NBA

NBA trade deadline day – a week on: A look at moves, winners and losers plus new season projections

New Nets players Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson watch from the crowd after being traded for Kevin Durant during the game against the Chicago Bulls at...

February 9 is now in the rearview mirror, with All-Star weekend almost upon us. After the Kyrie Irving move to Dallas opened up a series of trades – both small and significant – I take a look at them in this piece, assessing where that leaves some ball clubs as well as specific players who’ll find themselves in differing situations over the coming months – like the pair above in Brooklyn. Continue reading “NBA trade deadline day – a week on: A look at moves, winners and losers plus new season projections”

NBA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jayson Tatum wrist injury: Does Celtics star’s recent admission change the criticism on him?

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts against the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden...

Knives were out rather quickly as Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics fell in a winnable six-game series against the Golden State Warriors in last season’s NBA Finals. After the star forward revealed to B/R at the weekend he quietly played through a non-displaced left wrist fracture for three months, will that change the criticism or narrative weighted on his shoulders?
Continue reading “Jayson Tatum wrist injury: Does Celtics star’s recent admission change the criticism on him?”

NBA

Stephen Curry – who else – the catalyst as Warriors earn gritty Game 4 road win

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during Game Four of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 10, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts....

With the lights brightest and others struggling, the 33-year-old recorded the second-most NBA Finals points of his career, and put his teammates on his back, en route to an invaluable 107-97 win over the Boston Celtics to tie the series at 2-2 with Game 5 next in the Bay Area on Monday. Given he played through a Game 3 foot injury here, are you surprised this was his next act? Continue reading “Stephen Curry – who else – the catalyst as Warriors earn gritty Game 4 road win”

NBA

Draymond Green’s aggressive ‘attitude adjustment’ works wonders in Game 2

The Warriors Draymond Green bowled over a courtside videographer as he chased a second quarter loose ball. The Boston Celtics visit the Golden State...

After the Golden State Warriors’ fourth quarter collapse in Game 1 of this year’s NBA Finals, Draymond Green wasted no time making his impact felt against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night. He played aggressively, was close to an ejection – as per – but was a key reason for their blowout 107-88 win in Game 2. With the series set for Boston on Wednesday night, what’s next? Continue reading “Draymond Green’s aggressive ‘attitude adjustment’ works wonders in Game 2”

NBA

Conference Finals set after Celtics, Mavericks dominate their respective Game 7 duels

Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics reacts during the fourth quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals against...

With their Game 1 clash vs. the Miami Heat set for tip-off in a few hours’ time, here’s a quick refresh: Boston Celtics, armed by a new career-high display from Grant Williams, overcame a 3-2 series deficit to knock out the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Hours later, Dallas did similar but in enemy territory, stunning the Phoenix Suns in a historic blowout win. Continue reading “Conference Finals set after Celtics, Mavericks dominate their respective Game 7 duels”

NBA

Ja Morant listed as doubtful for rest of playoffs with right knee bone bruise

Injured Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies sits on the bench during the first half of Game Four of the Western Conference Semifinals tate Warriors of...

After relinquishing their hard-earned Game 4 advantage on Monday night, the Memphis Grizzlies have a seemingly impossible job on their hands: overturning their 3-1 series deficit against the Golden State Warriors without the franchise star guard who helped them get there. Continue reading “Ja Morant listed as doubtful for rest of playoffs with right knee bone bruise”

NBA

2021-22 NBA award finalists named: Jordan Poole, Jaren Jackson Jr snubbed for MIP shortlist

Jordan Poole of the Golden State Warriors interviews after Round 1 Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs on APRIL 16, 2022 at Chase Center in San...

As everyone recovered from the end of an enthralling Game 1 between Brooklyn and Boston overnight, the NBA announced half-a-dozen three-man shortlists for this year’s awards. Some didn’t need a debate, like MVP and Coach of the Year, while others sparked outrage and incredulity as Warriors’ Jordan Poole and Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr were snubbed.

Continue reading “2021-22 NBA award finalists named: Jordan Poole, Jaren Jackson Jr snubbed for MIP shortlist”

NBA

After 942 days out, Klay Thompson scores 17 points as Warriors win in triumphant return

Klay Thompson reacts to a foul call against him In the first half as the Golden State Warriors played the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center in San...

30 months sidelined. 941 days, 942 if we’re counting the intricacies of BST time difference between America and Europe (and we are). Finally making his highly-anticipated return from separate ACL and Achilles injuries, All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson scored 17 points in 20 minutes, helping the Golden State Warriors earn a 96-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Continue reading “After 942 days out, Klay Thompson scores 17 points as Warriors win in triumphant return”