After 55 games, the Toronto Raptors have the same 37-18 record that they had last year. So why will this team avoid the disappointment the Raptors had a year ago? The 2014-2015 Raptors finished the regular season 12-15 and were mercilessly swept by Washington in the first round. Toronto hasn’t won a playoff series since the 2000-2001 season, when this columnist was in the seventh grade. So why and how is this Toronto team a legit contender, perhaps the only contender, who
It’s NBA All-Star week, with only three days of daily fantasy action before the league takes its annual hiatus. In traditional head-to-head leagues, the two “short weeks” are combined. [Read more…]
This week, while NBA coaches pick the All-Star reserves, the NBA will pick the All-Star coaches. Neither task is as easy. David Blatt’s dismissal as coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers has added a bizarre twist to next month’s All-Star Game in Toronto. The Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference, which means their staff was on track to coach the East All-Stars. But Blatt has been replaced by Tyronn Lue, who will coach just five games before the deadline of
It’s a great day to be a basketball fan, with ten NBA games, highlighted by the Warriors in Cleveland for a Finals rematch (and possible preview.) If both clubs have a playoff-level intensity, Draymond Green $9600 will try to contain LeBron James $9800 while Stephen Curry $10500 and Kyrie Irving $6900 make each other work hard for every point. The fascinating nightcap has Houston visiting the Clippers. James Harden $9900 scored 31 points in just 27 minutes last night in a romp over the Lakers.
For the first time in roughly two decades, the Eastern Conference is better than the Western Conference from top to bottom. Nine East teams are at .500 or better – nearly twice as many teams as last season, when sixth-seeded Milwaukee finished 41-41. And the East actually has a winning record against the West this season at 100-98 What changed so quickly from last season, when articles were written about how there was the greatest disparity in conference strength in recent memory? “I
On a quiet night with only four NBA games, DraftKings spices things up with a massive daily fantasy contest offering nearly 30,000 guaranteed cash prizes, including $50K for the highest score. [Read more…]
Thursday’s three-game slate tips off with the much-improved Hornets hosting Toronto. The marquee matchup on TNT has the Thunder in Cleveland. [Read more…]
On a quiet NBA Sunday, there’s a matinee in Phoenix, included at DraftKings in All-Day contests. The visiting Timberwolves have lost five of six, mostly close games, while scoring a lot of points. [Read more…]