Warriors Favored For Best California-Based Team In NBA Playoffs
For the first time in NBA history, we could have all four teams from the state of California qualify for the playoffs.And according to the sports books, it is the Golden State Warriors who are the favorites of the bunch to advance the furthest in the post season.The pack is shockingly led by the Sacramento Kings.
Boston Celtics guard who wants out a 'buy low' candidate for lottery team
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, who has reiterated a trade demand to another franchise in search of a bigger role, could be a "buy low" candidate for the Dallas Mavericks - this, at least, according to The Smoking Cuban's Noah Weber."If the Celtics end up looking to trade Pritchard, Dallas should only look to make the move if they can buy low," Weber wrote.
Believe it or not, Game 7 is here: What will decide this Celtics-Heat epic
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Senior WriterMay 28, 2023, 11:08 PM ET
Close Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
What more do the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have in store for Monday night's Game 7? Already, this year's Eastern Conference finals has made history with the Celtics becoming just the fourth team in 151 chances to rally from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7 ( 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT), which hadn't happened since the Portland Trail Blazers won Games 4-6 against the Dallas Mavericks in 2003 -- a span of 82 consecutive series.
Heat vs. Celtics prediction and odds for Game 7 of Eastern Conference Finals
Somehow, someway, the Boston Celtics have forced a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals.Derrick White's game-winning tip in clinched Game 6 for Boston, putting the team just one win away from orchestrating the greatest comeback in NBA history.No team has ever erased a 3-0 series deficit before.Oddsmakers are expecting Boston to complete the comeback, favoring the Celtics by eight points in Game 7.
Raptors fail to move up in 2023 NBA Draft order, avoid Knicks disaster
Fate and the laws of probability were not on the side of the Toronto Raptors as the NBA Draft lottery approached.Not only were they outside of the postseason picture, but they had more than a 90% chance of remaining stuck at No. 13 overall and failing to make a miraculous ascension into the top four.
Tonight's 2023 NBA draft lottery could finally close the book on the Kristaps PorziÅÄ£is trade.In January, 2019, the New York Knicks sent PorziÅÄ£is with Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Courtney Lee to the Dallas Mavericks for DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Dennis Smith Jr., a 2021 1st round draft pick, and a top-10 protected 2023 1st round draft pick.
3 nightmare NBA Draft Lottery scenarios that would hurt Raptors
The Toronto Raptors will be one of many teams that will have the outcome of their collective futures shaped by what goes on in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery.The bounces of a few ping-pong balls will play a vital role in deciding what 2023 will look like.While landing Victor Wembanyama would be one of the most impressive strokes of good luck the fates have ever bestowed upon this franchise, that is nothing more than a pipe dream that would require the most insane luck falling in their favor.
How does the NBA Draft Lottery work? Bulls need luck on their side
Now that they've been eliminated from the play-in tournament and their 2022-23 season is officially in the books, the Chicago Bulls must now turn toward planning for the offseason if they want to experience a better fate next time around.With the draft set to take place first, now is the time to cross our fingers and pray the Bulls luck on lottery night.
In the Washington Wizards' 62 years in the NBA, they haven't really been known for their load of centers.Sure they had some impactful big men but they've mainly been recognized for their point and shooting guards.Some notable centers who draped on a Wizards jersey are Brendan Haywood, LeRoy Ellis, Chris Webber and Gheorghe Muresan.
Luka Doncic scores 39 points to lead Mavericks to 122-108 victory over short-handed Knicks | amNewYork
Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to a victory over the New York Knicks with 39 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds.
The Knicks were severely limited with only seven players due to injuries and trades, resulting in a loss despite standout performances from Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart.
Raptors news: Surprise team eyeing Gary Trent Jr, conflicting HC reports
The Toronto Raptors are eyeing some big changes in the offseason, and that might include Fred VanVleet or Gary Trent Jr. being discarded.The Raptors will likely try everything to bring at least one of them back, but this seems like a nearly impossible task.Trent has a skillset that is in demand around the NBA, and he could use that to parlay himself into a deal that makes him one of the most well-compensated young guards in the league.
Kyrie Irving has reportedly asked the Mavs trade for LeBron James
Whatever report you thought might surface next in the LeBron James-Kyrie Irving rumor mill this off-season, it's hard to imagine the one put out on Monday was it.The two stars have made it pretty publicly known they want to team up again, but most assumed it would be with the Lakers because, well, it was really the only logical and reasonable option.
Darvin Ham is not worried about if the Lakers will be locked in vs. Mavs
The Los Angeles Lakers recently won the NBA In-Season Tournament and are scheduled for a banner unveiling at their next home game.
Head coach Darvin Ham emphasized the team's need to stay focused and bring the appropriate energy for their upcoming road game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Kyrie Irving ready to leave turbulent times in Brooklyn behind and focus on future in Dallas
Kyrie Irving is ready to move on from his time in Brooklyn and focus on his future in Dallas.
Irving spoke about his desire to have conversations that weren't had before the trade deadline and his need for peace of mind in a drama-free environment.
Kyrie Irving asked to be traded from the Nets to get his own peace of mind and thrive in a new situation.
Irving felt that needed conversations were not had before the trade deadline and wanted to be in a situation where he didn't have to worry about off-court drama or media talk.
Quentin Grimes had a lovely summer in 2022.He dominated at Summer League, averaging 22.6 points in five games.And he escaped the Donovan Mitchell trade-a-palooza unscathed.The Tik Tok star (if having almost 150,000 followers qualifies someone as such) and 25th pick of the 2021 draft had distinguished himself as a player the New York Knicks were committed to developing.
The perfect trade target for a Washington Wizards rebuild
Following a string of underwhelming seasons with numerous different approaches from both a coaching and front office perspective, it may be time for the Washington Wizards to cut their losses with the current core.While it's unlikely that Bradley Beal is traded unless he explicitly requests a change of scenery, the Wiz still have Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis who they can move on sign and trade deals.
Return or burn: should the Washington Wizards retain this star forward?
With the Washington Wizards entering the offseason, one of the biggest issues they'll have to get situated is Kyle Kuzma and his free agency.Right now, Kuzma has a $13 million player option entering the 2023-24 season.Coming off the best season of his career, Kuzma is heavily expected to decline his player option and exercise his worth in the free agency market.
What should the Wizards do with Kristaps Porzingis?
Among the decisions facing whoever replaces Tommy Sheppard as head of basketball operations is what to do with Kristaps Porzingis.The 7-3 Unicorn was Washington's best player last season, and the combination of his height and shooting range made him a nightmare matchup - at least in the first quarter.
Frank Vogel hired as Suns head coach, could Lakers lose assistant coaches to his staff?
Frank Vogel spent the last year getting paid the full sum of the one-year contract extension he secured less than a year before being fired by the Los Angeles Lakers, but he didn't wait long after that to take his next coaching gig.According to multiple reports on Friday, he will be taking the reins as the next Phoenix Suns head coach, beating out veteran head coach and Kendrick Perkins enthusiast Doc Rivers (who hilariously withdrew his name approximately 10 minutes before news of Vogel's hire broke) and well-regarded Suns assistant ( and presumed favorite for the job) Kevin Young.
Fans are just realising there's an optical illusion in this NHL logo
Designers can sometimes pack a lot into a logo design: historic symbolism, local geographical references... even the occasional optical illusion.The Minnesota Wild logo manages to fit in all three.The team's been playing in the US National Hockey League for over a decade now, and its logo has become a familiar sight.
Report: Celtics are expected to lose three assistant coaches to Ime Udoka, Rockets
Celtics Ben Sullivan, Aaron Miles, and Mike Moser are expected to follow Udoka to Houston.Three assistant coaches on Joe Mazzulla's staff are expected to leave the Celtics for the Houston Rockets, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.The Houston Rockets' head coach is Ime Udoka, who was suspended by the Celtics for multiple team policy violations before he and the team parted ways.
Bucks reportedly set to fill head coach vacancy with Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin | CBC Sports
The Milwaukee Bucks are finalizing a deal to make Adrian Griffin their head coach after he spent the last five seasons as a Toronto Raptors assistant, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Saturday because the deal was still being completed.
As Celtics fall in 0-2 hole, here's what NBA history says about their chances of coming back
Celtics It's been done before, but history isn't on the Celtics' side after losing the first two games at home in the Eastern Conference finals.The Celtics are in a spot that teams historically have struggled to overcome.After losing Friday's Game 2, the Celtics trail the Heat, 0-2, in the Eastern Conference finals.
Can the Knicks trade into the 2023 NBA Draft | amNewYork
With the Dallas Mavericks getting the 10th pick in last night's NBA Draft lottery, the New York Knicks currently do not have a pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.The Knicks traded their own first-round pick to Portland as part of the Josh Hart trade but could have gotten the Mavericks' pick if it fell outside of the top 10.
Fans of the N.B.A. are about to take a break from praying that a wild, off-balance 3-pointer goes in and instead turn to praying that a particular envelope happens to contain the logo of their favorite team.The N.B.A. draft lottery may seem an odd spectacle, but it can affect the future of franchises for years to come.
We saw the best of Julius Randle, we saw the worst of Julius Randle.Charitably, we begin on the sunny side of the 2022-23 campaign.Once again, Julius led the New York Knicks in scoring (25 ppg) and rebounds (10 rpg) yet again.He placed second on the team for assists (4.1), behind only point guard Jalen Brunson.
Bruce Brown Praises James Harden, Calls Him 'One of the Best Teammates I've Ever Had'
Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images The Brooklyn Nets' short-lived experiment with James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving didn't end well, with all three eventually parting ways and getting traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.But Bruce Brown said Harden was an excellent teammate, on and off the floor.
Bummer: The Mavericks will keep their first-round pick after landing 10th in Draft Lottery
It's a well-established fact that the New York Knicks have no luck in the NBA Draft Lottery.They haven't moved up in 38 years, despite the fact that they've been bad for much of that time.And now we have proof that this string of bad luck extends to times when the Knicks hold other teams' picks.The Dallas Mavericks will keep their 2023 first-round pick, which was top-10 protected, after landing at No. 10 in Tuesday night's lottery.
Why interest in Deandre Ayton on the trade block is bad sign for Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have recently been in trade rumors surrounding 2018's former No. 1 overall pick, Deandre Ayton.Per Bleacher Report's Sean Deveney, Ayton is on Chicago's list of players of interest, and the Bulls join the Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets, and Portland Trail Blazers as the top suitors for the 24-year-old, with each team looking to complement their star guards with a top center in the league.
Grading B/R's proposed trade that lands Bulls a top-10 draft pick
Looking ahead to the offseason, the pressure is officially on for the Chicago Bulls to pick a clear direction and make something out of this current core of players.Although the objective may be clear here, having no money to spend in free agency and no draft picks under their control will make this mission orders of magnitude more challenging.
Jalen Brunson is the greatest free agent signing in the history of the New York Knicks.His leadership, toughness, and clutch mindset have turned the Knicks into a legitimate playoff threat and a future contender.He is the very reason we have a Game Six preview.But how did he get here?First, we must revisit a team the Knicks have had a contentious relationship with for years- The Dallas Mavericks.
Are the Knicks being out-coached in the playoffs? | amNewYork
The Knicks find themselves in a tough spot.They're down 2-1 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and, despite being the higher seed, have been thoroughly outplayed for the vast majority of those three games.With the Knicks in as close to a must-win spot as you can get in Game 4, they need to find an answer for what Miami has been doing to them.
Raptors Republic Roundtable: End of Year Contemplations - PART II
Check Part I before you go on.Let's go on.4. Give me your MILDEST offseason prediction.ADON: GARY IS GONZO.Gary, probably, believes his contractual simulacrum to be in the realm of Jordan Poole ($28.7 Mil), Tyler Herro ($27 Mil), and Anfernee Simons ($24 mil).Masai, probably, thinks him closer to the Bogdan Bogdanovic ($18.7 Mil), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($17.9
Raptors news: Raptors 905 season ends, ex-Raps big man shares cancer diagnosis
The Toronto Raptors have placed a ton of energy in making their G League team the pride of the NBA's minor leagues.Names like Ron Harper Jr. and David Johnson have been grinding in Mississauga for most of the season with Raptors 905, with additional NBA players like Christian Koloko and Dalano Banton have also popped down.
The New York Knicks advanced to the second round of the playoffs after a 106-95 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Ohio Wednesday night.The win began much earlier than that.The Knicks won this series on September 25, 2017, the day trading Carmelo Anthony outta town went down.The biggest return New York received from Oklahoma City appeared to be Enes Kanter, but they also acquired a second-round pick owed by a lousy Chicago team that figured to be in the low-to-mid 30s, the sweet spot to take a shot on a project.
Heat run out of gas against the Knicks, lose 101-92
The Miami Heat have had several chances to take control of the standings.They made a push to come so close to the 5th seed, trailing by only 1.5 games at one point.Now it's looking more and more slim of getting there, as the Heat have dropped 3 straight games since, including tonight's loss in New York 101-92.
Bill Simmons predicts LeBron James will 'ring chase' with Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Luka Doncic and Mavericks
Because it's a day that ends in y, Bill Simmons has some crazy, harebrained prediction about the NBA.And even by his lofty standards, this one requires lots of leaps in logic.On a recent episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" that was aptly named "half-baked ideas," Simmons threw out a possibility of not just LeBron James leaving the Lakers, but forming a wild superteam alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green on the Dallas Mavericks.
NBA on ESPN Preview: Three tough teams and the Mavs are slated for Wednesday Night
Wednesday's ESPN doubleheader has snuck up on you again.There are two excellent games on the docket with the Dallas Mavericks (36-39) facing the Philadelphia 76ers (49-25), and then the NBA champion Minnesota Timberwolves (39-37) taking on the Phoenix Suns (40-35).These are four professional basketball teams and both games should be competitive late into their fourth quarters.