Flames

Don't forget about the other summer blockbuster.
You can't go online without the Rudy Gobert trade being flamed. It's hard not to question that move considering how clunky things have looked for the Timberwolves on both ends, a recent winning streak when Gobert was out of the lineup, and a slide coinciding with Gobert's return &mdash; featuring closing minutes with Naz Reid instead of Gobert.
You know who else has looked clunky on both ends of the floor? The Atlanta Hawks, fresh off a loss to LeBirthday and the Los Angles Lakers on Friday night.
The Hawks are currently sitting two games under .500 (17-19), with a bottom-10 net rating (-1.7, 24th) and more rumors swirling than a high-school hallway. The latter portion &mdash; the outside noise &mdash; is really what sucks about this Hawks season.
It's understandable enough that there would be growing pains when implenting former Spurs All-Star Dejounte Murray into the mix. I was ultimately <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-offseason-trade-news-dejounte-murray-fit-atlanta-hawks-trae-young-bogdan-bogdanovic-deandre-hunter-san-antonio-spurs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">high on the move</a>, but the Young-Murray fit hasn't been clean. The Hawks are <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612737&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1629027,1627749" target="_blank" rel="noopener">barely winning the minutes</a> &mdash; plus-1.8 in 695 minutes &mdash; with them sharing the floor.&nbsp;
It's even tougher considering the injury woes the Hawks have dealt with. Clint Capela has missed nine games; John Collins and De'Andre Hunter have missed eight. Bogdan Bogdanovic, an important spacer and secondary creator, made his season debut on December 2.&nbsp;
In a perfect world, this is just a matter of on-court chemistry building. But alas, it doesn't appear to be just that. The cloud surrounding the relationship between Young and head coach Nate McMillan is hard to ignore at this point.
Before the season, Young and McMillan each referenced their need to improve communication with each other. McMillan took steps over the offseason <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34656193/atlanta-hawks-look-improve-communication-trae-young-coach-nate-mcmillan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with an in-house visit</a>, for a quick example. Naturally, Young missed a home game against the Denver Nuggets earlier this month due to [checks notes] <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/trae-young-reportedly-sat-out-fridays-game-vs-nuggets-after-feud-with-coach-nate-mc-millan-232604712.html#:~:text=The%20team%20said%20at%20the,to%20be%20any%20further%20discipline." target="_blank" rel="noopener">morning shootaround etiquette.</a>
(As the story goes, Young wanted to bypass morning shootaround to receive extra treatment for a troublesome shoulder. McMillan gave Young a choice: either come off the bench [for missing a normally-mandatory shootaround], or stay home. Young opted for the latter.)
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That's a petty story at best, another notch on the "what-the-heck's-going-on-with-those-two?" belt at worst. It didn't look good for Young, who simply could've played if he wanted to. It didn't look good for McMillan, who wouldn't have lost sleep over letting Young slide considering the circumstances &mdash; and his importance to the team, but you know.
Fast forward to Friday, before the Lakers loss, and we get a report from The Athletic's Shams Charania that McMillan has <a href="https://theathletic.com/4046211/2022/12/30/nate-mcmillan-hawks-considers-resigning/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">considered resigning from the job</a>. When asked about the report, McMillan didn't necessarily <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/hawks-coach-nate-mcmillan-responds-to-report-suggesting-he-may-resign-well-move-on-past-that/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shut things down</a>:
"I read that article briefly, I've never spoke to that reporter before,"&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Pat_Benson_Jr/status/1608958610905903105?s=20&amp;t=p8pumdwNvGb35E1h4W7reQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McMillan said</a>. "I think the last two weeks, he's written a couple articles with some sources in our organization that are making some comments about me, and some things that I'm saying and doing. Look, at the end of the year, I'll do as I've always done, at the end of the season I talk with my family and see if I still have that flame, that fire to continue next season. That's the end of the season. All of us think about retiring, but that's at the end of the season. So we'll move on past that."
What makes this dynamic &mdash; and the Hawks in general &mdash; so difficult to parse through is the chicken-or-egg nature of it.&nbsp;
For the "star &gt; coach" crowd, there are arguments to make.
There is a level of rigidity with McMillan from a scheme perspective. That isn't inherently bad; he provides structure, and that appeal is what helped land him the job after the Hawks fired Lloyd Pierce in the first place. But it's part of why teams have been willing to move on from McMillan after a spell, looking for a new voice or a boost in creativity. The Hawks very well could use that.&nbsp;
On the flip side, how much more can be done with this personnel? That's worth asking before factoring in the injury woes.&nbsp;
Daryl Morey would throw up at the Hawks' shot profile: 37.5% of their shots come from the mid-range area (1st), while they lag way behind in rim (32%, 20th) and three-point rate (30.5%, 29th). But when your shooting talent underperforms (Collins, Hunter, Justin Holiday), is mostly unavailable (Bogdanovic) or trying to learn the ropes in year one (AJ Griffin), what should the expectation be?
McMillan, like virtually every coach in existence, has had his rotations questioned during his tenure. But with the revolving door of talent he's had at his disposal this season, what should the expectation be?
And then there's Young himself.&nbsp;
He's underperformed by his lofty standards. Averages of 27.4 points and 9.9 assists are dope; averaging career-lows from just about everywhere &mdash; 31% on 7.2 threes, 47% on 13.8 two-pointers &mdash; is admittedly not dope.
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He hasn't been able to can the pull-up threes that make him such a lethal pick-and-roll threat. His floater, one of the NBA's best weapons, has largely failed him this season. (Ja Morant's dealing with a similar floater issue, hence his career-low in two-point percentage.)
Young missing shots wouldn't be as tough if his play-style didn't exacerbate things. He dictates a ton of the action &mdash; and rightfully so, with his blend of playmaking and scoring chops. After <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?Season=2021-22&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=AVG_DRIB_PER_TOUCH" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading the NBA</a> in seconds per touch and dribbles per touch last season, Young ranks... second and first respectively <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?CF=GP*GE*20&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=AVG_DRIB_PER_TOUCH" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this season</a>.
After an encouraging start to the year, the off-ball juice just hasn't been there for Young. We're back to pass-and-stand with the ball out of his hands. He's taken just 23 relocation threes this season, per Second Spectrum; that's on pace to smash last season's number (26), but still well below the threshold you'd like to see from Young.&nbsp;
The primary reason that people questioned the Young-Murray fit was because of the off-ball woes. Murray was a fine-not-threatening catch-and-shoot threat, while Young just wasn't particularly engaged in that area. Sadly, it's been mostly a "my turn, your turn" ordeal between the two.
It's fair to question if McMillan can bring this team to the next level, and if he can connect with Young enough to make that possibility a reality. It's also fair to question how much of a limiter Young's style is to building the sort of multi-faceted attack that can take the Hawks to the next level.&nbsp;
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That question, in addition to the weird relationship with McMillan, is why <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10059477-sources-trae-young-could-be-next-nba-superstar-to-request-trade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">executives have started chirping</a> about the possibility of Young eventually asking out.
This is where I pause and state the obvious: executives saying "hey, he might be the next star to ask out" is not a report. It's notable conversation, and fun to think about. It's not an actual trade request.
Even with that context, it's interesting to think about what a Young trade would even look like. The Hawks pushing that button would signify, "We can't do this," "We don't want to deal with this," or a combination of the two. How would that message be received league-wide?
Young is an offense unto himself; that's incredibly valuable and, oddly enough, part of the problem with building around him. Add in the defensive concerns &mdash; he's a small dude whose attention span wanes off the ball too often &mdash; and a Young trade sweepstakes won't be as simple as "this dude's good so we should sell the farm for him."
Go down the line of fake trade destinations, and you'll come across some roadblocks.
That Young-for-KAT swap seems plausible until you think about Young, Anthony Edwards and Gobert in the same locker room. Gobert was frustrated enough being blamed for Utah's defensive miscues; cleaning up for Young and&nbsp;Edwards' off-ball lapses feels like trouble waiting to happen.&nbsp;
The New York Knicks should be happy with the All-Star caliber play that Jalen Brunson has provided this season. Brunson isn't a Young-level talent, nor is he a Young-level star. I'd be shocked if they didn't at least consider constructing a package for Young.
In light of Chris Paul's decline, I'm sure the Phoenix Suns would sniff around. The prospect of pairing Young and Devin Booker together would be interesting, though building out an offer would induce headaches.&nbsp;
(I don't know if anyone wants to hear this, but there's probably a conversation to be had between Atlanta and Philadelphia depending on what James Harden wants to do with his player option.)
For a player as talented as Young, that's not a long list of suitors. And again, you could poke holes in all of those. Ideally, this doesn't become a real talking point to begin with. The Hawks want Young to be the face of the franchise, and he's already shown he's talented enough to lead them on a deep playoff run.
What needs to change for the Hawks to turn things around? The anwer is a little bit of everything.&nbsp;
More malleability from McMillan would be nice. A healthier roster &mdash; and better shooting talent &mdash; would give McMillan more room to experiment. Obviously there's no "shoot-the-ball-better" button to press, but Young can control his own engagement level off the ball &mdash; on both ends of the floor.&nbsp;

What's wrong with the Hawks? Nekias Duncan breaks down the team's issues and Atlanta's options moving forward.

What's wrong with the Atlanta Hawks?

Nekias Duncan breaks down the 2022 NBA Finals between the Celtics and Warriors from a multitude of angles.

2022 NBA Finals Scouting Report: How the Celtics and Warriors match up

After the Utah Jazz were eliminated by the shorthanded Los Angeles Clippers last June, the rumors swirling around Donovan Mitchell and his potential departure from the team began in earnest.
Following an ugly five-game losing streak earlier this year, the rumors picked up more steam. In late January, NBA analyst <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/is-grayson-allen-a-dirty-player-nba-insiders-weigh-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ric Bucher of FOX Sports reported</a> that the "incessant buzz around the league is that there are those in Mitchell's circle who believe he is too big of a star for Salt Lake City."
The league-wide gossip has only intensified, as the Jazz have imploded over the past three months and descended down the Western Conference standings in the process.&nbsp;
Utah was 26-9 over its first 37 contests this season and trailed the West-leading Suns by just a game on New Year's Day. However, the Jazz are four games below .500 (18-22) over their last 40 games. And things have gone from bad to worse as of late.
Not only have they lost 6 of their past 7 contests, but they've also somehow managed to blow massive leads in back-to-back defeats (bungling a 25-point advantage to the Clippers and a 21-point lead in a loss to the Golden State Warriors). On the season, the Jazz have lost 15 games in which they've held double-digit leads. During this current seven-game stretch, Utah's defense has been non-existent, allowing a whopping 123.2 points per 100 possessions.&nbsp;
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The Jazz currently find themselves sitting in the No. 6 spot out West, just one-and-a-half games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves, which means Utah could potentially slip into the Play-in Tournament.
The relationship between the star duo of Mitchell three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert has been notoriously rocky in years past, and it appears to be wobbly once again.&nbsp;
Mitchell not sharing the ball with Gobert has become a topic of conversation. On the season, Mitchell has passed the rock to the big man just 151 times, or on average, <a href="https://twitter.com/DustinT_NBA/status/1510492258063163393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less than twice per game</a>.
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Donovan Mitchell's full response at shootaround this morning when he was asked about the number of times he passes to Rudy Gobert per game: <a href="https://t.co/OTez0jURfz">pic.twitter.com/OTez0jURfz</a>
&mdash; Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) <a href="https://twitter.com/andyblarsen/status/1511390020136964102?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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After Utah choked away a massive lead to the Clippers last week, Gobert was brutally honest in his postgame presser.
"Nobody hits nobody. We don't get our hands dirty. We never get our hands dirty," <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/03/30/triple-team-jazz-lost/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gobert told reporters</a>. "We're a very good basketball team, but I get f***ed up every night, and guys are literally beating me up every night, as they should. It's basketball; it's a physical game. But we have to get to the point where we do that to the other team too. But teams don't really expect that from us."
Mitchell was later asked about finger-pointing while the team was struggling.
"That's childish, in my opinion,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/04/01/utah-jazz-vow-not-fall/">Mitchell replied</a>. "If we do that, then we've got some big problems."
Three days later, Utah blew another double-digit fourth-quarter lead in Golden State. "I don't know how many times it's gonna happen," Gobert said afterward. Jazz beat writer <a href="https://theathletic.com/3226333/2022/04/03/jazz-blow-another-big-lead-and-seem-to-have-no-answers-to-some-troubling-questions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tony Jones wrote</a> that the Jazz "play as if they have zero trust in each other, and that's the hard truth."
If the Jazz flame out in the playoffs later this month (they are just 10-17 in the postseason over the last three years), Utah's front office will have some tough decisions to make. And many NBA insiders believe Mitchell may force the organization's hand.&nbsp;
Appearing as a guest on the "The Lowe Post" podcast last Friday, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schwartz-and-macmahon/id986595124?i=1000555962078" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN's Tim MacMahon proclaimed</a>:
<blockquote>
The idea that Donovan Mitchell is going to spend his entire career in Utah is absolutely ridiculous. That's one of the things that's staring them in the face this summer. That's also one of the things that has been looming over this franchise all season long. 
</blockquote>
MacMahon added that "other teams have been planning to make a run at Mitchell" for quite some time.
On a podcast in February, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/trade-deadline-megapod-part-2-the-losers/id1078713316?i=1000550747046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated</a> also painted a grim picture of the situation in Salt Lake City:
<blockquote>
I think they're in trouble because this thing has run its course, and we know there are some tensions that are in that locker room. And I've been told recently that they might be a little worse than we've even been led to believe. And so, if this doesn't end well this postseason, and there's no reason to think that it will... Those "Donovan Mitchell wants out" rumors are going to be starting, like, as soon as the season is over.
</blockquote>
However, Mitchell signed a five-year, $163 million contract extension in November 2020, which includes a player option worth $37 million for the 2025-26 season. Thus, he is still under contract in Utah for at least three more years.
Despite some ups and downs as of late, Mitchell is undeniably one of the most dynamic and productive young players in the entire league. This season, at the ripe age of 25, he is producing 26.1 points and 4.1 rebounds to go along with career-high averages in assists (5.4), steals (1.5), made three-pointers (3.5) and field goal percentage (45.4%).
Mitchell has already tallied over 8,000 points, 1,500 assists and 1,400 rebounds in his young career (343 games). The only players to exceed those totals in these statistical categories in fewer career contests are LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich and Oscar Robertson. That's decent company.
And although the Jazz have stumbled in the playoffs, it's unfair to pin those defeats on Mitchell. He has played some of his best basketball when the spotlight shines brightest. In the 17 postseason games Utah has played over the last two years, Mitchell's averaged a whopping 33.9 points and 4.9 treys per contest. Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic are the only other players averaging more than 30 points per game in the playoffs since 2020.
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So, to make a long story short, the Jazz will only consider trading away their three-time All-Star if he demands to be moved.
Should Mitchell inform Utah he wants out, plenty of pundits predict that New York will be his preferred destination.&nbsp;
There is plenty of connective tissue between Mitchell and the Big Apple. For starters, Mitchell was born and raised in New York. His father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., is a former minor league baseball player who works for the Mets as the club's director of diversity, equity and inclusion. The younger Mitchell spends much of his offseasons in New York and <a href="https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell/status/1494377515300786176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1494377515300786176%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fwashington%2Fnationals%2Fson-mets-exec-donovan-mitchell-makes-pitch-juan-soto-go-queens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">often tweets about his favorite MLB team</a>.&nbsp;
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The only time we&rsquo;re happy to have a 🕷 in the house. <a href="https://twitter.com/spidadmitchell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@spidadmitchell</a> <a href="https://t.co/G4J7Lb2a2F">pic.twitter.com/G4J7Lb2a2F</a>
&mdash; New York Mets (@Mets) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mets/status/1131326274834763776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2019</a></blockquote>

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Mitchell also has a very close relationship with Knicks assistant Johnnie Bryant, who mentored Mitchell during his days in Utah before joining head coach Tom Thibodeau's staff. Marc Berman of the <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/03/20/knicks-hopes-of-landing-donovan-mitchell-could-hinge-on-assistant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post has reported</a>, "Bryant is a key figure in the Knicks' long-term hopes of Mitchell tiring of playing in one of the NBA's most obscure markets in Salt Lake City." In addition, New York team president Leon Rose served as Mitchell's agent before leaving CAA to join the Knicks' front office.
"Some say it&rsquo;s only a matter of time before he joins former Creative Artists Agency agent and current New York Knicks president Leon Rose," <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/is-grayson-allen-a-dirty-player-nba-insiders-weigh-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ric Bucher wrote</a> earlier this year. He added that an Eastern Conference scout told him: "They're a first-round exit from Donovan being in New York."&nbsp;
While Utah has not lived up to expectations thus far this season, their struggles pale in comparison to the dissatisfaction New Yorkers have dealt with. The Knicks have, once again, failed to advance to the playoffs coming off last season's first-round postseason exit. The franchise has won a grand total of one playoff game over the last nine years. Yes, one.
New York has not been shy about courting superstars in the past. And coming off a disappointing and unsuccessful season, the pressure will be ramped up on Rose and Co. to make a major move. A native New Yorker with All-NBA talent about to enter the heart of his prime seems like an ideal target.
So, while Knicks fans won't be able to cheer for their favorite team in this year's playoffs, you can rest assured they will be rooting very hard for one club in the first round &mdash; whichever team is matched up against the Jazz.&nbsp;
In terms of assets involved in a potential blockbuster, the Knicks have several promising young players on their roster, including RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley (who has been <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-stats-notebook-immanuel-quickleys-unusual-shot-diet-can-work" target="_blank" rel="noopener">playing at a high level since the All-Star break</a>), as well as Cam Reddish, Quentin Grimes and Obi Toppin. New York also owns six first-round draft picks over the next five years. And if Utah were interested, the Knicks would certainly be willing to send Julius Randle (who struggled this season, but was named to the All-NBA Second Team a year ago) packing in a package deal for Mitchell.
Yet, it's important to note that even if Mitchell demands a trade and wants to relocate to New York &mdash; and whether the Knicks are willing to push all their chips into the middle of the table to bring him home &mdash; the Jazz are going to do what's best for their organization. That means canvassing the league and looking for the best possible offer.
And, make no mistake, several teams will gladly surrender a king's ransom for a young superstar under contract for three more seasons.&nbsp;
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Tommy Beer explores the timeline of Donovan Mitchell's frustration in Utah and how it could lead to a change of scenery.

Expect the Knicks to make a real run at Donovan Mitchell this summer

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/iman-shumpert-explains-how-lebron-ruined-basketball/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m gonna take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.&rdquo;
The infamous sentence by LeBron James that completely changed the NBA landscape back in 2010 had a greater effect on the league than you might think. Sure, it shifted the landscape of the league at that time, but the long-term impact was felt in the fact that players started to team up other more, forming super-teams and disbanding loyalty in the pursuit of a championship. LeBron&rsquo;s former teammate, Iman Shumpert, blames James for this shift in thinking. In fact, he believes James ruined the NBA.
&ldquo;'Bron ruined basketball. He thought he was making it better; I get him," Shumpert said. "Me personally, I loved the NBA for the loyalty that I thought was there. He basically knocked the fourth wall down like, 'The organization, they bullsh*tting, we doing what we want.' Great business move for sure, but when you think about it, outside looking in, like, I got people tweeting me right now [and] they're literally talking about owners and trades. It&rsquo;s like, bro, y&rsquo;all aren&rsquo;t supposed to be talking about none of this actually!"
It&rsquo;s ridiculous to say LeBron started super-teams with the 2010 Miami Heat because we have seen many teams with multiple All-Stars going all the way through history. But the Heat's Big Three was formed differently. Players didn&rsquo;t have the kind of power or leverage to go wherever they wanted and team up with their friends. Ownership groups and front offices had all the power, but LeBron broke the wall and showed that the players actually had the control.&nbsp;
Ever since then, players have been getting more and more power in the NBA, getting larger contracts, requesting trades, signing wherever they want, recruiting each other and simply sitting out if they don&rsquo;t want to play. All of this was unheard of in the NBA 15 years ago. But LeBron&rsquo;s push for player empowerment changed the complete hierarchy of the league and gave the steering wheel to the players. Some would argue that this was good for the league, while others would say it&rsquo;s destroying it. One thing&rsquo;s for sure: it has its perks and flaws.
While it&rsquo;s entertaining to see super-teams due to the abundance of transcendent talent playing together, some feel it kills the nature of the NBA. The league gets too centralized with only a few select elite teams, while the rest get the short end of the stick and no attention. That mainly happens to the small-market teams that don&rsquo;t have the appeal of the big cities to lure stars.&nbsp;
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It also killed loyalty and the romanticism that once graced the NBA, with every team having its star or two that were heroes of the city for their whole careers. Instead, nowadays, it&rsquo;s normal to see star players switch teams numerous times and look for their best situation, rather than sticking it out with their original team. Of course, there are exceptions; Damian Lillard is the obvious one.
Shumpert believes that fans look at the game differently and focus on the wrong things ever since James joined the Heat. Fans have always been interested in rumors and transactions, but there's no question that it reached a new level during the player-empowerment era. These days, some fans are more interested in what happens off the court than the actual games.
James' free-agency choice in 2010 will undoubtedly continue to be viewed as one of the most polarizing moves in NBA history.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Iman Shumpert discussed the effects of LeBron James' decision to join the Miami Heat.

Iman Shumpert lets loose on how LeBron 'ruined basketball'

Since the NBA MVP award was introduced following the 1955-56 season, there have been 34 different players to earn the honor. Of those 34 MVP winners, 26 have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The only ones who haven&rsquo;t been selected to the Hall of Fame are either still active or not yet eligible (Dirk Nowitzki). 
Of the eight guys not yet inducted, seven of them are presumptive locks. There&rsquo;s no doubt that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nowitzki will receive the call and be named among the game&rsquo;s immortal when their times come.&nbsp;
But that leaves us with one remaining player: Derrick Rose. Is Rose a future Hall-of-Famer?
Rose is one of the most polarizing players of the last 20 years. At his peak, Rose was certainly one of the game&rsquo;s best. While there&rsquo;s debate in hindsight about whether he was deserving of the 2011 NBA MVP &ndash; the vote would likely look much different today &ndash; there is no question that Rose was on a path of ascension toward becoming one of the NBA&rsquo;s best. He dominated games with his mind-blowing athleticism, and his high-flying dunks looked out of this world for a player his size. He was the key cog on the Bulls at the start of the 2010s. Chicago became a contender for the first time since Michael Jordan retired, mostly because of how good Rose was at such a young age.&nbsp;
There&rsquo;s certainly a case for Rose to be in the Hall of Fame, but there&rsquo;s also a case against him being enshrined with the greatest players of all-time. Let&rsquo;s break down both.&nbsp;
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THE CASE FOR ROSE&rsquo;S INDUCTION
Rose was a player who undeniably changed basketball. He brought back an era of uber-athletic point guards, and showed that it was possible to be a successful team with the best player being 6-foot-3 and lightning fast. Rose was able to accomplish so much at such a young age.&nbsp;
In 2011, he became the youngest NBA MVP in league history at just 22 years old. This is where the argument that Rose belongs stems from.&nbsp;
Is it really right to keep out a guy who was considered to have the best season in the league at just 22 years old? Especially when there had to be an amendment to the NBA&rsquo;s collective bargaining agreement to fairly compensate a young player who&rsquo;s that good, that quickly (known as <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2019/01/28/anthony-davis-trade-rumors-pelicans-derrick-rose-rule-explained-designated-player">&ldquo;the Derrick Rose Rule&rdquo;</a>)?
No one should be making the argument that Rose was ever the best player on the planet; he wasn&rsquo;t (and if you&rsquo;re making this argument, you&rsquo;re foolish). But he certainly belonged in the league&rsquo;s top-five.
In Rose&rsquo;s first four seasons in the NBA, he averaged 21.0 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game. And because he&rsquo;s still playing, he could continue to bolster his case. For example, if he added a late-career championship or two to his resume (like Dwight Howard last year), that could help him.
THE CASE AGAINST ROSE&rsquo;S INDUCTION
Just because Rose won the MVP award doesn&rsquo;t automatically make him a Hall-of-Fame player. Just because everyone that won the award before him is a Hall-of-Famer, and every player that has won it after him will be in the Hall of Fame, does not mean that he belongs, too. There&rsquo;s almost always an exception to every rule, and it seems as if Rose is the exception to this one.&nbsp;
Rose&rsquo;s flame burned so bright at its brightest, but it also burned out so quickly. Yes, injuries are the reason for that, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean he gets a pass for peaking at 22 years old and never returning to form. Rose does have that MVP award, and is a three-time All-Star, but he also doesn&rsquo;t have much playoff success to speak of to date.
What Rose has been able to do in the latter stages of his career makes for a great revitalization story. Rose has been a useful player on mediocre teams in Minnesota and Detroit, and this year&rsquo;s surprise New York squad. All this has happened after Rose was cast aside and essentially out of the league following a stint in Cleveland and being cut by the Utah Jazz after a trade in 2018. He&rsquo;s finished in the top-10 of NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting in each of the last three seasons, but that&rsquo;s not something that&rsquo;s ever said about guys that belong in the Hall of Fame. (This year, he received a first-place vote for MVP and it turned out to be the fan ballot; Rose has always had an enormous, passionate fanbase).
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Keep him mind, it&rsquo;s the Basketball Hall of Fame, not the NBA Hall of Fame. If Rose had some Olympic gold medals or an NCAA Championship on his resume, that would help his case. Instead, his two Team USA medals came during the FIBA World Cup, and while he played for the National Championship as a freshman at Memphis, the Tigers lost, and that entire season was later vacated by the NCAA after an investigation found that Rose's SAT scores were invalidated.
The truest indicator that Rose doesn&rsquo;t belong in the Hall of Fame is that if his first four NBA seasons are removed from his stat line, he looks just like a good-not-great player. From 2014 until now, Rose has averaged 16.5 points per game on 45% shooting to go along with 3.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists, while being a liability on the defensive end of the floor. That&rsquo;s hardly a stat line that deserves to be enshrined amongst the game&rsquo;s greats.&nbsp;
THE VERDICT
Ultimately, what Rose was able to do for his hometown team as a youngster was a story that you&rsquo;d expect on the big screen. But that early stretch of his career isn&rsquo;t great enough to justify how short it was. Had Rose gone two or three more great years before injuries got in the way, this would be a different conversation, but ultimately that&rsquo;s the reality of the situation.&nbsp;
Basketball Reference has <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/hof_prob.html">a Hall-of-Fame-Probability tool</a> that takes each player&rsquo;s stats, awards and achievements into consideration, and it tends to be pretty accurate when determining a player&rsquo;s Hall-of-Fame likelihood. It currently gives Rose an 11.9% chance to become a Hall of Famer, and that feels right.

Every other NBA MVP is either in the Hall of Fame or a lock to get inducted. Will Derrick Rose be enshrined with the game's all-time greats?

Is Derrick Rose a future Hall-of-Famer? The case for and against

The NBA playoffs are here, which means roughly half of NBA fan bases have shifted their focus to the offseason and how their team can improve in 2021-22. With that in mind, we asked our BasketballNews.com writers the following question:
Who is the next big-name player that will be traded?
Imman Adan: The next star to be traded will be Kyle Lowry in a sign-and-trade. (A part of me is hoping if I say it enough, I&rsquo;ll jinx it and it won&rsquo;t happen). Everyone in Toronto had his bags packed at the deadline since there were four teams after him -- the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers -- and yet, no deal got done. After some potentially early playoff exits for a few of these contenders, maybe a price that seemed too high at the deadline becomes justifiable.&nbsp;
Alex Kennedy: I don&rsquo;t think there&rsquo;s a current All-Star who&rsquo;s poised to be traded, so I&rsquo;ll go with a notable name that was mentioned quite a bit leading up to the 2021 trade deadline: Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins. Multiple outlets reported that Collins was available and that the Hawks spoke with a number of teams about a possible deal. Atlanta had an incredible second half of the season -- going 27-11 after March 1 -- so perhaps they&rsquo;ll stand pat. However, Collins believes he's a max player and he turned down the Hawks&rsquo; $90 million extension offer prior to the season. This offseason, he&rsquo;ll be a restricted free agent, so it wouldn&rsquo;t surprise me if he&rsquo;s dealt in a sign-and-trade if he wants more than Atlanta is willing to pay (especially since the additions of Danilo Gallinari and Onyeka Okongwu make him a bit more expendable).
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Ethan Fuller: I honestly don't see a Tier-1 superstar out there who could be on the move. The most likely candidate for me is in that next level of blossoming All-Stars. Zach LaVine has toiled away on losing teams in Chicago and Minnesota for his entire career, but still earned his first All-Star nod this past season while growing into an elite scorer with above-average facilitating chops. He's also on a very moveable, bargain contract and will be paid just $19.5 million next season. I don't know what Chicago's plans are -- the 26-year-old still barely fits into the franchise timeline -- but other teams in need of a dynamic top-two scoring option should be checking in. A trade will really depend on if the Bulls get to keep their first round pick (top-4 protected) this season.
Moke Hamilton: I wanted to say Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal or Kawhi Leonard or Karl-Anthony Towns, but I can&rsquo;t. Each of those players have expensive running mates and supporting casts that their teams have put around them. While any of them being traded is viable, I think the safest bet is Lonzo Ball. Lonzo was reportedly shopped this past deadline and is heading for restricted free agency. I am assuming that Lonzo will get a near-max offer this summer. New Orleans knows it and will opt to sign-and-trade him after concluding that he&rsquo;s simply a luxury they can&rsquo;t afford right now, not without them being at least a second-round playoff team.
Spencer Davies: Damian Lillard and Bradley Beal appear to be sticking with their respective franchises unless something drastic happens, so from a &ldquo;star&rdquo; perspective, we&rsquo;ll go with a relatively easy one since he&rsquo;s going to be a free agent anyway: a sign-and-trade of DeMar DeRozan by the San Antonio Spurs. There is a clear shift toward youth happening within this organization, as Derrick White <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-san-antonio-spurs-derrick-white-dejounte-murray-gregg-popovich-colorado-buffaloes">detailed to BasketballNews.com recently</a>. It&rsquo;s time for Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Lonnie Walker and White to transition the Spurs into this new era. LaMarcus Aldridge is gone, and it would be best for San Antonio to try to receive some sort of compensation for DeRozan, because he has been an All-Star caliber scorer and a vastly underrated playmaker who can help any team in need of a second or third guy to push them over the edge.
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Chris Sheridan: There are a couple of players who come to mind who do not qualify as stars anymore -- Al Horford and Kevin Love being two of them -- but I believe Lonzo Ball qualifies on name value alone, and he will be a restricted free agent. With the Pelicans looking to shake things up after one of the most disappointing seasons of any team in the league, a sign-and-trade that sends Ball out makes sense. The destination will depend in large part on the decisions that teams make about their own restricted free agents, and with players on non-guaranteed deals. But Ball to New York or Chicago would put him in a major market, and the Knicks would probably have more to send back because they have a pair of future picks from Dallas.
Jannelle Moore: If the Blazers flame out again, don&rsquo;t be surprised if they trade CJ McCollum. Trade rumors involving McCollum are nothing new since it&rsquo;s believed that the backcourt of McCollum and Damian Lillard hit its ceiling. Portland needs a playmaker in the vein of a Ben Simmons or a Draymond Green to take pressure off of Lillard in terms of facilitating, or a wing who can create his own shots and defend.

Who will be the next big-name NBA player to get dealt? Our BasketballNews.com writers share their thoughts.

NBA Roundtable: Who's the next big-name player that will be traded?

&ldquo;The media&rsquo;s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that&rsquo;s power. Because they control the minds of the masses. The press is so powerful in its image-making role." - Malcolm X
I didn&rsquo;t want to touch on any of this. I even tweeted that I was going to <a href="https://twitter.com/etanthomas36/status/1395020436392529927?s=21" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mind my business</a> on this.
However, since Kwame Brown posted that first video on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kwan_low" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IG account</a> (plus additional videos on IG Live and his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcCzh-DGFFkhDsMDvQgpvCg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YouTube page "Bust Life")</a>, there have been multiple media outlets that have reached out to me to inquire if I would come on their show. They wanted me to get in the middle of what was going on with Kwame and Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, and my answer has consistently been an adamant, "No." I told them that they were not going to use me to fan the flames of this beef. When I first caught wind of it, I immediately tweeted that I hated seeing good Brothas beef to this level over something that could&rsquo;ve (and should&rsquo;ve) been fixed with a phone call, and I still stand by that.
I also have a lot of respect for all of them. I am still amazed at all of the work that Stephen Jackson has done around the world after George Floyd was murdered. I&rsquo;ve interviewed both Stak and Matt for my show, "<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/podcasts/the-rematch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Rematch</a>," and for my new book on white supremacy and police brutality that I&rsquo;m currently putting the finishing touches on (shout out to Haymarket Books). Kwame and I have been friends since we were teammates with the Washington Wizards for four seasons, so I have always been in his corner. I immediately ordered some shirts from <a href="https://bustlife.creator-spring.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his clothing line</a> for me and my son. (We got "Momma&rsquo;s Cooking" and "My Momma&rsquo;s Son" shirts).
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I support all of these Brothas. I do believe they will eventually reach peace in their own time and show all of the world how Brothas can resolve differences peacefully, and then, maybe even work together and achieve something that Pac and Biggie never got the chance to do. Again, I fully believe that will happen in time. And when they do squash the beef and make peace, I want to hear all of the media who have been fanning these flames to be just as loud as they are now... but I doubt we will hear a peep out of the media about that. They love to promote drama and infighting, especially with Black people. It gets ratings and that&rsquo;s why I emphatically told them all, "No." I&rsquo;m not coming on any of your shows to join you in fanning these flames.&nbsp;
In addition to the media, a lot of NBA executives and former Wizards executives started reaching out to me, saying, "Hey, we know you and Kwame were always friends. You should talk to him." My answer to all of them was, "And say what, exactly? Kwame is a grown man, and y&rsquo;all are just worried that he&rsquo;s coming for y&rsquo;all next. So, no, I am not interested in speaking to Kwame on your behalf."
Kwame has a long list of people in the media who have consistently degraded his image, his family and his reputation. They have attacked him as a man for two decades and he has finally had enough.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s like the movie "Kill Bill" when Uma Thurman had the list of all the people who tried to kill her and was crossing them off one-by-one. Well, that&rsquo;s what Kwame is doing right now. So Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless and all those other media people who have assassinated his character for literally 20 years are now feeling the wrath of Kwame Brown.&nbsp;
Many people have asked why I keep bringing up the media and why I'm so anti-media. They say it&rsquo;s the media&rsquo;s job to report, and Kwame, Stak and Matt are doing all of this themselves on their own platforms. People say to me, "What about sticks and stones?" and, "Kwame is being too sensitive," and, "The media criticizes all athletes," etc.
Yes, the media&rsquo;s job is to critique athletes' play. So for instance, if they report that a player isn&rsquo;t rebounding the ball the way they should or that their defense is lacking or their shot is off or they aren&rsquo;t playing up to their potential, that&rsquo;s all fair game.
But when the media attacks someone personally and creates a false narrative about a person&rsquo;s character and manhood, that&rsquo;s an entirely different subject. It is done far too often now that media personalities are treated like celebrities and paid salaries comparable to professional athletes. It seems the louder they are and the more negative they are, the more they are rewarded.
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With Kwame, it was so much deeper than the media simply &ldquo;talking bad" about him. The public degradation and the false narratives perpetuated by the media actually hurt Kwame financially, as NBA teams listened to those narratives regardless of whether they were factual or unsubstantiated.
In fact, false narratives kept Carmelo Anthony out of the league for more than a year. NBA teams were scared to touch him. So, yes, Kwame has a valid reason to be upset with the media because they took money out of his pocket with the way those false narratives destroyed his character.&nbsp;
The media could&rsquo;ve told the story of how he persevered through an impossible situation in DC with Michael Jordan and Doug Collins, and how he fought through unbelievable adversity at 18 years old. They could&rsquo;ve covered how he never broke despite Collins and Jordan's attempts to break him. Instead, they began broadcasting a false narrative that was detrimental to Kwame when it came time for teams to sign him. It lowered his market value. They remembered what was said. It didn't matter that there were no facts or proof; the rumors that were created by the media impacted these decision-makers.&nbsp;
In one of Kwame&rsquo;s videos, he briefly mentioned how he was treated in DC and how the situation was set up for him to fail. He also said, "Ask Etan Thomas, he&rsquo;ll verify everything I&rsquo;m saying." This led to my phone being flooded with even more calls, so I decided to reach out to a few other former Wizards so we could all verify Kwame's remarks. I brought Jahidi White, Tyrone Nesby and Chris Whitney on my show, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rematch-with-etan-thomas/id1536352949" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"The Rematch,"</a> to discuss what we collectively saw. And just for the record: Kwame didn&rsquo;t exaggerate one bit about how he was treated in DC. In fact, we also recalled a few horror stories that Kwame left out.&nbsp;
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But the media didn't tell those factual stories. All they had to do was ask someone who was actually there. I was there and I still asked others for their account. Do some actual investigative work!
But that&rsquo;s not what they did. And one of the biggest culprits was Stephen A. Smith. There are countless videos -- and I will include a compilation so nobody thinks I&rsquo;m exaggerating -- of Stephen A. Smith bashing Kwame. He said, &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a scrub, he can&rsquo;t play the game of basketball, he has small hands, he can&rsquo;t catch the ball, he's got bad feet, he can't really move... he doesn&rsquo;t really know what he&rsquo;s doing, he doesn&rsquo;t have a post move that he can commit to memory, he has no game whatsoever, he plays no defense, he doesn&rsquo;t have the heart, the passion, or anything that comes with it." He called him a "bust" and constantly called out Kwame's work ethic; for example, he said, "He didn&rsquo;t work hard in 10 years," and, "[He] never worked and put forth his due diligence." Stephen A. refused to pronounce Kwame's name correctly. He called Kwame &ldquo;nothing&rdquo; and actively campaigned for the Knicks not to sign him.
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At the end of this compilation, you'll see that there's actual footage of Stephen A. Smith going on a speaking tour to colleges, high schools, and middle schools to continue his public degradation of Kwame. He exploited every opportunity to further these false narratives. He shouted fabrications that were simply baseless. The footage shows him telling college students that Kwame was immature and not ready mentally, emotionally or psychologically.&nbsp;
Now, I&rsquo;m no lawyer, but I would think that Kwame Brown has a slander case that he could bring against Stephen A. Smith (and a lot of media members) considering how he was defamed, as long as there's no statute of limitations. He would likely win because&nbsp;the proof is readily available.&nbsp;
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I remember seeing articles about Kwame not knowing how to order food in a restaurant, which I knew was a lie because me and Kwame went out to eat on the road and he ordered food just fine. There were stories about how he didn&rsquo;t know how to use dry cleaners. People wrote that he was depressed. Not to mention the pieces about how he was garbage and a bust and shouldn&rsquo;t be in the NBA. They used words like "worthless" and a "waste." None of that was true or accurate, but that&rsquo;s the narrative that was constantly repeated over and over and over again until everyone just believed it.&nbsp;
When you repeat something a million times, there will be people who believe it and act accordingly. It shifts their opinion. It&rsquo;s like brainwashing. And that&rsquo;s exactly what the media did with Kwame. Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless, in particular, did this and there are many others who joined in (and I&rsquo;m sure Kwame has them on his list). That&rsquo;s why I told any media member who reached out to me that I had zero interest in talking to Kwame on their behalf.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Media, Former Wizards &amp; NBA Executives: I know you two were friends, you should talk to Kwame Me: And say what ? This is y&rsquo;all problem. Looks like he has a long memory &amp; y&rsquo;all just worried he&rsquo;s comin for y&rsquo;all next. Kwame Brown is a grown man. I&rsquo;mma mind my business on this one
&mdash; Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) <a href="https://twitter.com/etanthomas36/status/1395501100841807880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2021</a></blockquote>

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That narrative the media created was used in more ways than a lot of people know. For a large part of my NBA career, I was on the executive board for the Players' Union. I was also part of the negotiating team. I was one of the people whom Billy Hunter consistently included when we sat across from David Stern and the NBA Board of Governors to negotiate the collective bargaining agreement. I remember Stern using Kwame Brown and that same narrative that was broadcasted by Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless and others as a justification as to why we needed to create an age-limit rule. They said that teenagers aren&rsquo;t mature enough and that Kwame didn&rsquo;t even know how to order from a restaurant and how much of a &ldquo;disaster&rdquo; it was to have young high-school players thrown into the throes of the NBA. He actually quoted the same narrative Stephen A. and others were constantly repeating, and I heard that with my own ears.&nbsp;
Of course, Stern didn&rsquo;t use the examples of Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Kevin Garnett or LeBron James to show that high-school athletes can successfully make the jump to the NBA. And yes, this position was loaded with hypocrisy. To have no issue with sending an 18-year-old overseas to war but adamantly objecting to them playing in the NBA because they don't have the mental, physical and emotional capacity to handle it is almost laughable. Also, there was no objection for European players turning pro at 13 years old over in Europe (and I never once heard David Stern or anyone else use Darko Milicic&rsquo;s failures to justify why there should be an age limit for Europeans). They welcomed them with open arms. Stern wanted to expand the NBA worldwide so he wouldn&rsquo;t say anything against that expansion, but he had no problem using Kwame Brown as the poster child for the age limit.&nbsp;
People always ask me: If you have such an issue with the media, why did you become a member of the media? The reason is because I want to do things differently. One of the main reasons I created <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rematch-with-etan-thomas/id1536352949" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"The Rematch"</a> was to give athletes a platform to retell their story. I wanted to give each individual an opportunity to reclaim their image from these false narratives created and spread by the media. My hope is that this makes the media as a whole rethink they way they cover athletes in general moving forward.&nbsp;
To all the media who joined in with Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless and others to assassinate the character of Kwame Brown over the last 20 years: Before you say something about him now, you really should think it through -- or the next video he makes might just be about you.

For 20 years, the media spread false narratives about Kwame Brown. His former teammate, Etan Thomas, witnessed this firsthand.

After 20 years of public degradation, Kwame Brown is fed up

Nekias Duncan dissects every detail of the moves that went down at Thursday's NBA trade deadline and gives them grades.

Grading every move from the 2021 NBA trade deadline

All eyes are on the Brooklyn Nets, and why wouldn&rsquo;t they be? 
With three offensive powerhouses woven into the starting lineup in Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, it&rsquo;s difficult to not want to tune in regularly and see what they&rsquo;re capable of. Considering this, it&rsquo;s no surprise that the team&rsquo;s inner workings and inconsistent start have garnered extra attention, leaving fans wondering about the validity of any deep playoff run. 
There are a few things to note in the Nets&rsquo; current positioning. They&rsquo;re clearly not finished in regards to team building -- an observation simply based on the ages of their stars and the perceived goals for the season after the blockbuster acquisition of Harden. Nets GM Sean Marks has said that <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-sean-marks-brooklyn-nets-not-done-making-moves-trade-steve-nash-james-harden-kyrie-irving-kevin-durant-deandre-jordan-joe-harris-jarrett-allen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they aren't done making moves</a>. This is a team with immediate championship aspirations, so they&rsquo;ll be assessed as such, with all the speculatory and accusatory fascination that comes with existing in the space of a team that could win it all. Located in New York to boot! And all of this is before even coming to terms with three stylistically-unique players in their primes, finding a way to alter the skill-sets familiar to them as a means to coexist.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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BasketballNews.com covered the absence of All-Star point guard and NBA champion Kyrie Irving (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-rumors-kyrie-irving-mental-health-capitol-brooklyn-nets-drama-kevin-durant-james-harden-sabbatical-absence-fined-coronavirus-covid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read my piece here</a>), and Brooklyn&rsquo;s team was off to an instantly controversial and hotly-debated start to an already-so-very-strange season. 
Recently, Irving himself commented on the many disruptions to the Nets' roller-coaster season, <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/kyrie-irving-blames-nets-struggles-on-covid-protocols-the-nba-and-officiating-after-loss-to-pistons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">referencing the interruptions</a> due to the coronavirus as well as an alleged conspiracy against the team by the league&rsquo;s referees.
"We are the team that the NBA put the most games on. We're the team that gets someone taken out during COVID, during the games. We're the team that has to deal with the refs. We're the team that is literally battling against so many odds, that at this point, there's not even a reason to continue commenting on it," Irving said. "They are what they are. As a warrior that I am, and the energy that I have alongside my teammates, we just have to turn that corner, and we haven't done that, but we will, and I'm telling you, the league's gonna be on notice when that happens." 
His comments, no matter how ambitious, speak less to the facts of the season and more so to the bubbling frustrations felt by the roster itself. So far, the Nets have experienced multiple interruptions to their player rotation due to exposures. These interruptions are not unique to the team, but it doesn't make them any less valid. 
Literally, in the midst of a recent matchup with the Toronto Raptors, Durant was pulled from the game after 20 minutes of play because of an inconclusive COVID-19 test from someone within Brooklyn's entourage. The strange event began with Durant entering the game (in spite of the inconclusive test) and culminated with the superstar small forward being pulled from the contest -- an action that was, up until that point, unprecedented in the NBA. When coupled with Irving's seven-game absence -- and the unsavory controversies surrounding Harden's departure from the Houston Rockets -- it's easy to understand the poorly-veiled annoyance from the players, and even rookie head coach Steve Nash. 
But all hope isn't lost... far from it, actually. A newly assembled team boasting intense star power has become synonymous with early chemistry issues (think of the 2010 Heatles, the 2018 Celtics, etc.).
It seems the issue of contact to a revolving door of team staff members, acquaintances and entourages of assistants and drivers has left star players in a constant state of susceptibility to exposure. Logically, star players would be in frequent contact with supporting staff in accordance to their workload and price tag, so this issue may not be resolved before season&rsquo;s end, which is where I believe Irving&rsquo;s frustrations lie. My curiosity's hinge on whether these interferences (that all teams are currently dealing with, to some extent) are having an impact on the Nets' actual play. 
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As it stands, Brooklyn, unsurprisingly, sits among the NBA's top-five offenses. You may have also heard that the team sits among the league&rsquo;s top-five worst defenses. This year, barring any issues of health, we'll learn if these two facts can simultaneously exist within a team that possesses championship aspirations. I'm guessing "no," only because the Nets not only hold front-office competency, but they also have the assets required to make the marginal changes that have the potential to revamp their defense. 
Because the changes are so marginal, it leads me to believe that those will be the franchise&rsquo;s next steps -- with minor upgrades on the defensive end with their center and wing depth, having the potential to drastically alter the current lackluster effort on the court. 
The first step is acceptance, and judging by what we&rsquo;ve heard from the team, they are well aware of their deficiencies. Coach Nash evened echoed the sentiment. 
"It's about personal pride," Nash said following the team's disappointing loss to the Detroit Pistons. "We have to decide what kind of team we want to be."
One can&rsquo;t help but be compelled to watch closely as a franchise so self aware navigates the NBA season on their quest to attain what is, essentially, perfection.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Yasmin Duale analyzes the exterior factors that have led to the Nets' struggles and how the team can push forward.

A timeline of the Brooklyn Nets’ early-season ruckus 

Nekias Duncan previews the Central Division's five teams (the Bulls, Cavs, Pistons, Pacers and Bucks) ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season.

2020-21 NBA Season Preview: Central Division

The Milwaukee Bucks are on the clock.
For the second straight season, they&rsquo;ve flamed out in the second round after a dominant regular season showing. In addition to that disappointment, they now enter arguably the most pivotal offseason in franchise history. Giannis Antetokounmpo, the reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year is super-max extension-eligible. If he turns it down -- at this point, why would he commit now? -- they&rsquo;ll need to make a splash to strengthen their title odds. Anything short of a Finals appearance next season could spell bad news for their hopes of keeping their superstar.
The Bucks won&rsquo;t have cap space to work with, but that shouldn&rsquo;t be much of an issue because all of their important pieces are locked in for next season. They&rsquo;ll have the non-tax payers mid-level exception available to them, and have enough mid-sized contracts to make a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-trade-rumors-possible-destinations-victor-oladipo-indiana-pacers">splash in the trade market</a> if they so choose. The always-informative Keith Smith has a more thorough breakdown of their cap situation, which you can find <a href="https://www.slamonline.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks-salary-cap-space-2020/">here</a>.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s take a look at some guys they&rsquo;ll look to bring back as well as some targets that could help them come back stronger than ever.
Key In-House Decisions
Wesley Matthews*: Bring Him Back
Matthews routinely took on the most demanding perimeter defensive assignments throughout the regular season, while knocking down over 36 percent of his threes on decent volume. He then upped the ante in the postseason, something that the Heat -- and Jimmy Butler specifically -- got a firsthand look at.
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Matthews fits into one of the NBA&rsquo;s most valuable role player archetypes: a true 3-and-D wing. For that reason, it&rsquo;s fair to expect him to opt-out of his $2.7 million and see if he can grab a portion of a contender&rsquo;s mid-level exception. The Bucks should have a leg up in that situation; not only can they toss out a little bit more money with his Early Bird Rights, Matthews is more than familiar with the area having played at Marquette and slots in nicely as a fit alongside the most dominant paint presence in the sport right now. At any rate, the Bucks should do what they can to bring him back.
Kyle Korver: Circle Back Later
Korver is a strong locker room presence and one heck of a shooter, having made nearly 42 percent of his triples last season. He has clear value as a spacer and off-ball mover, even if his role needs to be limited in the postseason because of his defensive limitations. There are more talented free-agent perimeter guys on the market -- heck, there are intriguing young guards like Sterling Brown and Pat Connaughton on the current roster that have a claim for more minutes next year if the Bucks bring them back. It shouldn&rsquo;t cost more than the veteran's minimum to bring Korver back in any case, so doing some shopping first makes sense. &nbsp; Robin Lopez*: He&rsquo;ll Be Back
Lopez was mostly fine as a backup, operating as an extension of Milwaukee&rsquo;s &ldquo;no paint shots no matter what&rdquo; ethos. He contested shots at the rim, boxed out for others and oscillated between flipping up those swooping hook shots and chucking threes above the break to middling results (33.3 percent). There are better backups out there, but it&rsquo;s hard to see him turning down a player option worth a hair over $5 million.
Free Agent Guards
Mid-Tier Options: Jordan Clarkson
It&rsquo;s fun to speculate about the Bucks trading for a shot creator. Chris Paul is a popular name; Victor Oladipo is starting to pick up some steam. You can talk yourself into a one-year Mike Conley gamble if you squint hard enough.
What if the need isn&rsquo;t that stark? If you&rsquo;re of the mindset that the Bucks need a boost, but not an All-Star-caliber boost, bringing Clarkson into the picture would fit that idea.
Clarkson is coming off of, by far, the most efficient season of his career. He gave the Jazz a much-needed scoring punch once he arrived, averaging 15.6 points with a 56.9 True Shooting percentage during the regular season. Both of those marks increased (16.7, 57.7) during Utah&rsquo;s first-round showdown with the Denver Nuggets.&nbsp;
Him trading out some of his frustrating long-twos for threes made him a more efficient option. He&rsquo;s an underwhelming defender to be kind about it, but the Bucks have the personnel to mask some of his limitations. Going after Clarkson with the mid-level exception would allow the Bucks to bolster their guard room, or at least provide some insurance if they do decide to enter the trade market.&nbsp;
Bargains: Tyler Johnson
Johnson had a pretty quiet regular season campaign, kicking things off in Phoenix before finding his way to the Brooklyn Nets mid-season. Johnson performed well in the postseason, averaging a shade under 14 points while unloading the clip from deep (39.3 percent on 7.0 attempts). He&rsquo;s a fearless driver and underrated rebounder; he isn&rsquo;t afraid of mixing it up with bigger players.&nbsp;
Free Agent Wings
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Mid-Tier Options: Justin Holiday
Holiday is more 3-and-Decent than 3-and-D, but he&rsquo;s coming off of the best shooting season of his career (40.5 percent from three-point range on 4.5 attempts) while being a credible option against 2s and 3s. He&rsquo;d boost Milwaukee&rsquo;s transition attack with his athleticism, and could add some much-needed randomness as an off-ball mover in half-court situations. He should be an option even if Matthews returns.
Bargains: Garrett Temple*
Temple would give the Bucks another plus, multi-positional defender with a solid three-point stroke (35.3 percent over the past five seasons). The asterisk is present on Temple's name because the Nets hold a $5 million team option on him, though it&rsquo;d come as no surprise if they let Temple walk to free up tax room to bring back Joe Harris.
Free Agent Forwards
Mid-Tier Options: Danilo Gallinari, Paul Millsap
If Gallinari is serious about going the &ldquo;winning &gt; pay day&rdquo; route, then it&rsquo;s hard to envision a better landing spot for him than Milwaukee. He would immediately boost Milwaukee&rsquo;s shooting and shot creation. His ability as a downhill creator would be a welcome addition to a team that doesn&rsquo;t have much outside of Giannis and Bledsoe (and even that&rsquo;s a bit of a wildcard).&nbsp;
Millsap slipped a bit last season, sometimes laboring while operating as Denver&rsquo;s back-line defender in their aggressive pick-and-roll scheme. Still, he&rsquo;s able to hold his own against power wings and fours and provides a little bit of everything on offense. He&rsquo;s coming off the best shooting season of his career (43.5 percent from three), though that came on limited volume. He can mash smaller players on the block and flow between rolling and popping in pick-and-roll.&nbsp;
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He could operate as a "super sub" in Milwaukee while providing plenty of late-game flexibility. Want to size up? Sit Bledsoe and run something like Middleton-Matthews*-Giannis-Millsap-Lopez to close out games. Sizing down and switching? Bledsoe-Matthews-Middleton-Millsap-Giannis could do the trick.
Bargains: Lance Thomas, Carmelo Anthony
Lance Thomas has flown under the radar for years as a sneaky-solid forward defender that can knock down open threes. He&rsquo;s converted 38.5 percent of his triples over the past five seasons, though that comes on limited volume. He&rsquo;d be a solid get as a 9th man to get you through the regular season.&nbsp; Anthony proved last season he had a little left in the tank as a shooter and mid-post creator. He&rsquo;s still a mess defensively, but that can be hidden with the perimeter quickness, length and size Milwaukee can play. For the minimum, why not juice the bench a bit?
Free Agent Bigs
Bargains: JaVale McGee
The Bucks likely won&rsquo;t be in the market for a big unless Robin Lopez declines his player option, which is hard to see happening. If Lopez does go, they could pry McGee out of Los Angeles.&nbsp;
He remains one of the NBA&rsquo;s top lob threats, equipped with solid leaping ability and a silly catch radius. He uses those limbs to putback misses and swat shots on the other end. Fouls and an inability to navigate space limit his ceiling, though he&rsquo;d only be needed for 12-15 minutes to spell Brook Lopez. You can make the argument that the Bucks are lacking a true vertical spacer outside of Giannis. "The Lopii" mostly operated as pick-and-pop threats last season. Adding that element to their half-court attack could make things easier for everyone involved, even if it&rsquo;s mostly a regular season thing.

Nekias Duncan breaks down the Bucks' own free-agent decisions and suggests some players that Denver should target at each position.

2020 Free Agency Preview: Milwaukee Bucks

Where will Khris Middleton play next season? It might not be Milwaukee.
That is my personal opinion, but it is based upon conversations I have been having for the past several days with folks I know and trust. Disbelieve it if you want, but look at the facts.
The Bucks flamed out. Khris Middleton was not all that good in the postseason. And in order for Milwaukee to have a team capable of defeating the no-quit Miami Heat, the soon-to-be-healthy Brooklyn Nets, Doc Rivers&rsquo; Philadelphia 76ers and every other team in the East that is going to try to improve, the Bucks&rsquo; roster has to improve too.
This coming NBA offseason has thousands of unknowns, including whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will sign a super-max extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. He wants changes to the roster, one of which, the acquisition of Chris Paul, is a virtual impossibility.&nbsp;
But another change, dealing Middleton, is something the Bucks may take a long hard look at.
It is an open secret in the NBA that the Bucks are going to try to trade Eric Bledsoe, although no current trade discussions are taking place, a league source said on Thursday. What needs to be discussed in the days and weeks ahead is whether moving Middleton for a more proven playoff performer needs to happen, too. &nbsp;
Middleton didn&rsquo;t perform particularly well in the playoffs, as the Bucks lost to the Miami Heat 4-1 in the second round. What happens next is critical. Although Antetokounmpo and Middleton are close friends, the two-time MVP wants to win a championship and believes roster upgrades are necessary. However, he hasn&rsquo;t named specific players that he wants to see replaced.
Trade speculation about Bledsoe has been reported elsewhere, but the same cannot be said for Middleton, who is owed $146 million over the next four years. Middleton has not played well in each of the past two postseasons, as Milwaukee lost a 2-0 lead in the 2019 Eastern Conference Finals against Toronto and then got knocked out this year in five games by Miami.
While the Bucks are kicking the tires on just about every potential move, it&rsquo;s difficult to find a player with a comparable salary who would appeal to Milwaukee. Middleton is due to make $33.051 million next season, roughly the same number as the following players who theoretically could be available: Tobias Harris, 76ers ($32.7 million); Kevin Love, Cavaliers ($28.9 million), Al Horford, 76ers ($28 million), DeMar DeRozan, Spurs (27.7 million); Andrew Wiggins, Warriors ($27.5 million), and LaMarcus Aldridge, Spurs ($26 million) among others.
If you are the Bucks, do any of those players appeal to you? In my opinion, only one of them does: Love, if he&rsquo;s at full strength.
Love is three years older than Middleton and has played in 63 career postseason games, going to the NBA Finals three times. He is under contract for three more seasons, making $31.2 million each of the next two seasons and $28.9 million in 2022-23.&nbsp;
Whether Cleveland would be open to such a swap is unknown, but Middleton has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons, and the Cavs are now building around Andre Drummond, Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr. and an assortment of young players that soon will include the No. 5 pick in the draft. They had nine double-figure scorers last season, but nobody averaging the type of point production that Middleton is capable of.
Another upgrade option that the Bucks have to ponder is Jrue Holiday of New Orleans, who has been the subject of numerous trade rumors involving the Pelicans, who are changing coaches and looking to build around Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball and this past season's Most Improved Player, Brandon Ingram. Holiday was recently selected by his peers as the NBA's Teammate of the Year, a testament to his value in the locker room.&nbsp;
Pelicans general manager David Griffin has only $83 million in committed salary for next season with Derrick Favors and E&rsquo;Twaun Moore coming off the cap, so a potential deal with the Bucks would not have to include matching salaries.
Combining the salaries of Middleton and Wesley Matthews ($2.56 million this season, with a player option for $2.69 million next season) would enable the Bucks to bring back a second player who could replace Matthews as a perimeter defensive specialist. That could happen through a trade or through free agency. They can use up to $5.8 million of the mid-level exception, but going above that number would make them hard-capped.
It can safely be said that no team aside from the Los Angeles Clippers had a more disappointing finish to the season than the Bucks, and standing pat with the same roster would not seem to be an option.&nbsp; Antetokounmpo and the Bucks have to adjust their roster to defeat the Heat, who will be playing in Game 6 of the NBA Finals tomorrow night.
Antetokounmpo missed the final game against Miami because of a right-ankle injury, and his supporting cast underperformed. Middleton shot below 40 percent during the postseason while averaging 20.3 points, and Bledsoe averaged only 11.7 points and 5.7 assists in nine games, shooting 38.8 percent from the field.
The second-round exit has led to speculation that Antetokounmpo will turn down the $254 million super-max extension and bolt for a different market, and Milwaukee&rsquo;s front office is expected to be proactive in scouring the league for upgrades. Based upon that assumption, Bledsoe (owed more than $54 million over the next three years) and Middleton (owed $147 million over the next four seasons) would be the most likely candidates to be dealt, with Middleton having the higher trade value.
Acquiring Paul from the Oklahoma City Thunder would be extraordinarily difficult, given the two years and $85.6 million remaining on CP3&rsquo;s contract. The only way a deal could be made would be through a third team that has major salary cap space (Atlanta, Detroit and New York have the most), but that is still very unlikely -- even with ownership telling Giannis that the team is willing to pay the luxury tax in order to keep the two-time MVP in Milwaukee. Giannis and Paul became close in the NBA bubble (particularly during the Bucks&rsquo; boycott), which is where this chatter originated.
The answer to many of the questions concerning the NBA is dependent upon what happens with the coronavirus pandemic, but starting the season in January (at earliest) now seems to be a virtual certainty, according to NBPA director Michele Roberts, who has been inside the NBA bubble since July.&nbsp;
&rdquo;Even before COVID happened, there was a conversation about starting our season later. Why compete with football in the fall? Why don&rsquo;t we start our season around Christmas? It may very well be that our regular schedule is going to change, not so much because of COVID, but because of the ability to experiment. I wouldn&rsquo;t bet on returning to the old normal,&rdquo; <a href="https://theathletic.com/2119417/2020/10/06/its-been-more-than-worth-it-michele-roberts-on-bubble-life-and-nbas-future/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Roberts told The Athletic</a>, noting that projections of $8 billion in revenue for the 2020-21 season are expected to come up 40 percent short.
So the league and the Players' Association must first figure out what the salary cap will be next season, along with when the season will start and whether fans will be allowed into arenas. That is the reason why the Bucks are not actively trying to trade Bledsoe. They are in a holding pattern, like every other NBA team.
It was curious to see that Antetokounmpo unfollowed all of his Bucks teammates on Instagram after they were eliminated, and it would have been nice to be a fly on the wall for Antetokounmpo&rsquo;s three-hour lunch with owner Marc Lasry before he returned to Greece.
Here is the big thing for the Bucks: When you lose, you make changes. And when you want a super-max-eligible superstar to stay, you try to put the best players around him.
Without any changes, Antetokounmpo may elect to play out his contract, after which suitors will tell him that even though he likes Milwaukee and does not care about playing in a major market, the caliber of teammates he wants to play alongside&nbsp;do care about those off-court factors. Milwaukee is not an attractive city for the majority of NBA players, so making the best trade(s) is just about the only option general manager Jon Horst has in order to keep Giannis with the Bucks for the next six seasons.
Also, Antetokounmpo is not the type of person to get overly specific when he requests changes. He is counting on Bucks management to be able to read his mind to a certain degree, so do not expect him to say anything publicly about Middleton, Bledsoe or anyone else on the Bucks.&nbsp;
But Milwaukee needs a second decision-maker and another outside shooter who can also defend on the perimeter, and it will be up to Horst to decide whether to keep Middleton or find a better fit.
If he doesn&rsquo;t, Antetokounmpo can turn down the super-max and keep his options open. And the Bucks want to avoid that at all costs.
Stay tuned, but do not expect Milwaukee to stand pat. They were a combined 2-6 against Miami in the regular season and the playoffs. They need to get better, and a change at point guard is probably not the only thing they need. Middleton is their best trade asset, and I do not think he&rsquo;ll be around when next season starts. We shall see.

Almost everything should be on the table for the Bucks this offseason to improve their roster around Giannis, writes Chris Sheridan.

Will Milwaukee Bucks trade Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe this offseason?

After a recent chatter following a controversial NBA ballot amongst the players, Tyrese Haliburton wanted to shake out a shadow that has been cast over him.
&ldquo;Overrated.&rdquo;
Some people say, Haliburton is too unselfish, too pass-first, not a &ldquo;killer&rdquo;, and not a &ldquo;real&rdquo; No. 1 option.
But on a loud night in Cleveland, with the result all but raining down and the Indiana Pacers securing a second straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, Haliburton didn&rsquo;t have to say a word. The scoreboard, the series tally, and the stunned expressions on the 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers&rsquo; team and crowd spoke loudly enough.
The Pacers have won in 5 games against a team that was supposed to outclass them. This wasn&rsquo;t just an upset &mdash; it was a dismantling. And it was proof that Haliburton&rsquo;s style, and this Pacers team, are not just good enough. They&rsquo;re built the right way, and they&rsquo;re built to last.
A system that works, a star that believes
Haliburton didn&rsquo;t need 40-point nights to make his impact felt. He orchestrated, he read the floor two steps ahead, and he elevated everyone around him. In the closeout Game 5 win, his stat line &mdash; 31 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds, 6 threes &mdash; was a masterclass in control. What he did was subtle, surgical, and suffocating for Cleveland.
Indiana picked apart the Cavaliers with relentless pace, smart spacing, and constant movement. Kenny Atkinson&rsquo;s squad, known for its defensive tenacity during the regular season, looked overwhelmed trying to keep up. Evan Mobley was stretched thin. Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were hunted. The Cavaliers had no answers for the tempo.
And it wasn&rsquo;t just Haliburton. Andrew Nembhard&rsquo;s two-way brilliance, Myles Turner&rsquo;s timely rim protection, Pascal Siakam&rsquo;s veteran calm, and Obi Toppin&rsquo;s injection of energy all contributed to a five-game win that felt like a statement. Indiana is not just fun anymore. They are contending.
The blueprint of a contender
This isn&rsquo;t a superteam. This is a team that became great through vision, patience, and precision, led by brilliant veteran head coach Rick Carlisle.
The foundation was built through the draft: Turner, the lone holdover from the Paul George era, grew into a versatile anchor. Nembhard, Sheppard, Mathurin &mdash; all young players with composure beyond their years.
They traded smartly: getting Haliburton in exchange for Domantas Sabonis felt controversial at first, but it&rsquo;s now one of the most lopsided deals in recent memory. Adding Siakam at the deadline was a masterstroke &mdash; he brought championship pedigree without disrupting the flow. He didn't just buy into the system; he elevated it.
And their free agent signings were understated but vital. TJ McConnell remains the heartbeat off the bench. Aaron Nesmith has become a true 3-and-D weapon. Thomas Bryant and Obi Toppin give this team depth and versatility.
There&rsquo;s no ego here, there is just cohesion and belief.
&ldquo;We know what we have,&rdquo; head coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 5. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got guys who care more about the next pass than the last shot. That&rsquo;s special.&rdquo;
Tyrese Haliburton&rsquo;s rise wasn&rsquo;t fueled by noise. It&rsquo;s been built quietly, piece by piece, through reading defenses and manipulating tempo, through making stars out of role players and rhythm out of chaos.
He&rsquo;s not a flamethrower like Steph. He&rsquo;s not a bulldozer like Giannis. He&rsquo;s something rarer: a point guard who makes everyone better without needing to dominate. And for some, that doesn&rsquo;t fit the mold of a superstar.
But to call him overrated? That&rsquo;s lazy.
The Pacers are an elite team this season when Haliburton hits double digits in assists. He led the NBA in transition assists. He&rsquo;s made Nembhard and Mathurin look like seasoned playoff guards. He&rsquo;s allowed Siakam &ndash; a two-time All-NBA forward &ndash; to shine even more.
In Game 4, when Cleveland tried blitzing him high to take the ball out of his hands, Haliburton calmly hit roller after roller. In Game 5, when they sat back in drop, he punished them with floaters and kick-outs. Every adjustment they made, he countered not with bravado but with brilliance.
The overrated label was never about him. It was about people misunderstanding the kind of greatness he brings.
The road back to the Eastern Conference Finals
A year ago, Indiana reached the Eastern Conference Finals and ran headfirst into a Boston Celtics juggernaut. They seemed like they weren&rsquo;t ready after faltering multiple times in the clutch in the series. The moment felt too big, and the lights were too bright.
But this year, it&rsquo;s different.
They&rsquo;re deeper, smarter, and hungrier. And perhaps most importantly, they know exactly who they are.
Back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances might not come with parades, but in a small market like Indianapolis, it&rsquo;s validation. This is a franchise that didn&rsquo;t bottom out or chase shortcuts. They stayed the course, invested in character and chemistry, and trusted a 6-foot-5 guard with a quirky jump shot and a genius-level basketball brain to be their face of the future.
And Haliburton has delivered splendidly, and he continues to strive for more.
In an era where teams try to fast-track success with star pairings and flash, the Indiana Pacers remain the outliers. They&rsquo;ve built a contender by doing the little things right, over the years, not months.
This win over Cleveland &ndash; a team with one of the league&rsquo;s best records, a suffocating defense, and a very good team with three all-stars &ndash; isn&rsquo;t just an upset. It&rsquo;s a coronation of the Pacers&rsquo; philosophy, and it's a resounding reminder that basketball is still a team sport.
Tyrese Haliburton may never be the kind of player who drops 50 on any given night or leads the league in scoring. But he&rsquo;ll control the game, he&rsquo;ll lift his teammates, and he will try to win.
That&rsquo;s his style, and that will be his greatness. Overrated? Maybe to those who only see box scores. But to those watching closely &ndash; the coaches, the peers, the Pacers&rsquo; faithful &ndash; Haliburton is redefining what it means to be a superstar.
And as Indiana marches back to the Eastern Conference Finals, it&rsquo;s clear: You can doubt Tyrese Haliburton if you want. Just don&rsquo;t bet against him.

Tyrese Haliburton leads the Pacers past the 64-win Cavaliers in five games to reach their second straight Eastern Conference Finals.

Tyrese Haliburton silences critics as Pacers dominate Cavs to reach ECF again

PHILADELPHIA (AP) &mdash; James Harden feels more at home in Philly this postseason go-around than he did a year ago when he was still finding his footing after a trade. It helps that The Beard knows his role alongside Joel Embiid, has his health &mdash; and his signature step-back is back on point from beyond the arc.
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s confident in how we play now,&rdquo; coach Doc Rivers said. &ldquo;Last year, even when he was playing, it was, am I doing the right thing here?&rdquo;
Harden had all the right moves against the Nets.
Harden hit seven 3-pointers and had 23 points and 13 assists, NBA MVP finalist Embiid scored 26 points and the Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory on Saturday.
Tobias Harris added 21 points and the 76ers hit a postseason team-record 21 3s in the opener of this Eastern Conference playoff series. The Sixers are trying to win their first NBA championship since 1983 and advance past the second round for the first time since 2001.
The No. 3-seeded 76ers host Game 2 on Monday.
Bridges scored 30 points and helped the Nets at least hang around in the first half.
But&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://apnews.com/article/nets-76ers-irving-durant-harden-nba-playoffs-e9921e98f9940f189c902b42c768041a">Brooklyn&rsquo;s starless roster</a>&nbsp;was no match for Embiid, Harden and a playoff-tested roster expected to make a deep run in the postseason. The Sixers had a sellout crowd of 20,913 in a frenzy from the opening tip, then blew the game open in the fourth.
Philly got it done even without a vintage effort from Embiid.
Embiid made only 7 of 15 shots (and all 11 free throws) and was flustered at times against double-teams that followed him all over the court. Embiid was&nbsp;<a class="paragraph-link" href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1647309279739924480" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">smacked in the face</a>&nbsp;on a missed dunk that sent him crashing to the court in an attempt to draw a flagrant foul. Embiid got heated when he had his arm locked up by Royce O&rsquo;Neale and the two briefly tussled.
The off-night from the floor wasn&rsquo;t good enough for Nets coach Jacque Vaughn.
&ldquo;Hopefully, they&rsquo;ll be calling traveling and 3 seconds on the big fella the next game,&rdquo; Vaughn said.
No worries for the Sixers, though. Harden, who topped the league in assists this season, picked up the slack and stuck it to the Nets with his step-back 3s.
&ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t make a layup,&rdquo; the 33-year-old Harden said with a laugh. &ldquo;But that&rsquo;s the least of my worries. My legs, my body feels just powerful, feels strong.&rdquo;
Harden&rsquo;s ineffectiveness around the rim in the first half -- he was 1 of 8 on 2s -- was offset by his 5-of-7 shooting on 3s. He buried two 3s late against his former team in the second quarter that stretched the lead to double digits.
&ldquo;He looked great from 3,&rdquo; Embiid said.
Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, could not impose his will against Brooklyn as he had this season to become an MVP finalist. He only took seven shots in the first half.
Unlike the regular season, when the Sixers were crushed by the non-Embiid minutes, the reserves came through. De&rsquo;Anthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels and Georges Niang all hit 3s -- the 76ers made 13 of 21 in the half -- to keep them in control of Game 1.
Bridges kept Game 1 from becoming an early rout in a homecoming effort.
Bridges attended Great Valley High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, then played three seasons at Villanova. Bridges helped the Wildcats win two national championship -- the 2016 and 2018 national championship banners hang in the Wells Fargo Center rafters. Bridges seemed he would stay in the area when he was drafted by the 76ers with the No. 10 pick in the 2018 draft.
Then came a pair of embarrassments in rapid succession: Bridges celebrated on draft night with his mom, who worked at the time for the 76ers. The feel-good reunion lasted about 15 minutes and Bridges was traded to Phoenix for Zhaire Smith. Bridges is now a bona fide NBA star while Smith flamed out after only 13 career NBA games.
Philly fans can only imagine Bridges in this lineup.
He made 10 of 16 shots for 23 points in the first half and kept the Nets, who opened the season with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and championship aspirations, within nine at halftime.
&ldquo;It feels good to make some shots,&rdquo; Bridges said. &ldquo;But I&rsquo;d rather miss shots and win. It&rsquo;s whatever.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Nets: Took 70 shots compared to 89 for the 76ers. ... Lost second-chance points 21-3.
76ers: Eagles coach Nick Sirianni rang the ceremonial bell. ... Backup C Paul Reed scored 11 points. ... The previous high for 3s in a playoff game was 18, which had been done twice.
FAMILY AFFAIR
Brooklyn&rsquo;s Seth Curry scored 10 points in his family reunion against his father-in-law, Rivers.
Rivers said coaching against Curry, who played under his father-in-law with the 76ers before he was traded last season, was &ldquo;awkward.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Talking to my daughter this morning, I just thought she was cold,&rdquo; Rivers said, laughing. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t appreciate the conversation.&rdquo;

The Philadelphia 76ers pushed back Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 victory on Saturday.

Harden scores 23 as 76ers cruise past Nets 121-101 in Game 1

PHILADELPHIA (AP) &mdash; Joel Embiid strengthened his MVP bid with 52 points and 13 rebounds, and the NBA scoring leader carried the Philadelphia 76ers to a 103-101 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
In a game with a playoff vibe, this one came down to the end, as Jayson Tatum&rsquo;s tying jumper fell short at the horn.
P.J. Tucker gave Embiid and the Sixers the help they needed when he made three late 3-pointers that turned a one-point deficit into a 101-95 lead. Derrick White buried a 3 with 2 seconds left that pulled Boston to 103-101 and hushed a crowd that had just bellowed &ldquo;MVP! MVP!&rdquo; chants. Embiid was whistled for an offensive foul but the Celtics couldn&rsquo;t capitalize.
The 76ers avoided a season sweep against the Celtics and won for the first time in four games. They can thank the All-Star center that punctuated the victory with a vicious two-handed slam late in the game that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Embiid made 20 of 25 shots from the floor and 12 of 13 free throws en route to his ninth game of the season with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds. Embiid scored 50 points for the third time this season.
James Harden had 20 points and 10 assists.
White scored 26 points for the Celtics and Tatum had 19. The Celtics fell to 9-4 this season without Jaylen Brown, the team&rsquo;s second-leading scorer who got the night off with a back injury.
Embiid responded to the chants that rained down on him by playing early like a one-person show. Embiid got the 50-point effort going from the jump and made 6 of 7 from the floor and 6 of 7 from the free throw line for 18 points in the first quarter. The rest of the team missed 8 of 12 shots and did not attempt a free throw.
As the season winds down, the same questions loom for the Sixers just as they did at the start of the season: Can Embiid and Harden stay healthy in the playoffs? Both are battling nagging injuries; Embiid, his right calf, and Harden, a sore left Achilles tendon. The second, perhaps more pressing one: Who will step up and join Embiid and Harden as consistent playoff performers?
Without the help needed from Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris and some production off the bench, the Sixers could be doomed to yet another 50-win, second-round exit this season. The Sixers haven&rsquo;t advanced to the Eastern Conference finals since 2001 and another early flameout this season could lead to an offseason of upheaval in Philly.
Not if Embiid can help it.
The Celtics are trying to wrest the No. 1 seed in the East from Milwaukee while the 76ers are pretty much locked in for the third seed.
RIVALRY GAME? RIVALRY GAME!
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla brushed aside a suggestion the 76ers were a rivalry game.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not a rivalry game for me in the sense of, I just want to win,&rdquo; Mazzulla said.
Oh. Well, in his defense, it&rsquo;s his rookie year on the bench. Even Doc Rivers had to learn early in his tenure when he coached Boston how much the game meant to each city. Rivers said after one early loss in Philly, he gave broadcaster Tom Heinsohn a ride from the airport. The late Celtics great had some stern advice for Rivers.
&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t ever lose to Philly again,&rdquo; Rivers said with a laugh. &ldquo;He never said anything like it to me. I was new to it. It wasn&rsquo;t a rivalry for me at the time. I kind of got the message that these two cities like beating each other.&rdquo;
TIP-INS
Celtics: Hit 15 3-pointers.
76ers: Embiid&rsquo;s 24 points in the first half gave him 2,134 on the season, the most for an NBA center since Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal scored 2,344 for the Lakers in 1999-2000.
UP NEXT
Celtics: Host Toronto on Wednesday.
76ers: Play their home finale Thursday against Miami.

Embiid made 20 of 25 shots from the floor and 12 of 13 free throws for 52 points as he strengthened his MVP case.

Joel Embiid scores 52, leads 76ers past Celtics 103-101

HOUSTON (AP) &mdash; Lamont Butler hit the biggest shot in San Diego State history, putting the Aztecs in the national championship game for the first time.
The next step, in Monday&rsquo;s title game, will be a difficult one.
UConn has been the dominant team all through the bracket, delivering one beatdown after another while showing no weaknesses &mdash; even on a short turnaround.
The Huskies snatched the euphoria right out of Gonzaga last week in the Elite Eight, ruining the Zags&rsquo; vibes after their last-second win over UCLA two days earlier. Baylor did the same thing to Gonzaga in the 2021 national title game, bullying the Zags two days after Jalen Suggs&rsquo; miracle shot.
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t stop,&rdquo; UConn guard Jordan Hawkins said after scoring 13 points against Miami on Saturday night. &ldquo;We keep putting our foot on their neck. We have a really tough team.&rdquo;
The Huskies got to the title game by breaking their opponents&rsquo; will.
UConn won its first four NCAA Tournament games by at least 15 points and wrecked Miami&rsquo;s first Final Four appearance by dominating the Hurricanes at both ends in a 72-59 win.
The Aztecs have done it with defense.
San Diego State shut down four straight NCAA Tournament opponents and leaned on its D in the second half to overcome a 14-point deficit to ruin Florida Atlantic&rsquo;s first Final Four. Butler provided the heroics, hitting a buzzer-beater in the 72-71 win that had all of San Diego celebrating.
The first buzzer-beating game-winner by a trailing team in Final Four history now puts the Aztecs within a win of the Mountain West Conference&rsquo;s first national title.
&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t consider ourselves a mid-major,&rdquo; San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. &ldquo;I think we&rsquo;re a high-major program.&rdquo;
UConn (30-8) will be vying for its fifth national title since 1999, but first since Dan Hurley was hired to bring back the program after its fall from grace.
UConn won its fourth title under Kevin Ollie in 2014, but spiraled downward in the wake of recruiting violations and Ollie&rsquo;s ugly departure.
When Hurley took over in 2018, UConn was 170th on the KenPom analytics rankings and low on the national relevance scale.
The knock on Hurley&rsquo;s Huskies then turned to UConn&rsquo;s meager Marches; two first-round NCAA Tournament burnouts, including to No. 12 seed New Mexico State last year.
UConn had an uneven 2022-23 season, climbing to No. 2 in the AP Top 25, tumbling back toward irrelevance with six losses in eight games.
The Huskies turned into the best team in the maddest of Marches that culminated in the most unexpected Final Four, putting them in position to tie Duke and Indiana for fourth on the all-time championships list.
&ldquo;The group has shown their quality so many times in terms of the level that we could play at,&rdquo; Hurley said. &ldquo;And I think we experienced everything in that month of January, it&rsquo;s a battle-tested team.&rdquo;
For San Diego State (32-6), Monday&rsquo;s title game will be the culmination of the program building Steve Fisher started and Dutcher pushed forward.
Fisher had built San Diego State into a mid-major power, leading them to six straight NCAA Tournaments. When he retired in 2017, the reins were handed to Dutcher, his assistant back to Michigan&rsquo;s national championship with the Fab Five in 1989.
Dutcher kept many of the same principles Fisher had, adding an extra dash of defensive devilry.
San Diego State appeared ready to break through in 2020, on its way to a likely No. 1 seed before the pandemic wiped out the NCAA Tournament.
The Aztecs suffered first-round NCAA Tournament flameouts the next two seasons before becoming defensive dominators this year.
San Diego State was fourth in the KenPom.com defensive efficiency ratings while winning 27 games during the regular season. The Aztecs took it to new lows in the NCAA Tournament, holding their first four opponents to 57 points per game and 17% shooting from the 3-point arc.
Upstart FAU appeared to have solved San Diego State&rsquo;s defense in the first half of Saturday night&rsquo;s first semifinal, stretching its lead to 14 midway through the second half.
The Aztecs got back to being dirty (in a good way) to get back in it and Butler finished if off with one of the most memorable shots in NCAA Tournament history.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to the national championship,&rdquo; Butler said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not things many people do.&rdquo;

The fifth-seeded Aztecs will meet the red-hot, fifth-seeded Huskies in the national championship game Monday.

March Madness: San Diego State to meet UConn in title game

The NBA schedule naturally lends itself to several checkpoints throughout the season that serve as frames of reference to check a team's pulse. The trade deadline and All-Star break are typically viewed as the midseason opportunities to evaluate performance.
However, for some teams, there's a specific date when their season drastically changed. For this year's New York Knicks, that date is December 4, 2022.
That night, in a 92-81 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tom Thibodeau trimmed New York's rotation to nine players. Since making the tweak, the Knicks are 27-14 and one of three squads with top-10 offensive and defensive ratings, per Cleaning the Glass.&nbsp;
New York has bounced up to the fifth seed in a strong Eastern Conference and only gotten better since acquiring Josh Hart prior to the trade deadline. His addition, marking another important season benchmark, has coincided with a seven-game winning streak that has given this young squad a glow in the national spotlight.
The Knicks are fun because they don't have one cure-all player responsible for the surge. Sure, Jalen Brunson's off-dribble juice has changed the game, and Hart has been a seamless fit so far, but this squad really jells because of collective improvement and synergy across the rotation.
New York owns the second-best offensive rating in non-garbage-time minutes since Dec. 4, and they are No. 1 since the win streak began. But interestingly, their scoring distribution looks nothing like the pass-heavy green flags we associate with "good" offense. Look at some of these ball-movement numbers from the league's stats database since Dec. 4:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 154px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Stat</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Value (since Dec. 4)</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">NBA Rank</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Offensive Rating</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">116.2</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">5th</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Passes per game</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">265.5</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">25th</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Assists per game</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">21.6</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">30th</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Potential assists per game</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">38.9</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">30th</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">Assist-to-pass ratio</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">9.6%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">29th</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">% of makes that were assisted</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">52.3%</td>
<td style="width: 31.490698%; height: 22px;">30th</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
So the Knicks are running an elite offense, yet their buckets aren't resulting from quality passes that make the box score. And without throwing another table at you, I'll add that these numbers rank similarly even when paring things down to the last seven games.
However, less passing does not necessarily indicate bad, or even unsustainable, offensive process. The Knicks might be iso-heavy, but they choose to be with purpose.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Clipped together the first 8 offensive possessions for the Knicks to start the 4th Q. Knicks are actively seeking out Hauser in matchups for both RJ and IQ to attack. There's a stark contrast in the quality of possessions initiated by both. <a href="https://t.co/TnDPTLpaRk">pic.twitter.com/TnDPTLpaRk</a>
&mdash; Ariel (@APachecoNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/APachecoNBA/status/1630603912536367106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2023</a></blockquote>

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New York aggressively hunts mismatches so they can overpower defenses with drives. They're second in the NBA with 56.2 drives per game since Dec. 4 because they know they have several players &mdash; led by Brunson, Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley &mdash; who can score and pass out of attacks. Notably, despite logging low assist numbers in general as shown above, New York's 6.0 assists per game via drives actually rank second in the NBA, and the team's 5.5% turnover rate is tied for second-lowest.
There is so much chess that occurs on these perceived isolation plays that involve opening up other opportunities, even if it's not directly from a pass at first. Ben Ritholz encapsulated this in the below video thread that strings together some Knicks possessions against the Miami Heat:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
🎥🏀Knicks Film Session🏀🎥 Today&rsquo;s Lesson: Herro Hunting How the Knicks used the RJ/Herro mismatch to their advantage to create looks down the stretch. Sound up 🔊 Featuring analysis by <a href="https://twitter.com/BenRitholtzNBA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BenRitholtzNBA</a>. <a href="https://t.co/zfhn4CYato">pic.twitter.com/zfhn4CYato</a>
&mdash; Knicks Film School (@KnickFilmSkool) <a href="https://twitter.com/KnickFilmSkool/status/1621525534336327680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Barrett is the focal point of the video, but similar approaches apply for Randle and Quickley. Brunson, meanwhile, is in his own stratosphere as the self-creating engine for the franchise. The marquee summer signing ranks third in the league with 21.1 drives per game since Dec. 4, and second in the league with 8.6 passes per game out of drives.
Brunson has been one of the league's premier driving threats over the course of his career; I wrote a whole <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-stats-notebook-jalen-brunson-is-in-the-drivers-seat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stats Notebook about his attacks with the Dallas Mavericks last spring</a>. He doesn't need to get all the way to the rim to bend defenses because he has the strength and shake to control the mid-range areas. As SDPN's Esfandiar Baraheni notes in this well-timed breakdown, Brunson has also spiked his drawn-shooting-foul rate, up to 13.0% from 7.9% a year ago.
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With Brunson as the head of the snake, Barrett, Randle and Quickley (who is converting 56% of his driving field goal attempts!) each bring a different layer of difficulty off the dribble. And though he's only averaging 4.4 drives so far, Hart has done the same early on with the Knicks.
The 27-year-old is putting up 12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in his seven appearances so far. Hart's immediate impact is helped by a ludicrous 60.0% three-point clip that will surely cool off. But he'll be a force off the bench for the Knicks either way with his straight-line drives and unique production on the boards.
Hart has made 14 of his 19 shots at the rim in this tiny sample size and nine of those buckets were unassisted. The success tracks. Take a look at what he's done on "self-created" shots (attempts taken after at least two seconds with the ball) over his career, via PBP Stats:
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 176px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 44px;">Season</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 44px;">FGM</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 44px;">FGM</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 44px;">FG%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 44px;">Freq. (% of total shots within 10 ft.)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 22px;">2017-18</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">47</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">70</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 22px;">67.1%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 22px;">19.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 22px;">2018-19</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">39</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">77</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 22px;">50.7%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 22px;">16.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 22px;">2019-20</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">74</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">113</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 22px;">65.5%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 22px;">21.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 22px;">2020-21</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">46</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">84</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 22px;">54.8%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 22px;">24.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 22px;">2021-22</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">139</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">215</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 22px;">64.7%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 22px;">38.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 27.415144%; height: 22px;">2022-23</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">101</td>
<td style="width: 15.274151%; height: 22px;">167</td>
<td style="width: 21.671018%; height: 22px;">60.5%</td>
<td style="width: 20.365535%; height: 22px;">40.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Hart has consistently been a high-level interior creator even as he takes on more volume. But so far, he's different from other Knicks players in his unabashed confidence to score in transition.
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Nothing schematic to break down here &mdash; Hart just takes the ball the length of the floor, puts his shoulder into one of the league's strongest players and finishes through Jonas Valanciunas for the and-one layup. He's already had several coast-to-coast scores with New York, and that's new for a team ranking 25th in transition frequency on the season.&nbsp;
Hart also fortifies one of the best rebounding units in the league. His 6.0% offensive rebounding rate and 18.8% rebounding rate with Portland this season are both top-2-percentile numbers among wings, per Cleaning the Glass. New York already has Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jericho Sims as a trio with top-15-percentile splits among bigs, and Randle is top-20-percentile in these categories as a forward.&nbsp;
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New York's offense operates with the vibes of a heavyweight boxer. The mismatch-hunting and on-court positioning are all setting up for the big punches, or drives orchestrated by the Knicks' leading scorers. Controlling the glass, plus a top-10 defense worthy of a separate article, help build out the chiseled frame of the team.
The numbers might not make the offense seem impressive at first, but when you piece them together and pair them with tape, the Knicks look a lot more imposing as a playoff contender.
THE OUTLIERS (a.k.a. other random interesting numbers I found in the void):
<ul>
<li>Antoine Davis is the man! The second note here blew my mind:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Incredible career for Antoine Davis <a href="https://t.co/rIwf0qu4Xc">pic.twitter.com/rIwf0qu4Xc</a>
&mdash; Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/1631649663735455756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<ul>
<li class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">Lauri Markkanen has been one of the best scorers in the NBA this year, full stop:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Lauri Markkanen has been nothing short of special this year. He&rsquo;s now averaging 25.3 PPG, up from 14.8 last season, and while at an incredible level of efficiency. He&rsquo;s finishing WELL above league averages at the rim, in the midrange, and from 3. (53% on corner 3s 🔥) <a href="https://t.co/AmQwcSLodN">pic.twitter.com/AmQwcSLodN</a>
&mdash; Dom Samangy (@DSamangy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DSamangy/status/1631345431455178769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
<ul>
<li class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">Not quite like a full season triple-double average, but Nikola Jokic is making the case for his <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/sportsbooks-view-nikola-jokic-as-a-lock-to-win-his-3rdstraight-mvp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third-straight MVP</a> look stronger every game:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Nikola Jokic has averaged a triple-double in December, January and February. He is the 3rd player in NBA history to average a triple-double in at least 3 straight calendar months, joining Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook. <a href="https://t.co/3pQ0kAeNHY">pic.twitter.com/3pQ0kAeNHY</a>
&mdash; ESPN Stats &amp; Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/1630762306253496321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Ethan Fuller shows that there's more to the New York Knicks' low-passing offense than the numbers initially suggest.

NBA Stats Notebook: Why the Knicks' low-passing offense works so well

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; Hawks coach Nate McMillan said Friday he has no plans to retire in the middle of the season, brushing back a report citing unnamed sources.
The Athletic reported that McMillan is considering stepping down before the season ends, but McMillan said that&rsquo;s not true.
&ldquo;We have a race to prepare for,&rdquo; McMillan said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to get our guys healthy and make another run at the playoffs, but the things that were reported, look, I&rsquo;m here to coach this year, and I&rsquo;ve talked to (owner) Tony Ressler many times, and our goal is to make the playoffs. And that&rsquo;s what I&rsquo;m working towards.&rdquo;
McMillan, 58, said he had no immediate reaction to the report. He is in the middle of his third season with the Hawks, who are 17-18 and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.
&ldquo;I read that article briefly,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never spoke to that reporter before. I think the last two weeks he&rsquo;s written a couple of articles with some sources in our organization that are making some comments about me and some things that I&rsquo;m saying and doing.
&ldquo;Look, at the end of the year, I&rsquo;ll do as I&rsquo;ve always done. I&rsquo;ll talk with my family and see if that flame, that fire, to continue next season, but that&rsquo;s the end of the season. All of us think about retiring, but that&rsquo;s at the end of the season. We&rsquo;re going to move past that, that story.&rdquo;
McMillan took over as coach when Lloyd Pierce was fired during the 2020-21 season and led the Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals. He was signed to a four-year contract after the season.
McMillan has a 748-656 record in five seasons with Seattle, seven with Portland, four with Indiana and parts of three with Atlanta. He was upset that a disagreement with Hawks star guard Trae Young during a shootaround became public on Dec. 2. Young was injured but skipped the game that night, leading to speculation that McMillan and Young are at odds.
It&rsquo;s been a busy season in the front office, with Travis Schlenk stepping down last week from his position as president of basketball operations to work as an adviser. General manager Landry Fields has assumed control of daily operations. Fields was promoted to GM earlier this year.
McMillan spent his entire 12-year playing career with Seattle, ending in 1997-98, and averaged 5.9 points and 6.1 assists.

Hawks coach Nate McMillan said he has no plans to retire or resign in the middle of the season, shooting down a recent report.

Nate McMillan says he has no plans to resign or retire midseason

This is not a declaration that James Wiseman is a bust, or some irredeemable player. He is not the only issue with the Golden State Warriors, or even the Warriors' bench unit.
Conversely, this won't be a Warriors slander piece. If you were looking for either of those conclusions, you can close the tab (and thank you for the click).
Now that we have that out of the way: Wiseman being with the Warriors doesn't appear to benefit either party right now. A center with enough face-up and shooting flashes to raise your brow probably shouldn't be relegated to only screen-and-roll duties.
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And a win-now team spearheaded by one of the greatest players of all-time in Stephen Curry, who's still playing at an all-time level, shouldn't be tasked with being superhuman because the team bleeds points every time he sits.
It's important to note that point isn't solely on Wiseman; we're all waiting on Jordan Poole to regain his form (53.5% True Shooting, 59.8% TS last season) and confidence, for example. Head coach Steve Kerr has recently alluded to leaning on more experienced role players like [check notes] Anthony Lamb and Ty Jerome instead of the trio of Wiseman, Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"The thought process is when you're struggling, you don't have a rhythm, you don't have consistency, veteran players are going to be able to provide that more than young players are." -Steve Kerr on playing Anthony Lamb &amp; Ty Jerome more than Warriors youngsters. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DubNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DubNation</a>
&mdash; Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) <a href="https://twitter.com/KylenMills/status/1590455066267615232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></blockquote>

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But think about who the Warriors are at their best. Quick, versatile, shape-shifting. It's a buzzsaw of cuts, relocations, ball-movement and switchability, We've seen how Moody fits into that. We've seen how Kuminga can fit into that, especially when he's able to log minutes at the 4 (or 5).
Have we really seen that from Wiseman? Part of the appeal was that he&nbsp;didn't&nbsp;fit snugly into that; his vertical presence and overall athleticism was a stark difference to what the Warriors had in their frontcourt room. In theory, being able to mix in his dynamic would make the Warriors even more difficult to deal with.
We've seen flashes of that: the Warriors generated 1.03 points per possession (PPP) on trips featuring a Curry-Wiseman ball screen during Wiseman's rookie season, per Second Spectrum. It's easy to see how Wiseman's downhill juice could vibe with the flamethrowing of Curry.
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But in order for him to carve out a more consistent role, there had to be growth in the more "Warrior-like" elements. That growth hasn't happened at an ideal rate, mostly because Wiseman hasn't been able to stay healthy.
They rarely use Wiseman as the hub for their patented post-split action, mostly because he has limitations as a passer. That would be okay if he had more juice as an off-ball screener, but he's still trying to master the details of timing and angles. His results are spotty right now.
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Defensively, Wiseman is even more of a mixed bag. Because of his size and length, he can act as a true deterrent at the rim. He has legtimately good reps in drop on film. But because of his footwork, drop seems to be the only coverage he's truly comfortable in.
Add in the process of figuring out the gap in drop &mdash; how far he should play back, when to step up to ball-handlers, and not giving away easy reads in the process &mdash; and you get more messiness than positivity. Pull-up shooters can find pockets to attack; drivers often have space to chew up.
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He'll often find himself slightly out of position, which alters the strength of his contests. For a guy with his gifts, it's kinda wild how often you'll see ball-handlers driving through his chest &mdash; or drawing fouls.
The numbers aren't great. Opponents are generating over 1.2 PPP on trips featuring a ball screen defended by Wiseman. Among players defending at least three shots at the rim per game, Wiseman's efficiency allowed (70.3% FG) is one of the worst marks in the league. On top of that, he's averaging 6.8 fouls per 36 minutes &mdash; a mark higher than his rookie campaign (5.2).
The Warriors would operate better with a veteran 5; it's part of why they brought JaMychal Green into the fray over the offseason. And frankly, I'd like to see Wiseman with a team that can really prioritize his development without championship pressure.
I'd make a call if I were the Oklahoma City Thunder, just by virtue of having 1.5 true centers on the roster. With Chet Holmgren done for the year, you can afford to give Wiseman a bit of a runway. And for the Warriors, there are vets (hello, Mike Muscala and Kenrich Williams) worth inquiring about. Heck, there are also younger players (hello, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins) who may be better equipped for what they want to do than Wiseman is right now.
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There could be similar appeal in San Antonio, who may be willing to take another young flier in the frontcourt in light of the Zach Collins injury news. They've already spun the tires on Charles Bassey; I'd at least see what the interest level would be. There are vets to inquire about (Josh Richardson, Doug McDermott, Gorgui Dieng), though it's worth noting that the Warriors might have to add something minor to the pot to pry Richardson or McDermott out of there.
(This is likely a no-go because of how the draft went, but Wiseman under the tutelage of Steve Clifford in Charlotte would also intrigue me.)
Again: none of Wiseman's issues are impossible to overcome. With continued health, I'd honestly bank on him overcoming most of them. There's a good player in there; even the archetype he's been kinda pigeonholed into thus far &mdash; a rim-running dunkaholic who can man the fort in drop &mdash; has value on good teams.&nbsp;
Considering the Warriors are getting blitzed in his minutes &mdash; a <a href="https://www.pbpstats.com/wowy-combos/nba?TeamId=1610612744&amp;Season=2022-23&amp;SeasonType=Regular%2BSeason&amp;PlayerIds=1630164" target="_blank" rel="noopener">minus-22.4 net rating</a> with opponents converting nearly 59% of their twos &mdash; I'm just not sure if the Warriors can give him the time to work through those growing pains while also trying to compete. It would behoove both parties to look for an alternative.

Should the Golden State Warriors and James Wiseman go their separate ways? It may benefit both parties, writes Nekias Duncan.

A James Wiseman-Warriors split would be best for both parties

In a released statement, Phoenix Suns and Mercury governor Robert Sarver announced that he will be reluctantly <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/robert-sarver-announces-intentions-to-sell-phoenix-suns-mercury" target="_blank" rel="noopener">selling his portion of the franchise</a>. Simultaneously, he made sure to make the point clear that this was against his wishes, and that he didn&rsquo;t believe any of this was fair to him.&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s be clear: This isn&rsquo;t a real punishment. Sarver is cashing out, and stands to make around $2 billion when he sells the franchise. But that doesn&rsquo;t appear to be the point for him. No, instead, Sarver has somehow transformed himself into the victim in the situation.
Recently, AndScape senior writer (and frequent guest on ESPN's Around The Horn) David Dennis Jr. <a href="https://archive.wpfwfm.org/mp3/wpfw_220922_100000collision.mp3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">joined my show</a> with Dave Zirin, "The Collision: Where Sports And Politics Collide."
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We asked Dennis to discuss Sarver&rsquo;s unapologetic departure and his possible plans in the near future.
Etan Thomas: David, I want to read <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidDTSS/status/1572641668251389952?s=20&amp;t=3AvIsxxafvOpk7M31VHjsw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a tweet of yours</a>. I want you just to go a little bit more in-depth. In this tweet, I saw the segment on Around the Horn and I thought it was great; that's the reason I reached out to you. But your tweet said, "Pardon my cynicism here, but Sarver already seems to be planning out his cancel culture tour that is going to make him richer than he was before. And we've seen all of this before." Go into a little more detail about what you meant.
David Dennis Jr.: "Yeah. So, he took an excruciatingly long, what, five days to decide to give up the team? And Sarver has already greased the wheels to start his cancel culture tour, which we've seen so many celebrities do after they're called out for racism, misogyny, sexual misconduct, etc. Instead of owning up to it, they say, 'Well, I was canceled by this woke mob.' Basically, code language that says, 'These Black folks, these women, etc. are out of control and they cost me my career,' and they go on a Fox News tour pushing that false narrative. And Sarver's comments that he made about why he's selling the team were all about that. It was about the fact that he wasn't given a chance to do right, it was the fact that he was basically saying cancel culture without saying that phrase.
"And this is a pathway that so many other people have taken that he now seems ready to take himself. He can write a book about how he was wronged by these NBA players. He can go on Fox News and the Newsmaxes of the world as a business consultant and talk about this. He can go on a worldwide tour, basically talking about how he was the affronted person, because of the fact that he was not allowed to clear himself of all of the racism and misogyny that he was accused of. And we've seen this so many times, and there's so much money to be made in it. Now, as far as the penalty? There&rsquo;s really no penalty for being a terrible person. I mean, he's already going to sell the team for $2 billion, and he has a financial forward-thinking thing that he's already looking forward to."
Dave Zirin: What were your thoughts, David, about the way that Adam Silver handled all of this? Initially, Silver was widely criticized for how he handled this. And then, a school of thought has emerged that said, "Maybe Silver played it correctly because he allowed public opinion to push Sarver out." I frankly wonder if that gives Silver too much credit, but I would love to hear your thoughts.
Dennis: "Yeah. I mean, there's one thing that this country loves to do &mdash; it loves to give white men the benefit of the doubt, especially when it comes to racial reckoning, right? There's always some idea that there is some great master plan. I don't see the master plan. I see a guy who was being paid by the owners to speak out on behalf of the owners, and that's what he did. The other 30 white-men billionaires did not see enough of a problem with what Sarver did to kick him out of the league. Adam Silver got that memo, and he went out there and was the voice box for those people. If the NBA really felt like Sarver did something or felt like they could say something strong about Sarver, the statement that they put out, the investigation would not have said that there is no racial or sexist animus in his actions of saying the N-word or insulting women.
"It was, 'Here's the information, but also, we're going to defend him at the same time.' Adam Silver, probably deep down in his hope of hopes, thought that this wasn't going to happen so that he would get let off the hook and that the NBA would look good in the long run. But the problem with that is he ends up putting the onus on Black folks, Black players, Black fans to protest. But whatever happened to white folks just going out and doing what's right just because it's the right thing to do? Which, we did not see from the other owners."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Pardon my cynicism here but Sarver already seems to be planning out his &ldquo;cancel culture tour&rdquo; and it&rsquo;s going to make him richer than he was before. We&rsquo;ve seen this before. <a href="https://t.co/ZluZo9Zdwn">pic.twitter.com/ZluZo9Zdwn</a>
&mdash; David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidDTSS/status/1572641668251389952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2022</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Etan: It's interesting. We had <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/howard-beck-explains-differences-in-donald-sterling-robert-sarver-cases-" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Illustrated writer Howard Beck on last week</a>, and he made some good points. I asked him the difference between this situation and the Donald Sterling situation, and why they were handled differently. I thought a precedent had been set and this one didn't follow that. But he made some good points. He said some of the differences being No. 1, there was no smoking gun, no actual audio of Sarver saying this that could be repeatedly played throughout the media. The timing of everything, there wasn't the player uproar or the national media uproar, like there was with Sterling.
And he talked about even the press conference, the amount of media that was there, it paled in comparison to that of Sterling. Do you think those are all relevant factors as to why Adam Silver and the governors were reluctant to give Sarver the Sterling treatment? Or do you think those are irrelevant factors?
Dennis: "I do think that those are factors. I think, here's the biggest factor, is that [the] Donald Sterling [incident] happened in what, 2013, 2014? And since then, these white billionaires have learned that if you are in fact caught on tape saying terrible things about people, you can still become the President of the United States. And so, you've learned that there are more people who actually side with you for these things than they thought before. There was a time when Donald Sterling did this that people thought, 'Oh, this is going to be universally panned as wrong.'
"But now, we live in a society where people believe what Robert Sarver did was not wrong, and he has more backers than they originally thought. And billionaires are more likely to stick to their guns because they see that we have a country in which racism and misogyny are more accepted than they once thought it was. If you could be on the Supreme Court or President of the United States or continue to own your companies, then why the hell do I even have to listen to a bunch of Black players, a bunch of Black fans who are just upset? I'm still the one with power. So, I think that is the biggest change. It's not the change in the players or the league. It's society as a whole, that is more accepting in this country of racism, and despite all the cancel culture stuff that they're talking about."
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Zirin: But do you think, David, that there's also been a polarization? I mean, since Donald Sterling, obviously the great societal difference since then has been the growth and expansion through 2020 of the Black Lives Matter movement, the largest demonstrations in the history of the United States. I mean, it makes me wonder if the climate has also produced an environment where if we were coming up on the season, players would not have put up with this either. And I think that might have created a much greater conflict than what we're currently seeing.
Dennis: "Oh yeah. I mean, I agree in saying that there's racism, but I think that they feel like they have more backers behind what Sarver's doing than they once thought before. So, it is a different sort of environment. And players were going to be more vocal and do all those things, but there was also probably enough of what the owners believed that they can put up with than they probably could before. There's more of an appetite for being okay upsetting Black people, I think, than before. And then that's why we end up with this sort of head-on collision.
Etan: You referenced Robert Sarver's statement. I want to read a little bit of so people know exactly what we're talking about. Sarver said in his statement:&nbsp;
<blockquote>
Words that I deeply regret now overshadow nearly two decades of building organizations that brought people together and strengthened the Phoenix area through the unifying power of professional men's and women's basketball. As a man of faith, I believe in atonement and the path to forgiveness, I expected that the commissioner's one year suspension will provide the time for me to focus, make amends and remove my personal controversy from the teams that I, and so many fans love.
But in our current unforgiving climate, it has become painfully clear that this is no longer possible, that whatever good I have done or could still do is outweighed by what I have said in the past and for those reasons, I am in the process of seeking buyers for the Suns and Mercury.
</blockquote>
So, as you said, he doesn't sound very apologetic. He really sounded like he's going to not go away quietly, but we might see him on that Fox News, right-wing Tucker Carlson tour talking about how he was done wrong and unjustly forced to sell his team.
Dennis: "Yes, that's exactly what he is doing. And another thing, he said he wanted a year to atone for this. He had a year; the investigative report came out a year ago. So, these things were already out, and he had a year to fix this and make this right. And we don't even know if those are words he regrets because Robert Sarver's the only person who says that, when he said the N-word, he was repeating it from somebody else. So, we don't even know if he's telling the truth about the origin of why he was saying those words in the first place. Because I do find it hard to believe that he heard another Black person say, 'N-words in the back, white people in the front.' And he just decided to repeat that? So, he had all the time to atone and do all that stuff. This just feels like a defense that he's going to use as fuel for his... whatever campaign that he's going to run going forward."
Etan: But let me jump right in with that. Even with that, people leave out the part about Earl Watson telling him, "Wait a minute, you can't say that word. It means something different when you say it." And then, him ignoring, I guess, what Earl Watson said, or [thinking] "You&rsquo;re beneath me, you can't tell me what I can't say. Why can't I say the N-word too? if Draymond Green could say it, why can't I say it?" So he kept saying the N-word over and over &mdash; the actual word.
And it's just interesting hearing a lot of people, who happen to be white, not understand how that's unacceptable in any way shape or form when you're specifically told that what you were saying is offensive. You know what I mean? I don't understand how so many people don't make that connection.
Dennis: "I think that connection is very clear. I just think they don't care. And that's exactly what Sarver said to Earl Watson. That he doesn't care. And I think that's going to be part of his next thing is why. Can't you see him doing an N-word documentary about why can't white people say this word and Black people can? This is a tale as old as time. Every time a white person gets called out for saying the N-word, we all ask the question of, 'Why can't white people say it?' And I just want to know, why do white people want to say it so badly? It just feels like if I'm in a conversation with somebody and they say, 'Hey, that's offensive,' a decent human being just says, 'Okay, my bad, I apologize.' That&rsquo;s just how human interaction works. But this has literally tormented white folks for decades that they cannot say this one word.
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Zirin: It's really staggering. I mean, I have teenage children who understand why you don't say that word in any context. And yet, these supposedly "masters of the universe," emphasis on the word "masters" in their own mind, can't get it through their own heads about what is, or is not, offensive. And it's because as you said, they're leaning in that direction in the first place and they resent the fact they can't do what their great grandfathers were able to do, I think they say to themselves, "Why am I denied what previous generations of my white forefathers were able to do?" And that, in and of itself, offends them.
Dennis: "Yeah. I mean, and if we want to talk about a very long history, there's a long history of white men having trouble with the word 'no' when it comes to a lot of things. And part of becoming a white billionaire, quite frankly, is not taking no for an answer &mdash; no matter who it harms. And that comes to a head in these situations, and that&rsquo;s exactly what we saw with Robert Sarver."
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David Dennis Jr. speaks on Robert Sarver's poor attempt to spin his selling of the Suns and Mercury into a victim mentality.

Disgraced NBA team governor Robert Sarver blames everyone but himself

Welcome to Prospect Plays! It's a mini-series I'll be doing on some of the top prospects from this year's class. I'm not a draftnik, so if you want five-year projections, you can find that elsewhere &mdash; I won't be offended. The X's and O's are what I'm interested in; breaking down how a rookie fits on a roster is one thing, but analyzing how they'll actually be used is another. I want to hone in on the latter.&nbsp;
As such, be mindful that the video clips being shown are highlighting the actions being used, not necessarily if the shot is made. Let's have some fun.
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We're kicking things off with Jabari Smith Jr., a smooth-shooting forward who fell into the lap of the Houston Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft. That's not meant as a knock on either party, but all signs pointed to Smith being selected by the Orlando Magic until the signs just... didn't anymore.&nbsp;
In Smith, the Rockets have arguably the most skilled shooter in the class. At the very least, there's no one with his stroke at his size. Combine his 6-foot-9 frame with an even higher release point, and you have an unrepentant gunner who can demoralize foes with tough shot-making.
In a way, that skill set let Auburn off the hook. Why run anything elaborate when you can just get him a mid-post touch and let him torch dudes? You don't have to reinvent the wheel when your guy can do this:
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Tough sleddin', I'd say.
Luckily, Auburn didn't let themselves off the hook. They recognized Smith could bomb away, both off the catch and off movement, so Bruce Pearl opened up the playbook. You got the traditional pick-and-pop reps against drop coverage, but also brought the funk off the ball.
I like how the Tigers used Smith as a movement threat. He received flare screens and popped outside. They ran him off of staggers. They loved using him during Flex sets, either as the cutter or screener. Even though Smith isn't a put-you-under-the-basket guy against smalls, his ability to shoot over people makes switching a tricky proposition. Auburn knew that.
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In that vein, the Rockets really do seem like a solid landing spot for him. Pairing him with Jalen Green is obvious fun; they can take turns splashing jumpers in their opponent's faces &mdash; and let them hear about it afterwards. But we've also seen Houston's willingness to invert actions to free bigs in space during the Stephen Silas Era.
Kelly Olynyk's 27-game stretch during the 2020-21 season can be instructive here. First, never forget that guy slapped up 19-8-4 while converting over 64% of his twos and 39.2% of his threes. If he's had a better extended stretch during his career, please hit me on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA">@NekiasNBA</a>) and correct me. I can't think of one.
Olynyk was able to succeed because the Rockets asked him to do a little bit of everything. I don't foresee the same handoff utility &mdash; Smith has some serious driving and finishing kinks to work out &mdash; but there's some movement film worth exploring.
The Rockets showcased comfort running Olynyk off of flares &mdash; some scripted, some not. He and Jae'Sean Tate had some fun chemistry off the ball; pairing Olynyk's movement skills with Tate's penchant for physicality made for some fun possessions.
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The second clip &mdash; with Olynyk and Tate flowing out of a HORNS alignment &mdash; is one to keep in mind.
(A "HORNS" alignment features a ball-handler up top, a player stationed at each elbow and a player stationed in each corner.)
Going back through Smith's film at school, Auburn ran similar stuff out of HORNS to get him open. The set felt more like "HORNS Veer" than "HORNS Flare" for the super nerds reading this piece, but what really matters is the template.
A quick example:
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Again, the fun of (having) Olynyk is the unpredictable nature of his game. You don't&nbsp;have&nbsp;to scheme stuff up. It's a little different on the Christian Wood front; his skill set allowed the Rockets open the playbook in similar ways to Olynyk, but he's more rigid, so you didn't get the randomness.
But as mentioned earlier, you don't always need the randomness. For Wood, he didn't mind taking on defenders 1-on-1. If an off-ball screen didn't work, he'd jab and shoot, or drive to make something happen.&nbsp;
Smith has more wiggle as a movement shooter, but doesn't have nearly the same force as a driver. But as long as the Rockets can get him to catch the ball in spots he's comfortable with, it won't matter much to Smith. He'll just rise right over the top.
From a set perspective, it's cool that both Auburn and Houston have staggers on film.
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It's also worth noting that the Rockets had guards screening for Wood for some off-ball goodness, too. I don't forsee much Spain pick-and-roll usage for Smith unless he's the back-screener in the action, but that might just work.
They didn't mind running traditional pindowns for Wood. Eric Gordon in particular didn't mind getting his hands dirty to free Wood, and it's been fruitful. Over the past two seasons, a trip featuring a Gordon screen for Wood has generated 1.2 points per possession, per Second Spectrum.
A favorite for Houston: Clearing a corner before having Gordon screen down for Wood. It was a way for Houston to create an open three or force an unfavorable switch &mdash; the latter would allow them to set up an isolation, depending on where the catch was made. It's easy to envision Smith being the beneficiary of this type of action.
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Beyond that, the same Veer-type action &mdash; a player setting a ball-screen, then immediately screening for someone off the ball &mdash; for Smith is also present in Wood's film. You can see that here.
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Wood was able to get all the way downhill on that possession. That may not be Smith's ministry in Year 1 &mdash; he may opt to slow things down and iso from the mid-post, or flow into one or two-dribble pull-ups. Those kind of quick-hitters are how he'll win early on, thanks to the sweet shooting stroke and high release point.
Different action here, but an example of Smith's process:
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Forwards and centers aren't used to chasing guys off screens, and it's encouraging that:
1) Auburn recognized that and utilized Smith in that way.
2) The Rockets have shown they're willing to do the same thing.
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Nekias Duncan explores how the Houston Rockets may use Jabari Smith in their offense.

Prospect Plays: How the Rockets can use Jabari Smith Jr.

In recent years, there are many examples of players who slipped on draft night because they were older than their peers and teams wanted to go with a younger, higher-upside option.
Players who fit this description include Desmond Bane, Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, Herb Jones, Grant Williams, Payton Pritchard, Grayson Allen, Matisse Thybulle, Brandon Clarke and Terance Mann among others.
Many of these players have outperformed their draft slot, and quite a few were key contributors during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, rewarding the teams that took a chance on them.
Most NBA teams prioritize youth and upside in the draft. As a result, the more experienced prospects tend to fall. But given the success of these older players in recent years, could we see teams shift their thinking a bit when it comes to these prospects?
&ldquo;The trends seem to go in waves, but I do think some of the recent success that older players have had will affect some decisions to a certain extent,&rdquo; said Matt Babcock, a former NBA agent and current NBA Draft analyst. &ldquo;However, I believe teams will always have somewhat of a juggling act when it comes to selecting prospects who have upside and ones who are NBA-ready.&rdquo;
While it&rsquo;s true that younger players tend to have a higher ceiling, there is this idea that older prospects have already realized their full potential and what you see is what you get. Bane, Bridges, Brunson and Co. are proving that this isn&rsquo;t always true, as they have each made huge strides since being drafted despite their advanced age.
&ldquo;The perception that an older rookie doesn&rsquo;t have as much upside isn&rsquo;t a fair label for a tough-minded player who continues to work on his game,&rdquo; an Eastern Conference general manager told BasketballNews. &ldquo;I think history and analytics show that the younger the player, the more likely that player succeeds, but it isn&rsquo;t a cut-and-dry method when it comes to selecting players. There are older players who often come from strong college programs who tend to have a chance to succeed, because they have been through three-to-four years of great coaching and have developed the work habits and toughness that allow them to impact an NBA game right away.&rdquo;
&ldquo;A high ceiling isn&rsquo;t just based on your physical gifts, a high ceiling is based on your work ethic when nobody is watching,&rdquo; ESPN&rsquo;s Fran Fraschilla added. &ldquo;So whether it&rsquo;s a 19-year-old player or an older prospect with a few years of college experience, what the team needs to figure out is, &lsquo;What kind of character are we drafting? When we pay him life-changing money, is he going to be the same guy and keep working?&rsquo; I think you&rsquo;re more confident (trusting) a four-year-guy like a Desmond Bane or CJ McCollum because you can go back and watch more of his career unfold, and you&rsquo;re more confident that those guys are going to continue developing their game. So, in effect, their ceiling becomes just as high as the guys who have all of this great potential and who could be more boom-or-bust sometimes.&rdquo;
Rather than generalizing and writing off players because of their age, it&rsquo;s important to evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis.
&ldquo;I do believe in the concept that a younger player generally possesses more upside and room for growth; I mean, it's common sense,&rdquo; Babcock said. &ldquo;However, every player is different and has had a different path to the pros, and subsequently, each player needs to be evaluated separately rather than put into a general classification.
&ldquo;Every team and every pick is different. The way I see it, it's like baseball. Every pitch presents a unique situation and requires a different strategy, and so does every pick in the draft. Which players are available? How do they fit within the team&rsquo;s current roster structure now and in the future? How does that team value each player &mdash; whether it&rsquo;s for their ability to contribute right away or their upside? Do they have potential depth issues that need to be addressed? Does an available player possess too much talent to overanalyze? I could keep going on and on, but my point is that I think it should come down to taking things case-by-case and weighing the pros and cons rather than just selecting a player who&rsquo;s most ready or who possesses the most upside.&rdquo;
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Fraschilla echoed this sentiment.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think the draft is always a case-by-case situation. Teams always have to weigh whether to go after production vs. potential,&rdquo; Fraschilla said. &ldquo;If they chase production, it&rsquo;s usually a guy who has been in college for three or four years, he&rsquo;s proven himself and he&rsquo;s played in big games. If they chase potential, it&rsquo;s probably a freshman or a kid from the G League Ignite, and you&rsquo;re looking at a 19-year-old and trying to project where he&rsquo;ll be at age-25. You have a little bit more comfort with an older player, but a little less upside allegedly.
"But a smart team always views it case-by-case. We&rsquo;ve seen four-year guys flame out and we&rsquo;ve one-and-done guys flame out. I think it&rsquo;s a matter of a team doing the necessary homework on a kid&rsquo;s character, work ethic, self awareness to be a role player &mdash; all of these things factor in.&rdquo;
The Eastern Conference GM pointed out that there&rsquo;s another reason teams may alter their approach and opt for more NBA-ready players.
"I would also say that some NBA teams are less inclined to focus on what a 19-year-old can develop into by age 26 or 27 because there is so much roster turnover and change in the league today," the GM said.
Fraschilla also mentioned that sometimes older prospects are more mature and come into the NBA knowing their role, whereas some one-and-done prospects may struggle taking a back seat.
&ldquo;Herb Jones is a perfect example of someone who knows who he is &mdash; his self awareness is evident," Fraschilla said. "Even at Alabama, he had talented guys around him, and he was a great defender. He fits exactly the role that the Pelicans needed him to play as a rookie. He played in a high-level college league where he guarded really good players, and he plays with great energy.
"You probably feel more comfortable with the older player who has more of a sense of who he is, as opposed to the one-and-done guy who automatically thinks he&rsquo;s going to be Penny Hardaway or LeBron James or Kobe Bryant. In the NBA, 95% of the league are role players. There are 25-30 great players and everyone else is a role player."

With older prospects outperforming their draft position in recent seasons, will teams shift their thinking when they're on the clock?

Experience or upside? Weighing pros, cons of older NBA Draft prospects

The Boston Celtics wouldn't be where they are without Robert Williams III.
Ime Udoka's midseason shift &mdash; slotting Williams onto the opponent's least threatening wing &mdash; played a major role in Boston's defensive turnaround. It allowed Williams to lurk around the paint and provide an extra layer of resistance if his teammates were beat.
It's a genius move when you think about it. Not only are you not worried about the spacing from that wing he's "guarding," but it's also highly unlikely he'll have juice as a screener to compensate like a non-shooting big would. That gambit has paid off for the entirety of 2022, and its success has carried over into the postseason. Just ask the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-heat-have-a-bigbig-problem-on-their-hands" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miami Heat about it</a>.&nbsp;
The Golden State Warriors pose a different challenge for defenses, and for Williams in particular. They can simplify things and pick-and-roll you to death, but that isn't their M.O. Movement is the name of the game: pindowns, flares, staggers, split cuts. You name it, they'll do it. And if it doesn't work, they'll cut and relocate and cut until someone makes a mistake.&nbsp;
This season (including postseason play), the Warriors rank second in shot quality and first in opponent contest rate (the lower, the better) in the final 8 seconds of the shot clock, per Second Spectrum. In other words: Your work ain't done just because you managed to shut down their initial action.
Not only are the Warriors continuously active, they spread the wealth. The #StrengthInNumbers tagline may annoy fans at times, but it's hard not to see the benefit of that ethos. Everyone moves. Everyone touches the ball. Everyone, at any given time, can be a threat.
That throws a wrench into the "stash Williams on a non-shooter" plan.
Looney can't shoot, but he's an active screener on&nbsp;and off the ball. He's also a handoff hub. Sinking off of Looney is daring him to flow into an action with a shooter. Not just any shooter: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson (struggling but still deadly), and Jordan Poole are your options.
Draymond can't shoot &mdash; it looks painful when he loads up sometimes &mdash; but he offers the same versatility as a screener, and adds a layer as a handoff option. Not only can he find movement threats, but he can also fake the funk and get downhill himself.
The Celtics have taken their chances with Andrew Wiggins as the Williams matchup, an option that's been mentioned <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2022-nba-finals-scouting-report-how-the-celtics-and-warriors-matchup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in this space</a> before the Finals began. In theory, Wiggins is the safest bet. He doesn't screen as often (or as well) as Looney. He doesn't offer the same blend of screening and playmaking as Draymond does. He surely doesn't shoot as well as the Curry/Thompson/Poole triumvirate. You worry about Wiggins as a driver, but it gives you a lesser-of-evils vibe.
The Warriors have already started to poke at that matchup.
They've tested out some on-ball reps with Wiggins. A handful of possessions have been spearheaded by handoffs or pick-and-rolls as a way to engage Williams. Make him work through some muck from time to time.
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We've also seen the off-ball stuff. Wiggins has been used as a handoff hub, as a cutter or screener in the Warriors' patented split action. This possession still has me confused &mdash; but that's also the point of the movement.&nbsp;
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In a fun twist, the Curry-Wiggins combo has been the highest-volume pick-and-roll pairing of the Finals (15 picks). The Warriors have generated a jaw-dropping 1.9 points per direct hook-up &mdash; virtually a guaranteed bucket. The reps with Williams involved have been... well...
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Yeah.
And because Williams can be targeted &mdash; he's in a deeper drop than Al Horford, and Williams is still hampered with a knee injury &mdash; the Celtics have had to further scheme around him. We're starting to see more scram and pre-switches &mdash; getting Williams out of the action before the Warriors can attack.
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Both of those plays end in fouls, and neither resulted in a bucket on Horford. But the strain is the key here. It's added work to Horford's plate. Williams is supposed to be a complement; his minutes have included more compensating than complementing.
That has ripple effects elsewhere. If Williams can't hold &mdash; he logged 14 minutes in Game 2 after logging 24 in Game 1 &mdash; that production has to come from somewhere.
There's more pressure on Grant Williams to produce alongside Horford in smaller lineups. He's been a relative no-show, with 6 points (one made three on two attempts) to his name at this point of the series. The switching hasn't hit the same thus far, with Curry finding early comfort when getting that matchup.
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There's heightened importance to the Daniel Theis minutes if Boston wants to maintain double-big looks. The Warriors outscoring the Celtics by 10 in Theis' 20 minutes isn't a great sign. The Warriors generating nearly 1.6 points per possession when targeting Theis in pick-and-roll is&nbsp;also&nbsp;not a great sign.
One might argue it's very, very bad!
(To shoot Theis a little bit of bail, I'm not sure what you're supposed to do with this.)
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Having had a pair of off days before Game 3, the hope is that Williams III will be able to move more fluidly. He may be able to navigate the Wiggins matchup better. Or if he's tossed onto Looney or Green, he may be more equipped to defend those actions higher up the floor.&nbsp;
The Celtics need him to find something &mdash; or they need to find a different coverage or matchup for him. Otherwise, they'll need to pivot.
That can&nbsp;work &mdash; the other Williams has defended and shot at a high level for most of the postseason, and I ultimately think the Celtics will win this series behind their smaller lineups if they win it &mdash; but you want the lineup or role changes to come from a position of strength.&nbsp;
This will be one of the most important storylines to track as the series goes forward.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
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Nekias Duncan breaks down the importance of Robert Williams III and how his current limitations could spell trouble for the Celtics.

2022 NBA Finals: Can Robert Williams III find a home for the Celtics?

Truer words have never been formed in any medium.
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Dudes can literally just sit around and name old sports players and just have the best time.
&mdash; E.M. Hudson (@EMHudsonlives) <a href="https://twitter.com/EMHudsonlives/status/1415513767337762817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2021</a></blockquote>

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I have a group chat that solely exists for this purpose, and it pops!
Part of what makes basketball so incredible is its growth and evolution across time. Not even a decade ago, the game looked quite different compared to what it is today on either end. Pick-and-roll offense was less prolific, ICE defense was en vogue and the utilization of space on the court was drastically different.
Understanding and appreciating the game today is even better achieved through grasping how we got here, what the pathways were, why and how they were taken, and the context surrounding each era. The spacing revolution didn't just happen. The seeds were set and nourished over decades, with gradual shifts and eventually an explosion in the 2010s.
Who from past years might be even better today? That's not to say that these players weren't good in their own time, but rather that they may have thrived to even greater heights in today's game. Why? Each player fits some semblance of the proliferation of today's game, whether it be through shooting, decision-making, ground coverage, switchability or a conglomeration of many skills.&nbsp;
So let's dig into two perfect examples.
Josh Smith
It wasn't all that long ago that Josh Smith was in the league, and you may not remember that he last played on a 10-day for the Pelicans during the 2017-18 season!
He's such a difficult player to parse through, but I think he fits today's game much better than general thought may hold. As we know (as does Stan Van Gundy), Smith was a pretty rough shooter from just about anywhere on the court. I don't think it matters when looking at projection to today.
I don't think Smith would magically develop touch in 2022, but I also think it would be odd to ask him to. Would it be great if he was a shooter from deep on volume? Of course! But, he'd be utilized much more as a screener and roller today. Smith would be so dynamic making plays on the roll, hitting the corners, finding cutters and even tossing in lobs. He could be utilized in the post with split-cut actions similarly to what we see with Draymond Green in Golden State's offense.
One of the coolest parts about his expansion with the Houston Rockets after his Detroit Pistons tenure was seeing some shades of what he'd look like in today's game.
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While he had an underwhelming game from the short mid-range (39.5% from 3-10 feet from 2008-13), Smith had a really good handle for his size that would make him even more difficult to play against defensively when attacking on the short roll. You could certainly try and play him into floaters and post-ups, but he was so athletic and coordinated that he could easily draw fouls or find easy at-rim attempts when he had momentum.&nbsp;
Lest we forget what Smith did to the rim when given even a sliver of space to leap.
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With more opportunities to attack on the move and potentially more chances to play as a 5 in smaller lineups, Smith's athleticism could potentially be even better emphasized today. With more open lanes, the tomahawks would rain down supremely.
Smith was a borderline All-Star a little over a decade ago, and today's game arguably would benefit his skill set with a reigned-in shot selection and honed-in role.
It's actually criminal that Smith only made one All-Defensive team. He was an exceptional rover, blowing plays up from the weak side as a shot-blocker, disrupting in passing lanes and covering ground exceptionally. From 2007-2010, Smith averaged 3.9 combined steals and blocks per game. Smith was so incredible as a help defender, often leaking off of a spaced shooter to clean up looks at the rim.
His synergy with Al Horford was so fun, as Horford was a fantastic defender already at that point, stonewalling bigs in the post with Smith adding his verticality emphatically over top.
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Other than LeBron James, there was no more imposing chase-down shot-blocker in the NBA from the late 2000's into the early 2010's.
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Smith would be a star role player in the NBA today and greater appreciated for the things he excelled at a decade ago.
Jamal Mashburn
I would pay an exorbitant amount of money to see Monster Mash play his prime days today. (Be sure to check out his son Jamal Mashburn Jr. at New Mexico &mdash; fun player.) He had a fascinating career.
Jamal Mashburn started with a young and exciting Dallas Mavericks squad featuring Jason Kidd and Jim Jackson that flamed out. Then, he really began finding his stride with the Miami Heat as more of a role player for a few years. But after that, he ended up as an All-NBA player and had the best season of his pro life, leading the Charlotte Hornets as a big shot-making and playmaking wing/forward late in his career.
It's not often that a player downsizes his/her role after a huge usage start and then reverts back to high usage later down the road. Even less common is doing it with even greater efficacy.
Mash was a bit of a tweener, caught between the 3 and 4 for much of his career, although he'd be pretty cleanly a 4 today in my opinion. At 6-foot-8 and 240 pounds, Mashburn was ridiculously strong and powerful, operating a lot out of the mid-post. What I find most interesting about Mashburn is that he's someone I actually don't think would have to change his game to the amount you'd expect.
He might exchange a lot of his mid-range looks to opt for a greater deal of threes, but how he was able to operate from the middle of the floor is what I most enjoyed about his game. A solid enough mid-range shooter to make defenders care, you couldn't leave him open. Imagine him in some Triangle-akin actions in the corner, or out of Horns operating as a high-post playmaker. Drawing two with his scoring gravity and ability to generate a mismatch due to his mesh of size and skill would equate to many forced rotations and drawn double teams.
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He'd be so intriguing to me with how he could toggle on and off the ball to maximize his skill set and the abilities of his teammates. That's a large part of what made him so good in Charlotte/New Orleans. A 27.4% usage in his 2002-03 season is nothing to scoff at, but it wouldn't rank top-20 in the league in usage today. Playing alongside a young Baron Davis and veteran David Wesley, Mashburn showcased his ability to operate as a primary, but also make himself a tremendous outlet.
We'd see a lot more of this today!
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Mashburn had the chops to be a tough shot-maker, but the screening and versatility of his shooting and scoring profle make him so enticing as a player who could also dominate on the roll.
While he wasn't an above-the-rim athlete, his strength, touch and playmaking made him remarkably difficult to guard, and I'd argue that modern spacing and offense could put him in even better positions more routinely.
While both Josh Smith and Jamal Mashburn were excellent players in their own time, it's tantalizing to envision them playing today. The skill sets they possessed were valuable at the time, but have only grown in commodity in recent years. If you can extrapolate or minimize space, you have a place in the NBA today.
<div class="mceNonEditable"><spike>&nbsp;</spike></div>
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With how the game has continued to evolve, Mark Schindler breaks down a pair of players who would've worked well in the current NBA.

Analyzing 2 tweener forwards who would have thrived in today's NBA

The ball bounced twice on each side of the rim before going in.
Kawhi Leonard&rsquo;s nearly impossible game-winning fadeaway jumper over the outstretched right arm of Joel Embiid ended a seven-game thriller of a 2018-19 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series saw the Toronto Raptors escape with a 92-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, in large part due to underwhelming performances from Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris all series long. <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jimmy-butler-is-a-16game-player">Those were expounded upon here just last month</a>. In fairness to Embiid, similar to these 2022 playoffs, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2019/05/07/joel-embiid-76ers-injuries-illness-timeline-history-playoffs">he was injured as hell.</a> He tried his best.
Jimmy Butler wasn&rsquo;t perfect for the Sixers that spring, but he was a hell of a lot better. He averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the series, with by far the team&rsquo;s best offensive rating at 118, not counting Amir Johnson who played a mere (ha, get it? Never mind) 20 minutes. Yet and still, the Sixers were right there, and had Leonard&rsquo;s shot missed, who knows if the Sixers would&rsquo;ve went on to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors as the Raptors did en route to their first NBA championship?
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Regardless, those four bounces led to Butler&rsquo;s fate: he was signed-and-traded to the Miami Heat that very summer. Instead of keeping Butler, the Sixers chose Simmons, Harris, Brett Brown and Al Horford.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Jimmy Butler: &ldquo;Tobias Harris over me.&rdquo; <a href="https://t.co/23K3HgaA0R">pic.twitter.com/23K3HgaA0R</a>
&mdash; Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1524965729165901824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Simmons and Harris both<a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2843932-ben-simmons-76ers-agree-on-5-year-170m-max-contract-extension">&nbsp;received max contract extensions</a> <a href="https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/tobias-harris-signs-sixers-76ers-contract-20190710.html">in the summer Butler was dealt to Miami</a>.
Miami was where Butler wanted to go. <a href="https://www.insider.com/jimmy-butler-wanted-join-heat-dwyane-wade-conversation-2020-9">They were his top choice</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
1. Since &ldquo;why&rsquo;d the Sixers let Jimmy Butler go?!&rdquo; is a big topic today, figured I&rsquo;d do a thread on what I&rsquo;ve put together from the past few years. Some of this I&rsquo;ve written before, some not. Figured would be helpful to put it all in one place. So👇👇👇
&mdash; Yaron Weitzman (@YaronWeitzman) <a href="https://twitter.com/YaronWeitzman/status/1525118168754159617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Since Butler became a member of the Heat, the Sixers have still been a playoff team. In the 2019-20 season, which was obviously paused in March due to COVID-19 before resuming in the summer, the Sixers earned the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and were swept in Round 1 of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics. Simmons didn&rsquo;t play in the playoffs due to injury. Those same Celtics lost to the Heat in six games during the Eastern Conference Finals, and a Butler-led Miami team reached its first NBA Finals since LeBron James&rsquo; 2014 departure. The Heat, who were a five-seed in the East and top three or four for most of the season, lost to the champion Los Angeles Lakers in six games, but not without a historical postseason from Butler.
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In 2020-21, the Sixers were the Eastern Conference&rsquo;s top seed after compiling an impressive 49-23 record in the 72-game season. Unfortunately, they were embarrassingly defeated on their home floor against the fifth-seeded Atlanta Hawks in Round 2. Simmons still hasn&rsquo;t played since, and despite Embiid&rsquo;s play, he was once again let down by those around him.
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Butler and the Heat? Well, after a little seven-week break between the end of the NBA Finals and the beginning of training camp for the 2020-21 season (as opposed to the standard three-plus months even a Finals team would get in a typical league calendar year), the team flamed out and were swept by the Bucks.
Both teams were able to properly reset heading into the 2021-22 season, and as fate would have it, the No. 1 seeded Heat matched up with the No. 4 seeded Sixers in the semifinals. Butler vs. his old team, where Simmons and then-head-coach Brown no longer resided, but Embiid and Harris were among those who remained.
With a 4-2 lead on May 12, 2022, exactly three years after Leonard&rsquo;s four bounces ended Butler&rsquo;s Sixer tenure, he led his team, in a hostile environment that once rooted for his every move, to an emphatic 99-90 victory to end the Sixers&rsquo; season. Sure, 99-90 may not sound like much, but if you watched the game, you saw the Heat grind their way to a 19-4 run to begin the third quarter, mount nine-straight points to begin the fourth and build a 20-point lead as just five minutes remained before the Sixers cut the lead in garbage time.
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In the modern NBA, organizations seem to take on the personality of their stars, for better or worse. But Miami identified one who matched their ethos, and Butler knew it would be the place for him. A place where villains are welcomed, as <a href="https://www.slamonline.com/nba/jimmy-butler-to-joel-embiid-i-know-a-place-where-villains-are-welcome/">he once told Embiid</a>. And a place that is, in their own culture, counter to what their own city is admired for. Miami, to outsiders, is revered for partying, glamour and beaches, but the Heat are respected and occasionally mocked for a culture that is driven by blue-collar work ethic. It's an identity that requires being in &ldquo;Heat shape,&rdquo; playing defense-first, developing undrafted rookies into future rotation players and adding the occasional stars who fit into that identity.&nbsp;
The Heat are also known for their persistent fight, for being a pain in the ass for whoever opposes them and for being an overlooked team that is tailored to those who prioritize winning over highlights.
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James Harden was brought to Philadelphia to lead in moments like these, but he did anything but that. Butler, who had often been compared to Harden as a byproduct of playing similar positions, dropped 32 points with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in a closeout game. Harden had 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, taking one shot in each of the final two quarters. He said the ball didn't get back to him. That's the guy who had the Sixers' second-highest usage rate in the series. Butler is now averaging 28.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 2.1 steals and on 53/36/81 shooting splits in the playoffs.
Butler doesn&rsquo;t (yet?) have a championship. Most players don&rsquo;t, including many greats, but Butler is a winner, a leader and someone <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amof84tDBnM">Embiid's career misses dearly for good reason</a>, even while he could look at his bench and see another all-time wing in Harden beside him. But basketball isn&rsquo;t strictly about&nbsp; numbers, or strictly in between the lines, or strictly any one thing. It encompasses everything. And that&rsquo;s what the Sixers and many have failed to realize when assessing Butler&rsquo;s greatness.
But in Philadelphia, exactly three years after it all ended, he had the last laugh.
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Exactly three years after Kawhi Leonard's shot ended Jimmy Butler's last game as a Philadelphia 76er, he returned -- with the organization people made fun of him for joining -- to lead the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals. And he did it in Philadelphia. Last laugh. <a href="https://t.co/Fzr3Ug73tT">pic.twitter.com/Fzr3Ug73tT</a>
&mdash; Bryan Fonseca 🇵🇷 (@BryanFonsecaNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanFonsecaNY/status/1524925290367025172?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></blockquote>

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After falling short of postseason success with Philadelphia, Jimmy Butler showed the Sixers why it was a mistake to let him go.

In Philadelphia, Jimmy Butler gets the last laugh

After everything the Brooklyn Nets went through this season, they still entered the playoffs with the third-best championship odds (+600), which is a testament to this team's talent on paper. However, though they were considered a favorite to hoist the Larry O&rsquo;Brien trophy and boasted the NBA&rsquo;s second-highest payroll ($174,811,922), the Nets failed to win a single playoff game. &nbsp;
Multiple players blamed Brooklyn&rsquo;s lack of continuity. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving played just 17 games together this season after playing only 27 games together last year. Irving couldn&rsquo;t suit up in home games until late March due to New York City&rsquo;s vaccine mandate. A number of key contributors were acquired halfway through the campaign, including Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and Goran Dragic, making it even tougher for the team to get everyone on the same page.&nbsp;
Injuries also impacted the team&rsquo;s ability to play at full strength and develop chemistry, as Durant missed 27 games with a sprained MCL, Joe Harris suffered a season-ending ankle injury in November and Ben Simmons dealt with a herniated disc in his back after being traded to Brooklyn as the centerpiece of the James Harden blockbuster.
Now, after being swept by the Boston Celtics on Monday night, what&rsquo;s next for the Nets?
&ldquo;This summer is gonna be a very, very important summer for our organization,&rdquo; Durant said after the Game 4 loss. &ldquo;We'll see where we go next year."
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Durant is correct, as the Nets will be one of the most interesting teams to watch this offseason, and it&rsquo;s possible that their roster could look very different entering the 2022-23 season.
The Nets have only six players with guaranteed contracts for next season: Durant, Simmons, Harris, Curry, Cam Thomas and Day'Ron Sharpe. Brooklyn already has $144,555,667 in guaranteed money on their books for 2022-23. Next year&rsquo;s salary cap is projected to be $122 million and the luxury tax is expected to be $149 million, so they&rsquo;ll likely have one of the NBA&rsquo;s most expensive payrolls once again.
The Nets are already close to being a tax-paying team before factoring in any of their potential free agents such as Irving, Drummond, Dragic, Bruce Brown, Patty Mills, Nic Claxton, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kessler Edwards and David Duke Jr.&nbsp;
Irving has a player option worth $35,328,700. On Monday night, Irving was asked about his future and said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t really plan on going anywhere... There's no question where I'm going: I'm here with 7 (Durant)."
Either Irving will opt-in and cost quite a bit, or he&rsquo;ll opt-out and potentially cost even more if he signs a new, multi-year deal with the Nets.
Mills also has a player option, which is worth $6,184,500. He could opt-in, but it&rsquo;s also possible that the 33-year-old will prioritize his long-term security and try to ink a multi-year contract elsewhere. He's coming off a productive season, averaging 11.4 points, 2.8 threes and 2.3 assists while shooting 40.0% from three, so he will likely have other suitors.
Claxton and Duke will hit restricted free agency, assuming the Nets extend qualifying offers to both players ($2,228,276 for Claxton and $1,576,305 for Duke). Also, Edwards has a team option worth $1,563,518.
The rest of Brooklyn's players are unrestricted free agents including Brown, Drummond, Dragic, Aldridge, Griffin and Johnson.&nbsp;
Brown earned $4,736,102 this season, but he's going to get a significant raise after his career-year, averaging 9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks on .506/.404/.758 shooting splits. He was one of the Nets' most dependable and versatile players all season long. He stepped up in the playoffs, averaging 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks on .568/.429/.800 shooting splits. This is a relatively weak free-agency class, so don&rsquo;t be surprised if some team makes a big offer to the 25-year-old.
When asked about the possibility of re-signing with the Nets, Brown responded, &ldquo;Yeah, hopefully. The season just ended. I&rsquo;m not thinking about it. If there's a chance to stay, we'll talk about it. But we'll see."&nbsp;
It remains to be seen if Drummond, Dragic, Aldridge and Griffin will return.&nbsp;
Drummond played well as the Nets' starting center, averaging 11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 block and 0.9 steals (while shooting 61.0% from the field) in 22.3 minutes per game. When Drummond signed a one-year deal last offseason, it seemed like he wanted to showcase his value and then ink a larger contract this summer, so if he gets the kind of offer he&rsquo;s anticipating, he&rsquo;ll likely be too expensive for Brooklyn to retain.
In a shockingly candid moment back in March, Drummond <a href="https://twitter.com/krisplashed/status/1506663720931500046" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters</a>: "If we're all being honest, I'm only here &lsquo;til the rest of the season. Who knows what&rsquo;s gonna happen in the offseason? So they need a guy like [Claxton].&rdquo;
Last season, the NBA world was outraged that a super-team like the Nets was able to add Griffin and Aldridge for nothing via the buyout market, putting them alongside their Big Three of Durant, Irving and Harden. At one point, Brooklyn&rsquo;s roster had a combined 41 All-Star appearances and 32 All-NBA selections. However, it didn't translate to postseason success. It remains to be seen if Griffin, Aldridge or Dragic will return. It&rsquo;s possible that Brooklyn will be able to attract other ring-chasing veterans to take their places.
After all, despite their first-round flameout, the Nets will once again enter next season as a top contender. If Simmons is able to return his All-NBA, Defensive-Player-of-the-Year-candidate form, it would be a huge addition that makes the Nets much scarier. And the more Durant and Irving play together, the more dangerous they&rsquo;ll become as a duo. Also, with Harris and Curry, the Nets will have two outstanding shooters to put around their Big Three. If this team is able to stay healthy and develop chemistry, Brooklyn has the talent to go on a deep postseason run.
Using the taxpayer mid-level exception and minimum deals, Brooklyn shouldn&rsquo;t have trouble surrounding its core with decent veterans.
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When asked specifically about who might be back and what the Nets need to add to their roster in order to contend, Durant shrugged.
"We just got done playing. You know I don't know the answer to that question right now,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;I don't know the situations with the contracts. I just don't know. Obviously when you lose in the playoffs, you&rsquo;re looking toward next year and who may be on the team, and there's a lot of high expectations around the Nets so people want to have some hope of what may happen in the future. But at this point, an hour after the game, it's hard for me to say.&rdquo;
Another avenue for the Nets to improve is through the 2022 NBA Draft, where they&rsquo;ll have the No. 23 overall pick via the Philadelphia 76ers. In <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com's latest 2022 NBA Mock Draft</a>, Brooklyn is projected to take Jaden Hardy of the G League Ignite with its late-first-round selection.
The Nets can try to find a diamond-in-the-rough with that selection, or they can attempt to trade that pick for a win-now piece. Since the Nets will be above the luxury tax and the rookie will be a relatively cheap contributor, it may make sense to keep the pick. Remember, this year&rsquo;s roster featured four rookies: Thomas, Sharpe, Edwards and Duke.
In recent years, players such as OG Anunoby, Darius Bazley and Rodney Hood have been selected at No. 23 overall. Other notable players drafted at that spot include Tayshaun Prince, A.C. Green, Wesley Person, Wilson Chandler, Bobby Jackson, Trevor Booker, DeShawn Stevenson and Tyronn Lue.
While the roster could look very different, don&rsquo;t expect the Nets to make a coaching change. Steve Nash expressed that he hopes to return as the team&rsquo;s head coach, and Durant got annoyed and shot down a question about whether Nash is still the right coach to lead the Nets.
&nbsp;&ldquo;Come on, man. Yeah,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;Steve has been dealt a crazy hand the last three years. He&rsquo;s had to deal with so much stuff as a first-time head coach &mdash; trades, injuries, COVID, just a lot of stuff he had to deal with. I&rsquo;m proud of how he just focused and of his passion for us. We'll all continue developing over the summer and see what happens.&rdquo;
Durant did express that he wants to have some input over this offseason&rsquo;s personnel decisions.
&ldquo;Yeah, of course! I want to know who I'm playing with out on the floor. I want to know what we're thinking,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;[Nets general manager] Sean [Marks] and the front office, we all just talk basketball regardless because we all enjoy basketball; sometimes our team may come up and what we need and what I see from a player&rsquo;s perspective. We always have conversations and that&rsquo;s what makes great organizations.&rdquo;
Irving made it clear that he wants to be involved in &ldquo;managing this franchise&rdquo; as well.
&ldquo;When I say I&rsquo;m here with Kev, it really entails us managing this franchise together alongside [Nets governor] Joe [Tsai], Sean and our group of family members that we have in our locker room and organization,&rdquo; Irving said.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about me and Kev. We're cornerstones here, but we have Ben and a few other guys who are under contract [too]. I think we've just gotta make some moves this offseason and really talk about it and really be intentional about what we&rsquo;re building, and have some fun with it and make it enjoyable.&rdquo;
After a disappointing season, all eyes will be on the Nets to see how their decision-makers attempt to right the ship.
If the last year has been any indication, there won&rsquo;t be a dull moment.&nbsp;
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After getting swept by the Celtics, the Nets are poised for a very interesting offseason. What's next for the team?

2022 NBA offseason preview: What's next for the Brooklyn Nets?

It's the fourth quarter of Game 3 between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets last Saturday. Boston carries a slim 81-76 advantage with 9:30 left in the contest. Jayson Tatum has drawn the Nets' attention, and though he would ultimately finish with 39 points, had made just 8 of 21 shot attempts through the first three frames.&nbsp;
Jaylen Brown decides to take over.
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In quick succession, Brown attacks Goran Dragic in transition, then cooks Blake Griffin with a step-back three and a downhill drive. Just over a minute later, he powers through Patty Mills before stopping on a dime for a pull-up two-pointer. Brown is radiating assurance in these two minutes, as he did throughout most of the series.
The 25-year-old posted four nearly identical box-score lines in four straight games, averaging 22.5 points, 4.3 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game. Those are great base numbers alone, and Brown has come alive in the Celtics' late-game surges. He's tied for the third-most points per game (8.5) in the fourth quarter among postseason players with at least four games played.
Entering the series, Brown's offensive matchup was a key battle to watch. Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gweRzoG1hbU&amp;list=PLpeGCCkfwemUZR0BjTWx95q2MQzNDY6s_&amp;index=9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">touched on it in their Dunker Spot preview</a>. With top defenders Bruce Brown and Kevin Durant typically focused on Tatum, the Nets would be at a severe on-paper disadvantage placing just about anyone on Brown in man-to-man coverage and on straight switches. That translated to the court.&nbsp;
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First, it's about the bag. Brown's handle has so vastly improved from his early years in the league that fans can watch video-game-like combos and expect the young star to pull them off. Brown shakes the smaller Seth Curry with a spin move, plants his weight on his left foot and rocks back for what becomes an open jumper. Simply filthy. Then, you add in immovable upper-body strength and balance, and get an elite downhill scorer.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Jaylen Brown sparked the final takeover run for the Celtics last night because he just couldn't be stopped attacking the basket. The contortion and balance on some of these... whew <a href="https://t.co/AgXUHTbhzJ">pic.twitter.com/AgXUHTbhzJ</a>
&mdash; Ethan Fuller (@ethman43) <a href="https://twitter.com/ethman43/status/1517141065496625153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Brown made 13 of his 20 field goal attempts on drives to the basket in the series. That 65.0% clip is tied for sixth among players who have tried at least 10 such shots this postseason. That's a small sample, but it's reinforced by his 51.3% rate in the regular season, which was good for 20th among 83 players who attempted at least 3 driving shots per game.&nbsp;
So far these playoffs, Brown has taken a whopping 38% of his playoff attempts within 4 feet of the hoop, in the 94th percentile among wings, per Cleaning the Glass. Is that partially due to Brooklyn's suspect perimeter defenders? Sure, but Brown has also capitalized on the hand he's been dealt.
The Celtics are helping make his life easier too. In Game 3, they slipped in some two-man actions with Brown and Tatum, and gave Brown some early off-ball screens to get him running.
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In the above reel, you'll see Brown slip his down screen in the first clip, catching Brooklyn off guard and creating a wide-open half-court dunk.
In the second clip, Tatum gives Brown the down screen for him to cut with; this time Brooklyn switches well and forces a missed floater. Boston tried a similar play with Brown and Daniel Theis in Game 4; Brown sealed off Curry behind him and took his time against a switching Andre Drummond to nail a mid-range shot.
Then, in the third clip, Theis screens for Brown early, putting Curry behind on the handoff. Then, it's up to Brown's aformentioned strength to finish over Nic Claxton.
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Perhaps the most promising wrinkle in Brown's recent play, though, has been his court vision on these drives. His 1.5 assist-per-game average via drives is tied for eighth in the postseason. The types of reads have varied greatly, from a strong-side kick to the corner, to a dump-off to a big, to a mind-blogging outlet pass.
Regardless of the method, Brown has consistently recognized where the Nets are helping on his drives and passed accordingly. Sometimes his reads are a bit too bold and result in turnovers. I appreciate the ambition and the pressure Brown applies, even if some mistakes slip through.
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Not a make but Jaylen Brown is showing the full arsenal as an offensive catalyst right now <a href="https://t.co/sDdJHt5iXj">pic.twitter.com/sDdJHt5iXj</a>
&mdash; Ethan Fuller (@ethman43) <a href="https://twitter.com/ethman43/status/1518638099210899457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></blockquote>

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We haven't even seen Brown fully tap into his ability as a perimeter shot-maker yet. He's drilled some ballsy step-back threes, but has also been prone to slumps and is shooting 21.1% from deep through one round of the playoffs. I expect Brown to find his footing as long as he keeps positioning himself for open looks.
It's one thing to bombard smaller matchups against a smaller Nets defense. Can Brown match the aggression against bigger units that Boston could face in Milwaukee or Chicago?
Taking control in transition is a safe way to establish a pace. The Celtics ran all over Brooklyn in the first round, averaging a postseason-high 1.46 points per possession and 24.0 points per game on transition plays. Brown's average of 5.0 transition possessions per game is the second-highest of any player this postseason behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo.
With Tatum doing his thing, Jaylen Brown should continue to receive more favorable matchups as the Celtics move through the playoffs. His responsibility is to keep ratcheting up the pressure on opposing defenses.&nbsp;
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Jaylen Brown was a wrecking ball as an attacking presence for the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

Jaylen Brown feasted on his matchup advantage against the Nets

Pascal Siakam scored 23 points, Precious Achiuwa had 17 and the Toronto Raptors forced a return home for Game 6 in their Eastern Conference first-round series against Philadelphia, beating the 76ers 103-88 on Monday night.
Yo, Canada! Once holding a 3-0 series lead, the 76ers are headed back north.
The Raptors have won two straight in the series and jumped all over injured Sixers center Joel Embiid and ineffective James Harden to make Thursday night&rsquo;s game a necessity.
Embiid had 20 points and 11 rebounds playing with a thumb injury. Harden scored 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting.
Sixers coach Doc Rivers is dragging the weight of ignominious NBA history with him through customs. Rivers, who led Boston to the 2008 championship, is the only coach in NBA history to blow three 3-1 series leads. The Magic lost to Detroit in the 2003 Eastern Conference first round; the 2015 Clippers blew the series to Houston in the Western Conference semifinals; and in 2020, the Clippers lost to Denver in the West semifinals.
The next season, Rivers was in Philly -- and the Sixers lost three games at home as the No. 1 seed and were eliminated in the second round.
The nerves in Philly are suddenly as tight as the rims.
The Sixers had a miserable first half. They finished with 10 turnovers and shot 35% from the floor. Philly&rsquo;s last bucket in the first quarter was one for the blooper reel: Matisse Thybulle&rsquo;s missed shot bounced off the rim and was accidentally tipped in by Achiuwa.
Whoops.
Maybe it sparked something for the Raptors. They opened the second quarter on a 12-0 run to take control all while the Sixers missed their first nine shots. The Sixers didn&rsquo;t score until 6:51 was left in the half. Scottie Barnes scored eight points in the quarter and the Raptors took a 54-41 lead at the break.
The 76ers were booed off the court, their play a bleak reminder of some recent postseason flameouts.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve generated really good shots most of the series,&rdquo; Raptors coach Nick Nurse said before the game. &ldquo;We haven&rsquo;t shot very well yet. I told the guys today, today would be a good day to go ahead and start making some of those open shots.&rdquo;
The Raptors listened, hovering around 50% for most of the game. They also controlled the boards and scored 20 points off turnovers.
Harden could have used the shooting tip.
Harden played the same night the All-Star he was traded for, Ben Simmons, was inactive for Brooklyn. Harden was barely more visible and missed 6 of 8 shots through three quarters, scoring nine points.
Embiid continued to play with a ligament tear in his right thumb. He looked gassed at times in the third quarter as the Raptors kept attacking the MVP finalist for tough buckets, notably Achiuwa&rsquo;s driving layup that made it 73-60.
TIP-INS
Raptors: All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet sat out with a left hip flexor strain. VanVleet said he was hurt in Game 4 and was unsure if he could play in Game 6.
76ers: Embiid was fined $15,000 for criticizing the officiating in Game 4. ... John Calipari, who coached 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey at Kentucky, was at the game.
TRAINER&rsquo;S ROOM
Embiid will have to wait until after the season for thumb surgery.
&ldquo;There&rsquo;s no treatment. There really isn&rsquo;t,&rdquo; Rivers said. &ldquo;If there&rsquo;s one thing I know, it&rsquo;s not going to get any worse. There&rsquo;s really no ice, there&rsquo;s no treatment for that until after the season.&rdquo;
UP NEXT
The Sixers will play Game 6 without Thybulle. Thybulle, who sat out Games 3 and 4, is barred from entering Canada because he is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Pascal Siakam scored 23 points, Precious Achiuwa had 17 and the Toronto Raptors forced a return home for Game 6.

Raptors top 76ers 103-88 behind Siakam, force Game 6 at home

Four years ago, after winning a third title in four seasons, Draymond Green offered the Golden State Warriors' front office some advice before the 2018 NBA Draft, which included a directive to target &ldquo;16-game players.&rdquo;
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Larry Harris said Draymond Green's given the front office a piece of advice: "There are 82-game players, then there are 16-game players." Draymond's interested in the 16-game (playoff-type) players.
&mdash; Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) <a href="https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/1009170931254624257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2018</a></blockquote>

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And although people are sparring daily with FOX Sports personality Nick Wright over his thoughts on Nikola Jokić and LeBron James among others, he <a href="https://twitter.com/getnickwright/status/1516597337698840578" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drew the Green claim</a> as a reaction to Jimmy Butler&rsquo;s epic 45-point game performance Tuesday night in a 115-105 Game 2 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
If you polled a consensus of NBA Twitter, media, players or front-office people about whether Trae Young is the best player in this series, an educated guess would suggest that those largely outside of Miami (and New York) would vote &ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
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Some people very flippantly said Trae Young was *easily* the best player in the series. And, yo, I get it ... What Jimmy Butler does on *both* ends isn't flashy, doesn't make highlights, but that dude is a flat-out winner and a star, and he proved it yet again tonight.
&mdash; Bryan Fonseca 🇵🇷 (@BryanFonsecaNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanFonsecaNY/status/1516598814643310592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2022</a></blockquote>

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And that&rsquo;s understandable, right? Young is a superstar offensive talent who projects to be a perennial All-Star and an All-NBA challenger, if healthy, for much of his prime. But also in doing so, perhaps it ignores what could be brought on the other end of the floor by Butler, who is at least a candidate to make an All-Defensive Team for a sixth time in nine seasons.
(I affectionately refer to Butler as the Ed Reed of the NBA because of his elite ability at playing free safety. His running mate Bam Adebayo is Darrelle Revis, for what it&rsquo;s worth.)
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Whether you prefer an offensive-production machine who routinely offers the league&rsquo;s most tantalizing highlights, or a two-way grinder with the grit of Stone Cold Steve Austin and immense impact that often goes overlooked as a result in a world of flashier, Rey Mysterio-types, whoever you think the actual best player in the series probably doesn&rsquo;t matter.
What matters is this: It bears reminding that Butler is a 16-game player. He&rsquo;s damn good in the regular season too, but time and time again, he&rsquo;s proven it in the playoffs, and it needs to be noticed.
(Before the NBA Twitter mob comes, this is not to say Young necessarily isn&rsquo;t, especially after last year&rsquo;s postseason run. We&rsquo;re just turning our focus to Butler now for the purposes of this piece).
In Game 2, Butler finished with 45 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and a pair of steals, He subtly patrolled the Heat&rsquo;s defensive secondary, manipulating Atlanta's guards to lob seemingly-out-of-range alley-oops that were detected and slapped toward a Miami teammate to initiate a break. In addition, the 32-year-old star bullied his way to the free-throw line to tilt the power in his team&rsquo;s favor.
Still, this was a different type of contest-controlling outburst than one we&rsquo;re accustomed to seeing from the Tomball, Texas native.
Nah, man. <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1516600499759374351" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This sh*t was loud</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
I read no lies <a href="https://t.co/LzHVYF274D">https://t.co/LzHVYF274D</a>
&mdash; DWade (@DwyaneWade) <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade/status/1516619165573935105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Butler shot 15 of 25 from the field, 4 of 7 from three and 11 of 12 on three throws. When the team needed a bucket, Butler delivered, solving the Heat&rsquo;s late-game issues for the night &mdash; a question that's made many hesitant on pegging Miami as a true contender despite being the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
🔥 45 POINTS for Jimmy Buckets 🔥 A new playoff career-high for <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyButler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JimmyButler</a> puts the <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MiamiHEAT</a> up 2-0! Game 3: Friday, 7 PM ET, ESPN <a href="https://t.co/xAjzVassBk">pic.twitter.com/xAjzVassBk</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1516643329961771010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2022</a></blockquote>

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As the Hawks seemed to get hot from the floor, cutting the Heat lead to 64-62 with 8:59 to go in the third quarter, Butler drilled his third three of the game two possessions later. One minute after, he extended the lead to double figures with a lay-up following a defensive board, which prompted a Nate McMillan timeout. The Hawks would again come within single digits following 6-0 run late in the third, and Max Strus found Butler for a dunk with 1:48 to go in the period.
In the fourth, Butler produced 9 points, 2 assists and a steal, and he found Gabe Vincent (who himself had a fantastic two-way effort off the bench) for a triple with 6:12 left in the game; it was a key moment to stretch a narrowing four-point lead to seven.
As the Hawks again sliced it down again with 3:53 left, Butler came out of a timeout, penetrated the lane, drew in the defense and found an open Adebayo for a dunk &mdash; his easiest bucket of the playoffs so far. Not going away, the Hawks cut it to three, but Jimmy drove into a slam with 2:16 left to bring Miami's lead back up to five. And on the ensuing offensive possession, Butler drained a fourth three to make it 109-101 Heat with 1:36 remaining in the game, essentially the dagger.
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We know about what Butler did in the 2020 NBA Playoffs and <a href="https://youtu.be/dadoOIGSkx8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">those Finals in particular</a>. And in 2019, if it wasn&rsquo;t for his performance in the seven-game East semifinals series against the Toronto Raptors, there&rsquo;s no telling how long that Philadelphia 76ers team would&rsquo;ve lasted.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WKid3520Ow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In that series</a>, Butler averaged 6.9 points per fourth quarter, totaling 12 of 24 shooting and 21 of 23 on free throws and leading the team with 8.6 minutes per fourth quarter.
Joel Embiid logged 7.8 minutes per fourth and averaged 4.0 points on 8 of 16 shooting from the field and 10 of 14 on free throws. Ben Simmons played 8.3 minutes per fourth and averaged 1.7 points on 4 of 6 shooting and 2 of 4 on free throws. (Simmons took 6 shots in 50 total fourth-quarter minutes and didn&rsquo;t play the fourth at all in Game 5). And Tobias Harris? 2.0 points through 8.1 minutes per fourth, shooting 5 of 22 in the final period overall. J.J. Redick? 2.0 points in 6.0 minutes per.
That summer, Simmons and Harris were maxed, and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jimmy-butlers-threepoint-shooting-has-always-been-a-luxury-not-a-necessity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Butler landed in Miami</a>.
(And if you&rsquo;d like to hold up the 2021 playoffs to detract Butler, you can. But, you must also note that the Heat and Los Angeles Lakers had a seven-week offseason between the NBA Finals and training camp, and the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets had nine each; they all flamed out last spring for a reason.)
Tuesday night's performance capped an imperfect offensive display from Miami, who settled for too many jump shots in favor of attacking the rim with Bogdan Bogdanović, DeAndre Hunter and Kevin Huerter all being in foul trouble throughout, but every playoff game is its own experience.
As the Heat head into Atlanta with a 2-0 lead, Adebayo and Tyler Herro &mdash; who&rsquo;ve combined for 36 points through the first two games &mdash; have yet to leave their offensive imprint on the series. If you throw in Kyle Lowry in the mix, the number only grows to 55 points.
If at least one guy is able to have a breakthrough on the road, Miami will probably not need another 45-pointer from Butler, so long as the team defends to or near its capabilities.
And if that doesn't happen, one, it'd be a surprise, but two, who else is better suited to grind you to an ugly-but-effective-ass 81-77 road victory?
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Bryan Fonseca praises the playoff prowess of Heat star Jimmy Butler and his ability to elevate his game in crunch time.

Jimmy Butler is a 16-game player

Featuring four sure-fire Hall-of-Famers, the Los Angeles Lakers flamed out and ended up not living up to the expectations.
Unfortunately, the additions of Karl Malone and Gary Payton just weren&rsquo;t enough to get it done.
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O&rsquo;Neal joined forces with the legends during the 2003-04 season, and sought to win a fourth title in five years, but the Lakers ultimately fell short against Larry Brown and his Detroit Pistons in what was one of the biggest NBA Finals upsets in history.
You know how they say history always repeats itself? It&rsquo;s true. So it should come as no surprise to recall that the ensuing offseason, the Lakers found themselves looking for a new head coach. The search led to Mike Krzyzewski&rsquo;s living room.
Coach K would famously turn down a five-year, $40 million offer from the Lakers, which would have amounted to an annual salary raise of about 700%.
After a lost season, the Lakers (and Kobe) would eventually patch things up with Phil Jackson, and Bryant would lead the Lakers to two more championships in 2009 and 2010.
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Unfortunately for Frank Vogel, that bit of history doesn&rsquo;t seem likely to repeat itself.
Now, in 2022, the Lakers find themselves on the lookout for a new head coach to lead their locker room. Let's take a look at five candidates who may fit the bill.
Juwan Howard
Before his February <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ray-jackson-i-was-afraid-juwan-howard-was-going-to-be-fired" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confrontation with Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard</a>, Juwan Howard&rsquo;s name was mostly mentioned in the press for the right reasons.
Since taking over for the Michigan Wolverines in 2019, Howard helped the university maintain its status as one of the premier basketball programs in the country &mdash; his Wolverines have reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2019 and 2022, as well as the Elite Eight in 2021.
Although it would be difficult to pull Howard from his alma mater, especially when he&rsquo;s enjoyed success thus far, the Lakers head coach job wouldn&rsquo;t be an easy one for a toiling coach to turn down. Despite all the Lakers have been through, it remains a dream job for many in the profession. Aside from that, Howard&rsquo;s connections to both Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and LeBron James is hard to ignore.
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Pelinka and Howard were teammates at Michigan for Howard&rsquo;s three seasons there, and although Howard and James' paths diverged, those two would eventually unite in Miami. They played three years together as teammates before Howard retired and immediately moved into an assistant coach role, the first of which coincided with LeBron&rsquo;s final season in Miami.
Howard spent the next five years alongside Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra before being tapped to assume the helm at Michigan.
Whoever the Lakers entrust with the tall task of getting them back on track, it would make sense that the candidate would need to have exhibited some level of success and also be able to earn the confidence of both Pelinka and James. It should also be noted that, in 2019, Howard was granted an interview for the Lakers&rsquo; head coach opening. The job, obviously, eventually went to Vogel.
Although Howard has been vocal in his love for his alma mater, he would appear to check the boxes. At a minimum, among the sea of potential candidates, he is one who should be watched closely.
Quin Snyder
Now in his eighth season with the Utah Jazz, Quin Snyder has overseen the organization's ascension after the departure of mainstay Jerry Sloan and three less-than-stellar years under Tyrone Corbin.
Although thanks in large part to the presence of Rudy Gobert, under Snyder&rsquo;s leadership, the Jazz have consistently ranked as one of the league&rsquo;s top-five defenses. His staff has also assisted the development and thriving of a number of young players who have found their way in the league.
As it stands, Utah is much closer to contention than the Lakers, but the Jazz themselves haven&rsquo;t exactly been trending upward. There has been consistent speculation as to whether Donovan Mitchell is destined to become the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/expect-the-knicks-to-make-a-real-run-at-donovan-mitchell-this-summer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">next superstar who lands on the trading block</a>, and according to veteran scribe Marc Stein, Snyder and his representatives have rebuffed Utah&rsquo;s attempts to extend his current contract.
If Snyder did sense that &mdash; as often reported &mdash; the marriage between Mitchell and Gobert wasn&rsquo;t one that would continue for the long term, he could be proactive about a fresh start elsewhere.
During the 2011-12 season, Snyder served as an assistant coach in Los Angeles under Mike Brown. At a minimum, he&rsquo;s no stranger to the franchise.
Mark Jackson
To this day, there are many who wonder if the Golden State Warriors could have fulfilled their dynastic potential if Mark Jackson remained coach. That&rsquo;s probably why there&rsquo;s a fair amount of people still hoping that one of the greatest point guards in NBA history gets another shot to lead an NBA team. There is another faction, however, that believes the Warriors may have actually been held back by their former coach.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
What can&rsquo;t be argued, however, is that in his three seasons in Golden State, Jackson led the Warriors to a 121-109 record and brought the team to consecutive postseason berths for the first time in over 20 years. He at least helped to lay the foundation of the team&rsquo;s championship trajectory.
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It&rsquo;s also worth noting that LeBron has long been an advocate for Jackson. That may have something to do with the fact that Jackson &mdash; like LeBron and Anthony Davis &mdash; is represented by Klutch Sports, or it could be that LeBron just believes that he can coach.
Back in 2014, James reportedly pushed for Jackson as a candidate before the Cavs opted for Tyronn Lue to replace David Blatt, and according to The Athletic&rsquo;s Sam Amick, James could make a similar appeal on Jackson&rsquo;s behalf this time around. If he did, it could be quite meaningful.
John Calipari
If the Lakers are looking to make a splash, John Calipari would seem to fit the bill.
It&rsquo;s been more than 20 years since Coach Cal was head coach of an NBA team, but for the past 13 years, he&rsquo;s served as head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats &mdash; arguably the bluest of the blue-blood collegiate basketball programs. He led the Wildcats to the National Championship in 2012, and in that season, managed to unlock the potential of a talented freshman in Davis.
In all, Coach Cal has coached his teams to six Final Four appearances and has previously been linked to NBA openings, including with the New York Knicks.
The difficulty with pursuing collegiate coaches at big-time programs is stature. At the collegiate level, coaches are kings of their programs, particularly those with national championships and a track record of helping young players get to the NBA. In that regard, Calipari&rsquo;s record is unmatched.
According to CoachCal.com, Calipari is the only coach to have coached four No. 1 overall selections (Derrick Rose, John Wall, Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns) and the only coach to have five first-round selections in the same NBA Draft (2010).
In 2012, he also became the first coach to have two of his players go first and second in the draft. That year, Davis and teammate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist took that honor.
Cal probably knows that he can coach for as long as he wants to at Kentucky, just like Krzyzewski. But a 2021 report from Yahoo Sports cited Cal&rsquo;s believed ambition and wanting to prove that he can succeed at the NBA level as the thing that could push him back to the NBA.
That, and, of course, the right opportunity.
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Nick Nurse
It&rsquo;s hard to argue with Nick Nurse&rsquo;s success, and it&rsquo;s easy to see why a team like the Lakers could be interested. Nurse has earned a reputation for unorthodox methods and game planning, but it&rsquo;s impossible to argue with the success he&rsquo;s enjoyed as the head coach of the Toronto Raptors.
One of the biggest challenges that the Lakers face is with respect to its roster construction. If Russell Westbrook is to remain with the team, the franchise will need a coach who is capable of thinking outside the box and implementing systems and rotations that can maximize pieces that may not necessarily be an obvious fit.
It could be argued that these have been the hallmarks of his tenure in Toronto. That and, of course, winning. That may end up being the biggest obstacle for the Lakers if Nurse truly is the team&rsquo;s choice.
As the head coach who finally got Toronto over the hump, Nurse is beloved by the franchise, and the Raptors certainly seems to have more going for them than the Lakers do right now. Not the least of which is organizational leadership, which has proven to be competent and capable of developing players who can achieve at the highest level.
Leaving the Raptors for the Lakers in that regard would be a leap of faith for Nurse. Hailing from Iowa, Nurse isn&rsquo;t a natural-born Canadian, but he is currently serving as the head coach of the Canadian Men&rsquo;s National Basketball Team.
While that role wouldn&rsquo;t prevent him from making a jump to Los Angeles, it at least suggests a commitment to something bigger than simply being a coach. In the end, it may be a lot for the Lakers to overcome, especially since the Raptors&rsquo; ownership group has demonstrated it has deep pockets.
Nonetheless, it is possible that Nurse could view an opportunity to coach the Lakers as the one he has spent his entire career working toward. Having led the Raptors to a championship &mdash; similarly to Kawhi Leonard &mdash; he could perhaps be enthused about a new challenge.
----
Unfortunately for the community, we&rsquo;ve seen head coaches in the NBA become increasingly disposable. Just two years after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to its 17th championship in franchise history, Vogel was fired, and rather unceremoniously, at that.
If the Lakers are to win an 18th championship, it will be under new leadership.
Maybe one of the aforementioned five could be the answer.
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Moke Hamilton takes a look at five candidates who could make sense as the Lakers' next head coach.

Five head coaches who could make the most sense for the Lakers

Jimmy Butler was never a shooter in the way Hassan Whiteside referred to him when the Miami Heat struck a deal to land the All-Star swingman in a sign-and-trade back in July 2019.
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Hassan Whiteside extremely happy with trade news. &ldquo;We got shooters... We got shooters. We got shooters. Let&rsquo;s go!&rdquo; (via <a href="https://twitter.com/youngwhiteside?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@youngwhiteside</a> Instagram) <a href="https://t.co/eeV8Cq0JZm">pic.twitter.com/eeV8Cq0JZm</a>
&mdash; Andy Slater (@AndySlater) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndySlater/status/1145736818475843585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2019</a></blockquote>

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That summer saw Butler touch down in Miami via Philadelphia in a wide-ranging, four-team deal. (Whiteside didn't stick around for the party and was sent away to Portland). Since then, while Butler has risen to elite player consideration, his three-point shot has worsened.
(Some cite it as a knock, but I would say his productivity in Miami in spite of that is a testament to how good he actually is as a two-way player, so let's proceed.)
On exactly 2.0 threes per game, Butler&rsquo;s shot 24.2% through 166 regular-season games with the Heat since the start of the 2019-20 campaign. With the Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves, his three-point percentage hovered between 33.7% and 35.5% wth each franchise.
And since becoming an everyday starter in the 2013-14 season &mdash; when he first attempted at least 2.0 threes per contest &mdash; the only other time he&rsquo;s shot worse than 31% from deep was that same year, where he hit just 28.3% of his triples. The jump to 37.8% from distance in 2014-15 was a significant reason why he won Most Improved Player thereafter. (We&rsquo;ll get to the playoffs momentarily.)
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This season, Butler had been reaching career-lows until recently. Before his sixth All-Star game appearance, he had been shooting 19.2% from three on 2.0 attempts per game. One especially bad stretch saw Butler go 1-of-17 (5.9%) between Feb. 1 and the All-Star Break.
(It should also be known that the Heat swingman was still putting up 20.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while hitting 95.1% of his 7.6 free throws per game and playing All-NBA-level defense, as Miami went 6-2 in mostly road games.)
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But since the All-Star Break, we&rsquo;ve seen Butler add a relatively reliable three-pointer, the best we&rsquo;ve seen from him beyond the arc since the Heat&rsquo;s run to the 2020 NBA Finals. Since the break, Butler&rsquo;s hitting 33.3% of his shots from deep. It's slightly below league average and his own career average, but respectable enough given that he&rsquo;s never needed to be a knockdown shooter to replicate elite two-way production.
Narrowing it down to March 5 and on &mdash; a 12-game sample size &mdash; Butler's made 11-of-30 threes, or 36.7%. In his last seven games? He&rsquo;s hit 10-of-21 (45.5%), including four games of hitting at least two made threes while never attempting more than five such shots, so he&rsquo;s being responsible.
Amid all this, Butler has still been hovering around his whole-season averages of 21.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game while shooting 48.0% from the field and a career-best 87.1% on 7.9 free throws per contest. You also need to account for his consistent All-Defensive-Team-worthy display on the other end.
He&rsquo;s even wearing a shooting sleeve!
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Jimmy Butler is 8 of 12 on catch and shoot threes over the last two weeks Power of the shooting sleeve <a href="https://t.co/upcq3Dcqxe">pic.twitter.com/upcq3Dcqxe</a>
&mdash; Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) <a href="https://twitter.com/BradyHawk305/status/1511734982531817473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2022</a></blockquote>

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The last stretch of success like this for Butler came at the Bubble. The entire 2020 playoffs saw Butler hit 34.9% of his threes, nailing 15-of-43 long-range attempts. In Miami's four-game sweep over the Indiana Pacers, a five-game gentleman's sweep over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Eastern Conference opener against the Boston Celtics &mdash; a 10-game sample size &mdash; Butler enjoyed a 10-of-19 stretch from three (52.4%) before he missed his next nine triples in the series. (By the way, Butler went 4-of-13 in the NBA Finals for a 30.8% clip, in case you&rsquo;re wondering).
Next, let&rsquo;s go to the 2018-19 season, the year Butler was famously dealt from Minnesota to Philadelphia. In the 13 games before the trade, Butler hit 37.8% of his threes, including downtown displays of 6-of-7 and 5-of-8 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and 4-of-7 against the Toronto Raptors.
He also had a strong three-point shooting start in Philly; from his Sixers debut on Nov. 14 and Jan. 17 &mdash; a 27-game sample size &mdash; Butler hit 40.3% of his 2.9 perimeter attempts per contest. He then went 1-of-6 in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 19, <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/now/sources-jimmy-butlers-wrist-injury-confirmed-sprain-hell-miss-saturday-nights-game-190124252.html">and subsequently missed three games with a sprained wrist</a>. After returning from the wrist injury on Jan. 29, Butler hit only 27.7% of his triple tries on 2.4 attempts per contest. It&rsquo;s worth noting that in the first three games upon that January return, he went 1-of-2, 0-of-6 and 4-of-8, respectively.
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In the 2019 postseason &mdash; despite Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2019-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-76ers-vs-raptors.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all flopping in the famous Raptors series that came down to a bounce</a> &mdash; Butler dragged the Sixers to a Game 7 in the East semifinals. In the playoffs, he averaged 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists, and produced a 22.0/7.0/5.6 line against the Raptors in particular; and still, Butler shot just 26.7% from distance across both series &mdash; closer to his Miami numbers.
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Butler is actually a career 34.6% three-point shooter from deep across 80 playoff games. He was at 37.3% in his first 43 postseason contests, all of which preceded his time with both the Sixers and Heat.
Generally, since becoming an All-Star in 2013-14, he&rsquo;s been a quality playoff performer outside of a first-round series with the Wolves vs. the Houston Rockets in 2017-18 (though he had just returned from meniscus surgery, and at the time he injured his knee, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/we-should-give-dangelo-russell-more-credit">the Wolves were fourth in the Western Conference</a>).
And then, last season, all final four teams left from the Bubble &mdash; the Heat, Lakers, Celtics and Denver Nuggets &mdash; all flamed out in the playoffs. (Maybe having only seven weeks between the NBA Finals and training camp, or nine in the case of the Celtics and Nuggets, had something to do with it.)
So should Butler need to be Allan Houston, Jason Kapono, Anthony Morrow or, hell, Duncan Robinson or Tyler Herro from three? Nah. But if he&rsquo;s making, say, 30-to-33%, it&rsquo;s a potential game-changer for the Heat amid this championship chase.
Lately, what the Heat have been doing since... <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-miami-heats-blow-up-was-necessary-but-now-the-rest-is-up-to-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that whole thing</a>... is not simply starting Max Strus over Robinson, but subbing off Butler for Herro first, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fJQ59g3xrk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">then bringing in Butler for PJ Tucker at the 4 around other shooters in the lineup</a>. Butler will, by default, be given the chance to shoot since he&rsquo;s sharing court time with guys like Herro, Robinson, Kyle Lowry, Strus or Gabe Vincent in this instance &mdash; often three of them at a time.
Teams will live with Butler&rsquo;s threes, but if he makes them pay enough to where they have to think about guarding him a half-step closer, that slight of a threat will provide lanes to find teammates open for corner threes via drive-and-kicks. It could also open things up for Butler himself as a driver who provides rim pressure, and can do so with more space. In addition, it helps Bam Adebayo, who theoretically would have more room to operate around the rim &mdash; as a screen-and-roller, in the mid-range area, as an off-ball screener, or as whatever you want (except a three-point shooter; one day, maybe).
Butler's ability to drill threes is a good tool to have. It's not one you should need to rely on, but a sneaky weapon that could spark other productive offensive actions to defensive reactions as a result, so long as the threat of him actually hitting one or two is legitimately there.
And lately, it has been.
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Bryan Fonseca reviews Jimmy Butler's recent improvement from beyond the arc and looks at his history as a three-point shooter.

Jimmy Butler’s deep shooting has always been a luxury, not a necessity

TORONTO (AP) &mdash; Pascal Siakam scored 23 points and the Toronto Raptors routed the depleted Indiana Pacers 131-91 on Saturday night in a game delayed 70 minutes in the first half because of a speaker fire that forced the evacuation of fans.
Scottie Barnes added 19 points, Precious Achiuwa 18, OG Anunoby 16, Chris Boucher 15 and Thad Young 11 as the Raptors posted their biggest margin of victory this season.
Oshae Brissett led Indiana with 21 points. Justin Anderson had 18, Jalen Smith 15 and Buddy Hield 14. The Pacers have lost three straight and five of seven.
No one from the sellout crowd of 19,800 was around at end to see Toronto move past Cleveland into sole possession of sixth place in the Eastern Conference after the Cavaliers lost 98-94 in Chicago. The Raptors are one game behind the fifth-place Bulls with eight games remaining.
Sixth place is the last guaranteed postseason spot, with teams finishing in the Nos. 7-10 spots headed for the play-in tournament.
In the first quarter, two sections of fans behind the basket at the east end of the stadium were cleared and Toronto Fire Services personnel could be seen in the empty aisles, staring at the ceiling.
&ldquo;I was like, &lsquo;Jeez, I wonder why they didn&rsquo;t sell those seats tonight?&rsquo; That was my first thing,&rdquo; Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. &ldquo;Then I saw the firemen standing there.&rdquo;
Later, another section was cleared as play continued. Before long, video surfaced on social media of flames coming out from a speaker hanging above the stands.
Pacers acting head coach Lloyd Pierce said he spoke to lead official Zach Zarba about the acrid smell coming from the burning speaker.
&ldquo;You could definitely smell it,&rdquo; Pierce said. &ldquo;By the time (the game) stopped the smell was tough.
&ldquo;Fifteen years for me, probably the most bizarre situation that we&rsquo;ve been in for a game,&rdquo; Pierce added.
During a timeout, public address announcer Herbie Kuhn announced that the arena was being evacuated at the order of Toronto Fire Services, telling booing fans that the game had been suspended.
Players headed to their locker rooms with 4:05 left in the second quarter and the Raptors leading 66-38.
Brissett, who is from Toronto, had a large crowd of people on hand to watch him play at home but they all had to leave.
&ldquo;I got a whole bunch of texts from friends, family,&rdquo; Brissett said. &ldquo;They were really mad.&rdquo;
During the delay, two workers using ropes and harnesses hung from the ceiling and sprayed a fire extinguisher at the problematic speaker.
Remaining ushers and arena security staff cheered when the Raptors returned to warm up for the restart. The halftime break was cut from 15 minutes to 7 1/2 minutes, and players did not leave the court during the intermission.
&ldquo;It was crazy,&rdquo; Achiuwa said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never been in a game like that.&rdquo;
Toronto guard Fred VanVleet, who missed two games earlier this month because of a sore right knee, did not return following the restart.
This was the latest instance of fan-free basketball for the Raptors, who played to no more than a few hundred fans at home games between Dec. 31 and Mar. 1 because of Ontario government restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anunoby and Siakam combined for 22 points in the first, one more than the Pacers had as a team, and Toronto closed the quarter with a 23-5 spurt to lead 41-21.
&ldquo;We definitely came out really flat,&rdquo; Brissett said.
Ahead 66-38 when the game was suspended, Toronto led 74-46 at halftime.
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HURTING PACERS
Indiana guard Malcolm Brogdon (conditioning) sat for the fourth straight game, while guard Chris Duarte (left big toe) missed his fifth straight, and forward Isaiah Jackson (headache) missed his second straight. The Pacers were also without center Goga Bitadze, who sat because of a sore right foot.
CHECKING ON COACH
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle missed his second straight game for personal reasons. Pierce said he&rsquo;d checked in with Carlisle since a loss Thursday night at Memphis.
&ldquo;We just keep it professional, but he&rsquo;s doing well,&rdquo; Pierce said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s concerned about us but we&rsquo;re concerned about him as well.&rdquo;
SIX PACK
Toronto is 15-4 when six or more players score in double digits.
TIP-INS
Pacers: Smith returned after missing the past two games because of a non-COVID illness. &hellip; Indiana is 9-29 on the road. The Pacers went 3-5 away from home in March.
Raptors: G Gary Trent Jr. (left big toe) sat for the third straight game but is &ldquo;pretty close&rdquo; to a return, Nurse said. &hellip; Signed G Armoni Brooks to a multi-year contract. Brooks had previously signed two 10-day contracts with Toronto.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host Atlanta on Monday night.
Raptors: Host Boston on Monday night.

Siakam scored 23 and the Raptors routed the Pacers 131-91 in a game delayed due to a speaker fire that forced fans to evacuate.

Raptors rout Pacers after fire causes delay, fan evacuation

The Miami Heat were supposed to be peaking now.
After nearly one calendar year, Victor Oladipo returned earlier this month. Shortly thereafter, four months removed from <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanFonsecaNY/status/1479485862962413574" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a neck injury via that Nikola Jokić incident</a>, Markieff Morris finally came back. Beginning on March 5, the Heat were engaged in a stretch that included seven-straight home games &mdash; of which they won five &mdash; before their current back-to-back losing streak, their worst of the season.
Still, despite holding first place in the Eastern Conference, it&rsquo;s felt like the Heat have needed a jolt &mdash; nothing more amplifying of that fact than their last two games. In Philadelphia, against the 76ers without James Harden and Joel Embiid &mdash; <a href="https://twitter.com/5ReasonsSports/status/1507045025296928776" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whose broadcast apparently didn&rsquo;t want them to win</a> &mdash; defeated a mostly healthy Heat team. Miami was missing Oladipo and Gabe Vincent, but still had Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry, all of whom were nearly 30-balled by Tyrese Maxey.
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Okay, road game, regular season, 1-of-82 &mdash; sh*t happens.
But Wednesday, with no Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, James Wiseman, Otto Porter Jr. and Gary Payton II (or Baron Davis, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway or Monta Ellis), the Golden State Warriors &mdash; led by a 30-ball from Jordan Poole &mdash; punked the Heat on their home floor, 118-104.
Look, these are still NBA players, sometimes that happens too.
What typically doesn&rsquo;t &mdash; in public &mdash; was the, &ldquo;<a href="https://twitter.com/LeBatardShow/status/1507040697219797000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kerfuffle, a hurly-burly, tomfoolery, a skirmish, a quarrel, a brouhaha, a dust-up, a hubbub or agree to disagree</a>.&rdquo;
You&rsquo;ve probably seen it by now, but here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Jimmy Butler was HEATED in the Miami huddle after the Warriors went on a big run to start the second half <a href="https://t.co/6waBmHlL1r">pic.twitter.com/6waBmHlL1r</a>
&mdash; Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSWarriors/status/1506804574320955392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote>

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<ul>
<li>Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra picks up a clipboard just so he could throw it.</li>
<li>Butler and Udonis Haslem need to be separated.
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll beat yo ass,&rdquo; which we&rsquo;ll get to in a bit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Markieff Morris and PJ Tucker act like this is a regular Wednesday, and it might be.</li>
<li>Warriors rookie Moses Moody looks amazed and/or confused.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Haslem telling Jimmy Butler &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll beat your ass&rdquo; 😂 <a href="https://t.co/9AcQiNw6WY">pic.twitter.com/9AcQiNw6WY</a>
&mdash; Ted Buddwell 🏀🏈 (@TedBuddy8) <a href="https://twitter.com/TedBuddy8/status/1506806343402893315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote>

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After the game, and after joking that the team was heated about making dinner plans, Spoelstra offered his thoughts on the tense moment.
&ldquo;It was pretty clear. We have a very competitive, gnarly group; we were getting our asses kicked, for two straight games, we were not playing to the level that we wanted to play," Spoelstra said. "Every single person in that huddle was pretty animated about our disappointment in how we were playing...
&ldquo;... Everything has to be better across the board. It starts with our leadership &mdash; our veteran players have to lead. And then, we just have to play better. Play better to our identity, play more consistently, and that&rsquo;s really all the discussions were. I know how it can look to the outside, but as I mentioned before, that is more our language than playing without passion or without toughness or without multiple efforts and lifelessness.&rdquo;
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Tucker, along with Lowry and Adebayo, was one of the three Heat players to address the media after the game. He also downplayed the confrontation.
&ldquo;Something happened?&rdquo; Tucker <a href="https://youtu.be/A4T3AbNbufs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked with a smirk</a>. &ldquo;You put cameras on any NBA team, football team, any team, man. (We&rsquo;re) No. 1 in the East, finally got our whole team back, got our butts handed to us two games in a row by teams who don&rsquo;t even have their star players... emotions run high ... I laughed, man. I walked off the court laughing... This is part of the game.&rdquo;
Lowry acknowledged that "it&rsquo;s crazy,&rdquo; but quickly added that &ldquo;it&rsquo;s passion.&rdquo;
"We&rsquo;re in a situation where we have a lot of competitive guys. Our biggest competitor is our head coach. Jimmy and UD are tough competitive guys. It&rsquo;s good sometimes to get some anger and frustration out and just talk about it," Lowry <a href="https://youtu.be/ssv0jGhR50Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>. "We&rsquo;re gonna have situations that make people uncomfortable, but at the end of the day, as long as we&rsquo;re comfortable and we figure it out, it&rsquo;s all that really matters. And as long as we&rsquo;re still together, and we are.&rdquo;
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NBA players, veterans, reporters, veteran reporters, coaches, staff, referees, families and secret families would all tell you that this happens, and particularly with contenders. With the Heat specifically, it&rsquo;s an organization still run by the famously confrontational Pat Riley, who probably looks at this as a regular Wednesday despite the magnitude of social media amplification in 2022. Because this happened publicly, though, chances are this isn&rsquo;t the first time, just the most public. &nbsp;
Hardened personalities clash every now and then because they want the same goal and might have occasional philosophical differences on how to get there with their teammates. They can argue off of raw emotion because that&rsquo;s who they are, and the emotion itself mainly expresses that they care &mdash; care enough to argue over it, and are prideful enough to defend themselves publicly because of it. That&rsquo;s probably closer to what this actual is &mdash; the Heat, more than most teams and organizations &mdash; have probably earned that.
We&rsquo;ve heard his story, but it bares reiterating: Butler was homeless as a teenager and worked his ass off to become a first-round pick four years after being a JUCO-signee out of high school. Four years after being drafted, he won Most Improved Player, and has been a perennial NBA All-Star and All-Defensive player ever since while earning nine figures.
Just think. No, really, think about the self-belief that dude must have to pull that off? He never would&rsquo;ve went toe-to-toe with LeBron James in an NBA Finals without it.
Haslem is 41 years old, still in the league and has the respect of damn near everyone you could think of. He&rsquo;s a been through it all, seen it all and is an old-school dude who really values respect. Haslem went undrafted out of the Florida Gators program in 2002, played in France, came to the Heat in 2003 and has been there ever since.
Spoelstra was initially hired as the Heat&rsquo;s video coordinator in 1995 &mdash; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/sports/basketball/spoelstra-has-heat-right-where-it-wanted-to-be.html?pagewanted=all&amp;_r=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">even predating Riley&rsquo;s tenure in Miami</a> &mdash; and worked his way up onto eventually becoming the head coach in 2008.
Remember last season when Haslem went at Dwight Howard? Notably, before even discussing this with teammate Duncan Robinson and podcast co-host David Reid on the Long Shot, Haslem notes how close he&rsquo;s been with Coach Spoelstra. We don&rsquo;t know what Butler said, but it might be fair to suggest Haslem felt someone was being disrespectful; sometimes, in the heat of battle, that happens too.
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&ldquo;Me and Spo been through a lot, man,&rdquo; Haslem said on the Long Shot in August. &ldquo;We done been through the bottom, we done been mad at each other, we&rsquo;ve been on the same team, we done evolved to now, we&rsquo;ve just got a great relationship. It&rsquo;s symbiotic, we don&rsquo;t have to say it, we can just feel it. I can look at him, and he can look at me.&rdquo;
Sometimes, these blowups are necessary &mdash; in a team environment, with your siblings, significant other, your bodega guy, your barber and/or your side piece. (Sometimes, you gotta get people to know their role, yanno?) Often, you just can&rsquo;t let failures fester, and there&rsquo;s a need to outwardly address them. Miami did that in a very "Heat" way, according to them.
For the Heat, it's very simple from here. This either invigorates you in time for the playoffs, or it derails your season at the worst possible time. It either really works or it really doesn&rsquo;t.
&ldquo;You can use moments during a season to catapult you,&rdquo; Spoelstra said. &ldquo;You can galvanize together over frustration and disappointment. Teams can also go the other way; I don&rsquo;t see that with our group, I don&rsquo;t see that with our locker room. But we have needed a kick in the butt from these two games.&rdquo;
They did, and now, they&rsquo;ll also have one of the most essential things an organization could obtain this last in the year &mdash; clarity.
If this works, the Heat will be a legit contender, mixing it up in a loaded Eastern Conference dogfight with the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and 76ers.
If it doesn&rsquo;t, and they flame out of a second-straight post-season, they&rsquo;ll have clarity on what to do next this summer.
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Bryan Fonseca reviews Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra's tense moment and why it might've been beneficial for the Heat.

The Heat’s blow-up was necessary, but now the rest is up to them

Trae Young scored 21 of his 46 points in the third period and the Atlanta Hawks recovered from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 122-113 on Monday night.
Young, who scored 47 points a night earlier in a win over Indiana, added 12 assists against the Blazers.
The Hawks (34-34), who entered the game ninth in the Eastern Conference, have won three straight to reach .500 for the first time since Dec. 15, when they were 14-14.
De&rsquo;Andre Hunter scored 20 points for Atlanta, including a 3-pointer to put the Hawks ahead 116-111.
Josh Hart led Portland with 31 points. The Blazers began the night 11th in the Western Conference, one spot out of the play-in tournament.
Portland led 67-58 at halftime as Atlanta made only 19 of 59 shots (32.3%) from the field, their worst-shooting first half this season.
The Blazers made 56.5% (26 of 46) of their shots in the half. Portland scored the first six points of the second half, stretching its lead to 73-58.
Young scored the next eight points, and 17 of Atlanta&rsquo;s first 19 in the third period, to lead the Hawks&rsquo; rally. Two free throws by Hunter put Atlanta ahead 79-77, its first lead since the opening quarter.
The Hawks led 104-93 early in the fourth before Portland went on a 10-0 run, capped by Brandon Williams&rsquo; 3-pointer. Kevin Huerter responded with a 3 for Atlanta.
Trendon Watford had 22 points and Williams added 20 for Portland.
The Blazers snapped a six-game losing streak by beating Washington on Saturday night as Hart scored a career-high 44 points.
&ldquo;Having to be that scoring option is a new role for Josh,&rdquo; Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said before Monday night&rsquo;s game. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re asking him to do things he&rsquo;s not really used to.&rdquo;
Hart looked comfortable while scoring 25 points in the first half against the Hawks. He finished 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
Young is plenty comfortable against the Blazers. He set a career high with 56 points in Atlanta&rsquo;s 136-131 loss at Portland on Jan. 3.
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: PG Kris Dunn, who signed a 10-day contract before the game, had two points in 20 minutes. It was Dunn&rsquo;s first game since he played four games with Atlanta last season. He started in a combined 119 games in three seasons with Chicago. Dunn adds backcourt depth as Anfernee Simons (patellar tendinopathy in his left knee) is expected to miss up to two weeks.
Hawks: F Danilo Gallinari (right Achilles tendon soreness) was held out, leaving the Hawks thin at forward. Gallinari had been the fill-in starter for John Collins (right finger sprain, right foot strain), who missed his second straight game. Coach Nate McMillan said Gallinari has played through the injury &ldquo;most of the season. ... Sometimes it flares up.&rdquo; ... Clint Capela had eight points and 16 rebounds.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: Continue a five-game trip at the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Hawks: At Charlotte on Wednesday night.

Trae Young scored 21 of his 46 points in the third period and the Hawks recovered from a 15-point second-half deficit.

Trae Young has 46 points, Hawks top Trail Blazers 122-113

Ben Simmons will be on the bench, boos raining down from all corners of his old home.
James Harden and Kyrie Irving will go head-to-head on the court, their explosive partnership having flamed out in just 13 months.
A month after Harden and Simmons were swapped in a blockbuster NBA trade, Brooklyn visits Philadelphia on Thursday in what&rsquo;s more than just perhaps the most-hyped game of the stretch run.
This one is personal.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be loud,&rdquo; Nets All-Star Kevin Durant said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m sure Philly fans and people watching the game and media think this is somewhat of a budding rivalry. So I imagine it&rsquo;s going to feel that way.&rdquo;
When these teams were last on the court together, Durant and Joel Embiid received taunting technical fouls in the final moments before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-kevin-durant-brooklyn-new-york-2e9716fbbc94a622fff4a085cd645972">Embiid waved the Nets off their home floor</a> after the 76ers&rsquo; Dec. 30 victory.
Things could be even testier now.
Trade deadline day was breakup day in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, with Simmons and Harden getting their wishes to part ways with their teams when they were <a href="https://apnews.com/article/philadelphia-76ers-brooklyn-nets-nba-sports-james-harden-2fea364a5cc35aa3515508d518cc08bc">exchanged in a Feb. 10 deal</a>. Simmons said the 76ers were aware of his desire to leave well before the end of last season. It's unclear exactly when Harden soured on the Nets after only joining them in January 2021.
Nevertheless, Durant and Irving say they don't hold it against him &mdash; though it was only hours later that <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brooklyn-nets-philadelphia-76ers-nba-sports-james-harden-46d45e363e693ee45c66663dc1a22816">Durant refused to pick Harden</a> during the All-Star draft, leaving him to LeBron James with the last pick.
Durant said he understands if Harden, seeing Durant sidelined with a knee injury and Irving ineligible to play in home games because he isn't vaccinated against the coronavirus, decided he needed to go elsewhere to chase his first championship. Irving said he respects Harden's decision.
&ldquo;Like, we have a great friendship but it didn&rsquo;t work out,&rdquo; Irving said. &ldquo;I wish things could have been communicated better for all of us as men. But hey, like, no hard feelings for me or anyone else.&rdquo;
Everyone has to take Irving at his word, though it's hard to imagine there isn't just a tinge of resentment.
Harden has been terrific so far with the 76ers. Simmons still isn't playing, bothered by a sore back when he tried to build up his conditioning. But he plans to be with his teammates on the bench in Philadelphia, where some of the toughest fans in sports can let loose on the player the Sixers took with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft.
Along with Embiid, he led the Sixers out of their losing era to the best record in the Eastern Conference last season. It was a good run, one coach Doc Rivers said would justify a tribute video if the Sixers opt to give Simmons one.
&ldquo;Ben did a lot of good things here,&rdquo; Rivers said. &ldquo;It didn&rsquo;t end well, right, just like marriages and all kinds of other things don&rsquo;t end well, right? But Ben did a lot of good things here.&rdquo;
Those good times are unlikely to be remembered Thursday.
The memory for Philly fans is likely to be Simmons' poor and impassive play in Game 7 of their second-round playoff series against Atlanta, when he passed up a late layup that helped swing the game the Hawks' way, followed by his refusal to suit up for them ever again while citing mental health challenges.
It might be easier to jeer Simmons if he were playing, as he said he hoped to do after first arriving in Brooklyn. But Philadelphia fans &mdash; who once booed and threw snowballs at Santa Claus at a football game &mdash; can probably make Thursday's situation work.
&ldquo;Our fans are so silent, so I can&rsquo;t imagine anything happening,&rdquo; Rivers deadpanned.
With Embiid playing at an MVP level and Harden providing an immediate boost, the Sixers are second in the East. The Nets are eighth and appear headed for the play-in, though showed how dangerous they can be when Irving scored 50 points on just 19 shots in a victory at Charlotte on Tuesday.
The atmosphere could be reminiscent of the angry crowds that welcomed James back to Cleveland after his first departure for Miami, or Durant back to Oklahoma City after he left for Golden State in 2016.
&ldquo;It was a different situation because I got to play and shut the people up every time I hit a jump shot,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;But Ben doesn&rsquo;t have their opportunity right now. He&rsquo;s got to just sit there and just take a bunch of people just being childish and throwing insults his way because he didn&rsquo;t want to play basketball for them no more.&rdquo;
But Durant said he wouldn't offer any advice to Simmons, saying he'd have to experience it for himself and might even find some of it amusing.
&ldquo;I mean, the guy&rsquo;s making $40 million a year,&rdquo; Durant said. &ldquo;You could take that for 48, for a couple hours, and I&rsquo;m sure Ben has that approach.&rdquo;

A month after James Harden and Ben Simmons were swapped in a blockbuster NBA trade, Brooklyn visits Philadelphia on Thursday.

It's personal: Nets, 76ers meet after Simmons-Harden swap

Every day, we take certain things for granted. We fail to consider what life would be like without these items. A lot of humanity even does this with the loyal, dependable people in their lives.&nbsp;
In the lives of the Memphis Grizzlies, Tyus Jones is that constant. His teammates and coaching staff surely appreciate him, but outside of the organization, he is often overlooked and underappreciated.&nbsp;
There are 30 starting point guards in the NBA, and Tyus is a top-30 point guard playing behind a top-two player at his position.&nbsp;To understand just how good Jones has been this season, let's see how he stacks up to other guards who have played 30+ games while averaging at least 20 minutes.
According to Cleaning the Glass, Jones is in the 92nd percentile in assist percentage, which is the percentage of made shots by his teammates that come from an assist by Tyus (28.4%). He is in the 94th percentile in turnover percentage, turning it over just 7.7% of the time he has the ball. Finally, he is in the 95th percentile in assist:usage rate, which is how often he gets an assist when the ball is in his hand.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; His assist percentage is 17th amongst NBA point guards and second only behind Ricky Rubio off the bench. For anyone who has not been paying attention, Tyus is leading the NBA, again, in assist-to-turnover ratio at an absurd 6:1 rate. The second closest is Chris Paul at 4.5:1.&nbsp;
Even more absurd is the fact that Jones is 10th amongst qualifying point guards in the Player Impact Estimate on NBA.com. PIE is simply a measure, considering most box-score components, to determine a player's impact on a game. He's not 10th amongst bench guards, he is 10th amongst all point guards in the NBA.&nbsp;
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While Jones is known for his intense care of the basketball, the aspect of his game that is most important for Memphis and that goes largely unnoticed is his ability to hit the floater. Among guards in the NBA who attempt at least one shot per game in the five-to-nine-foot range (floater territory) Jones ranks fifth amongst qualifying players in shooting percentage (50.7%), only trailing Paul, Jalen Brunson, Darius Garland and Derrick Rose.
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Part of Jones' value is his ability to keep the ship steady when Ja Morant is off the floor for rest, or not playing at all due to injury. Jones stepped in for an injured Morant against the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 15 to the tune of 27 points and nine assists.&nbsp;
In this clip, Tyus and Steven Adams run a side pick-and-roll with Adams slipping the screen and Jones hitting him with a pocket pass for the assist.&nbsp;
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Later in the game, Jones and Adams are back in the side pick-and-roll, but this time Jones takes the screen for one of his patented floaters.
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Here the Grizzlies get in a Horns set, which often sees the point guard go off Jaren Jackson Jr.'s screen while Jaren flares out for a three. This time, Tyus comes off Adams' screen and, due to his ability to hit in the paint and the threat of Adams as a roller, Jones is able to find Ziaire Williams in the corner for a three.
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Later in the first half, the Grizzlies get into another Horns set, but this time Tyus catches Jonas Valanciunas too deep in his drop coverage. The help defense is hesitant to help off of Williams in the corner, giving Tyus enough of a window to hit a mid-range jumper.
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Jones is the type of player that every team would like to have. He shares the ball, plays within himself and rarely hurts the team. He is consistent and always reliable for Memphis.&nbsp;
He is also in the final year of his first free-agent contract, and both Memphis and Jones will have a decision to make this offseason. Is there a market for Jones to be a starter, if that's even something he desires? In Memphis, a lot of the talk is about the vibes, and Tyus is a massive part of that. Would he take a little less to stay with this growing Memphis team, or is he seeking a pay day and a starting job for a team likely worse than the Grizzlies?
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Justin Lewis writes on the consistent play that Tyus Jones brings to the Grizzlies, and why he should not be taken for granted.

The steadiness of Tyus Jones

Evan Mobley has flashed brillianace in a complementary role for the third-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers as a rookie, bolstering one of the top defenses in the league. He's factored in primarily as an outlet scorer, putback machine and opportunistic bucket getter on offense. However, due to injuries, primarily one sustained by Darius Garland that's kept him out of the last four contests, Mobley has received more reps on-ball out of necessity.
Across the first 41 games of Mobley's rookie season, 68% of his baskets were assisted, according to Cleaning the Glass. Over his last five contests, just 56% have been assisted. His efficiency has dipped (55% TS to 47% TS), and while some of the drop is small-sample size, he just isn't fully capable of some of the ground he's breaking. With that said, the flashes of creation with confidence and quickness shouldn't be overlooked.
While seemingly a minor shift on paper, the breadth of self-creation has been notable on-court, but through non-traditional means.
Mobley isn't running much pick-and-roll (God, I wish he was though) and he's not isolating at a ridiculous rate. Mobley's offense is an amalgamation of wonder: stride-based drives and extension finishes, quick mid-post flurries, face-up creation off actions and some late-shot-clock wizardry.&nbsp;
Mobley's ground coverage has been on <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/2021/11/12/22776342/cleveland-cavaliers-defense-evan-mobley-jarrett-allen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full display defensively</a> throughout the year, and those same principles have shown out even more recently in the halfcourt offense.
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He's not taking many shots from deep, just 1.4 per game (converting 28.6%), but his combination of length and athleticism make him a tough player to leave unguarded. Mobley's ball skills and handle are smooth for his size, and his coordination is impressive. Much in the same vein as Jaren Jackson Jr., length + athleticism + a modicum of ball skills = havoc getting downhill. It's not exactly E = mc^2, but I'm not Einstein, and it's efficacy is proven on-court!
Even then, Mobley has shown a level of coordination that JJJ didn't possess at the same stage; the ability to put together those lengthy strides and effective handles is not a simple task.
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Give Mobley the space to attack off the drive, and attack he will with a quickness. Then, you're likely fouling him at the nail as you recover, or he's got an easy look in the paint. That quickness is such a key aspect. If he had a tendency to hold the ball, we're not having this conversation and I'm not writing this article, but this is Evan Mobley!
Once his shot is coming along on higher volume and without hesitancy, that will be significant for Mobley's development. But what he's shown already operating from the perimeter has impressed.
Fake DHO's have become an absolute cheat code with Mobley, forcing the defense to be weary of a drive from either him or his teammate in the action.&nbsp;
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He may not get the finish, but the defense is collapsing, and the beauty of the Cavs is that a miss at the rim is right in their wheelhouse for another attempt.
If his defender is able to get into his hip and bump him off his spots, he can be forced into tough shots inside and outside the paint. Smaller defenders with broader frames (Saddiq Bey and Miles Bridges) have been particularly capable of forcing Mobley into less comfortable and effective looks.
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Even then, the functional strength he's displayed along with his ability to draw contact (5.0 free-throw attempts per over his last five games compared to 3.3), and some of the flashes he's shown finishing through it, lead to bewildered laughs from onlookers and frustration from opponents.
He works in a great deal of mid-post looks, but not in the sense of a ball-holding, clogging-and-slogging possession as often gets surmised (the post is not a bad place!!!).
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Mobley optimizes quick clear-outs and a rip-through move to use his limbs as weaponized foul magnets, or a cross-screen out of the corner into a quick face-up jumper or post-up depending on the look he draws from his defender.
Much of his post-up-oriented offense is read and react or when the ball is dumped to him for a scoring opportunity. Draw a mismatch and Mobley is quickly backing down and gunning for an instant foul.
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Much like with his drive and face-up game, he can get jostled in the mid-post with good positioning and strength. He's seemingly much more comfortable going to his left out of face-up opportunities and with his footwork in general, although he's more than capable from either side. There are ways to sit down on his game and I'm interested to see how defenses approach him in the playoffs. But even then, he has counters.
While they're not fully polished, what he's showing in his bag as a rookie, especially recently, is absurd.&nbsp;
I mean, what are you supposed to do with this?
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Fellow rookie Alperen Sengun defended Mobley fairly well throughout their most recent match-up, and it just didn't matter to an extent. (Mobley had a career-high 29 points, but the Cavs played one of their worst collective games of the season).
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Mobley is shooting 38.2% on fade-aways and step-backs on 68 attempts, according to InStat Scouting. That's not a ridiculous mark, but again, the flashes are bright and the potential is brimming. Considering the majority of these shots come as last-resort, late-clock and garbage-possession attempts, it's encouraging.
His release point on his jumper is pretty close to unguardable, and as he continues to grow into his body, improve his strength and tweak his game, it's awe-inspiring to imagine what his face-up game could look like in the future. He's canning 41% of his long-range jumpers, per Cleaning the Glass, a nice 69th percentile among all bigs in the league.
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There just aren't many 7-footers capable of putting together multiple dribble moves fluidly and flowing into a jumper like this.
While he may be a ways from putting it all together, that's partially what's so mesmerizing about Evan Mobley. He's playing at a borderline All-Defense level already and flashing the offensive upside and creation that created buzz about whether he should be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. It's far too early for a redraft or to declare who should or shouldn't have been drafted where, but it's hard to debate Mobley's dominance as a rookie. As he continues to dip his toes into the developmental waters, enjoy the flashes, because, man, they are fantastic.
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With Darius Garland out due to injury, Evan Mobley has flashed more self-creation on the ball as the Cavaliers have searched for offense.

Breaking down Evan Mobley's budding self-creation

Let me paint a picture for you. It&rsquo;s a Tuesday afternoon, and I&rsquo;m scarfing down a bowl full of Greek yogurt mixed with crunchy peanut butter and honey (the ultimate midday snack). I&rsquo;d recently decided to get into ​​"Curb Your Enthusiasm" because that&rsquo;s what all the prestige TV nerds do, so I had that on during my snacking.&nbsp;
At the time, I was on the first episode of Season 2, where Jason Alexander <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO-dQCa2p9Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">famously</a> tells Larry David that he is having a hard time finding acting work because everyone just thinks of him as George Costanza from "Seinfeld."
&ldquo;You know, the acting thing is, frankly, coming a little hard... I can&rsquo;t shake this George thing. They all see me as George.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Then &mdash; like a wrecking ball barrelling towards Miley Cyrus &mdash; it hit me. Julius Randle is dealing with the George Costanza issue. Don&rsquo;t get it? Let me explain.
The talent evaluators in Hollywood who pegged Alexander as a one-trick pony forgot that he earned a Tony Award (a yearly award given to the best Broadway actor) the same year that "Seinfeld" aired. Those critics pigeonholed his abilities despite Alexander proving his splendor in a completely different medium than television. I posit the same phenomenon is now taking place with Julius Randle and his perception around the league.
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Julius Randle doesn&rsquo;t believe trade talks are for real and league sources sense value to low to sell off <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Knicks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Knicks</a> <a href="https://t.co/mxY1Wk4jvy">https://t.co/mxY1Wk4jvy</a>
&mdash; Marc Berman (@NYPost_Berman) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYPost_Berman/status/1490062576272564226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Last season, Randle was the best offensive player on a gritty, feel-good New York Knicks team that vastly outperformed regular-season expectations, and then, subsequently flamed out in the playoffs. Now, with the Knicks firmly outside the playoff picture and Randle&rsquo;s numbers down across the <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/randlju01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">board</a>, the ultra-hegemonic NBA community has passed judgment on his standing within the league. To them, Randle is merely a &ldquo;floor-raiser&rdquo; who &mdash; with a little shooting luck &mdash; can carry the offense of a strong defensive team to a first-round exit, and that's the best and only role he can play.
But what if I told you that last season wasn&rsquo;t even his best scoring season? No, his best scoring season (on a per-possession basis) actually came in his lone season in New Orleans.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
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<td style="width: 26.5688%;">
Team/Year
</td>
<td style="width: 22.9639%;">
PTS per 75*
</td>
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Relative TS%*
</td>
<td style="width: 26.1682%;">
FTA per 75*
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NOP (2018-19)
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24.5
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+4%
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7.6
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NYK (2020-21)
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24.1
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-0.5%
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<td style="width: 26.1682%;">
6.0
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*Data provided by Basketball Reference (scroll across for full chart on mobile) 
During that singular season, Randle matched his gaudy scoring volume from his All-NBA season while also surpassing his efficiency and free-throw outputs by a significant margin. And what&rsquo;s more, he managed this performance while being cast for a completely different role than in New York.
Last season, Randle led his team in shot attempts per game by nearly four attempts (per Basketball Reference). In 2018-19, he was third on the Pelicans in field goal attempts behind Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis. Randle operated as a secondary/tertiary offensive option on a team that tied for <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2019.html">11th</a> in offensive efficiency. Not a world-beating unit by any stretch, but a massive step up from the <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2021.html">23rd-</a>ranked offensive attack New York fielded last year.
The key variable in this equation to focus on is Holiday. In the 1,416 minutes they shared together on the court, Randle posted a nylon-tarnishing True Shooting percentage of 61.4% (per PBP Stats) &mdash; an efficiency bracket normally reserved for the game&rsquo;s most productive scorers. Holiday&rsquo;s steadying presence as an <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/98-top-10-point-guards-in-2022/id1428290303?i=1000549565043" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elite floor general</a> enabled Randle to function as a play-finisher rather than a play initiator. This allowed the big man to unlock the best combination of volume and efficiency he&rsquo;s had in his career thus far.
In New York, Randle has taken notable strides as a playmaker (posting the highest assist percentage and <a href="https://backpicks.com/metrics/player-seasons/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passer rating</a> of his career in 2020-21), but he&rsquo;s still at his best when he&rsquo;s flanked by a lead ball-handler who he can lean on as a play creating safety-valve.
Over the last two seasons, Derrick Rose has proven to be the best candidate for that designation. In 958 minutes together, Randle is averaging a TS% of nearly 58%, which would put him firmly above the league average for that time (per PBP Stats). Another wrinkle to add to their relationship is that Randle scores 25.1 points per 75 possessions when the two share the court, a mark that exceeds his career-high from 2018-19. The overall takeaway here is that when he&rsquo;s paired with a credible offensive creator, Randle can transform into an off-ball-scoring leviathan.
Detractors will counter by saying the notoriety that comes with being a high-paid star at Madison Square Garden has corrupted Randle&rsquo;s psyche and turned him into a ball-stopping hardwood warlord. And to that, I will concede possessions like this occur far too often:
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y...? <a href="https://t.co/pRE0XtA7JE">pic.twitter.com/pRE0XtA7JE</a>
&mdash; Mark Schindler (@MSchindlerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSchindlerNBA/status/1490432226227535879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 6, 2022</a></blockquote>

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However, along with my concession, I will also contend that Rose has been out since the middle of December and that, despite their &ldquo;best&rdquo; efforts, the Knicks have failed to provide Randle with the offensive insurance he needs.&nbsp;
Randle was probably punching above his weight class last season, but being the No. 1 scoring option on a middling team is not the full extent of his powers. And it's not fair (or wise) for us to place those types of constraints on abilities. Surround him with other high-level offensive players that can take some playmaking weight off his shoulders, and he's already demonstrated that he can elevate the ceiling of a really good offense.
That&rsquo;s something to keep in mind if you're an organization looking to trade for him &mdash; or a Knicks fan base that has all but given up on him.
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Mat Issa explains his reasoning behind Julius Randle's shortcomings this season with the Knicks and why he needs an insurance policy.

An explanation of Julius Randle and the George Costanza problem

Did you stick around for the Luka Doncic show on Friday night?&nbsp;
It's understandable if you didn't, considering the <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1489807335405019138?s=20&amp;t=zZvJhIoVnlKYvFHJgpdGDw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">what-felt-like-hours delay</a> midway through the first quarter. There was an issue with the rim, and it's fitting that Doncic -- the man that seemingly sees everything on the court -- was able to point out the defect after making&nbsp;a three pointer.&nbsp;
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The game would eventually resume, and Doncic would dominate. 33 points were scored, 13 boards (three offensive) were grabbed and 15 dimes were dished in the Mavericks' 107-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
If I were to pinpoint one thing from Doncic's night, it's how he made the opposite corner his personal playground in pick-and-roll. Good pick-and-roll playmakers read what's in front of them; guys like Doncic read the third player, the unlucky fella tasked with providing help on the main action.
It's hard out here for a weakside defender, especially when toggling help responsibilities from a single side. Cheat inside too early, and you risk having a pass tossed behind you for a three. Stick to your guy too long, and your center is shooting you angry looks for not helping him on a lob.&nbsp;
Put another way: being in two places at once is&nbsp;really freaking difficult.
The delay got most of the early attention, and Doncic's play afterwards (and the Sixers completely melting against a zone at the end) got the attention late. What if I told you that a broken possession was a precursor to Doncic's big night?
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What's easy to see: Matisse Thybulle showing you why he's one of the best defenders in the sport. It's not easy to stick with Doncic, and it definitely isn't easy to guess what he wants to do&nbsp;and&nbsp;time it correctly. Thybulle does all three, sensing the lob to Dwight Powell coming (Joel Embiid is a smidge too high) and getting the deflection.
What's key to this possession is Tobias Harris. While the ball screen is happening, Harris fully commits to tagging/providing relief on the roll, though a half-beat late. Dorian Finney-Smith lifts from the corner to the wing at the same time Doncic is working himself downhill. That lift is designed to put helpers in pick-your-poison situations.
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_02_05_16_58_28_lg.png" alt="" width="576" height="324" />
So as Doncic recovers the ball and does his dance &mdash; a pump-fake to get Embiid and Thybulle in the air, then a gather to force Embiid and Harris to commit to him and Powell respectively &mdash; Finney-Smith is left all alone.&nbsp;
And that, my friends, is the opening salvo of the corner-help battle. With this broken-but-fruitful possession in mind, you're able to better appreciate some late-game nastiness from Doncic with a similar setup.
Poor Tyrese Maxey was caught between a rock and a hard place in the fourth quarter of this one. The Mavs stashed Reggie Bullock &mdash; a career 38.5% three-point sniper, and 43.3% marksman from the corners &mdash; in the left pocket to put Maxey in the same dilemma that Harris was in.
The first go around, Maxey picks Door No. 1. With the Sixers opting to play Embiid higher against screens at this point of the game, it was even more prudent to make sure the roll-man was accounted for.&nbsp;
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You can see the strain, right? Maxey is already keeping tabs on Powell. Doncic exacerbates the issue; he doesn't just string out the hedge from Embiid, he drives past it. Maxey has to commit at that point, which leaves Bullock open for three.
(Also, I love the "exit screen" &mdash; set by Finney-Smith for Jalen Brunson &mdash; thrown in to take away Harris as a helper.)
On the very next trip, Maxey picks Door No. 2. Well, kind of. He's torn based on the last possession, and that hesitation is all Doncic needs to fire a dart inside.
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I love how early Luka pulls the kill switch on this. He doesn't even attempt to drive past Embiid this time. He strings it out just enough, and makes his move early once he recognizes how much much space Powell has due to Maxey's hesitancy.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/screenshot_2022_02_05_18_02_54_lg.png" alt="" />
In all, the Mavericks scored a blistering 1.6 points per possession on Luka-led ball screens featuring that corner-to-wing lift, per Second Spectrum. It was one of the high marks of the season, if you care about that kind of granular thing.
Beyond that, it just goes to show how difficult it is to deal with Luka when he's rolling. He's always thinking two frames ahead. Even if you guess right, he can still make you wrong with elite ball placement and velocity.&nbsp;
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Nekias Duncan breaks down how Luka Doncic shredded the Sixers in pick-and-roll.

Cornered: How Luka Doncic toyed with the Sixers

The&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/joel-embiid-calls-once-rivaled-boston-celtics-easy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
Someone should tell Joel Embiid that it&rsquo;s not fair to kick someone when they&rsquo;re already down &mdash; because after he led a blowout win over the bumbling Boston Celtics, Embiid dropped a truth bomb on the very team that sent him home in two playoff series.
Embiid is not impressed by the Celtics
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Joel Embiid, on their improved defensive execution tonight: "Charlotte, they move the ball extremely well and they have shooters all over the place, and they made a bunch of jump shots. Boston is more of an iso heavy team, so it becomes easier to load up and try to stop them."
&mdash; Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/DerekBodnerNBA/status/1482194963421138945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Does it hurt more for the fans of Boston that he was being brutally honest? If he was just trolling for a funny reaction, at least then you know the comment is a little distorted. Hell, you can ever fire a shot back. But in this instance, he&rsquo;s purely pointing out the harsh reality &mdash; leaving Celtics fans tongue-tied without a comeback.
Sitting at 22-22, just outside of participating in the NBA's play-in tournament, the Celtics have been a disaster, with blown leads (most in NBA), weekly vacancies due to health and safety protocols (most in league) and an onslaught of public inter-team callouts (their own coach leads this category).
The worst of these callouts came from their starting point guard, Marcus Smart, who expressed his displeasure about the lack of ball movement and reliance on isolation plays. Shocker, I know. &nbsp;
&ldquo;Every team knows we&rsquo;re trying to go to Jayson and Jaylen. Every team is programmed and studied to stop Jayson and Jaylen. I think everybody&rsquo;s scouting report is to make those guys pass the ball&hellip; They don&rsquo;t want to pass the ball. That&rsquo;s something that they&rsquo;re going to learn. They&rsquo;re still learning,&rdquo; said Smart after the Celtics became the first team ever to blow a 14-point fourth quarter lead. They would then lose by 14 points against the Bulls in an early November game.&rdquo;
Good to see they haven&rsquo;t changed!
No real synergy in the way they play
With the flames getting higher with each passing week, the Boston Celtics have made it clear they have no interest in <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-case-against-and-for-separating-jayson-tatum-and-jaylen-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">splitting up the All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown</a>, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/celtics-have-no-interest-in-trading-jayson-tatum-or-jaylen-brown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Shams Charania of The Athletic</a>. No one is calling for that drastic move but, clearly, something needs to be done.&nbsp;
According to NBA advanced stats, the Celtics <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/isolation/?sort=POSS_PCT&amp;dir=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rank third in isolation plays</a>. They are also the only team in the NBA with three players in the top-45 most frequent iso players. Tatum is third. This makes their game not only stagnant and more easily defendable &mdash; it's also boring for the players. No one wants to commit to a spiritless system of waiting around for one guy to make his move. The fact that we know that means explosive free agents do, too.
There are a hundred different ways to explain why the Boston team that wiped the floor with Joel Embiid two playoffs ago is now a helpless second-rate team fighting for a play-in tournament chance &mdash; but the stylistic dynamic of Brown and Tatum, which is the reason for the predictable iso play, could be the biggest reason.&nbsp;
Their two best guys don&rsquo;t complement each other, past Tatum sometimes getting doubled and trying to find Brown. They share similar heights, so they don&rsquo;t benefit from swapping defenders. That&rsquo;s why they play like they're in a game of 21, because they have an understanding of that avenue as a way to work off each other.&nbsp;
They should start turning a corner a bit, since they now have the seventh easiest schedule <a href="https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Tankathon</a>. But their fundamental problem won&rsquo;t perish without a great point guard to create plays and get others more involved. Until then, this will likely not be the only rib shot the team and its fans must endure.&nbsp;
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Joel Embiid delivered a ruthless shot of truth about the Celtics' offensive style.

Joel Embiid calls once-rival Celtics 'easy'

Last week, the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves locked in a fourth quarter battle at home against the 16-22 Sacramento Kings. Both teams were missing key players, and it was the sort of game a good team emerges victorious from &mdash; a label the Lakers presumably intend to warrant.
So, down the stretch, Los Angeles embraced a partnership that&rsquo;s become increasingly reliable and prolific in recent months: the LeBron James-Malik Monk two-man tango. For five straight possessions, across a 2.5-minute stretch, LeBron and Monk were involved in every play. One of them screened for the other and offense flowed from that action.&nbsp;
The Lakers scored on every turn and tallied 12 points, spinning a 105-104 deficit into a 116-112 advantage &mdash; and an eventual 122-114 win. LeBron&rsquo;s importance to Los Angeles is obvious. He&rsquo;s LeBron, an all-time great, possibly the all-time great, still playing at an MVP level. Monk&rsquo;s value, however, required time to percolate. But is abundantly evident as of late.&nbsp;
On Dec. 28, he was inserted into the starting lineup. The Lakers are 5-2 since then and tout the NBA&rsquo;s top-ranked offense (120.1 offensive rating). Four games against the NBA's bottom five defenses help, yet the process behind this offensive surge is the salient long-term takeaway and Monk is integral to it.&nbsp;
During this span, he&rsquo;s been an absolute flamethrower, averaging 20 points on 67.1 percent True Shooting percentage (.510/.481/.895 split). Of course, that shooting is a bit unsustainable. But take a step back to peer at the season-long numbers and they&rsquo;ll still pop off the page &mdash; a career-high 12 points on 60.5 TS% (.472/.396/.844 split). They&rsquo;ve also trended upward every month.
7 points on 52 TS% in October; 11 points on 60 TS% in November; 14 points on 64 TS% in December; 20.5 points on 63 TS% in January.
Each week, it feels as though Los Angeles further realizes the value of Monk&rsquo;s dynamic offensive portfolio. Scheming shots for him has become a priority of the offense rather than letting them populate organically. He&rsquo;s no longer predominantly just a release valve. He&rsquo;s a catalyst as well.&nbsp;
Movement shooters have historically thrived alongside LeBron. Monk is of that ilk. Defenses are typically placed into a strenuous bind when he screens for his superstar teammate, and the Lakers are continually applying its utility more often. Sacramento tried trapping and switching the action. Neither worked. Playing it straight up wasn&rsquo;t viable because Monk sets good screens.
Most teams cannot afford to switch the action because few defenders have the physical profile to contain LeBron off the dribble. When teams trap him to route the offense elsewhere, Monk can quickly set his feet and fire off the catch. In some Lakers lineups, a help defender stunting to deter Monk&rsquo;s jumper will often mean leaving a shooting or driving threat open instead.&nbsp;
Monk&rsquo;s also a bouncy athlete around the rim, with the creativity to finish in traffic if he opts to roll rather than pop. While LeBron is usually the ballhandler, Monk touts enough creation juice to let him slide off the ball occasionally too. The formula is simple: pair an elite scorer with a high-level shooter and watch the rewards flow in.
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The beauty and vitality of Monk&rsquo;s arsenal is he doesn&rsquo;t need to be regularly scripted into the offense to empower everyone. Doing so does boost the offense, but he&rsquo;ll still rock regardless. Among cutting, shooting and attacking closeouts, he&rsquo;s a bona fide off-ball scorer with a keen sense of how to generate and maximize his touches.&nbsp;
He holsters a snappy release to cleanly fire jumpers and is unbothered by most contests. When the Lakers&rsquo; offensive hubs &mdash; LeBron, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis &mdash; tilt the defense and the ball comes his way as a trusty release valve, he&rsquo;ll let it fly and avoid resetting the offense.&nbsp;
Auxiliary players who maintain advantages and capitalize on them are paramount to fashioning effective offense around stars. The Lakers haven&rsquo;t been an effective offense throughout the entire season, but the team has shown periods of effectiveness &mdash; like the one they&rsquo;re currently enjoying.&nbsp;
Because he maintains advantages and spaces the floor, Monk is helping fuel that. He&rsquo;s a crucial factor as to why <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-next-evolution-of-lebron-james-is-finally-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LeBron-at-center lineups</a> have been so dominant offensively. If they&rsquo;re going to extend this recent run of success, he&rsquo;ll sit near the core of those efforts.&nbsp;
Each of LeBron, Davis and Westbrook thrive in the paint offensively. Monk, as a decisive, efficient floor-spacer, amplifies their skills and eases the complexity for the others to stamp their mark every night. He shoots on the move, migrates toward openings along the perimeter or as a cutter and remains a threat when run off the arc. His wide-ranging off-ball chops are a substantial windfall.&nbsp;
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Although most of his buckets occur on brief touches and with few dribbles, he&rsquo;s shown the requisite zip and handling prowess to win on the ball against certain mismatches. He&rsquo;s been a legit three-level scorer this season, shooting 71% at the rim (89th percentile), 47% from mid-range (84th percentile and 39% beyond the arc (82nd percentile), according to Cleaning The Glass (as of Jan. 8).
He has some pop and craft as a driver, and finishes with either hand. Per Synergy, he ranks in the 81st percentile as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. He won&rsquo;t consistently turn the corner against defenders, but he isn&rsquo;t entirely inept and can get downhill to spur rotations periodically.&nbsp;
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There&rsquo;s just enough electricity in his legs for LeBron to operate as a spot-up shooter, roller and cutter alongside a guard whose shooting defenses respect. Westbrook&rsquo;s slashing and interior passing acumen shine when LeBron teams up with him, whereas Monk&rsquo;s shooting gravity is the basis of his table setting for The King. Most of his passing reads are basic, but he&rsquo;ll deliver them aptly and really does bend defenses because of his scoring aura.&nbsp;
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One of the Lakers&rsquo; offensive tenets is to run, run, run. According to Synergy, they rank third in transition frequency. They&rsquo;re also third in pace. Westbrook&rsquo;s arrival is likely driving that, though Monk accentuates the efforts. He&rsquo;ll promptly bomb from deep on the break, cut inside as a trailer, or beam to the rim after a miss and convert an outlet pass from someone like Westbrook or LeBron.&nbsp;
His recognition of the emphasis this team places on transition volume is yet another example of his snug fit offensively. The half-court setting reveals that fit most commonly, but it&rsquo;s evident almost all the time. Per 100 possessions, Los Angeles is 9.4 points better with Monk on the floor this season because he&rsquo;s having an awesome year through a manner the Lakers&rsquo; tactical context emphasizes and needs.&nbsp;
As they seemingly achieve rhythm midway through the year (despite Sunday's loss), Monk&rsquo;s emergence looms large. He complements their best player and suits their identity. Questions persist for this club, but his role and place as a prominent starter is not one of them right now. He&rsquo;s been too good to posit otherwise.

Malik Monk's offensive talent and growing role has been key in the Lakers' recent run of high-scoring wins.

Malik Monk's offensive versatility is helping fuel a Lakers resurgence

It was Deandre Ayton's turn on Tuesday night.&nbsp;
The big fella led the Phoenix Suns with 24 points, while also grabbing 11 boards (6 offensive) and swatting a couple of shots away. While the Suns beat the Warriors by eight points, they outscored the Golden Crew by 16 points in Ayton's 34 minutes.
It would be convenient to frame Ayton's big night as a "he stepped up without Devin Booker" performance, though that wouldn't be entirely fair. Yes, Ayton's contributions on the interior helped after Booker sustained a hamstring injury in the second quarter, but Ayton didn't just fill the gaps.
He set the tone.
With Andrew Wiggins getting the Booker assignment, and Draymond Green taking on Chris Paul for switch-the-1-5-pick-and-roll purposes, it was up to Ayton to make that plan a bad one.&nbsp;
He won early by doing the little things. Hard screens and even harder rolls to the basket. Quick (and deep) seals against smaller opponents. Timely offensive boards. Nine of his 24 points, and 4 of his 11 rebounds came in the first quarter.
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Zoom out, though, and you see the beauty &mdash; and deadliness &mdash; of this Suns team. You have to worry about the three-level scoring prowess of Booker. There's Paul's playmaking ability and otherworldly mid-range shooting. And if you focus on taking those things away, you still have to deal with Ayton.
Tuesday night was a snapshot &mdash; a loud one, considering the opponent &mdash; of what the Suns have been during their 17-game win streak. Relentless. Calculated. Suffocating. Versatile. They often get a lot from a few, but they consistently get a little bit from everyone.&nbsp;
That's how <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/suns-win-over-warriors-another-crescendo-moment-for-their-incredible-rebuild" target="_blank" rel="noopener">you win 17 straight</a>. It's how you build a top-five half-court offense and&nbsp;defense, per Cleaning The Glass.
THE BALLING BACKCOURT
It starts with the duo of Paul and Booker, who seem to have struck a nice balance between lead duties. And by balance, I really mean that Paul is really commandeering this thing.
Paul has taken even more ownership of the offense; he once again leads the team in touches, and his overall time of possession has increased from last season. Booker has seen a decrease in both, an odd phenomenon on the surface considering Booker is ascending while Paul is, well, 37 years old.
Here's where we are this season, with last season's mark in parentheses.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 66px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 15.7351%; height: 22px;">Player</td>
<td style="width: 16.1356%; height: 22px;">Touches</td>
<td style="width: 19.607%; height: 22px;">Time of possession</td>
<td style="width: 20.0074%; height: 22px;">Avg. seconds per touch</td>
<td style="width: 19.2064%; height: 22px;">Avg. dribbles per touch</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 15.7351%; height: 22px;">Chris Paul</td>
<td style="width: 16.1356%; height: 22px;">75.7 (77.4)</td>
<td style="width: 19.607%; height: 22px;">7.5 (7.2)</td>
<td style="width: 20.0074%; height: 22px;">5.95 (5.56)</td>
<td style="width: 19.2064%; height: 22px;">5.29 (4.84)</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 15.7351%; height: 22px;">Devin Booker</td>
<td style="width: 16.1356%; height: 22px;">51.5 (56.2)</td>
<td style="width: 19.607%; height: 22px;">3.6 (4.0)</td>
<td style="width: 20.0074%; height: 22px;">4.14 (4.32)</td>
<td style="width: 19.2064%; height: 22px;">3.39 (3.52)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The shift has worked for both parties. Paul is one of the best decision-makers of all time; he leads the NBA in assists (10.1) while only turning the ball over 2.3 times per contest. It's probably a good idea to let a guy like that direct the half-court attack, especially one with the diverse pick-and-roll attack Phoenix has.
Paul has continued to be the NBA's premier drop coverage beater. Play him too tightly, and he's slipping a pass to his big. Give too much grace to the big, and he's firing from mid-range; by the way, Paul is knocking down an absurd 52.1% of his pull-up twos this year. Send a third defender into the action, and Paul will slice you apart with skips to the corner.
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For Booker, the off-ball benefit has been two-fold. He doesn't have to carry a ridiculously heavy creation burden, and as a result, he also gets to take easier shots.
Booker's a madman when curling off of screens. Between the lifts from the baseline and flares above the break, Booker is often attacking with a head start. He doesn't have to spam dribble moves to free himself; he's generally within his wheelhouse with a dribble or two.
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With Booker operating more off the ball, he's also gotten to take more (and easier) catch-and-shoot looks. Not only is Booker draining a career-high 44.4% of his catch-and-shoot threes, this is the first time since 2016-17 that he's averaging more catch-and-shoot attempts (3.0) than pull-ups (2.8).
Coincidentally, Booker's overall three-point clip (40.3%, also a career-high) seems more in line with his actual shooting ability.
It's almost like shot diet matters when considering a player's efficiency.
NO BURNING BRIDGES
There's much to be said about Mikal Bridges' defense. Frankly, he should already have an All-Defensive team selection under his belt. He's certainly on pace to achieve the feat this season.
Only a handful of players have a tougher matchup difficulty &mdash; percentage of possessions defending high usage players &mdash; than Bridges does. He takes the toughest on-ball assignment virtually every night.
Among the players he's defended for at least 30 possessions, per NBA.com's tracking data: Damian Lillard, Trae Young, Stephen Curry, James Harden, LeBron James and Michael Porter Jr.
Big, small, bulky, lanky. Pull-up artists, pick-and-roll maestros. Silky jump shooters. Isolation masters. Mid-post powerhouses. You name it, Bridges has held his own against it at the very least.
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The real intrigue lies with how Bridges is being used offensively. His scoring is down a point this season, which coincides with a slight dip in three-point accuracy (39.1%, down from 42.5%). Volume is the real story; Bridges' three-point rate has dropped over 12 percentage points from last season.
He's seen a bump in both at-the-rim and mid-range (10-to-16 feet, per Basketball-Reference) frequency. As pointed out by tremendous Suns follow (and recent <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-valley/id1547857052?i=1000542454702" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guest of The Dunker Spot</a>) <a href="https://twitter.com/theIVpointplay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Kevin</a>, the Suns are using Bridges in place of Booker in some of their intricate pick-and-roll sets.
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With Booker set to miss the next few games with his hamstring issue, it wouldn't be a shock to see an(other) uptick in usage from Bridges.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
And then, there's Ayton &mdash; figuratively and literally at the center of it all.&nbsp;
His physicality gives the Suns a much-needed boost in rim pressure, whether that comes with rim-running in transition, or rolling hard (and sealing) after ball screens. Ayton is converting a career-best 84% of his shots inside of 3 feet.
Ayton has been just as impressive defensively. While Bridges (rightfully) gets the love for his defensive aptitude, Ayton's combination of size and mobility allows the Suns to shapeshift when necessary.
The Suns don't run a strict drop system with Ayton. They play him way back in ball screens &mdash; this is a large human being, of course &mdash; to wall off the rim, then late/peel switch to keep the action in front. The block numbers aren't there (career-low 0.7) because of it, but neither are the fouls (career-low 3.1 per 36 minutes).
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Teamwide, the system works as designed. Only seven teams give up a lower share of rim shots than the Suns. Conversely, only four teams allow a higher share of mid-range shots.
It's not like teams have much success if they happen to get to the rim. Opponents are shooting just 50% at the rim when defended by Ayton, serving as the stingiest number of his career, and the 10th best mark in the NBA among players defending at least <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/defensive-impact/?sort=DEF_RIM_FG_PCT&amp;dir=-1&amp;Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;CF=DEF_RIM_FGA*GE*4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">four shots per game</a>.
It's hard to overstate how impressive the synergy is between the Suns' top four guys.
Paul's playmaking (further) unlocks Booker as a scorer; Booker's scoring chops tilts the defense in a way that makes like easier for Bridges. The combination of playmaking and shooting from those three gives Ayton ample room to roll into.
Defensively, Bridges and Ayton hold down the exterior and interior respectively. Paul is able to fill gaps as a helper and communicator; Booker is able to take the lesser of wing options when he wants, though it's worth noting his on-ball defense has graduated well beyond the "liability" range at this juncture.
And with those four gelling the way they do, life becomes even easier for The Others.&nbsp;
Cameron Johnson (39% on 4.8 attempts) and Landry Shamet (37.8% on 4.5 attempts) are able to bomb away from deep; Crowder fills that role as the fifth starter, and has rebounded nicely from a slow start (37.1% on 5.6 attempts in November). JaVale McGee has thrived alongside Paul in pick-and-roll. Cam Payne has been able to shake loose when sharing the floor with Booker in hybrid second units.
The Suns took the NBA world by storm last season, riding their momentum all the way to a Finals berth. You can quibble about some of the injury "luck" they faced among the way (as long as you do it for literally every other Finals team in league history), but their proficiency on both ends was hiding in plain sight.
They seem to be even better this year. With reasonable health, there may only be one team with a chance of stopping them from returning to the Finals &mdash; and they just beat them.

Nekias Duncan breaks down the Suns' two-way dominance and the reasons why they're rolling during their 17-game winning streak.

Stop sleeping on the Phoenix Suns

The <a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/darko-milicic-thinks-jokic-is-a-target-because-he-is-a-foreign-player-dominating-the-nba/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-stringify-link="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/giannis-antetokounmpo-shares-why-he-doesnt-associate-or-practice-with-other-nba-players-in-the-offseason/" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">following article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a class="c-link" tabindex="-1" href="http://basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="http://BasketballNetwork.net" data-sk="tooltip_parent" data-remove-tab-index="true">BasketballNetwork.net</a>:
The altercation between Nikola Jokić and Markieff Morris that ended up in the Serbian pushing the Heat forward viciously in the back, retaliating to the cheap shot foul from Morris, captured NBA headlines last week. That push would start all-out chaos, with teams having to be separated and ejections, suspensions, fines, and even brothers of the protagonists getting involved. The whole incident made waves worldwide and caused numerous reactions. Even from the former No. 2 pick Darko Miličić.&nbsp;
Jokić&rsquo;s reaction was justified
Although at first, it seemed Nikola really overreacted and injured Morris, the second look told the whole story. Markieff went for Jokić&rsquo;s ribs and cheap-shotted in a very unnecessary manner with a move that could have definitely injured the Nuggets center. In the end, cooler heads prevailed, and the NBA got the type of show and drama they need on an occasional basis.
The NBA world reacted to this altercation immediately, as it was the main topic of discussion for days. The majority of people justified Nikola&rsquo;s reaction and agreed you can&rsquo;t cheap-shot a guy like that and simply turn your back. Shaq and Charles explained that perfectly on Inside the NBA.
Darko reacts and fires numerous shots at the Morris twins and the NBA
Another interesting reaction we got was from the former 2003 No. 2 pick and Jokić&rsquo;s countryman, Darko Miličić. One of the most infamous draft busts in NBA history has been retired for some time, trying out his luck in combat sports and farming after the NBA life. But occasionally, he still gives us controversial and non-filtered opinions on the basketball world.
Miličić&nbsp;is certain Jokić often gets targeted by opposing players due to his dominance and ability to bully opponents on the court, especially coming from a foreign country:
&ldquo;What else could Nikola expect when he comes to America, which has hundreds of millions, from a small country that does not have even six million people? He comes, dominates, and bullies them in basketball, becomes the best in the world? Similar to Novak in tennis&hellip; Of course, you will bother some people, and you will be their target," Miličić <a href="https://mozzartsport.com/kosarka/vesti/milicic-za-mozzart-sport-jokic-im-smeta-kao-okovic-nba-je-sou-igraci-nisu-gangsteri/403764" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said via Mozzart Sport</a>.
Miličić&nbsp;has a good point, as foreign players have to work extra hard to earn respect in the NBA. Miličić then went on to flame the Morris twins for being fake tough guys:
&ldquo;It is obvious that they (the Morris brothers) are building their careers on incidents and provocations, as &lsquo;dangerous guys.&rsquo; They survive on that basis. But Nikola shouldn&rsquo;t have allowed himself that because they achieved what they wanted by provocation. Nikola was suspended.&rdquo;&nbsp;
To cap it all off, Miličić called out all the "tough guys" in the NBA for just trying to put on a show for cameras rather than actually wanting to fight:
&ldquo;The NBA is a show. We can say whatever we want, where we come from&hellip; An epidemiological story that tries to be served as if they are all gangsters can&rsquo;t pass even with small children. All players are accomplished and earn at least enough. All that show (around fighting), it comes down to &lsquo;I to you, you to me&rsquo;, frowning&hellip; Those quasi-street threats are stereotyped. They didn&rsquo;t mean anything to me. Nikola turned out naive, pushed him visibly. I&rsquo;m not a scoundrel, but I didn&rsquo;t see the desire for a showdown. A small percentage of players are ready for the showdown. You turn out to be naive if you get hooked and in front of everyone. You turn out to be the culprit, regardless of the circumstances under which it happened.&rdquo;
Miličić&nbsp;is a bit blunt and direct with his statements, but he does have a point. NBA stars are basketball players primarily and professionals with a lot to lose. They don&rsquo;t want to fight anybody and risk losing substantial amounts of money.&nbsp;
Sure they will try to look tough for the cameras and the crowd, especially those who built a career on being labeled the "tough guy." But in reality, nobody really wants the smoke. Darko was a bust with many ridiculous statements in his career, but I have to agree with him this time.
Check out more articles from BasketballNetwork.net <a href="https://www.basketballnetwork.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.

Darko Milicic offered his thoughts on the recent altercation between Nikola Jokic and Markieff Morris.

Darko Milicic feels Nikola Jokic is targeted as a foreign player

Madison Square Garden was rocking raucously in the fourth quarter Wednesday night. The issue is MSG was eerily quiet for the first three frames.
Playing a shorthanded Bucks team that was missing a pair of starters and had lost four of its previous six contests, the Knicks fell behind early Wednesday evening. New York's starting unit once again dug a deep hole in both the first and third quarters. In fact, with 15 minutes left in the contest, New York found itself down by a seemingly insurmountable 24 points.&nbsp;
That's when head coach Tom Thibodeau yanked his starters, hoping his reserves could provide a spark. And that they did.&nbsp;
Derrick Rose, Immanuel Quickley, Taj Gibson, Alec Burks and Obi Toppin led the Knicks on a dramatic 21-3 run and eventually tied the game with five minutes left in regulation.&nbsp;
However, the second unit ran out of gas down the stretch. Ultimately, New York allowed the Bucks to take and make too many uncontested 3-pointers, and Milwaukee ended up winning by double digits. This game highlighted two issues that plagued the Knicks all season and came back to bite them badly Wednesday night.
For starters (pun intended), the Knicks' first five have fallen behind consistently, dating back to the season opener last month. Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett, Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson have been outscored by 64 points (or 15.6 points per 100 possessions) in the 205 minutes they have shared the floor together this season. Among all five-man units in the NBA, <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/traditional/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&amp;dir=1&amp;Season=2021-22&amp;SeasonType=Regular%20Season&amp;PerMode=Per100Possessions&amp;CF=GP*G*5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to the league's tracking data</a>, that's the worst cumulative plus/minus in the league.&nbsp;
This number is even more alarming when you contrast it with the Knicks bench production. The quintet of Quickley, Rose, Burks, Toppin, Gibson have outscored their opponents by 19.9 points per 100 possessions. Among all five-man units that have logged at least 50 minutes together this season, it's the most efficient and effective crew in the league.&nbsp;
The primary problem with the Knicks starting unit lies on the defensive end. New York's starting five has allowed opponents to shoot 47.9% from the floor, including 42.5% behind the arc, which is well above the league average. A common thread in Knick defeats this season has been New York's inability (or unwillingness) to defend the three-point line.
Coming into Wednesday, the Knicks had never allowed more than 22 three-pointers in a game in their franchise's history. The Bucks made 26.
If teams were knocking down contested triples against New York, it would be easier for Knicks fans to swallow, but that's not the case. On Wednesday night, per NBA tracking data, the Knicks allowed 30 wide-open three-pointers, meaning no Knick defender was within six feet of a Bucks player when they released their shot on 30 separate occasions.
And this was not a one-off occurrence. On the season, the Knicks have now allowed 270 wide-open three-point attempts. That's the highest number in the league by far, as every other team in the NBA has allowed fewer than 250 such attempts. Unsurprisingly, the Knicks have allowed 115 wide-open makes, or 20 more than any other NBA team. (In contrast, the Wizards, who have greatly exceeded expectations early on, have allowed just 41 wide-open makes on 125 attempts this season.) &nbsp;
Part of the issue is tied to Thibs' scheme defensively. Last night, for instance, New York made a concerted effort to wall off Giannis Antetokounmpo in the paint. And last season, New York ranked eighth in the NBA in wide-open treys allowed. Yet, the Knicks benefited from opponents shooting just 34.7% on those attempts in 2020-21, while the percentage has, as expected, progressed toward the mean in 2021-22. &nbsp;
Nonetheless, the reality is the Knicks allowed 17.5 wide-open attempts per game last season, and that number has skyrocketed to a league-worst 22.5 this season.&nbsp;
At this point, it's fair to question whether a lack of effort and intensity on behalf of the starters is at least partly to blame. The aforementioned Knicks' bench squad consisting of Rose, IQ, Burks, Toppin, Gibson have held opponents to below 39% shooting from the floor and just 26.5% shooting from downtown. Granted, it's a relatively small sample size (61 minutes), but those percentages could be viewed as an indictment of the starting five, especially considering the captain of the unit, D Rose, has never been viewed as an elite defender, and Gibson will celebrate his 37th birthday next year.&nbsp;
When asked after last night's loss about New York's defensive lapses, Rose asserted, "You've got to jump and contest. If you mess up, hard work and effort should make up for whatever mistake you made on the end of the ball with defense."&nbsp;
"I mean, it's the league," Rose said. "You're not going to make everybody miss, but as long as you give an effort, something should give."
History tells us that Thibodeau is extremely hesitant to make hasty decisions when it comes to adjusting his rotations. However, Thibs seemed to send out a warning shot to his troops after Wednesday night's defeat. "You know what they say," Thibodeau said when asked if his starter's struggles were due to their lack of playing time together as a unit. "When it's ten games, you say you need 20. When you get to 20, you say 30. And you get to 30, you say 40. And then before you know it, the season's over, so it's a bunch of bullsh-t."
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Tom Thibodeau on the notion the Knicks' starters need at least 20 games to gel: "When you get to 20, you say 30. And you get to 30, you say 40. And then before you know it, the season's over. So it's a bunch of bulls**t" <a href="https://t.co/5xFXmg3t7H">pic.twitter.com/5xFXmg3t7H</a>
&mdash; Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/sny_knicks/status/1458635452106350594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Another issue surely irking Thibs is his team's lack of success inside the friendly confines of Madison Square Garden. Since arriving in New York, Thibodeau has talked about the importance of establishing a significant homecourt advantage. Yet, through this season's first 11 games, the Knicks are 5-1 on the road and just 2-4 at home, including three consecutive losses by at least nine points.&nbsp;
In fact, over a ten-quarter stretch at MSG, from the start of the second quarter in last week's loss to the Raptors through the end of the third quarter in last night's loss to the Bucks, the Knicks were outscored by 50 points.&nbsp;
During the entire 2020-21 season, including the playoffs, the Knicks gave up more than 115 points at home only five times. This season, the Knicks are allowing 115.7 points per game at MSG. (The Hornets are the only team in the NBA allowing more points per game at home.)
The Knicks travel to Charlotte to take on the Hornets Friday night before returning to New York to play three straight games against the three teams with terrible records. Next Monday, New York takes on the Pacers (4-8), Wednesday they host the Magic (3-9) and Saturday they welcome the lowly Rockets (1-10) to MSG.&nbsp;
It will be fascinating to see where the Knicks stand next weekend, and if they've been able to address the glaring problems that have dragged them down since their hot start to the 2021-22 campaign.&nbsp;

Tommy Beer details how the Knicks have slipped on the defensive end and struggled to defend Madison Square Garden.

Knicks starters sink New York, fail to protect home court again

Nekias Duncan previews the Northwest Division for the 2021-22 NBA season.

2021-22 NBA Season Preview: Northwest Division

Michael Porter Jr. didn&rsquo;t have the NBA Draft experience that he&rsquo;d always imagined.&nbsp;
After being ranked the top high school player in the country, he ended up slipping to No. 14 in the 2018 NBA Draft due to a back injury that required spinal surgeries in 2017 and 2018. Worst of all, he was in a ton of pain as he waited for NBA commissioner Adam Silver to call his name.
&ldquo;On draft night, I hadn&rsquo;t had the [second] surgery yet and I was in so much pain,&rdquo; Porter recalled on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGIHBt9piQc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">J.J. Redick&rsquo;s podcast (</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGIHBt9piQc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Old Man and the Three)</a>. &ldquo;Even if you get picked at 14, you&rsquo;re there for like two hours before you get picked. So, I&rsquo;m sitting there and just trying to deal with this pain.&rdquo;
Porter had herniated-disc material &ldquo;pressing against a nerve.&rdquo; He also opened up about slipping in the draft and what he was dealing with from a health perspective.&nbsp;
"I've never really talked about this too in-detail on anything like this,&rdquo; Porter told Redick. &ldquo;I had rehabbed from my first surgery that happened at Mizzou and I'm getting ready [for the pre-draft process]. I'm not working out for any teams. I just have one pro day; all of the teams came to me in Chicago. I worked out pretty well; I was in some pain, but I just thought that was part of the rehab process. I worked out really well. Sacramento brings me in [for an interview] and is like, &lsquo;Yo, if you feel good, we&rsquo;re going to take you with the No. 2 pick.&rsquo; I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Bet, that&rsquo;s dope!&rsquo; But my agent wanted to have a second pro day just for the top-10 teams because he was like, &lsquo;Man, these guys are raving about you. If you do really well, there&rsquo;s a chance you can still go No. 1 even after the surgery.&rsquo; So I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;Bet.&rsquo; The pro days were only one week [apart].&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, I&rsquo;m getting ready and then two days before, all of the pain is down my leg and it&rsquo;s crazy again [like] after I had the first surgery. I called my agent and I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;I can&rsquo;t get out of bed, bro.&rsquo; He tells me, &lsquo;The teams are already on their way, just let them evaluate you.&rsquo; So for that second pro day, I&rsquo;m laying on a table and all of the top-10 teams have their doctors there and they&rsquo;re just evaluating me. The guy from the Clippers was the head doctor and he&rsquo;s the one who wrote the report like, &lsquo;Yeah, he&rsquo;ll probably never play again.&rsquo;&rdquo;
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This isn&rsquo;t the first time that Porter has <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29796435/nuggets-michael-porter-jr-blames-clippers-doctor-fall-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called out</a> this unnamed Clippers doctor. Los Angeles had two lottery picks (No. 12 and 13), but the team passed on Porter twice due to his medical red flags. Instead, they picked Miles Bridges (whose draft rights were traded to Charlotte) and Jerome Robinson. Former Clippers head coach Doc Rivers later <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29796435/nuggets-michael-porter-jr-blames-clippers-doctor-fall-draft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">described</a> missing on Porter as &ldquo;brutal."
Porter&rsquo;s agent, Mark Bartelstein, set up a meeting with the Denver Nuggets a day before the draft just in case he was still on the board by the end of the lottery.
&ldquo;The day before, Mark was like, &lsquo;Michael, I want you to talk to the Nuggets just so you have a floor that you won&rsquo;t fall past,&rsquo;&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;So the Nuggets ended up saying, &lsquo;We don&rsquo;t think he&rsquo;ll be there, but if he&rsquo;s there, we&rsquo;ll take him.&rsquo; The first time I talked to [Nuggets executive] Tim Connelly was, like, the day of the draft and I didn&rsquo;t really even think of the Nuggets as a possibility. And then, I got drafted [by Denver].&rdquo;
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The Nuggets selected him in the lottery almost entirely based on the glimpses of brilliance he showed in high school. After all, Porter only appeared in three collegiate games during his lone season at Missouri, averaging 10.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 threes and a steal (while shooting 33.3% from the field and 30.0% from three).&nbsp;
It was a risk, but it has certainly paid off. Porter seems poised for stardom after averaging 19.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 threes, 0.9 blocks and 0.7 steals (on 54.2/44.5/79.1 shooting splits) as a 22-year-old last season.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&ldquo;I said this on draft night, but just because of them believing in me, I want to be their best draft pick ever, and I [said] I was going to work as hard as I could to become that,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;And I still feel like every year, there&rsquo;s little-by-little growth. I went through a lot, but it&rsquo;s all God&rsquo;s timing and I&rsquo;m blessed to be in the situation I&rsquo;m in. I&rsquo;m blessed to even be playing in the NBA.&rdquo;
Porter doesn&rsquo;t hold any ill will against the teams who passed on him. In fact, he completely understands their choice because even he was scared that he might never be the same player.
"I understood it, and I don't have any bitterness toward any team because I was low-key scared myself,&rdquo; Porter admitted. &ldquo;Like, I didn't know if I was going to bounce back the way I wanted to either. It's been a slow process, and I still feel like I'm getting there.&rdquo;
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Porter is glad that he landed in Denver, since there are fewer distractions than Los Angeles. It also helps that the Nuggets could afford to be patient with him and bring him along slowly.
&ldquo;With the Clippers, to be honest with you, it might have a God thing because who knows [what would&rsquo;ve happened in Los Angeles]? You know how crazy L.A. is,&rdquo; Porter said. &ldquo;Living in L.A. as a rookie who&rsquo;s strictly doing rehab without even playing? I might&rsquo;ve got into some stuff. So, I&rsquo;m where I&rsquo;m supposed to be.&rdquo;
Over the final two months of the 2020-21 season, Porter had an incredible 25-game stretch in which he averaged 24.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.4 threes and a block while shooting an insanely efficient 56.9% from the field, 47.2% from three (on 7.2 attempts per game) and 82.5% from the free throw line.&nbsp;
Porter&rsquo;s strong finish has some people <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-what-is-your-bold-prediction-for-the-202122-nba-season" target="_blank" rel="noopener">predicting</a> that he&rsquo;ll take another leap during the 2021-22 campaign. While he used to set specific goals and compare himself to his peers, he said dealing with so many health issues that were out of his control changed his perspective.
"I used to be like, 'Man, I want to be better than him and better than him, and I want to be the best.' Now, for me, because of the uncontrollable things that have happened to me, it changed my perspective to, 'Nah, I'm just gonna get up every day and try to be better than I was the day before and then leave the potential up to God,&rsquo;&rdquo; Porter explained. 
&ldquo;If I&rsquo;m giving my best every day and making sure my mental game is strong and playing with confidence... I don&rsquo;t want to put a ceiling on myself like, &lsquo;Oh, if i&rsquo;m better than him, then I&rsquo;ll feel like I had success.&rsquo; No. If I&rsquo;m working as hard as I can every day and God continues to keep me healthy, then I&rsquo;m good.&rdquo;

Michael Porter Jr. opened up about being told he'd probably never play basketball again, slipping in the 2018 NBA Draft and more.

Michael Porter Jr. relives 2018 NBA Draft: 'I was in so much pain'

It&rsquo;s not often that the team who has the defending MVP on its roster is flying well-under the radar heading into the following season &mdash; but that&rsquo;s exactly what is happening with the Denver Nuggets.
Nikola Jokic epitomizes the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/ranking-the-nba-top-10-unicorns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unicorn mold</a> that is so valuable and transcendent within the modern NBA. As a 7-footer who can operate the offense and score efficiently from all three levels, Jokic manipulates defenses with rare savvy. Jokic is like Peyton Manning, thinking two or three moves ahead and putting defenders exactly where he pleases. The end result? Easy baskets for optimum offensive output. After averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists on an outstanding 64.7% True Shooting percentage, Jokic is just now reaching his top form on the basketball court.
Denver has magnificently built a team to strengthen his incredible gifts.
Jamal Murray is the perfect 1B to Jokic&rsquo;s 1A, a flamethrowing scorer who can erupt at will. In addition, Michael Porter Jr.&rsquo;s development as a scorer adds another wrinkle to the Nuggets&rsquo; long-term ceiling. Looking back on it, Porter dropping to No. 14 overall because of back concerns was a gamble that could have changed the fortunes of Denver&rsquo;s window with Jokic. Aaron Gordon is a bulky, uber-athletic big who can guard three positions and move effectively without the ball, capitalizing on easy cuts to the rim. To top it off, Will Barton and 2021 first-round pick <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/qa-nba-draft-prospect-nahshon-bones-hyland-demands-your-attention" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nah&rsquo;Shon &ldquo;Bones&rdquo; Hyland</a> provide microwave scoring off the bench and can further supplement a continuous wave of offensive firepower.
Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, how does Denver stack up? With Murray&rsquo;s rehab moving forward from a torn ACL &mdash; a setback that really dampened Denver&rsquo;s high-end outcome last season &mdash; a potentially slow start could be in store. Murray&rsquo;s projected timetable for a return could last until around the All-Star break or later, which means Jokic and Porter will have to buoy the Nuggets&rsquo; output every night. We know what to expect from Jokic, but Porter having the opportunities to further his talented rise is a great scenario for Denver. From April 6 and on, Porter averaged 21.4 points while shooting 42.7% on three-pointers in 32 games. This was a preview of Porter&rsquo;s upcoming role as the top secondary option behind Jokic, one that will play such a critical factor to Denver maintaining its elite status without Murray.
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Porter has flashed immense potential as a scorer, but he still needs work as a defender and playmaker. During the Western Conference semifinals, Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams told his star backcourt duo of Chris Paul and Devin Booker to continuously hunt Porter in switch opportunities. Once Phoenix figured this formula out, the team made Porter nearly unplayable while Denver was swept with emphatic fashion. If Porter is able to take strides forward as a passable defender &mdash; similar to the development we&rsquo;ve actually seen from Booker in Phoenix, actually &mdash; it will go a long way toward him reaching a potential star-level profile within the Association.
When you look outside of the Nuggets&rsquo; trio of Jokic, Porter and Gordon, it&rsquo;s an unproven bunch that will need to supplement well-rounded play in Murray&rsquo;s absence. Until the "Blue Arrow" returns to play Robin to Jokic&rsquo;s Batman, Denver will need more development from its young core. Hyland shined in the summer league, further hammering home the case that he should play an immediate role off the bench to alleviate the pressure off Jokic and Porter. However, question marks loom over the big-man duo behind Jokic: Bol Bol and Zeke Nnaji. Bol is a true wildcard, but he&rsquo;s never been utilized within the Nuggets&rsquo; rotation as he enters the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, Nnaji had a rough summer-league outing where he looked lost at points. If neither can step up, Jokic is in line to lead the NBA in minutes played this season.
Let&rsquo;s take a look at the Nuggets rotation without Murray for the 2021-22 campaign:
Starters: Monte Morris, Will Barton, Michael Porter, Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic
Second Unit: Facundo Campazzo, Bones Hyland, Austin Rivers, P.J. Dozier, JaMychal Green, Bol Bol
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It&rsquo;s a lot of question marks and unproven depth behind a solid starting lineup, which maybe caps where Denver can go this season without a fully healthy Murray providing scoring fireworks. The Suns exposed the Nuggets in the playoffs, and surely many teams will test that theory to further extends early on. If Denver stumbles out of the gate, the team's ceiling could be a No. 4 seed. However, as we saw once Murray went down, Jokic can carry a roster single-handedly. If Jokic maintains MVP-level production, which should be a near-lock, Denver can stay afloat near the elite tier of the West. Are they better than Phoenix, Utah, the Los Angeles Lakers and potentially even a Dallas team with a forthcoming superstar leap again from Luka Doncic? Probably not.
Denver will need Porter to produce Murray-esque levels of offensive production, while Gordon needs to be more assertive within the streamline of the Nuggets' free-flowing offense that runs through their jumbo-sized playmaker.
Once Murray returns, Denver has already shown how lethal it can be. If you add another dynamic scorer to the mix in Porter &mdash; whose confidence should reach all-time highs in Murray's absence &mdash; this team can go on a run. Murray&rsquo;s wildcard factor late into the regular season and playoffs will be the top factor to watch with Denver.
If Murray is back to Murray &mdash; soul-snatching, back-breaking moments as a deadly scorer &mdash; the Nuggets are ready to pounce as a dark-horse contender who can make a deep run. Jokic and Porter will need to keep the Nuggets afloat and within a solid positioning, and the Nuggets hope to have Murray provide the much-needed jolt of stability and star-power back into the equation.
We don&rsquo;t talk enough about the Nuggets heading into the 2021-22 season. But it&rsquo;s the Nuggets&rsquo; 1B to their MVP who truly holds the trump card for where they can go upon Murray's eventual return.

The Nuggets are flying under the radar. Will they be able to maintain elite status in the West as Jamal Murray rehabs from an injury?

Will Nuggets stay afloat in West without Jamal Murray?

Last season, the knock on the 2020 NBA Draft class was that it lacked star power. The narrative was that the class didn't have a can't-miss prospect and that it was weaker than other drafts in recent memory. However, the 2020 class ended up exceeding expectations, with LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Co. shining as rookies.
After making the leap to the NBA in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, these players didn't have a Summer League or typical offseason as they got acclimated to the league. With that said, a steep adjustment curve should&rsquo;ve been expected for the 2020 rookie class.
Looking ahead to the 2021-22 season, there are many sophomores poised to break out as they take on more responsibilities and continue their development. So, which prospects are ready to take the Year 2 leap? Here are five second-year players who are taking on increased roles and should have an opportunity to shine on their respective teams.
PATRICK WILLIAMS, CHICAGO BULLS
The Chicago Bulls stunned the draft community when they selected Florida State wing Patrick Williams with the No. 4 overall pick last November. Coming off the bench for the Seminoles, Williams' stats didn&rsquo;t jump off the page, but he continuously displayed an intriguing array of skills that were moldable to today&rsquo;s NBA. Also, as one of the youngest prospects in the class, Williams&rsquo; upside was immense compared to other wings who may contribute more right away.
After Williams&rsquo; rookie season, it&rsquo;s fair to say that he emphatically passed the eye test with Chicago. Williams started all 71 games he appeared in, averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks while shooting an eye-opening 39.1% on three-pointers. Williams fits the modern 3-and-D archetype that every organization covets, but he&rsquo;s much more than that.
During this year's NBA Summer League, Williams <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/chicago-bulls-evolved-patrick-williams-offensive-game-at-nba-summer-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had the ultimate green light</a>, and he asserted his dominance early and often for the Bulls. Projected as the starting power forward alongside a loaded lineup of Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, Williams is the true X-factor for a win-now Bulls team. He'll serve as the versatile, low-usage glue that holds it all together.
However, if we continue to see the aggressive version of Williams during the regular season, he&rsquo;ll force the Bulls to run some sets for him. After already showcasing an extremely high floor as a multi-positional defender and floor-spacer, Williams should continue his ascent into becoming one of the most polished products from the 2020 draft class.
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ISAAC OKORO, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Cleveland&rsquo;s young core added another piece to their puzzle recently, trading for Lauri Markkanen to add more frontcourt depth alongside No. 3 overall pick Evan Mobley and $100 million man Jarrett Allen. Darius Garland and Collin Sexton make up a score-first backcourt with immense upside, but Okoro, like Williams, figures to be a two-way threat who holds everything together. Okoro also flashed improvements during his stint in Las Vegas, showing off his improved playmaking and scoring abilities.
If Okoro ever adds a reliable jumper to his arsenal, he&rsquo;s going to make the Cavaliers&rsquo; core even more appealing from the outside looking in. Okoro&rsquo;s aggressive nature already allows him to make an impact on both ends of the court, but certain elements are still missing on a consistent basis. You need to watch Okoro to appreciate his contributions outside the box score. Now, with more offensive artillery surrounding him, plus Mobley and Allen in the frontcourt, Okoro will help form the backbone of a team that could quickly become one of the more frightening defensive teams in the NBA.
JAMES WISEMAN, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Dealing with injuries and a playing style too advanced for his raw skillset, Wiseman struggled big-time throughout his rookie campaign. Some Warriors fans were even calling for GM Bob Myers to offload the No. 2 overall pick for a win-now player who could help the team contend for another championship.
The Warriors decided to be patient with Wiseman, giving him more time to develop and believing in his long-term talent. Before Wiseman went down late in the season, he was gaining a rhythm with Stephen Curry as Golden State began to run more pick-and-roll actions to best suit his game.
With a full year within an NBA organization, Wiseman should see a significant jump during his sophomore season, especially with the long-awaited return of Klay Thompson. Playing alongside Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green, Wiseman will fill a simple role for the Warriors: rim-run and hustle as a defender who can help anchor around the basket.
Wiseman&rsquo;s efficiency should increase as Golden State continues to run more pick-and-roll concepts, plus the added gravity of the Splash Brothers backcourt will make life so much easier for him inside.
Wiseman is Golden State&rsquo;s revved-up version of Andrew Bogut, JaVale McGee and Kevon Looney. If the Warriors decide to prioritize Wiseman&rsquo;s development moving forward, his game should grow by leaps and bounds at a rapid rate.
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AARON NESMITH, BOSTON CELTICS
Nesmith was an absolute flame-thrower for the Boston Celtics during Summer League, averaging 17.4 points and 6.2 rebounds on 50% shooting. Coming out of Vanderbilt, Nesmith was known as a sharpshooter wing who could quickly translate to the NBA. However, in a loaded Celtics rotation last season, Nesmith had a hard time carving out a consistent role.
With the losses of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier, more opportunities should open up for the promising second-year wing, who can become a key reserve off Boston&rsquo;s bench and provide a scoring boost. Nesmith&rsquo;s versatility also allows him to play real minutes alongside the Celtics&rsquo; dynamic under-25 duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Imagine the damage a wing lineup featuring Tatum, Brown and Nesmith could do against smaller-sized rotations.
Nesmith only played 14.5 minutes per game in 2020-21, so he should see a 10-plus minute bump for 2021-22. A youth movement is underway for the Celtics, while the team also maintains their playoff aspirations. If the Celtics want to overachieve next season in an improved Eastern Conference, not only will Tatum have to be a borderline MVP candidate, they'll also need Nesmith to be an important contributor on a nightly basis.
TYRESE MAXEY, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
I&rsquo;m all-in on the potential of Maxey. During the Philadelphia 76ers&rsquo; disappointing playoff run, Maxey seemingly usurped Ben Simmons, who is on a max contract, for their primary point guard duties moving forward. If Simmons ends up being traded, which both sides seem to want at this stage, Maxey&rsquo;s immediate value rises exponentially.
Maxey is a score-first guard who can play on or off the ball, a perfect complement to the paint gravity Joel Embiid provides for shooters. The former Kentucky Wildcat also offers scrappy defense and an aggressive scoring style that allows him to hit shots from all three levels.
After only playing 15.3 minutes per game last season, Maxey&rsquo;s role should double moving forward. He&rsquo;s flashed way too much potential not to break out in a massive manner for Philadelphia in 2021-22.
If Simmons is gone, Maxey could realistically be in a 25-to-30-minute-per-game role for the Sixers as a combo guard who can play alongside any of the Sixers&rsquo; sharpshooting guards.
In two Summer League games, Maxey <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/tyrese-maxey-centered-on-getting-1-better-every-day-for-76ers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">looked like the best player on the court</a>, averaging 26.0 points, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals. Bested by only Brooklyn Nets rookie Cam Thomas in the scoring department, those two joined Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell as the only players in Summer League history to average at least 26.0 points per game. That&rsquo;s amazing company to be alongside.
Buy up all the Maxey stock while you can, because the 20-year-old seems poised for a huge boost.

Evan Sidery breaks down five second-year prospects who seem poised to break out during the 2021-22 season.

5 NBA players poised for breakout sophomore campaigns

Welcome to a special NBA-Summer-League-Edition of Roaming The Baseline. This will serve more like a notebook, with observations around the league from this year's summer-league experience. Players that stood out, players that disappointed, randomness from the stands -- you'll get it all here.
With that, let's roam the baseline.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE PROBLEMS
I mean this in a positive sense. You don't want to make sweeping conclusions before, during or after summer league ball. I mean, it's summer league ball, duh. But I do feel a little bit better about the Houston Rockets' draft after watching them in Vegas.
The morning after the draft, I <a href="https://twitter.com/NekiasNBA/status/1421129799716769794?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared my concerns</a> on Twitter. To sum it up: I liked the picks individually, but wasn't quite sure how or if the developmental reps would be spread around in an effective manner.&nbsp;
Some of those questions still persist, but I'm more comfortable because of how everyone looked.
Jalen Green (20-4-2 with a 51/53/93 slash line) flourished, blessing a masked audience with shot/space creation flashes and pick-and-roll poise beyond his years. I'm still losing my mind over this pass.
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Alperen Sengun (15-11-3-1-3, 43/38/61) was Houston's most productive rookie, showcasing real scoring and passing chops out of the post, as well as holding his own as a positional defender. I'm curious to see how his skill set translates against actual NBAers, but his feel was apparent even on this stage.
Watching Josh Christopher (17-4-4, 39/18/78) was an experience and a half, man. You were just as likely to see him clamp up a primary initiator (he had some reps&nbsp;against Cade Cunningham) as you were to see him take an ill-advised, early clock pull-up triple for... no real reason, to be frank with you.&nbsp;
But the energy was infectious. He got to the rim almost whenever he wanted and generated free throws at a solid clip. And speaking of infectious energy &mdash; watching Rockets-Pistons live was even more fun because I was seated near either friends or family of Christopher. And they were loud and proud,&nbsp;let me tell ya.
Usman Garuba (4-8-3-2-1, 33/0/40) came to Vegas late due to Olympic obligations, but immediately gave his fans and critics plenty of ammo.
On the high end, he absolutely wrecked the Portland Trail Blazers on defense. He did the "boring" stuff, rotating and boxing out and ending possessions with defensive rebounds. But the event creation was there: five steals and a block is nothing to sneeze at.
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Offensively, well, there wasn't much offensively. There was the occasional instance of quick processing as a passer, but you'd be hard-pressed to find really high-level reads. The finishing wasn't there; Garuba converted well-under 50% of his looks at the rim, per InStat tracking. He missed both of his three-point attempts, and the free-throw percentage wasn't great with a limited sample.
THE KINGS MAY HAVE SOMETHING IN DAVION MITCHELL
It's not too often that the Sacramento Kings win things, so it's only fair to highlight them when they do.
On a serious note: What a <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/kings-offense-mitchells-defense-leads-sacramento-to-title" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summer league run for them</a>. 5-0 with a title to boot, all behind a devastating defense. The points allowed: 70 (Charlotte), 75 (Washington), 75 (Memphis), 70 (Dallas), 67 (Boston).
It started with No. 9 overall pick Davion Mitchell (11-1-6-1, 42/47/29), whose on-ball defense was on full display across multiple positions. This isn't the time to have "point of attack defense vs. rim protection" discourse, but Mitchell showcased the value of strong point of attack defense. The stretches he had against fellow lottery pick James Bouknight were downright filthy.
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He provided value offensively as well, shooting the leather off the ball, puncturing the paint consistently and making timely reads in pick-and-roll. To nearly rack up a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in summer league is not an easy thing to do, considering the, uh...[waves arms wildly]... nature of summer league basketball.
Mitchell seems ready &mdash; well, as comfortably as you can make that proclamation after Vegas games. Finding playing time for him should be interesting. I would imagine we'll see plenty of three-guard looks from the Kings this year. If Mitchell is genuinely able to defend up a position, that alignment should be fine.
CADE CUNNINGHAM'S ROLE
After watching him operate in a phone booth in college, with teammates that didn't consistently generate open looks for him, I was excited to watch Cade Cunningham (19-6-2, 43/50/50) in a summer league setting.
He wouldn't be surrounded with Team USA or anything, but just about anything would be better than the context he had worked with in college. So it was a bit surprising to see Cade work off the ball as much as he did.
It makes sense, zooming out. You don't want to overwhelm your number one, even one as poised and as talented as Cade. Though he's mature beyond his years, you don't want to give complete control and run the risk of bad habits being established.
Also: Cade isn't the only guy the Pistons wanted to give reps to. Killian Hayes entered the summer coming off an underwhelming, and later injury-shortened, rookie campaign. It was worth exploring what Saddiq Bey could do with the rock. Heck, Saben Lee intrigued during the second half of the season with his adventurous forays to the basket.
So the Pistons did spread the wealth, often sliding Cade off the ball. Luckily for Detroit, Cade is 1) very smart, and 2) a darn good shooter, a development that should scare folks.&nbsp;
He got busy off movement, relocated well and cashed home spot-up shots to the tune of a 50% clip on nearly nine attempts per game. Oh, and he was able to do it like this, too.
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There were some warts to Cade's stint in Vegas. The passing was good, not great. There were some wayward skips and forced dimes, though nothing to be super concerned about long-term.
Something to watch: Cade took two free throws in three games. Him not having elite burst has been on the scouting report for a while, but someone with his size and skill level should be able to get to the line more than that on accident.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO "HMMMM"
<ul>
<li>With the obvious caveat of not being, like, <a href="https://twitter.com/abovethebreak3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PD Web</a>-level draft person, I did not understand the Spurs taking Josh Primo in the lottery. He did raise my brow some with his ball-screen savvy and the ease in which he flowed into pull-ups in Vegas. His 31.3% clip on threes (8.0 attempts) doesn't tell the full story, but there were some ugly misses in there too. I gotta see more.</li>
<li>Know who I don't need to see more of? Payton Pritchard (17-6-9), Tyrese Maxey (26-6-5), Immanuel Quickley (20-4-8) and Obi Toppin (21 &amp; 8), for starters. Desmond Bane (24-4-4) also fits the bill. It's always a good sign when Year 2 guys look like they have no business being there, and they all looked thoroughly out of place.</li>
<li>Y'all really let Jalen Johnson (19-10-2) fall out of the lottery, and Sharife Cooper (14 &amp; 7) fall to the middle of the second round, huh?</li>
<li>Following the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade, the Heat have to hit on the margins to fill out the roster. Omer Yurtseven (20-10-2-1-3) seems to have real potential as a rotational big, and I have my eye on ball-hawking guard Marcus Garrett to potentially land a two-way deal.</li>
<li>The Portland Trail Blazers. That's the thing that makes me go "hmmmm." Because what was the direction &mdash; what was the point, really &mdash; of their roster? It was a who's-who of former lottery flameouts (Michael Beasley, Emmanuel Mudiay), Kenneth Faried for some reason and then... Greg Brown III, who gave us this when we truly didn't deserve it.</li>
</ul>
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STRAY THOUGHTS
<ul>
<li>It felt weird being in Vegas, to be completely honest with you. It wasn't as hot as it was when I went in 2019, and it was nice to see some of my (media) pals that I either hadn't seen in a while or hadn't met yet. But man, it would've been nice to have more access, more freedom, a little more fun. Not sure if things will be "normal" for quite some time, but summer league didn't truly feel like summer league this year.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Back to actual basketball &mdash; I came away impressed with Scottie Barnes (16-7-3-1-2). It's simple, it's cliche, but the dude knows how to play basketball. He's always moving, flowing from the dunker spot to the corner, then lifting to the wing if necessary. He's unselfish, sometimes to a fault. Though shooting concerns persist, it's encouraging that he wasn't gun-shy. The defense is pretty much there already, and he was tasked with multiple positional assignments, as well as different schemes. Fun dude to track.</li>
<li>Won't go deep into Evan Mobley since I wrote about <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/early-returns-thoughts-on-evan-mobleys-summer-league-debut" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his debut</a>, but I'll just say that young man is gonna be&nbsp;good.</li>
<li>I wasn't a fan of how the Charlotte Hornets put their team together at all. Bouknight and Grant Riller can't be your only trusted ball-handlers, especially with neither of them being natural playmakers. Expecting your offense to flow, or for your more raw talents (Kai Jones, JT Thor) to flourish within this context was a fool's errand.</li>
<li>Shout out LiAngelo Ball!</li>
<li>The Pacers have something in Chris Duarte, who both shot and defended well. That man was&nbsp;everywhere&nbsp;the few times I watched him.</li>
<li>The shooting splits may not show it, but Jonathan Kuminga looks further along than I expected him to be. There were plenty of on-ball flashes to be excited about. Also... don't call him that.</li>
<li>Nets rookie Cam Thomas was regarded as arguably the best shot creator in this year's class. Leading summer leaguers in scoring (27.0 points, 42/36/85) is an <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/did-the-nets-get-a-steal-in-no-27-overall-pick-cam-thomas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">easy way to back up that claim</a>. I'm even more impressed with Brooklyn's offseason now.</li>
</ul>

Nekias Duncan gives his closing thoughts and observations on this year's Summer League.

Roaming the Baseline: NBA Summer League Edition

The legalized U.S. sports gambling industry claimed another Benjamin early Saturday morning, unless it didn&rsquo;t. DraftKings Sportsbook has posted odds on the Most Valuable Player race for the 2021-22 season, and this columnist placed three bets at a rest stop on the Garden State Parkway because gambling is not yet up and running in New York.
The largest was $50 on James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets at odds of +2500, and here is why: When the bearded one was on the court and healthy for the Nets prior to his offseason excursion to France, he made Brooklyn the smoothest running team in the entire NBA. Why can&rsquo;t he do that again next season once he has recovered from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that hampered him in the seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks?
DraftKings has a total of 66 players listed on their table of MVP odds, ranging from Luka Doncic with the shortest odds at +400 to eight players at 5000-1: D&rsquo;Angelo Russell, Victor Oladipo, Jerami Grant, Draymond Green, Dejounte Murray, Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Gordon and Norman Powell.
You could make a case for all or none of them, and let&rsquo;s face it: None would be on the board if the sportsbook believed they wouldn&rsquo;t draw action.
But the object here is to have a crystal ball that is not too hazy, which is why Harden drew half of that aforementioned Benjamin on a sultry, sunny Saturday.
Another $25 went on Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves at +9000, just in case Towns&rsquo; time in the Twin Cities is up. He could be the best center in the NBA (apologies to Nikola Jokic) if he landed on a team that has a chance of winning its conference. With the Wolves changing ownership groups, the new folks (that would include you, A-Rod) are going to have to decide whether to blow this thing up again. Minnesota has not won a playoff series since 2003-04 and has missed the postseason in 16 of the past 17 seasons.
Perhaps the New York Knicks could offer a package of prospects and first-round picks to bring Towns back closer to his hometown of Metuchen, N.J.
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Of course, the Knicks already have a pretty credible MVP candidate in Julius Randle despite his flameout in the first-round playoff loss to the Atlanta Hawks. And since Randle was on the board at the enticing price of +6500, he got the other $25 wager.
Randle has only one more season remaining on his contract for $19.8 million, and the Knicks would be insane not to guarantee it. That means Randle will be going into the final season of his deal, a time when players historically play their very best in order to earn another contract. Randle won the NBA&rsquo;s Most Improved Player award, being named on 99 of 100 ballots, and the next step in his progression would be to become a legit MVP candidate.
To do that, he would likely have to improve upon the 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists he averaged last season, but with a better supporting cast around him, it is a distinct possibility. We have not heard much from the Knicks since they went down in five games against the Hawks, but one safe wager is to bet your bottom dollar that Leon Rose and Co. are trying to turn over every stone so that the Knicks can make the leap from fourth-place surprise to legit Eastern-Conference contender.
With a decent array of free agents out there (<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/2021-nba-free-agency-ranking-kawhi-leonard-chris-paul-and-the-top-10-offseason-players-on-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener">as detailed by colleague Tommy Beer</a>), and with the Knicks having more cap space than any team this side of San Antonio, the options available to their brain trust will not be all that limited. If they find a willing trade partner and/or entice one of the top-tier free agents to join Randle, R.J. Barrett and whoever else remains, the Knicks competing with the Nets and Bucks for the best record in the East is not out of the realm of possibility.
Again, the name of the game here is to try to peer into the future and make an educated guess as to which players might be capable of winning MVP purely on talent alone, and then try to figure out whether their current team has the means to be atop their conference (or close to it) when the 2021-22 regular season comes to an end.
Harden is the most likely, and 25-1 ain&rsquo;t bad. Randle is the second-most likely, because the Knicks are back on the rise. Towns is the wild card because he certainly isn&rsquo;t winning this thing in Minnesota.
It&rsquo;ll be 11 months until we know the results, so this dinero stays locked up for a long time. But one Benjamin is not a ton of money, and the key to having fun in the legalized U.S. sports gambling industry is to keep the wagers affordable. Otherwise, you may end up funding an enormous resort in Las Vegas. &nbsp;

DraftKings Sportsbook has posted odds on the Most Valuable Player race for the 2021-22 season. Chris Sheridan shares his three bets.

Early 2021-22 NBA MVP bets: Harden, Randle, Towns are intriguing

On July 4, 2021, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/04/sports/basketball/espn-rachel-nichols-maria-taylor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published a story</a> detailing the fallout of a leaked Rachel Nichols&rsquo; video, wherein the host of ESPN&rsquo;s &ldquo;The Jump&rdquo; questioned the merit of her colleague, Maria Taylor.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If you need to give her more things to do because you are feeling pressure about your crappy longtime record on diversity &ndash; which, by the way, I know personally from the female side of it &ndash; like, go for it. Just find it somewhere else,&rdquo; Nichols said while unknowingly being recorded.
Since the release of the article, ESPN has been hard at work trying to extinguish the fire sparked by Nichols&rsquo; comments.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Rachel Nichols began today's episode of The Jump with this apology to Maria Taylor and others at ESPN <a href="https://t.co/9cXsDmMMhZ">https://t.co/9cXsDmMMhZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/yQj5j8akMw">pic.twitter.com/yQj5j8akMw</a>
&mdash; Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1412145201888497664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>

Still, flames sit at every corner of this story. They range from small to large, and they highlight the injustices at ESPN. The New York Times forced ESPN&rsquo;s hand, so now the company is trying to put out this fire as quickly as possible before it reaches the deep pit of grease at the story&rsquo;s core: ESPN&rsquo;s insidious environment of racism and sexism.&nbsp;
Some of these flames include the direct fallout from the tape &mdash; like criticism over the repercussions former ESPN video producer Kayla Johnson faced for sharing the audio with Taylor &mdash; to larger structural grievances with how the media conglomerate uses women.&nbsp; &nbsp; Despite Nichols igniting the match, many have pointed out that she&rsquo;s been burned by ESPN, too. They point to the toxic culture at ESPN, and how animosity between women is fostered at a company that so rarely makes room for more than one.&nbsp;
When women are relegated to hosting and sideline reporting, there are limited opportunities to truly flourish. And when success can no longer be had as a collective and only in spite of one another, toxicity and animosity are cultivated.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s particularly unfortunate that two women in the industry are pitted against each other,&rdquo; NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said when asked about the situation.&nbsp;
A toxic environment is still not an excuse for the racist dismissal of Taylor, especially from someone with the history and experience of Nichols.&nbsp;
Nichols is a seasoned journalist of over 26 years, having worked for The Washington Post, CNN, Turner Sports and ESPN covering both basketball and football. Throughout her career, Nichols has stood out by carving her space in media as a much-needed female voice that challenges the misogynistic culture in sports &mdash; from <a href="https://youtu.be/RhM66jfE-WE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confronting NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell</a> following the Ray Rice scandal to <a href="https://youtu.be/67HVtWgDE10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questioning the redemption narrative surrounding Derrick Rose</a>&rsquo;s 50-point game two years after a civil trial for rape allegations. (Editor&rsquo;s Note: A federal jury ultimately <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/19/derrick-rose-rape-trial-verdict-consent-nba-jury-photos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cleared Rose of all counts</a>.)
Nichols recognizes the value her identity adds to her coverage, giving her a unique perspective in a male-dominated industry. And yet, she somehow fails to recognize Taylor&rsquo;s value in a moment of national racial strife.
Many people have also been harping on Nichols' claim that it was in her contract to host NBA Countdown during the 2020 NBA Finals... But that is entirely beside the point.&nbsp;
For starters, ESPN asked Nichols if she wished to switch to sideline duties &mdash; a request she was allowed to decline. And the controversy is not about a contract dispute. It is not even about whether Nichols felt she deserved the job more than Taylor. It is about her comment at that moment. Had she only made reference to the contents of her contract, there would be no story and no backlash.
There&rsquo;s also the invasion-of-privacy issue that, rightfully, is being discussed as well. Since the recording was captured on Nichols&rsquo; laptop through software she uses to record &ldquo;The Jump,&rdquo; this is another small fire for ESPN to investigate. However, again, this is not at all what the public outcry is about.&nbsp;
While these issues may individually hold merit, they do not serve as a defense, and they have been used to detract from the core issue at hand: Rachel Nichols&rsquo; racist comment.&nbsp;
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At the core, this is a story about a powerful White woman weaponizing her Whiteness to dismiss and demean a Black colleague to another White person who&rsquo;s in a position of power.&nbsp;
The backlash and outcry are so loud because this is a story that Black people are all too familiar with. Nichols&rsquo; comment had no basis in reality, but deep roots in history. It suggests that Black people do not belong, and any advancement is the result of external assistance.&nbsp;
A handout.
Claiming that Taylor was given this opportunity instead of earning it completely dismisses her unique voice and perspective. Nichols&rsquo; compliments of Taylor&rsquo;s skill and talent evaporate the very second Nichols questions Taylor&rsquo;s merit. Her success is no longer credited to her hard work, but to the color of her skin.
The stereotype that Black people get by on handouts is a tale as old as time. This ranges from overt racist sentiments like Ronald Reagan&rsquo;s &ldquo;welfare queen&rdquo; trope to more subtle microaggressions in corporate settings.&nbsp;
Dismissing the accomplishments of Black people is a core tenant of White supremacy. Implicit bias transmitted through microaggressions is the exact strain of White supremacy that Black people fear in their workplaces. It&rsquo;s a pervasive form of racism that is felt immensely, but near impossible to call out.&nbsp;
You feel it through glances and through inner circles you can&rsquo;t penetrate, cementing the belief that you don&rsquo;t belong. You feel it when you look around and rarely see faces that look like yours. You&rsquo;re forced to exist in a space that&rsquo;s unwelcoming to you, wondering whether others question your worthiness.
It&rsquo;s a culture of exclusion, which Nichols is acutely aware of.
&ldquo;Those same people &mdash; who are, like, generally White, conservative, male Trump voters &mdash; is part of the reason I&rsquo;ve had a hard time at ESPN,&rdquo; Nichols said on the same recording.
The leaked audio of two White people dismissing a Black woman&rsquo;s credibility confirmed people&rsquo;s suspicions to be true: that these conversations do happen behind closed doors. It&rsquo;s why so many were hurt and offended.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@mariataylortoks/video/6863473616298855686" data-video-id="6863473616298855686">
<section><a title="@mariataylortoks" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mariataylortoks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@mariataylortoks</a>
Hey Black Women ✊🏾🙋🏾&zwj;♀️👋🏾 <a title="blacklivesmatter" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/blacklivesmatter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">##blacklivesmatter</a> <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">##FYP</a>
<a title="♬ original sound - Maria Taylor" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-6863473633193380614" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Maria Taylor</a></section>
</blockquote>

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It&rsquo;s important to note that Nichols said this to Adam Mendelsohn, an advisor to LeBron James and NBA agent Rich Paul (who founded Klutch Sports Group and represents many stars). These are the inner circles that outsiders feel they cannot penetrate. Questioning Taylor&rsquo;s credibility leaves her on the outside with Mendelsohn and all of his notable clients.&nbsp;
What&rsquo;s even more troubling is that Mendelsohn felt safe saying he was &ldquo;exhausted&rdquo; by &nbsp;#MeToo and the Black Lives Matter movement &mdash; sentiments he would likely never share with Black journalists (or his Black clients). This furthers distrust because it illustrates how issues that should be treated as universal are discussed differently by White colleagues depending on the setting. There&rsquo;s the public response and then there&rsquo;s the behind-closed-doors response.
Once we understand what the core issue is, we can examine why Nichols&rsquo; apology fell short.&nbsp;
Her apology addresses a workplace issue at a colleague-to-colleague level rather than a racial issue. Instead of a White woman apologizing to a Black woman for racially insensitive comments, Rachel deflects, explaining that she does not want to be the story.&nbsp;
She did not have to be.
Nichols could have used her learning experience to highlight the pervasiveness of implicit bias and the importance of language.&nbsp;
In quick monologues, Nichols so often educates her audience on a prominent storyline &mdash; from <a href="https://youtu.be/JinS7woEgnA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg</a> to the <a href="https://youtu.be/YEBN9Oo_b1I" target="_blank" rel="noopener">protests across the United States</a> in the wake of George Floyd&rsquo;s murder.&nbsp;
She is a leader in using her show to highlight the importance of difficult conversations in sports, and why the coverage around basketball cannot solely be about the Xs and Os.
Yet, in a prime opportunity to use her show as she and ESPN often do so well, both failed.&nbsp;
Instead of apologizing for her actions and explaining that she (more than anyone) understands that utilizing diverse identities isn&rsquo;t about meeting quotas, but rather about enriching coverage, Nichols apologized for the way Taylor was made to feel.&nbsp;
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To accompany Nichols' apology, Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson, two Black men, were asked to speak &mdash; despite having nothing to do with the matter.&nbsp;
Perkins spoke to knowing Nichols&rsquo; heart and shared his wonderful experience working alongside her. Jefferson, meanwhile, spoke to his 20-year relationship with Nichols and made mention of difficult conversations being had behind the scenes &mdash; while also adding that Nichols was not excused and that he and Perkins weren&rsquo;t either.&nbsp;
Bringing in these two former NBA champions to discuss race added nothing of value to Nichols&rsquo; apology, and only exposed yet another issue of diversity at the company. Why were two privileged Black men brought in to discuss racism between an established White woman and a younger Black woman? Also, why were these two Black men put in this position and used as pawns? The fact that, after 24 hours, this was the best ESPN could do is baffling.&nbsp;
They haphazardly attempted to douse the flames once and for all, but like water on a grease fire, the blaze was not subdued. Instead, burning oil splattered far and wide, reaching <a href="https://youtu.be/9WVDnygemDg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter Spaces</a>. The next day, ESPN removed Nichols from its 2021 NBA Finals coverage, with Malika Andrews handling the sideline-reporting duties in her place. Apparently, ESPN&rsquo;s power structure only doles out punishments for racist comments once they are made public.
For now, ESPN&lsquo;s solution will be to cover the fires with a cloak &mdash; a temporary answer to a grand problem. The structural damage, however, will remain until it works to rebuild its infrastructure from the ground up. &nbsp;

Imman Adan reacts to Rachel Nichols' comments toward Maria Taylor and the manner in which ESPN fumbled the fallout.

Rachel Nichols-Maria Taylor incident exposes ESPN’s racism, sexism

Nekias Duncan breaks down the battles that could swing each first-round series of the NBA Playoffs.

Pressure points: Battles that will decide the first round of the NBA Playoffs

Gary Payton and Kenyon Martin talked about playing for George Karl and his staff. They also praised Karl's assistant, Tim Grgurich.

Gary Payton: 'I used to want to kill George Karl's a** every other f*cking day'

In order to best quantify the salary that players should be making based on their performance, former Rosenhaus Sports vice president of basketball operations and NBA agent Joshua Ebrahim has spent the last 20 months developing a new platform called <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athletes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ProFitX</a>. According to Ebrahim, ProFitX is the sports industry&rsquo;s first-ever comprehensive real-time financial and performance index powered by artificial intelligence.
One feature is <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract Value</a>, which creates a monetary value based on a player's on-court performance and skill-set.
Oftentimes when we talk about teams and salaries, the conversation is dominated by which team overpaid a free agent and players who haven't produced enough to justify their contracts (in some people's opinion). But which players have outperformed their current contract the most?
BasketballNews.com already assembled a roundtable regarding the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/roundtable-which-nba-contract-is-the-biggest-bargain" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biggest bargain deals in the NBA</a>, but for this exercise, we'll take a more data-driven approach this (using <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract Value</a>).
We'll begin this two-part series with the Eastern Conference.
(Due to the frequency of rookie-scale deals undervaluing young talents, we will exclude them from this series. We will also have a minimum requirement of 40 games played.)
Atlanta Hawks: Brandon Goodwin - $1,701,593 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3057198/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $5,329,117 (+213.18%)
The undrafted Norcross, Georgia native has stepped up in a big way this season, particularly when pacing the Hawks sans Trae Young. In the three games he played at least 30 minutes, Goodwin has averaged 13.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists. He has recently been relegated to a reserve role with the addition of Lou Williams and Kris Dunn&rsquo;s return from injury, but was paramount for Atlanta in the months of January and April.
Boston Celtics: Tristan Thompson - $9,258,000 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/6474/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $10,024,192 (+8.28%)
It is difficult to quantify Thompson&rsquo;s value on the floor with traditional statistics. He is a hustling extraordinaire that fights for every loose ball, does the little things in the paint and isn&rsquo;t afraid to take a defensive challenge, particularly on switches. He&rsquo;s also well-versed as a rolling big, and leads the Celtics with 215 screen assists. Thompson&rsquo;s most redeeming ability, however, is his ability to snatch rebounds and provide extra possessions.
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Brooklyn Nets: Jeff Green - $2,564,753 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3209/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $11,835,871 (+361.46%)
Aside from the somewhat surprising rim-crushing dunks he&rsquo;s had at the ripe age of 34, Green has been as steady as any veteran player in the NBA. Considering his professionalism, production on both ends and his versatility in general, It&rsquo;s kind of perplexing as to why he hasn&rsquo;t been able to cash in on his long-term value before this season. The Nets are his eighth team in the past seven seasons, and all of his deals have been for one year, and in Houston it was originally a 10-day contract. In addition to his defensive skills, Green is a reliable locker room guy and a tremendously-improved three-point shooter (39.5%) who is playing the most minutes of his career since the 2018-19 season, so he should be able to get a solid deal in the offseason with a contending team if he doesn&rsquo;t return to Brooklyn.
Charlotte Hornets: Jalen McDaniels - $1,517,981 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/4066731/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $6,050,304 (+298.58%)
McDaniels had his two-way contract quickly converted into a standard deal the year he was drafted, so it doesn&rsquo;t quite count as a rookie-scale. Though the Gordon Hayward injury was a setback to the team, the 23-year-old has not taken his uptick of minutes for granted. Since April 4, McDaniels is averaging 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and a steal in a career-high 26.8 minutes per contest. He is a rangy defender at 6-foot-9, closing out perimeter shots, staying disciplined, playing passing lanes and, offensively, running the floor and being ready to catch and shoot.
Chicago Bulls: Ryan Arcidiacono - $3,000,000 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/2991047/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $5,962,929 (+98.76%)
Arcidiacono barely meets the minimum requirement for this exercise with 42 games played (and only 10 minutes per game), and he hasn&rsquo;t quite been the sharpshooter he&rsquo;s been over the past two seasons with Chicago -- and usually shooters need to get reps in order to get into a rhythm. However, according to InStat, he has defended pick-and-rolls (0.86 PPP), catch-and-shoot (0.82 PPP) and catch-and-drive situations (0.72) at a respectable rate.&nbsp;
Cleveland Cavaliers: Dean Wade - $1,517,981 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3912848/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $8,441,563 (+456.10%)
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/2deanwade_lg.jpg" alt="" width="797" height="491" />
Did you know that the most successful starting lineup the Cavs have thrown out includes Wade? The quintet of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen and Wade are 4-1 together. It&rsquo;s largely due to the spacing that the stretch-four provides, and his long-distance sweet spots are in both corners (51.2%) and the left elbow (40%). He&rsquo;s also a solid rebounder, as evidenced by his recent 19-point, 12-rebound career night vs. the Indiana Pacers. Wade started out as an undrafted two-way contract player and worked his way into an every night rotation player, and that&rsquo;s admirable.
Detroit Pistons: Frank Jackson - $77,250 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/4065651/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $12,215,306 (+15712.69%)
At the beginning of the season, Troy Weaver inked the former New Orleans Pelicans guard to a two-way contract. Prior to midseason, Jackson&rsquo;s minutes were sporadic; since that point, it was full-speed ahead. From March 15 and on, Jackson has played over 22 minutes per game, starting in six of those. He&rsquo;s averaged 12 points and has knocked down 41.6% of his threes, and defensively has navigated screens on the outside to defend hand-offs well.
Indiana Pacers: Edmond Sumner - $2,160,000 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3136485/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $10,915,772 (+405.36%)
While there may have been more turmoil than expected in Indianapolis, the emergence of Sumner has been an extreme bright spot for the Pacers. He brings a real physicality and has that dog in him, truly, on both ends of the floor. He&rsquo;s a savant in transition (1.31 PPP), a just-under-40% three-baller and a dependable option in the team&rsquo;s rotation -- so much that he&rsquo;s started 19 out of Indiana&rsquo;s last 20 games. Mighty impressive for anybody, but especially a No. 52 overall selection four years ago.
Miami Heat: Gabe Vincent - $77,250 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3137259/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $5,184,257 (+6,611.01%)
Due to Miami getting everybody back, Vincent&rsquo;s role has shrunk. But early in the season, with the Heat ravaged by health and safety protocols, injuries and inconsistencies, Vincent had the opportunity to play big minutes. In his first two career starts against the Philadelphia 76ers, he scored 45 points, dished out 11 assists and hit 34.5% of his 23 attempted triples in over 70 minutes of action. Following that game, his usage decreased, as did his output. Defense is his specialty, though, fighting away from the ball to stick to his man and defend out on the perimeter.&nbsp;
Milwaukee Bucks: Jeff Teague - $808,073 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/4015/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $9,183,063 (+1036.42%)
Teague began the season as a backup point guard for the Celtics; as soon as he started to find a rhythm with his new team, Boston dealt him to the Orlando Magic, where he was waived. So what did he do next? Reunited with his old friend Mike Budenholzer. Up to this point, Teague has played the role of a playmaker off the bench for the Bucks; it is of note that he has played fewer than 10 minutes over the last three games, but that could be just resting a vet for the postseason push. He&rsquo;s scored in double figures six times with Milwaukee as well, including a 19-point, 6-assist performance on April 9.
New York Knicks: Taj Gibson - $1,442,968 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3986/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $8,269,682 ($473.10%)
The Knicks have an old-school feel under Tom Thibodeau&rsquo;s direction. Could it be because he&rsquo;s got his former Bulls with him? Gibson has proven that his gas tank isn&rsquo;t anywhere near empty, with a career-best 66.7% True Shooting percentage and a 2.1 Defensive Box Plus-Minus. He is a burly stalwart who makes sound rotations, has great awareness and grabs key rebounds, including those oh-so-important cleanups.
Orlando Magic: Dwayne Bacon - $1,678,854 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3907821/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $12,848,836 (+665.83%)
<img src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/bacon_lg.jpeg" alt="" />
Bacon seemingly comes out of nowhere with multiple big-time scoring stretches every year. Under Steve Clifford for the second time in his career, the fourth-year swingman has averaged a career-high 11.2 points on 10.1 field goal attempts per night, as well as over three rebounds a game. Bacon loves to get into the pull-up mid-range, and his lengthy frame allows him to get to his spots.
Philadelphia 76ers: Furkan Korkmaz - $1,762,796 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3929325/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $15,251,267 (+765.17%)
Korkmaz signed a two-year minimum deal in 2019 after the Sixers declined his third-year team option on his original rookie deal. While he&rsquo;s been nursing an ankle injury as of late, the Turkish flamethrower has been a regular member of Philadelphia&rsquo;s rotation for the past two seasons. He&rsquo;s always ready to fire in the corner, and is anything but bashful when it comes to attempting shots off the catch that come his way.&nbsp;
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Toronto Raptors: DeAndre&rsquo; Bembry - $1,737,145 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3062667/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $6,449,471 (+271.27%)
With the Raptors thinned out by injuries, protocols and generally poor luck, Bembry had the opportunity to showcase his jack-of-all-trades skill set. Despite his shortcomings as a shooter, he does a lot of things well that don&rsquo;t show up in the box score with hustle plays and stout defense. He forces turnovers, gets out on the break and finishes. He&rsquo;s also a solid cutter and possesses quite a bit of athleticism.
Washington Wizards: Garrison Mathews - $77,250 | <a href="https://beta.profitx.ai/#/athlete/3913180/playercontract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Real-Time Contract</a>: $6,450,182 (+8249.75%)
It&rsquo;s not easy when rotations aren&rsquo;t consistent, but when Scott Brooks started Mathews for 21 games straight between Feb. 12 and March 25, he gave the Wizards a consistent three-point threat every time he was out on the floor. A solid catch-shooter, he drained a 43.8% perimeter clip during that span. That&rsquo;s a huge deal with Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal drawing the attention they do. While he has been in and out of the rotation as of late, that deserves plenty of praise for an undrafted mid-major player on a two-way contract.

Spencer Davies uses ProFitX to provide a team-by-team look at what players are outperforming their contract value the most in the East.

NBA players outperforming their contracts: Eastern Conference

Zion Williamson has been ruled out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger, per the New Orleans Pelicans.
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Zion Injury Update: <a href="https://t.co/DPY2RSJq0x">pic.twitter.com/DPY2RSJq0x</a>
&mdash; New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA/status/1390774391630450689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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New Orleans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin sounded off on NBA officials regarding the lack of calls Zion received this season, and how the physicality led to the injury.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Pelicans' David Griffin blames officiating for Zion Williamson's broken finger: "He&rsquo;s injured now because of the open season there&rsquo;s been on Zion Williamson in the paint... There&rsquo;s more violence encouraged in the paint against Zion Williamson than any player I&rsquo;ve seen since Shaq" <a href="https://t.co/7rYQ7A1mfR">pic.twitter.com/7rYQ7A1mfR</a>
&mdash; Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenGolliver/status/1390783150737956871?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2021</a></blockquote>

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The Pelicans' hopes of making a last push for the play-in tournament just got a little slimmer, as their star sophomore big man won't be able to play and seemingly won't be back in time to end the season. New Orleans will rely on Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and company to get them a spot in the postseason.
In 61 games, Williamson is averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 61.1% from the field.

Zion Williamson has been ruled out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger, per the Pelicans.

Welch Flames