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. Defending Zion Williamson is, increasingly, becoming one of the most complex strategic challenges in the NBA. His size, agility and touch around the basket give him at least one
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The Pelicans are hoping a great final week can allow the team to sneak in to this year’s play-in tournament. It is easy to lose track of time given the late start to the 2020-21 NBA season. But the regular season ends next weekend, and the New Orleans Pelicans are one team playing with a
7:00 AM ET The 2021 NBA postseason officially tips off Tuesday with the play-in tournament followed by the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. After a thrilling end of the regular season with seeds finally decided on the last day, the Charlotte Hornets and the Indiana Pacers will start things on Tuesday in the
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Several realistic goals stand out for the Knicks now that the long postseason drought is over. The New York Knicks are back where they belong in the NBA Playoffs. The team did well enough to secure the No. 4 seed and thus home-court advantage in the first round against the
The Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2020 — headlined by the late Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett — is the most accomplished class in history. After more than a year of delays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, finally, this weekend, the Basketball Hall of Fame will enshrine the star-studded Class of 2020
Alex Rodriguez. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) Heather Hardy returns to boxing and looking for answers by Jeremy Herriges Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore have purchased the Minnesota Timberwolves from Glen Taylor. After spending over a month at the negotiating table, former MLB star Alex Rodriguez and tech entrepreneur Marc Lore have agreed to buy the
May 15, 2021 The season has been a slog for the Boston Celtics. There was a spate of COVID-related absences that shut down practice for a stretch, a knee injury that hampered Kemba Walker, nine straight games missed by key mid-season acquisition Evan Fournier, and finally a devastating season-ending injury to Jaylen Brown. The Celtics
The Washington Wizards may have what it takes to make some postseason noise this spring. After struggling out of the gate, the Washington Wizards played strong enough basketball down the stretch that they project as the last team into the Eastern Conference Playoffs this season. Washington finished in eighth place in the East this year, meaning the Wizards
The 2020-21 regular season was a strange one for many reasons, but especially for the Golden State Warriors. Shortly before the NBA Draft, the team’s championship aspirations took a major hit with the injury to Klay Thompson. The best backcourt in the league would not be on full display this season, but they still had
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. (Journal Sentinel) Cubs getting healthy at right time with latest roster moves by Alicia de Artola Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and his girlfriend Mariah Riddlesprigger are due to welcome a second child into their lives. Congratulations are in order for Giannis Antetokounmpo and his girlfriend, who announced a second baby on
7:37 PM ET LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers‘ defense, ranked No. 1 in the NBA during the regular season, will be tested by the league’s leading scorer, Stephen Curry, right away to begin the postseason in Wednesday’s play-in tournament game against the Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). “We know who the
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 official 16-team field for the 2021 NBA Playoffs isn’t set just yet, but postseason basketball is technically upon us thanks to this year’s ingenious play-in games! We saw
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 10: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat and Paul Pierce #34 of the Brooklyn Nets battle for the ball during their game at the Barclays Center on January 10, 2014 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
Victor Oladipo played just four games with the Miami Heat before a season-ending injury to his right quadriceps tendon. It’s the same devastating injury that knocked him out for over a year with the Indiana Pacers, leading ESPN’s Brian Windhorst to speculate about his availability for the 2021-22 NBA season. “They haven’t announced it yet
12:20 PM ET Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams has been voted as the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. The league’s 30 head coaches vote on the award, which was named in honor of late NBCA executive director, Michael Goldberg. Williams resurrected the Suns’ floundering franchise, leading Phoenix
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 NBA’s play-in tournament kicks off Tuesday and every team will need stars and role players to come up big. Here’s the secret weapon each team will count on.
11:44 PM ET The Sacramento Kings will bring head coach Luke Walton back for a third season, sources confirmed to ESPN. The Kings extended their record-tying 15-year playoff drought after a second consecutive 31-41 season under Walton, who has two years left on his deal. Sacramento is in the midst of a multiyear rebuilding process
A look back at the NBA playoff history for each of the four play-in tournament matchups, including two teams meeting for the first time ever. Over the NBA’s storied history, numerous changes have been made to the NBA postseason. The reasons for the change vary, sometimes it’s to create more excitement, sometimes it’s to level the
The Los Angeles Lakers will look to defend their NBA title by leaning on improved depth while hoping stars like Anthony Davis and LeBron James can stay fit. The Lakers are one of the most intriguing teams vying for glory in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. They have the make-up of a juggernaut but the seeding
Stephen Curry and LeBron James. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Packers reveal what they want in return for any potential Aaron Rodgers trade by Brad Berreman LeBron James believes Steph Curry should be named NBA MVP this season. Ahead of their No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in tournament game on Wednesday night, Los Angeles Lakers
3:27 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball has heard his name swirl in trade rumors almost from the time he entered the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers four years ago. But now, for the first time, Ball could have a say in his next destination as he approaches restricted free
Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images The LA Clippers have their eyes set on winning the first NBA championship in franchise history, and they’ve got the makeup to do it. Year 1 of the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George partnership in Los Angeles didn’t yield the results the LA Clippers wanted. The team was bounced from
2:00 AM ET The Los Angeles Lakers‘ repeat title bid will commence with LeBron James facing a familiar foe in the Golden State Warriors during the play-in tournament, led by James’ pick for MVP, Stephen Curry. “I mean, just look at what he’s done this year,” James said after L.A.’s 110-98 win at the New
The Los Angeles Lakers’ regular-season finale victory was overshadowed by LeBron James leaving the game after rolling his already injured ankle. The Los Angeles Lakers were looking to close out their season with a win over the New Orleans Pelicans to give them a chance of avoiding the NBA’s play-in round altogether. The last thing
At the conclusion of Sunday’s NBA games, the Eastern Conference play-in round is now officially set. The 2020-21 NBA season reached its conclusion on Sunday, with many keeping their eyes peeled on the new play-in round. While there were teams looking to avoid the mini-bracket altogether, there were others looking at it as their final
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. Things seem to be going south in a hurry for the Indiana Pacers. On Tuesday, after an 11-7 start, they’ve gone 19-28 teetering on the edge of missing the
The 2020-21 NBA playoffs — and play-in! — are finally here. And this thing is as wide open as ever. But before we lock in the full 16-team field, here’s a look at the first round of the play-in tournament, during which two teams from each conference will secure the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds:
Rockets guard John Wall may be looking to leave Houston if you believe his recent response to a poll on Instagram over the weekend. Did you know Instagram makes your votes in polls public? John Wall didn’t. The Houston Rockets guard created a stir on social media when a fan shared a screenshot from Instagram.
LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers. (Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Cubs give injury update on Kris Bryant after he was hit by pitch by Steven Kubitza LeBron James, Anthony Davis will miss Wednesday night’s game vs. the Houston Rockets. Nobody respects the Houston Rockets more than Los Angeles Lakers stars Anthony Davis and
5:39 PM ET SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry is the NBA’s scoring king for the 2020-21 season. An 11-foot floater late in the first quarter of Sunday’s 113-101 win over the Memphis Grizzlies gave Curry enough points to clinch the scoring title over Washington Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal. After Beal scored