NBA

Porzingis produces 16-point outing in long-awaited return from foot surgery

Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics smiles before the game against the LA Clippers on November 25, 2024 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts....

Having recovered back to full strength after foot surgery in late June, Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis produced a 16-point, 6-rebound outing with a pair of assists and blocks during the defending champions’ 126-94 win over the LA Clippers overnight. While the overall result was pleasing, they’ll be happier welcoming this sight back into the fold – hoping he can finally stay healthy. Continue reading “Porzingis produces 16-point outing in long-awaited return from foot surgery”

NBA

NBA Finals: Doncic’s triple-double not enough as Dallas dented again in Game 2

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks looks to pass the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics during Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals on June 9,...

Luka Doncic produced a 32-point triple double during Sunday’s Game 2 showing for Dallas, though coughed up eight turnovers – Boston had 10 as a team – and missed four of eight free-throw attempts, pointing to those two factors as a key reason behind their 105-98 defeat. While it’s natural for their franchise centrepiece to absorb blame, their shortcomings are much deeper than that.
Continue reading “NBA Finals: Doncic’s triple-double not enough as Dallas dented again in Game 2”

NBA

NBA Finals: Tatum calm as Boston cruise past Dallas on Porzingis’ return in Game 1

Kristaps Porzingis high fives Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game One of the 2024 NBA...

Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and three blocks in 21 minutes on a memorable return from injury, Conference Finals MVP Jaylen Brown had a 22-point, three-steal and block game as Boston eventually eased beyond a careless Mavericks side struggling with their distance shooting. Jayson Tatum was honest postgame, and that doesn’t bode well for Dallas’ chances going forward…
Continue reading “NBA Finals: Tatum calm as Boston cruise past Dallas on Porzingis’ return in Game 1”

NBA

East Finals: Tatum sinks immature Indiana to snatch hard-fought Game 1 in overtime

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD...

Jayson Tatum led the way with 36 points – including 10 in overtime alone – as the Boston Celtics clawed back from the brink of an early defeat. Indiana’s late-game mistakes painfully saw Boston snatch victory in the first of a possible seven-game series during their intriguing Eastern Conference Final matchup. Continue reading “East Finals: Tatum sinks immature Indiana to snatch hard-fought Game 1 in overtime”

NBA

Relive the action as Luka Doncic’s 50-point showing caps Christmas Day slate in NBA

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks shoots during the fourth quarter of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden on December...

Jalen Brunson led the way with 38 points as the New York Knicks earned a 129-122 win over Milwaukee, while Denver were victorious behind their Jamal Murray-Nikola Jokic tandem once more against the unpredictable Golden State Warriors. Now then, follow the rest of the Christmas Day schedule with me live! Continue reading “Relive the action as Luka Doncic’s 50-point showing caps Christmas Day slate in NBA”

NBA

Bradley Beal traded to the Suns as Wizards’ rebuild phase finally begins

Waiving his no-trade clause to do so, the Washington Wizards are finally sending three-time All-Star guard Bradley Beal to pastures new – the Phoenix Suns out in the West – for a package including Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, several second-round picks and a first-round pick swap, per ESPN tonight.
Continue reading “Bradley Beal traded to the Suns as Wizards’ rebuild phase finally begins”

NBA

NBA news round-up: Anunoby, Bogdanovic, Crowder and more as trade season hots up

Bojan Bogdanovic of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at United Center on...

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 “NBA news round-up: Anunoby, Bogdanovic, Crowder and more as trade season hots up”

NBA

Given historical trends, Jason Kidd’s concerns about the Luka Doncic usage rate are natural

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks stands on the court during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 12, 2022 at the American...

Luka Doncic continued his excellent start to the campaign with a 42-point triple-double helping Dallas eventually overwhelm Portland with a 117-112 victory on Saturday night. With one of the highest usage rates in NBA history, and considering the conundrum which his Mavericks team still haven’t yet solved surrounding the supporting cast, Jason Kidd’s public concerns make sense for a 23-year-old they don’t want to burnout before it matters most in the postseason. Continue reading “Given historical trends, Jason Kidd’s concerns about the Luka Doncic usage rate are natural”

NBA

Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers look on during the first half at Capital One Arena on...

Bradley Beal became the 10th player in league history to receive a no-trade clause as part of his five-year, $251m max contract extension with the Wizards. Ten days later, another All-Star – Portland’s franchise star Damian Lillard – inked a two-year, $121m max vet deal to remain with the Trail Blazers, now under contract until the 2026-27 season. Will these decisions age well? 
Continue reading “Masterful or misguided? Beal and Lillard’s latest contract extensions predictably raise questions”

Archives

Regret or satisfied? Bradley Beal hints at re-signing with Wizards this coming offseason

Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on January 29, 2022 in Memphis,...

Three-time All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal acknowledged, when quizzed, that he’s leaning towards re-signing with the Wizards this summer. Turning 29 in June and eligible for a five-year, $246m extension if he declines next year’s player option, will the franchise star live to regret his indecisiveness or be truly satisfied with how things have unfolded in recent seasons?
Continue reading “Regret or satisfied? Bradley Beal hints at re-signing with Wizards this coming offseason”

Archives, Specials

Justified or not, Kristaps Porzingis’ afterthought concerns were a long time coming

Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks react against the LA Clippers in the first quarter in game three of the Western Conference...

Having agreed a five-year max contract with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019, teaming up with fellow European import Luka Doncic, it’s unsurprising that reports have surfaced over the big man’s disapproval at his role as an afterthought to their star guard – but things need to change. Continue reading “Justified or not, Kristaps Porzingis’ afterthought concerns were a long time coming”

Archives

Preview: Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks – Can Doncic & co snap Jazz’s nine-game streak?

Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson of the Dallas Mavericks hi-five during the game against the Denver Nuggets on January 25, 2021 at the American Airlines...

Two Western Conference sides clash in the early hours on Thursday, as the Dallas Mavericks (8-9) travel to Salt Lake City against an in-form Utah Jazz (13-4) team next.  In what will be billed as the battle of the duos: Mitchell-Gobert vs. Doncic-Porzingis, the hosts put their nine-game winning streak on the line once more – no-one else leaguewide boasts a similar run of late. Continue reading “Preview: Utah Jazz vs Dallas Mavericks – Can Doncic & co snap Jazz’s nine-game streak?”