NBA Preview: Suspense Returns; LA Teams Seek Hollywood Ending
5 years, 2 months ago

NBA Preview: Suspense Returns; LA Teams Seek Hollywood Ending

The Quint  

Those teams meet Tuesday on opening night, when the regular season gets started after a turbulent preseason overshadowed by tension between the NBA and China. The Raptors get their rings in the first game before facing New Orleans, whose heavily hyped rookie Zion Williamson injured his knee late during exhibition play. The wide-openness of the league this season is a far cry from recent years, when travel plans to the Bay Area in June could be assumed months in advance, or when James' teams in the East went to eight straight NBA Finals. "You can't call who the NBA champion is," Hall of Fame player and TNT analyst Reggie Miller said.

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History of this topic

Analysis: Injuries are a common theme for teams off to fast — or slow — starts as NBA Cup begins
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Analysis: Injuries are a common theme for teams off to fast — or slow — starts as NBA Cup begins

Associated Press  

Cleveland has won its first 12 games and is off to the best start in the league. “But on the other hand I’ve felt the frustration of this process, and the wear it puts on your mind.” By any measure — also including the absence of San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich for medical reasons — the first three weeks of …

It’s already next season in the NBA, where the offseason is almost nonexistent
6 months, 3 weeks ago

It’s already next season in the NBA, where the offseason is almost nonexistent

Associated Press  

In the NBA, it’s already next season. “This is a business,” Miami Heat President Pat Riley said when his team’s season ended last month, “as much as it is anything else.” The champion Celtics and Jayson Tatum can agree on an extension that will be worth a record $315 million, though that record is probably going to get smashed annually …

Analysis: This NBA Finals will show if the Celtics are ready for pressure
7 months ago

Analysis: This NBA Finals will show if the Celtics are ready for pressure

Associated Press  

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown said all the right things after the Boston Celtics fell in the NBA Finals two years ago. A sizable one at that over the Dallas Mavericks, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, which means the Celtics will feel a level of pressure that wasn’t on the shoulders of Brown and Tatum two years ago. “You could see …

NBA has played the calendar game perfectly with trade season, Christmas around the corner
1 year, 1 month ago

NBA has played the calendar game perfectly with trade season, Christmas around the corner

New York Times  

The timing of it all is sheer genius. As the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball strategy and analytics put it in July, “The hope is that becomes a real tentpole in our season and drives significant value for the league in future years.” GO DEEPER NBA fans will soon watch the sport differently, and the change has already begun …

NBA season set to begin with ring night in Denver, and a slew of challengers for title
1 year, 2 months ago

NBA season set to begin with ring night in Denver, and a slew of challengers for title

The Hindu  

Damian Lillard went to Milwaukee, Bradley Beal went to Phoenix, Jrue Holiday ended up in Boston and Chris Paul ended up with Golden State. “We’ve gone from being a team that’s hunting the teams in front of us to now we’re going to be the hunted,” Denver coach Michael Malone said. For context on what the league was like in …

NBA 2023-24: Denver Nuggets eyes repeat from the West as revamped Celtics and Bucks favoured in East this season
1 year, 2 months ago

NBA 2023-24: Denver Nuggets eyes repeat from the West as revamped Celtics and Bucks favoured in East this season

The Hindu  

The Denver Nuggets heads into the 2023-24 NBA season as defending champion but not necessarily the title favorites after the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns all upgraded their rosters via blockbuster offseason acquisitions. The Nuggets brings back the same starting five that delivered the franchise its first championship last season, led again by the tandem of Finals MVP …

Hollinger: Raptors, Grizzlies and 3 more NBA teams that will exceed expectations
1 year, 3 months ago

Hollinger: Raptors, Grizzlies and 3 more NBA teams that will exceed expectations

New York Times  

It’s NBA prediction time! Second, I think there are some very good so-called intangible reasons to expect this team to be better than it was a year ago, as a result of the coaching change and Porter’s likely exit. A more likely endgame is that the Rockets valiantly fight the good fight for 78 games, much like last year’s Jazz, …

NBA watching Lillard, Harden trade demands as season nears
1 year, 3 months ago

NBA watching Lillard, Harden trade demands as season nears

The Hindu  

With NBA season openers barely a month away, the league is watching trade demand situations by Portland’s Damian Lilliard and Philadelphia’s James Harden and waiting for solutions to develop. “In terms of trade demands, don’t like them,” Silver said. “We love super teams as long as they’re formed in a way that seems competitively fair across the league,” Silver said. …

NBA 2023-24 Regular season schedule: Champion Nuggets take on Lakers in opener
1 year, 4 months ago

NBA 2023-24 Regular season schedule: Champion Nuggets take on Lakers in opener

The Hindu  

The NBA champion Denver Nuggets will kick off the 2023-24 NBA schedule Oct. 24 in a showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers, creating an early rematch of last season’s Western Conference Finals. While portions of the schedule have leaked out over the past several days, the NBA released its full-season, team-by-team schedule on Thursday, and the focus is on last …

NBA reveals long-awaited plans for in-season tournament that’ll start in November
1 year, 6 months ago

NBA reveals long-awaited plans for in-season tournament that’ll start in November

The Hindu  

Coming soon: the NBA Cup. The NBA unveiled the details Saturday of its inaugural in-season tournament, which will have a prize pool of about $18 million and will be capped by a championship game — which won’t count in the standings — in Las Vegas on December 9. so we thought, what a perfect opportunity for a global league like …

This Is the Most Unpredictable NBA Playoffs in Ages
1 year, 8 months ago

This Is the Most Unpredictable NBA Playoffs in Ages

Slate  

The first thing to know about this year’s NBA playoffs is that, to borrow William Goldman’s oft-borrowed aphorism about Hollywood, nobody knows anything. Amid this confusing and frankly underwhelming home stretch, NBA Twitter has roiled over what is shaping up to be a photo finish for the newly christened Michael Jordan Trophy for the league’s MVP. Lurking in the wings …

2022-23 NBA season preview: Your cheat sheet for everything you need to know
2 years, 2 months ago

2022-23 NBA season preview: Your cheat sheet for everything you need to know

New York Times  

It’s October, which means the 2022-23 NBA season is here! When that gambit failed to create a viable market, Durant and the team “agreed to move forward with our partnership.” Go deeper: Robert Sarver’s workplace misconduct in Phoenix The Phoenix Suns owner is on his way out after the league released the results of a 10-month investigation that largely corroborated …

NBA: From Rockets' young roster to Raptors' homecoming, biggest talking points of upcoming season
3 years, 3 months ago

NBA: From Rockets' young roster to Raptors' homecoming, biggest talking points of upcoming season

Firstpost  

The first practices of the season in the NBA are here, with teams set to hit the floor on Tuesday to formally begin getting ready for the 2021-22 campaign. There are no fewer than 21 teens on NBA rosters as training camps begin Tuesday, including five Rockets and a trio of 18-year-olds — Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga, Oklahoma City’s Josh …

NBA unveils marquee Opening Night, Christmas matchups
3 years, 4 months ago

NBA unveils marquee Opening Night, Christmas matchups

The Hindu  

The NBA is planning a Christmas feast for fans. The Christmas Day schedule will feature a showdown between the star-studded Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. Following a shortened offseason, the 2021-22 regular season is scheduled to begin October 19 with two games, also showcasing the Nets and Lakers. Other games on the December 25 slate include the Atlanta Hawks …

NBA: Miami Heat confident turnaround will come after slump due to injuries, coronavirus
3 years, 11 months ago

NBA: Miami Heat confident turnaround will come after slump due to injuries, coronavirus

Firstpost  

Miami: As if losing the NBA Finals isn’t bad enough, there now seems to be a curse that stretches into the following season. The roster has been decimated by injuries and coronavirus-related issues, and the current losing streak reached five games after a 108-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in a game where Miami led by 18 points early …

NBA adjusts schedules for virus-affected teams, like Wizards
3 years, 11 months ago

NBA adjusts schedules for virus-affected teams, like Wizards

The Hindu  

Washington's second-half schedule might not be as jam-packed as first thought after the NBA said it was rescheduling some Wizards games after a half-dozen of their contests were postponed in recent weeks for virus-related reasons. The original intent was to push all those postponed games into the second half, when possible; now, the league said it would move some games …

Amid pandemic, NBA blowout epidemic also happening
3 years, 11 months ago

Amid pandemic, NBA blowout epidemic also happening

The Hindu  

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA is Games are turning into runaways far more than usual throughout the first three weeks of this NBA season. READ | “This is going to be the craziest NBA season ever,” Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said. “We’ve already seen some incredible scores and oddities and so I think just trying to just be adaptive …

‘It’s worse now’: NBA needs to delay the season’s start as COVID-19 rages
4 years ago

‘It’s worse now’: NBA needs to delay the season’s start as COVID-19 rages

New York Times  

Marty Bach: What would they do? “I think that’s an illusion – for any of us, for that matter,” Baral said. Its going to be hard to actually translate these words on paper into reality.” But, Baral — who said he isn’t a big sports fan, but understands the opportunity for enjoyment and engagement and social connection sports provides – …

NBA sets 49-game pre-season schedule between Dec. 11-19 - Sports News
4 years, 1 month ago

NBA sets 49-game pre-season schedule between Dec. 11-19 - Sports News

The Hindu  

The NBA set in place a 49-game preseason schedule on Friday, with practice games taking place Dec. 11-19 in advance of the Dec. 22 start to the regular season. Each team will play at least two preseason games, with the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers playing four times before the delayed regular season gets underway just before Christmas. Five games …

It’s done: The NBA comes back on Dec. 22, a 72-game season
4 years, 1 month ago

It’s done: The NBA comes back on Dec. 22, a 72-game season

Associated Press  

It’s official: The NBA is coming back Dec. 22. “December 22nd can’t come soon enough,” two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks tweeted Tuesday. Meyers Leonard, a free-agent-to-be who spent this past season with the Miami Heat and served as the team’s player rep to the NBPA, said he had some concerns about getting all the logistical …

The NBA comes back on December 22 - Sports News - Sportstar
4 years, 1 month ago

The NBA comes back on December 22 - Sports News - Sportstar

The Hindu  

It’s official: The NBA is coming back on December 22. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced Monday night that they’ve struck a deal on rules for this coming season, setting the stage for what will be a frenzied few weeks before games resume. Negotiations with free agents will be allowed to begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, …

NBA: New 72-game season to begin on 22 December, draft to take place on 18 November
4 years, 1 month ago

NBA: New 72-game season to begin on 22 December, draft to take place on 18 November

Firstpost  

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have struck a deal on rules for this coming season, setting the stage for what will be a frenzied few weeks before games resume. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced on Monday night that they’ve struck a deal on rules for this coming season, setting the stage for what …

NBA: Primed to overcome Covid in 2020-21 - Sportstar
4 years, 2 months ago

NBA: Primed to overcome Covid in 2020-21 - Sportstar

The Hindu  

The Los Angeles Lakers’ winning their 17th NBA title – a joint record held with the Boston Celtics – was a fitting tribute to their talisman, the late Kobe Bryant, and a remarkable end to a weird NBA season. The NBA also introduced a “play-in” tournament that allowed the ninth seed to compete for a place if they were within …

Silver says NBA 'unlikely' to pause season for Olympics in 2021 - Sportstar
4 years, 3 months ago

Silver says NBA 'unlikely' to pause season for Olympics in 2021 - Sportstar

The Hindu  

The NBA is not likely to have a break next season when the postponed Olympics are held, league commissioner Adam Silver said, casting doubt on the availability of NBA players at the Tokyo Games. The Olympics was postponed by a year, to July 23-August 8 next year, because of the novel coronavirus, which also led to the NBA season being …

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat prepare for battle as basketball odyssey reaches climax
4 years, 3 months ago

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat prepare for battle as basketball odyssey reaches climax

Firstpost  

The fact that the NBA season has managed to reach the home stretch is itself a triumph of sorts, a testament to assiduous planning by league officials to create a secure ‘bubble’ at Disney World in Florida. Orlando: LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers begin the final challenge in their bid to return to the summit of basketball on …

NBA: Miami Heat go in as underdogs against Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals
4 years, 3 months ago

NBA: Miami Heat go in as underdogs against Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals

Firstpost  

Get ready for the NBA Finals — a title series like none other, to end a season like none other. The matchup is set, with Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers emerging as the last two teams standing in the chase to be crowned champions of the most tumultuous season in NBA history. The matchup is set, with the …

NBA: Games brought to a halt again, this time players decide when they resume
4 years, 4 months ago

NBA: Games brought to a halt again, this time players decide when they resume

Firstpost  

Milwaukee Bucks changed the narrative across the entire sports landscape, putting the focus squarely on social justice reform in protest of the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by police, while three of his children in his car looked on. Full statement from the Milwaukee Bucks: pic.twitter.com/jjGEyVcCmB — Milwaukee Bucks August 26, 2020 They changed the narrative across the …

NBA Season Restarts on July 30: Everything You Need to Know
4 years, 5 months ago

NBA Season Restarts on July 30: Everything You Need to Know

News 18  

Based on a competitive format approved by the NBA Board of Governors and the NBPA, 22 teams will return to play during the 2019-20 NBA season. The 22 teams consist of the 16 teams in current playoff positions and the six teams that are currently six games or fewer behind the eighth seed in their respective conferences. Teams are permitted …

As NBA restarts after four-month hiatus, teams, players and coaches grapple with unfamiliar situations in the bubble
4 years, 5 months ago

As NBA restarts after four-month hiatus, teams, players and coaches grapple with unfamiliar situations in the bubble

Firstpost  

When the NBA restarts in the Orlando bubble, it is likely to drag everyone out of their comfort zones in more ways than one. Around the same time, Houston Rockets’ Bruno Caboclo violated the two-day mandatory quarantine rule, which necessitates that any player arriving in the bubble for the first time stay confined to his hotel room for the first …

NBA Restart: Pandemic Basketball begins, with some comforts of home
4 years, 5 months ago

NBA Restart: Pandemic Basketball begins, with some comforts of home

The Hindu  

Michael Baiamonte was not at Walt Disney World. Because once they get between the lines, it’s a basketball game.” Rivers and the Clippers were the NBA’s first winners of a game played during a pandemic, after downing Orlando 99-90 in an arena that held about 200 people — players, team staffs and NBA employees included. “I think that the teams …

A whole new look, for a whole new NBA game experience
4 years, 5 months ago

A whole new look, for a whole new NBA game experience

Associated Press  

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — There’s no bench. The league’s marketing motto for the restart of the season at Walt Disney World is “Whole New Game,” and in many respects, that’s very true. Some teams have gotten tours already; Denver center Nikola Jokic didn’t get to see the arenas yet, but said Nuggets President Tim Connelly gave them good reviews. …

NBA to return as board approves return-to-play plan
4 years, 7 months ago

NBA to return as board approves return-to-play plan

The Hindu  

The NBA's board of governors approved a return-to-play plan on Thursday, paving the way for the league to resume in Florida following a three-month coronavirus shutdown. The NBA said a proposal put to the league's board that will see 22 teams based at a single location had passed comfortably. Under the NBA's proposals, the league would resume on July 31 …

NBA targets October finish for virus-hit season
4 years, 7 months ago

NBA targets October finish for virus-hit season

The Hindu  

The NBA is aiming to complete the 2020 season by mid-October, reports said on Tuesday, as the league edges towards a return from the coronavirus shutdown. ESPN reported that according to a timeframe due to be voted on by NBA’s Board of Governors on Thursday, Game 7 of the NBA Finals would take place no later than October 12. 'We …

The NBA and its players near an agreement to continue the season with 22 teams
4 years, 7 months ago

The NBA and its players near an agreement to continue the season with 22 teams

CNN  

CNN — The NBA’s return is imminent – but only with 22 teams. The new plan would see 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams play eight “seeding” games to determine seeds in the playoffs. Afterwards, the seven teams in each conference with the best combined records with both regular season games and seeding games would qualify for …

Coronavirus: NBA in talks to resume season at Disney in late July
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus: NBA in talks to resume season at Disney in late July

The Hindu  

The NBA is in preliminary discussions with the Walt Disney Company about resuming the 2019-20 season at an isolated site near Orlando, Florida in late July. It has been reported the NBA would like teams to reach a total of 70 regular season games – about five more for most clubs – to fulfill its contracts with local broadcast affiliates. …

NBA to wait 2-4 weeks before deciding on return: reports
4 years, 7 months ago

NBA to wait 2-4 weeks before deciding on return: reports

The Hindu  

NBA commissioner Adam Silver will study coronavirus outbreak and testing developments for another two to four weeks before the league decides about a return to competition, according to multiple reports. The NBA will wait a month to decide after getting more tests and data to show how serious the virus is,” Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley tweeted. It’s coming.” …

Coronavirus: NBA champion Raptors will open Monday for solo workouts
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus: NBA champion Raptors will open Monday for solo workouts

The Hindu  

The reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors said on Friday it will reopen its practice facility on Monday for individual workouts under strict guidelines from league, local government and public health authorities. The NBA permitted solo workouts under controlled conditions starting Friday at team facilities, the first small step toward resuming the season, although many teams did not take advantage of …

Shams: What to know about NBA call with players on Friday about what’s next
4 years, 8 months ago

Shams: What to know about NBA call with players on Friday about what’s next

New York Times  

The NBPA held a call with NBA players on Friday that included an update from the league office and commissioner Adam Silver. If/when NBA is able to return, Adam Silver told players it is safer in one or two locations — such as Walt Disney World in Orlando and Las Vegas — than it would be flying around to cities …

NBA facilities will begin to reopen Friday
4 years, 8 months ago

NBA facilities will begin to reopen Friday

The Hindu  

NBA players will be allowed to return to team training facilities starting Friday, provided their local governments do not have a stay-at-home order prohibiting such movement still in place as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. For those teams in cities where stay-at-home orders still make such a return impossible, the NBA said it would work to find …

NBA: With season indefinitely on hold, coaches prepare for possible playoff games
4 years, 9 months ago

NBA: With season indefinitely on hold, coaches prepare for possible playoff games

Firstpost  

With NBA games indefinitely on hold, there has been a lot of discussion about post-season possibilities — including by coaches around the league. Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse said he’s trying to prepare for every possibility that would allow the Raptors a chance to defend their title. Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said he has spent part of this hiatus …

NBA’s next steps hinge on US results in coronavirus fight
4 years, 9 months ago

NBA’s next steps hinge on US results in coronavirus fight

The Hindu  

America’s level of success at overcoming coronavirus and how fast that happens are likely the key factors in deciding when and how the NBA and other sports leagues return. NBA commissioner Adam Silver imposed an indefinite hiatus on the league season on Wednesday after Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus, with every other major North American sports organisation following …

NBA Finals 2019: Toronto Raptors clinch first title with uncertain Warriors future after Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant injuries
5 years, 6 months ago

NBA Finals 2019: Toronto Raptors clinch first title with uncertain Warriors future after Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant injuries

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The team …

Toronto Raptors not distracted by Warriors' injury woes in NBA Finals
5 years, 7 months ago

Toronto Raptors not distracted by Warriors' injury woes in NBA Finals

The Hindu  

The Toronto Raptors will not allow its displays to be affected by the Golden State Warriors' injury woes in the NBA Finals. The Warriors were missing Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney for Game 3 and lost 123-109 at home, with the recently returned DeMarcus Cousins also evidently out of sorts. "I think we're at the point of this …

NBA Playoffs 2019: With LeBron James missing from the mix after eight seasons, a look at the biggest Eastern Conference storylines
5 years, 8 months ago

NBA Playoffs 2019: With LeBron James missing from the mix after eight seasons, a look at the biggest Eastern Conference storylines

Firstpost  

With LeBron James missing from the mix after eight seasons, a look at the biggest Eastern Conference storylines ahead of the NBA 2018-19 Playoffs An Eastern Conference sans LeBron James. Magic Moment: Orlando are back in the Playoffs for the first time since the 2011-12 season, ending the East’s longest active postseason drought. "#BlueAndWhiteIgnite pic.twitter.com/SzXVo8hGVY — Orlando Magic April 12, …

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