Jeff Olalo Articles - Page 8

For the second-straight year (third in the last five seasons), EuroLeague club Real Madrid will be bringing home another Most Valuable Player trophy into their collection. Joining the ranks of Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez is the highly-touted Slovenian Luka Doncic — becoming the youngest EuroLeague MVP in league history and no doubt adds more […]

Becky Hammon’s chances at being the first female head coach in the NBA is still alive, and it could very well be in Michigan. Rod Beard of the Detroit News reports that according to a league source, the Detroit Pistons are expected to invite the San Antonio Spurs assistant for an interview. The source also […]

Ah, the LeBron James sweepstakes. The never-ending question and speculation of where the most dominant player in the game of basketball is headed this summer is the hot topic the entire season — which alternates between cool and sizzling depending on how the Cleveland Cavaliers are performing. Numerous teams are clearing up their cap space […]

If there is one ubiquitous imagery with LeBron James’ short but definitely impactful stint in South Beach — other than the obvious hoisting of a pair of championships — it is quite possibly his poster dunk on guard Jason Terry who was then a member of the Boston Celtics back when the rivalry with James’ […]

Arguably the most versatile player in the NBA with his legitimate ability to play all five positions and do so exceptionally well on both ends, it’s no secret that Draymond Green is a walking triple-double. Not only are the Golden State Warriors an astonishing 22-0 whenever the Michigan State product stuffs the stat sheet, he […]

When a promising All-Star is rumored to be on the trading block — whether it is just widely speculated due to their disappointing play in terms of the big picture or there are blatant whispers that they are indeed being shopped — the internet is quickly on the trade machine concocting numerous scenarios that range […]

There’s no place like home. Sure, NBA legend and California fixture Jerry West has skipped town before (joining the Memphis Grizzlies in 2002 in an effort to test himself and his prolific skills as a general manager) but in the end, California truly is where Mr. Clutch’s heart is. The man dubbed “The Logo” later […]

The Houston Rockets have the best record in the league. They have what is more than likely the league’s Most Valuable Player for the season. They won the season series against the Golden State Warriors. But to Rockets guard James Harden, people are still counting out his team this early — which he finds confusing. […]

There are no ifs or buts about it: The Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2017-18 season was a bit of a disappointment. The same could be argued about the season Derrick Rose had as well. After swinging a blockbuster trade that netted the Wolves one of the best two-way players in the game in the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy, Butler […]

Since joining the Toronto Raptors in the 2011-12 NBA season, Dwane Casey led the lone Canadian team into the playoffs in five of his seven seasons as their head coach. In fact, just this past year, Casey coached the Raptors to their most wins in franchise history with a 59-23 slate and good for the […]

NBA athletes don’t scrimp around when it comes to their kicks. Russell Westbrook, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, is no different. Some have been known to jettison their shoes in the middle of a game (sponsorship be damned) because it was uncomfortable. Most scribble inside references to the surface of the sneaks or rocking expensive classics […]

The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs may have only fought in two NBA Finals (which doesn’t make it quite a rivalry just yet), but those battles were exciting and epic. Boasting the star power of the Heatles, led by LeBron James alongside Chris Bosh and Heat cornerstone Dwyane Wade, against the balanced roster of […]

Udonis Haslem hasn’t been part of the Miami Heat’s rotation for a good while now. It doesn’t inherently mean he’s done as a player, though. Since the 2014-15 season, the Florida native has only been averaging seven, eight, and — just this past year — a career worst five minutes per night. As such, questions […]

The Milwaukee Bucks are on their second phase of batch interviews for their vacant head coaching position which means general manager Jon Horst and the Wisconsin ball club is nearing a decision. Joe Prunty previously worked as the Bucks’ interim assistant, replacing the deposed Jason Kidd, and is expected to resume his role as an […]

The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets have not even stepped on the court yet, but the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas is already cashing out bets in favor of the Warriors. According to a Nugget sportsbook general manager, by way of ESPN’s David Purdum, if you are one of those fans who already placed […]

Nick Young of the Golden State Warriors is known for precisely two things. One of them is apparently not his ability to talk about Detlef Schrempf. The first thing he is known for is his unconscionable shot selection, in large volumes and in progressively longer ranges — occasionally leading to shots that could be best described […]

To be voted as the NBA Players Association (NBPA) president and then re-elected again is no joke. It means your fellow NBA players have a lot of faith and respect for you. Considering that the Houston Rocket’s Chris Paul is arguably the best point guard in the league, it goes without saying guys like Stephen […]

How times have changed. Once a promising center piece of the Miami Heat’s post-Dwyane Wade rebuild, Hassan Whiteside has quickly fallen out of favor, out of the core rotation, and is inevitably on his way out. Many possible landing spots have been suggested for the 6-foot-11 big man, although there may be some difficulties making […]

What will DeMarcus Cousins do this summer? That is the question that will primarily hound the New Orleans Pelicans as they field exit interviews in the wake of their 113-104 defeat against the Golden State Warriors, going home five games into the Western Conference Semifinals. Head coach Alvin Gentry was asked for his thoughts on […]

Basketball Hall of Famers and now Inside The NBA anchors Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley have a love-hate relationship that dates back to their playing days. Who can forget that infamous scramble they had during the Western Conference first round more than two decades ago? Once O’Neal hung his size 22 sneakers for good in […]

If you are wondering what happened to Rajon Rondo after halftime during the New Orleans Pelicans’ critical must-win homestand against the Golden State Warriors, it is not a strategic line-up adjustment or (worse) a tiff with another head coach in the middle of a playoff game. Rather, it was an old familiar foe. Head Coach […]

Draymond Green may have finished the 113-104 drubbing of the New Orleans Pelicans just one assist shy of a triple-double, but that was good enough for the Golden State Warriors’ Swiss army knife to lock up an elusive franchise record as the first player in Warriors history to average a triple-double in an NBA playoff […]

Four games since coming back from a grade 2 left MCL strain that made the Golden State Warriors starting point guard miss the last 10 games of the regular season (and some even questioning if he was ever coming back at all and if their title defense is all but gone), Stephen Curry is still […]

With the two best teams in the Western Conference – and perhaps the entire league – dispatching their respective opponents in five games Tuesday night, the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors will finally duke it out. The defending NBA champions and the upstart Southeast Texas club have been on a collision course as early […]

Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers may be one of the most entertaining young guns in The Association (and doing so as a rookie) while drawing comparisons to established greats like LeBron James and Magic Johnson, but his efficiency — particularly against the Boston Celtics — is apparently not that good. His one-point dud the […]

Hakeem Olajuwon might be the greatest player to ever do it for the Houston Rockets. That being said, lost in history, was his stints with teams outside the great state of Texas. The last twenty years in the NBA gave birth to numerous rivalries. But among the many feuds, the one between LeBron James and […]

Markelle Fultz just couldn’t catch a break from the fans. The 2017 first overall pick has been a popular target by fans all season (and most recently – Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving) as undeserving of the top selection – especially with the top performing rookie from the batch (a certain Donovan Mitchell) being picked […]

In the playoffs, you do not want to be down three games to none. It is very well documented that a team that is on the bottom end of that has never come back to win the series. It has been foolproof since a seven game series has become the norm, that it gets brought […]

Joel Embiid is second in the league (after the New Orleans Pelicans’ DeMarcus Cousins who isn’t that far ahead) in fouls drawn per game with 7.8 per 36 minutes. For comparison, that is slightly more than James Harden’s 7.1 – which is excellent company either way given that the “Beard” is renowned for making a […]

There are a plethora of channels and videos – mostly on YouTube – that provide incredibly detailed, analytical insight on the X’s and O’s of basketball. It’s fun to watch and see the chess match that happens behind the scenes which normally sails past the attention of the casual viewer. That’s why when ESPN announced […]

Since leaving the Boston Celtics via a trade to the Dallas Mavericks four years ago and subsequently departing Texas on a sour note, Rajon Rondo has spent the last few seasons jumping from team to team with stays that alternate between good and mediocre. Teams are also concerned with the mercurial point guard that they […]

Social media was on fire as a result of the Boston Celtics’ epic comeback and 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only because the resurgent Celtics erased a 22-point first-half deficit, but also because of the surprisingly poor performance of phenomenal rookie point guard Ben Simmons who finished with a career low 1 point […]

Terry Rozier’s amazing run continues and so is the Ben Simmons-Donovan Mitchell saga. The third-year guard dubbed “Scary Terry” completely outplayed the taller Simmons, flirting with a triple-double of 20 points (four 3-pointers and 4-of-4 off the charity stripe), nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal, one block, and a plus/minus rating of +17 when on […]

After a heated post-game exchange with the Cleveland Cavalier’s reserve center Kendrick Perkins following Game 1, passionate Toronto Raptors fan and team ambassador Drake hasn’t exactly endeared himself to Cavs fans. Or just basketball fans in general — who simply couldn’t resist poking fun at several shots of the Canadian’s sullen expression as his beloved […]

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons has had his fair share of bad games in his first year, but not as bad as his Game 2 showing against the Boston Celtics — which was undoubtedly an integral factor as to why the Sixers blew a 22-point lead that led to a 108-103 loss. The Australian rookie […]

If you ask the Cleveland Cavaliers who have been the team’s unsung heroes during their championship window the last four years, you’re bound to hear only a pair of names. The first is arguably swingman Richard Jefferson who is now with the Denver Nuggets, but the second (and has a compelling case for first actually) […]

With the Oklahoma City Thunder bowing out to the Utah Jazz in six games, star forward Paul George is expected to forego the final $20 million of his contract and opt out to become an unrestricted free agent. Whether he re-signs with the Thunder or goes to another team is still up in the air […]

There was a time when Washington Husky teenager Markelle Fultz was unanimously considered the top prospect of the 2017 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-4 combo guard was wowing scouts, executives, and basketball fans with his elite combination of size, length, athleticism, and all-around ball skills, during his team’s 2016-17 NCAA run. The Philadelphia 76ers were convinced […]

Aptly nicknamed the “Mad Scientist” for introducing concepts that were simply taboo back then, former head coach Don Nelson truly was an innovator and ahead of his time. The record holder for most coaching wins was the man that ushered outside shooting big men (most notably with the 7-foot-6 Manute Bol), playmaking forwards (first used […]