Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have the Detroit Pistons off to a hot start

 

                                             (Cade Cunningham. Credit: Paul Sancya/AP Photo) 

The Detroit Pistons are off to an impressive 17-4 start, defeating the Atlanta Hawks 99-98 on Monday, December 1st. Leading the way for the Pistons is point guard Cade Cunningham, who is averaging 28.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 9.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on 45.6% shooting from the field, 31.2% shooting from 3-point range, and 81.5% shooting from the foul line. After going 44-38 and finishing 6th in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons are now in first place in the East, looking like an NBA Finals contending team. 

Cunningham is obviously the engine that makes this Pistons team go. He's doing it all: scoring at an elite level, facilitating, rebounding, etc. He's simply sensational. But what's really helped them take the next step into being NBA championship contenders is the emergence of forward Jalen Duren, who is averaging 19.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Last year, Duren was averaging 11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. The rebounding and rim protection were there, but he's really taken a leap forward in his ability to score. Now that they have a legit one-two punch and also a nice third option in Tobias Harris (15.2 points), this Pistons team appears to have the pieces to make a real run at a championship this year. 

The biggest question for them is can they keep it up? The NBA season is such a grind and a lot of times teams that get off to hot starts like this fade as the season goes on. Playing this well for a quarter of the season is one thing, but to play this well for an entire season is another level. It'll be fun to see if the Pistons can keep this up and where they're at once we hit the All-Star break. That will tell us a lot about what kind of team this really is. I for one would love to see them make a deep run this year. It's been too long since the Pistons were this relevant. 

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Can the Orlando Magic build on last season's playoff appearance?

 

The Orlando Magic are coming off a season in which they went 41-41 overall, finishing 7th in the Eastern Conference. After surviving the NBA playoffs play-in tournament, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics in five games. This year, with a new logo, they are hoping to have an improved season and make more noise in the Eastern Conference this year.

The Magic return their core in third year forward Paolo Banchero (25.9 points & 7.5 rebounds), fourth year forward Franz Wagner (24.2 points & 5.7 rebounds), and fourth year guard Jalen Suggs (16.2 points & 3.7 assists). When healthy, that's a difficult trio to stop. There's a nice blend of inside and outside scoring there. On top of that, they acquired shooting guard Desmond Bane from the Grizzlies in a trade while giving up Cole Anthony, Kentavious Caldwell Pope, and some draft picks. Bane is coming off a season in which he averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, so on paper he's a legit addition to their team. 

The problem the Magic had last year was staying healthy. Banchero played in only 46 games and Suggs played in just 35 games due to various injuries. And then Wagner played in 60 games due to minor injuries and load management. They just weren't able to have those guys on the court together long enough to make a serious push for a top four seed in the conference. That's where I think Bane is supposed to come in. He played in 69 games last year, starting 68 of those games. He was able to stay healthy for most of the season and hopefully will be able to give the Magic more stability this season. 

The Magic have to feel hopeful that if they can keep their guys healthy, they could do some real damage. The fact that they were still able to get the 7th seed has to give them a lot of confidence. If they can accomplish that with two of their top three players missing all the games that they missed, there's no telling what they can do if they stay healthy along with the addition of Bane. 

Of course, staying healthy is never a given and it's important to have guys who can step up if needed. One guy to keep an eye on is rookie guard Jase Richardson, son of former Golden State Warriors star Jason Richardson. Richardson was the 25th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft out of Michigan State and will look to provide a similar type of energy that his dad did when he came into the NBA. If Richardson can provide a spark, that would be huge. 

All in all, I'm cautiously optimistic about this Magic team. They are returning their key pieces and are also a very young team. If the stars align for these guys, I don't see why they can't be a top four team in the Eastern Conference and possibly be a dark horse team to reach the NBA Finals. 

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2025 NBA Canada Series is a reminder that a team returning to Vancouver would be fun

                                             (Rogers Arena. Credit: rogersarena.com) 

On Monday, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Toronto Raptors 112-108 in the 2025 NBA Canada Series game at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. Christian Braun led the way for the Nuggets with 19 points while RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram each had 19 points for the Raptors. Given it was a preseason game, the outcome didn't really matter. The big storyline is that there was NBA basketball being played in Vancouver, the original home of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies played in Vancouver from 1995-2001, leaving for Memphis after six poor seasons. 

Despite their lack of success in British Columbia, over the years there have been more and more people wondering about whether or not an NBA return to Vancouver is possible and if so, would that mean the Memphis Grizzlies give back the name. In many ways, the Grizzlies left Vancouver before really giving the city a fair shot. It takes time to establish a fanbase in a new city, especially one that historically hasn't had much basketball played in it. 

Had the NBA given it more time in Vancouver and allowed the Grizzlies to grow into a solid team, there's no reason to think they couldn't have become a popular and permanent fixture of the city. But alas, the declining value of the Canadian dollar at the time combined with poor results and lack of a true superstar led to the Grizzlies' premature departure. 

Touching more on the lack of a true superstar, the Grizzlies kinda sorta had one in Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bryant Reeves a.k.a Big Country, but neither of those two could hold a candle to what Vince Carter was doing for the Toronto Raptors. In hindsight, the one that really got away from the Grizzlies was Steve Francis, whose refusal to play for the Grizzlies led to the Grizzlies trading him to the Houston Rockets before he ever played an NBA game. Had Francis decided to give Vancouver a shot, perhaps that would have saved the franchise's future in British Columbia. 

Looking ahead to the future, right now it still feels like a pipe dream for the NBA to actually return to Vancouver. They have 30 teams at the moment and odds are really good that if the NBA expands, it'll be to 32 teams with Seattle and  Las Vegas being the two front runners to get those spots. There's virtually no way of seeing one of the next two expansion cities being Vancouver. 

That said, if the NBA were to expand beyond 32 teams, then I think a return to Vancouver is possible. More specifically, I could see a Vancouver franchise returning to the NBA if the league were to expand to 36 teams. When looking at possible NBA expansion cities, one of the first places to look for is NHL cities that don't have an NBA franchise. Of that group of cities, once you go beyond Las Vegas and Seattle, Vancouver arguably makes the most sense. Especially since there used to be an NBA presence there and a small, but loyal fanbase remains. 

For now, the NBA Canada Series and the Memphis Grizzlies wearing vintage uniforms is as close as we can get to quenching our thirst for an NBA franchise in Vancouver. But perhaps in the not too distant future, we'll once again see an NBA franchise permanently call Rogers Arena home. 

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The Golden State Valkyries had a successful inaugural season

 

                                             (Credit: Golden State Valkyries) 

Given I live in the Bay Area, I thought it would be good for me to give some love to the Golden State Valkyries, who just finished their first season in the WNBA. The Valkyries finished the season 8th in the WNBA with a record of 23-21, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Lynx 2-0. They became the first team in WNBA history to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. As a result, their head coach Natalie Nakase was named WNBA Coach of the Year. This was Nakase's first season as a WNBA head coach after previous stops as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces and Los Angeles Clippers. For her to coach the Valkyries to such success is truly impressive. 

On top of having a great coach, the Valkyries also had some excellent players on their roster. Guard Veronica Burton was named the WNBA's most improved player, averaging 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game after averaging 3.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.5 steals per game the previous season with the Connecticut Sun. On top of that, forward Janelle Salaün was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team after averaging 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. 

What's even more impressive is the Valkyries made the playoffs given the injuries they had to overcome. Their leading scorer Kayla Thornton (14.0 points & 7.0 rebounds) played in only 22 games and underwent season-ending knee surgery in July while guard Tiffany Hayes (11.7 points) missed the final eight games of the regular season due to a knee injury of her own before also missing both playoff games. Given they lost their home playoff game to Minnesota 75-74, one can't help but wonder how the Valkyries would have done had they been healthy. They would have likely finished with a better seed and as a result might have found a way to win a series. 

As a result of their stellar play and exciting brand of basketball, the Valkyries brought a lot of energy to the Bay Area. The Chase Center was always packed to the brim and when they had to play their home playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose, they had a full crowd for that game as well. The entire region was behind them in full force, proving that the Bay Area was long overdue for a WNBA franchise. 

Looking ahead to next season, it'll be fun to see how the Valkyries do and how much they build on the success that they had. If they can stay healthy and gain more cohesion as a team, I don't see why they can't make a deep playoff run in 2026. 

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What does the future hold for Jonathan Kuminga in Golden State?

 

                                             (Credit: Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images) 

Earlier this week, the Golden State Warriors and small forward Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year $48.5M deal following a contract dispute that lasted around three months. Kuminga was coming off the final year of his rookie contract (2024-25) that included a team option for 2025-26. He was hoping to get a new contract with the team that would give him more control, but in the end, he ended up settling for a two-year deal that included a team option for the second year (meaning the team still controls his rights) while also requiring him to waive his no-trade clause, meaning the Warriors can trade him starting January 15th, 2026. 

Given the current details on his contract, it sure looks like Kuminga is being retained by the Warriors for the purposes of being trade bait. That of course doesn't mean that's actually the case. The fact that there is the team option on the second year of the contract could also indicate the Warriors are open to the possibility of him being a part of their long-term future, but that they want to see how this season goes. Still, that said, the fact that the Warriors required him to waive his no-trade clause indicates that at a minimum, they'd like to leave open the possibility of trading him. 

A major reason for why the Warriors might be open to trading Kuminga is the fact that he missed a decent chunk of last season due to an ankle sprain while also seeing a slight dip in his production. In the 2023-24 season, he averaged 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 52.9% shooting from the field, 32.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 74.6% shooting from the field in 74 games played (26.3 minutes per game). In the 2024-25 season, he averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, 30.5% shooting from 3-point range, and 66.8% shooting from the foul line in 47 games played (24.3 minutes per game). 

It would make sense for the Warriors to see if Kuminga has an improved 2025-26 season before making a determination on what to do with him. Come January 15th, they should have a good feel for what direction he's trending and be able to make a pretty well-informed decision: 

If he has an improved season and is averaging 18+ points per game with better shooting numbers, it probably would make sense for them to hang onto him and see if they can orient things towards a long-term future. If he doesn't have an improved season, then it would probably make sense for them to look for a trade partner. Given he is only 23 years old, a lot of teams would still be intrigued by his upside as a former lottery pick and the Warriors could almost certainly get something of value for him. Kuminga might not like it, but for the Warriors, this is really the best situation for them to be in. 

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How good of a duo can De'Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama be in San Antonio?

 

                                         (Credit: Reggie Hildred/Imagn Images) 

The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a 2024-25 season in which they went 34-48 overall in year one of Mitch Johnson taking over as head coach with Gregg Popovich sliding over to the president of basketball operations role. As they look to have an improved season, the hope is that the tandem of point guard De'Aaron Fox and center Victor Wembanyama will produce at an elite level and help them get back to being an NBA championship contending team. 

Despite acquiring Fox before the trade deadline back in February, the Spurs haven't really gotten a chance to see what he and Wembanyama can do together as they only played five games together due to both players getting injured. Wembanyama playing in only 46 games as he dealt with a blood clot issue that has since been resolved. During the five games that they were on the floor together, Wembanyama averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game while Fox averaged 21.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. 

In their second to last game together, the two of them combined for 61 points in a 131-121 road win over the Washington Wizards. Wembanyama finished with 31 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals while Fox finished with 30 points, four rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Even though the Wizards were terrible last season, that win still gave the Spurs a glimpse of what a Wembanyama and Fox duo could look like. 

Fox is one of the most talented point guards in the NBA. He's incredibly quick with the ball, capable of creating for others while also possessing an ability to score both around the rim and from the perimeter. As for Wembanyama, he's one of the most amazing talents the NBA has ever seen. A 7'3" freak that can hit threes, run the floor, handle the ball, and fiercely protect the rim. He's everything you want in a big man. A true unicorn. 

Ultimately, the big question the Spurs have is whether or not Fox and Wembanyama can stay healthy. If they are able to stay on the floor, the sky is the limit to what they can accomplish. They have the potential to be a duo that makes a lot of noise in the Western Conference and gets the Spurs back in the championship conversation. There's just not many teams that have a point guard/big man combination like this. It'll be fun to see how the season goes for them and how quickly they start to gel. 

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The NBA's "Heave Rule" should bring more excitement

 

                        (Stephen Curry heaving a shot. Credit: Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) 

The NBA has made a change to how they statistically record last second shots of 36 feet or longer. Rather than having such shots count against a player's field goal percentage if they miss, they'll only count against the team field goal percentage. If the player makes the shot, then it will count toward the player's field goal percentage as it normally would. 

Below are the conditions of the rule: It is for shots 36 feet or further and within the final three seconds of the first three quarters. The play must also originate in the backcourt. 

The purpose of this rule change is to encourage more end of quarter shots without players worrying about the impact it would have on their field goal percentage. Many players hesitated to take such shots given it would hurt their stats. If you were say 9-9 on the night, you might not want to throw up a prayer that will end your perfect shooting night. Now, players can heave such shots with no such worries. As a result, we should see more last second attempts and thus, more crazy shots, upping the entertainment level. 

All around, this is a great rule and one that has been long overdue. Not only is it unfair to a guy's stats to count those shots against him, but also when you think about it, the whole point of field goal percentage is to track shots that are well, shots. In many ways a last second heave of 36 feet or longer isn't really a shot. It's a heave. Hence the name of the rule. On those grounds, they really should be a different statistical category. 

On top of being more entertaining for fans, this rule change will also have an impact on fantasy basketball. Many fantasy basketball matchups have been affected by a last second heave and now they only will be impacted if the shot goes in. Fantasy basketball owners will no longer have to worry about someone on their team taking a last second shot that costs them a matchup. That more than anything might be the best part of this whole rule change. 

Finally, I think it would even be better if shots beyond half court were worth four points and not three. The half court line is an easy dividing mark and it's well beyond the 3-point line such that it would make sense to add an extra point for such shots. Imagine a team being down four points with three seconds left and attempting a four-point shot! That would be wildly entertaining. Or a rare five-point play! A guy getting fouled while making a four-point shot. Can you imagine? Not only that, but getting fouled from beyond half court while taking a shot would be worth four foul shots instead of three. This is sort of a next level rule suggestion, but I think it's one that the NBA should consider. Maybe try it out in the G-League first. 

While a four-point shot may not be coming to the NBA, it is good they have implemented this "Heave Rule." There's no downside to it and it will enhance the experience for all. It'll be fun to see the impact it has on this upcoming season! 

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What are John Wall's Hall of Fame chances?

 

                                              (Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images) 

Last month, former Washington Wizards star point guard John Wall announced his retirement after having not played in the NBA since the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. During his 13 year NBA career, Wall averaged 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. At his peak during the 2016-17 season, Wall finished 7th in the MVP voting averaging 23.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 10.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Wall was also the number one overall pick by the Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft after a stellar freshman season at Kentucky in which he averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Wall and the Wildcats fell to West Virginia in the Elite Eight of the 2010 NCAA Tournament. 

There's no denying the talent that Wall had when he came into the NBA. With Rickey Green type speed, Wall had all the pieces to be a legit franchise player and when he was healthy, he was just that. He could score at an elite level, he was electric in transition, could guard the top point guards in the game, and was a fabulous facilitator. He truly had all the tools and for five straights seasons starting in 2013-14, Wall made the All-Star team. 

However, his career was marred with injuries as he had to miss two of those 13 seasons in entirety. The 2019-20 season was missed due to injury while the 2021-22 season was missed due to the Houston Rockets wanting to prioritize the development of younger players while also unable to find a team willing to take on Wall's massive contract. 

On top of having a career marred with injury and setbacks, Wall only reached the second round of the playoffs twice in his career, never reaching the conference finals. For all his talent, he was never able to lead the Wizards or any team to serious playoff success. 

Something that will start to get debated in the coming months and years is what Wall's Hall of Fame chances are: 

On the positive side, I think his peak level was certainly Hall of Fame worthy. He was definitely not a bust. He backed up the number one pick hype that he received and on top of that, he had a strong single season at Kentucky. It should also be factored into the equation that the Wizards historically are a pretty bad team and he stayed loyal to the franchise, not jumping ship for greener pastures. He took it upon himself to be the franchise player and that's commendable. 

On the negative side, you'd like to see more than five All-Star selections for his career and the lack of playoff success is unfortunate. Also, you are judged on your production and injuries are a part of the game. It is what it is.

When you at it all up, I think it's hard to make a case for why John Wall should make the Hall of Fame. While he was one of the most talented players to come into the NBA, he simply didn't sustain Hall of Fame level play for a long enough period of time. If Wall does get in, it'll likely be after several years of being on the ballot but at some point, Hall of Fame cases lose steam and while I'm sure there are some that will try to lobby a case for him, I don't see him getting enough support to clear the threshold needed to get in. 

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Do the Memphis Grizzlies have a diamond in the rough in Jahmai Mashack?

 

                                             Credit: Memphis Grizzlies/X (Twitter) 

The 59th overall pick in this year's NBA draft was Jahmai Mashack (6'3", 205 pounds), who was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies. During his four years at Tennessee, Mashack averaged 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. As a senior, he averaged 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 steals per game on 45.4% shooting from the field, 35.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 72.3% shooting from the foul line. Mashack was more of a role player/defensive specialist for the Volunteers, really making an impact with his physicality. While he has some upside on offense, it's really his defense that is his calling card and reason for why he was drafted. 

I remember when Mashack was in high school as I was covering Cal men's basketball at the time for Rivals (I now cover Stanford for On3 | Rivals). Mashack was a 4-star recruit, standing out for all the reasons the Grizzlies drafted him. He could get after it on both ends of the floor, playing with a high motor. He was a gritty defender back then and has only honed his craft even further, earning him a chance to get drafted by the Grizzlies. 

Why Mark Fox (Cal's head coach at the time) slow played Mashack on the recruiting trail continues to puzzle me to this day. Especially since his mom is a Cal alum and Cal at the time was in desperate need of talent. But that's a story for a different day. What matters is Mashack proved Fox wrong and found his way to the NBA. 

Looking ahead to his chances in the NBA, Mashack's defensive abilities are reason for the Grizzlies to be excited about him. He has all the tools on that end and in many ways, that's the harder thing to teach. You can teach guys how to improve their jump shot and get their scoring numbers up. While you can do the same for defense, I feel like it's harder to get guys to raise their game on the defensive side. If Mashack can improve his shot and ball handling, he has all the tools and potential to be an excellent two-way player cut out of the same cloth as former Grizzlies great Tony Allen (a.k.a. The Grindfather). 

In the late stages of the NBA draft, you want to get guys who you think have the chance to be developed into something and Jahmai Mashack is definitely a guy who has that potential. He's a hard working player who doesn't take anything for granted. I look forward to seeing how Mashack grows in the Grizzlies organization and whether or not he can end up being one of the steals of the 2025 NBA Draft. 

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How will the departure of Yang Hansen impact the Qingdao Eagles?

 

                                              (Credit: Xinhua/Jiang Han) 

One of the more intriguing players drafted in this year's NBA Draft is 7'1" center Yang Hansen from Zibo, Shandong, China (淄博市,山东,中國) . Before being drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers (via Memphis Grizzlies) with the 16th overall pick, Yang played for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, located in Qingdao, Shandong, China (青岛市, 山东,中國). The Eagles finished in 8th place this past season, with a 31-15 overall record. The Eagles made the playoffs (12 teams), winning their first round best-of-three series against the Zhejiang Golden Bulls 2-1. However, the Eagles then fell to the Zhejiang Lions in the quarterfinals best-of-five series 3-2, ending their season. 

Yang was the number three scorer on the team, averaging 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game, forming a solid trio along with power forward Jordan Mickey (20.0 points & 9.5 rebounds) and guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (27.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, & 7.5 assists). Together, they were able to help guide the Eagles to not only a playoff appearance, but also a first round series victory. 

With Yang now in the NBA, that alone is going to make it tougher for the Eagles to get back to the playoffs next season. He was a key part of their team for the past two seasons and gave them a sound inside presence capable of scoring, rebounding, and facilitating in the post. To make matters even worse for the Eagles, Weatherspoon has also departed the team, opting to sign with the Brampton Honey Badgers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. 

With two of their big three gone, it's going to be on Mickey's shoulders to carry the scoring load unless they can find a way to get him some help. As for who will replace Yang inside, 6'9" forward/center Junhu Lu is projected to be the starter inside, averaging 4.8 points & 2.7 rebounds per game last season. The 26 year old will have to take a big step forward if he's going to justify getting the kind of minutes that a starter typically gets. 

The bottom line is the departure of Yang Hansen to the Portland Trail Blazers is a big blow for the Qingdao Eagles and then to have Quinndary Weatherspoon also leave just makes matters worse. Odds are good they'll take a step back this season and enter a bit of a rebuilding phase. Of course, the silver lining for the Eagles is the fact that they now have an alumni and homegrown talent playing in the NBA. The more Chinese players you have playing in the NBA, the better it is for the Chinese Basketball Association and the national basketball scene as a whole. 

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What will Ace Bailey bring to the Utah Jazz?

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

When the Utah Jazz selected Rutgers forward Ace Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, there were a lot of questions about whether or not he really wanted to be in Utah. From what I've heard, it sounds like that was mostly his agent/representation causing the commotion. Something that should calm the fears of Jazz fans. With that drama now subsiding, Bailey has gotten to work and already seen some action for the team in Summer League. What I want to do in this blog post is share my thoughts on what he can bring to the Jazz. 

Upon watching some film, what stands out about Bailey is the physical gifts he has. He has tremendous size and length for the guard position. His measurements are bit all over the place, but in shoes, it's safe to say he's 6'9" and 200 pounds. He handles the ball well, has good form on his shot, and also possesses good moves in the post. In one Summer League game I watched, he had a nice turnaround fadeaway, something that not all rookies have when they come into the league. He elevates to the rim with ease and should thrive in transition. 

During his lone year at Rutgers, he averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.0 steals per game on 46.0% shooting from the field, 34.6% shooting from 3-point range, and 69.2% shooting from the foul line. To put up those numbers in the Big Ten is impressive. He showed an ability to get after it on the glass and score at a pretty efficient clip while also being effective on defense. He is a legit two-way player with great physical gifts. It's no surprise he was drafted as high as he was. 

Like all rookies, Bailey I'm sure will go through some growing pains as he adjusts to the NBA level, but there is no denying his talent. As the Jazz look to build a championship level roster, Bailey absolutely has the potential be an essential building block for them to build their franchise around. The key will be for them to put the right pieces around him and give him confidence that he can win if he stays in Utah. If they can do that, they might finally be on the path to building a championship level team. 

Note: This blog post also appears on my Utah Jazz blog. Click here to check that out. 

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What will Yang Hansen bring to the Portland Trail Blazers?

 

                                             (Credit: AFP) 

The 16th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft was Yang Hansen, who played for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association, located in Qingdao, Shandong, China (青岛市, 山东,中國). Yang went to the Portland Trail Blazers via the Memphis Grizzlies. It wasn't surprising that he was selected, but it was surprising he went as high as he did. He was thought of being a more likely early second round selection. Yang made the decision to show up on draft night anyways and was rewarded for doing so. What I want to do is take a look at what he might bring to the Trail Blazers organization and the impact that he can make on the court. 

Listed at 7'1", 260 pounds, Yang is coming off a strong season with the Qingdao Eagles, guiding them to an 8th place finish and first round playoff best-of-three series victory (12 playoff teams). Yang averaged a double-double with his 16.6 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.6 blocks per game. He was a tremendous force inside, doing a nice job of scoring both inside and out while also protecting the rim. 

During NBA Summer League, Yang has averaged 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 blocks per game. He's made an impact right away and held his own against some of the best young players in the NBA. He has shot 33.3% from 3-point range on 12 attempts, 45.7% from the field, and most impressively 87.5% from the foul line. He shot 67.1% from the foul line with the Eagles last season, so it looks like he's improved his foul shooting this summer. Though given it was on just eight attempts, the sample size is still pretty small. 

When watching his tape, what stands out about Yang is how poised he is on the court. He does a good job of gathering himself with his shot while also seeing the floor well, making the right pass to a cutting teammate. He also runs the floor well and is able to make plays in transition. There's a lot to like with his game given how well-rounded he is. He can score both inside and out while also knocking down his free throws. On defense, he protects the rim and has proven to be a big body that is tough to score on. 

Overall, I think Yang Hansen has all the tools to be an effective player in the NBA. It might take a bit of time for him to adjust to the NBA game and level of play, but if he keeps growing his game, there's no reason to think the 20 year old can't end up being a cornerstone piece for the Trail Blazers for years to come. 

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How many titles are in the future of the Oklahoma City Thunder?

 

                                            (Credit: Justin Ford. Getty Images) 

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games to win the NBA Finals, winning Game 7 in Oklahoma City by a final score of 103-91. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA Finals MVP, finishing with 29 points, five rebounds, 12 assists, one steal, and two blocks in the deciding game. It capped an off amazing season for the Thunder as they won their first championship in franchise history. The Seattle Sonics won an NBA championship back in the 1979, but that doesn't really count. Especially since once Seattle gets a team, the colors, name, and history of the Seattle Sonics will be returned to the city in full. 

Anyways, I digress. This was an historic championship for the Thunder and now the question is how many are in their future? Will this be the only one this group wins or are we looking a team that has the potential to win multiple? Given the fact that their average age is 25.6 years (the second youngest team to win an NBA title behind the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers), they have to like their odds of stringing together at least a couple more titles. So long as they keep their trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, & 6.4 assists), Jalen Williams (21.6 points & 5.3 rebounds), and Chet Holmgren (15.0 points & 8.0 rebounds), they should remain a dominant force in the NBA. They have a nice blend of inside and outside scoring while playing with a pace of play that is difficult to stop. 

On top of that, Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning NBA regular season MVP. He was the best player in the game last season and at 27 years of age, he should have several more seasons of elite basketball ahead of him. When you have the best player in the game on your team, you are always difficult to stop. 

The biggest question mark I think is how they'll handle being the hunted. They kinda came out of nowhere to win the title. Next season, they're going to have a target on their backs as the defending champions. They're going to get everyone's best effort and there's going to be a more concerted effort to stop them. Some teams rise to the occasion and remain on top while others fall. It's going to be fascinating to see how they handle that. 

Regardless of what the future holds for the Thunder, they had a memorable championship run and brought a lot of joy to their city. They made history on multiple fronts and did so playing an exciting brand of basketball. That's something that can never be taken away from them. 

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Are the Pacers and Thunder destined to play a Game 7 in the NBA Finals?

 

                                             (Credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 

The NBA Finals is tied up 2-2 after the Oklahoma Thunder took back home court from the Indiana Pacers with a 111-104 victory on Friday in Indiana. Game 5 will be on Monday at 5:30 PM PT/8:30 PM ET on ABC in Oklahoma City. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way for the Thunder with 35 points on 12/24 shooting from the field and 10/10 shooting from the foul line. He was playing fantastic and did all he could to ensure his team didn't go down 3-1. 

One of my five things to look for going into the NBA Finals was how much home court advantage would matter given the passionate fanbases that both teams have. Each have won a game on each other's home floor, but given the raucous environments that we've seen, I have a hard time seeing a road team win another game in this series. The Thunder certainly seemed poised to go up 3-2 on Monday and then on Thursday in Indiana, I have to think the Pacers bounce back to make it 3-3, forcing a Game 7. 

As well as the Pacers have played during this series, I don't see them dropping three straight games to lose the series 4-2. Tyrese Haliburton has simply been playing too well to let that happen. I also don't see Aaron Nesmith scoring eight points again in Indiana, either. One has to think in a do or die game in Indy, Nesmith will come out as a flame flower. As for the Thunder, I do think they're the better team on paper and so on those grounds, I can't see them dropping another game at home. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the most part as lived up to his MVP status and I think when the lights come on, he'll deliver the goods. Especially on his home floor. 

While anything is possible in the NBA Finals, just given the vibe and the way things are going, I do see this series going to a Game 7. And if it does, Oklahoma City will have the advantage. Winning a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals is incredibly hard to do, but I suppose if anyone is up to hit a game-winning shot in those circumstances, Tyrese Haliburton would be your guy. It should be fun to see how this series shakes out!           

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Tyrese Haliburton is having an NBA playoff performance for the ages

 

                                             (Credit: Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images) 

Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is having an NBA playoff performance that is on track to be one of the greatest of all-time should his team go on to win the NBA Finals. Haliburton hit a game-tying buzzer beater at Madison Square Garden to force overtime in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks (the Pacers went on to win) and then he hit a game-winning shot to beat the buzzer against the Thunder in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Hitting a buzzer beating shot is rare y'all. Like, even if you are an all-time great, it still doesn't happen very often. To do it twice in a playoff run, both in the first game of the Conference Finals and then NBA Finals is just nuts. It's beyond storybook. 

What's amazing about this as well is the fact that Haliburton is just 24 years old and only in his fifth year in the NBA. He's doing stuff that many quality seasoned veterans have never done. To have the confidence and poise to hit these kind of shots at this age is remarkable. 

Of course, it's not just the game-winning shots that makes Tyrese Haliburton so special. He's leading the NBA playoffs with 9.5 assists per game, doing a fabulous job of creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. He's a true floor general that plays unselfishly while also having the ability to hit big shots when called upon. 

Lastly, what adds to Haliburton's mystique is the team is playing for. The Indiana Pacers have never won an NBA championship and are only in the NBA Finals for the second time in their history. To be doing what he's doing in a Pacers uniform I think makes it stand out all the more. While there is work to be done, if Haliburton and the Pacers win this series, we're gonna be talking about this playoff run for a long time. 

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Five things to look for in the 2025 NBA Finals: Thunder vs. Pacers

 

                                              (Credit: Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images) 

The NBA Finals begins Thursday, June 5th at 8:30 PM ET on ABC. Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have home court advantage. Below are five things to look for in the series. Let's dive in! 

#1. How much will home court advantage matter? Being small market teams, the Pacers and Thunder both have fantastic home court atmospheres. It's going to be very tough to win on the road in this series. That said, the Thunder did win both regular season matchups this season, so they know how to win in Indiana. Granted a regular season game doesn't have the same juice as a playoff game, but still. Odds are good that whichever team can find a way to win one game on the opposing team's floor will win the series. Defending home court feels especially like a must given the rabid fanbases that each team has. 

#2. Can the Pacers contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA MVP and has been playing brilliantly this entire season, averaging 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game this postseason. He's the best player in the series on paper. If the Pacers want any hope of winning the series, it'll have to start with containing Gilgeous-Alexander. Click here for my recent blogpost on SGA in case you missed that. 

#3. Will the Pacers' ball movement make a difference? The Pacers are averaging 28.1 assists per game in the playoffs while the Thunder average 25.3 assists per game. Leading the playoffs in assists per game individually is their star guard Tyrese Haliburton (18.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 1.4 steals). If the Pacers have any edge over the Thunder, it's their ball movement. But will it be enough to make a difference? That's the question. 

#4. Will Pascal Siakam's championship experience help the Pacers? Pascal Siakam has been fantastic for the Pacers, averaging 21.1 points & 5.8 rebounds per game in the postseason. He also has an NBA championship ring with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and he was very instrumental in their championship run, averaging 19.0 points & 7.1 rebounds per game during the playoffs. Having a guy who has been on this stage before is huge. If the Pacers do win this series, I would expect it to be due to Siakam being the series MVP. 

#5. Who will win the battle of the bigs? Both teams have some talented big men inside. The Thunder have Chet Holmgren (16.4 points & 8.6 rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (9.2 points & 7.9 rebounds). The Pacers have Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner (15.6 points & 6.5 rebounds). While the guard play is more of a focus, the battle inside will have a huge impact on this series. 

Prediction: I gotta roll with the Thunder in six games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been amazing and the Thunder have home court advantage. It's definitely their series to lose. 

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's meteoric rise has been phenomenal

 

                                             (Credit: Kyle Phillips/AP file) 

The Oklahoma City Thunder will be facing the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, starting this Thursday. The Thunder took out the Timberwolves in five games while the Pacers took out the Knicks in six. The star of this year's Thunder team has been point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is a three-time All-star and also this season's NBA MVP. In just his seventh season, Gilgeous-Alexander has risen to superstar status. It's truly been a phenomenal and meteoric rise. 

Gilgeous-Alexander was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on draft day. Gilgeous-Alexander had a solid rookie season with the Clippers, averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, finishing 6th in the Rookie of the Year voting. Despite that strong season, the Clippers traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the summer in a mega trade that landed them Paul George. 

In hindsight, that traded ended up being a big mistake for the Clippers as Gilgeous-Alexander began his rise to stardom the next season, averaging 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Since then, he's gotten better each season and in the last three seasons, he's been an All-Star, averaging 30+ points per game, finishing top-five in the MVP voting each of those three seasons and of course this year, taking home the hardware with a first place finish. In his MVP season this year, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, leading the league in points per game, field goal attempts per game, and free throws made per game. 

During the playoffs, Gilgeous-Alexander has played up to his MVP status, averaging 29.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, guiding the Thunder to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2012. He's done a terrific job of making plays for his teammates and being someone who they can count on to make winning plays in crunch time. What makes him so good is the fact that he is effective on both ends of the floor as a true two-way player. He plays elite defense on top of being an elite finisher, scorer, and facilitator. The greatest players of all-time get it done on both ends of the floor and he has clearly taken that to heart. 

Looking ahead to the NBA Finals, it'll be fun to see how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander performs. His rapid ascension to the top of the NBA has been spectacular and as a result, he's being rewarded with the chance to showcase his skills on the game's biggest stage. Well deserved! 

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The Knicks-Pacers rivalry is simply awesome

 

                                             (Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP Photo) 

The New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers are locked up in an intense Eastern Conference Finals right now. The Pacers are up 2-1 with one more game in Indiana on Tuesday before things go back to New York for Game 5. The Pacers will look to go up 3-1 and put all the pressure on the Knicks. The Knicks will look to even up the series 2-2 and get momentum back. 

Just three games in, the series already feels like an instant classic. Tyrese Haliburton's overtime forcing shot in Game 1 led to what is now being dubbed "Choke 2.0" after Haliburton re-enacted Reggie Miller's choke sign to Spike Lee from Game 5 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers went on to win Game 1 138-135 in overtime and while Haliburton's shot is the most iconic moment from that game, Aaron Nesmith's 30 points on 8/9 shooting from 3-point range cannot be forgotten. Nesmith looked like Miller did in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals in which he scored eight points in 8.9 seconds. 8 of 9 shooting from 3-point range; 8 points in 8.9 seconds. To quote Mark Twain, history doesn't repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme. 

While the Pacers delivered the first blow in this year's series, the Knicks bounced back in a big way to take Game 3 after being down 0-2. With Jalen Brunson in foul trouble Karl-Anthony Towns took over for the Knicks, finishing with 24 points and 15 rebounds to help them come back from 20 points down to win 106-100 on the road in Indiana. Towns played with a lot of passion and fire, showing that the Knicks care about this rivalry just as much as the Pacers do. 

When looking at this rivalry from the big picture, I think what makes it awesome is the combination of it being big market versus small market while also featuring two places that are rich in basketball history. It's Hoosiers versus Rucker Park. And then on top of that, both teams have had big time names. In the 90s, the Pacers had Reggie Miller and the Knicks had Patrick Ewing. This year, the Pacers have Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam while the Knicks have Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.  When you put those elements together, you have the potential for a lot of amazing basketball moments. 

Looking ahead to the rest of the series, while the Pacers remain the favorites at the moment, the Knicks still have a pulse. There's still plenty of basketball left and if history is any guide, there will be more twists and turns in this series before it gets decided. I for one can't wait to see how it all unfolds. 

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Five things to look for in the Eastern Conference Finals: Knicks vs. Pacers

 

                                            (Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images) 

The Eastern Conference Finals begins this week between the 3rd seeded New York Knicks and 4th seeded Indiana Pacers. Game one will be on Wednesday at 5:00 PM PT on TNT/TruTV. Below are five things to look for in the series. 

#1. Can the Pacers slow down Jalen Brunson? Jalen Brunson is coming into the series averaging a ridiculous 28.8 points and 7.7 assists per game during the playoffs. He's really in the zone right now. Something to look for is whether or not the Pacers will be able to do a better job defending him than the Pistons and Celtics did. If not, the Knicks are going to be extremely tough to stop. 

#2. Can the Pacers' ball movement make the difference? The Pacers averaged 29.2 assists per game during the regular season, which is 3rd in the NBA while the Knicks averaged 27.5 points per game, which ranks 11th in the NBA. During the playoffs, the Pacers have taken it up a notch with 29.7 assists per game as Tyrese Haliburton's 9.3 assists per game during the playoffs leads the NBA. If the Pacers are going to win the series, their ball movement is going to have play a major role. 

#3. Will the Pacers' rest help them out at all? The Pacers come into this series with more rest having taken out the top-seeded Cavaliers in five games while the Knicks had to play a game six to dispatch of the Celtics. Getting a couple extra days to rest should certainly help the Pacers, but will it make any meaningful difference? Game one should tell us a lot. 

#4. Can the Knicks close the gap on the 3-ball? The Knicks are shooting 35.8% from 3-point range in the playoffs while the Pacers are shooting 40.6%. If the Knicks want to win the series, it would help them a lot if they could get more threes to fall while defending the Pacers from the perimeter. The Pacers are coming in with a lot of confidence in their 3-point shooting, so slowing them down in that department will be no easy task. 

#5. Will the rivalry feel rekindled? The Knicks and Pacers had a lot of battles in the 1990s and have formed one of the more iconic NBA rivalries. This series certainly has a chance to add an exciting chapter to it. The fans should be fired up on both sides. It certainly would be good for the NBA to have this be a competitive series given the history between these two teams. 

Prediction: The Pacers seem to have really taken things up a notch during the playoffs. I got them winning this series in six games. 

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Five things to look for in the Western Conference Finals: Thunder vs. Timberwolves

 

                                             (Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images) 

This week, the Western Conference Finals begin with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder squaring off. Game one will be on Tuesday in OKC at 5:30 PM PT on ESPN/ESPN2. Below are five things to look for over the course of the series. 

#1. Who has the better series: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) or Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)? 

The top-seeded Thunder are led by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 29.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game during the playoffs while the Timberwolves are led by guard Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 26.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game during the playoffs. The NBA is such a star driven league that series' are often decided by which star players play better. The Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Edwards matchup is going to be crucial to deciding the outcome. Both guys will need to bring their A-game for sure. 

#2. Which team will control the pace? The Thunder are 6th in the NBA in pace of play while the Timberwolves are 24th. The Thunder average 120.5 points per game which is 4th in the NBA while the Timberwolves are 13th in the NBA with 114.3 points per game. The Thunder like to get out and run it more while the Timberwolves play a slower game. If the Thunder can get out and run to their heart's desire, they should be in a good spot to win the series. If the Timberwolves are able to slow it down and play more to their pace, they'll have a real chance. Pace of play is going to be key given the contrasting styles between the two teams. 

#3. Who wins the battle in the paint? The Thunder have some big bodies inside with Chet Holmgren (15.0 points & 8.0 rebounds) and Isaiah Hartenstein (11.2 points & 10.7 rebounds) while the Timberwolves have Naz Reid (14.2 points & 6.0 rebounds) and Rudy Gobert (12.0 points & 10.9 rebounds). Whichever team wins the battle inside will give themselves an edge. It'll be fun to see how that shakes out. 

#4. How much will home court matter? The Thunder will have home court advantage and that could end up being a huge factor. Both teams have dropped only one game at home so far in the playoffs while also winning multiple games on the road. Given the fact that these teams have done so well on the road and both have dropped one game at home, one has to wonder how much of an impact home court advantage will make. It's usually a huge factor, but this could be a case where we see the road team find some success. 

#5. Will the Timberwolves' experience make a difference? The Timberwolves were in the Western Conference Finals last season and have made the playoffs four seasons in a row. The Thunder in contrast have made the playoffs two seasons in a row with this young nucleus and haven't been to the conference finals since 2015-16, back when they had a totally different team. It'll be interesting to see if the Timberwolves' experience will make a difference. On paper, they'll have an advantage in that department. But can they capitalize? That's the question. 

Prediction: I gotta roll with the Timberwolves in six games. I think that experience will make a real difference. 

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The Indiana Pacers are shifting into another gear

 

                                            (Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images/Reuters) 

The 4th seeded Indiana Pacers have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, taking out the top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, closing out the series with a 114-105 victory on Tuesday, May 13th. Power forward Pascal Siakam (pictured above to the right) had a strong performance with 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block while guard Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 31 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one block, and one steal. Small forward Aaron Nesmith also had a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Just an all-around great team victory. 

The 4-1 series victory over the Cavaliers comes after a 4-1 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, making the Pacers 8-2 so far in the playoffs. Haliburton is leading the league in assists per game this postseason with 9.3 to go along with his 17.5 points per game while center Myles Turner's 2.5 blocks per game is leading the league in the postseason as well. Turner is putting in 16.5 points and grabbing 6.0 rebounds per game, so he's playing fantastic. When you have the NBA's top assist guy and top shot blocker on your team, you're going to be tough to stop.

During the playoffs, the Pacers are averaging 117.7 points per game while their opponents are averaging 112.2 points per game. That's an average margin of victory of +5.5, which is pretty solid. Especially when you consider they took out the top seed. Their three largest margins of victory have been a 117-98 (+19) home victory over the Bucks in game one, a 129-103 (+26) road victory over the Bucks in game four, and a 129-109 (+20) home victory over the Cavaliers in game four. Those are dominant wins. They also have a pair of one point victories over both teams, one of which came in overtime. So they've shown they can win close games as well. 

Looking ahead to the Eastern Conference Finals, whether it's the Knicks or Celtics that they play, the Pacers should be feeling confident right now. They've taken out the top seed in the East in the Cavaliers and a Milwaukee Bucks team that isn't that far removed from a championship. They're also getting a chance to rest up while the Knicks and Celtics still finish their series with game six coming up on Friday. Honestly, I don't think it's at all crazy to have the Pacers favored. They seem to be shifting into another gear and so far nobody has figured out how to slow them down. 

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The Dallas Mavericks are in the driver's seat to land Cooper Flagg

 On Monday, the NBA had their Draft Lottery, which figures out the order that teams will draft. Picks 1-4 are determined by the lottery and then picks 5-14 are determined by record once the top four teams have been figured out. As you can see from the graphic above, the Dallas Mavericks won the top pick despite having 1.8% odds of doing so. The Spurs, 76ers, Hornets, Jazz, Wizards, Pelicans, Nets, Raptors, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Bulls, Hawks, and Spurs follow in that order. 

Of course, the Utah Jazz are the big losers in this given they came in with the league's worst record and had 14% odds of winning the top pick. Their strategy of tanking to get the top pick hasn't been going so good, but hey, getting the 5th overall pick still isn't a bad place to be picking all things considered. 

Going back to the Mavericks, by securing the top pick, this means they are now in the driver's seat to select Duke phenom Cooper Flagg, who is has been the consensus top pick in the draft for quite a while. Flagg had a fabulous freshman season in Durham, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game on 48.1% shooting from the field, 38.5% shooting from 3-point range, and 84.0% shooting from the foul line. Duke reached the Final Four, losing to Houston 70-67 in the semifinals of the NCAA tournament. Flagg was obviously a major reason why they went so deep. 

Assuming they do indeed select Flagg, the Mavericks will be getting a new super star talent to replace Luka Doncic, who they traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis earlier this season. Given his skills and gifts at 6'9", 205 pounds, Flagg certainly has the potential to make Mavericks fans forget about Doncic rather quickly. 

Still, there will be a lot of pressure on Flagg to deliver the goods and be the new face of the franchise. While that pressure would be there no matter where he goes, he'll be under an even bigger magnifying glass in Dallas given the recent Doncic trade. He'll immediately get compared to Doncic and given how good Doncic is, those aren't easy shoes to fill. 

It certainly will be interesting to see how Flagg does in Dallas (assuming he goes there) and where the Mavericks are five years out. One thing is certainly true: By winning the lottery, the Mavericks have an opportunity to look really smart for trading Doncic even though everybody has to know they had no crystal ball. 

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The Minnesota Timberwolves are catching fire

 

                                             (Credit: Matt Blewett/Imagn Images) 

The NBA playoffs are in full swing and one of the upsets underway is the 6th seeded Minnesota Timberwolves taking a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers. On Sunday, the Wolves won 116-113 behind 43 points, nine rebounds, and six assists from Anthony Edwards, closing the game out on a 14-6 run. The Wolves took game one in Los Angeles 117-95, lost game two in Los Angeles 94-85, and then bounced back to take game three in Minneapolis 116-104 before winning on Sunday in Minneapolis. 

A major reason for the Wolves' success this postseason is the performance of their star shooting guard Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 29.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game during the series. Edwards is only 23 years of age in his fifth NBA season, playing like a guy who has been in the league for a decade. He makes smart decisions with the ball, knows when to attack the rim, when to pass it out, etc. He's got superstar gifts and isn't solely consumed with getting buckets even though that's what he does best. 

In addition to Edwards, forward Julius Randle has been playing fantastic as well. Randle had 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in Sunday's win, averaging 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the series. Edwards has needed somebody to be a reliable number two man and Randle has been that. And then of course, other guys like Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels have done their part as well. It's been a true team effort. 

If the Wolves can close out the Lakers, don't be surprised to see them make another push to reach the Western Conference Finals like they did last year. And if they get that far, who's to say that they can't reach the NBA Finals? When you got a superstar like Anthony Edwards, you're always in contention. 

Update: The Timberwolves took the series 4-1, defeating the Lakers 103-96 in game five. Rudy Gobert had a ridiculous 27 points and 24 rebounds. 

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The NBA needs to simplify its playoff system

 

                                             (Credit: Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images) 

The NBA playoffs begin later this month on April 19th. Before that, the NBA will hold the "SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament" from April 15th to April 18th. Click here to check the format out on NBA.com. 

In case the graphic the NBA has posted confuses you, you're not alone. I'm well versed in brackets and tournaments, but just looking at the graphic, it's kinda hard to figure out what exactly is going on. From what I can tell, it looks like the winner of the 7/8 game in each conference becomes the 7 seed while the loser plays the winner of the 10/9 game. The winner of that game becomes the 8 seed. The top six seeds are safe and locked into their respective seeds. 

While I love the idea of making things more exciting at the end of the regular season, I find the "Play-In Tournament" to be kinda clumsy. Like, upon looking at the bracket, you can figure it out, but during the game I'm sure there's plenty of confusion of what exactly the hell is going on in terms of what happens to the winner and the loser. 

What I propose is the NBA streamlines and simplifies things. If they want to make things more interesting than just sending the top eight teams to the playoffs from each conference, that's cool. But this play-in tournament just doesn't seem like the right way to do it. 

What I propose the NBA does is simply have a best-of-three game series decide the final two spots in each conference: 7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9. If they want to reduce travel, they could have the lower seed be home the first game and then next for the two games (if a third game is necessary) the higher seed could get home court advantage. That would be easy for fans to understand while also rewarding the 7th and 8th seed with home court advantage. You could call it the "NBA Playoff Wild Card" round. You could get the three games done over the course of five days and then start the playoffs. 

What I like about my format is you get the extra playoff action you want, you make each game really intense, and you also have a format that fans can better understand. It's a simple tournament bracket. Top six seeds get a bye. Winner of the 7/10 series faces the the 2 seed. The winner of the 8/9 series faces the 1 seed. 

On top of that, I also propose the NBA brings back best-of-five for the conference quarterfinals. Best-of-five was way more entertaining as it made each game matter a bit more. Best-of-seven isn't ideal because a lot of times these top seeds advance rather easily. But if you make it best-of-five, especially if a team is coming in hot after winning a best-of-three series, you suddenly have a real possibility for some first round upsets, which the NBA playoffs could always use more of. 

Overall, I think my solution is better than what the NBA currently has. Heck, I think just keeping it top eight is better than what the NBA has. Top eight was easy to understand. This whole play in tournament thing that's double elimination is just kinda weird and feels gimmicky. Make it make sense. That's all I'm asking. 

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Could Jimmy Butler give the Golden State Warriors one Last Dance?

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

The Golden State Warriors have won four NBA championships since drafting Stephen Curry back in 2009. They've gone from being a laughing stock to a dynasty. One of the few NBA franchises to make such a transformation. With Curry now at 37 years old, Klay Thompson traded to the Dallas Mavericks, and Draymond Green only a couple years behind Curry at 35, Father Time is catching up. He always does. 

To give them a push for one more title run, the Warriors made a trade to land Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat, giving up Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a protected first round pick. The Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors, and Detroit Pistons also were involved to help facilitate the deal. 

In 20 games with the Warriors, Butler is averaging 17.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.3 assists per game. The Warriors are 16-4 in those games, turning them into one of the top teams in the Western Conference. They are currently 41-31 overall and 7th in the Western Conference, but if they keep this up with Butler, they got a legit chance to rise to as high as 4th with 10 games to go. 

If the Warriors do end up getting a top five seed in the Western Conference, it would be foolish to count them out. This is a team that has championship DNA and while he has never won an NBA championship before, Butler did lead the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances, so he knows what it takes to get there. Especially as an under-seeded team (5th seed in 2020 & 8th seed in 2023). 

At this point, it does feel like the stars could be aligning for one final championship run. Much like the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls team that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was a player on. The Warriors have had many different eras during their dynastic run: One NBA championship before the Kevin Durant era, two with Durant, and one more post-Durant. If they could win a fifth title and have it be Jimmy Butler's first with him being the catalyst, that would be pretty special. 

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