The NBA is mulling an “international competition” for the annual All-Star Game, The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reports. NBA commissioner Adam Silver and president of league operations Byron Spruell said discussions were being held with new broadcast partner NBC regarding an original format for the All-Star Game. The next one will be held at the Clippers’ Intuit Dome on Feb. 15, … [Read more...] about NBA Mulling International Format For All-Star Game
Lakers Notes: Game 4 Loss, Hayes, Finney-Smith, Doncic, LeBron
Coach J.J. Redick made two bold strategic moves that nearly led the Lakers to a Game 4 victory in Minnesota, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Redick decided to replace center Jaxson Hayes with Dorian Finney-Smith for the start of the third quarter, and he used the same five players for the entire second half. Buha notes that Gabe Vincent nearly checked in at one point, but … [Read more...] about Lakers Notes: Game 4 Loss, Hayes, Finney-Smith, Doncic, LeBron
Lakers Notes: Game 2, Redick, Hachimura, Offense, Defense
The Lakers evened their first-round series with Minnesota at one game apiece on Tuesday evening, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Head coach JJ Redick called a timeout to tear into his team after Los Angeles’ lead was cut from 22 points to 11 in the third quarter, and the Lakers responded with a 9-0 run to regain control of Game 2. “That’s JJ,” LeBron James said of the first-year … [Read more...] about Lakers Notes: Game 2, Redick, Hachimura, Offense, Defense
And-Ones: Gambling, Doncic, Thompsons, DPOY, More
As part of their anonymous poll of 158 NBA players, the full results of which can be viewed here, Sam Amick and Josh Robbins of The Athletic got several interesting responses about the league’s gambling partnerships and the impact they’ve had. Of The Athletic’s poll respondents, 46% felt the partnerships were bad for the NBA, while 34% said they were good — the remaining 20% … [Read more...] about And-Ones: Gambling, Doncic, Thompsons, DPOY, More
Pacific Notes: Leonard, Bol, Kings, Murray, Ellis
Limited by injuries, veteran forward Kawhi Leonard appeared in just four playoff games for the Clippers from 2022-24 and wasn’t himself last spring, scoring just 24 total points in the two postseason appearances he was able to make. So it was a welcome sight to see a healthy Leonard in peak form on Monday in Denver, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Leonard was dominant on both … [Read more...] about Pacific Notes: Leonard, Bol, Kings, Murray, Ellis