Virgil Villanueva Articles - Page 57

The Nuggets rose to elite-team status last year when they won 54 games. They did this with a solid group of role players and up and coming stars. In the offseason, they shied away from luring in an elite player and focused on developing their core. As such, the 2019-20 season will feature a tighter […]

With Russell Westbrook by his side on the Houston Rockets, James Harden expects to get more catch-and-shoot opportunities. Per Salman Ali of ClutchPoints, Harden feels that Westbrook’s ability to collapse the defense will lead to open catch-and-shoot chances. However, it would still depend on how defenses try to cover them. James Harden thinks he'll get […]

Dallas Mavericks legend and basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki didn’t want an extravagant farewell tour in his last season in the NBA. However, he appreciated the “awesome” gesture from the Mavs, fans, and the NBA. In an interview with Alex Schulter of Sporting News, Nowitzki was asked if he became uncomfortable in the last few months […]

From Nick Nurse’s point of view, Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby is in the ‘best condition he’s been in.’ After their second preseason game, Nurse shared his observations on the 22-year-old forward who’s now in his third year in the league. According to Nurse, Anunoby is healthier than ever. “He’s not only healthy, but he’s […]

The Golden State Warriors, who have dominated the NBA over the last five years, will enter the season shorthanded and weaker in firepower. But Draymond Green isn’t lowering his expectations amid these realities for the 2019-20 season. Green admits that it feels different entering the season with some of their core players gone. But this […]

For Portland Trail Blazers stars Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, a team’s culture is everything and they are stressing its importance to the newcomers. Lillard is aware that some people downplay them whenever they point out how critical a healthy team culture is. But for Lillard, he has observed how newcomers felt and embraced this […]

This season, Zach LaVine has some high individual goals that he hopes will translate into the Chicago Bulls winning more games. LaVine pointed out his stellar individual campaign last year when he logged career-highs of 23.7 points per game, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. However, the Bulls only had 22 wins and so his numbers […]

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle has not ruled out the possibility of Boban Marjanovic and Kristaps Porzingis sharing the floor together in several Mavs games this season. Per Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News, Carlisle commended Marjanovic’s personality and professionalism. He also did not dismiss the possibility that the 7-foot-4 center will share […]

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic promises that his free throw shooting percentage will get better as the season progresses. After the Mavs’ preseason game against the Detroit Pistons, Doncic shared how he motivates himself for the free-throw line. Since he converts on the most difficult shots, draining a free throw should be easier. “I always […]

Boston Celtics center Vincent Poirier wasn’t aware of how big his team is until he played NBA 2k. Per Chris Forsberg of NBCS Boston, Poirier admitted that he wasn’t fully aware of how much of a legendary team the Celtics are. “When I first played NBA 2K, the main game was Lakers vs. Boston. That’s […]

Jim Boylen got his first look at New Orleans Pelicans prized rookie Zion Williamson, and the Chicago Bulls head coach was impressed by his body control given his massive size. Williamson finished with 29 points on 12-of-13 shooting, leading the Pelicans to a 127-125 win over the Bulls. His baskets included dunks and barreling lay-ups […]

After Zach LaVine’s stellar preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen called the swingman a “special cat.” In 24 minutes of action, LaVine dropped 28 points and three rebounds. It’s a pretty great performance considering that it’s just a preseason game where most players are taking it easy. Per […]

After a year of inaction, Kristaps Porzingis of the Dallas Mavericks suited up for his preseason debut, noting that he felt good and natural out there on the floor. In 19 minutes of action against the Detroit Pistons, Porzingis dropped 18 points and seven rebounds. The Mavs’ 7-foot-3 forward showcased his impressive shooting ability from […]

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford believes that the 2018-19 Boston Celtics squad wouldn’t be able to co-exist if they had stayed together. To recall, the Celtics team of last year was showered with criticism, mainly about their rumored lack of chemistry which translated into their poor on-court performance. After the season, Kyrie Irving — […]

For Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford, Michael Carter-Williams has been their best defender ever since the swingman joined the team. Per Magic reporter John Denton, Clifford called Carter-Williams an ‘elite-level defender,’ noting that he can guard the opposing team’s best players. He has that uncanny ability to snatch the ball out of the handler’s […]

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer has hinted that he could field Giannis Antetokounmpo and his top players this preseason. In their first preseason game, Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe sat out of the game, as their team cruised to a 122-112 win over the Chicago Bulls. It’s a widely accepted practice that teams […]

New Orleans Pelicans general manager Trajan Langdon had a chance to observe Jahlil Okafor as the center drifted from the Brooklyn Nets to where he is now. Langdon noted that Okafor is much more confident now than in his stint with the Nets. To recall, Okafor played 26 games with the Nets in the 2017-18 […]

The Milwaukee Bucks won 60 games last season which elevated the franchise into a contender. It shocked the entire league but several analysts believe that the Bucks’ success will be shortlived. For the 2019-20 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo wants to prove that last year was not a fluke. The Greek Freak shared that everybody in the […]

New Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai witnessed firsthand the team’s chemistry and camaraderie outside the basketball court, and he was simply amazed by it. Tsai and the Nets had a small gathering in Shanghai right after the team arrived from the US. Tsai noticed that despite the long flight, the players still had the energy […]

As he embarks on his first full season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Jonas Valanciunas wants to form the best frontcourt in the league with Jaren Jackson Jr. To recall, Valanciunas was traded to the Grizzlies from the Toronto Raptors in February 2019. Over the summer, the Lithuanian center inked a three-year, $45 million deal with […]

New York Knicks point guard Elfrid Payton believes that his team’s biggest asset is their depth. Payton, considered one of the top young guards in the league, chimed in on the strength of his new team. For the new Knicks guard, their squad does not have a hole and is well-equipped at every position. Per […]

Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce has a new role for big man John Collins. Given his speed and athleticism, Pierce is eyeing Collins to be a facilitator both in the half-court and fastbreak setting. Pierce believes that the defense will likely catch up and deny Collins’ pick-and-roll game. As such, Collins would have to […]

John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks has identified his weakness: his lack of athleticism. To negate this, Collins says he needs to be more versatile so as not to become a liability to his team. The third-year big man noted that he doesn’t have the “freakish athleticism” that some big men are blessed with. But […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is looking to tweak his offense due to the lack of a reliable shooting touch from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Nurse admitted that he’s not too confident about relying on Hollis-Jefferson camping around the perimeter or behind the 3-point line, waiting for a wide-open shot. Instead, Nurse is looking at placing […]

The Houston Rockets have ‘no discipline’ planned for general manager Daryl Morey amid the backlash from the team’s Chinese fans. Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, the Rockets’ have refuted a previous report which noted that Morey’s post as the team’s general manager may be in jeopardy. Two sources with knowledge of the Rockets' ownership […]

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has issued a statement about his controversial tweet about Hong Kong. Via Twitter, Morey tried to clear their air by apologizing to the Rockets’ fans about his tweet regarding the Hong Kong protests. https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1181000808399114240?s=20 He noted that his tweets do not represent the Rockets or the NBA. https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1181000809363857409?s=20 In […]

Chicago Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. looked back at the days when he was being recruited for college. Amid all the offers he received as a top high school prospect, he committed to Duke with thoughts of elevating his game up a notch and be noticed by NBA recruits. Yet when the school made a […]

Basketball legend Isiah Thomas believes that the Detroit Pistons are treading the right path given their relative success last season and their offseason moves. Thomas, who was a member of the Bad Boys era of Detroit, complimented the trio of Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson. He also pointed out that Derrick Rose is […]

Avery Bradley thinks playing with fellow elite defender Anthony Davis and the other big men of the Los Angeles Lakers will bring his defense to the “next level.” During his stint in Boston, Bradley was one of the most feared perimeter defenders out there. He’s a member of the All-Defensive First and Second Team — […]

Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder believes that Emmanuel Mudiay’s ‘unique strength’ can be utilized to make him a great defender. Mudiay, who was picked up by the Jazz this offseason, has quickly caught the eye of Snyder. For the head coach, the seventh overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft has a special type […]

Orlando Magic legend Tracy McGrady believes that Orlando is the perfect place for Markelle Fultz, noting that the team will take good care of him and his health. Fultz will enter his third year in the league now, albeit his first as a member of the Magic. Stories about his shoulder injury are legion, but […]

Orlando Magic icon Tracy McGrady believes that this year’s team has the potential to be “one of the better defensive teams” in the league. McGrady pointed out the culture and identity that Steve Clifford has built with the team last year, as the Magic made their first playoff appearance since the 2011-12 season. The Hall […]

The Golden State Warriors are not going to risk the health of Kevon Looney as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Per Anthony Slater of The Athletic, Looney won’t play on Saturday in the Warriors’ preseason opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of Looney, Omari Spellman will start. Kevon Looney has a hamstring strain. […]

For Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen, Wendell Carter Jr. has the capacity to turn into a basketball legend like Hakeem Olajuwon. Boylen — who’s on his second year as the Bulls’ head coach — shared his observation of Carter Jr. Boylen says that the second-year center is equipped with the physical presence, intelligence and […]

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle expects his second-year star Luka Doncic to improve from the free-throw line in the 2019-20 season. Per Mavs reporter Dwain Price, Carlisle shared that Doncic put on a lot of work on his shot in the offseason. And he believes the Slovenian’s hard work will eventually pay off. “He’s […]

Kris Dunn of the Chicago Bulls has never played a full season in his three years as a pro. In fact, the number of games he’s played for a season has dwindled from 78 games to 52 to 46. As such, the main priority for the 2019-20 season is to stay healthy. This is key […]

Wesley Matthews is well-aware that the Milwaukee Bucks are one of the best teams in the league. Now, as he embarks on his first season wearing the Bucks jersey, his mission is not to mess up what the team has built in recent years. In the 2018-19 season, the Bucks were the best defensive team […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson believes that the center spot is their ‘biggest strength’ coming into the 2019-20 season. DeAndre Jordan and Jarrett Allen will likely play back up for one another in the upcoming season. With that said, the Nets have two of the most athletic centers in the league who can play […]

DeMarre Carroll, now of the San Antonio Spurs, believes he’s capable of providing the defense that San Antonio sorely needs. In a recent interview, Carroll noted that defense has been his main thing ever since. As such, he’s expecting legendary head coach Gregg Popovich to give him the task of leading the defense. Last year, […]