Tuesday night is one of the few night’s during the NBA calendar year that is equal parts about the present as it is about the future. What more could we ask for? The Miami Heat have their backs against the wall as they try to even up their Eastern Conference Finals series in Indianapolis. But just before the Heat and Pacers tip, the NBA will hold its annual Draft Lottery to determine the first 14 picks in this June’s draft. Unlike the 2013
Andrew Wiggins is the projected top pick in most mock drafts right now, including our own Joe Kotoch’s, and his insane athleticism is a major reason why. Late last week, p3sportsscience posted an Instagram photo of Wiggins’ ridiculous 44-inch vertical leap which had over 3,500 likes and had fans, scouts and NBA teams alike gawking. After Tuesday’s draft lottery, we’ll see which franchise is in position to land him. Photo via p3sportsscience on Instagram
The 2014 NBA Playoffs continued on Monday, May 19 with Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder traveled to take on the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of the 2012 Western Conference Finals. Unfortunately, this high-stakes battle transpired without star defensive player Serge Ibaka. Through all of the pre-game commotion, both teams ended up holding leads in the second half before one pulled away to take Game 1. Here’s everything that you need to know about last
Basketball is finally back. After a two-day layoff, the 2014 NBA Playoffs returned for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Indiana Pacers hosted the Miami Heat in a rematch of the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals, and the level of intensity and tension was as palpable as one could’ve possibly imagined. Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action. [Read more…]
For the second straight year, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff push has been derailed by a season-ending injury. Last year it was All-Star guard Russell Westbrook, who went down in the first round with a knee injury as a result of a collision with Houston guard Patrick Beverley. This year it is forward Serge Ibaka, who suffered a left calf injury in the third quarter of Thursday’s clincher over the Los Angeles Clippers. Ibaka underwent an MRI on Friday that confirmed a left
Typically, there is an amazing tweet to talk about. However, this may be the exception to the rule. The folks at Bleacher Report took it upon themselves to put together an animated NBA adaptation of the hit HBO show, Game of Thrones. The ease with which the characters of the show—which is based on George R.R. Martin’s A Sword of Ice and Fire books—can be replaced with NBA teams and athletes is uncanny. The Miami Heat, being the two-time reigning champions are
Realistically, the Brooklyn Nets don’t have room for Kevin Garnett next season. Garnett had by far the worst statistical season of his career in 2013-2014, capped off by a two-point, eight-rebound performance in Wednesday’s Game 5 loss to Miami that eliminated Brooklyn. Garnett scored 24 points total in the five games against the Heat and is a sad shell of his former self on the floor. Garnett is scheduled to make $12 million next season in the final year of his contract and is considering
When the Brooklyn Nets acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry last summer, Mikhail Prokhorov said, “Today, the basketball gods smiled on the Nets.” Neither Garnett, Pierce nor Prokhorov was smiling after the Miami Heat eliminated Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference semifinals in five games. “The only reason we came to Brooklyn was to win another ring,” Garnett said. In retrospect, Brooklyn took a gamble that didn’t pay off. The Nets gave up a king’s ransom to acquire Garnett and Pierce to