Every decade seems to begin with the dawning of a new NBA dynasty. Which of the remaining playoff teams are best positioned for extended success? Life follows a certain logic. Spring becomes summer becomes fall. Ice freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Fail to pick up after your dog and you will end up stepping in
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2:11 AM ET There are many things Chris Paul is good at, but one of his most crucial skills is sensing a moment. It’s never about how he starts; it’s how he finishes. And in Game 1 of Phoenix’s Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets, Paul began slowly, hitting just two of his
While it was quite the bumpy ride, the Washington Wizards clinched a playoff berth in the 2020-21 season despite starting the year at 17-32. It required big moves at the trade deadline, a 17-6 run to close out the regular season and a Play-In Tournament win but the Wizards managed to make the playoffs and
Karl-Anthony Towns and his father had an emotional moment courtside on Mother’s Day a year after the Timberwolves center lost his mom to COVID-19. For the second time, Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns had to mark Mother’s Day without his mother, Jacqueline, who died last year due to complications from COVID-19. Despite the emotional challenge,
12:55 AM ET When Steve Nash was hired to coach the Brooklyn Nets super-team entry last year, it was both shocking and controversial. Judgement on the hire is still a ways off, but Nash’s first postseason on the sideline has been impressive. Nash has run circles early around two-time NBA Coach of the Year Mike
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Dallas Mavericks have a big offseason ahead. Luka Doncic may only be done with his third NBA season at 22 years old, but it’s crystal-clear he’s ready to
The Brooklyn Nets lost James Harden early in Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks with an right hamstring injury. After the defeating the Boston Celtics in five games, the Brooklyn Nets moved onto their next challenge — the Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets had to feel good about their chances on Saturday night, especially given the
Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin and Milwaukee Bucks center Bobby Portis wrestled over the ball in a sequence that ended in a standing ovation. The NBA Playoffs are where legends are made. Most of the time, star players drop jaws and build their legacies. Sometimes, it’s an unexpected player who works their way into the
7:00 AM ET After no first-round series in the Eastern Conference went more than five games, here we are in the second round with two star-studded matchups. Can two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks get past the Brooklyn Nets‘ Big Three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden? How much will the
Kevin Durant had nothing but amazing things to say about Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum with his most recent comments. Despite the Boston Celtics getting dominated by the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, there’s no denying Jayson Tatum continued to prove he’s one of the best players in the
Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports The Miami Heat need to go back to the drawing board after getting swept out of the first round. After winning the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago, the Miami Heat quickly found out this wasn’t the Orlando bubble when taking on the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 27: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots a free throw against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter in Game Three of the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at American Airlines Arena on May 27, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
9:08 PM ET THIS ISN’T WHAT Kristaps Porzingis expected when he arrived in Dallas. As the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade, he anticipated forming one of the NBA’s most potent duos with Luka Doncic, a fellow rising star. Porzingis anticipated it’d be a 1A-1B sort of situation. Doncic has certainly held up his end of
Mike Budenholzer said he wants to keep the Bucks’ best players fresh after Game 1 against the Nets, which is a strategy that will put his job at risk. In what should be a long, competitive series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets, winning will be done in small margins. Game 1 seemed to
Ja Morant’s mother won’t go to Game 5 between the Grizzlies and Jazz in Utah after facing racial harassment from fans earlier in the series. A contingent of Ja Morant’s family members will attend Wednesday night’s Game 5 in Salt Lake City. Morant’s mother won’t be one of them. Jamie Morant plans to stay home
Ja Morant’s dad had heartfelt words for Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell after the Memphis Grizzlies were eliminated from the playoffs. There are no perfectly happy endings when it comes to people suffering harassment, especially when it’s racially motivated. That trauma will always remain. Still, good can always come out of bad situations. Ja Morant’s
10:20 PM ET After a Game 7 win, the head coach or players all talk about a look the team has, a certain look that lets everyone know they’ll be ready for the moment. LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said his team looked like it was locked in as it went through a walkthrough before
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Packers president believes Aaron Rodgers situation has ‘divided’ the fanbase by Cole Thompson The New York Knicks may be out of the NBA Playoffs, but that didn’t stop a few petty New Yorkers from making fun of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. You’ve gotta love New Yorkers.
Los Angeles Lakers fans really don’t think Kyle Kuzma did much year-over-year improving between 2020 and 2021. Kuzma disagrees. Kuzma was meant to be the third wheel to Anthony Davis and LeBron James, but that has yet to materialize. That’s fine, of course. Kuzma cannot control his own limitations. However, the expectations placed upon him,
4:56 PM ET NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets star guard James Harden is out for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday with what the team is calling “right hamstring tightness.” The Nets currently lead the series 1-0 despite losing Harden less than one minute into the series opener
PORTLAND, OREGON – MAY 29: Head coach Terry Stotts of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets during Round 1, Game 4 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center on May 29, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports Teams are already monitoring Damian Lillard’s situation with Blazers by Gerald Bourguet Watch Women’s College World Series: Arizona vs. Florida State live stream Reddit by Ethan Lee The Orlando Magic need a new head coach to replace Steve Clifford. The Orlando Magic are officially in the market for
NBA refs made up a whole new kind of technical foul during Game 3 between the Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers after Willie Cauley-Stein shoved Terance Mann’s face. With the Dallas Mavericks up 2-0 in their first-round series against the LA Clippers, Game 3 was always going to be a chippy affair. But late in
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: Luke Kennard #5 of the LA Clippers handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on April 21, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
7:08 AM ET After a thrilling play-in tournament and opening-round action that saw the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers get bounced by the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks sweep the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, we’ve reached the conference semifinals. What will the Suns do for an encore against the Denver Nuggets? Can
The Los Angeles Clippers preferred not to face their crosstown rivals to open up the 2020-21 playoffs. Now they may not even get the opportunity to play against the Los Angeles Lakers at all. The thought of facing a rested LeBron James and Anthony Davis did not sit well with the franchise, and they ultimately
Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) The Indiana Pacers will have to battle to make the NBA Playoffs out of the play-in tournament. After being seen as one of the five best teams in the Eastern Conference a year ago, the Indiana Pacers are one NBA play-in tournament loss away from being eliminated altogether. The
12:10 AM ET Months ago, when Blake Griffin came to terms that he was going to forego $13.3 million to get out of his contract with the Detroit Pistons, he’d come to terms with the fact that he was no longer a franchise player in body or mind. But that did not mean he could
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports Damian Lillard hasn’t requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers yet, but these five NBA teams should have offers ready in case he does. To this point, there has been no indication that Damian Lillard wants to leave the Portland Trail Blazers. To this point, Dame has remained
Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images The Houston Rockets need to make some changes this offseason if they want to avoid a long, painful rebuild. The Houston Rockets were destined to be a disaster in 2021. James Harden wanted out, and that situation created a huge distraction up until the moment he was traded to the