Jedd Pagaduan Articles - Page 156

The Orlando Magic are inarguably playing their best basketball of the season. The Magic have won seven of their last eight games, with their only loss the result of some inexplicable crunch-time blunders. That stretch includes two victories against the then-Eastern Conference leaders Boston Celtics, as well. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have done an […]

The Brooklyn Nets had a nightmare start to the 2022-23 season. Not only were they reeling from Kevin Durant’s trade request during the offseason, they also had to navigate Kyrie Irving’s questionable taste in films, Ben Simmons’ uncertain commitment to winning, and Steve Nash’s firing. However, the Nets seem to have put that behind them, […]

The Atlanta Hawks as an organization appears to be mired in considerable uncertainty at the moment. Many expected the Hawks to make a leap following their blockbuster Dejounte Murray acquisition. However, through 32 games, the Hawks are treading the line of mediocrity with a 16-16 record. Thus, if push comes to shove, perhaps Atlanta could […]

For years, James Harden terrorized opponents with his Hall of Fame-caliber scoring ability. For years, the Rockets were serious contenders to win a championship, thanks to Harden’s MVP-level play, just falling short due to untimely injury woes and unlucky three-point shooting. However, all good things come to an end, and the Rockets traded away The […]

Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards entered their Thursday night contest against the Utah Jazz on a high. After all, they just snapped their 10-game losing streak with a resounding win over the Phoenix Suns two nights ago. And it seemed as if Beal’s state of euphoria carried over into his showing at Vivint Arena, […]

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets have claimed sole possession of first place in the Western Conference after their huge victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. However, the Nuggets’ circumstances may only get better from here, especially with the impending return of Michael Porter Jr. from a heel injury. There may be plenty […]

Trevor Bauer has had a tumultuous past 18 months or so. Bauer last played for the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 28, 2021 before the MLB placed him on administrative leave due to the charges pressed against him from a woman who accused him of sexual assault. However, Bauer seemed to get a bit of […]

When free from injury and controversy, Trevor Bauer can be one of the most dominant pitchers in the entire MLB. Still, despite his considerable talent on the field, it’s difficult to overlook what he was deemed guilty of. And now that Bauer’s suspension has been reduced down to 194 games, much to the anger of […]

It’s no secret just how much Argentina loves Lionel Messi. After all, Messi is arguably the the greatest footballer of all time. This is so given his prolonged stretch of elite play for both club and country. For years, he has terrorized the opposition with his quick feet, pinpoint passing, and clinical finishing, claiming countless […]

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has had his fair share of difficulties in dealing with contentious decisions made by officials. After all, the referee’s whistle plays a huge part in determining the rhythm of the game. And it seems as if, more often than not, Durant has borne the brunt of the officials’ ire. In […]

The Chicago White Sox suffered a down season in 2022. After winning 93 games and the AL Central crown in 2021, they played uneven baseball for the entirety of the year, leading to a fitting 81-81 finish. And with the considerable uncertainty surrounding their roster plans, other teams, including the New York Mets, are sniffing […]

It’s an arms race in New York. With the New York Mets spending an unfathomable amount of money in free agency to bolster their squad, the New York Yankees aim not to be outdone. While they have already fulfilled their most important bit of business in re-signing Aaron Judge and signing Carlos Rodon, the Yankees […]

Gio Bernard hasn’t played much this season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On the season, he has only played in five games due to an ankle injury, and has a grand total of one rushing attempt. However, the 31-year old running back found himself in the center of controversy after he was responsible for butchering […]

For weeks, the Toronto Raptors were in a state of confusion, unable to remedy what ailed them as they scuffled to a six-game losing streak. Fred VanVleet tried his best with a few 39-point explosions, but nothing seemed to be enough. But finally, it was Pascal Siakam who took matters into his own hands. On […]

For years, the New York Yankees, owned by the late George Steinbrenner, have flexed their financial might over the rest of the MLB. They have led the league in payroll for tons of years, and they have continued to be one of the league’s high rollers with George’s son, Hal Steinbrenner, now at the helm. […]

All good things come to an end. With every fleeting high comes an inevitably crushing low, and the New York Knicks learned that the hard way on Wednesday night. Despite Julius Randle’s best efforts, the Knicks saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end after losing to the Toronto Raptors, 113-106, due to an […]

There may be no better time to bring joy towards others’ lives than in December. The holiday spirit is in full effect, and it’s always great to be blessed with gifts that could serve as validation over what had been a year of hardships and tribulations. Thus, it’s no surprise when New Orleans Pelicans guard […]

Fans can debate all day long about the merits of LeBron James’ career, and whether his body of work makes him worthy of the GOAT title. However, one thing cannot be questioned. James uses social media to his advantage at an unparalleled level – from his Taco Tuesday antics, to his emoji-riddled tweets, and to […]

The Baltimore Orioles, after years of terrible baseball, appear to be turning things around, thanks in no small part to top prospect Adley Rutschman’s successful breakthrough into the majors. In only 113 games and 470 plate appearances since his call-up on May 21, Rutschman put up 5.3 WAR (per Fangraphs), on the back of elite […]

Amid the lengthy absence of Lonzo Ball, the Chicago Bulls have turned to Ayo Dosunmu as the team’s starting point guard. And for most of last season, it worked. The Bulls won 46 games and made the playoffs before unceremoniously exiting after six games. However, with the Bulls in turmoil, particularly on the Zach LaVine […]

For the month of December, the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks have treated their fans to some gorgeous, exciting basketball. Despite the Knicks’ loss to the Toronto Raptors due to a Pascal Siakam explosion, the Nets and Knicks have combined for a blistering 16-3 record in the final month of the year, bringing holiday […]

The Toronto Raptors have been mired in a bit of a slump as of late. They entered their Wednesday night clash against the New York Knicks as owners of the league’s current longest losing streak. In contrast, the Knicks had won eight in a row to that point. But Pascal Siakam doesn’t care about what’s […]

The Boston Celtics drafted Aaron Nesmith with 14th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, impressed by his potential as a versatile, 3 and D wing. However, it didn’t work out for Nesmith with the Celtics, as he was unable to carve out a solid role behind or even alongside Jayson Tatum and company. The […]

The Chicago Bulls appeared to be a franchise in turmoil, especially as of late. With rumors of discord between DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine amid the piling up of losses, the Bulls seemed like a franchise ready to blow things up once circumstances take a turn for the worse. But at least for one night, […]

James Harden, who is now 33 years of age, only has one thing in his mind as he approaches the twilight of his career: to win a championship. That was why he forced his way out of the Houston Rockets in the first place. Moreover, he grew discontented after the Brooklyn Nets lacked the structure […]

The Los Angeles Lakers might be in danger of losing Anthony Davis to injury for a long period amid a 13-18 start. But at the very least, LeBron James is still finding ways to entertain himself. LeBron, part owner of Liverpool F.C., recently made his love for Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe known. He even […]

The Phoenix Suns appeared to have righted the ship after an embarrassing playoff exit last season. They entered their Tuesday night clash against the Washington Wizards with a solid 19-12 record, remaining as one of the best teams in the Western Conference. However, Deandre Ayton and Monty Williams, after a shaky offseason in their relationship, […]

For three seasons, the Golden State Warriors basically became the epitome of when a bored 2K player cranks up the sliders to 100. The Warriors infamously added Kevin Durant to a 73-win team led by the dynastic core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green and proceeded to run roughshod on the league, winning […]

The Atlanta Hawks went off to a promising start to begin the 2022-23 campaign. However, Trae Young’s shooting struggles and subsequent injury woes to some of Atlanta’s most crucial players, such as Dejounte Murray and John Collins, have taken their toll. Through 31 games, the Hawks have mustered an uneven 16-15 record. And it seems […]

Look good, feel good, play good. (“Well” is the correct word to use, but that wouldn’t sound as catchy, no?) That is not exactly a new sentiment. For years, humans have been taught to dress for success. And it seems as if Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic is taking that to heart after showing up […]

The Phoenix Suns may have lost to the skidding Washington Wizards, 113-110, on Tuesday night, but it was Deandre Ayton and Monty Williams’ heated confrontation on the Suns bench that grabbed the most headlines. After all, Ayton and Williams haven’t had the smoothest relationship in the past. However, it seems as if their exchange of […]

Nikola Jokic is doing things no big man in the history of the league, aside from perhaps Wilt Chamberlain, could even think about pulling off. Jokic is an MVP in every sense of the word, able to make his teammates better with his sheer presence on the floor without sacrificing the ability to take over […]

It’s no secret in NBA circles that Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams and center Deandre Ayton don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye. Williams memorably benched Ayton during the Suns’ Game 7 meltdown against the Dallas Mavericks last postseason, leading to rumors of a potential exit for the number one pick of the 2018 NBA Draft. Nonetheless, […]

The Washington Wizards entered their Tuesday night clash against the Phoenix Suns losers of ten straight. There appeared to be no end in sight for the Wizards’ skid, despite the return of Bradley Beal in recent days. While Devin Booker missed the game with a groin injury, the Wizards also missed the services of Kristaps […]

Things aren’t looking so good for DeMar DeRozan and the Chicago Bulls, especially as of late. Not only did they reportedly have a “blow up” at halftime against the Minnesota Timberwolves two nights ago, there has also been rumored disconnect between their two stars, DeRozan and Zach LaVine. While the Bulls should be in better […]

It hasn’t been the easiest 2022-23 season for the Chicago Bulls, and their frustrations seem to be spilling throughout the locker room. Earlier reports indicated that the Bulls locker room got into a dustup in the middle of their 150-126 blowout loss vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves two nights ago. Nonetheless, Nikola Vucevic asserted that these […]

At the start of December, the New York Knicks, despite the addition of Jalen Brunson, appeared destined to muster yet another mediocre season. However, things could change quickly in the span of two weeks. After destroying the Golden State Warriors, 133-93, on Tuesday night, the Knicks have now extended their winning streak to eight, climbing […]

It should go without saying that there are no more coveted assets in the NBA than a bonafide superstar, a player talented enough to change the course of a franchise. Just this past offseason, Donovan Mitchell (and Rudy Gobert) brought back massive returns for the Utah Jazz. However, after them, 3 and D wings who […]

The New York Knicks are currently in the midst of a remarkable turnaround. Led by Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, the Knicks have won seven straight games, a surge that has brought them to sixth in the East. The Knicks may be rolling at the moment, but it was only two weeks ago when their […]