Mike Cruz Articles - Page 42

This was it for the Boston Celtics. No tomorrows, no more do-overs. If they didn’t win on Friday, their season would have come to an end. The end certainly felt closer to becoming reality after Boston found itself trailing by seven points by halftime as a result of a slow start in a must-win Game […]

The Denver Nuggets finally got on the board in the Western Conference Finals with a much-needed 114-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3. This comes after a heartbreaking defeat in Game 2, which saw them come just a couple of seconds from completing a shocking come-from-behind victory after falling behind by as […]

Stephen Curry may not be in the thick of the playoffs right now, but it’s always good to talk about the engine that drove the Golden State Warriors dynasty over the last five years. Talking heads always like to debate about Player this should’ve won the MVP over Player that. This most recent MVP voting, […]

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently expressed his disdain over this year’s MVP voting. The award, of course, went to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, who bagged his second consecutive Maurice Podoloff trophy this season. James made it clear that he did not have any issue with Antetokounmpo taking home the hardware. Nonetheless, […]

The Boston Celtics made the headlines after reports of a locker room spat erupted following their Game 2 loss to the Miami Heat. The incident apparently lit a fire under their belly, as Boston scored a massive Game 3 victory to finally get on the board in the Eastern Conference Finals. Following the 117-106 Game […]

Some would argue that Michael Porter Jr.’s postgame comments after Game 4 became the turning point for the Denver Nuggets in their second-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Porter’s controversial comments — which suggested that Denver needed to involve everyone more on offense to take down an elite defensive team like the Clippers — […]

The Boston Celtics finally got on the board in the Eastern Conference Finals with a wire-to-wire victory over the Miami Heat in Game 3. In response to all the negative chatter the Celtics received between Game 2 and Saturday, Enes Kanter sent out a simple message to all the haters using a Marcus Smart and […]

Robyn Hayward, the wife of Boston Celtics star Gordon Hayward, clarified her situation as she gets ready for the birth of her new child. Mrs. Hayward posted a story on Instagram to set the record straight, as noted by Abby Chin on Twitter: Robyn Hayward’s Instagram setting the record straight. pic.twitter.com/a8zpjY6tfF — Abby Chin (@tvabby) […]

Poor starts have become an all too familiar scene for the Miami Heat, especially in these Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. While they overcame huge leads in the first two games of the series, the Heat were not able to do so in Game 3, dropping their first game of the series, 117-106. […]

It was only a matter of time before the Miami Heat’s slow starts in games came back to haunt them. All-Star center Bam Adebayo expressed his frustration over this on-going trend following their 117-106 Game 3 loss in their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics. Bam, frustrated with how the Heat continue to […]

Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward played his first game after being on the sidelines in over a month. Despite the long layoff, Hayward made a positive impact for the Celtics in their 117-106 Game 3 win over the Miami Heat. The 30-year old admitted (via Mark Medina of USA Today) that he felt gassed after […]

Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. is slowly showing improvements on his defense in the 2020 NBA playoffs. His dad, Michael Porter Sr., has certainly noticed it and gave his two cents on where his son has grown on that end of the floor. “The biggest part that I’ve seen improvement in is his rotations,” […]

Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward initially intended to leave the Orlando bubble for the birth of his fourth child. However, it seems like he will now stay with his squad for the rest of their postseason run, as reported by Rachel Nichols of ESPN. Gordon Hayward was originally supposed to leave the Bubble for the […]

On Friday, the NBA named Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo as the 2019-20 NBA Most Valuable Player. The Greek Freak bagged his second straight Maurice Podoloff Trophy, weeks after winning Defensive Player of the Year as well. In the process, Giannis also edged out Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James for the MVP, who finished […]

After spending the last four seasons as an assistant, Mike Brown may be ready to take on a lead role once again. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Indiana Pacers will interview Brown for its head coaching vacancy. Another candidate interviewing for the Indiana Pacers coaching job, sources tell ESPN: Golden State assistant Mike Brown. […]

Aside from his team’s postseason success so far, Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler is also thriving with his newfound coffee business in the bubble. However, it seems like the 5-time All-Star’s “Big Face Coffee” is getting some competition. Heat point guard Goran Dragic took to Twitter and warned Jimmy Buckets of a stiff competitor, aptly […]

Kamiah Adams-Beal, wife of Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal, went on an NSFW tirade on Twitter over her husband’s omission from the any of the All-NBA teams this season. I’m not here to say who shouldn’t have made it. Not my place. HOWEVER I am here to and will CONTINUE to be VERY vocal on […]

The Denver Nuggets pulled off the stunning upset against the mighty Los Angeles Clippers to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years. Denver also did so in miraculous fashion, storming back from a 3-1 series deficit, becoming the only team in NBA history to do so multiple times in […]

After the Milwaukee Bucks’ disappointing exit from the playoffs, rumors immediately surfaced of the possibility that they would make a run at Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Chris Paul. However, Eric Nehm and Sam Amick of The Athletic report that it’s unlikely that the Bucks bring in the veteran point guard to pair with reigning MVP […]

After the Los Angeles Clippers’ mighty fall in the Western Conference semi-finals at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, Magic City Kitchen decided to make a menu change in support for Lou Williams. https://twitter.com/magicitykitchen/status/1306104403611578368   To recall, Sweet Lou drew a ton of flak for going to the Atlanta-based restaurant/club while on an excused leave […]

Shortly after the Houston Rockets’ season ended, Mike D’Antoni announced on Sunday that he would not return to coach the team next season. The Athletic revealed details of when the two-time NBA Coach of Year made up his mind about not returning to the sidelines for the Rockets. According to the report, D’Antoni expected a […]

Former Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut sent his congratulations to ex-teammates Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa for landing jobs with the organization. Livingston will reportedly return to Golden State with a front office role. Meanwhile, Barbosa is joining Steve Kerr’s staff as a player mentor coach. https://twitter.com/andrewbogut/status/1305708404652957696 Maybe we could get the Aussia big […]

Linsanity may very well be on its way back to the NBA. Jeremy Lin announced in tearful video his desire to return to the league that made him an international star. The 32-year old shared the news to his 7 million followers on Weibo, a Twitter-like social media platform in China. Lin expressed the difficulty […]

The Boston Celtics survived a seven-game bloodbath and knocked off the Toronto Raptors in round two to advance to their third Eastern Conference Finals appearance in four years. Just after going through hell and back against the defending NBA champions, Boston will go for second servings as they face the scorching Miami Heat. Boston needed […]

The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals after dispatching the Houston Rockets in five games. LeBron James has certainly done his part by leading them offensively. However, much of the Lakers’ success this season and in the playoffs can be attributed to their top-notch play on the other end of the floor. […]

The Los Angeles Clippers were among the few teams which chose to boycott the season a few weeks ago after the league went up in arms over the unjust shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Clearly, the team felt strongly about the never ending social injustice in the country. Head coach Doc Rivers revealed […]

Mike D’Antoni’s future with the Houston Rockets has been up in the air all season. With Houston bowing out of the 2020 playoffs in disappointing fashion once again, it’s not hard to see the 69-year-no longer manning the sidelines for the Rockets next season. However, D’Antoni still wants to coach, and Sam Amick of The Athletic reports […]

The Los Angeles Lakers finished off the Houston Rockets in Game 5 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. After the game, a small group of protesters showed up just outside the NBA bubble seeking the help of stars such as LeBron James and Russell Westbrook to support their cause, per ESPN. According to the […]

The Houston Rockets saw another season end in disappointing fashion after the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated them from the playoffs on Saturday night. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the organization, including the security of general manager Daryl Morey’s job. While Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes says Morey’s job will be “under review,” Tim MacMahon […]

There is a lot of uncertainty about Mike D’Antoni’s future as head coach of the Houston Rockets following another disappointing playoff exit. Nonetheless, the 69-year-old admitted that his coaching days aren’t through just yet. Via Rockets beat writer Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle: D'Antoni was sure of one thing: "I will continue coaching for […]

The Los Angeles Lakers advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2010 following their dominant 119-96 drubbing of the Houston Rockets in Game 5. LeBron James led the way for the Purple and Gold franchise, finishing with 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. After the game, James spoke about leading […]

Things got testy between Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook and William Rondo, brother of Los Angeles Lakers guard Rajon Rondo, in the fourth quarter of Game 5. Westbrook did not appreciate William’s yapping on the sidelines, especially with everything going downhill for the Rockets. The ferocious guard fired back and called Rajon’s brother out for […]

Steve Nash’s hiring as the new Brooklyn Nets head coach certainly came as a surprise to many given that he doesn’t have any prior coaching experience. Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie admitted that while he didn’t see the move coming, he still thinks the former two-time league MVP is the right person to man the sidelines […]

The Los Angeles Lakers absolutely decimated the Houston Rockets in Game 5 to advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2010. The Lakers were on fire from beyond the arc on Saturday, setting a franchise record 19 3-pointers made in their 119-96 drubbing of the Rockets. The record-setting triple came off […]

The Los Angeles Lakers annihilated the Houston Rockets with a 119-96 Game 5 victory as they move on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2010. It was an absolute drubbing from the get go, with the Lakers racing out to a 35-20 lead at the end of the first quarter. Los […]

The Los Angeles Lakers are obliterating the Houston Rockets in Game 5. With the Purple and Gold well on their way to Western Conference Finals, a cutout of late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant emerged in the virtual crowd. We all know Kobe is watching these Lakers as they try to bring home the 1st championship […]

Hall of Famer and current Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley isn’t afraid to speak his mind. After seeing LeBron James’ post-game interview on Thursday, The Chuckster didn’t hesitate on trolling the Los Angeles Lakers superstar for wearing a durag cap, reasoning that James doesn’t have a ton of hair “to do anything.” Watch the […]

Goran Dragic posted a photo a couple of weeks ago that made its waves around social media. The Miami Heat guard was hanging out with the likes of Nikola Jokic, Boban Marjanovic, Luka Doncic, Vlatko Cancar, and Nikola Vucevic, his fellow players from the Balkan countries. Dragic shared about the bond between the players from […]

The Detroit Pistons is among the original NBA franchises. With nearly 80 years of existence, Detroit has certainly had their fair share of hits and misses in the NBA draft. The 2003 NBA draft comes to mind when thinking about one of their major blunders in the draft. They picked Darko Milicic with the 2nd […]