Whereas Jamal Murray once complemented Nikola Jokic, he's now wholly dependent on him; he's jerry-rigged his game around Jokic such that he can't stand on his own. Yet he remains irreplaceable for the Nuggets. Read more »
Basketball Analysis
The Olympics Showed Again Jamal Murray Needs To Be In Nikola Jokic's Orbit
The Psychedelic Judgements Of Jaylen Brown
Authenticity is hard to confirm in the haze of multi-billion, international entertainment products, but what's clear to all about Jaylen Brown is that he really does want to mess with your understanding of how the league works. Read more »
Joel Embiid Has Arrived At His Inflection Point With Team USA, Retooled Sixers
During the run-up to the Olympics, Joel Embiid indulged his worst, troll-ish impulses away from the court while struggling on it. To prove that he belongs with the GOATs, Embiid needs to learn to be part of the herd with Team USA. Read more »
The Era Of Easy Max Contracts Is Over
A very good but not great player like Zach LaVine comfortably got a max contract in 2022. With a new CBA, a similarly stationed player in Brandon Ingram almost certainly won't receive one in this climate. Read more »
It's Easy To Find Good Players, But Hard To Construct A Great Team
Most teams don't a have single young guy as promising as the Rockets' cache of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore and Reed Sheppard. Read more »
The Jalen Brunson-Zach LaVine Corollary
Jalen Brunson is living his dream in a very unique way, while Zach LaVine waits in limbo to achieve his again with a contract too large to trade. Read more »
2024 NBA Summer League Watchability Tiers
The Hawks, Magic, Jazz and Wizards enter Summer League as appointment television with their depth of prospects. Read more »
Four Players Who Won The 2024 NBA Offseason
On how Paul George, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul and Dario Saric have found great situations for themselves in free agency. Read more »
Warriors Move Towards The Ordinary With Loss Of Klay Thompson
The Warriors' frantic, angsty summer reveals the fragility of genius. If the Warriors once looked smarter than the rest of the league, it was because Curry, Green and Thompson were so great, they provided an answer key to any tests the team faced. Read more »
Free Agency's Leftover Teams
The obvious offseason business is complete, but the futures of Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram, Zach LaVine still need to be determined while teams like the Lakers, Heat and Warriors may do some additional tinkering. Read more »
Paul George And The Sixers' Dream Of A Future That Can Redeem Their Past
Paul George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey aren't just the league's most talented trio, but also potentially its most harmonious. The Sixers' stars could have a multiplicative effect on each other. Read more »
Best Fits, Shaky Fits From 2024 NBA Draft
On Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, Kyle Filipowski, Ron Holland, Dalton Knecht, Stephon Castle, Rob Dillingham, AJ Johnson and Kel'el Ware. Read more »
The New NBA's Permanent Scramble
The NBA has traded dynasties for day-traders, the caste system for hunger games. In a sport that crowns a new champion every season for six seasons in a row, everything seems possible. Read more »
Goodbye Superteams, Hello Infrastructure
While trading for Mikal Bridges doesn't transform the Knicks on its own, it fits within the larger meta of how top teams are built. Superteams are in the past. What counts is the infrastructure around your best player. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Non-Lottery Upperclassmen
Breaking down DaRon Holmes II, Tyler Kolek, Jaylon Tyson, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Baylor Scheierman. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Tristan Da Silva Of Colorado
Players with Tristan da Silva's size that can shoot the basketball, make plays for others, and hold their own defensively usually aren’t available in the middle of the first round. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Carlton Carrington Of Pittsburgh
Carlton Carrington has a high upside given his ability to create for himself, while also possessing a rare high floor considering he can also do so for teammates. He has become one of the biggest risers in this draft class. Read more »
The Bulls And Thunder, Two Trains Passing In The Night
One of these teams is in a position to take on a raw talent who needs more time developing before leading a winning team, while the other is better situated to grab a superstar role-player. Read more »
NBA Draft Report: Tidjane Salaun Of Cholet
Tidjane Salaun has been a late bloomer in this draft process and he has a higher floor and lower ceiling than advertised as a potential two-way role player. Read more »
How Alex Caruso For Josh Giddey Was A Win For All Sides
There's proof of concept that Josh Giddey's size, playmaking and tempo are needed in Chicago, while the Thunder are more in need of Alex Caruso's defense and shooting. Read more »
Basketball Analysis RSS Feed