Jahii Carson, Jabari Brown, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Johnny O'Bryant and Aaric Murray could join DeAndre Jordan as viable players to come out of the second round. Read more »

While a drastic path like stripping enough cap space to sign two max contract players to join Stephen Curry would be possible, it also carries gigantic downside risk since the Warriors are already a good team. Read more »

Gregg Popovich successfully implemented a system—where no single individual was bigger than his teammates—no matter how talented he was. Read more »

When Andrew Wiggins was playing AAU basketball, a transition setting where he could make direct-line runs at the rim, he surely looked like the best prospect since LeBron James. You can only see the holes in his game when he’s forced to play in the halfcourt. Read more »

Pat Riley called for perspective in evaluating what constitutes a dynasty, referencing the records of great teams of the past such as the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and Spurs. Read more »

While the Spurs' stars are well into their second decade in the league, they had the younger and more athletic roster. That became obvious over the course of the series, as the Spurs zipped the ball around the court and blew the Heat off the floor. Read more »

With Rashard Lewis’ emergence, Shane Battier and James Jones have been bumped from the rotation and the Heat success is contingent on Lewis continuing to knock down open shots. Read more »

From a tools perspective, Zach LaVine is one of the most talented guards to come into the league in a long time. He’s not as big as Andrew Wiggins, but he’s every bit as athletic and he’s far more skilled. Read more »

As San Antonio amplifies its team morale, its team play, a back-to-back champion and the Earth’s best basketball player have been knocked into submission. LeBron James was Miami’s greatest advantage of all. Read more »

While daunting at first, the Stepien Rule boils down to one thing: an NBA team cannot be without a first round pick for two consecutive years looking forward and completed drafts do not matter. Read more »

For all the trouble and ‘lines-crossed’ that Lance Stephenson brings to the table, it is easy to overlook that he is only 23 years old and still learning how to be a professional. In this day and age in the league, young talented swingmen don’t grow on trees, especially not one in the second round. Read more »

Erik Spoelstra and Gregg Popovich have made a series of adjustments over a period of several years to get to this point of sophistication in their offense and as this series advances into Game 3, their ability to find viable Plans B and C will be the difference with these two teams so evenly matched. Read more »

The Heat don't have an answer for Tim Duncan and the Spurs don't have an answer for LeBron James. The difference between the two all-time greats at this point is age and stamina. Read more »

If the last two NBA Finals are any indication, there's no stopping the trend of the corner three-pointer. A generation from now, you may not be able to play in the NBA if you can't shoot 3's. Read more »

When you are scouting a player in college, you have to scout his teammates and his coaching staff too. Just look at what's happened to Thomas Robinson and Andre Drummond in two NBA seasons. Read more »

The key to evaluating young basketball players and how their game will translate to the NBA is developing a universal framework that can be applied to every prospect. Read more »

Just like Lance Stephenson, James Harden excelled in the role he was forced to play on the team that drafted him, but he was ready for a much bigger role. Don’t mistake opportunity for talent, especially not with a 23-year-old. Read more »

The Pacers owned the first four minutes of Game 6 before the Heat turned on the jets and coasted into the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row. Read more »

Paul George scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and LeBron James was hampered by foul trouble as the Pacers topped the Heat to force a Game 6 back in Miami. Read more »

The Thunder are the Oakland A's of the NBA, a franchise determined to build a perennial contender without breaking the bank in terms of payroll. The Heat sign ring-chasing vets; the Thunder run a finishing school for guys with supersized arms. Read more »