Bruno Manrique Articles - Page 199

Donovan Mitchell has stood out among other rookies, perhaps as the most NBA-ready scorer with the potential of being a perennial 20-points-a-night staple in the league. But a scorer isn’t only shaped with the right mentality and the right set of offensive tools, but also the attention to detail to hone the craft and willingness […]

The Los Angeles Lakers were every player’s dream landing scenario during the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, but after hitting a nasty streak in mismanagement, they’ve become the polar opposite of what the franchise had represented in the last three decades — a destination players looked to avoid. In a read-worthy piece by Lee Jenkins of […]

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard was disappointed after a second consecutive loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on his very own home floor, now down 0-2 in the series heading into The Big Easy. Yet he expressed confidence in being able to flip the score on the Pelicans in the next two games. “We […]

The Washington Wizards face a tough task, forced to rebound from a 0-2 deficit against the top-seeded Toronto Raptors after falling short in a 130-119 slugfest. Point guard John Wall improved on his shooting woes and delivered a team-high 29 points along with nine assists, but didn’t get the help expected from his backcourt mate […]

Kyle Kuzma had perhaps the most impressive out of all rookie seasons for the Los Angels Lakers — not the most glamorous pick, but certainly the most productive — putting up a healthy 16.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while being trusted into some important minutes. Yet even in his first season with the […]

Despite the rumors of a deep interest in Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Phoenix Suns will interview former Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times. The 43-year-old spent time as an assistant for the Golden State Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks, and most notably for the Miami […]

John Wall was utterly frustrated after a Game 1 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Raptors, one in which he shot a ghastly 6-of-20 from the floor, despite leading his team with a gaudy 23 points and 15 assists. The Washington Wizards’ dime maestro attributed his seven of his “easy” misses to the lack […]

Gordon Hayward has been away from the team recently, nowhere to be found during the Boston Celtics’ recent Game 1 overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. If that stands as an oddity, it is because he’s choosing to invest all of his time in his recovery. The 6-foot 8 forward will now be working with trainer […]

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has yet to be cleared for contact, but he will take on his first “scripted” practice today, his first one since suffering an orbital bone fracture, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer and ESPN’s Ian Begley. Head coach Brett Brown said there is a “unified effort” among the […]

Kawhi Leonard’s concluded end of the season hasn’t done much to stop the imminent questions of his distance from the organization, reportedly in New York rehabbing his injury instead of with the San Antonio Spurs during this important playoff stretch. Asked about his fellow star teammate, big man LaMarcus Aldridge didn’t have many words to […]

Klay Thompson had the worst postseason of his NBA career last season, ironically during a dominant 15-1 postseason run for the Golden State Warriors. Yet this time around, the sharpshooter has done everything in his power to erase those memories with a couple of dominant games to start the playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs. […]

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra sung plenty of praise for his former assistant, David Fizdale, who is among the top candidates for a head coach job during the offseason. Having worked alongside him for several years, including taking on the gigantic task of assembling The Big Three in South Beach, Spoelstra lauded his former sidekick, […]

Kobe Bryant had no problems picking a winner for this season’s Most Valuable Player award, immediately pointing at Houston Rockets guard James Harden as the definite nod for the coveted accolade. “I think what James has done from Game 1 all the way through Game 82 deserves to be rewarded,” said Bryant as a guest […]

The Boston Celtics managed to stun the Milwaukee Bucks, bouncing back from an unforeseen game-tying buzzer-beater from Khris Middleton, who had his prayers answered with a 30-foot heave to knot Game 1 at 99 after regulation. The Celtics rallied back in overtime, carving a decent lead riding their young pieces in Terry Rozier and Jaylen […]

Zaza Pachulia is yet to play a minute of postseason action this season, benched in favor of the lankier, more athletic JaVale McGee, as head coach Steve Kerr has opted to trot out a faster-paced lineup. Yet the veteran center, who has held the starting center spot for most of the season, isn’t fretting about […]

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has once again the single most-bought jersey among the NBA, making it the third consecutive season in which he leads jersey sales. Curry has once again topped rival LeBron James and teammates Kevin Durant in the popularity contest, as the Golden State Warriors have three jerseys ranking in the […]

The Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade is coming off another vintage performance, taking over Game 2 with a 28-point night off the bench to even out the series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Yet this type of game heroics hasn’t stopped the 36-year-old from thinking about his impending retirement. “A lot of people think that if you […]

Joel Embiid was cleared from all concussion symptoms after undergoing an orbital bone fracture late in the season, taking the court during warmups and giving his best James Harden double step back impersonation to the delight of fans and media. https://twitter.com/TheRenderNBA/status/986133743759847424 Pretty uncanny resemblance of the original move, just done in a 7-foot body. Take […]

Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric noted the absence of Joel Embiid during the Sixers’ 113-103 loss to the Miami Heat, as the team lacked the intimidation factor the 7-footer brings to the table, now having missed the last 10 games after sustaining an orbital bone fracture against the New York Knicks at the end of […]

Klay Thompson was unbothered by the criticism surrounding the Golden State Warriors before the start of their postseason run, having gone a questionable 7-10 during the last stretch of the season, hindered by the absence of their leader, Stephen Curry, who is out with a Grade 2 sprained MCL. Asked if he’s read any of […]

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade turned back the clock with a vintage D-Wade performance, this time coming off the bench to score a game-high 28 points, ending the Philadelphia 76ers’ 17-game winning streak and tying the first-round series 1-1 as it shifts back to South Beach. The veteran shooting guard made one ridiculous shot after […]

The Philadelphia 76ers are “internally” hopeful that their star center, Joel Embiid, can return for Thursday’s Game 3 against the Miami Heat, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley. Despite being medically cleared to return after passing the concussion protocol, Embiid looked frustrated after a Game 2 loss to the Heat at home, taking to Instagram immediately […]

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich might not have the most popular political opinions living in the state of Texas, historically a Republican state. Popovich has been a liberal soul ever since his time serving in the Air Force and has carried those same beliefs throughout his life, and his comments against the current […]

In the midst of a rupture between the San Antonio Spurs and star forward Kawhi Leonard, rumors of a potential trade this offseason have run rampant. Taking part on ESPN’s SportsNation, Brian Windhorst revealed that Leonard’ destination would have a “direct impact” on where LeBron James ends up after this season. He painted an even […]

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green wasn’t in complete agreement with a Flagrant 1 call during the second half of Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs. Spurs forward Davis Bertans was battling for rebounding position at the offensive glass and became locked with Green, who swung his elbow to shed him off the side […]

Boston Celtics point guard Terry Rozier enjoyed a great Game 1 against the Milwaukee Bucks, throwing down without leading scorer Kyrie Irving and spark plug Marcus Smart, who are out with injuries. Rozier didn’t play like a third-string point guard, but like a veteran leader, making shots in the fourth quarter and overtime period to […]

Draymond Green’s numbers have fallen shy of his 2017-18 Defensive Player of the Year campaign, yet on Saturday, he was the old hard-chasing, shot-disrupting, pocket-picking nightmare that we saw throughout a dominant 15-1 postseason run by the Golden State Warriors. Yet many have doubted his defensive impact, and if he’s even capable of replicating a […]

Clint Capela has gone from a no-option to a clear third option in the Houston Rockets’ starting lineup, proving so with a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks in a Game 1 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Swiss center runs the floor hard, screen-and-rolls like his life depends on it, and […]

Paul George’s new nickname of “Playoff P” has caught buzz after the All-Star forward followed a 40-point outing to end the regular season with 36 points in Game 1 against the Utah Jazz, propelling the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 116-108 win. Following the game, teammates Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony were under the impression […]

Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell has been diagnosed with a left foot contusion, after the MRI results came in this morning, according to the team. His status for Game 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder will be determined Tuesday morning ahead of their matchup.. Being without Mitchell, their leading scorer, could be a huge potential […]

Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan is looking to polish his team’s rough edges despite an encouraging 116-108 Game 1 win over the Utah Jazz on Sunday night. The Thunder benefitted largely from a hot-shooting night from Paul George, who led the team with 36 points on 13-of-20 shooting and 8-of-11 from deep — […]

Rajon Rondo is perhaps one of the most enigmatic personalities of the sport. Players love him, coaches… eh, not so much. So how does a coach combat such a brilliant mind as the floor general? He doesn’t and that’s the conclusion New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry took on Saturday night, giving his point man […]

Following a rousing 113-92 over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green proved ultimately confident of his team, so long as it can replicate the high level of play the team showcased on Saturday afternoon. In light of the 21-point coast-to-coast beatdown, the Spurs are bound to take a […]

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich responded to yet another Kawhi Leonard question, giving one last update even after the team announced he will miss the remainder of the postseason. “He’s rehabbing right now in New York, trying to get healthy,” Popovich said, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. With not much else […]

Despite a previous scare in the last stretch of the season, the San Antonio Spurs have managed to make the playoffs for a 21st straight time, and most-admirably done so without their star forward Kawhi Leonard. Led by LaMarcus Aldridge for the vast majority of 2017-18, the team finished off the season winning 10 of […]

The Toronto Raptors shook off a 16-year winless streak for Game 1 of the postseason, grabbing a much-needed confidence booster against a threatening Washington Wizards team. Point guard Kyle Lowry warned that this Wizards team was no ordinary one, likely falling victim to end-of-season struggles and a tight playoff race that strung them in the […]

Two seasons ago the Los Angeles Lakers had perhaps the best feel-good story to end their season, Kobe Bryant, after 20 years with the franchise, retired wearing the purple-and-gold with a 60-point game to leave as his last performance, walking into the sunset with what’s perhaps the most iconic last game in NBA history. Fast forward […]

Joining the Minnesota Timberwolves during the offseason created a somewhat awkward scene for Taj Gibson, who would now share a locker room and practice floor with Jamal Crawford, the only player to have won three Sixth Man of the Year awards. Back in 2014, Crawford won his second, in a season full of mesmerizing crossovers, […]

New York Knicks talisman Kristaps Porzingis is on his way to recovery from a season-ending torn ACL, but the bruising in his elbow that has plagued him throughout parts of the season won’t need surgery, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley. Porzingis’ swollen elbow has healed well over time and won’t require a procedure, allowing the […]