In the regular season, Pascal Siakam made himself a frontrunner for the Most Improved Player award due to his bursting speed, quick-twitch momentum, nimbleness, skinny-strength and sheer length. “Spicy P” was NBA Twitter’s favorite rising star because of the element of surprise. He was a tornado on drives; a curveball in the post; a shark-attack
NBA Playoffs
The Toronto Raptors never stopped fighting, closing out the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 to head to the first finals in franchise history. Toronto never gave up. Even after falling behind 0-2 in the series and in a 15-point hole in Game 6. The Bucks came into Toronto on Saturday reeling off its first three-game
TORONTO, ONTARIO – MAY 25: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors reacts during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks in game six of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Scotiabank Arena on May 25, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
Giannis Antetkounmpo was not feeling up to answering the press’ questions following Game Six. So, he decided to bounce on the last question. We really can’t fault Giannis Antetkounmpo for not being up to answering questions from the press after a tough loss. I mean, who would really want to answer questions as to why
After the most convincing win and significant momentum shift of the Conference Finals, the Toronto Raptors look the part of an NBA Finalist. When the Raptors fell behind 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals, all evidence from the regular season looked to have been confirmed. The Bucks were the best team in the NBA all
With the Toronto Raptors scoring a massive 18-point victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in Toronto, the Eastern Conference Finals are now tied up at two games apiece. For a matchup between the two top seeds in the Eastern Conference, a tight series isn’t necessarily a surprise, but perhaps a little unexpected is
The Raptors put forth their best effort of the series in Game 4, keeping the Bucks off rhythm and evening up their series 2-2. The Raptors needed overtime to beat the Bucks in Game 3, potentially exhausting what already appeared to be a fragile and shallow rotation struggling to match up with Milwaukee’s depth and
Subtract Kevin Durant and much of the talk surrounding the Golden State Warriors is about how the “Splash Brothers” can rewind time. How Steph Curry can re-shatter the 3-point field goas records. How Klay Thompson can regain a secondary-scoring role, heating up enough to perhaps score 30-plus in a quarter. Less conversation, then, is given
Joel Embiid was visibly sobbing after losing Game 7, and no one should come remotely close to trolling him about it. Playoff basketball creates some of the most exciting endings in all sports. The last few seconds of a close basketball game can feel like a lifetime, and one shot can change the destiny for
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 7: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 7, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
Such a shot has never fallen for anyone in a Toronto Raptors uniform, at least not while wearing a Toronto Raptors uniform — until Kawhi Leonard. Perhaps on a night where his point total amounted to 41 such a shot should have been expected to fall. Then again, Kawhi Leonard had missed his previous shot.
You all crowned me your king. I never wanted it. I never asked for it. But I accepted it because the North is my home! It’s part of me, and I will never stop fighting for it, no matter the odds! Being King of the North is a hard job. For one, the North is
The Trail Blazers gave the Warriors everything they could handle in Game 2 but, unfortunately, couldn’t make the plays they needed to steal the win. This happens to the Warriors. Beating them always requires a certain degree of improbability and so when they look vulnerable for a quarter or two, they let you latch onto
There is no prelude necessary as we get ready for the Western Conference Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers. Today we’re walking through 10 questions that will define the series and determine who gets to face the winner of the Milwaukee-Toronto matchup for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. When are Kevin Durant
In case you hadn’t noticed, the playoffs fully bloomed over the last four weeks. To accompany the epic moments, the NBA’s new social media campaign poses its players as comic book protagonists. As Avengers: Endgame clears box office records in a single bound and superhero ubiquity conquers the culture, the NBA found inspiration for its
Previewing the first-round series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons with shot charts, assist maps, offensive style charts and expected win probabilities. Shot charts The chart presents the approximate shooting percentages for Giannis and the remainder of the Bucks’ roster from less than 16 feet and from beyond the arc. It is important to
DENVER, CO – MAY 12: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers shots the layup against the Denver Nuggets during Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
Brook Lopez had his best game of the postseason, helping power the Bucks to a fiery Game 1 win over the Raptors. This week, Giannis Antetokounmpo talked about the sting of losing Game 1 in the second round to the Celtics and how they could not afford to dig themselves a similar hole against the
There is no prelude necessary as we get ready for the Eastern Conference Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors. Today we’re walking through seven questions that will define the series and determine who gets to face the winner of the Golden State-Portland matchup for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Do the Bucks go back
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the game winning basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 12: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
In playoff series as tightly contested as this year’s second-round bout between the Rockets and Warriors, plays, games and seasons can swing on the efforts of role players. When both sides feature such singular star talent, teams are often only as good as their connective tissue. It’s on that premise that Houston has ground its
It seemed like Kevin Durant’s injury had provided the Rockets with an opening in Game 6. Instead, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry slammed it shut. It was a gift from the Basketball Gods. Kevin Durant, who had been the Rockets’ kryptonite in the first five games of the series, was ruled out for both Games
Previewing the first-round series between the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic with shot charts, assist maps, offensive style charts and expected win probabilities. Shot charts In the first season without DeMar DeRozan and Dwane Casey, the new-look Toronto Raptors have ripped off another excellent season, finishing with 58 wins. Following an increasing trend from the
The 76ers came out with exactly the sort of urgency and purpose that should be expected of a home team on the brink of elimination to force a Game 7. The series history suggested the Philadelphia 76ers would respond after getting blown out in Toronto in Game 5. More than that, however, it was the
Previewing the first-round series between the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder with shot charts, assist maps, offensive style charts and expected win probabilities. Shot charts Aside from the stellar play of Damian Lillard, the story for the Blazers heading into the playoffs is the injury status of CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. According
The Warriors executed down the stretch to steal a win in Game 5 over the Rockets. But along the way, they might have lost Kevin Durant to a leg injury. Another game between the Warriors and Rockets, another uber-competitive game settled on the final few possessions. Golden State jumped out to an early lead but
After cruising through the first round, the Milwaukee Bucks are in line to get Malcolm Brogdon back soon. The Milwaukee Bucks completed a sweep of the Detroit Pistons on Monday night. Looking to the second round against the Boston Celtics, Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has reported guard Malcolm Brogdon is close to
The Bucks firmly took control of their series with the Celtics, battering them in the paint and winning Game 4 decisively. After Game 1, it seemed like the Celtics might have found a strategy to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo. Al Horford played fantastic defense and the rest of the team was dialed in, packing the
The Houston Rockets came home after Game 2 with their backs against the wall. They now head to Game 5 feeling like it’s their series to lose. It’s impossible to know so soon after the fact, but if every NBA postseason is a series of sliding door moments, it’s a decent bet that Game 4