NBA 2022-23: Western Conference Preview

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We turn now to part 2 of our NBA preview, the Western Conference.  I find the West even more difficult  to predict than the East.  Yes, the Warriors are good but it’s hard not to remember that they were shaky coming into the 2021-22 playoffs and they rely on some very veteran players.  On top of that, at least five teams can make a credible argument that they will win 50 or more games.  So, let’s dive in to some assorted questions…. Could six or more Western … [Read more...] about NBA 2022-23: Western Conference Preview

NBA 2022-23: Eastern Conference Preview

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With each season of the 2020s, the NBA becomes more and more opaque.  The 2021-22 Warriors were a very good team but were nowhere near as dominant as their prior iterations.  But Golden State, like most of the good teams, has a decent argument that it can win the 2022-23 title.  There are plenty of title-worthy teams but no prohibitive favorite and compelling arguments against nearly every team. Today, let’s run through the some assorted burning questions and predictions for … [Read more...] about NBA 2022-23: Eastern Conference Preview

Udoka and One-and-Done Coaches

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It’s hard to really process the bizarre saga of Celtics coach Ime Udoka and his recent mysterious year-long suspension but let’s do the best we can with what is out there.  We don’t have the full details but the generalities sound bad and it seems likely that Udoka will not return as coach once his suspension is lifted.  Indeed, it’s hard to see how Udoka can credibly coach his team if his character is so compromised.  Rather, the more likely outcome is that Boston is seeking to … [Read more...] about Udoka and One-and-Done Coaches

Bismack Biyombo’s Journey from Yemen to the NBA

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In passing, I noticed that Phoenix’s Bismack Biyombo just turned 30 years old.  This gave me a little reminder to revisit the legal saga between him and his former European agent Igor Crespo.  In 2015, we did a deep dive on the lawsuit, which was filed in New York State in 2014. At the time, the litigation was in its early stages and I summed it up thusly: “Did Crespo take advantage of Biyombo?  Did Biyombo screw over Crespo?  Without all the facts, it is hard to really … [Read more...] about Bismack Biyombo’s Journey from Yemen to the NBA

Bill Russell v. Tom Heinsohn and the 1956-57 ROY

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With the recent passing of the great Bill Russell, I was thinking about his beginning.  Though he was an instant star, Russell did not win Rookie of the Year.  Let’s do a moderate dive into how this happened and whether it should’ve happened. It’s clear that the Olympics robbed Russell of the ROY.  Russell missed several months of his rookie year because he was playing in the 1956 Olympics in Sydney and did not debut with Boston until December 22, 1956, 24 games into the … [Read more...] about Bill Russell v. Tom Heinsohn and the 1956-57 ROY

The KD/Kyrie Drama Examined

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Have you ever had one of those dreams where your goal is to complete a task and, each time you get close, some weird happenstance prevents the completion?  This dream is the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving Nets in a nutshell.  They were a KD toe away from a possible title last year and now both stars want out after a disaster of a season in 2021-22.  Brooklyn was close to accomplishing greatness but seems to be ending in failure.  The public consensus seems to be that Kyrie is … [Read more...] about The KD/Kyrie Drama Examined

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