Can Jalen Brunson lead the New York Knicks to an NBA title?

                                             (Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images) 

 
 As the New York Knicks look to win their first NBA championship since Phil Jackson's playing days (1973), all eyes are on their 6'2", 190 pound floor general Jalen Brunson, who is averaging 26.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game on 46.7% shooting from the field, 36.9% shooting from 3-point range, and 84.1% shooting from the foul line. Brunson has guided the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 in which they fell to the Spurs in five games. In case you were wondering, yes, that was the 50 game lockout season. The season after Michael Jordan's final season in Chicago. 

Brunson has been amazing all season long and proven himself to be among the best guards in the NBA. He is incredibly shifty with the basketball and crafty around the rim, capable of scoring in a wide variety of ways with floaters, mid-range jumpers, 3-pointers, etc. There's really no way he can't score, which is why he's so difficult to contain. 

In their four-game sweep of the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Brunson averaged 25.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game. He had two 30+ point performances, his best performance coming in Game 1 in which he had 38 points, five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. The Knicks rallied from 22 points down to win 115-104 in overtime. That comeback sucked the soul out of the Cavaliers, who pretty much curled up into a ball the rest of the series and lost the will to fight. 

Brunson has shown he can play at an elite level on the biggest of stages and none are bigger than the NBA Finals. Basketball is a team sport and so Brunson won't be able to do this on his own. He's going to need help from his teammates, most notably Karl-Anthony Towns, who is averaging 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game.  Towns is going to have to do his part to take the pressure off Brunson and deliver the goods. If he has a big series, the Knicks could make this interesting. 

Ultimately, I do see the Spurs winning the championship in six games, but at the same time I'm not totally counting the Knicks out. When you have a guard as good as Jalen Brunson, you have to feel like any night can be your night and when you find yourself playing in the NBA Finals, you have to believe. It'll be fun to see how Brunson does and what kind of impact he has on this series. 

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San Antonio Spurs have remarkable one-year turnaround to reach the NBA Finals

 

                                              (Credit: Nate Billings/AP) 

Just one year after going 34-48, the San Antonio Spurs are going to the NBA Finals, defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals 111-103 on the road in OKC. The Spurs finished the regular season with a record of 62-20, which was the second best record in the league behind the Thunder, who went 64-18. Not many teams have reached the NBA Finals after missing the playoffs the season prior. That puts the Spurs in a pretty elite group of teams in league history. 

What's been key to the Spurs' turnaround has been the combination of great coaching from head coach Mitch Johnson, all-around team play (a hallmark of Spurs basketball during the Gregg Popovich years), and having a fantastic one-two punch in Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. Before the season, I wrote a blog post on here saying I felt like Wembanyama/Fox could form a championship caliber duo. But even I didn't think they'd rise to championship level this fast. 

“You know, as a I said earlier, experience a lot of times is used in the form of a best used or the lack thereof when you need it the most,” Johnson said of what his team accomplished being so young. “And people don’t talk about as much the habits, the character, the togetherness, the competitive response. The things we talk about in these media sessions every single day. And this team has now been pretty damn consistent for a long time. For over a hundred games for the most part. And so, I’ll take those things with the experience that we’ve gone through when you want to look back in terms how we started the year, how we go to the cup on the road vs. Denver and LA. What we did in the cup. Playing these guys around Christmastime a few times. Expectations. We’ve played in three playoff series without Victor, without Fox multiple games, I don’t know who has as much experience as we do this year in the season of 2025-2026.”  

“It feels great,” Fox said of reaching his first career NBA Finals. “Especially doing it with this group of guys with just how young and how talented they are. To be able to be this resilient. Especially against you know, some teams that have been here. You know, playing Minnesota, they’ve been in the conference finals the last two years and then obviously OKC been to the conference finals the last two years, been a number one seed the last three years. Just won a championship. Being able to do it against those types of teams I think prepare you for whatever you’re going to see at the end and it’s definitely great…And then coming here my first full year, being able to be in the finals, I don’t know if I thought that, but I knew that we were gonna have a damn good team and we continued to get better just throughout the course of the season.

“While we were winning games, we were getting better every step of the way and by the time we got to, I would even say like all-star break, I was like, it could be real. Like, we can, we definitely have a chance this year and this is just another stepping stone to that goal.”

That being said, what made me confident in their potential is the fact that Wembanyama is such a unique talent at 7'4", 235 pounds. Averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, he can score from anywhere on the floor. Fox in turn is a dynamic point guard, averaging 18.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Point guard/big man duos like that typically do really well in the NBA. 

“Yeah, he has such a vision in my opinion of who he wants to be as a person and as a player,” Johnson said of Wembanyama. “And the commitment and investment that he puts into that vision is nothing like I’ve ever seen before. And I think we’ve seen a few moments where his emotions probably in my opinion, again, meet all the things that he’s putting into for these achievements and accomplishments and milestones and goals of his. In terms of championing his cause and his journey, I thought in the first half, he floated a little too much at times.

“And we needed him to be demonstrative, we needed him to play with strength. We needed him to bring his will more than his talent and it’s hard for these young guys who have never been in this spot. So there is the experience thing and I understand that they’re learning on the fly what it takes, but I think the second half we doubled down and invested on leaning into willing our plays to execution and to completion and not our talent. And when we did that appropriately we still had enough talent when needed to make the appropriate plays.”

On top of having a fantastic one-two punch, this is the Spurs we are talking about. Johnson learned from the best in the business in Popovich, quickly ascending the coaching ranks after his playing days at Stanford. At just 39 years of age, Johnson greatly benefited from being an assistant under Popovich starting in 2019 before eventually taking over the head coaching job in May 2025. When you combine great talent with elite level coaching, that's a recipe for success. 

Looking ahead to the NBA Finals, it'll be interesting to see if the Spurs can cap off this amazing run with a championship. The New York Knicks, whose last appearance in the NBA Finals was in 1999 against the Spurs, will look to avenge that 4-1 defeat 27 years later. The Spurs have to hope that if history doesn't repeat itself, it will at least rhyme with another championship for their franchise. 

“Winning the Larry O’Brien, it’s a childhood dream,” Wembanyama said. “And having a real shot at it. Having a chance. A tangible chance at winning it, realizing a dream, it’s a chance. It’s a lifetime chance. You know, it’s, you never know when it’s going to happen again. But it’s, the day we win it, speaking for myself it’s going to be an amazing day of like, realization of a dream. You know, it’s hard to put into words. It’s almost like the meaning of my life, you know?" 

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Damon Stoudamire reflects on the Toronto Raptors' upset of the '96 Chicago Bulls

 

                                             (Credit: Getty Images) 

On March 24th, 1996, the expansion Toronto Raptors had a March Madness moment of their own when they upset the Chicago Bulls at home by a final score of 109-108. The Raptors improved to 18-49 on the season while the Bulls fell to 60-8. The Bulls would go on to win the NBA championship that season over the Seattle SuperSonics with a regular season record of 72-10.  

Damon Stoudamire led the Raptors with 30 points, four rebounds, and 11 assists while Michael Jordan was the top performer for the Bulls with 36 points and nine rebounds. It was truly a March Madness level upset with the Raptors trailing 83-79 entering the 4th quarter before they outscored the Bulls 30-25 to win by one point. 

With under 1:30 to go, the Bulls led 106-103 as Jordan continued to catch fire, hitting a huge turnaround jumper. The Raptors had the ball, hoping to answer. Stoudamire would knife his way to the basket and draw a foul. Stoudamire would go 1-2 at the foul line, but thanks to an offensive rebound by Doug Christie, the Raptors kept possession as Christie was fouled, sending him to the foul line. Christie would miss both foul shots, but the Raptors scooped up another offensive rebound as Stoudamire hustled to get the ball. 

Stoudamire would get rejected inside by Jordan, but the Raptors were able to keep possession leading to a reset at the top of the key. This time the Raptors would score as Stoudamire penetrated and dished off to Oliver Miller for the slam, tying the game up at 106-106 with under 50 seconds to go. Jordan hit a huge jumper on the next possession to make it a 108-106 lead for the Bulls with 31.8 to go. The Raptors needed to answer once more. 

Out of a time out, the Raptors quickly scored as Miller found Tracy Murray for an easy basket inside, tying it up 108-108 with 30.1 to go. The Bulls would not score on the next possession as Murray was able to block Jordan, leading to a rebound by Miller. Miller appeared to call for time with 21.3 to go, but it turned out Jordan fouled Miller, sending Miller to the foul line. Miller would go 1-2 at the foul line, making the first and missing the second free throw. That made it a 109-108 lead for the Raptors as the Bulls got the ball back thanks to a quick rebound by Scottie Pippen. 

Coming out of a timeout, after Dancing in the Street by David Bowie and Mick Jagger finished playing, the Bulls were unable to score as Steve Kerr fired up a 3-pointer that did not fall. Jordan would get the rebound and bank in a shot from the corner, but time had expired. 109-108 the Raptors survived. 

As you can imagine, the SkyDome went nuts. It truly felt like everyone in Toronto was dancing in the streets after the Raptors knocked off Air Jordan and the Bulls. During one of the ACC men's basketball media availability days, I asked Stoudamire, who was the head coach of Georgia Tech at the time, what he most remembers about that day. 

"It's just, you know, it was a great memory," Stoudamire said. "You know, it was one of the standout things of my rookie season to beat the 72-win Bulls. I think that was one of the things that ignited my career and one of the highlights of playing in Toronto, but it was a great moment. More, you know, do I look back on it now?  You know, it was just more so for the fans. I mean, we were, you know, we only won 21 games that year, but you would have you thought we won the world championship on that afternoon. And for those fans, that was like the biggest moment for them at that time. So it felt really good." 

It's a universal truth across all sports that an underdog victory is often the sweetest of all victories and for the Raptors it certainly was just that. What makes it all the more sweet and memorable now is knowing what the Bulls would go on to accomplish. That 1996 Bulls team is widely regarded as the greatest team of all-time. To be one of the few teams that beat that team and to do it as an expansion team in front of your home fans? Man, not a lot of things outside of literally winning a championship can top that. 

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Chicago Bulls point guard Yuki Kawamura is fun to watch

 

                                             (Credit: Jim Rassol/Imagn Images) 

This past weekend, Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura (河村勇輝 Kawamura Yūki) got called up from the Windy City Bulls of the G-League to play with the Chicago Bulls and so far, he is making an impact, averaging 5.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 21.3 minutes per game. Kawamura is currently on a two-way contract, signing his current deal a little under one month ago. He was previously on a two-way deal with the Bulls over the summer, but was waived before the start of the season. Kawamura clearly hasn't given up and is finally being rewarded for his efforts. 

Listed at 5'7", watching Kawamura gives me flashbacks to watching Muggsy Bogues. A little guy out there among giants who is quicker and more tenacious than anyone else on the floor. Kawamura looks to facilitate first, but isn't afraid to take a shot when he has a look. He understands what role he needs to play in order to stay on the floor and he does it well. Being totally honest, when you watch him play, it's a little puzzling he is just now seeing the floor for the Bulls this season. But I guess that just goes to show how competitive the NBA is and how hard it is to see the floor when you are so undersized. 

Going forward, it'll be fun to see how long Kawamura can stay up with the Chicago Bulls. Given we are more than halfway throng the season, the Bulls can play him pretty much whenever they want without having to convert his contract to a standard deal (two-way guys can play 50 games without having to have their contract converted). I'm sure that's part of why they've waited until this last weekend to call him up. If he keeps this up, I don't see why he won't be able to stay on the floor going forward. He's clearly making his presence felt and on top of that, he's entertaining. He's a guy that's gonna put butts in the seats and given that NBA basketball is about entertainment, that's certainly a plus for him. 

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Can the Denver Nuggets weather the storm until Nikola Jokic returns?

 

                                             Credit: Sam Navarro/Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets will begin the New Year without their star big man Nikola Jokic, who hyperextended his left knee earlier in the week in a road game against the Miami Heat. Jokic's estimated date of return is February 1st, which means he is expected to miss all of January. The loss of Jokic for a full month is a real blow to the Nuggets as Jokic is averaging 29.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Leading the league in rebounds and assists. He's having an MVP level season. 

The Nuggets at the moment are 23-10, which puts them at 3rd place in the Western Conference behind the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. Realistically, they could drop to the 7th spot in the Western Conference with Jokic being out given that the 7th place Phoenix Suns are just 4.0 games back of them at 19-14. Getting a top six seed is crucial in the playoffs given that seeds 7-10 go to the play-in tournament, which is basically the NBA's version of the wild card round. The Nuggets do not want to drop that low with Jokic out and they definitely want to maintain a top four seed (the 4th seeded Houston Rockets are just 1.5 games back at 20-10). 

As for what "weathering the storm" would look like, I think the Nuggets need to maintain a top six seed in the West until Jokic returns. They just need to makes sure that they don't slip into that play-in tournament territory. As long as they can do that, they should like their chances of rising in the standings once he returns and possibly regaining a top three or at least top four seed in the West. They should be feeling grateful that Jokic's season isn't over and that he's projected to return with plenty of season left. 

For the month of January, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon are going to have to be the ones leading the way. Murray is averaging 25.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while Gordon is averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. The two of them are going to have pick up the slack in terms of scoring, rebounding, and facilitating. 

And then hey, it's really gonna be on the entire team to step up. A guy I covered at Stanford, Spencer Jones, is averaging 6.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game on 53.8% shooting from the field, 40.9% shooting from 3-point range, and 63.6% shooting from the foul line. He's been doing his part by making threes and playing good defense. With Jokic out, it's going to be even more important that guys like him do their jobs well. 

As legendary Denver sportswriter Woody Paige would advise us to do, let's quickly look at the schedule that the Nuggets have for January: at Cleveland Cavaliers (19-16), at Brooklyn Nets (10-20), at Philadelphia 76ers (17-14), at Boston Celtics (20-12), vs. Atlanta Hawks (16-19), vs. Milwaukee Bucks (14-20), at New Orleans Pelicans (8-27), at Dallas Mavericks (12-22), vs. Washington Wizards (8-24), vs. Charlotte Hornets (11-22), vs. Los Angeles Lakers (20-11), at Washington Wizards (8-24), at Milwaukee Bucks, at Memphis Grizzlies (15-18), vs. Detroit Pistons (25-8), vs. Brooklyn Nets, and vs. Los Angeles Clippers (11-21). 

Of those 17 games, 11 are against teams with losing records. That helps a lot. Getting the Nets and Bucks twice while also getting the Pelicans and Clippers is nice. In many ways, the biggest challenge is this upcoming four game Eastern Conference trip to face the Cavaliers, Nets, 76ers, and Celtics. If they can get a split on this trip, they should be feeling good when they come back home to face the Hawks and Bucks. 

Overall, I think the Nuggets will be fine provided Jokic does indeed return come February. The schedule is pretty light and I have confidence in Murray and Gordon as well as the rest of the team to do their job. Plus, being in 3rd place, the Nuggets have built a bit of a buffer to handle a stretch like this. They should certainly hope to get Jokic back as soon as possible, but having to play without him for a month isn't something they should be freaking out about, either. 

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Looking back on Michael Jordan's Christmas Day performances

 

                                              (Credit: Focus on Sport/Getty Images) 

Michael Jordan was an early marquee attraction for the NBA's Christmas Day action. Admittedly, when I think of Michael Jordan and Christmas, I think of that cardboard cutout of him in the fake party scene of Home Alone. While he did his part to keep the McCallister home safe, he also had some memorable moments on the hardwood during this festive time of year. Here's a look back at how MJ performed on December 25th. 

The first time Air Jordan played on Christmas Day was in 1986 on the road against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Jordan scored 30 points on 10-28 shooting from the field and 10-12 shooting from the foul line while also having three rebounds, five assists, six steals, and two blocks. Jordan stuffed the stat sheet like Santa Clause stuffing stockings. Unfortunately for him and the Bulls, the Knicks came out on top 86-85, led by Patrick Ewing, who had a ridiculous performance of his own: 28 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks. 

The next time his Royal Airness laced up his high-tops on Christmas Day was in 1990 against the Detroit Pistons. This time the Bulls were at home. Jordan exploded for 37 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks as the Bulls won by a final score of 98-86. Joe Dumars had 24 points for the Pistons while Isiah Thomas had 23 points and 10 assists. Both guys played well, but they were no match for Jordan on that day. The Bulls would go on to win their first NBA championship later that season. The Bulls' dynasty was just taking flight as Jordan was starting to enter the prime of his career. 

The following year in 1991, fresh off their first title, the Bulls returned to the Christmas Day stage with a 121-99 victory at home over the Boston Celtics. Larry Bird was still on the Celtics, scoring eight points while adding eight rebounds and four assists. Rick Fox, yes you read that correctly, scored 21 points for the Celtics as their leading scorer. As for Michael Jordan, he had 14 points, eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks while Scottie Pippen had 27 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and four steals to lead the way. Jordan took more of a backseat role to Pippen in this game, but still had a strong performance. The Bulls would go on to win their second straight NBA title later that season. 

En route to their third straight NBA championship in 1993, the Bulls played on Christmas Day, 1992 against the Knicks. This time it was at home after playing in New York in 1986. The Bulls won 89-77 as Jordan went off for 42 points to go along with eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Pippen also joined in on the party with 16 points, five assists, five steals, and three blocks. This was truly a Christmas Day performance of the ages for Jordan. He was in peak form and played like he was starring in his own rendition of Miracle on 34th Street: Windy City Edition. 

Jordan then retired after winning his third NBA championship. The Bulls would play on Christmas Day without him in 1993 and 1994, winning both games. In 1993, the Bulls defeated the Orlando Magic 95-93 at home as Pippen carried the load with 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. In 1994, the Bulls defeated the Knicks at home 107-104 in overtime as Pippen had 36 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, and two blocks. Pippen really balled out on Christmas Day when MJ was gone. He sure seemed to enjoy being the main man on the Bulls during those years. 

Oddly enough, the Bulls would not play on Christmas Day in 1995, the same season they went 72-10 and won their fourth championship. I guess since they weren't the defending NBA champions, the league decided to give them the holiday off. 

Jordan would return to spread holiday cheer on December 25th, 1996 against the Detroit Pistons in a game that was played in Chicago.  The Bulls won 95-83 as they were en route to their fifth championship. Jordan had 23 points and 10 rebounds in this game while Pippen had 27 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and two blocks. It was a fun day of holiday hoops at the United Center. 

Jordan's final Christmas Day game came on December 25th, 1997 against the Miami Heat at the United Center en route to their sixth NBA championship. The Bulls would win 90-80 as Jordan had 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Jamal Mashburn was the leading scorer for the Heat with 20 points. Given how he came to be the featured player on Christmas, it's fitting that Jordan's final game on this special holiday was a victory. He always cared about his fans and putting on a great show for them. He certainly did that in this game. 

To wrap this all up like a Christmas gift, I hope you had fun revisiting Michael Jordan's Christmas Day moments. It was fun for me to look back on how he performed. I wish everyone reading this a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. I'm looking forward to seeing what 2026 brings for the NBA! 

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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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