Both the Thunder and Rockets are frenetic, physical, and new in a way that quickly washes the rubbish from your mind when you're watching them, if you care at all about the real physical pleasures of the sport. Read more »
NBA Analysis
The Thunder And Rockets: A Prescription For NBA Depression
NBA Draft Report: Khaman Maluach Of Duke
Khaman Maluach might not be a franchise player himself, but he can be a franchise cornerstone. And a rim-running big that's easy to play with and has the potential to anchor a defense unlocks all kinds of team-building opportunities. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Kasparas Jakucionis Of Illinois
Kasparas Jakucionis has the total package as an on-ball player, and he should be excellent as an offensive engine in the NBA. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Liam McNeeley Of UConn
Players with Liam McNeeley's length, shooting ability and instincts rarely flame out in the NBA. In fact, getting caught up in overthinking a player's physical profile feels like something that has killed front offices in recent years. Read more »
Disaster Capitalism At The NBA All-Star Game
The NBA and TNT could have a had an entertaining night of basketball with its new format, but instead did a bait-and-switch with the likes of Kevin Hart and Mr. Beast where the main event became a footnote. Read more »
Why The Luka Trade Will Never Be Forgiven
Luka Doncic has meant something more than what wins and losses do. He is famous, himself, and alive in a way that is wholly original and that will likely prove timeless. Read more »
Lakers' Exceptionalism Vs. Mavericks' More Toward A More Conventional Goodness
Whereas the Lakers' inevitable jackpot is proof of how the league works, the Mavs are foolishly clinging to a fantasy about how it should be. Read more »
Who Are The Lakers And Mavericks Now?
Unwilling to see Luka Doncic through whatever plagues him, the Mavericks just sent him to a task much harder than the one they'd given him. If he can do it, basketball mythology will have to revise its definition of "forever." Read more »
LeBron James' Old Man Reinvention
The Lakers are caught between pragmatism and hope, torn between optimizing their new, Luka Doncic-led future and maximizing their current, LeBron James-led present. Read more »
LeBron's Fascinating Brand New Last Act With Luka Doncic
In Luka Doncic, the Lakers have their bridge to the future, but LeBron James also has his bridge to another career-defining chapter. Read more »
The NBA Just Changed
Overnight with the Luka Doncic trade, the NBA moved out of the superstar empowerment era and into one where teams build within the jammed-puzzle machinations of its new CBA. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: VJ Edgecombe Of Baylor
VJ Edgecombe won't be the offensive engine of an NBA team, he offers unique value with his potential as a two-way star. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Dylan Harper Of Rutgers
Dylan Harper's electric on-ball ability just might give him more upside than anybody outside of Cooper Flagg. He's a special offensive player, and he's wired the right way. Read more »
Zion Williamson: Basketball's Oldest Young Man
Zion Williamson is at once one of the most visibly under-seasoned souls in the league and one of its most beleaguered Read more »
The Realest: Washington Wizards
If this season is to have any importance beyond the mere passage of time for the Wizards, it’ll be because of Alex Sarr. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Ace Bailey Of Rutgers
Ace Bailey is a player that has all the offensive ability in the world. The shot creation is next-level, he can hit spot-up jumpers and he's going to be a terror in transition. He will be electric in the NBA with merely adequate surroundings. Read more »
Jimmy Butler And The Limits Of Heat Culture
There is a direct relationship between the decision to lean into the Heat Culture mythology, as a branding exercise, and the team's current relationship with Jimmy Butler. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Cooper Flagg Of Duke
Cooper Flagg is a dynamic two-way prospect that has one minor flaw. And Duke's roster construction isn't doing him any favors in hiding it. Read more »
The NBA Is Popular, Actually
The NBA viewership numbers we don't get to see are saying something appealing to the people who write the world's biggest checks. Most of what's said contrary to that is part of someone's resentment factory. Read more »
The Bucks Are Wide Awake
What a thrill to see a competitive ecology for a handful of do-or-die games in December, and for Giannis to stomp through them like all the mess between his championship and right now was just stuff he could stride right over. Read more »
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