The Philadelphia 76ers were already contenders, but Al Horford represents a luxury for both Joel Embiid and the team that could push them over the top. Had the Philadelphia 76ers possessed a capable backup center, they might have won the 2018-19 NBA championship. While there’s a lot of grey area in that kind of “what
Philadelphia 76ers
Star centers Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns got into an old-fashioned brawl rarely seen in the NBA these days. Now the question is what kind of punishment they’ll face. The on-court action between the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves took a backseat Wednesday night, as star centers Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns stole the show
In the season’s early going, a familiar cast of characters has emerged in the race for Defensive Player of the Year. In a league increasingly reliant on versatility and the implementation of pace and space, though, some new candidates have emerged, as other, position-less defenders have a greater opportunity than ever to force their way
Well, that didn’t take long. Then again, did it have to? Coming into the season, the Los Angeles Clippers were projected to be the favorite to win the NBA title, but barely. Unlike the Golden State Warriors over the last three years, they were nowhere near as unanimous as a title favorite. Plus, with Paul
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
The NBA preseason is in full swing and teams around the league are shaking off the rust in exhibition games that may or may not be televised. Trying to make a meaningful assessment based on preseason play is a fool’s errand, but the games can be useful to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses that may factor
Nate McMillan almost made it seem like the Indiana Pacers’ hand was forced. With Domantas Sabonis eligible for an extension until late October or entering restricted free agency next summer, it was crucial for the Pacers to prove that he’s a part of their long-term plans. Coming off a breakout season that cemented him as
The offseason is finally done. Training camp is officially underway. The 2019-2020 NBA season is mere weeks away from starting. As usual, we’ve all been waiting a long time for this moment. And why shouldn’t we? There are so many exciting storylines to tune into this season. The league’s new-found parity. The new LA teams.
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
When it was announced that LeBron James was planning on joining the Los Angeles Lakers last year, many thought that he was taking the circus with him. Any team with LeBron on it usually has a media circus from his brand alone, but the other Lakers additions that came with him were laughed at. Lance
It was a foregone conclusion that LeBron James would be drafted first overall in 2003, even before the draft lottery rewarded his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick. James was already a national phenomenon before stepping foot on an NBA court. James immediately bore a tremendous burden, with pressure to grow into potentially
When Philadelphia started this whole “process,” the endgame in mind was bringing in multiple franchise cornerstones with high lottery picks that the franchise hoped would come. From 2013 to 2017, this yielded mixed results. The Sixers had a few disasters along the way, but time was on their side, and they even made up for
In just under two months, 30 NBA teams will kick off the journey that is the 2019-20 NBA season. There will be a myriad of storylines and statistical trends that flesh out as the season chugs along. Some of these trends can be predicted based on last season, while others could be a result of
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
When evaluating a team’s offseason, it can take a while to complete. Between going over what happened last season, what they did this summer and predicting what lies ahead – it’s quite the exercise. You could almost call it a process. Oh hey, speaking of processes, the next team up in this series? The Philadelphia
Coming off a promising NBA Summer League showing, Matisse Thybulle is looking to carve out a rotation spot with the Sixers next season. Midway through the Philadelphia 76ers’ Summer League game against the Detroit Pistons, Matisse Thybulle was confused. Irritated. Lost. Not because he blew an assignment, misread an offensive set or fumbled away a
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 2: Tobias Harris #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during a game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on May 2, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this
TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 12: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers stretches before the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals 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
Basketball Insiders recently started a new series detailing the top free agents by position as a primer for the free agency period beginning on July 1. Let’s get caught up. Drew Maresca covered point guards, Jordan Hicks shooting guards. Then, Spencer Davies detailed small forwards and Ben Nadeau wrote about power forwards. First, a look at
After coming within a game of the Eastern Conference Finals, the 76ers overhauled their roster in short order. Will it be enough to put them over the top? In the span of just a few hours, the Philadelphia 76ers saw a team that came within a game of the Eastern Conference Finals take on a
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JANUARY 12: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics between plays in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on January 12, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and
The Toronto Raptors have a lot to celebrate, and so a fan with LEGO skills commemorated their 2019 NBA Finals victory in a special kind of way. A Toronto Raptors fan made a LEGO recreation of Kawhi Leonard’s Game 7 buzzer-beater against the Philadelphia 76ers, and it’s quite beautiful. Stop-motion animator Jared Jacobs built and
The 2019 NBA Draft started off with more trade activity than expected as most experts even predicted a record-breaking night as far as trades were concerned. With many big-name stars on the move pre-draft, rumors galore and the pending free agency period, all 30 teams were looking to maneuver in a way that best suited
With the NBA Draft less than nine days away, things in the NBA are starting to heat up as NBA teams zero in on trade scenarios and the players they will ultimately have a real shot at drafting. There is a very important disclaimer/concept worth re-stating. Rumors, like the ones we’ll dig into in a
The 2019 NBA Draft is rapidly approaching. It is now a mere 19 days away and, as is often the case, a lot is left to be sorted out in the final three weeks. While all teams must make a final decision on each of their picks in the draft, there are a few decisions
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
The decision was a surprise. The timing was not. With one day to go until the NBA Draft Lottery and Combine begin in Chicago, the Cleveland Cavaliers made a shocking hire as the organization’s next head coach—John Beilein. “I feel very strongly about this new and exciting opportunity with the Cavaliers,” Beilein said in the
Now that the Philadelphia 76ers have been eliminated from the playoffs, all eyes turn towards Jimmy Butler’s free agency decision. While Kawhi Leonard’s epic game-winning shot in game seven of the Eastern Conference semi-finals will live on as one of the greatest moments, it also started the countdown on Jimmy Butler’s free agency decision. After