Jeff Olalo Articles - Page 9

Veteran guard J.J. Redick has likely seen his fair share of slumps over his storied NBA career. How he got over his most recent one with the Philadelphia 76ers, though, might just take the cake. Fresh off a 28 win campaign (a considerable improvement but still poor overall) a season ago, it was only logical […]

The NBA Playoffs truly bring out the intensity and passion out of not only the players, but also the fans – most notably, the celebrity fans. Through the years – with the exception of the New York Knicks’ Spike Lee and Los Angeles Lakers’ Jack Nicholson who remain fixtures on the arena of their beloved […]

If guard John Wall’s recent comments about the paramount importance of athletic big men is indeed the direction the Washington Wizards take, Polish big man Marcin Gortat may be the odd man out with the franchise. Still, that’s not stopping him from sharing his two cents as to how the Wizards could bounce back next […]

As an NBA player, you know you have finally made it when a legend anoints you with the “next” or “new” label. It’s passing the torch, perhaps akin to being knighted as well. Then again, the Philadelphia 76ers’ transcendental oversized point guard that is Ben Simmons, doesn’t exactly need any confirmation that he’s made it. […]

Former Chicago Bull and NBA legend Scottie Pippen has made a name for himself as being the over-qualified sidekick to the GOAT Michael Jordan. Unlike other top perimeter defenders (Pippen is arguably the best the league has ever seen) he was also capable of scoring and facilitating, which is a rarity given that defensive specialists […]

When asked last week if he will be using his opt-out clause and either opt in with the Dallas Mavericks or opt out and test free agency, guard Wesley Matthews went political by citing that it never crossed his mind and he always leaves such matters to his agent – although he reiterated that he […]

Unless it is a massive blowout, Game 7s rarely disappoint, delivering the promise of an intense win-or-go-home battle between two hungry ball clubs. The first-round series that pitted Victor Oladipo’s young Indiana Pacers team (that many have waved off before the season started after shipping away All-Star Paul George) against LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers was […]

You got to hand it to Juwan Howard. Unlike most of his peers that take short cuts to head coaching gigs by joining the broadcast booth, the former Michigan Wolverine and “Fab Five” member worked unofficially as a quasi-assistant coach while as a player for the Miami Heat. It ultimately led to him being promoted […]

While the one-on-one matchup ended up being mostly one-sided (not to mention, new) to be a “rivalry”, the brewing feud between Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe and Boston Celtics’ incumbent starting point guard Terry Rozier has been a hot topic throughout the series. Originating from an innocuous Freudian slip that saw Rozier referring to Bledsoe […]

To say that the Oklahoma City Thunder’s batch of exit interviews were wildly entertaining is quite the understatement. But the highlight of it all is easily forward Carmelo Anthony’s session. After responding to suggestions that he try a bench role next season with a resounding and not-so-politically correct “I’m not sacrificing” and that it is […]

If all goes as planned, the Golden State Warriors could finally have the long awaited playoff debut of starting point guard Stephen Curry by Tuesday — as hyped by the Splash Brother and the face of the franchise himself. Stephen Curry tells ESPN the plan is to make his playoff debut on Tuesday, but says […]

With the Washington Wizards going fishing early after being dispatched by the Toronto Raptors in six games, you know the media were just itching to press center Marcin Gortat on his February kerfuffle with their then-sidelined point guard John Wall. Gortat however, was quick to squash any possible feud. The 6-foot-11 center affectionately referred to […]

Just a few days after officially parting ways with head coach Mike Budenholzer, the Atlanta Hawks are already in search of a replacement. The team first set their sights on a pair of Portland Trail Blazers assistant coaches in Nate Tibbetts and David Vanterpool, with the former considered as a “serious” candidate. But you can […]

With elder statesman Nick Collison set to retire after the 2017-18 season, we have sadly seen the last of quite possibly one of the weirdly hilarious pre-game routines in recent memory. Of course, one half of the aforementioned routine is his fellow Oklahoma City Thunder big man Steven Adams – a player that is always […]

After bowing out to the Toronto Raptors in the first round (their worst playoff finish in four of the last five years), the Washington Wizards are back to the drawing board. With the front office consulting backcourt mate Bradley Beal on some offseason targets, it is clear that the team would be moving forward with […]

The “hits” just keep on coming for the Oklahoma City Thunder and their starting forward Carmelo Anthony. Coming off a very disappointing showing during their first-round series with the Utah Jazz — highlighted by a woeful 11.8 points in 32.3 minutes on 37.5 and 21.4 percent shooting from the field and behind the arc – […]

When a franchise such as the Washington Wizards perennially makes the playoffs and do not go very deep — a second-round elimination in three of the last five years and now an even disappointing turnout such as a first-round exit with just two games won — the front office typically starts to deliberate hard if this […]

It can’t be all just fun and games for the Purple and Gold. The Los Angeles Lakers’ rookie duo of Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma (along with Jason Hart) have been vocal and passionate with regards to their obsession of the open-world video game Fortnite that has caught the gaming world (and NBA) by storm. […]

There is a commonly held belief that the home team must suffer defeat first before we could truly say that the series has begun, and it is reinforced by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks after his team bested the Boston Celtics 97-86, setting the stage for a deciding seventh game this coming Saturday. The […]

While he is not exactly a poster boy for consistency, the Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown has been one of the few bright spots for the C’s, with a pair of 30-plus point games to his name in the series, one of which came on the road where it has been notoriously difficult for either team […]

Lonzo Ball’s tenure in college lasted only a single season and was put to an end by the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet Sixteen. During his time with the UCLA Bruins, his stats were enough to make him an All-American. Any way you look at it, the Los Angeles Lakers guard’s college stint worked out […]

The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki is known for a lot of things on the court, it’s just up to you to decide which one. Is it him ushering the era of mobile big men that could somewhat stretch the floor and move like a wing – or in his case, like a shooting guard? Perhaps […]

While NBA players are embroiled in their own political skirmishes – usually involving a certain controversial president, most famously involving the Golden State Warriors and their unilateral boycott of a White House visit – that all pales in comparison with the New York Knicks big man Enes Kanter. Or should we say Enes Gülen? The […]

Prior to Game 5, Russell Westbrook hasn’t been having a very good series against the Utah Jazz. Not just because the Oklahoma City Thunder are losing but statistically, his numbers simply are not up to par with the usual standards many expect from the triple-double king. That said, the reigning MVP put up quite a […]

We may not be getting a season of Game of Thrones this year but at least the Bleacher Report’s Game of Zones series is still around. For those who have not been following the series, it’s an animated short that puts everyone’s favorite NBA personalities in funny “Westerosan” vignettes – complete with British accents. It […]

It’s quite rare to see genuine banter in the NBA podium. Press members will try to stir the pot with questions that would provoke players or coaches and lead to a quotable quote or two that would make the series more personal and engaging as they try to use it as bulletin board material to […]

If there is a player in the NBA that has the license to bestow “Big 3” titles, it’s probably Rajon Rondo. The ex-Boston Celtic after all, played not too long ago alongside the trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and the now-estranged Ray Allen, and won a title and multiple trips to the NBA Finals. […]

The postgame media interviews are a bit of a conundrum for NBA players, most especially after a crushing defeat and in the playoffs at that. On one hand, you’re expected to show up in the press room and entertain all inquiries, but on the other, how do you respond exactly to those about officiating without […]

If there’s one takeaway from the Minnesota Timberwolves convincing Game 3 victory against the Houston Rockets (that averted a serious 3-0 deficit), is their scintillating 3-point shooting. After only knocking down 15 out of a whopping 55 attempts the last two games, the T-Wolves were able to connect on the same number of 3-pointers (15) […]

The San Antonio Spurs’ season may not be over yet but with head coach Gregg Popovich still out for Game 4 and the fact that no other team has climbed out of a 3-0 series deficit (against the defending champions Golden State Warriors no less), it’s well within the realm of possibility to assume that […]

He may not be the Rookie of the Year (thanks to Ben Simmons who just ran away with it given his command of triple-doubles and leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 50-win season for the first time since 2001) but the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell is still making plenty of noise for the promising rookie […]

Ask around where is the toughest place to play for visiting teams in the NBA and it’s more than likely a short list consisting of just three teams. In no particular order there’s the Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors and that’s probably because they’re the Warriors — arguably the most stacked team […]

John Wall is no stranger to altercations, just ask Dallas Mavericks guard JJ Barea or most recently, famed musician Drake. On the flipside, Serge Ibaka has no shortage of skirmishes as well. Heck, not even their own staff member is safe, and the Congolese cunning linguist was promptly suspended by the Toronto Raptors for it. […]

When the sudden Chris Paul trade to the Houston Rockets in the summer of 2017 happened, a lot of people thought that a rebuilding phase was in order – after all, they haven’t been able to get past the first round on every postseason and it might be a good idea to blow things up. […]

November 19, 2004 — The “Pacers-Pistons Brawl”, the “Malice in the Palace”, call it whatever you want, it was undoubtedly one of the lowest points of the NBA, and a day that will live in The Association in infamy. It led to nine player suspensions (including fines and legal charges) and shaped how the modern […]

The first time the Oklahoma City Thunder’s swingman Paul George christened himself with a nickname – punctuated by a jersey number change to No. 13 just so he could rock “PG-13” back with the Indiana Pacers – he injured himself pretty badly and was sidelined for an entire season with many questioning if he could […]

Whether it’s LeBron James taking off his headband to jump start a rally against the Spurs several years ago or the Warriors fanbase paying homage to a toaster that Klay Thompson signed as the reason for their undefeated streak, the NBA always seem to find ways to credit something for a player’s (or in the […]

Lamar Odom. Now there’s a name we don’t hear as often as we used to. Once synonymous a decade ago with the Los Angeles Lakers for his unique Swiss army knife concoction of length and transcendental ball skills, and later for his sudden turn as an unwitting celebrity due to his relationship (and eventually marriage) […]

After making it known that he intends to be present on an upcoming game to show his support, the New Orleans Pelicans’ sidelined starting center DeMarcus Cousins may indeed be doing that sooner rather than later. According to William Guillory of the NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune, a well-placed sourced has informed them that Cousins will […]