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 2022 NBA Draft Lottery will be held tonight, with a lot of interesting scenarios in play. The Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic are tied for the
Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Anthony Edwards called out Chris Paul III and the Phoenix Suns for a disgraceful performance in Game 7. Last week, the Memphis Grizzlies reminded the Golden State Warriors that no game should be taken for granted — and trash-talking on the court can always come back with a bite. The Grizzlies
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. You may have been smart enough to pick the Celtics and Mavericks winning their respective Game 7s on Sunday, eliminating the two NBA Finalists from last year. But chances
6:03 PM ET The Boston Celtics say Al Horford and Marcus Smart are both out for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat on Tuesday night in Miami. Horford is in the league’s health and safety protocols, the team announced. Smart won’t play due to midfoot sprain suffered in Boston’s Game 7
Recent reports indicate that Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton may not return to the Suns after all, and the Game 7 loss certainly didn’t help. For a young, talented NBA player, the approach of free agency candidacy can alter their path in the league immensely. Players don’t choose where they get drafted, but that first
James Harden plans on staying with the Philadelphia 76ers, despite a playoff disappointment and his contract opt-out. It helps that Harden can make over $47 million next season, though the 76ers will likely try to persuade him to take a more nuanced extension. Should Harden opt in to that year, it’ll be a contract season
Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden (1): Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports The Philadelphia 76ers once again couldn’t get past the second round of the NBA playoffs. With Joel Embiid’s prime quickly passing by, what are the priorities this offseason? The Philadelphia 76ers forced its fanbase to go through The Process. For four straight seasons, they were
8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN To understand the depths of animosity between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics entering this year’s NBA Eastern Conference finals, you have to go back to an otherwise nondescript regular-season night in March 2013. That night in New Orleans, a Heat public relations official approached the team’s traveling media contingent
Rajon Rondo is being accused of domestic violence involving the mother of his children. Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Rajon Rondo is in hot water after news broke of a domestic violence dispute erupting from a heated altercation with the mother of his two children. TMZ Sports reported, “Ashley Bachelor, Rondo’s former partner and mother of
9:24 PM ET The NBA on Monday said it’s in the process of gathering more information after veteran point guard Rajon Rondo allegedly threatened a woman with a gun at her house last week. The woman filed for an emergency protective order against Rondo on Friday in Louisville, Kentucky, a copy of which was obtained
Jan 23, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) walks off the field looking at the scoreboard during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams during a NFC Divisional playoff football game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports Watch: Steve Aoki’s first pitch for Red Sox
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (right): Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports The Phoenix Suns were supposedly a lock to make it to the NBA Finals this season. Now, after losing in round two, there is a lot to figure out for the future of this franchise. This was supposed to be an easy road to
3:26 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart is questionable for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat with a right midfoot sprain, coach Ime Udoka said Monday. Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Smart had an MRI on the foot Monday that came back clean, and that Smart
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Patrick Beverley called out Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul for allegedly faking an injury in embarrassing Game 7 loss. Narrative shapes legacy in the NBA, and performance is primarily what shapes narratives. But narratives are also shaped by interpretation, so when Patrick Beverley pounces on Chris Paul after the most devastating
8:00 AM ET And then there were four teams left standing in the 2022 NBA playoffs. After the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns — last year’s NBA finalists — were knocked out in Game 7s on the same day, the 2021-22 season is one step closer to crowning a new champion. The Boston Celtics overcame
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 15: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the third quarter in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden on May 15, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using
10:13 PM ET PHOENIX — The Western Conference Finals will have a surprise participant after Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks dismissed the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in completely dominant fashion. The Mavericks claimed the right to advance to face the Golden State Warriors by rolling to a 123-90 rout of the Suns in Sunday’s Game
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 15: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Cameron Johnson #23 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half in Game Seven of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at Footprint Center on May 15, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and
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. Every team has the same goal on offense — score as many points as possible. But every team goes about that in a different way, using different patterns of
6:25 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN BOSTON — For the fourth time in the last six seasons, the Boston Celtics are headed to the Eastern Conference finals. The hope is this time, they can take it one step further. To do that, they’ll have to do exactly what the TD Garden crowd started chanting late in
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images Tigers: Casey Mize injury update is concerning by Mark Powell Seahawks: 3 games Seattle can play spoiler next season by John Buhler LeBron James sent out a tweet congratulating Liverpool F.C. winning the Emirates FA Cup, which was then filled with anti-Lakers replies. Saturday, May 14 was a huge day
May 6, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Danny Green (14) shoots the ball against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game three of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Lakers will be interviewing Kenny Atkinson for head coaching job
8:25 AM ET Which NBA contenders will join the Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors in the conference finals? Sunday’s Game 7s feature two series that could not be more different. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) have each bruised their way into their finale, each winning classics on the opponent’s
Rapper Kendrick Lamar included a verse regarding Kyrie Irving’s COVID-19 vaccine stance in the song “Savior” off of his latest album. Friday, May 13 was a huge day in the music world, as rapper Kendrick Lamar released his latest album titled Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. Of course, fans were wondering just what Lamar
After the Golden State Warriors advanced to the Western Conference Finals, Klay Thompson posted a legendary Instagram story. The Golden State Warriors had the chance to eliminate the Memphis Grizzlies with a Game 5 win, but suffered a humiliating blowout loss. In Game 6, the Warriors had Klay Thompson step up in a huge way,
CLEVELAND, OH – JUNE 09: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors and assistant coach Mike Brown react after a foul call in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena on June 9, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly
9:17 PM ET PHOENIX — On the plane ride back home after losing in blowout fashion to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, Suns star Devin Booker joined a card game with teammates Chris Paul and Jae Crowder and discussed their Game 7 challenge ahead. Paul has played in seven
Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) Why undefeated William Zepeda almost left boxing by Jeremy Herriges As Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers’ season ends yet again, one of their former players Jimmy Butler and his Miami Heat are moving on to the Eastern Conference Finals. After beating the Philadelphia
5:00 PM ET ESPN News Services MILWAUKEE — The Bucks have canceled a watch party for Sunday’s Game 7 against the Boston Celtics after 21 people were injured in three separate shootings near an entertainment district in downtown Milwaukee at the end of the team’s Game 6 Eastern Conference semifinals loss Friday night. A spokesman
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MAY 13: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates a basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals at Fiserv Forum on May 13, 2022 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and