8:32 PM ET LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — LeBron James often says that in order to grow, one has to become comfortable being uncomfortable. He applies that sentiment to his playoff mindset. “Until the series is completed, I kind of stay on edge, stay locked in on the job at hand,” James said Monday after
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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. Basketball is a team sport and ascribing team outcomes entirely to a single player is usually a lesson in hyperbole. But it’s not the least bit hyperbolic to
First off, let’s take a minute to congratulate the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami HEAT for making the NBA Finals. It’s funny how this was a matchup everyone had dreamed of circa 2010 and, ironically, we finally have it – but LeBron James is on the opposite side this time! Also, it is certainly
The Golden State Warriors, who had the NBA’s worst record, are in prime position to get back into postseason contention as early as next season. It feels like a lifetime ago that the Golden State Warriors were the undisputed kings of the NBA: seven consecutive postseason appearances, five straight NBA Finals and three championships in
6:55 AM ET NBA Insiders The Miami Heat surprised the Los Angeles Lakers and halted their dreams of an NBA Finals sweep on Sunday, with Jimmy Butler posting a 40-point triple-double. The Heat’s unexpected victory meant that they can tie the series with a Game 4 win on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET, ABC and the
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 04: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat reacts during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User
12:46 AM ET LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Jimmy Butler‘s 40-point triple-double on Sunday pushed the injury-ridden Miami Heat to a 115-104 win in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, avoiding a 3-0 series death knell. For 45 minutes, Butler slashed to the basket and jockeyed with Lakers defenders for offensive rebounds on his way
The Lakers’ bench tricked Gary Harris into taking a bad shot in Game 4, counting down from three despite the Denver guard having more time to shoot. The Los Angeles Lakers’ bench pulled out some middle-school tactics against Denver guard Gary Harris during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, counting down from three to force
The Denver Nuggets played valiantly through the NBA Playoffs, but they had to work exceedingly hard to find success and went bust just before hitting pay dirt. The Denver Nuggets are in an interesting position within the hierarchy of the NBA’s Western Conference. In the three seasons preceding this latest one, the Nuggets were the
11:38 PM ET As insistent as the Miami Heat were that they would come into Game 3 of the NBA Finals squarely in the series, a pall descended over the team as it fell behind 2-0 in unimpressive form. They lost two key starters in Game 1 — defensive ace and offensive facilitator Bam Adebayo
Jimmy Butler says the Miami Heat will win Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Miami Heat are going to pull off an unlikely Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, they’re going to need a whole lot of confidence and even more luck. Fortunately for them, Jimmy Butler is exuding a
Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm took a 1-0 lead in the WNBA Finals opener. One down, two to go. Behind historic nights from Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird, the Seattle Storm took Game 1 of the 2020 WNBA Finals in a matchup that featured six No. 1 overall draft picks. While the Las Vegas
On addiction, grief, brotherhood and the redemptive power of Luka Doncic‘s basketball brilliance. It’s October 2018. In a few short weeks, Slovenian prodigy, Real Madrid star and Euroleague MVP Luka Doncic is slated to begin his NBA career with the Dallas Mavericks. I’m living in Bed-Stuy, in the backroom of a railroad apartment I’d found
2:17 AM ET LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Despite being in a 0-2 hole after being dominated by the Lakers for most of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat are holding onto a belief that they can find a way to win. Sure, they played Friday’s game without one of the team’s
6:42 AM ET EARLY IN THE first quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers appeared lethargic, disjointed. Coach Frank Vogel called time, down 23-10, and made some substitutions. One of them, 34-year-old Rajon Rondo, who shot 41.8% in the regular season, surveyed the floor, noted the Miami Heat‘s
Twitter was astounded by Anthony Davis’ masterful performance in Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals. Even if Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo had been healthy for Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals, the Miami Heat still would’ve had a problem: Anthony Davis has become a destroyer of worlds, and nothing can stop him
Coby White likes playing with Zach LaVine, which is music to the ears of Bulls fans everywhere. The Chicago Bulls have once again missed out on playoff basketball, but the young nucleus to dominate is still there, and young point guard Coby White is right at the center of it all. White averaged 13.2 points
2:22 AM ET LeBron James has never seen a more “dominant duo” than Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. But nearly two decades after Shaq and Kobe dominated the early 2000s with their three consecutive titles, the Los Angeles Lakers might have the closest thing to that legendary tandem. James and Anthony Davis dominated the Miami
Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers were just too much for the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the 2020 NBA Finals. If there’s been a theme two games into the 2020 NBA Finals, it’s that the Los Angeles Lakers are simply too much for the underdog Miami Heat. Anthony Davis made sure to
9:55 AM ET Before the Los Angeles Lakers‘ first official training camp practice, Frank Vogel and his staff gathered the team in their film room for a PowerPoint presentation on what their defense would look like. Vogel wanted them to be the league’s most physical team — echoes of the “smashmouth basketball” vision that guided
The sports world makes for a beautiful palette but individual images can get lost in the constant shuffle. Here are the best Getty Images sports photos from this week. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images Jerick McKinnon of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball as Blake Martinez and Lorenzo Carter of the New York Giants defend in the second
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center on January 31, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions
1:12 AM ET Long before Kobe Bryant grudgingly attended the Los Angeles Lakers’ free agent pitch meetings for Dwight Howard in 2013 and LaMarcus Aldridge in 2014, he identified a rare talent who could eventually want to inherit the mantle Bryant left with the franchise. Bryant was the elder statesman on the 2012 Olympic team
It doesn’t sound possible, but did you know that the crazy NBA summer of 2019 was, in fact, over a year ago? Wildly, in any normal, non-pandemic season, it all would have been over three months ago and, usually, media days would be right around the corner, but not this time. The 2019-20 NBA season
The Boston Celtics looked poised to become the Eastern Conference’s next great dynasty. But is it possible their window is already closing? For 180 million years, dinosaurs roamed the earth. Forget the Bill Russell Celtics or the Michael Jordan Bulls — this was the dynasty. They had size and speed, they defended tenaciously, and if
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 1: Jayson Tatum #0 exits the court with his son Deuce (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) Astros finishing season with losing record should bring you comfort by Scott Rogust Aaron Rodgers gives teammate friendly assist after scoring drive (Video) by Steven Kubitza Deuce Tatum, Jayson Tatum’s son, broke out a homemade
10:49 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Friday night that it is unlikely the league will take a break next summer for the Olympic Games, a decision that could dramatically impact the tournament if it is able to be played. “We’ll consider it. I think it’s unlikely,
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 30: Andre Iguodala #28 of the Miami Heat and Kendrick Nunn #25 of the Miami Heat defend LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on
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 Miami Heat are in a deep dark hole — trailing 1-0, looking to shake off an 18-point Game 1 loss and probably do it without two of
8:00 AM ET THE OTHER DAY in practice, Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala caught the ball on the wing, looked toward the corner and fired a pass to Derrick Jones Jr. under the basket for an easy dunk. It was not what he was supposed to do. The ball was moving and finding energy with