Bubbleball, the new book from Washington Post NBA writer Ben Golliver, takes you inside last year’s NBA bubble and offers an unprecedented look at an unprecedented season. The 2019-20 NBA season was the longest and strangest in league history. Interrupted by a months-long hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it eventually concluded up at Disney
admin
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a three-point shot against the Phoenix Suns during the second half of Game Two of the Western Conference first-round playoff series at Phoenix Suns Arena on May 25, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees
Lakers center Montrezl Harrell. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) Paul George sounds confident despite the Clippers’ Game 2 loss to Mavericks by Alicia de Artola 3 Los Angeles Clippers who must step up in Dallas by Brad Berreman Lakers forward Montrezl Harrell seems to be enjoying the Los Angeles Clippers struggling in the playoffs after
7:27 PM ET The three fans banned indefinitely by the Utah Jazz made vulgar and racially offensive comments to Ja Morant’s parents, the father of the Memphis Grizzlies star guard told ESPN. A statement from the Jazz cited one “verbal altercation” that occurred during Utah’s series-tying 141-129 victory at Vivint Arena on Wednesday night, but
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 25: Willie Cauley-Stein #33 of the Dallas Mavericks scores on a dunk past Nicolas Batum #33 and Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers in the third quarter during game two of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on May 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo
This week on The Long Two: Early returns on Devin Booker, Trae Young, and Ja Morant in the playoffs. Plus, how Luka Dončić is picking the Clippers apart. NBA players establish reputations over hundreds, if not thousands, of regular-season repetitions, but the playoffs are where those reputations are stress-tested. We may have a good idea
1:19 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN The New York Knicks say they have banned a fan who spit on Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young on Wednesday night during Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. The Knicks released a statement on the matter on Thursday afternoon. “We investigated the matter and determined that this patron, who
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 26: Nearly 15,000 fans filled the arena tonight to watch the game between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks during game two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Madison Square Garden on May 26, 2021 in New York City.The New York Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 101-92.
The Indiana Pacers wiped the floor with the Charlotte Hornets in the first play-in game before the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Here are the three biggest takeaways. The 2021 NBA Playoffs are nearly here, but before they begin, the league is giving four teams in each conference their shot at filling the final two playoff-spots for
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MAY 18: Edmond Sumner #5 of the Indiana Pacers makes a basket at the end of the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets in the 2021 NBA Play-In Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on May 18, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
2:41 AM ET Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant cut toward the basket, caught the pass, cocked the ball back in his right hand and soared to the rim early in the second quarter. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert met Morant at the summit and stuffed the dunk attempt, a spectacular block by a big
Mandatory Credit: Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports Memorial Day 2021: Is Chipotle open? by Natalie Abele Ja Morant tried to dunk over Rudy Gobert. It did not end well. Ja Morant may be on his Grizzly, but Rudy Gobert is on a collision course with his third Defensive Player of the Year award, and he wasn’t
Welcome back to Basketball Insiders’ Now What? Series. Previously, we went over the slowly rebuilding Cleveland Cavaliers. Today we’re focusing on the young, energetic, and, for some reason, stagnant Pelicans. Two years ago, it seemed New Orleans had the ideal start on their rebuild. They had their face of the future, his second-in-command, their supporting
The Houston Rockets did not even clinch a spot, but they are the biggest losers of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Just last year, the Houston Rockets made it to the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were eliminated by the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in five games. With a new regime, the Rocket underwent
9:33 PM ET Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook suffered a right ankle injury and left the floor limping in the fourth quarter of Wednesday night’s playoff game at Philadelphia. Westbrook stepped on 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz‘s foot and rolled the ankle with 10:28 remaining and the Wizards down 17 points in Game 2 of the
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 22: Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center at Barclays Center on May 22, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by
Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors. (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports) 3 offseason moves the Cleveland Cavaliers need to make by Brad Berreman Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins will do his best to help Team Canada to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games this summer. With the Golden State Warriors‘ 2020-21 regular season firmly in
Feb 20, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, argues with referee Marc Davis (8) as Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington looks on during the second half at Spectrum Center. The Charlotte Hornets won 102-100. Mandatory Credit: Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports Colts running back Nyheim Hines impressed by Carson Wentz’s
6:46 AM ET TAJ GIBSON HAS heard all the questions before. When Tom Thibodeau takes a job, Gibson knows what’s coming. And when Thibodeau was named coach of the New York Knicks last year, Gibson fielded all those regular questions — including those from Knicks forward Julius Randle. There’s an internal script that plays out
If it still hasn’t sunk in just yet, it bears repeating: the New York Knicks are making their first trip to the NBA Playoffs since 2012-13. Naturally, it’s understandable that most Knicks-centered articles are examining their ceiling this season. Alas, according to Kanye West, the present is the past – so, like Yeezy, we’re looking
2:12 AM ET For as long as they have shared basketball rights — and hearts — in Los Angeles, there have been remarkably few playoff matchups between the Lakers and Clippers over the years. Like zero, to be precise. Fifteen years ago, the Lakers were one win away from creating the first “Hallway Series” at
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images Blake Griffin left Detroit, found a time machine and remembered how to jump by Natalie Abele Joe Kelly aims NSFW message directly at Astros fans who hate him by Mark Powell Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis kicked Jae Crowder of the Phoenix Suns in the groin and was somehow
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 22: Head coach Brad Stevens of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Brooklyn Nets in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center at Barclays Center on May 22, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees
CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) How to watch NBA Playoffs: What channel is Clippers vs. Mavericks Game 2 on? by Steven Kubitza 3 offseason moves the Cleveland Cavaliers need to make by Brad Berreman Facundo Campazzo flopped and CJ McCollum was assessed a Flagrant 1 because of it. In a
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets. (Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports) Here’s everything Aaron Rodgers said about the Packers during Kenny Mayne interview by Josh Hill Nikola Jokic went to bat for the awful officials in Game 2 of the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Denver Nuggets first-round playoff series. In between all the whistles by the
9:46 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Brooklyn Nets forward Jeff Green both left with injuries Tuesday night in Game 2 of the first-round series between the two teams. Tatum exited the game with 8 minutes, 48 seconds to go in the third quarter when he was accidentally poked in the
If it still hasn’t sunk in just yet, it bears repeating: the New York Knicks are making their first trip to the NBA Playoffs since 2012-13. Naturally, it’s understandable that most Knicks-centered articles are examining their ceiling this season. Alas, according to Kanye West, the present is the past – so, like Yeezy, we’re looking
The Dallas Mavericks notch an upset victory over the Los Angeles Clippers with Game 1 victory on Saturday. The Los Angeles Clippers have been the subject of ridicule this past week after being accused of tanking the end of the season to avoid playing the rival Lakers in the NBA Playoffs. If that were actually
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 23: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Are the NBA Playoffs on Hulu? by Scott Rogust The National League MVP candidate no one is talking about by Brad Berreman Luka Doncic tried to get under Patrick Beverley’s skin. Even though it probably
2:54 AM ET The Denver Nuggets walked into the locker room at halftime of Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers with a lead, but also had the inescapable presence of Damian Lillard‘s supernova first half simmering in the air. Lillard had the flamethrower set to maximum heat, firing in