NBA All-Star voting ends this week. Which players from the Eastern Conference deserve a spot in this year’s All-Star Game, and which ones just miss the cut? NBA All-Star voting closes this Friday, and while I don’t have an official media vote for who gets into this year’s game, I still went through the exercise
NBA
A lot of memorable NBA players are getting a second chance…due to a new wave of a deadly pandemic. Can any joy be found here? For the third straight season, the NBA has been thoroughly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the season was able to start on time, and the league has managed to
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. In this season, as COVID-19 has pushed player absences and roster uncertainty to historic levels, reliable depth has never been more important — particularly at the point guard position.
Baron Davis accomplished so much in his decorated NBA career. But his most lasting impact may be in what he’s done off the court. The terms “robber baron” and “captain of industry” refer to the same phenomenon, but differ in connotation. In the 19th century, wealthy, powerful industrialists amassed unforeseen wealth in the United States
After a 941-day absence, Klay Thompson returned to the NBA in a way only he could. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics are struggling to find an offensive rhythm. Klay Thompson made his NBA return in a way only Klay Thompson could: with a quick trigger and absolutely no conscience. Given his fiery competitiveness and stone-cold confidence,
Nic Claxton has played fewer than 70 NBA games, but the Nets’ wiry big man could be the key that unlocks the best version of a title contender. Kevin Durant and James Harden excluded, the most crucial variable in Nets’ championship aspirations isn’t a former All-Star big man, a sharp-shooting wing or a mercurial, galaxy-brained
The CDC COVID guidelines are changing with the recommended isolation period reduced from 10 days to five. How will that impact the sports world? The sports world has been unsettled over the past few weeks with a surge in COVID cases prompting postponements and cancelations. The NFL has had to push back games. NBA, NHL
Rather than conceding another lost year after Collin Sexton’s season-ending knee injury, the Cavs have become one of the NBA’s best defensive units. All that, and a look at Chris Paul’s mid-range shooting in this week’s The Long Two. From last NBA season to this one, no team has improved as drastically or as suddenly
It’s uncommon for an NBA team to play its best basketball after losing its best player, yet the Memphis Grizzlies have taken off since Ja Morant’s injury. Plus: A look at the Timberwolves’ surprisingly stingy defense. It’s uncommon for an NBA team to play its best basketball immediately after losing its best player and offensive
While the Suns and Warriors have taken the NBA by storm, the Utah Jazz have quietly improved upon last year’s dominant play with the league’s best offense. The Warriors and Suns currently sit at the center of the NBA world’s attention this week, and rightfully so. The two teams have won a combined 36 of
Dec 2, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ty Jerome (16) goes to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports MLB trade grades: Who won Hunter Renfroe-Jackie Bradley Jr. swap? by Scott Rogust The Oklahoma City Thunder were humbled
After a brief stint with the Santa Cruz Warriors, NBA veteran Jeremy Lin returns to China to join the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. At 33 years old, Jeremy Lin has had quite the basketball journey, from Harvard to feverish Knicks “Linsanity” to the resulting seven-year journey involving six different NBA teams. But
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 24: LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on November 24, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of
Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports Though the 2021-22 NBA season is still in its infancy, the early results already beckon for some franchises to swing a big trade. What’s the best part about the NBA? Trading, of course! The season is about a fifth of the way finished and a handful of teams already ride
The championship-or-bust Lakers currently sit well outside the championship picture. How much should we be worried about L.A.’s slow start? The Lakers introduced significant downside risk to their season the moment they traded for Russell Westbrook, but it was hard to see things going this poorly this fast. We knew it would be difficult for
NBA and NFL athletes used their platform to pressure Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt to commute the sentence of Julius Jones hours before his execution. Athlete activism has seen an uptick in recent years, with countless athletes sharing their perspectives directly with fans. Professional athletes possess unparalleled platforms, as heroes to millions of adoring sports fans
Dwight Howard wasn’t included on the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. How did being left off the list impact him? At one point in his career, Dwight Howard was a force to be reckoned with. Now, at 36-years-old, he’s more of a role player for the Los Angeles Lakers. When considering his career, the folks who
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 17: LeBron James (L) and Odell Beckham Jr. attend as Remy Martin presents Beats Party on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for Remy Martin) Rams Roster: Rams wide receivers depth chart after signing Odell Beckham Jr. by Byron Smith When news broke that
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has added a new trick to his bag this season, and the Hawks’ offense has struggled to get off the ground. Much of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s career has unfolded in relative obscurity, but the absence of a spotlight has done nothing to stall his growth as a player. The 23-year-old made steady, substantive improvement
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 23: Xander Zayas (L) and Frank Gore (R) walking to the ring before Xanders fight against Dan Karpency at State Farm Arena on October 23, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images) Nick Chubb goes on COVID list, but may not miss a game because he’s
James Harden hasn’t been himself to start the new season, but how concerned should the Nets be about their star’s struggles? When the Nets acquired James Harden last season, they hit the ground running. Integrating the ball-dominant Harden into an offense that already featured Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving required virtually no time at all
What makes Kings rookie Davion Mitchell one of the NBA’s best on-ball defenders, and why the Warriors’ offense looks better than it did a year ago. There’s no hotter fire for a rookie guard to be thrown into than what Davion Mitchell faced in the first four games of his NBA career. In his first
With Kawhi Leonard out for most, if not all, of the season, can Paul George step into a primary role and keep the Clippers in the playoffs? The Clippers are in a certain kind of NBA limbo, though not one of their own making. Kawhi Leonard’s torn ACL may have dashed the franchise’s championship hopes
Every NBA season is worth being excited about. Here are 50 reasons to celebrate the start of the upcoming season. The last two seasons have not gone the way anyone would have expected or hoped. With the coronavirus pandemic shifting and shortening the league schedule, the rhythms of the season have been interrupted, each wrapping
Western Conference teams have posted a winning record against Eastern Conference teams in 12 straight seasons. Will that change in 2021-22? Between the rise of small-ball and the proliferation of 3-point shooting, the NBA has undergone seismic changes over the past decade. Throughout it all, Western Conference teams have consistently dominated their Eastern Conference counterparts
This week, The Long Two breaks down how much the Brooklyn Nets will miss Kyrie Irving on the court and how good the Raptors’ young core has looked. If Kyrie Irving were as intelligent as he fancies himself, he might have avoided getting into this mess altogether. Instead, he has chosen to put both his
Washington Wizards forward Kyle KuzmaMandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports With the 2021-22 NBA season scheduled to begin soon, these five players have the most to prove this season. The NBA off-season is a time filled with hot takes, trade and free agency rumors, player rankings and a lot of criticisms. While media discusses this
This week, The Long Two looks at how Jordan Poole could help fill in for Klay Thompson and whether the Knicks can replicate last year’s success. Given the variables at play, it’s nearly impossible, and certainly exhausting, to confidently project a likely outcome for the Golden State Warriors this season. Uncertainty over how Klay Thompson
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports NFL Week 5 2021 full schedule by Josie Rohach LSU football: 3 big names to target to replace Ed Orgeron by John Buhler Los Angeles Lakers guard Malik Monk continues to impress his teammates after the team’s first preseason game. The Los Angeles Lakers made a lot of offseason acquisitions, and
Why Zion Williamson’s foot injury could spell trouble for the Pelicans, plus what Michael Porter Jr.’s max extension means for the Nuggets moving forward. Monday’s NBA headlines rightfully centered on a small but vocal group of maddeningly selfish and deeply misguided players using incoherent, bad-faith rhetoric to support grossly irresponsible and scientifically indefensible decisions to
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