While the Raptors are trying to finally get past LeBron, the other side of the East features a pair of teams expected to dominate it for the next decade. Read more »
Jonny Auping - Basketball Analysis
Present Versus Future In The Eastern Conference
Lance, LeBron & The NBA's Most Lopsided Rivalry
To Lance Stephenson, LeBron James is one thing: a rival. It might be the NBA's most entertaining rivalry. Read more »
Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon, Jabari Parker Are Adding Layers To The Power Forward Position
This trio from the 2014 draft class came into the league as the evolution of that position, until Draymond Green and the Warriors interrupted that evolution. Read more »
Why The NBA Needs You To Believe In Russell Westbrook
The most enticing thing about Russell Westbrook is that he doesn't believe what we've already accepted to be true. Believing the Thunder can make a run this postseason is antithetical to the way you've joyfully consumed the NBA for a few years now. Read more »
The Present That LeBron Can Control (And The Future He Can't)
LeBron James came back to Cleveland and pictured a world where life would be good, and basketball would be fun. But those plans were made before the Warriors' dynasty Read more »
Dennis Schroder Isn't Interested In Being A Cog
The roster likely isn't good enough for the Hawks to reach the playoffs, but it still might serve as a decent litmus test for Dennis Schroder's ceiling as a franchise piece. Read more »
Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon Need To Bring The Best Out Of Each Other
Orlando's future and present are tied to two players in Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton, who aren't currently good and don't have long to prove they're not bad. Read more »
D'Angelo Russell's Career Starts Now
D'Angelo Russell was all flash, no substance under Byron Scott and just another young player auditioning for Luke Walton. Under Kenny Atkinson, he can be a productive system player. Read more »
Harrison Barnes Isn't Reliably Boring, He's Boringly Reliable
In general terms, Harrison Barnes is a high floor/low ceiling player, and naturally, that's a relatively boring thing to be. Read more »
The Alternate Universes The Celtics Are Competing With
There's a difference between shuffling talent and building a core. The luxury of Boston's previous core was that it was so easy to build around. Read more »
The Dion Waiters/JR Smith Power Rankings (Post-Players Tribune Edition)
Dion Waiters' piece made his omission from the playoffs hurt all the more by so eloquently reminding us of the alluring collision of man and myth and menace and Messiah. Dion has decisively won the war he thought he had won long ago. Read more »
Jimmy Butler's Supporting Cast Isn't Auditioning For Him
With Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade playing like a version of their prior selves, the Bulls all of a sudden have the familiar formula of playmakers and formidable role players around their superstar in Jimmy Butler. Read more »
John Wall's Straight-Line Speed Could Drive Washington To The Finals
The Wizards use the speed of John Wall to create space. This is a version of the Russell Westbrook formula except more refined and with Plan B'c and C'. Read more »
Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Calipari & The NBA Age Limit
There are three parties in this equation: The NCAA (and their coaches), the NBA, and the players. They all have money to make or lose under any system. Read more »
If Doug McDermott, Jerami Grant Don't Provide Some Answers, OKC Might Have Tougher Questions
Jerami Grant and Doug McDermott represent the one-step-back, two-steps-forward strategy. They are reasonable pieces that can complement Russell Westbrook in the future if given larger rules. Read more »
The Inglorious Reboot Of The Dion Waiters/JR Smith Power Rankings
Dion Waiters and J.R. Smith chase their moments because sometimes they remind us all that they're good enough to catch them. And when they're not, well, that always seems to be worth documenting as well. Read more »
Should The Celtics Already Be Thinking About Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball?
Breaking up the Celtics' backcourt of Isaiah Thomas or Avery Bradley for Markelle Fultz or Lonzo Ball would be a one-step-backwards, two-step-forward strategy. Read more »
The Mavs Are Just Doing What Comes Naturally
The Mavericks are building something slow with small parts and what they've done so far in 2017 flies in the face of tanking rhetoric. Read more »
Frank Kaminsky, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, And When The NBA's Middle Class Barely Misses
So the Hornets could have hoped they were selecting two players that would develop into Andre Iguodala and Pau Gasol. Falling short of those ceilings is not a disaster by any means, but failing to be reliably consistent players very well might be. Read more »
DeMarcus Cousins As An Enormous, Looming Backup Plan
If the Warriors, Cavaliers or Clippers begin to worry that their level of talent won't be enough to defeat their fellow contenders and are ready for something drastic, they are each uniquely in a position to trade for DeMarcus Cousins. Read more »
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