Can the Bucks find that extra gear consistently in the playoffs?
Three Things to Know: Bucks take command of No. 2 slot in East beating Celtics — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Nets center Andre Drummond gave the Heat deuces. Will he peace out from Brooklyn next?
Andre Drummond on Nets: ‘If we’re all being honest, I’m only here til the rest of the season’ — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
The Phoenix Suns are keeping their heads above water despite Chris Paul and Devin Booker being out, and that keeps them atop these NBA power rankings. 29 more words
NBA Power Rankings: Suns hang on to top spot but Celtics, 76ers gaining — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Five teams have emerged as consensus favorites to win the 2022 NBA title: Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Nets and Brooklyn Nets.
PBT Podcast: Ranking NBA’s best-of-the-rest teams — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Both stars of the blockbuster deadline trade were introduced by their new teams at press conferences and… meh.
Three Things to Know: Harden, Simmons introduced… but when do they play? — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Shaq, Candace Parker, Kevin Frazier & Kenny debate if the Lakers can beat the top teams in the West even when they are playing at full strength. 44 more words
Can The Lakers Contend With The Warriors & Suns When They’re Playing At Their Best? | NBA on TNT — Basketball Videos NBA
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has been suspended for one game and Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart was suspended two games for their roles in an …
LeBron suspended 1 game, Stewart 2 games for altercation
Celtics fan here. Backbreaking loss to the Bulls last night. The way this game played out is proof positive that no lead is safe in a league where it is commonplace to take one’s foot off the gas and become complacent, chucking up threes, forgetting there is a defensive side of the court, and basically ceasing all positive things that built such a big lead in the first place. Kudos to the Bulls for an inspiring comeback. Well earned!
Ottawa Senators 1 – Chicago Blackhawks 5 Highlights: Patrick Kane felt all the losses weighing on the Chicago Blackhawks, even while he was away from the team because of COVID-19. That weight is gone now. Kane had three goals and an assist in his return to the lineup, and the Blackhawks beat the Ottawa Senators 5-1 on Monday […]
Chicago Sports Recap: 11/1/21 — INSANE SPORTS
The NBA season gets underway this week. I remember being addicted to the league in my youth, back in the days of the Bird-Magic rivalry and the emergence of Michael Jordan. I guess I’m dating myself here! I had lost interest in the league until my son became old enough to watch. He’s hooked on it, and thus, so am I!
Here are my predictions for the upcoming season. Disclaimer: I am a Celtics fan and hate the Brooklyn Nets!
NBA Predictions 2021-2022:
Eastern Conference:
Atlantic Division:
Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks
Toronto Raptors
Overview: The Nets are clearly the class of this division, as well as the conference. However, they come with plenty of question marks. Can the oft-injured Big Three stay relatively healthy? Can Harden continue to be a primary playmaker for an entire season? Can Irving not be such an idiot? As of this writing, Irving’s status for home games is up in the air due to his refusal to get vaccinated and New York’s law against being unvaccinated and in large crowds.
Central Division:
Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago Bulls
Indiana Pacers
Detroit Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
Overview: The Bucks are in the position of being the defending champion without the expectations normally reserved the current title holder. Everyone is talking about the Lakers, Nets, and Warriors. Milwaukee will gladly slip under the radar again.
Southeast Division:
Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat
Charlotte Hornets
Washington Wizards
Orlando Magic
Overview: The Hawks made a surprising run to the conference finals last spring. With their young core maturing another year, expectations are high in Atlanta.
Western Conference:
Northwest Division:
Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets
Portland Trail Blazers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Oklahoma City Thunder
Overview: The Jazz finished the regular season with the league’s best record. Unfortunately, they always seem to falter in the playoffs, leading some to wonder if they are built to win in the second season. Meanwhile, the Nuggets hope to tread water while they wait for star Jamal Murray to recover from a torn ACL.
Southwest Division:
Dallas Mavericks
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
San Antonio Spurs
Houston Rockets
Overview: Perhaps the weakest division in the NBA. The Mavs look like the team to beat here.
Pacific Division:
LA Lakers
Golden State Warriors
Phoenix Suns
LA Clippers
Sacramento Kings
Overview: We finish with the best division in the league. And the Pacific is loaded. Last year’s Western Conference champs are projected to finish third in their own division. The Lakers, with the addition of Russell Westbrook, appear primed for a deep run, however, we must always keep an eye on age and injury status regarding LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Meanwhile, the Warriors get Klay Thompson back to pair with Steph Curry. This should be a fun division.
Playoffs Eastern Conference:
First Round:
Brooklyn over New York 4-1
Milwaukee over Philadelphia 4-2
Atlanta over Miami 4-3
Boston over Chicago 4-3
Second Round:
Brooklyn over Boston 4-1
Milwaukee over Atlanta 4-2
Conference Final:
Milwaukee over Brooklyn 4-2
Some type of injury/absence among the Big Three of Irving, Durant, or Harden will derail the Nets once again. James Harden does not make it to The Finals this season.
Playoffs Western Conference:
First Round:
LA Lakers over LA Clippers 4-1
Utah over Portland 4-2
Denver over Dallas 4-2
Golden State over Phoenix 4-3
Second Round:
LA Lakers over Golden State 4-3
Denver over Utah 4-2
Conference Final:
LA Lakers over Denver 4-1
Jamal Murray may return in time for the postseason and help the Nuggets to a couple of upsets in the first two rounds, however, the trio of LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis gets healthy in time for the playoffs and reaches The Finals.
NBA Final:
LA Lakers over Milwaukee 4-1
Lakers roll to another title. It will be LeBron’s fifth.
Whipped Owl 