As of this writing, James Harden is averaging 38.4 points per game. Yes, 38.4. He’s within striking distance of 40 – a number that would put him in the most rarified of air, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only other player in NBA history to accomplish this feat. Of course, Wilt averaged over 40 twice
Boston Celtics
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 06: Kemba Walker #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the first quarter of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden on October 06, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
The Boston Celtics had a crowded roster last year, but Marcus Smart and Brad Wanamaker have turned backcourt depth into a positive this time around. Last year, the Boston Celtics simply had too many mouths to feed. What was supposed to be the alpha team in the Eastern Conference — coming off a stunning 2018
*Small sample size That’s always the disclaimer we media folk have to include when we take offer opinions or analysis early on in the season. The reason is justifiable. A lot can change between now and when the season comes down the homestretch that we can’t say that the success or lack thereof surrounding either
*Small sample size That’s always the disclaimer we media folk have to include when we take offer opinions or analysis early on in the season. The reason is justifiable. A lot can change between now and when the season comes down the homestretch that we can’t say that the success or lack thereof surrounding either
The injuries are beginning to mount and NBA teams up and down the standings are looking for fill-in production. Who is being asked to step up? If there is anything that has defined the early portion of the 2019-20 NBA season, it’s injuries. We began the year knowing Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson would likely
Significant injuries popped up for a number of NBA teams this week and we’re breaking down each in detail. You know what they say: Bad things often come in threes. Well if that is the case, Monday was an extremely bad day as we received reports on injuries to, not one, not two, not three,
It may be just a few weeks into the season, but a myriad of storylines have already made their social media and television rounds, chief among them players that seem to have taken a leap on the court and are emerging as game-changers or even potential stars. Many of these spots could be taken by
Gordon Hayward was finally looking like his former self, but the Boston Celtics forward fractured a bone in his hand on Saturday. Heading into Saturday’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, Gordon Hayward was looking like he did during his peak years with the Utah Jazz. Through the first seven games of the 2019-20 campaign,
Danny Ainge is a gambler, only not in the typical sense. Yes, Ainge does, on occasion, deal with money. It’s just part of the job. But, more so than cash, Ainge is often one to gamble on players, whether they are his own or on some other roster. For better or worse, the Boston Celtics
Here we go again! Last year, this writer dove into what the association was like ten years before the incoming season. Now here we are again. We’re traveling back to the year 2010. Back when the iPad was first sweeping the nation, the economy was still in the toilet, and the Toy Story trilogy had
Ahead of Monday’s deadline for rookie contract extensions, Buddy Hield and Jaylen Brown both earned four-year deals with their respective teams. With the deadline for rookie contract extensions rapidly approaching, the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics were able to lock down their respective wing players who were eligible. As reported by The Athletic‘s Sam Amick
Anything can happen in the NBA. Every season, there are so many things that seem to come out of the blue, whether it be a team that was or wasn’t expected to be competitive or big trade that no one saw coming. There is just too much randomness involved in the day-to-day to be certain
The Southeast Division saw its fair share of new additions this offseason. And while there is less established talent within the division than there is in the Atlantic or Pacific, there is plenty of youth on the precipice of breaking out. With the NBA season right around the corner, Basketball Insiders’ breakout players series is
Not too long ago, the Southwest Division was filled to the brim with title contenders and certain playoff teams. Only the Houston Rockets remain in those major categories as turnover has left the rest of the division balancing contention with rebuilding. That has the clear byproduct of introducing a bevy of new players into contributing
A new offense and a new MVP headlined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018-19, one that resulted in 60 wins and their first conference finals appearance since 2001. But a season that may look successful from the outside is deeply disappointing from the inside. The Bucks were on top of the mountain, up 2-0 on the
With the 2019-20 NBA season less than a month away, we’re exploring the most interesting players for each team in the Atlantic Division. We’re now less than a month away from the start of the 2019-20 NBA season. Coming off one of the most interesting offseasons in recent memory, it feels like an appropriate time
So, that happened. That, of course, is the sudden, unexpected departure of Russell Westbrook, the undeniable top dog in Thunder-era franchise history. Onto Houston — reuniting with former teammate James Harden — to forge a new path ahead, leaving Oklahoma City – for the first time since the franchise moved cross-country in 2009 – without
SHANGHAI, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 03: Jayson Tatum of USA reacts during the 1st round Group E match between USA and Turkey of 2019 FIBA World Cup at the Oriental Sports Center on September 3, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) ACC power rankings, Week 2: North Carolina climbs, Virginia Tech falls hard
The Boston Celtics will feel the loss of Al Horford at both ends this season, but particularly on the defensive end of the floor. I’ve been trying to figure out what to make of the Boston Celtics for weeks now. Losing Kyrie Irving and Al Horford in free agency seems like it should matter a
“We’re going to turn Knicks fans into Nets fans… I expect us to be in the playoffs next season and [win a] championship in one-year minimum, and maximum in five years,” said Mikhail Prokhorov, introducing himself at a press conference on May 19, 2010 while announcing his purchase of the New Jersey Nets. With that
When Dwight Howard agreed to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, it was just fitting. It’s not fitting because Dwight fits with the Lakers’ needs. It’s fitting because it’s yet another in what’s been a longline of bizarre storylines this offseason. Seriously, it’s been one after the next. No, it’s not bizarre only because of
When comparing the loss of a star player to the loss of a glue player, there’s no question which one is worse. Losing a star can set back a franchise for years, with so many questions surrounding what they should do next in light of his departure. Losing a glue player doesn’t make as much
Over the course of July and August, Basketball Insiders embarked on grading all 30 NBA teams for their offseasons — additions, subtractions, draft picks, trades, etc — and their potential headed into the 2019-20 campaign. Between today and autumn, franchises will be tasked with figuring out how their roster pieces, both new and old, might
Nearly two years removed from a gruesome broken leg, the Boston Celtics need Gordon Hayward to step up. After signing a four-year, $128 million deal in July of 2017, Gordon Hayward’s first season with the Boston Celtics lasted all of five minutes before a severe broken leg sidelined him. A run to the 2018 Eastern
Another milestone during the dog days of NBA summer has come and gone. The schedule was released on Monday and to no one’s surprise, the Los Angeles Lakers lead the way with 43 nationally televised contests. Equally as unsurprising is the fact that Charlotte and Cleveland round at the bottom at a measly three games
The Celtics need big contributions from Gordon Hayward this season. That probably means having him come off the bench to steady a young second unit. During his first eight years in Utah, Gordon Hayward slowly climbed the peak of NBA stardom. From the scrawny kid from Butler University, to bench dynamo, to the face of
Jarrell Brantley was Utah Jazz’s first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. No, he wasn’t selected in the first round, as the team forfeited that pick to the Memphis Grizzlies via trade in exchange for the services of Mike Conley Jr. Brantley was selected 50th overall in the second round by the Indiana Pacers, but
Jaylen Brown seems to live his life slightly off-axis. Nine players on the basketball court, bodies perpendicular to the floor. And then there is one more, with a slight bend at the waist, torso at 76 degrees, out-racing his man to the other end of the floor and somehow appearing to do it in a
The Celtics appeared to be in trouble when it was reported that Al Horford and Kyrie Irving were both headed out of town. Signing Kemba Walker changes everything. The first big move of the summer was the Boston Celtics agreeing to terms on a four-year, $141 million max contract with former Charlotte Hornets point guard,