Tag: road trip

‘Tip of the iceberg’: LA’s locker room drama; snub that ‘broke camel’s back’ — NBA Talking Pts

Despite finally snapping their losing streak, there’s drama in the Lakers’ locker room as pressure mounts on Darvin Ham.

Plus the Warriors’ identity crisis and Milwaukee’s big issue it needs to solve amid the championship race.

That and more in our latest NBA Talking Points!

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Heat demolish Lakers without Butler | 01:10

‘TIP OF THE ICEBERG’: STARK REALITY AMID LAKERS’ LOCKER ROOM DISCONNECT

While Darvin Ham remains calm – at least on the surface – a storm is brewing in the background and, if you believe multiple reports, it could result in the Los Angeles Lakers coach losing his job.

The Lakers did what they needed to by making a statement against the Clippers – and a few more wins will do a whole lot of good when it comes to silencing the noise surrounding Ham’s future.

For it seems like an eternity ago the Lakers were crowned the inaugural winners of the NBA’s in-season tournament (IST), when Anthony Davis made a statement in a 41-point, 20-rebound performance against the Indiana Pacers.

Funnily enough, it was only a fortnight prior to that win that the Lakers had suffered a 44-point blowout loss to the 76ers, which prompted LeBron James to declare “a lot” needs to change.

The way the Lakers quickly turned things around before the IST could lend some weight to Ham’s argument that Los Angeles may not be too far away from looking like Western Conference contenders once more.

There is a difference though. The Lakers had won eight of their last 10 games before that match-up with the Pacers.

Can the Lakers turn around their season? (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

Right now, L.A. has lost 10 of its last 14 games.

“I’m tired of people living and dying with every single game we play… it’s ludicrous… this is a marathon,” Ham said after the Lakers’ latest loss to the Grizzlies.

He has a point. People can be too reactionary, too quick to overreact to one loss or one bad play. But this isn’t that.

This is a losing skid that has the Lakers 10th in the Western Conference. A losing skid that had a clearly frustrated James admitting “we suck right now” after the 127-113 defeat to Memphis.

On the other hand, Ham said it “seems to be” a “pattern” of rival players “stepping their game up when they come into our building”.

Or maybe the real pattern is there for everyone to see in the numbers, with the Lakers allowing more wide-open 3-point attempts a game (22.5) than any other team in the league.

That is despite having a defensive stopper like Davis that should naturally allow the Lakers to more heavily crowd the 3-point line and force opponents to beat them in the paint.

Whereas Ham has consistently called for patience and pointed towards the team’s injuries to explain their recent string of losses, the messaging from the Lakers’ players has been very different.

“We’ve got to do better as players to affect them to miss shots,” Austin Reaves said after the Memphis loss.

“They shot 51 per cent from three tonight. That’s not acceptable. We have to take it upon ourselves to do better.”

The Lakers were supposed to be in a strong position to take a swing for the title this season after making shrewd moves in the summer while also finding a way to keep five key players in James, Davis, Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura together.

Giddey guides Thunder to statement win | 01:38

They added some much-needed outside shooting while maintaining enough continuity to set up the offence for a smooth transition from the 2022-23 season.

Injuries have played their part, with the loss of Gabe Vincent (knee) in particular proving a tough blow, but more important than anything else in recent years has been the health of James and Davis.

That has been hard to rely on in the past but so far this season the superstar duo have only combined to miss five games.

It is part of the reason why Ham needs a greater sense of urgency and understanding of why people are “living and dying with every game we play”, as he put it.

If multiple reports are to be believed Ham himself could be “living and dying with every game” he coaches too, with The Athletic claiming there is a “deepening disconnect” between the Lakers coach and the locker room.

That is according to six different sources, who “described that the disjointedness between the coach and team has stemmed from the extreme rotation and starting line-up adjustments recently from Ham”, according to The Athletic.

That is consistent with reporting from Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, who said on a recent episode of the No Cap Room podcast that player agents have even started voicing their concerns about Ham.

“I think this is the tip of the iceberg of this guy being legitimately on the hot seat right now,” Fischer said.

“There’s just a lot of chatter from people around the organisation that he’s not the guy that’s going to be able to get this thing over the hump. Now, look, they were able to overcome a 2-10 start last season to make the Western Conference Finals so he’s proven the ability to right a ship and steer them out of stormy waters to some beautiful island somewhere else in the postseason picture.

“But the noise is very loud. There’s a lot of people very frustrated. A lot of agents calling the front office frustrated about their guys not getting the right opportunities.”

If there is anything working in Ham’s favour it is his relationship with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, with The Athletic revealing she sent the Lakers coach a “lengthy text message of support” in the wake of the publication’s report detailing the team’s locker room disconnect.

IDENTITY CRISIS AT THE HEART OF WARRIORS’ WOES

Speaking of coaches under pressure, while Steve Kerr isn’t in the hot seat just yet he is certainly seeing plenty of criticism for his role in Golden State’s slow start to the season.

Most notable has been Kerr’s misuse of young forward Jonathan Kuminga, with a report from The Athletic last week claiming he had “lost faith” in the veteran coach allowing him to “reach his full potential”.

“(Thursday night) was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” one of the sources told The Athletic.

Thursday night, in that instance, referred to Kuminga spending the final 18 minutes of Golden State’s 130-127 defeat to Denver on the bench despite having scored a productive 16 points to go with four rebounds and four assists in 19 minutes of action.

Kuminga was not the only one to be frustrated with a lack of consistent playing time, with Jason Dumas of KRON4 also reporting that people around Moses Moody are “frustrated with the lack of having a role and the lack of consistency”.

The issue for Kerr is the fact that Kuminga and Moody’s reported frustration speaks to a broader problem for the Warriors, who for a few years now have been trying to delicately balance their championship ambitions while also looking forward towards the future.

A two-timeline strategy is always hard to pull off and while the Warriors did win a championship that was largely on the back of their already established superstar trio Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Plus, Jordan Poole also had a breakout year while Andrew Wiggins was a hero in the NBA Finals.

Now Poole is no longer on the team while Wiggins struggled earlier in the season. Then you have the ticking time bomb that has been Green and the reality that Thompson is not the player he once was.

And that is at the root of Golden State, and specifically, Kerr’s dilemma right now. He does not seem completely willing to accept that this Warriors team as a whole is not what it once was.

Younger players like Kuminga aren’t just pieces for the future, they are the team’s best options right now and need to be given more minutes to reflect that.

There was an interesting contrast in the loss to Denver which spoke to just where Kerr is going wrong and where a Western Conference contender like the Nuggets are going right.

Whereas Kerr opted to leave Kuminga on the bench, Denver coach Michael Malone showed no hesitation in pulling the more experienced Michael Porter Jr. from the line-up to play second-year wing Peyton Watson.

It proved the right call too as the 21-year-old made a clutch 3-pointer and then grabbed an important defensive rebound before Nikola Jokic tied up the game down the stretch.

There’s been frustrations from the Warriors younger players (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

Malone had the confidence in Watson and even if it didn’t pay off the Nuggets have shown a willingness to give their young guys opportunities, with Christian Braun repaying them for it in the NBA Finals after seeing consistent minutes off the bench throughout the regular season.

To his credit, Kerr has leaned more heavily on impressive rookies Trayce Jackson-Davis and Brandin Podziemski, rewarding them for strong early season form with more minutes.

It may take time for Kerr and the Warriors to tighten up their rotations and given the competitive nature of the Western Conference, time isn’t something that is on Golden State’s side at the moment.

Perhaps the Warriors will make a big swing before the trade deadline in a desperate attempt to stay in the championship hunt.

Or maybe they will move some veteran pieces to further plan for the future in an admission that this indeed is the end of Golden State’s dynasty and start of a new chapter.

As Curry said himself last week, more than anything else the Warriors need to figure out who they are before anything else.

“It’s the nature of this team,” Curry said.

“It’s kind of materialised throughout the year. We’ve experimented a lot. Some for forced reasons. Some for us searching for an identity of what are our strengths and playing into that, and we haven’t found that.

“It’s frustrating for sure – we’re 32 games in and any team that is a seriously competitive contender, a good team, can usually answer that question. So, we have to get to that point for sure, before it’s too late.”

Maybe it already is for the old version of the Warriors. But it doesn’t have to be that way for the next one.

ISSUE BUCKS ‘NEED TO SOLVE’

Defence was a key question mark hanging over the Bucks after their big off-season moves … and it remains.

It was always going to take a hit after Damian Lillard took over from Jrue Holiday as the starting point guard, not to mention Adrian Griffin replacing Mike Budenholzer as head coach and implementing a whole new system.

But Milwaukee’s defence is ranked bottom third in the NBA over the course of the season.

Sure, it’s only January and the Bucks sit second in the East at 25-11 and look primed to go deep in the playoffs behind their potent offence that’s ranked third overall. However there’s legitimate concerns around whether or not they a defensive system that can win a championship – and it’s very much championship or bust for Griffin, Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and company.

The Bucks have had defensive issues (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

After all, regular season records only mean so much and it’s also important to look at other data and teams’ process in assessing their overall profile, and in the Bucks’ case, championship credentials.

So how much do we read into it as we near the midway point of the season? With a juggernaut offence led by Lillard and Antetokounmp, can they simply score their way to a title if they become at least solid defensively? They might have to if they’re any chance of going all the way.

This was basically the model of 2023 champion Denver last season – it was ranked fifth in offence during the regular season, but ranked only 15th defensively (though the latter improved in the playoffs). It seems to be the direction the NBA is heading in, where defence is no longer seen as the be-all and end-all

It’s worth noting the Bucks’ current profile is the complete opposite to previous seasons where they were known as a stingy defensive team. Last season they were ranked fourth in defensive rating but were just middle of the road on offence.

And in losing Holiday, they lost the frontline of their defence that at times compensated for others, while Lillard’s backourt partner Malik Beasley, like Lillard, is also not regarded for his defence.

In saying this, Milwaukee has improved to the point where it has the 16th-best defensive rating since November compared to it being among the worst few teams in the first few weeks of the campaign. There was always going to be an adjustment made by Griffin, plus more data painting a clearer picture of where they sat.

Wemby cooks the freak in star showdown | 00:28

And so it’s not time to ring the alarm bells, but it’s something to monitor.

Because, again, when the Bucks come up against the best teams in the post-season, they’ll at least need to be able to hold their own defensively to contend for the major prize.

“They’re not dominant like they were last season, but they’re not at the complete bottom of the barrel like they were in the first couple of weeks of the season,” The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said on The Mismatch Podcast.

“It’s partially schemes still and partially personnel – obviously you lose Jrue Holiday and replace him with Damian Lillard and you have Malik Beasley, that’s not great point of attack defence. (Pat) Connaughton is not the same guy right now.

“Part of it is a lack of hustle – last season they were eighth best in points allowed in transition, this year they’re eighth worst in points allowed in transition.

“I think it’s a lot of little things adding up to make them average since they made the switch (to playing tighter and higher up). I don’t think it’s unfixable by any means … but they definitely do have to solve it.”

SLEEPING GIANT … OR A WASTED SEASON?

Are the Memphis Grizzlies the sleeping giants in the championship race? Or is this a mountain too tall to climb?

One thing’s for sure – the clock is ticking on their season.

It was always going to be a slow start out of the gates for Memphis while Ja Morant served his 25-game suspension. Then things became even more tough when Steven Adams suffered a season-ending injury on the eve of the campaign followed by Marcus Smart’s nasty ankle setback in the opening weeks.

It all added up to a disastrous 3-13 start to the season for Taylor Jenkins’ team to make for a worse scenario than most anticipated. It included the Griz sitting 6-19 prior to Morant’s return to the court, however when he did, the dynamic quickly shifted.

Memphis has gone 7-4 with Morant back in the fold to look much more like the title contender of recent seasons compared to the lottery side of the first quarter of the campaign.

“It’s a competitive team with Morant … I’m starting to see what their team could actually look like,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe told The Bill Simmons Podcast.

“Morant, Bane and Jackson – we know that’s a good foundation.

Grizz net biggest score to down Lakers | 00:39

But has too much damage already been done?

The Grizzlies currently have a 13-23 overall record as we approach the midway point of the season, sitting 13th in the West and 4.5 games outside a play-in spot.

That mightn’t seem like much, but Memphis would need to make up a fair bit of ground in the always tough and competitive Western Conference.

Based on current standings, the Griz would need to jump both the Jazz and Warriors plus at least one of the Lakers, Suns, Rockets or Pelicans, who currently sit 7-10th, to just feature in the play-in.

Both teams that finished 10th in either conference (OKC and Chicago) at the end of last year’s regular season notched 40 wins. Based off those numbers, Memphis would need to go a minimum of 27-19 for the rest of the way to just make the play-in.

Locking in a guaranteed playoff spot is an even harder road and appears unlikely right now.

Of course, if Memphis was to limp into the playoffs, it’d likely be on the road for any series it plays in in anything key factor in its overall prospects.

No matter, the Grizzlies have enough talent and time on their side in a marathon NBA season, even if the clock is ticking. They frankly can’t afford many, if any, more bumps along the way – and they might need other teams in their conference to experience a couple.

UNSUNG HERO IN KNICKS’ RISE

From “some dude named Hartenstein” to the heart of the Knicks’ surge.

Nobody has played more minutes on the Knicks since the OG Anunoby trade than Isaiah Hartenstein, who has aptly replaced Mitchell Robinson while leaving every game looking like he went through a meat grinder.

The German-American draws blood regularly these days, showing off the latest scratches on his arm and hand following Sunday’s blowout triumph over the Wizards.

And while Hartenstein isn’t quite the same height as Robinson or as proficient an offensive rebounder, he does hold a very large and important advantage over the frequently injured starting centre.

Hartenstein is crazy durable.

Despite absorbing an inordinate amount of gashes and blows, Hartenstein is riding a consecutive games played streak of 157 — by far the most on the Knicks.

He was one of only 10 NBA players last season to log all 82, a point of pride and probably a prominent bullet point on his résumé for free agency negotiations this summer (yes, his contract is expiring).

But now his role is expanded and a lot more strenuous. When Robinson was around, Hartenstein was playing less than half the game.

But Tom Thibodeau doesn’t have much faith in the other centres on the roster — Jericho Sims and newcomer Precious Achiuwa — which means Hartenstein rarely leaves the floor.

He acknowledged that was an adjustment.

Brunson, Knicks beat 76ers, Embiid hurt | 00:50

“I think I had a slight little period on the road — I think it was at Orlando, at OKC, that road trip (last week) — where I kinda felt my body kind of going down a little bit,” Hartenstein said. “But I think now my body has gotten used to it. I take care of my body pretty good. So now, it’s just keep getting better in that role, and I think that’s something I can do on a consistent basis. … Now, my body is used to it. I don’t really get tired.”

In Sunday’s game, for instance, Thibodeau subbed out Hartenstein in the fourth quarter and tried to go small with Julius Randle at centre.

It lasted 65 seconds.

The Knicks gave up five points and Thibodeau quickly summoned Hartenstein.

“I just sat down. I put a towel around my shoulders and Thibs was like, ‘Isaiah,’ ” said Hartenstein, who finished with eight points and 19 rebounds, one short of his career high. “So I got back up.”

It’s hard to argue with the results. In the four games since the trade, Hartenstein is averaging a double-double (10.5 points, 13.5 rebounds) while leading the Knicks in steals (2.3) and blocks (3.0).

He’s also increased his play-making role, finding cutters such as Anunoby from the elbow while dishing out 2.8 assists per game since the trade. It has made ESPN analyst and Knicks fan Stephen A Smith look irrational for dismissing the centre on air when he said recently, “I got to deal with some dude named Hartenstein.”

“It’s fun,” Hartenstein said about his new responsibilities. “I think it’s definitely a role that I always envisioned myself being in.”

-This story was originally published by Stefan Bondy in The New York Post and reproduced with permission.

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January 8, 2024
‘Sick and tired’ coach explodes at ‘ridiculous’ refs; Nuggets stunned in epic clash: NBA Wrap

New York Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau blew up deluxe at the referees after his side slumped to a 117-108 to the Orlando Magic.

The Knicks made a fourth-quarter charge to nearly pull off a miracle comeback after missing 17 of their first 18 three-point shots (and 24 of 30 overall) in a horrible shooting start.

But after a second-straight loss, Thibodeau again took aim at the referees for failing to award star guard Jalen Brunson enough fouls.

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“I am so, like, what this guy is going through is ridiculous. Ridiculous,” Thibodeau said. “You’re getting hammered time after time, I’m just getting sick and tired of it.

“Like, I watch. I send it in. I see it all. And it’s, they’re fouls. It’s plain and simple, they’re fouls and there’s no other way to say it, except they’re fouls. They’re fouls.

“No one drives the ball more to the rim than this guy does. And if you rake across his arm, you rake across his arm. And if you hit him in the head, you hit him in the head. Those are fouls. Those are fouls. [I’m] sick and tired of it. Sick and tired of it.”

He added he “didn’t know what a foul was” in the second half.

The Knicks have been complaining about a lack of fouls awarded to Brunson all season.Source: AFP

Brunson made all 12 of his free throw attempts, but was not immune to his team’s shooting woes from the floor, going 4-of-15.

“Shots are not going to fall, but with that being said, it still was a winnable game,” Brunson said.

But, just like after the loss to the Thunder last time out (where he had a season-high 13 free throw attempts), he refused to comment on the referees and potential missed fouls.

“Next question,” he repeated twice after being asked about it this time – the same answer he delivered last time out.

Franz Wagner led the Magic (19-12) with 32 points and Paulo Banchero registered 29 with 10 rebounds.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was exceptional to beat the Nuggets.Source: Getty Images

NUGGETS STUNNED BY THUNDER

The Denver Nuggets’ six-game winning streak came to an end on Friday with the defending NBA champions failing to a 119-93 loss at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points for the Thunder, shooting 14 of 20 from the field and making 10 out of 10 free throws.

The win moves the Thunder above the Nuggets into second place in the West on 21-9, behind leaders Minnesota (23-7).

The Nuggets’ Serbian star Nikola Jokic made 19 points shooting nine of 10 from the field and had ten rebounds but gave up seven turnovers.

Australia’s Josh Giddey had 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists in just 21 minutes.

The Thunder led 54-48 at the break and extended their lead to 20 points by the end of the third quarter.

It was the fifth time this season that Gilgeous-Alexander enjoyed a 40-point game and he said it was a “super fun” performance.

“We have so many weapons on the floor that I get to play in space and when I play in space, in my comfort zone, I have pretty good nights,” he said.

GIANNIS PULLS OFF COMEBACK WIN

Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo top scored with 34 points as the Milwaukee Bucks, second in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, came back to win 119-111 at the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

The Bucks trailed 59-52 down at halftime but dominated the third quarter to end a four-game road trip with a 3-1 record.

Antetokounmpo shot 14 of 22 from the field and grabbed 16 rebounds and five assists — and he was well supported by Damian Lillard, who scored 31 points and converted all 11 of his free throws.

Lillard said Milwaukee (24-8) had faced up to their slow start during frank exchanges during the interval.

“We came into the locker room and we just kind of addressed that we hadn’t done a lot of things well,” said Lillard, who scored 24 of his points in the second half.

“They started the game better than us. Our transition defence, you know, it was bad. They got to the spots they wanted to, they played a comfortable game and they’re a good team,” he said.

Lillard and Antetokounmpo took over in the third quarter, each scoring 14 points as the Bucks shifted the momentum decisively.

“A good game on the road, end of a road trip, a team challenging us and, we had to show our character and I thought we came out in the third quarter and established that,” added Lillard, who praised the team’s improved defence.

“You’ve got to be on the string, five guys, and I thought that was where we made the biggest improvement. We did things together, our communication, getting to spots and supporting each other. We did that much more consistently in the second half,” he said.

Donovan Mitchell returned after missing four games to provide 34 points, six rebounds and nine assists for the Cavs, who remain without the injured Evan Mobley and Darius Garland.

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Giannis is unstoppable.Source: AFP

OTHER RESULTS

Eastern Conference leaders, the Boston Celtics, extended their 100% home record to 16 games with a 120-118 win over the Toronto Raptors.

Jaylen Brown had 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Celtics with Ferrick White adding 21 points and Luke Kornet 20 as Boston won their fifth straight game.

The game was tied at 116 when Kornet made a dunk with 32 seconds left to grab a lead that Boston held on to.

Tyrese Maxey scored 42 points for the Philadelphia 76ers, third in the East, as they put aside their injury woes to win 131-127 in Houston.

Philadelphia’s main man, the league’s MVP Joel Embiid, missed his third straight game with an ankle injury and Nicolas Batum was also sidelined.

Tobias Harris helped out with 22 points for the 76ers who condemned the Rockets to their third straight loss.

De’Aaron Fox scored 31 points, 26 of them in the second half, as the Sacramento Kings came back from a poor start to beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-110.

The Kings trailed by 18 points at the break but dominated the second half with Fox ended the night with a career high eight three-pointers.

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December 30, 2023
Clear No.1 plus shock riser nobody saw coming as contender falls from grace: NBA Power Rankings

We’re six weeks into the NBA season in one of the most even title races in recent history… barring one clear standout.

It’s come amid a host of big improvers in an exciting new era of stars, while several other sides have disappointed.

Read on for the latest NBA Power Rankings. All records/numbers accurate as of Thursday night AEDT.

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What are the Power Rankings? This is our attempt to rank every NBA team from best to worst. We take wins and losses into account, but also the quality of opposition faced and whether teams are likely to get healthier or improve going forward. It’s a little bit ‘who’s hot and who’s not’; part predictive, part analysis of what’s happened. If Team A is above Team B, we’d probably tip A to beat B at a neutral venue.

Every NBA team analysed in our Power Rankings.Source: FOX SPORTS

1. BOSTON CELTICS (14-4)

Who else but? Continuing on from last campaign’s dominant regular season, the Celtics appear to have gotten even stronger with the additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Integrating such key pieces to a rotation can take time for teams to adjust, but not Boston, having posted a top eight offensive rating and top three defensive rating. Still undefeated at home, the Celtics’ +9.6 point differential is the best in the league. Not only do they have top-line stars, most notably Jayson Tatum, who’s having another MVP-calibre season, but Joe Mazulla’s rotation is arguably the deepest and most talented in the NBA. It’ll help them mitigate injuries (provided they don’t come at the business end of the season). Can anyone stop them? The clear best team in the league right now.

2. DENVER NUGGETS (13-6)

The reigning champs have been in cruise control in the early parts of the season, while Jamal Murray has been limited to eight games due to a hamstring injury … yet they still sit second in the West standings at 13-6 and have a top 10 offensive and defensive rating. It included a particularly strong start to the season before the Nuggets hit a lean patch, dropping four of five games as their less experience and depth compared to last season showed. But a road win over the Clippers on the second half of a back-to-back without Murray, Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon displayed championship DNA at its finest and would build huge belief in the second unit and team as a whole. Jokic remains out-of-this-world good as the current frontrunner for the MVP in what’d be his third overall. Oh and they’re also the only other team still unbeaten at home.

‘Wait a minute!’ Smith blasts ‘idiots’ | 02:01

3. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-4)

One of the big surprise packages so far, Minnesota is emerging as a legitimate contender before our eyes. In fact, it’s the Wolves we thought we were getting last season after three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert joined the team, as his twin tower frontcourt pairing with Karl Anthony-Towns is starting to flourish. Sitting first in the West with the best defensive rating in the entire NBA – built around Gobert, and great size and flexibility that’s really troubled opposition – the Wolves have taken the leap into the top tier of teams. Then there’s the Anthony Edwards piece, with the star guard evolving into a MVP-level superstar that plays both ends of the floor and has a certain dog and killer instinct about him that reminds you of some of the game’s all-time greats.

4. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-5)

The new-look Bucks are starting to figure things out – and that’s a scary prospect for the rest of the NBA. After a slow start, Milwaukee has won eight of its last nine games and is beginning to live up to the hype after recruiting Damian Lillard to join forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and create one of the most dominant one-two offensive punches in the NBA. Though the Bucks have the fourth-best offence in the league, there’s still issues at the other end of the floor, with a bottom 10 defensive rating. Brook Lopez is starting to rediscover his dominant defensive form from last season, but misses having Jrue Holiday out on the perimeter, while Khris Middleton is still ramping up to full health after off-season knee surgery. If they can make improvements on the defensive end to at least be middle of the road, the Nuggets showed last season you don’t necessarily need to have an elite defence to win it all. Could they simply score their way to a title?

5. PHILADLEPHIA 76ERS (12-6)

Couldn’t have navigated the James Harden trade saga much better. It was addition by subtraction for the Sixers, with Harden’s departure paving the way for Tyrese Maxey to evolve into a superstar – even if he’s cooled off from his epic early-season heights – while Joel Embiid continues to do Joel Embiid things. The star centre has also improved as a facilitator, averaging a career-best 6.6 assists per game. Philly also added a host of handy role players in the Harden trade plus assets it could use to recruit another star by the trade deadline. They sit top four in the East and have the second-best points differential (+8.7) in the NBA, having shown a ruthlessness to really crush teams. Nick Nurse’s team has the second-best offence – playing with more movement and freedom than last season – to go with a top 10 defence. A team with all the tools to make another deep playoff run.

6. ORLANDO MAGIC (13-5)

The other shock riser – and this one has been even more unexpected – including riding a current seven-game winning streak. Orlando was seen as a fun, budding team on the rise, but not many could’ve predicted Jamahl Mosley’s side would be this good, this fast. The Magic have the third-best record in the East and their improvement has largely come behind a more robust defence – currently the second-best in the league. They simply have guys who compete hard every game like Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony, while Paolo Banchero has taken his game to new heights alongside co-star Franz Wagner, an elite running partner who’s still somehow underrated. Joe Ingles has also provide invaluable leadership and stability off the bench. The Magic, who’ve taken down arguably the best two teams in the NBA in Boston and Denver, have done all of this with Markelle Fultz missing most of the season with a knee injury!

Booker torches the Garden with dagger 3 | 00:37

7. PHOENIX SUNS (11-6)

The Suns are coming. Despite Bradley Beal being restricted to three games due to a back issue and Devin Booker also battling injury, they’re still sitting in the upper echelon of the always competitive West. Kevin Durant has wound the clock back to look like… well, prime Kevin Durant, while Booker too has had some monster performances top really ascend his status to the top-line superstars. What’s also been encouraging is how recruits Eric Gordon and Grayson Allen have stepped up with more opportunities and Jusuf Nurkic might have found his perfect landing spot. It’s the defensive end of the floor where there’s still some issues, but sitting 11-6 despite their new big three having never played together yet and there’s huge reason for optimism in the Valley of the Sun.

Giddey starts for OKC amid investigation | 00:50

8. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (11-6)

Another big improver and team that looks genuinely ready to contend, perhaps slightly ahead of its time. OKC is ranked top seven both offensively and defensively and doesn’t seem to fear anyone. The impact of former Pick 2 Chet Holmgren has been significant, with the gun big man emerging as the unlikely frontrunner for Rookie of the Year over Victor Wembanyama, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to be crazy good to back up his breakout 2022/23 season. Mark Daigneault is generally getting better production across the board from the likes of Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe, allowing him to be more flexible with his line-ups. The hovering allegations about Josh Giddey have been the only real downside amid an indifferent start to the season for the Aussie, but there’s so much to like about what the Thunder are doing. And all of this with a mountain of draft picks at their disposal to upgrade the roster when they see fit. Look out.

9. DALLAS MAVERICKS (11-6)

The forgotten contender in the arms race following last season’s big disappointment, even after they acquired Kyrie Irving. But Luka Doncic looks like a man on a mission – with a better roster around him including a barrage of three-point shooters. It’s the offensive end of the floor where Dallas has really excelled – boasting the No.3 offensive rating – while they do have a ways to improve defensively to be taken more seriously as a legit contender. But the Doncic-Irving duo has proven to be a real handful, plus in Dereck Lively II the Mavericks have a promising big man for the first time in several years. It’d be nice to see more consistency from Josh Green, though the Aussie remains an important member of the rotation and has had some bright moments.

Kings topple Warriors for Group C throne | 00:57

10. SACRAMENTO KINGS (10-7)

The beam is starting to come alight. After a 2-4 start to the campaign where the Kings looked like a big regression contender, they’ve rediscovered their spark, going 8-2 over their last 10 games including 4-2 over a recent road trip. The offence from last season is starting to come back too, led by De’Aaron Fox amid a spectacular start to the season from the star guard, who’s averaged a career-best 3.1 three-pointers per game. And Mike Brown’s team has improved at the other end of the floor to become middle-of-the-road defensively. Keegan Murray hasn’t quite taken the second-year leap in what could really propel the Kings to another level, which might be more likely to come in the forward’s third season.

11. LA LAKERS (11-8)

It’s been an up and down start to the season for the Lakers — and perhaps they’re ultimately not the contenders we thought they were amid a host of other Western Conference sides improving. While it’s still early days, LA has had issues at both ends of the floor — mainly the offensive end (ranked bottom three in three-point shooting) — as Darvin Ham works through finding his best line-ups after a few off-season changes to the roster. They’ve also been affected by injury and have struggled on the road (3-6). Beyond Anthony Davis and LeBron James, who’s still freakishly good at near age 39, there’s a lack of other consistent production, even if D’Angelo Russell has bounced back from a disappointing playoff series, while Austin Reaves hasn’t had the breakout season come expected in year three and has been moved to the bench.

LeBron suffers WORST loss in NBA career | 00:51

12. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10-8)

The Cavs have overcome a slow start to the season to get on a roll in recent times, having won six of their last eight games. We frankly haven’t seen Cleveland at full strength enough yet this season to get a real grasp of where this team is at – a team that finished top four in the East last season. The core remains as talented as some of the top sides and the addition of Max Strus has been a big win to add much-needed three-point shooting on the wing. The Caves don’t really want for anything, though there’s question marks of whether the Even Mobley-Jarrett Allen frontcourt is viable long-term given the spacing issues. It comes in an important juncture and season at large for the franchise as it’ll be hoping to convince Donovan Mitchell to stick around long-term, in one of the potential trade narratives to keep an eye on.

13. NEW YORK KNICKS (10-7)

When it’s all clicking for the Knicks, they’re a strong unit. Jalen Brunson proved last season was no aberration, backing up his breakout campaign to again lead this team, while Julius Randle and RJ Barrett haven’t been quite as consistent even though the latter has shown an improved three-point stroke. New York does have a top-five ranked defence and the 11th-best offence, but Tom Thibodeau’s squad has struggled against the best teams in the league. From that perspective, how far can a Brunson-Randle-Barrett trio go — even with an improved roster around them? Might be one big move away from seriously contending.

Knicks stun Heat with comeback in NY | 01:16

14. INDIANA PACERS (9-7)

With Tyrese Haliburton in this kind of form, anything might be possible. Haliburton is putting together an All-NBA level season, averaging stupidly good numbers across the board (25.9 points on 51 per cent shooting, 3.8 triples and 11.9 assists per game). It’s been key to the team’s promising 9-7 start to the season, with claim to the league’s No.1 offensive rating while averaging 127 points per game. It’s completely opened the Pacers up defensively though …and where’s Haliburton’s help coming from? Myles Turner’s minutes are down, while Rick Carlisle seemingly can’t decide if he wants to develop Benedict Mathurin as a starter or just play veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield heavy minutes, with the latter more of a win-now move. Bruce Brown has been a handy addition, but he’s more a role player than anything. Another team to watch ahead of the trade deadline.

15. MIAMI HEAT (10-8)

Another team that’s hard to figure out, albeit hampered by injuries, As if coming off an NBA Finals appearance as the eighth seed didn’t already make it tricky enough! The Heat have at least navigated the majority of the opening weeks without star guard Tyler Herro, who looked set for a huge breakout season as Miami’s leading scorer, and they’ve clearly missed his offence. The good has been good — including a seven-game winning streak and Bam Adebayo rolling in a career-best season to take on the mantle as Miami’s alpha. But the bad has been bad — opening the campaign 1-4 and currently in the midst of a three-game losing streak, while there’s question marks of the team’s depth.

16. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (10-9)

One of the biggest enigmas in the NBA … are still an enigma? There’s been some good and some bad — including a five-game losing streak — and they’ve all-round just been an average side. It’s a somewhat disappointing return for a franchise that spent parts of last season as the No.1 seed in the West and could be so much more with Zion Williamson. But the former No.1 pick hasn’t yet lived up to expectations and has appeared frustrated at times with how the team is going and his role. Frankly, we haven’t seen Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum on the court together enough to get a proper gauge of how good they can be. McCollum’s lung injury did open the door for Dyson Daniels to play more minutes though and show a glimpse of the Aussie young gun’s promising future.

17. LA CLIPPERS (8-9)

Still adjusting to life with James Harden, the Clippers might’ve worked things out. After starting the Harden era 0-5, Tyronn Lue’s side has since won five of its last seven games as it starts to move up the West standings. There were always to be growing pains with Harden and a need to fine-tune rotations, which has ultimately seen Russell Westbrook move to the bench. Well, over their last six games, the Clippers have the best defensive rating in the league, while Harden is coming off his best game yet as a Clipper with a season-high 26 points, five triples and five steals. Paul George’s hot start to the season hasn’t been talked about enough too amid the team’s struggles.

18. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (8-10)

It’s hard to know what to make of Golden State at times and how much we judge Steve Kerr’s team on reputation. Some predicted the addition of Chris Paul would take the Warriors to the next level, but right now they’re sitting just inside the Play-In qualification. It’s been the same story as last season — they rely too much on Steph Curry, Klay Thompson has been inconsistent and unreliable, Draymond Green has been engulfed in drama and the young players haven’t stepped up (but haven’t necessarily had opportunities to). Andrew Wiggins has meanwhile fallen off a cliff to leave a big scoring void, but Kerr doesn’t quite seem prepared yet to pass the baton to the next crop. They’ve gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and Paul has already suffered his first injury setback of the season.

Curry tops Wemby in battle of the stars | 01:11

19. HOUSTON ROCKETS (8-8)

Ime Uodka has done some sort of job in his first 16 games as Rockets coach. A team considered a potential improver looks like a genuine playoff team. It’s been a bit of a seesaw — with revolving winning and losing streaks — but this team is highly disciplined defensively, helped by the addition of Dillon Brooks, is deep and has beaten reigning champion Denver twice. Having an established point guard in Fred VanVleet has provided more overall structure and Alpereen Sengun looks like a mini Jokic in a brilliant breakout season from the 21-year old centre. And to think the Rockets tried — and failed — to land Brook Lopez in the off-season in what would’ve almost certainly prevented Sengun from doing what he’s doing now. A really impressive start in H-Town in a big tick overall. Now just to replicate their home form (8-1) on the road (0-7) — and more Jock Landale too please!

20. ATLANTA HAWKS (8-9)

One thing you can count on with Atlanta — it’s going to score in bunches. The Hawks have the No. 5 offensive rating this season while averaging 122.5 points per game — trailing only Indiana — driven by Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Jalen Johnson’s emergence has offset John Collins’ departure, and so the forward’s injury leaves a big hole in Quin Snyder’s streamlined rotation — that has featured Patty Mills for all of five total minutes this season. After a promising start to the season, the Hawks have gone 2-5 over their last seven games, so they have a few things to figure out ahead of tough upcoming schedule including playing Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Denver in their next five games. Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu remain locked in a minutes split at centre, but you sense it’s only a matter of time before Okongwu is given full rein.

21. BROOKLYN NETS (9-8)

The Nets have managed to keep their head above water despite battling a host of injuries to the likes of Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Cameron Johnson and Cam Thomas. Considering the amount of changes to the line-up, Brooklyn would be happy to currently be sitting ninth in the East including currently riding a three-game winning streak. The team has also had the sixth-toughest schedule in the league, according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, while Mikal Bridges hasn’t quite had the breakout season some anticipated yet. With all that in mind, there’s a fair bit of upside when — or if — the Nets get fully healthy.

22. TORONTO RAPTORS (9-10)

Offence has been the main concern for the Raptors — in particular their bottom-five ranked three-point shooting. As good as Scottie Barnes has been in a breakout season from the forward, it’s hard to get a grasp of this team’s identity. One game it’s Barnes leading the charge, the next it’s Pascal Siakam, while OG Anunoby has struggled amongst it all and Jakob Poeltl has been used sparingly despite costing the team a first-round pick and getting a juicy contract extension. Could they be sellers at the deadline? Dennis Schroder has at least enjoyed a strong season as the team’s new point guard to get back to some of his best form of years past.

23. UTAH JAZZ (6-12)

Lauri Markkanen is doing everything he can, but fair to say this season hasn’t started nearly well as last for the young Jazz. You could see it going either way in Utah — but it’s been tough goings for Will Hardy and company. After struggling in the opening games before getting injured, Walker Kessler now finds himself coming off the bench, though that should change soon, while Keyonte George has moved into the starting line-up in Hardy’s bid for more playmaking and movement in that opening five. The Jazz however still have major issues at both ends of the floor, and at some stage, they’ll need to commit to a path of either competing for the playoffs or rebuilding, as right now it feels like they’re trying do both but failing to achieve anything.

24. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (5-11)

Just when the Hornets were starting to turn their season around, the near worst possible thing happened – LaMelo Ball suffered another setback to his troublesome ankle that required surgery earlier this year. At full strength, Charlotte has a solid roster that could contend for the playoffs, but it hasn’t had all its key pieces on the floor together at once, with Ball central to everything. Controversial forward Miles Bridges has taken no time to get up to speed since returning from suspension, and now he and Terry Rozier in particular will need to take on a much bigger load with the Hornets’ franchise superstar sidelined for the next several weeks.

25. CHICAGO BULLS (5-14)

If it wasn’t already clear, it’s time to blow it up. Things are a mess for the Bulls right now — a team built to win now is a ways off and is sitting all the way down as the Eastern Conference 13th seed amid a five-game losing streak — including dropping eight of their last nine. If Chicago’s situation doesn’t improve, which, right now, it’s hard to see how it does, expect one — or both — of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan to be wearing a different jersey by the trade deadline. At least then Chicago can start building with a new nucleus, because the current one is stuck in NBA purgatory — where no team wants to be.

26. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (5-12)

Going according to script after the Damian Lillard trade as the Blazers prioritise developing their emerging crop of youngsters including Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson, who should eventually take over the starting point guard job. Portland recently snapped an eight-game losing streak, with its offence the key area letting it down. Anfernee Simons having only played one game due to a thumb injury clearly hasn’t helped. Elsewhere, Aussie duo Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath are getting more opportunities in the rotation to show their worth, with the former’s defensive prowess again proving valuable.

27. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (4-13)

When is Ja Morant free to return again? It’s the question the Grizzlies would be repeatedly asking themselves amid a grim 4-13 start to the season as perhaps the most disappointing team. Because sure, having no Morant for over a quarter of the season is significant, but the Grizzlies have looked like a lottery team without him. It includes the Griz being ranked dead last in three-point shooting with the second-worst rated offence. Unlike Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. has struggled to step up with extra offensive opportunities. And as if it couldn’t get any worse, Marcus Smart is now sidelined for the next several weeks after suffering a nasty ankle injury. They did finally end their 0-8 winless drought at home — the last team to do so — after beating Utah on Thursday.

28. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (3-14)

The Spurs are probably lucky they’re not even lower (not that there’s much scope). But it’s been the very definition of growing pains and teething issues for the rebuilding team in welcoming Victor Wembanyama into its young core despite the No.1 pick’s sensational start to his career. San Antonio is in the midst of a 12-game losing streak to sit dead last in the West, while its -12.9 point difference is the worst in the NBA. Maybe expectations were simply set too high amid the hype around ‘Wemby’ — but just because they’re not playing well doesn’t mean their future isn’t bright. The Spurs are simply in experiment and trial and error mode — so even a Play-In appearance feels unlikely right now. Devin Vassell missing five games due to an adductor injury hasn’t helped their cause.

Spurs fall short despite Wemby heroics | 00:51

29. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (3-15)

Not that the Wizards were expected to be any good this season, but it’s probably been even worse than imagined, with Kyle Kuzma the sole shining light. It took for Washington to play the Pistons to end a nine-game losing streak and pick up its fifth overall win nearing the quarter-way mark of the season. Jordan Poole and Tyus Jones have underwhelmed, though neither have played big minutes amid some curious rotation decisions from Wes Unseld Jr. Ranked bottom 10 at both ends of the floor, the Wizards are officially in all-out tank mode and could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.

30. DETROIT PISTONS (2-16)

Perhaps the most alarming thing is that the Pistons started the season 2-1 and looked like a sneaky improver! Well, they’ve since lost 15 on the trot to hold the worst record in the NBA, with the eighth-worst defence and fourth-west offence. This is a team some thought could start climbing the standings after spending years going to the draft. But Detroit is still behind newer rebuilding teams like Portland, San Antonio and Washington, while Monty Williams can barely figure out his rotation and which players will help take this franchise forward. Having Cade Cunningham back has been important and rookie Ausar Thompson and second-year centre Jalen Duren have both impressed, but it looks set to be another long season in the Motor City — even if Bojan Bogdanovic’s imminent return will help.

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December 1, 2023
Ugly James Harden saga takes twist as Sixers superstar stopped by team security in dramatic escalation

The James Harden-Sixers saga has taken another crazy turn.

As the NBA world waits with bated breath to see if or when Harden takes the court for Philadelphia this season, more light has been shed on him not traveling with the team on its season-opening road trip starting in Milwaukee.

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KP cooks New York on return! | 01:03

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Thursday, Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes broke the news that Harden arrived for the team flight, but was “stopped by a security official who notified him that he was not permitted to accompany the team.”

The report indicated that head coach Nick Nurse and general manager Elton Brand told Harden it was the team’s plans for him to work out at the practice facility, where the organization can be “monitoring his measurables and speed with their tracking system.”

Harden was reportedly “frustrated” by this development, but did not escalate the situation.

The former NBA MVP had vowed this offseason never to play for the Sixers again, calling team president Daryl Morey a “liar,” presumably intimating that Morey — who he’d previously had a great relationship with from their time together in Houston — had promised him either a trade or long-term contract extension.

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Neither has materialized.

While there have been talks between the Sixers and Clippers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that the Clippers have walked away from trade discussions “at least for the foreseeable future.”

Harden had missed a number of the Sixers’ practices recently, as the team cited personal reasons for his absence.

NBA reporter Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported Tuesday that Harden had been tending to his mother, who is ill.

Last season, Harden averaged 21.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post.

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October 26, 2023
‘It’s a special time’: Inside the Denver Nuggets locker room as White opens up on run to NBA Finals, Jokic, the Boomers

Australian basketball star Jack White has the chance to be part of unique NBA history.

White’s Denver Nuggets will set out to win their first championship when they face off with the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, kicking off in Denver on Friday at 10.30am (AEST).

It’s been 47 long years in the making for the Nuggets, who entered the NBA in 1976 and had lost four Conference Finals series prior to last week’s triumph against the LA Lakers.

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Two-time MVP winner Nikola Jokic has been a juggernaut for Mike Malone’s team throughout the post-season — averaging a triple-double after three rounds — while Jamal Murray’s epic resurgence from an ACL injury has been a fantastic story too.

Meanwhile White, who played in 17 regular season games in his first NBA season with the Nuggets, has been watching from the sidelines over the playoffs, being down in the Nuggets’ depth chart.

But as White explained to foxsports.com.au, he’s felt like he’s had as much respect as Malone or Jokic within the organisation during his time in Denver, such is the culture it’s built.

It comes after the 25-year old first joined the Nuggets last July on a two-way contract, which has meant he’s split his time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold, playing predominantly for the latter.

He made a strong impression, averaging 20.9 points, 1.9 triples and 9.6 rebounds in 14 games for Grand Rapids Gold.

But White now has the opportunity to be part of something bigger than himself and become just the seventh Australian to win an NBA championship ring, joining greats in Luc Longley, Andrew Graze, Patty Mills, Aaron Baynes, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova.

He opened up to foxsports.com.au on the Nuggets’ run to the NBA Finals, his own journey and the opportunity to represent the Boomers again.

Q: How are you feeling and how is the team feeling coming off that massive series sweep over the Lakers?

JW: It’s good to be back in Denver and have a bit of time at home, which has been a change up from the past couple of months on the road and all that. The vibes are great and it’s obviously a huge accomplishment for the group to be Western Conference champs. But in saying that, our goal is still not complete and the job’s not done — we’ve still got four more wins we need to get … we’re just enjoying a well-earned rest for all the lads that are playing … just an incredible experience and an incredible run. It’s not done yet.

Q: Can you take us behind the scenes of what it’s been like in the inner sanctum of the Nuggets over the past week?

JW: The first thing that comes to mind is to point out the culture that’s been established here within the group and within the organisation. I think a big part of it is when your best player, Nikola (Jokic), is the guy that couldn’t give two damns about himself or scoring or anything like that. It’s naturally contagious throughout the organisation. The locker room we have, the vets we have and the guys who are sacrificing their own egos and their own talents for the good of the team and supporting each other. It’s been special to be a part of and you know and appreciate that it’s something that isn’t common within the NBA and it’s hard to make that happen. That in itself is one of the reasons we’ve been able to have success.

The Nuggets celebrate after beating the Lakers (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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Obviously it’s a long NBA season with 82 regular season games and then going into the playoffs, but it’s never going to be perfect. You’re gonna lose games, there’s gonna be ups and downs, but having each other to fall back on for us has been a huge positive and a huge strength of ours as a group. I think that’s really starting to show as we’ve been able to make adjustments and see how we play and how we interact throughout these playoffs.

Q: Has there been a certain point from your perspective when the genuine possibility of winning a championship felt more real?

JW: For me personally, not really. I think it’s been consistent throughout the whole year. Honestly man, this is something we’ve talked about as a group in training camp in September. We set out our goals for the year — one of them was to beat the franchise record for regular season wins in a season, which was 58 and we just fell short of. Along with that, having the No. 1 seed, having home court advantage during the playoffs and winning a championship — these are all things we’ve spoken about the whole year.

As crazy as it is and as hard as it is to reach this point — and obviously I’m super fortunate to be able to experience this in my first year — the funny thing about it man, is I feel like we are right where we are meant to be. We have all the talent in the world and we have all the successful pieces to build a successful team. Guys are finally healthy, that’s been a big thing. Especially for Jamal (Murray) and Mike (Michael Porter Jr.), all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together at the right time for us. It was just a matter of us going out there and doing it and being locked in.

Q: What was it like coming up against arguably the greatest player of all time in LeBron James in a playoff series?

JW: It’s unreal just to see him up close and what he did in Game 4 and the first half alone. He’s 38 years old and he’s putting up near 40-point triple doubles in elimination games. The athleticism and explosiveness he still has at his age is by no accident. The same with his IQ and the way he’s able to read the game and help his teammates, it was really cool to see that on full display up close.

LeBron in action against the Nuggets (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images/AFP)Source: AFP

For us, making adjustments onto him and understanding that he is, as you said, one of the greatest players to ever play the game and he’s seen it all before. His runs in the playoffs have been unprecedented throughout his career and that’s why we knew we couldn’t mess around in that series and we were obviously fortunate enough to close it out 4-0. A glimmer of home can go a long way. We almost kept them alive in Game 4 and I wouldn’t have been surprised if LeBron was able to do more if we didn’t close them out.

Q: What’s the reaction been like from the Nuggets fans who’ve waited so long just to see their team play in an NBA Finals? What have the scenes been like in Denver when you returned?

JW: I got back super late to my apartment … the city was getting around it pretty hard, people honking and people out on the street and stuff. It’s amazing to be a part of man and to soak it all in.

It’s been unreal the support we get from the city, it’s definitely a big sporting city. The hockey team (Colorado Avalanche) won the Stanley Cup last year and obviously the Nuggets have been making good runs, there’s plenty of stuff going on and the city definitely gets behind its sport. For the Nuggets, it feels like a long time coming.

Especially this year, we’ve had the No.1 seed (in the West). I think it’s a bit of a sigh of relief in the community. Everything’s coming together and it’s a special time for Denver basketball … the concierge in my building, he grew up a Denver fan his whole life and he was just ecstatic the whole time, talking to me and Colin (Gillespie) as we got back to our building at like 2.30am, he was just over the moon.

That in itself is a good reflection of how people feel about it. Just super excited to begin our quest to get four more (wins) and achieve our ultimate goal and give the city what it deserves and give our group what it deserves. This is something people make a lot of sacrifices for, there’s a lot of work that’s been put into this season. We’re ready to see it all pay off.

Q: Everyone knows how freakishly talented Nikola Jokic is and how valuable he is on the court. What’s he like as a teammate?

JW: The best way I’d describe Jokic is he’s just like a regular person. If you spoke to him and you didn’t know anything about basketball, you wouldn’t know he has like the biggest contract in NBA history. He loves his horses back home and his family. He loves video games and stuff, he’s just a regular dude. And he’s really personable and super approachable.

Jokic after winning Western Conference Finals MVP (Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How)Source: AFP

Obviously he’s got that mode he goes to when it’s game time where he can come out and perform and do what he does. But it’s never about him, it’s always about the team and winning. It’s just incredible what he’s been doing the whole playoffs and the whole year. To be frank, he’s really evolving the game of basketball, especially for big men. The consistency he’s able to play with has just been special to watch and witness up close. Unbelievable player and unbelievable person. Exactly the type of guy you want as the head of the snake at your organisation.

Q: Jamal Murray came to Australia last August and was asked if he was confident he could get back to his form in the 2020 NBA Bubble. His response was: “No doubt, that wasn’t even my best though, that’s the thing. There’s another level you guys haven’t seen yet.” Are we seeing the best of Murray right now?

JW: I don’t even know if we are still. Obviously what he’s been doing has been unreal, but at this point, it’s to be expected from him and how he’s been performing the whole playoffs and how he’s been progressing all year since coming back from the injury. Being away from the game for so long, and I know this, you come in and feel like you have no idea how to play … once you start getting those games under your belt, it slows down and you start to feel more like yourself and a better version of yourself. He’s sort of at that stage.

You ask anyone within the organisation, I don’t think they’ll give you any indication of a shock or a feeling of being surprised about the type of performances he’s given us. His approach to the game, the work he’s put in – not just for the injury – but in general. His mental approach to the game is so diligent and he’s so focused. It’s been unbelievable.

It goes along with the theme of everything clicking at the right time. I think a big thing for the Nuggets has been his absence with his injuries, but now he’s finally had a bit of luck on that front. It’s been awesome to see him show he wasn’t sort of a one-hit wonder per se with the Bubble. This is who he is and this is what he does.

Q: Everyone talks about ‘Bubble Murray’ like it was some special rich vein of form … is it fair to say Murray plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder to prove he’s much more than ‘Bubble Murray’?

JW: Yeah, 100%. I think he still has a chip and feels like he has things to prove. I saw a thing today on social media, it’s the uniqueness of his career — he’s got the most 20-point fourth quarters in playoff history. He’s never been an All-Star or All-NBA, but who he is is very well established. He’s one of those guys who, again, maybe being in a smaller market team, maybe guys are under appreciated.

Murray is back to his best form (Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Harry How)Source: AFP

Jok’s (Jokic) second-team All-NBA and an All-Star (this season), but that’s it. We’re the No. 1 seed and guys are just doing their jobs … it’s good to see guys finally starting to get more recondition … we’re obviously working towards the biggest reward you can get to show how much everyone’s really bought in.

Q: Have Jokic and Murray done anything for you personally behind the scenes? Have they shown you anything or are there any personal stories you can share of how those two guys have helped you?

JW: I could go on and on and pick out a heap of stories, because that’s the type of guys they are. I don’t have a car here, so I’ll pretty much ride with Jamal every road trip, he’ll pick me up and we’ll go to the airport. We’ll chat about the games, play video games together and everything like that. We have a good relationship and we’re the same age.

It’s less of a thing where these guys are bringing me to the side and giving me pointers. Watching how they operate is the most beneficial and rewarding thing for me, especially at this time of the year, just their IQs.

One of the best things for us throughout the whole playoff series is their two-man game and the whole chemistry they have. Jok’s been here eight years and Jamal’s been here seven years. Nikola is only 28 and Jamal has just turned 26 — they’re still super young and have a lot of basketball to be played, and that’s the scary thing. You talk about youth, MPJ (Michael Porter Jr.) is 24 still, AG (Aaron Gordon) is 27, Pope’s (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) 30, but he’s running around like he’s 20 years old still. It’s just an exciting time for the group.

In general, everyone’s really good teammates and we have a really good locker room. Those two guys (Jokic and Murray) are our best two players, how they operate and conduct themselves has a big impact on how we are and how we go. They deserve a lot of credit. I saw Jamal shout out a lot of guys (who used to play for the Nuggets) — Monte (Morris), Gary (Harris), Paul Millsap, Torrey (Craig) and Will Barton — guys who have contributed to the culture, because this is something that’s been building for a long time. I’m just fortunate I’m able to come in here and see it when it’s at its peak or approaching that. It’s special.

Q: Your coach, Mike Malone, has made a lot of headlines throughout the playoffs about the narrative of how the Nuggets don’t get much respect from the US national media … has that been a key motivational theme for the team?

JW: I think so … it’s like us vs everyone else and it helps keep us as a group focused on ourselves and not get caught up in the outside noise. We do use it in a positive way where it’s like: ‘We’re going to take care of business and then we’ll see who’s talking at the end’, type of thing. It’s pretty obvious at this point in all of our eyes what goes on in the media being a small market team … but so be it, if that’s going to be what it’s going to be, we’ve just got to focus on doing our job, and we’re doing a good job of it, so we’ve just got to keep doing that. We’ll be rewarded if we keep putting the work in every day and keep focusing on the things we can control.

White fights for a rebound (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Q: It feels like Malone, just like the team, doesn’t get enough credit and we don’t hear as much about him compared to some of the bigger names in the NBA coaching ranks. What’s he like as a coach and what’s he been like as a mentor specifically for you?

JW: I think he’s great. Again, with the theme of the organisation, he’s super approachable and a super personal guy. He’ll crack jokes with you and he has great relationships with all the players. His preparation for every game is at a high level and his collaborations with other coaches and all the support staff … I think that is reflective of the organisation per se.

For example, after we won Game 4, Jok is giving his West Conference Finals MVP speech and he’s shouting out our equipment guys by name. I think that’s a good symbol of how we are.

Although (Malone) is the head coach, it’s a very collaborative thing. As a person, he doesn’t put himself above others. I felt super embraced from the get go. I’m a two-way guy and No.16 or No.17 on the roster down the totem pole, but I feel like I have as much respect in the organisation as the head coach or the MVP, that’s just how it is.

He’s (Malone) been a big part of that, he’s been here ever since Jokic has and he’s been through everything Jamal’s gone through. The relationships he has with his players and especially the guys at the core of our team, it’s super important in establishing the culture and having the tight-knit group. We’re able to understand it’s a long season and things are going to go wrong, but it’s how we respond.

We stay together, that’s something that’s been emphasised since training camp – winning as a group and not individually. That’s something that’s going to propel us forward, our ability to play deep and share the ball and the things we’ve shown all year. But obviously coach is a mastermind at putting all the pieces together along with the playing group and the vets. The IQ and the smarts we have in the room each time we meet is next to none, so it’s a really cool thing to be around.

Q: Malone shared a story of Murray’s fears he’d get traded after his ACL injury and how he hugged him and told him: ‘Hell no. You’re ours. We love you and we’re going to help you get back.’ That feels like it personifies what you just said.

JW: It’s something that’s been built over time. There’s been hiccups for sure and adversity. But the one thing about the organisation is guys are stuck in there. It’s been in development for a long time and goes back to Jamal shouting out those guys who’ve left the team but have had a monumental impact on the organisation, the city and ultimately on us and what we’re doing now. It wouldn’t be possible without the guys before us.

Nuggets coach Mike Malone (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

That’s a special thing when you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. You see these past players showing support for our team and everything like that. Even this summer when I got to Denver, Monte Morris had been traded, but we were hanging out and developing a relationship and working out and these sorts of things.

It’s a special culture and something I think is super uncommon in the NBA. It’s a big reason why it’s a separating factor for us. For me, I’m just trying to soak it all in man. It’s definitely something that definitely can’t be taken for granted.

Q: How special was receiving the Defensive Player of the Game necklace from Malone in the last regular season game against the Sacramento Kings?

JW: It was pretty cool, it wasn’t something I was going for. But it was good to get that recognition. I was just trying to play hard and enjoy the opportunities that I was given. I was fortunate enough to play the last 15 minutes of that game, I just tried to leave it all out there. I fortunately got some boards and a nice little dunk. We got a win, which was always good, and that was the cherry on top.

We had lost five of our last six prior to that game. I was like, we just need to find a way to win this man and start to build some better momentum heading into the playoffs. That was obviously a nice little bonus that came with it.

Q: Is there anyone on the team you’ve personally gravitated towards or someone who’s taken you under their wing?

JW: My locker is in-between Aaron Gordon and Nikola, so I’m around those guys a lot and we’ll be talking smack and spending time together in that regard. I spend a lot of time with Jamal. Reggie (Jackson) actually since he’s gotten here has been huge for me, we work out together a lot and get shots and work out with our shooting coach Mike Panberthy.

White scores during a regular season game (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The vets we have — DJ (DeAndre Jordan), Ish (Smith), Jeff Green and the rookies. I feel like we have such a great dynamic of youth, great vets and guys in their prime. I can’t single out anyone if I’m honest, man. It’s such an all-round thing, there’s no little groups and everyone just comes together well. You could flip flop everything around and have whatever combination of people you want, it’s still going to be the same thing … that’s a credit to the boys themselves, but also the front office in constructing something that’s working together so perfectly. It’s a special environment.

Q: You’re kid from Traralgonthat’s now a member of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. How do you summarise your time in the NBA, and more broadly, your overall path to get to where you are now?

JW: It’s wild man, it’s one of those things where I’ve got to pinch myself sometimes, considering everything. Finishing college when the pandemic was starting and heading back to Australia. Tearing my Achilles 10 games into my professional career and getting back from that in time for my second year.

Staying healthy and having the opportunity to go to Summer League, play for the Boomers and come away with the two-way contract and be a part of this and learn and develop and get better in this system — both in the G League and the NBA. I couldn’t have pictured this man, it’s honestly surreal.

White blocks a shot by Chicago’s Javon Freeman-Liberty (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS

At the same time, these are things I’ve wanted to do and I’ve been talking about with my family and friends since I was 12 or 13 years old. I wanted to pursue basketball, be an NBA player and be an Olympian. It’s surreal that I’m able to work towards ticking off these goals and things I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid.

Especially in this case, to be able to do it in my first year in the NBA and be a part of such a great group, staff, organisation and city. It’s special. Again, just trying to not take anything for granted and trying to soak in every moment and enjoy it. What an incredible experience.

Q: Do you think you’ll be back in Denver next season?

JW: All the feedback has been really positive. I’ll go through all that stuff with my boy Sammy, my agent, when the time comes. Honestly, it’s something I’m not really worried too much about. I’m confident with the work I’ve put in around the group, in the G League and how I’ve conducted myself and how I can fit into this organisation.

When it’s time to take care of all that stuff, hopefully it’s all positive. But I’ll cross that bridge when I need to get to it … I would love to (stay here), I feel like I fit in well with the organisation and I love the city and I love the team, so that would be ideal.

Q: You’ve been named on an extended squad for the Boomers for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, How excited are you about the possibility of teaming up with Aussie legends like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles as well as rising stars Josh Giddy, Dyson Daniels and Josh Green?

JW: A dream come true. These are things I’ve been dreaming of doing in basketball my whole life. To be selected in an 18-man squad is a huge honour. There’s going to be some really good players that miss out, and there were some unbelievable players that weren’t even named in the squad. So I’m super grateful that I’ve been named and recognised with the likes of the talents you mentioned.

Dellavedova and White speak during a meeting between their teams (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

I’m not playing right now in the playoffs, so a big focus for me is getting ready for that and making sure I’m prepared. Just super excited for the opportunity, there’s nothing better than the opportunity to put on the green and gold and represent your country at the highest level.

I’m sure the group will be looking to get a gold medal at this World Cup, and that’s something I definitely want to be a part of. So fingers crossed that all works out, but super humbled and super excited about that whole prospect as well.

Q: Everyone praises the camaraderie of the Boomers team. Can you speak on that and whether you’ve been in contact with any of the other Aussies during the Nuggets’ playoff run?

JW: In regards to the culture, even though it’s something I haven’t been extensively a part of, even when I was with the team before Summer League last year for the World Cup qualifiers, it was something that was definitely felt during that period of time. Getting my jersey presented to me for the first time from David Barlow and Joe Ingles was super special, those are two guys I’ve looked up to my whole career.

To be teammates with them and potentially with Joe this summer is unreal. It’s a big credit to those guys for building a culture that’s so prominent and so special to the country and the guys who are a part of it.

White and Landale embrace during a regular season game (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

In terms of chatting with Aussies during this run, obviously I’ve been in touch with Jock (Landale) because we were playing them (Phoenix Suns) last series. I’m definitely in touch with guys here and there, there’s nothing too specific. I’m sure that stuff will pick up, especially once the season is done and we move onto that as the main focus.

Everyone is all over the place doing their own thing at the moment, so it hasn’t been too heavy in terms of conversations. But looking forward to getting with all the guys in camp and picking that up leading up to it.

Q: You mentioned Landale, what was the experience like coming up against him in the semi finals?

JW: It was weird. I obviously wanted us to come out on top, but I also wanted to see him do well on an individual level as well, which he did, so I was happy for him in that regard. But it was definitely a bit weird, because I wanted to show support and everything like that.

We won a championship together at Melbourne United and we’re good mates. We kind of left the catching up and stuff to post games, especially for him, because he was playing a lot and his role progressed during the series. I was leaving the ball in his court in terms of if he wanted to catch up or grab a bite or whatever it may be. But we were definitely chatting a bit of rubbish pre-game and post game.

It was great to see him come into his own within that series and take the challenge, especially guarding Jok and being productive on the offensive end. But his performance was no surprise for me with how hard he plays and his smarts. I think he’s a great fit for their organisation.

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June 1, 2023
‘Call a f***ing timeout’: Kyrgios fumes as Celtics blow it, Harden erupts it OT NBA playoffs thriller

A statement performance from James Harden has helped the Philadelphia 76ers to a 116-115 overtime win over the Boston Celtics in Game 4, levelling their Eastern Conference semi-finals series at 2-2.

Harden, having struggled in the last two games of the series, willed the Sixers to victory with 42 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, four steals and a block.

With it, Harden became the first 76ers player to have multiple 40-point games in a postseason since Allen Iverson, having put up 45 in the series-opener.

“I put the work in and it was all about being aggressive,” said Harden afterwards.

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Wednesday May 10th

“Tonight it was really do or die.”

Teammate Joel Embiid, meanwhile, had 34 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and a steal but faded late and told reporters post-game that he was “terrible” and needs to “bet better”.

Harden’s heroics were nearly not enough though for Philadelphia, who crumbled in the latter stages of the second and third quarters to gift Boston easy points and confidence heading into the fourth.

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James Harden starred in the win. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The Celtics rode that wave of momentum to then take the lead and seemingly put themselves into a position to win the game late, only for a Harden bucket to force overtime.

Both teams traded buckets to open overtime, with neither able to really pull away as a thrilling finish to Monday’s game loomed.

A critical call went against the 76ers though as Embiid went at Marcus Smart and scored, pleading for the and-1 only for the referees to rule it an offensive foul against the Philadelphia big man.

Rivers challenged the call but it was ruled unsuccessful, giving the Celtics a chance to put a dagger through the Sixers on the other end of the floor.

Al Horford had a clean look from deep but couldn’t drain the 3-pointer, with Philadelphia instead regaining the lead after he fouled Embiid, who made both free throws.

The late controversy though was far from over as Tatum appeared to push off Maxey before hitting a tough 3-pointer that could have just as easily been ruled an offensive foul.

“It was awful that that wasn’t called… it was a push off,” Rivers said post-game to reporters.

So, Harden took matters into his own hands after Embiid drew a double-team and passed out to his open teammate who made a big-time 3-pointer to give the Sixers a 116-115 lead.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had a chance to call timeout, with 19 seconds still on the clock, but instead let his team play it out — and it backfired.

Even Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, a passionate Celtics fan, implored on Twitter: “Call a f***ing timeout”. On a side note, Kyrgios’ Twitter feed is relatable reading for Boston supporters this morning.

Boston took far too long to get a shot off and while Smart made his 3-point attempt it was after the buzzer as the Sixers held on for a much-needed win.

The Sixers rode a strong start from Embiid to a 27-19 lead after the first quarter, ending the period of 10-0 run.

That was despite Philadelphia struggling from 3-point range (1-for-9), instead aggressively attacking the rim and finding plenty of success in the paint.

Joel Embiid and James Harden combined for 76 points. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

As a result, it was no surprise to see Embiid (12 points) leading the Sixers in scoring after the opening quarter while Maxey provided plenty of hustle on the offensive boards.

As for the Celtics, Jaylen Brown matched Embiid with 12 points of his own and Derrick White had five but given they scored 19 in the quarter, there obviously wasn’t much production elsewhere.

In fact, all other Boston players outside of that duo went 0-for-12 from the field to start Monday’s game.

While Embiid was on fire early for Philadelphia, it was Harden who really started to take over in the second quarter, putting up 15 points to go with four assists in the period.

Harden erupted for 45 points in Game 1 to inspire the Sixers to an unlikely victory on the road without Embiid but had combined for just 28 points in the next two games of the series.

Of course, some drop in production was to be expected with Embiid’s return and in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. Shooting 5-for-28 from the floor in those losses is though.

James Harden stepped up. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

“You just talk to him and you keep telling him to keep shooting,” Embiid said when asked what kind of advice he would offer Harden after the Game 3 defeat.

“Be aggressive. Can’t get too high, can’t get too low. Some nights you’re going to make lots of other shots, a lot of tough ones, and some nights you’re not going to make them. So it’s about finding other ways to impact the game.”

Harden did just that on Monday, finding his shooting rhythm while also dishing out buckets for his teammates in just the kind of performance Philadelphia needed from the 33-year-old.

The Sixers took a 59-50 lead into the third quarter on the back of that strong showing from Harden while Embiid finished the half with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

In reality though it should have been a much more dominant lead for Philadelphia as Boston stormed back to score 10 points in the final 73 seconds of the quarter.

What would have been particularly promising for the Celtics was the fact Tatum had only scored two points and yet they found themselves trailing by just nine.

Tatum scored his first bucket of the game with 28 seconds remaining in the half, otherwise shooting 1-for-9 from the field.

Jayson Tatum started to heat up late in the game. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

Fortunately for the Celtics, Tatum picked up where he left off as he opened the third quarter with four points and ended up scoring 13 overall in the period.

Harden wasn’t letting up either though, adding another seven points and two assists to his personal tally as the Sixers jumped out to a 76-61 lead with seven minutes left in the quarter.

Philadelphia though came to rue another sluggish end to the period, with Boston closing the quarter on a 8-2 run to trail 92-83 heading into the final 12 minutes of the game.

The next challenge for the Sixers was to wrestle back some of that momentum in the non-Embiid minutes as the fourth quarter opened.

It was tough going for both teams early on though as the Sixers and Celtics went scoreless for the first two minutes before Derrick White dunked it home for the opening points of the quarter.

That prompted Sixers coach Doc Rivers to call a timeout and while Embiid had carried Philadelphia to victory so many times before, this didn’t look like one he could shoulder.

Emotional Embiid receiving MVP trophy | 01:46

Instead, the MVP appeared to be tiring down the stretch as a few crucial shots from Harden kept the Sixers from completely imploding.

It was still a collapse of epic proportions though as the Celtics charged to a 105-100 lead with two minutes left, although a Harden bucket and P.J. Tucker and-1 later levelled the game.

In the end though the Celtics still were in the more dominant position and Smart made two late free-throws to put Boston up 107-105 heading into the final 30 seconds.

The Sixers had one final chance to either level or win the game and it was Harden who once again seized the moment, floating it in to tie the contest up at 107-107.

Still, with 16 seconds on the clock, the Celtics had an opportunity to win it on the buzzer as Tatum kicked it out to an open Smart but the 3-point attempt missed, sending the game to overtime.

In the end it was the Sixers who finished on top despite being on the wrong end of some controversial calls, levelling the series at 2-2 as a road trip to Boston awaits for Game 5.

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May 7, 2023
Steph Curry sight says it all in ‘very bad omen’ for Lakers as Warriors make statement in Game 2

The Golden State Warriors have handed the Los Angeles Lakers a reality check, cruising to a 127-100 win in Game 2 to level their Western Conference semi-finals series at 1-1.

Although, while it was certainly a disappointing way to close out the road trip for the Lakers, the fact they took one game from the Warriors at Chase Center remains a plus.

The challenge for the Lakers and coach Darvin Ham will be to make the necessary adjustments, specifically against the Steph Curry and Draymond Green pick-and-roll.

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Fri, 05 May

Friday May 5th

Conversely, Steve Kerr definitely made adjustements, with the decision to put Green on Anthony Davis proving particularly effective as the Lakers big man was held to just 11 points.

It followed a statement performance from Davis in Game 1 where he erupted for 30 points, 23 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.

On Friday Green upped the physicality and took it to Davis, who also had seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks but turned the ball over four times.

The other big success story for the Warriors was JaMychal Green, starting for Kevon Looney as the center dealt with an illness and managed to play only 12 minutes.

Celtics level series with Philadelphia | 01:30

The Lakers defence left Green open and he made them pay, going 3-for-6 from downtown to finish with 15 points.

Klay Thompson (30 points) led the way for the Warriors in scoring while Curry had 20 points while dishing out 12 assists in a playmaking masterclass.

Although as The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami pointed out, there has yet to be a big Curry game like that he had in Game 7 against the Kings, something which he called a “very bad omen” for L.A.

Things were so easy for Curry and the Warriors on Friday that the Golden State superstar could afford an early mark, picturing blowing bubble gum.

Steph Curry was chilling on the bench.Source: FOX SPORTS

It wasn’t all bad for the Lakers though, at least early in the game, carrying the momentum from a 117-112 win in Game 1 into the opening quarter to take a 33-26 lead.

Although this time it was LeBron James leading the way instead of Davis, with the Lakers superstar finishing the quarter with 14 points after going 6-for-8 from the field.

That wasn’t the only change in the second game of the series as the Lakers went from dominating in the paint and at the charity stripe to instead finding success from downtown.

L.A. hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter of Game 2 after draining just six in the entire series opener, while also failing to earn a single free throw after making 25 in Game 1.

As for the Warriors, they were getting clean looks with Green while high pick-and-roll with Curry and Green was also causing plenty of problems for the Lakers.

But it was Thompson who caught fire to help the Warriors to a 67-56 lead by halftime, with Golden State outscoring the Lakers 41-23 in the second quarter.

Anthony Davis was kept quiet. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFPSource: AFP

Thompson was hot from deep, going 5-for-7 as the Warriors sharpshooter finished the half on 19 points to help ease the pressure on Curry (eight points), who had picked up three fouls.

Curry may have only made three buckets in the half but he was dishing them out, finishing the second quarter with eight assists.

Funnily enough, the Warriors had well and truly flipped the script after Game 1 to outscore the Lakers 30-12 in the paint while Thompson’s 3-pointers added balance to the offence.

L.A., on the other hand, was largely relying on James and Rui Hashimura, who impressed off the bench with 14 points and three rebounds.

James though led all scorers at the half with 21 points, making up for a quiet showing from Davis, who had just four points to go with two rebounds and an assist.

Heat FRIED by refs in controversial call | 00:50

Davis had been challenged in the lead-up to the Warriors series by Charles Barkley, who questioned whether he would be able to consistently produce against the defending champions.

“My faith in Anthony Davis is … I can’t trust that dude,” Barkley said on ‘Inside the NBA’. “He played great every other game. But can Anthony Davis dominate for four games? I think he has a huge advantage. I don’t think they have anybody that can guard him, but he’s so inconsistent.

“When he plays like he is capable of, he is great. Can they get four great games out of Anthony Davis? That’s what this series is going to come down to.”

While Davis answered the call in Game 1, his more tame performance on Friday only further backed up Barkley’s concerns over his inconsistency.

The Lakers scored the first four points of the third quarter but it was all the Warriors from there, with the lead ballooning out to 90-69 with just over five minutes left.

The decision to start Green continued to prove a masterstroke from Golden State coach Steve Kerr as the veteran opened the quarter with 10 points and an assist.

The scoreline only blew out even more by the end of the third, with Golden State going up 110-80 as the fourth quarter became nothing but a mere formality.

Alont with James, Hachimura was a shining light for the Lakers second unit with 21 points and five rebounds from 22 minutes.

The series now heads to L.A. as the Lakers host the Warriors in Game 2 on Sunday at 10.3am [AEST].

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May 5, 2023
Sixers END Bucks’ 16-game winning streak after double-act’s 58-year first as key question answered

The streak is over.

The Philadelphia 76ers have defeated Milwaukee 132-127 to put an end to the Bucks’ 16-straight wins in a thrilling clash at Fiserv Forum between the Eastern Conference powerhouses on Sunday (all times AEDT).

Trailing by 14 through three quarters, the Sixers rallied hard in the final stanza behind the lead of James Harden, who was the most dominant player on the court, pouring in 21 of his 38 points in the fourth.

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Sun, 05 Mar

Sunday March 5th

Harden also made five threes with nine rebounds and 10 assists and shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.

“He was fantastic, big shot after big shot, he led the comeback – he was just James Harden,” Joel Embiid said of his teammate.

Embiid was also huge with 31 points, six rebounds and 10 assists – marking the first time since 1965 that Philadelphia teammates have both recorded 30-plus points and 10-plus assists in the same game, per Sixers Stat – and Tyrese Maxey added 26 points.

Harden paid tribute to Embiid after arguably the best offensive display from the duo since they joined forces at Philadelphia.

“We’ve figured it out, he’s the lead scorer and we try to give him the ball and give him shots,” said Harden, who moved to Philadelphia last year from Brooklyn.

“One game at a time, we try to get better quarter by quarter and just keep pushing into the postseason.”

The thrilling comeback included Harden hitting a massive straight-on triple with the shot clock expiring to get Philly within a point at 124-125 with 1:21 remaining in the game to silence the home fans.

On the next play, Harden assisted an Embiid dagger three-pointer that gave the Sixers a 127-125 lead with 42 seconds remaining.

A Jrue Holiday missed three at the other end and ensuing pair of Maxey free throws extended the visitors’ lead to four to make it a two-possession game.

Milwaukee got one last chance to get back in the game, but Khris Middleton’s miss from beyond the arc all but sealed a big Sixers win.

For Milwaukee, who’s 16-straight wins was the longest streak this season, Giannis Antetokounmpo posted 34 points and 13 rebounds despite fighting through double-teams in the fourth, and Holiday added 26 points and 13 assists.

For Sixers beat writer Mike O’Connor, it showed that the team’s incredible half-court offence – led by Harden and Embiid – can make up for its other flaws.

It sets up for an intriguing run home in the East, with the 45-18 Bucks now sitting just half a game ahead of the 45-19 Boston Celtics.

The third-placed Philly meanwhile trails Milwaukee by four games at 41-22 and will take great confidence out of Sunday’s win as Doc Rivers’ side looks to make its own push for the one seed down the stretch.

The Sixers continue their road trip in Indiana on Tuesday, while the Bucks will hope to bounce back in Washington on Monday.

ALL NBA RESULTS

RAPTORS 116 WIZARDS 109

PISTONS 90 CAVALIERS 114

HAWKS 109 HEAT 117

ROCKETS 122 SPURS 110

76ERS 133 BUCKS 130

TIMBERWOLVES – KINGS

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March 5, 2023
‘Good luck stopping them’: Irving in ‘hell of a debut’; shock ending after 0.3-sec error — NBA Wrap

Kyrie Irving made a strong Dallas debut, scoring a team-high 24 points and leading the side without Luka Doncic to a 110-104 road win over the LA Clippers.

The former Net added five assists and four rebounds in 37 minutes, while Aussie Josh Green had 14 points.

Irving’s strongest moment saw him score eight points as part of a 13-0 run early in the game.

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Fri, 10 Feb

Friday February 10th

The Clippers fell despite having both Paul George (20 points) and Kawhi Leonard (18 points) active, with George going eight of 20 from the field.

‘No hard feelings towards Irving’ | 01:09

Meanwhile the NBA-leading Boston Celtics shook off the absence of three starters and the early exit of Jaylen Brown to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 106-99.

Brown took an accidental elbow from teammate Jayson Tatum as they both went for a rebound with less than two minutes left in the first half and was knocked out of the game with a facial contusion.

It was a potentially crushing blow for a Celtics team already without Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and Al Horford, but the Eastern Conference leaders didn’t miss a beat.

“Tonight was the definition of a team win,” Tatum told broadcaster ESPN after the Celtics shot 52.6 percent from the floor, draining 19 of their 35 three-point attempts.

Tatum himself had a quiet night with just 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, connecting on just five of his 15 shots from the field.

But his unheralded teammates did more than enough to hold off the Sixers and their MVP candidate Joel Embiid, who led all scorers with 28 points.

James Harden scored 20 for Philadelphia, who never led after the first quarter. Down by 11 with 5:51 to play, the 76ers would twice cut the deficit to three, but the Celtics found the answers.

Lakers lose despite Lebron milestone | 03:23

Derrick White and Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 apiece for Boston. Blake Griffin drained five three-pointers while Sam Hauser and Grant Williams hit four apiece.

“Those guys are putting in so much work,” Tatum said of the players who stepped up. “And they’re professionals. When they get their number called they come in and compete.” The Cleveland Cavaliers also shook off notable absences in a wire-to-wire 113-85 home victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Jarrett Allen scored 20 points, Evan Mobley added 19 to lead the Cavs, who were without All-Star starter Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, Mitchell sitting out to rest a nagging groin injury and Garland out with a troublesome thumb.

The Cavs led by 18 after the first quarter on the way to a fourth straight victory.

The Pistons sliced the deficit to two points in the third quarter, but Cleveland outscored Detroit 37-17 in the final period as the Pistons were held to their lowest points total of the season.

The Sacramento Kings edged the Rockets 130-128 in Houston, where De’Aaron Fox made three free throws with three-tenths of a second left to seal it after Eric Gordon was charged with a debatable shooting foul.

Fox scored 13 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter as the Kings withstood 41 points from Houston’s Jalen Green to win a tight back-and-forth battle that featured 22 lead changes.

Simmons scores only 2 points in return | 01:14

In Toronto, Pascal Siakam scored 37 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Raptors to a third straight victory, 112-98 over the reeling San Antonio Spurs.

Siakam notched his fourth 30-point double-double of the season and 22nd of his career. He connected on all seven of his attempts in the first quarter on the way to 18 points — his season high for a single period.

The Miami Heat enjoyed a return home after a disappointing 1-3 road trip, beating the Indiana Pacers 116-111.

Bam Adebayo scored 38 points and Jimmy Butler added 25 as the Heat stretched their season-best home win streak to seven games.

TODAY’S NBA SCORES

Pistons 85 – 113 Cavaliers

Hornets 104 – 118 Wizards

Sixers 99 – 106 Celtics

Pacers 111 – 116 Heat

Spurs 98 – 112 Raptors

Kings 130 – 128 Rockets

Timberwolves 143 – 118 Jazz

Mavericks 110 – 104 Clippers

Warriors 122 – 125 Trail Blazers

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February 9, 2023