NBA – Page 10 – Mo and Sports

Steve Kerr addresses Warriors’ winless road trip as defending champions are 3-7 to start season

November 7, 2022November 8, 2022 Mosope

Jordan Poole, Steve Kerr head coach, and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors react during the first half of the game against the Detroit...

There are a few caveats involved, but the big story surrounds Golden State and how they’ve lost all six of their opening road games – the first time since 1997-98. The first defending champions to start with such a stat in league history, their 3-7 record is particularly grim but head coach Steve Kerr believes they’ll weather this surprising early storm as they have done in the past. Continue reading “Steve Kerr addresses Warriors’ winless road trip as defending champions are 3-7 to start season” →

NBA

Mavericks 129-125 Nets: Doncic again decisive, as Dallas slice through Brooklyn in overtime

October 28, 2022October 28, 2022 Mosope

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles against Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Barclays Center on October 27, 2022...

Luka Doncic produced a 41-point triple-double and only got stronger after a few sequences didn’t go his way in the final minutes of the fourth quarter – turning creator with successive behind-the-back assists for Tim Hardaway Jr and Maxi Kleber as the Dallas Mavericks raced away in overtime, leaving the Brooklyn Nets with a 1-4 record to start the regular season. Continue reading “Mavericks 129-125 Nets: Doncic again decisive, as Dallas slice through Brooklyn in overtime” →

NBA

Lopsided 135-110 road loss to Portland proves this season centres around patience for Jokic and co

October 25, 2022October 25, 2022 Mosope

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets drives against Jusuf Nurkic of the Portland Trail Blazers during the fourth quarter at Moda Center on October 24,...

Fresh from their comeback win over the Los Angeles Lakers over the weekend, Damian Lillard and a masterful Anfernee Simons display helped Portland (4-0) maintain their unbeaten start to the new campaign. As for Denver, the manner of this latest defeat against a Western Conference rival reinforces the belief this term is all about patience as things settle into rhythm. Continue reading “Lopsided 135-110 road loss to Portland proves this season centres around patience for Jokic and co” →

NBA

NBA Q&A: New storylines, burning questions and bold predictions made as 22-23 season tips off

October 21, 2022October 21, 2022 Mosope

Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece in action against Nikola Jokic of Serbia during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifier game between Serbia and...

If you’ve seen this Q&A style before, you know the drill. If not, where have you been? With a new NBA season already kicking off Tuesday night, I spoke to LA Clippers fan and NBA expert Jack Brown about many topics including: 2022-23 award predictions, more compelling offseason storylines, the newly-formed duos and why he fancies the bullish New Orleans Pelicans – armed with a motivated, injury-free Zion Williamson – as a serious dark horse out West this year. Continue reading “NBA Q&A: New storylines, burning questions and bold predictions made as 22-23 season tips off” →

NBA

Curry, Tatum-Brown tandem reinforce belief all is well during season-opening victories

October 20, 2022April 20, 2023 Mosope

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors checks out his ring on ring night prior to the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 18, 2022 at...

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both scored 35 points as the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics got off to a winning start at home to the Philadelphia 76ers, before reigning Finals MVP Stephen Curry crowned ring night for the Golden State Warriors with a 33-point outing – alongside seven assists, six rebounds and four steals – to beat the troubling LA Lakers.
Continue reading “Curry, Tatum-Brown tandem reinforce belief all is well during season-opening victories” →

NBA

Now or never? Big things expected from Embiid, Harden and Maxey in big upcoming season for 76ers

October 18, 2022October 18, 2022 Mosope

After a forgettable end to their postseason campaign last season, the Philadelphia 76ers have improved over the offseason and are again nicely positioned to right the wrongs of previous years. Joel Embiid is a top-three MVP candidate, James Harden a perennial All-Star and Tyrese Maxey their burgeoning young star. So how are their fortunes going to change this term?
Continue reading “Now or never? Big things expected from Embiid, Harden and Maxey in big upcoming season for 76ers” →

NBA

After falling short in the Finals, Boston Celtics look to go one further as Udoka scandal looms

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 Mosope

Having recovered from a sluggish start prompting fake trades aplenty, agitated fans and criticism, the Boston Celtics were two wins from their first NBA title in 14 years under first-year head coach Ime Udoka. He’s been given a year-long suspension after news of an inappropriate relationship broke last month, and now there are more doubts. How will they manage now?
Continue reading “After falling short in the Finals, Boston Celtics look to go one further as Udoka scandal looms” →

NBA

Ambitious Siakam and reigning Rookie of the Year Barnes poised to charge for tenacious Toronto

October 14, 2022October 14, 2022 Mosope

Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors and Pascal Siakam celebrate during the first half of their NBA game against the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank...

When they’re not battling one another for rebounds, one-time All-Star forward Pascal Siakam and reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes appear primed to share the responsibility as a key part of a sneakily good Toronto Raptors side this coming season – which features Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr – keen to learn from past errors while improving their core unit. Continue reading “Ambitious Siakam and reigning Rookie of the Year Barnes poised to charge for tenacious Toronto” →

NBA

Ja Morant headlines hungry Memphis, still bullish and confident after sore West semi-finals defeat

October 9, 2022October 10, 2022 Mosope

Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates during a preseason game on October 3, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User...

All-Star guard Ja Morant will be tasked with proving last year was no fluke and this time around, staying injury-free year round to ensure there’s no hypothetical questions should his Memphis teammates find themselves embroiled in another testy Western Conference semi-final encounter – something they experienced against the eventual champions just five months ago.
Continue reading “Ja Morant headlines hungry Memphis, still bullish and confident after sore West semi-finals defeat” →

NBA

Kawhi Leonard’s caution tops Clippers’ agenda as they target injury-free upcoming campaign

October 5, 2022October 5, 2022 Mosope

Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers plays defense on Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers during a preseason game on October 3, 2022 at the...

Despite being fully cleared to return, five-time All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard’s understandable caution surrounding his health after sustaining a partially torn ACL injury more than a year ago now remains one significant question mark continuing to impact the LA Clippers as they prepare for a campaign hopeful their key players will finally remain injury-free.
Continue reading “Kawhi Leonard’s caution tops Clippers’ agenda as they target injury-free upcoming campaign” →

NBA

Adjustments, maintaining belief and new additions: Lillard-Simons duo headline newlook Portland

September 29, 2022September 29, 2022 Mosope

Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons of the Portland Trail Blazers talk with Head Coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game...

Armed with a new starting backcourt duo, offseason trade acquisition Jerami Grant, a promising first-round draft selection in Shaedon Sharpe among others from an eventful summer, the Portland Trail Blazers will be quietly hopeful they can settle quickly and vastly improve upon a dismal 27-55 record last season – their worst finish since 2005-06. Will they?
Continue reading “Adjustments, maintaining belief and new additions: Lillard-Simons duo headline newlook Portland” →

NBA

No excuses, Miami Heat looking to pick up where they left off as preseason inbound

September 26, 2022October 7, 2022 Mosope

Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat talk during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern...

After finishing the top seed in last season’s Eastern Conference and finding themselves a missed three-pointer away from a second NBA Finals trip in three years – losing a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics – Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and co are raring to go ahead of the new campaign, one which poses many questions as far as their long-term future is concerned. Continue reading “No excuses, Miami Heat looking to pick up where they left off as preseason inbound” →