Saturday Slam: NBA players react to riots at the United States Capitol

 

                                             (Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/Reuters) 

The big news from this week is the horrifying riots that took place at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, January 6. On the day that the U.S. congress was set to ratify the 2020 presidential election results, a clan of wild-eyed Trump worshiping ruffians stormed the U.S. Capitol building in a mad panic, calling for the head of Mike Pence and desecrating everything in sight. As this barbaric scene was unfolding, Donald Trump was rooting it all on from the comforts of the White House, perplexed that more people around him weren't having fun watching the terror. 

What happened has elicited some strong reactions from members of congress, the media, everyday Americans, and people around the world. NBA players have also weighed in on what happened. Below are some of their reactions. 

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW???!! I know the answer to that. You still don't cause no matter what happens you still won't be judge, looked at crazy, chained, beaten, hung, shot to death cause of the color of your skin!!!! 2 AMERIKKKAS we live in and it was at FULL CAPACITY LIVE IN DIRECT yesterday in our Nations CAPITAL AT THE CAPITOL!! #IPrayForBetterDaysForMyPeople"-LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

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"An absolute disgrace what's happening at the U.S. Capitol right now. And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved." -Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers)

 

An absolute disgrace what’s happening at the US Capitol right now. And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved. 🗑🗑🗑

— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) January 6, 2021

 

 "Smh....."-Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)

Smh.....

— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) January 6, 2021

"I scan my timeline and keep seeing the word "embarrassing." I'm not embarrassed, I'm not surprised, or shocked even. Embarrassed would mean that I feel a sense of shame by what is going on. I have no such feeling. These people do not come close to being a representation of me. This is the epitome of white privilege and Trump's ideal ending to his presidency!!"-Garrett Temple (Chicago Bulls)

I scan my timeline and keep seeing the word “embarrassing.” I’m not embarrassed, I’m not surprised, or shocked even. Embarrassed would mean that I feel a sense of shame by what is going on. I have no such feeling. These people do not come close to being a representation of me 🤷🏾‍♂️

— Garrett Temple (@GTemp17) January 6, 2021

This is the epitome of white privilege and Trumps ideal ending to his presidency!!

— Garrett Temple (@GTemp17) January 6, 2021

 

"There is literally a tweet for everything. Cat got your tongue today huh?" -Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

 

There is literally a tweet for everything. Cat got your tongue today huh? https://t.co/yKd8dgm2wn

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) January 6, 2021

 

"Taking a knee is disrespectful to America but storming the capital is not. What defines an act of terrorism? What's more un-American than storming the capital"-Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics) 

 Taking a knee is disrespectful to America but storming the capital is not

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) January 7, 2021

What defines an act of terrorism ? What’s more un-American than storming the capital

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) January 7, 2021 

 

There were more Twitter and social media reactions than the just the ones I shared. Many other players as well as coaches expressed frustration, but I feel like the above quotes should give you a pretty good snapshot of what was said. The NBA is a league that is really trying to make a difference in terms of social justice, so it comes as no surprise that players would react as strongly as they did. 

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Saturday Slam: Making sense of how coronavirus is affecting the hoops world

One of the main industries that has been affected by the coronavirus a.k.a. COVID-19, is sports. Especially sports that are in season. Basketball in particular has taken a hit as the NBA has suspended its season for 30 days while the NCAA Tournament has been canceled. What's been weird to see is how everything went from "we'll play the games and see how things play out" to "we'll play the games with no fans and only essential personnel" to "shut it down, let's go home" to borrow the words of Dirk Nowitzki.

I understand we need to take this virus seriously, wash our hands more often, stay inside if we feel sick, but what exactly accounts for the rapid change in approaches? Did the virus suddenly become more dangerous? Did the virus team up with the Black Plague? What happened? There's not really a good answer to that question.

The only thing that seems to have tipped everything is the news that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell both have the coronavirus. It was actually Gobert testing positive that set everything in motion. It wasn't until later that we also learned about Mitchell. As soon as Gobert tested positive, the Jazz-Thunder game at Oklahoma City was suspended and then the NBA immediately decided to suspend its season.

From there, the Pac-12, SEC, Big East, and other NCAA conferences made the decision to cancel their tournaments. After that, the NCAA decided to cancel the NCAA Tournament, ruining that one shining moment that every college basketball player dreams about. From there, the NHL made the decision to suspend their season and now we find ourselves in a world where every major sports league from golf to tennis to soccer to baseball is suspended indefinitely. On top of that, the schools are all shutting down, etc.

One has to wonder if Rudy Gobert hadn't tested positive if the NCAA Tournament would still be planned to be played in front of no fans. I'm not blaming Gobert. It's not his fault. But it is a fact that his positive test for coronavirus seems to have been the one singular event that tipped everything over the edge both in the world of sports and the world at large.

It's a little ironic in that earlier in the week Gobert was joking about how the whole virus was being blown out of proportion, touching microphones and all to prove a point. I sympathize with his feelings, but there's a lesson here. If you think something like this is absurd, keep it to yourself. Otherwise, your actions may come back to haunt you.

But anyways, moving on from Gobert, we now live in a world where the NBA has been suspended for at least 30 days while the NCAA Tournament has been canceled. As a basketball fan, it's incredibly frustrating. The NCAA Tournament in particular is a special event and to have it called off just feels wrong. It's like a big part of our year has been sucked down the drain and there's nothing we can do about it aside from voice our complaints and hope somebody more important than us takes our complaints seriously.

Personally, I wish the NCAA Tournament would instead plan to resume in May or something along those lines. The NBA can change the date of its draft to accommodate those that want to play in the tournament while the NCAA I think can make a one-time exception given these unique circumstances. Jay Bilas expressed frustration about this very point earlier in the week. Like, why cancel? Why not postpone? Why not at least leave the door open for the tournament to resume? If canceling is necessary, why is that the only option?

The NCAA needs to give us an answer because so far, they've handled this whole thing very poorly. To go from "we'll play with no fans" to  "we're not playing at all" thing is just silly. It shows nobody knows what's actually going on and everyone is just hopping on the bandwagon to cancel stuff because it's the only course of action they can think of or are willing to follow through with.

Anyways, I hope this all blows over sooner than later. People are being affected in a very real way by this. They're losing money, losing work, etc. We as a society need to come together to mitigate the damage as much as possible. That's why it's nice to see Zion Williamson, Kevin Love, and many NBA and NHL team owners volunteer to pay the expenses of those who work at these games while they're out of work. It's a very nice gesture and is the kind of gesture that's going to get us through this.

For those that are reading this, my final piece of advice to all of you is to stay calm. Don't chug bleach and freak out. Wash your hands more, stay inside if you are feeling sick, and keep a safe distance from people. That is a good place to start. But don't be afraid to go outside and maybe help a small business in your neighborhood by buying a cup of coffee or a sandwich. Sanity and calmness will get us through this. Panic and hysteria will only make things worse. Be part of the solution and not the problem. If you know people that are freaking out, don't make fun of them. Help them. Try to calm them down. Simple acts of kindness will go a long ways.

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Wednesday Windmill: Which Eastern Conference teams should make a move before the NBA trade deadline?

The NBA trade deadline is on Thursday at 3:00 PM EST. Yesterday I did a breakdown of which Western Conference teams should consider a move before the trade deadline (click here to check it out) and today I'll address the Eastern Conference. Same drill as yesterday, I'll address the teams in order of where they sit in the standings. Also, on the NBA Lord Twitter and Facebook pages, I will be providing updates on trades and all that jazz.

#1. Milwaukee Bucks (43-7): The Bucks have the best record in the NBA, led by the Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo. Considering how well they're playing, I don't think they have much of a need to make a move. They do have a few guys on expiring contracts in Kyle Korver, Sterling Brown, and Pat Connaughton, so those are chips they could use in a trade if they so like. But, I would expect the Bucks to more or less stay the way they are. When you're the best in the league, why mess with what you have?

#2. Toronto Raptors (36-14): Marc Gasol, Kyle Lowry, and Serge Ibaka are all on expiring contracts so in theory, the Raptors could go wild and unload their stars for future assets and all. But that would be a strange thing to do when they are once again a legit contender in the Eastern Conference. I would be very surprised if the Raptors made any major move before the trade deadline.

#3. Boston Celtics (34-15): The Celtics have Brad Wanamaker on an expiring contract. Aside from the players they have on two-way contracts (which I don't really count as expiring contracts), that's all they have in terms of players on expiring deals. That means the Celtics don't really have anyone to unload. Given that they are third in the East and that everyone seems to be gelling well, I expect the Celtics to stay as is come the trade deadline. If the Celtics were to make a move, it would be to shore up their front court. So perhaps, they do move Gordon Hayward or something along those lines, but I highly doubt it.

#4. Miami Heat (34-15): The Heat have Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard, Derrick Jones, Jr., and Udonis Haslem on expiring contracts. Haslem is a Heat for life, so he isn't going anywhere. Dragic is one of their top players, averaging 16.0 points and 5.0 assists per game, so I don't see him getting moved. As for Leonard and Jones, maybe the Heat will move both of them in order to get a better player or land some draft picks for next year. But, I would expect those guys to stay put as well.

As for the rest of their roster, I'm sure the Heat would love to unload Dion Waiters, but I don't see them finding a home for him. He's pretty toxic. One name to keep an eye on KZ Okpala. The Heat are trying to develop him, but perhaps they can sell some other team on his upside and get some assets back for him. The bottom line is I'm not feeling a trade coming from the Heat, but there are enough possible routes for them that one may emerge.

#5. Indiana Pacers (31-19): The Pacers have a few minor players on expiring contracts in JaKarr Sampson, Alize Johnson, and Justin Holiday. Their big addition around this time of year is getting Victor Oladipo healthy. I don't see the Pacers making a move at the deadline, but given that they have some players on expiring contracts, maybe they move one of them.

#6. Philadelphia 76ers (31-20): The players who the 76ers have on expiring contracts are Kyle O'Quinn, Trey Burke, and Raul Neto. Similar to the Pacers, pretty minor players. Also like the Pacers, I don't find a trade likely for the 76ers. Maybe they move one of their more minor players on an expiring contract to get some assets back or something, but that's the extent of what I see them doing. Maybe they'll prove me wrong.

#7. Brooklyn Nets (22-27): Joe Harris is on an expiring contract as is Wilson Chandler. It's a possibility that the Nets move one of them, but in truth, the Nets are really eying next year and the return of Kevin Durant. Given that, I don't expect the Nets to be active at the trade deadline, but if they were to make a move, it would likely involve Harris or Chandler. Teams have been inquiring about Spencer Dinwiddie (21.3 points per game), but I find it unlikely that the Nets will move him. Once again, the Nets are looking ahead to next year. This isn't the year for them to get aggressive at the trade deadline.

#8. Orland Magic (22-28): D.J. Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams are both on expiring contracts, so it's possible that one of them gets moved. Aaron Gordon is another name that has popped up in trade rumors, offering more value than either Augustin or Carter-Williams. The Magic are in a weird spot where they're on the cusp of making the playoffs while also knowing that this season isn't a year where they're likely to make noise in the playoffs. One thing I will say is they have a lot of guards and both Augustin and Carter-Williams are guards. They could use some front court help, so maybe that's a direction they'll go. We'll see.

#9. Chicago Bulls (19-33): The Bulls have a couple players on expiring contracts in Kris Dunn and Shaquille Harrison. Neither player is doing much for the Bulls, but perhaps a change of scenery will do them good. Especially Dunn, a former top five pick. However, Dunn is out with an MCL sprain and that could ward off some teams from trading for him. Expect the Bulls to stay silent, but maybe they'll find Dunn a better situation and get some draft picks in return.

#10. Washington Wizards (17-32): Ian Mahinmi, Isaiah Thomas, and Davis Bertans are on expiring deals. Bertans is the most interesting one, having a breakout year with his 15.0 points per game. If the Wizards don't think they can re-sign him or afford him in the summer, good odds they move him and get something back for him. A lot of playoff level teams would love to add him. Don't be shocked if the Wizards unload Bertans. It would actually make a lot of sense for them to do so.

#11. Detroit Pistons (18-34): The Pistons and Suns were rumored to be discussing a deal sending Luke Kennard to Phoenix, but reports are now saying those talks have hit an impasse. Andre Drummond has also come up in trade rumors. Neither are on expiring contracts, so maybe the Pistons hold off on moving them for now. Reggie Jackson, Langston Galloway, Thon Maker, Markieff Morris, Christian Wood, Tim Frazier, and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk are all on expiring deals, giving the Pistons a lot of different options there. I would say odds are above 50 percent that the Pistons get involved in some move, but of what nature is hard to foresee.

#12. Charlotte Hornets (16-35): The Hornets have Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marvin Williams, Willy Hernangomez, Dwayne Bacon, and Ray Spalding on expiring deals. None of those guys have a ton of value, but there are decent odds the Hornets find a home for one of them. Especially if they are willing to help facilitate a three-team trade.

#13. New York Knicks (15-36): The Knicks have Marcus Morris, Allonzo Trier, Damyean Dotson, and Kadeem Allen on expiring deals. Morris (19.3 points per game) is their leading scorer, so he could offer a ton of value to a playoff contending team. If the Knicks can get a lot back for him, he would make sense to move. My intuition is the Knicks will look to make a deal at the deadline, but it will come down to what other teams want back, etc. Look for the Knicks do something if they can. I know they've been eying Warriors guard D'Angelo Russell. Maybe something happens there.

#14. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-38): Tristan Thompson, Brandon Knight, John Henson, Matthew Dellavedova, Ante Zizic, and Dean Wade are on expiring deals, so there's a lot of routes the Cavaliers can go. Kevin Love's name has popped up as well, but given his contract situation, I find it unlikely he gets moved. If the Cavaliers do make a move, it likely will involve one of the guys on an expiring deal. But you never know, maybe they'll do something unexpected with Love.

#15. Atlanta Hawks (13-38): The Hawks just made a move last night, acquiring Clint Capela from the Rockets in a 4-team, 12 player deal. Click here for details. Alex Len, Jeff Teague (who they traded for from Minnesota earlier this year), DeAndre Bembry, Damian Jones, Treveon Graham, Brandon Goodwin, Charlie Brown, Jr., and Vince Carter are all on expiring deals, so there's a lot of other moves they might make before this trade deadline is over.

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NBALord.com Central Division Preview

Up next in my division preview series is the Central Division, home to the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Milwaukee Bucks.

After years of rebuilding and putting the right pieces together, the Milwaukee Bucks finally appear to have a team capable of doing some serious damage. They're 8-2 at the moment and anything but a fluke. Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 26.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game on 53.6% shooting from the field, making him one of the most dangerous players in the NBA. In addition to "The Greek Freak", Khris Middleton is averaging 19.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.3% shooting from 3-point range while guards Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon give the Bucks some additional weapons in the back court.

What is perhaps most remarkable about the Bucks' 8-2 start is the fact that they're doing this without Jabari Parker, who signed a two-year, $40M contract with the Chicago Bulls last summer.  Parker was viewed as an integral part of their future and for them to be playing such stellar basketball with him no longer a part of their plans is a testament to how good "The Greek Freak" is and also how smart their front office is. Most teams would have had a hard time parting ways with a guy of Parker's caliber, but the Bucks' recognized they could succeed without him and appear to have no reason to second guess their decision.

With the Eastern Conference wide open, the Bucks have to be viewed as serious contenders to reach the NBA Finals. Gianni Antetokounmpo is arguably the best player in the NBA and he seems ready to lead his team deep in the playoffs. This is undoubtedly shaking up to be the most exciting season in Milwaukee in a very long time.

Led by Victor Oladipo, the Indiana Pacers have one of the more balanced and deep teams in the NBA. In addition to Oladipo, who is averaging 22.5 points per game, the Pacers have five players scoring in double figures per game (Thaddeus Young, Bojan Bogdanovic, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and Tyreke Evans). This depth and balance allows them to compete with teams that have more talented players.

Where the Pacers really do damage is with their efficient shooting and ability to force turnovers. They are 4th in the NBA in field goal percentage (49.3%) and tied for 6th in steals (8.5 steals per game). They do a really good job of finding easy baskets for one another, making them tough to stop when they have the ball.

While the Pacers are not a team picked to reach the NBA Finals, they do have the pieces to win a series and make some noise in the playoffs. Especially if they are able to get home court advantage for the first round and stay healthy. Few teams have the depth and balance that they have, making them one of the more intriguing teams in the NBA.

The Detroit Pistons are led by Blake Griffin, who so far seems to be enjoying his time in the motor city. Griffin is averaging 28.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season while Andre Drummond is averaging 17.6 points and 15.4 rebounds. Together, Griffin and Drummond form a very formidable front court, making it hard for any team to get rebounds and find success in the paint.

The problem for the Pistons is their lack of depth. Reggie Jackson is a nice player as is Ish Smith, but after that it really starts to tail off. The Pistons need one more weapon in order to be really competitive. The hope for them has been that Stanley Johnson will be that additional weapon, but so far he doesn't appear to be up to the task.

With Griffin and Drummond at the helm, the Pistons should be in the mix to make a playoff appearance, but that's the extent to which I see them succeeding. Those guys simply need more help and right now they don't have it.

Zach LaVine is having a really nice season for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 26.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while Jabari Parker is averaging 14.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. The Bulls hope that with LaVine and Parker as their core for the future, they can start to move in the right direction.

While they do have some promising pieces like Justin Holiday and Wendell Carter, Jr. in addition to LaVine and Parker, this Bulls team is too young to make any noise this season. They have some growing pains to go through this season before they see the fruit of their labors.

For the Bulls, the main thing to see is if LaVine and Parker can both stay healthy. They've had injury issues in the past, casting doubt on their abilities to carry a franchise. If they are able to play the bulk of the games without incurring any serious injury, it should be a good season in the Windy City regardless of what the team's record is.

In the post-LeBron James era, the Cleveland Cavaliers are expected to struggle. They decided to fire Tyronn Lue early in the season and Kevin Love is out for an extended period of time due to a toe/foot problem. Such a combination is certain to yield a lot of losses. So long as Love is out, this team is going to struggle to find any sort of identity as he is the best player they have.

The main thing to look for this year in Cleveland is how well rookie point guard Collin Sexton performs and who else looks like a good piece to put around him. A combination of Kevin Love and Collin Sexton could be intriguing, but they aren't enough to make this team competitive. They need some pieces around them.

I personally see this as a year of cleaning house in Cleveland. Tyronn Lue won't be the last to go. They'll probably look to find trading partners for J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson and hope to get some assets back that they can use to build for the future. Whether or not they'll find any takers remains to be seen, but they should at least try.

What's frustrating for the Cavaliers is they are cellar dwellers again, but at least they won a championship in the LeBron James era. They've overall had a good run, but now it's time for them to start from scratch and build a team that can once again compete.

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Saturday Slam: Can the Cleveland Cavaliers win in Boston without Kevin Love?

                                          (David Richard-USA TODAY Sports). 

On Sunday at 8:30 PM EST on ESPN, the Cleveland Cavaliers will try to steal a Game 7 in Boston against the Celtics to reach the NBA Finals. LeBron James is coming off a heroic Game 6 performance in which he scored 46 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists. He'll look to have a similar type of performance once again in a hostile environment. The big news going into Game 7 is the absence of Kevin Love, who is currently in the NBA's concussion protocol. Given that the Cavaliers lost their first three games in Boston by an average of 17 points, it's really hard to imagine them winning on Sunday without Love, who's been averaging 17.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game this season.

Earlier in the week, I wrote a piece about how tough the Celtics are to beat in Boston. While they've struggled on the road, they've been lights out at home. The whole team plays much better and really feeds off the energy from their home fans. Even if the Cavaliers were going into this game at full strength, it would still be dicey to pick them to win. But without Love, it just doesn't seem possible given all the numbers.

So, with that all being the case, why even write about the topic? Kevin Love is out and the Celtics are unbeatable at home. That means no chance for the Cavaliers, right?

As much as I want to guarantee that the Celtics will win on Sunday, the reason I cannot make such a guarantee is because the Cavaliers have LeBron James, who is the best player in the league. We've seen James carry his team on his back against all odds and to think he can't do it again would be disrespectful and foolish. While I do believe the Celtics should be favored to win tomorrow because of how tough they've been at home, that doesn't mean I believe the Cavaliers have no shot. So long as they have James out there, they have a shot. He's that good.

                                          (David Richard-USA TODAY Sports) 


Now, that all stated, James can't literally win this game by himself. He's going to need help from both his teammates and the Celtics. With Love out, J.R. Smith and Kyle Korver are both going to need to step up and get in a nice rhythm early on. If those guys are both able to heat up from beyond the arc, that will really help take the pressure off of James. In addition to those two guys, the Cavaliers will need to do a good job defending and controlling the glass. Tristan Thompson will need to have a big night on the glass and really limit the Celtics' second chance scoring opportunities.

In regards to the Celtics, they're going to need to help James out by choking, which could happen. They are a young team who hasn't been in this position before. It would be really easy for their young guys to tense up a bit and not play their best basketball. It will be key for the Celtics to come out of the gates strong and shake off their nerves. If they're playing tight basketball early on, that will really help LeBron James and the rest of the Cavaliers build the necessary confidence to steal this game.

My prediction for this game is that the Celtics will win because the odds say that they will. They're unbeaten at home in the playoffs and as such deserve to be favored. That said, if there's anyone who can beat the odds and pull off the upset, it's LeBron James. This is why I'll be tuning in to watch with keen interest.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Recapping Games 1 & 2 of the NBA Finals

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, I recap Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, I discuss what a lopsided playoffs means for the NBA, and why the Golden State Warriors are built, not bought. Click here to listen to the podcast. 

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2016 NBA Finals Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

       On Thursday, June 2 at 9:00 PM EST on ABC, the 2016 NBA Finals will tipoff in Oakland, California. The Golden State Warriors will begin their quest to defend their title and the Cleveland Cavaliers will begin their quest for revenge after falling to the Warriors in the NBA Finals a year ago. This should shape up to be a very competitive series that could go either way.

     For the Golden State Warriors, the key to winning this series is getting into a rhythm offensively and keeping LeBron James and Kyrie Irving contained to the best of their ability. As for the Cavaliers, the key to this series will be to get LeBron James the help he needs and also disrupt the Warriors' offensive flow. I will expand on all four of these keys to the series.

     In regards to the Warriors getting into a rhythm offensively, they thrive when everyone is sharing the basketball and getting open looks. Everybody needs to get rolling: Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, etc. While it is true that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the guys who need to put up most of the points, they won't be able to score in the way that they need to if nobody else is able to get into a rhythm. When guys like Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, and Shaun Livingston are finding ways to score, suddenly the defense can't guard Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in the way that they want to and that is when those two guys are able to do their thing.

     As far as keeping LeBron James and Kyrie Irving contained, this won't be easy, but the Warriors definitely have the pieces to accomplish this task. Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green are elite defenders while Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are excellent defenders who don't get the credit that they deserve in this aspect of their game. It will definitely be a team effort to keep LeBron and Kyrie contained, but the Warriors do a great job at playing team defense, getting stops, and creating opportunities to score in transition.

     As for the Cavaliers, the biggest key for them is getting LeBron James the help that he needs. If LeBron James has to be superman again, they won't win this series. Kyrie Irving needs to produce at an elite level and Kevin Love, who I am yet to mention, has to play consistent. He doesn't need to put up 30 points or anything like that, but he does need to score at least 20 points a night and provide the Cavaliers with some sort of offensive post presence.

     Plus, guys like J.R. Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, Channing Frye, and Tristan Thompson all have to play their roles to a T. Smith and Frye have to knock down threes and stretch the defense, Thompson has to crash the glass and play good defense inside, and Dellavedova has to play good defense on the perimeter while also knocking down open shots. If those guys are able to do what they are supposed to do and if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are able to come up big, LeBron James will have all the help he needs to lead the Cavaliers to their first ever NBA championship.

     As for preventing the Warriors from getting into a flow, the biggest thing the Cavaliers need to do is make shots and control the glass. Doing these two things will prevent the Warriors from getting out in transition, which is where they thrive. The Cavaliers have to be as efficient as possible offensively and do whatever they can to get rebounds. If they don't do these things, they they'll be in serious trouble.

     In terms of predicting an outcome, I got the Warriors winning this series in 7 games. I cannot pick against a defending championship team that won 73 games and won 3 straight games against the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the Western Conference title. The way the Warriors battled to win that series was incredible and certainly should make them the favorites to win this series. The Cavaliers were impressive against the Raptors as well, but the Warriors were even more impressive against a much more difficult opponent.

     I certainly believe the Cavaliers can win this series since I picked them to win the title last year and unlike last year, they are healthy this time. It's just that the Warriors have this aura of invincibility about them and they also have the home court advantage. When the going gets tough, the Warriors keep finding ways to rise to the occasion and I trust that should the going get tough for them against the Cavaliers, they will find a way to pull through once more.

     Note: Click here to see the full 2016 NBA Finals schedule

Daily Dunks: 6/22-6/28

                                                   (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for image). 

Here is my Daily Dunks page for June 22, 2015 through June 28, 2015. Throughout the week, this page will be updated with all the latest news, scores, and rumors from the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Nets have extended a qualifying offer to Mirza Teletovic, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#2. Thaddeus Young is opting out of his contract with the Nets (Click here for details).

#3. Jameer Nelson will out out of his contract with the Nuggets (Click here for details).

#4. Dwight Howard is leaving adidas to sign with the Chinese brand Peak (Click here for details).

#5. Contrary to other reports, the Heat won't have a meeting with Dwayne Wade this week (Click here for details).

#6. The Pistons are interested in Knicks swingman Tim Hardaway, Jr. (Click here for details).

#7. Raymond Felton exercised his contract option to remain with the Mavericks (Click here for details).

#8. Paul Pierce is opting out of his contract with the Wizards. The  Clippers are a possible destination for him (Click here for details).

#9. The city of Charlotte will host the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend (Click here for details).

#10. The Lakers want to trade for Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (Click here for details).

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Nuggets extended a $1.2M qualifying offer to guard Will Barton, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#2. The Kings' front office insists DeMarcus Cousins is going nowhere (Click here for details).

#3. Goran Dragic opted out of his contract with the Heat (Click here to see them).

#4. George Karl wants the Kings to trade DeMarcus Cousins according to reports. Specifically for Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried of the Nuggets (Click here for details). Keep in mind that the Kings' front office says Cousins is going nowhere.

#5. The Cavaliers picked up Timofey Mozgov's option (Click here for details).

#6. The Kings and Rajon Rondo have mutual interest in each other. The Kings are said to be shopping Rudy Gay to make a deal happen (Click here for details).

#7. The Bucks are shopping Michael Carter-Williams and John Henson to trade up in the draft (Click here for details).

#8. The Nets are trying to unload Mason Plumlee (Click here for details).

#9. The Suns have offered point guard Eric Bledsoe to the Knicks for the #4 overall pick (Click here for details).

#10. Andrei Kirilenko has officially retired (Click here for details).

Tuesday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Mystics 84 Sparks 80: Final. Mystics forward Tiffany Ruffin-PRatt had 20 points and 5 rebounds.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Kevin Love is opting out of his contract with the Cavaliers. LeBron James reportedly won't recruit him back (Click here for details).

#2. The Hawks unveiled new uniforms (Click here to see them).

#3. The Grizzlies traded the rights to small forward Janis Timma to the Magic for point guard Luke Ridnour (Click here for details).

#4. The Raptors are getting their own D-League team which will play in Mississauga, Ontario (Click here for details).

#5. Ed Davis opted out of his $1.1M deal with the Lakers. He will be a free agent (Click here for details).

#6. David West is opting out of his contract with the Pacers (Click here for details).

#7. Monta Ellis has opted out of his contract with the Mavericks and will become a free agent (Click here for details).

#8. J.R. Smith has opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers, but it looks like he'll stay with the team (Click here for details).

#9. The Rockets picked up small forward Kostas Papanikolaou's $4.8M option (Click here for details).

#10. The Trail Blazers traded Nicolas Batum to the Hornets for Gerald Henderson and Noah Vonleh (Click here for details). The Hornets also traded Matt Barnes to the Thunder for Jeremy Lamb (Click here for details).

#11. Note: The NBA Draft is Thursday at 7:00 PM ET on ESPN.

Wednesday's WNBA Final Scores: 
Sky 100 Dream 96: Final/OT. Sky forward Elena Delle Donne had a career-high 45 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The NBA Draft is over (Click here to view the picks and trades from the draft).

#2. The Trail Blazers traded Arizona forward Ronade Hollis-Jefferson and guard Steve Blake to the Nets for forward Mason Plumlee and Notre Dame shooting guard Pat Connaughton (Click here for details).

#3. The Knicks traded Tim Hardaway, Jr. to the Hawks (Click here for details).

#4. The Raptors traded Greivis Vasquez to the Bucks (Click here for details).

#5. Report: LaMarcus Aldridge has told the Trail Blazers he won't re-sign with them (Click here for details).

#6. The Trail Blazers plan to pay Damian Lillard whatever he wants (Click here for details).

#7. Luke Ridnour is going to the Thunder, Matt Barnes is going to the Grizzlies, and Jeremy Lamb is going to the Hornets (Click here for details).

#8. Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson believes he is on his way to the Kings (Click here for details).

#9. After opting out of his contract wit the Pacers, David West could be heading to the Knicks (Click here for details).

#10. Roy Hibbert has exercised his $15.5M option to stay with the Pacers for next season. They might trade him before the trade deadline (Click here for details).

Thursday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Stars 76 Mercury 71. Lynx 76 Storm 73.

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Pistons are guaranteeing Anthony Tolliver's $3M contract for next season (Click here for details).

#2. LeBron James will opt out of his contract with the Cavaliers, but he's expected to stay with the team (Click here for details).

#3. Carmelo Anthony is unhappy that the Knicks drafted Kristaps Porzingis (Click here for details). However, Carmelo has denied these reports. He says he is happy with the pick (Click here for his comments).

#4. Serbian forward Nemanja Bjelica, Euroleague MVP, is expected to join the Timberwolves for next season (Click here for details).

#5. 76ers GM Sam Hinke expects Dario Saric to join the team in the summer of 2016 (Click here for details).

#6. The Spurs rejected trade offers for Tiago Splitter (Click here for details).

#7. The Spurs reportedly are operating under the assumption that Tim Duncan comes back next season (Click here for details).

#8. Knicks president Phil Jackson says a scout called Kristaps Porzingis a "once in a lifetime player" to draft (Click here for details).

#9. Restricted free agent forward Tobias Harris wants max money and the Magic aren't likely to match (Click here for details).

#10. Cavaliers GM David Griffin says LeBron James is conferring with him daily about the team's roster (Click here for details).

Friday's WNBA Scores: 

Sun 80 Sparks 76. Sky 83 Fever 77. Dream 72 Mystics 69. Shock 71 Liberty 62.

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The 76ers are demanding money from the Lakers for misinforming them about Andrew Bynum (Click here for details).

#2. Former Villanova power forward Jason Fraser is joining the Suns as a player development coach (Click here for details).

#3. Former Trail Blazers point guard Sergio Rodriguez is contemplating an NBA comeback (Click here for details).

#4. Kings owner Vivek Ranadive reportedly gave DeMarcus Cousins' agent permission to seek a trade (Click here for details).

#5. Greg Monroe has free agent meetings set up with a few teams. None of those teams are the Pistons (Click here for details).

#6. Cavaliers GM David Griffin is open to re-signing J.R. Smith (Click here for details).

#7. Magic rookie Mario Hezonja's contract with FC Barcelona will be bought out by Monday (Click here for details).

#8. The Celtics extended a qualifying offer to Jae Crowder, making him a restricted free agent (Click here for details).

#9. The Suns will keep Jon Leuer and pay him $1M for next season (Click here for details).

#10. Report: The Warriors will likely pick up Marreese Speights' $3.8M option (Click here for details).

Saturday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Lynx 71 Mercury 56. Stars 73 Storm 71.

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Suns are expected to go after Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge (Click here for details).

#2. Brandon Knight reportedly will re-sign with the Suns for 5 years, $70M (Click here for details).

#3. Marc Stein reports that if point guard Brandon Knight re-signs with the Suns long-term, odds are good that the team will shop point guard Eric Bledsoe (Click here for details).

#4. The Mavericks are reportedly the most likely team to lure DeAndre Jordan away from the Clippers (Click here for details).

#5. Manu Ginobili will announce his decision on his future in an Argentine newspaper (Click here for details).

#6. Kevin Garnett will "definitely re-sign" with the Timberwolves according to TwinCities.com. TwinCities.com also adds that Flip Saunders will remain as the team's head coach (Click here for details).

#7. The Heat will not pick up Michael Beasley's $1.3M option for next season (Click here for details).

#8. Marc Gasol reportedly has no interest in joining the Lakers in free agency (Click here for details).

#9. The 76ers have been fined $3M by the NBA for not disclosing Jrue Holiday's leg fracture to the Pelicans when they traded him (Click here for details).
7
#10. The Magic have declined to pick up Ben Gordon's $4.5M option for next season (Click here for details).


Sunday's WNBA Final Scores: 

Liberty 79 Sparks 70. Mystics 86 Sky 71. Shock 93 Storm 89.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord and like my Facebook  page NBA Lord Nation to keep on top of the NBA 

Daily Dunks: 5/25-5/31

(Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source)

     Here is my Daily Dunks page for May 25, 2015 through May 31, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with news from across the NBA as well as scores and highlights. So be sure to check this page every day until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week. 

Monday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. LeBron James wants the Cavaliers to keep Tristan Thompson long-term (Click here for details). 

#2. Dwight Howard could get his flagrant 1 foul on Andrew Bogut upgraded to a Flagrant 2 and get a suspension (Click here for details). 

#3. The NBA Finals will start June 4. The NBA won't move up the date (Click here for details). 

#4. There is a rumor that Paul Pierce will opt out of his contract with the Wizards and go join the Clippers (Click here for details). 

#5. Jason Terry plans to come back for another NBA season and the Rockets want him back (Click here for details). 

#6. The Pacers are working out center Stanko Barac in June, whose rights they acquired (Click here for details). 

#7. Hawks small forward Kyle Korver awaits a second opinion on his ankle. Surgery is a possibility (Click here for details). 

#8. The Celtics will ask Isaiah Thomas for help with getting free agents. (Click here for details). 

#9. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry injured his head in Game 4 against the Rockets. He was diagnosed with a head contusion and he did return to the game (Click here for details). 

#10. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 45 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

Monday's NBA Playoff Results: 

Rockets 128 Warriors 115. Warriors lead the Western Conference Finals 3-1. 

Tuesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Grizzlies point guard Beno Udrih will undergo ankle surgery (Click here for details). 

#2. Orlando Sanchez will join the Raptors for Summer League (Click here for details). 

#3. Teams are inquiring about Nets forward Mason Plumleee with the belief that the Nets are willing to move him (Click here for details). 

#4. The Nets parted ways with assistant GM Bobby Marks, who had been with the franchise for 20 years (Click here for details). 

#5. Kevin Love has been medically cleared to travel with the Cavaliers (Click here for details). 

#6. Tom Thibodeau's contract with the Bulls contains offset language (Click here for details). 

#7. There is a report that Scott Skiles will be the new head coach of the Magic. But the team hasn't officially announced anything (Click here for details). 

#8. The Clippers are looking to acquire a draft pick (Click here for details). 

#9. Ty Lawson and Kennet Faried want out of Denver unless the Nuggets pull of an insane trade (Click here for details). 

#10. Nazr Mohammed plans to play for another season (Click here for details). 

Tuesday's NBA Playoff Results: 

Cavaliers 118 Hawks 88 (Cavaliers win the Eastern Conference Finals 4-0 and advance to their 2nd ever NBA Finals). Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. 

Wednesday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Mavericks are interested in doing a sign and trade for DeAndre Jordan (Click here for details). 

#2. The Pelicans have interviewed Jeff Van Gundy for their head coaching position (Click here for details). 

#3. Hawks small forward DeMarre Carroll won't need knee surgery (Click here for details). 

#4. Hawks power forward Paul Millsap has a sprained right shoulder which may require surgery (Click here for details). 

#5. Hawks point guard Shelvin Mack needs surgery for a separated right shoulder (Click here for details). 

#6.  The Bulls, Pelicans, and Clippers are interested in Royce White for Summer League (Click here for details). 

#7. The Knicks are strongly considering drafting Willie Cauley-Stein with the #4 pick (Click here for details). 

#8. The Suns are exploring the possibility of trading their first round pick (Click here for details). 

#9. The Bulls reportedly are getting close to firing Tom Thibodeau (Click here for details). 

#10. Hawks shooting guard Kyle Korver had successful right ankle surgery. 3 months is his estimated recovery time (Click here for details). 

Wednesday's NBA Playoff Results: 

Warriors 104 Rockets 90 (Warriors win the Western Conference Finals 4-1 and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1975). Warriors forward Harrison Barnes had 24 points and 7 rebounds.

Thursday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

 #1. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson experienced concussion like symptoms after Game 5 against the Rockets. He couldn't drive home (Click here for details). 

#2. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson has been cleared to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which start June 4. He reportedly didn't have a concussion (Click here for details). 

#3. John Wall was kicked off of an airplane after one of his people threatened somebody (Click here for details). 

#4. The Bulls fired their head coach Tom Thibodeau (Click here for details). 

#5. Some Bulls players didn't want Tom Thibodeau back (Click here for details). 

#6. Grizzlies impending free agent center Kosta Koufos is receiving a lot of interest from other teams (Click here for details). 

#7. The Magic have interviewed Mike Woodson, but Scott Skiles is still the front runner for their head coaching job (Click here for details). 

#8. Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro may leave to take the AD job at St. John's University (Click here for details). 

#9. The Pelicans have interviewed Vinny Del Negro for their head coaching job (Click here for details). 

#10. Dwyane Wade and the Heat are far apart on contract negotiation talks. Wade could go elsewhere (Click here for details). 

NBA Finals: 

Game 1 between the Warriors and Cavaliers is next week: Thursday, June 4. 

Friday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Fred Hoiberg is looking like he'll be the next coach of the Bulls (Click here for details). 

#2. The Magic hired Scott Skiles as head coach (Click here for details). 

#3. Rockets center Dwight Howard has been suspended 1 game starting next season for his elbow to Andre Iguodala (Click here for details). 

#4. Kyrie Irving plans to start out defending Stephen Curry in the NBA Finals (Click here for details). 

#5. Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson has been diagnosed with a concussion and is out indefinitely (Click here for details). 

#6. Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao could make a surprise return for the NBA Finals (Click here for details). 

#7. The Suns made some changes to Jeff Hornacek's coaching staff. (Click here for details) 

#8. According to a report, projected #1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns won't work out for any NBA teams (Click here for details). 

#9. Doc Rivers says Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan get along great (Click here for details). 

#10. Alvin Gentry has had a second interview with the Pelicans (Click here for details). 

Saturday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Former NBA player Chris Gatling has been arrested on suspicion of committing credit card fraud (Click here for details). 

#2. There is now a biography for Lakers great Elgin Baylor (Click here for details). 

#3. Frank Isola reports that Fred Hoiberg has a 5 year, $25M deal in place with the Bulls to be their new head coach (Click here for details). 

#4. Tom Thibodeau is hurt by the Bulls' statement about his firing (Click here for details). 

#5. Andrew Bogut has some unkind words for Dwight Howard (Click here for details). 

#6. James Harden wants the Rockets to add another playmaker (Click here for details). 

#7. The Lakers are rumored to be a possible destination for Dwyane Wade (Click here for details). 

#8. The Pelicans hired Alvin Gentry as head coach (Click here for details). 

#9. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle plays some mean piano (Click here for a video). 

#10. Fun fact: Stephen Curry and LeBron James were born in the same hospital in Akron, Ohio (Click here for details). 

Sunday's NBA Daily Dunks: 

#1. Cavaliers shooting guard J.R. Smith expects to get open shots in the NBA Finals (Click here for details). 

#2. LeBron James says Kyrie Irving is a big reason he returned to Cleveland (Click here for details). 

#3. Lakers power forward Julius Randle believes he is 100% (Click here for details). 

#4. Cavaliers head coach David Blatt says Kyrie Irving isn't himself yet (Click here for details). 

#5. Brian Shaw is interested in replacing Alvin Gentry on the Warriors' staff (Click here for details). 

#6. Kevin Love expects to be back with the Cavaliers next season (Click here for details). 

#7. In a letter to fans about the future, the Nets don't mention Deron Williams or Joe Johnson (Click here for details). 

#8. Shawn Marion reportedly nixed a trade that would have sent Kevin Garnett to the Suns in 2007. Marion's desire for max money is what nixed the deal (Click here for details). 

#9. Pau Gasol thanked Tom Thibodeau for being his coach (Click here for details). 

#10. Reminder: The NBA Finals starts on Thursday. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news