jeff Hornacek as the new head coach of the New York Knicks certainly qualifies as a surprise relative to expectations… and hopes. Any Knicks fan who had become resigned to the idea that Kurt Rambis would be the permanent head coach in New York is happy in the wake of this development. […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Forget, for a moment, the merits of Phil Jackson’s decision to hire Jeff Hornacek as the next coach of the New York Knicks — we’ll address that topic in a separate standalone piece. One aspect of this story which is fascinating to contemplate is that two men from different generations both rose to prominence at […]
during game one of the NBA Western Conference Final at ORACLE Arena on May 16, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
0 comments by Jovan Alford on 5/17/2016
Monday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder went into Oracle Arena and knocked off the Golden State Warriors, 108-102, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder were able to win thanks to a 19-point third quarter from point guard Russell Westbrook. That dynamic quarter from Russ was the key to Oklahoma City’s comeback […]
0 comments by Bart D
The NBA’s version of Socialism meets Luck took place again, the always entertaining-but-you-never-really-know-why Draft Lottery. The Philadelphia 76ers “won,” which, thanks to Dikembe Mutumbo, had all the drama of fence paint drying on a 90-degree day. This is a landmark date, though, on the NBA calendar. One player can shift the fortunes of a franchise […]
0 comments by Zac Voynow
With the NBA playoffs in full swing, it’s time for the teams who didn’t make it this far to turn their focus to the upcoming NBA draft. In this segment, I’ll focus on the top five picks in the 2016 NBA Draft. This isn’t an exceptionally strong draft, but there is still some serious talent […]
0 comments by Bart D
You probably could have drawn it up a little cleaner along the way, but as we drill down to four teams left in the NBA season, the ends are more likely to justify the means than they’ve ever been. The Eastern Conference Finals opens tonight in Cleveland, a tortured city only eight wins (and four […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
It will be a relevant tension point as long as basketball is played: good shot-bad shot. What’s a good look at the basket, and what’s not? The Golden State Warriors, now down 1-0 in the Western Conference Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, know they gave away too many possessions with turnovers (some of them […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Steven Adams isn’t the best player on the floor in the Western Conference Finals between his Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors. He might be the most important player, however. Monday night in Game 1, Adams picked up where he left off. The work he did to change and define the West semifinals […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
If you thought the Western Conference semifinals between the OKC Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs would not carry over to the Western Conference Finals, Game 1 on Monday night in Oakland gave you reason to reconsider your position. A sluggish first half. A pre-halftime quarter (first or second) with at least 27 points allowed. […]
0 comments by Bart D on 5/16/2016
Dropping hints of breaking news that could be done anytime, but choosing a Saturday night to do so, is the equivalent of trying to climb the tree to your bedroom window hoping your parents sleeping on the couch don’t realize you’re sneaking in at 3 a.m. when they saw you last go to bed at […]
0 comments by Matt Zemek
Playing Portland — it could have been viewed as the easier path for the Golden State Warriors when the 2016 NBA Playoffs began. Yes, a date with the Trail Blazers ceased to be the easier path when Chris Paul and Blake Griffin both went down, but even then, the reigning NBA champions did not figure […]
