Jakob Poeltl. The 27-year-old Austrian big man is averaging 11.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game on 62.4 FG% for a rebuilding San Antonio Spurs ball club primed to battle other strugglers in hopes they get the number one draft pick this coming summer. Should they sell high while they have a chance before the deadline, or hold off with bigger plans in mind?
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Tag: Eastern Conference
NBA news round-up: Anunoby, Bogdanovic, Crowder and more as trade season hots up
It’s NBA trade season, so speculation is predictably in full flow as teams – whether championship contenders, pretenders or rebuilding teams – are all involved between now and the Feb. 9 deadline. Will any team satisfy Toronto’s big expectations in an OG Anunoby trade? What about Bojan Bogdanovic in Detroit, or the silence coming from the Suns about wantaway wing Jae Crowder? Read about all of that and more, with some free agent chatter to finish. Continue reading
Nets 108-107 Hawks: Irving’s big fourth quarter sees Brooklyn snatch win, now on 10-game win streak
Kyrie Irving recorded a 15-point fourth quarter, as the surging Brooklyn Nets produced a big defensive second-half to snatch a gritty away win over an Atlanta side without star guard Trae Young. However, they had a heart-in-mouth moment at the buzzer after his backcourt partner Dejounte Murray’s contested three attempt could’ve sealed an impressive comeback win. Continue reading
NBA Q&A – Christmas special: A look at struggling teams, trade targets and stories to watch
More than a third of the way through the NBA regular season, title contenders and tanking teams have largely been identified. As for the cluster of teams flickering in the middle, the race to February’s All-Star break will decide where their future lies. I spoke to NBA expert Jack Brown for another Q&A, featuring Chicago’s issues, best Victor Wembanyama landing spots and more.
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Cavaliers 122-99 Jazz: Garland, Mitchell combine for efficient 40-piece against latter’s former ball club
Donovan Mitchell led the Cleveland Cavaliers in scoring for the fifth consecutive game, while his backcourt partner Darius Garland supplemented the charge with 17 points and eight assists en route to a comfortable double-digit victory against the unpredictable Utah Jazz – where Mitchell played 384 games over five seasons after being drafted #13 by the franchise in 2017. Continue reading
Cam Reddish’s sour situation in New York just reinforces how quickly things can change
Overnight, Cam Reddish watched from the bench as his current ball club and the one who drafted him four years prior went head-to-head at the Garden. The 23-year-old addressed speculation he’s asked for a trade, as reports suggest New York are shopping him for interested suitors – less than a year after acquiring him. So, what’s happening to the former 10th pick?
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Indiana Pacers’ big man Myles Turner changes agents, as trade speculation intensifies
Per Marc Stein, Indiana Pacers’ center Myles Turner is leaving BDA Sports after a two-year stint with the agency and mooted to join CAA Sports for representation. Players changing agents isn’t always noteworthy news, but in this case for the 26-year-old on an expiring deal who always finds himself in trade speculation, this change suggests bigger dominos will soon fall. Continue reading
Steve Kerr addresses Warriors’ winless road trip as defending champions are 3-7 to start season
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
Mavericks 129-125 Nets: Doncic again decisive, as Dallas slice through Brooklyn in overtime
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
NBA Q&A: New storylines, burning questions and bold predictions made as 22-23 season tips off
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
Curry, Tatum-Brown tandem reinforce belief all is well during season-opening victories
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.
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Now or never? Big things expected from Embiid, Harden and Maxey in big upcoming season for 76ers
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?
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