7:04 AM ET The Milwaukee Bucks are big favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. According to Caesars Sportsbook, they enter the bubble at minus-230 to reach the NBA Finals in October. Still, respect from Vegas is one thing, but execution in Orlando is another. While the Bucks hold the league’s best record, the
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) The Lakers and Clippers gave us the spectacular basketball ending we’ve all been missing A meeting between two of the Western Conference’s best delivered more than we ever could have expected. Despite three months off, and having been moved to a literal bubble away from
Ben Simmons, #25, Philadelphia 76ers, Kawhi Leonard, #2, Los Angeles Clippers, (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) The Philadelphia 76ers have said Ben Simmons will be moving to power forward when the season resumes. Will it matter? The positional revolution has been televised. Previously rigid definitions have been democratized and deconstructed so that labeling a player
12:51 AM ET NBA Insiders It’s not easy to recall the storylines and themes that dominated the 2019-20 NBA season prior to its suspension, which seems like eons ago. But the battle for supremacy between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers in their home market — and more largely the Western Conference — was
James Harden and Russell Westbrook will play huge minutes for the Rockets in the playoffs. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) The Houston Rockets’ small-ball experiment has its benefits and in the NBA bubble, they’re a threat to any team in the Western Conference. But will their regular-season strengths ultimately be their undoing when the games
The NBA is returning incredibly soon, but it definitely won’t be the same – at least not initially. While most aspects of the game will hopefully return to normal as soon as next season – and other fun surprises like the return of Jamal Crawford and Michael Beasley to the Brooklyn Nets (the latter of
5:44 PM ET Andrew LopezESPN New Orleans Pelicans rookie forward Zion Williamson was cleared to play by the team and will suit up in Thursday night’s NBA restart opener against the Utah Jazz, the team announced. Coach Alvin Gentry told reporters that Williamson had to go through his pregame warm-ups before the team made a
Andrea Pirlo rejoining Juventus as U-23 coach by Mike Luciano Lebron James Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images Henry Abbott joins the latest episode of Fastbreak Breakfast to discuss the NBA Bubble, LeBron James and more. The NBA is finally back, with the return of tonight’s regular season seeding games. To mark the occasion, Henry Abbott (@truehoop)
Steven Adams, Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Steven Adams uses similar vernacular to consuming food to that of an animal. Steven Adams looks to be born in the summer of his 27th year in the Orlando NBA bubble. The Oklahoma City Thunder big man looks to be right at home in a
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 06: Danilo Gallinari #8, Chris Paul #3, head coach Billy Donovan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2, Dennis Schroder #17, and Steven Adams #12 of the Oklahoma City Thunder look on against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 6, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and
6:41 AM ET After 20 full weeks on hiatus, the 2019-20 NBA season is finally ready to restart. In case you’d forgotten, the Milwaukee Bucks lead the Eastern Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers are atop the West, the Memphis Grizzlies are clinging to the West’s 8-seed and the Toronto Raptors are still — more than
Tom Thibodeau, Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) What if Tom Thibodeau is exactly what the New York Knicks have needed? Maybe Tom Thibodeau won’t be a total grease fire leading the New York Knicks after all? The Knicks have been nothing short of a circus in the NBA‘s Eastern Conference for the better
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the
2:25 PM ET Denver Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has spoken with Michael Porter Jr. about the second-year forward theorizing the coronavirus pandemic is “being used for population control.” Connelly did not make a statement, but Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said he learned about Porter’s comments — which were made on a
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MARCH 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics grabs a rebound against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 10, 2020 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
Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images Michael Porter Jr.’s off-base comments are just the latest in a disturbing trend. In a Snapchat Q&A on Tuesday evening, Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. made some troubling, off-base comments about the coronavirus. As The Athletic’s Clevis Murray transcribed, Porter said the following: “Personally I think the coronavirus is
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images J.J. Redick’s pre-game ‘fit was a whole mood for 2020. For those unfamiliar, J.J. Redick is an undeniably likable NBA player, not only for his innate shooting ability that he’s carried with him throughout his basketball career, but also for keeping it real. Between his extremely honest and straightforward podcast,
Zion Williamson (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Zion Williamson has moved another step closer to returning. After leaving the NBA restart bubble in Orlando to tend to an urgent family matter, Zion Williamson is now moving closer and closer to returning to action. According to ESPN’s recently reinstated Adrian Wojnarowski, the rookie phenom has cleared
6:05 AM ET FRED VANVLEET TRUDGED from the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Naples, out the double doors and into the stifling Florida humidity. The Toronto Raptors guard squinted, his eyes adjusting to the sunlight as the words came into focus. He saw “Black Lives Matter” in large, white letters across each side of two buses
Jayson Tatum, #0, Duke Blue Devils, (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) What do we really know about the science and development of jump-shooting? How important are free-throws, floaters and touch as indicators of shooting potential? No fluffy intro this time. For that, go read part one of the shooting synopsis, where I covered volume and
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 13: Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) Kevin Garnett is looking to buy the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Minnesota Timberwolves were created in 1989, but were almost moved to New Orleans in 1994 before former Republican senator Glen Taylor took over and kept them in Minneapolis.
Boston Salmon suffers broken orbital and cheek bone from getting hit with illegal knee at LFA 84 by Thomas Albano DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 20: Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf looks on during warm ups prior to the start of the game aganist the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 20, 2019 in Detroit,
6:24 AM ET In the NBA, where rosters can change dramatically from season to season, how much of an edge is it to have continuity heading into the league’s 2020 restart? Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, whose team checks in near the top of our list, has high hopes. “Continuity [will] help with trying
Eric Gordon of the Houston Rockets. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon may have suffered a bad ankle injury. While much of the safety concerns inside the NBA bubble center on COVID-19, there is always the looming threat of players getting injured in the act of playing actual basketball. That appears
Derek Stingley Jr. adding receiving duties to game could make LSU star a Heisman finalist by John Buhler MLB fans freaked out about ESPN blackout on MLB TV by Gerald Bourguet CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 01: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter during their game against the Charlotte Hornets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Scottie Pippen sees a flaw in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s game holding him back. Scottie Pippen knows how to win championships, but sees a flaw with Giannis Antetokounmpo. On Da Windy City Podcast with FanSided‘s Mark Carman, the Hall-of-Famer and six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls believes
10:07 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon is feared to be lost for one to two weeks because of a left ankle injury suffered in a scrimmage Tuesday, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Rockets are expected to have a clearer sense of Gordon’s injury timeline once he’s evaluated again Wednesday, sources
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 22: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on in a game against the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on February 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) The Clippers have the talent to win the 2020 NBA title, but teams looking to knock them
Meyers Leonard, Miami Heat. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) Meyers Leonard proved he learned things in college by shotgunning a beer. When you’re about that bubble life, you must learn to shotgun beers like Meyers Leonard. Or don’t. I mean, it’s a fun and effective way to dominate some questionably cold Coors Light. Shotgunning brews
6:30 AM ET The NBA restart begins Thursday night, as the Utah Jazz–New Orleans Pelicans and LA Clippers–Los Angeles Lakers showdowns welcome fans back to basketball after the league’s four-month hiatus. Will we be watching an all-Los Angeles Western Conference finals? Plenty of our experts think so. Meanwhile, the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks don’t begin their