O.G. Anunoby is expected back for Game 1 and that changes how the Knicks can defend Donovan Mitchell
The Knicks are set to open the Eastern Conference Finals with O.G. Anunoby expected to return to the lineup after missing the final two games…
NBA Analysis
Mitchell Robinson’s 16.8% offensive rebound rate is the matchup problem Cleveland has to solve in Game 1
The clearest advantage for New York in Game 1 might come from their work on the offensive glass. In the lead-up to Tuesday night’s Eastern…
Oklahoma City’s second unit has become the problem San Antonio has to solve first
The Thunder bench owns a plus-7.8 playoff net rating, and Oklahoma City has actually scored more efficiently with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander off the floor than on it through eight postseason games.
Cleveland led 99-68 after three quarters in Game 7 because Detroit could not guard more than Mitchell
Cleveland got 26 points from Donovan Mitchell and 23 apiece from Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill in a 125-94 Game 7 win, showing what Detroit could not keep loaded onto one star anymore.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second straight MVP came from making elite efficiency feel routine
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 31.1 points on 55.3 percent shooting in 68 games and led the NBA in total clutch points, turning Oklahoma City’s nightly baseline into an MVP case again.
Sam Merrill’s 23 points gave Cleveland the spacing punch Detroit stopped controlling
Sam Merrill scored 23 points, hit 5 of 8 from 3 and set a Cavaliers reserve playoff scoring record in Game 7, giving Cleveland the exact spacing release Detroit had spent the series trying to deny.
Jalen Williams’ hamstring timeline is the real question inside Oklahoma City’s 8-0 start
Oklahoma City has done everything right so far. The Thunder swept the Lakers to move to 8-0 in the postseason, and that unbeaten run has…
The Warriors have to replace the assistants who gave Steve Kerr his offensive and defensive balance
The Warriors are not just replacing staff names. They are replacing the two assistants who gave Steve Kerr the clearest offensive and defensive counterweights on…
Josh Harris is finally owning the 76ers’ collapse, but Philadelphia still wants proof
The loudest thing in Philadelphia right now is not the front-office reset. It is the trust deficit around the owner trying to explain it. After…
James Harden’s defense has become Cleveland’s late-game answer against Detroit
Cleveland closed Game 5 on a 13-0 run, and the most useful part of that finish was not a surprise scoring binge. It was the…
Daniss Jenkins gave the Pistons a different backcourt, and Cleveland now has to solve it
The Pistons lost 117-113 in overtime on Wednesday night, but Game 5 still changed the shape of the series for one simple reason. Once Duncan…
The San Antonio Spurs paint control has become the real problem for Minnesota
The loudest number from San Antonio’s 126-97 Game 5 win was not Victor Wembanyama’s 27 points or even the series lead. It was the 68-36…
The Knicks bought OG Anunoby time, and their bench bought them options
When the Knicks returned to practice on May 13th, OG Anunoby still could only do parts of the session. That is exactly why New York’s…
Rockets cannot let Kevin Durant tension put Alperen Sengun plan at risk
The Houston Rockets do not need to panic after one rough playoff exit. They do need to make sure Kevin Durant’s timeline does not take…
Draymond Green’s Charles Barkley jab backfired because the Rockets facts were clear
Draymond Green had a fair reason to defend the Golden State Warriors. His shot at Charles Barkley’s Houston Rockets years gave the whole debate away.…
Thunder’s Game 2 win proves Lakers have turnover problem before referee problem
The Los Angeles Lakers have every right to question the whistle. They also have a bigger problem to fix after Oklahoma City turned Game 2…
Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell Are Giving the Thunder a Different Kind of Lakers Problem
Oklahoma City’s 2-0 lead is not just about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell are stretching the Lakers beyond a star-versus-star matchup.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s Injury Is Taking Away the Lakers’ Best Defensive Counter
Jarred Vanderbilt’s hand injury is costing the Lakers more than minutes. It removes one of their few defenders built for Oklahoma City’s speed, length and ball pressure.
Giannis trade buzz just put the Celtics in a Jaylen Brown spot they cannot dodge
A Giannis Antetokounmpo trade chase would force the Boston Celtics to decide whether Jaylen Brown is a franchise pillar or their best path to a…
The San Antonio Spurs’ system showed up in Game 2, and Minnesota never caught up
San Antonio evened the series by hitting 16 threes, forcing 22 turnovers and showing how much harder it is to guard the Spurs when the whole system is active.
The Philadelpha 76ers already have a shot-creation problem without Joel Embiid
Philadelphia stayed in Game 2 without Joel Embiid, but the final 6:52 showed how hard it is for the 76ers to build clean late offense without him.
Detroit made Cleveland’s turnover problem the center of this series in Game 1
The Pistons did not need Cade Cunningham to chase a huge scoring night to take control of Game 1. They needed Cleveland to hand over…
Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell kept Oklahoma City whole without Jalen Williams
Oklahoma City entered Game 1 without Jalen Williams and still looked structurally complete. Chet Holmgren finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, Ajay Mitchell added…
Austin Reaves’ 3-for-16 night exposed the Lakers’ missing creation against Oklahoma City
The Lakers can survive one cold shooting night. What they cannot survive for a whole series is the version of their offense that appeared in…