Virgil Villanueva Articles - Page 6

The Brooklyn Nets are highly favored to boot out the Milwaukee Bucks in their second-round duel. We’re seeing the full potential of the Steve Nash-coached squad, especially with their big trio well and healthy. However, we can never underestimate the Bucks and how hungry they are to win that elusive title after several years of […]

It’s no surprise the Philadelphia 76ers have advanced to the next round after manhandling the Washington Wizards. Now more than ever, they’re getting closer and closer to the championship dream. In this post, we’re going to be doing some Sixers-Hawks NBA Playoffs series thoughts; though it’s mostly focused on the 76ers. The Atlanta Hawks, meanwhile, […]

After easily booting out their foes in the first round, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets are set to meet in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Both teams have chips on their shoulders. The Bucks have been beasting and feasting in the regular season for the past few years. But come playoff time, they suddenly […]

Game 5 between the Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets had all the makings of the greatest playoff game ever. But critical errors by the Trail Blazers turned it into one of the most anti-climactic games we’ve seen. Looking at the bigger picture, the Trail Blazers have some inherent weaknesses that exposed themselves even more […]

It’s easy to imagine the Washington Wizards’ eyes going wide after Joel Embiid left Game 4 early due to right knee soreness. They’re definitely the weaker team. Props should be given to them after they took advantage of an Embiid-less 76ers squad. Reports reveal that the Cameroonian center is doubtful for Game 5. If he […]

It is unfortunate that in just a few week’s time, players have had to put on with some of the worst NBA fan incidents known to man. Some people can’t seem to understand that having the cash to purchase those elusive NBA tickets gives you the right to do whatever you want. Of course, you […]

Given their excellent regular season, the Philadephia 76ers quickly rose as a favorite to win the title this season. They were expected to boot out the Washington Wizards with ease in the first round. However, they failed to complete the sweep, losing 122-114 in Game 4. A quick 4-0 would’ve been great as it would’ve […]

The first round duel between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers is now knotted at 2-2. This means that the Mavericks just blew their 2-0 lead and fans are probably grabbing and tearing their hair out after the Game 4 blowout. It seems that Tyronn Lue and the Clippers have figured out the […]

It’s in the playoffs where stars are made. It’s a tired, old cliche but it still rings true after all these years. Understandably. most fans are paying close attention to whichever team wins it all. However, it’s also imperative to look at the young up-and-coming players and how they will fare in the postseason — […]

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is just in his third year in the NBA and analysts are already raving about him. They are all in agreement that Doncic will be the next face of the league in the next few years. The Slovenian has it all with the Mavs: talent, smarts, looks, the clutch gene, […]

The LA Clippers have been the laughing stock of the league since they blew that 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets last year. Now, more people have joined the bandwagon as they’re down 2-0 to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. At the expense of the Clippers, star guard Luka Doncic has once […]

For most of the Phoenix Suns’ stellar season, it was Chris Paul and Devin Booker who heaped praise from fans and analysts. But in the first two games of the playoffs, Deandre Ayton is finally getting some love. Frankly, his play should’ve been noticed way earlier. His averages might have gone down in his third […]

NBA analysts and fans have continually raised the ceiling for the Brooklyn Nets. When Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving joined forces two years ago, they immediately tagged them as legitimate title contenders though it took one full season to see them in action together. This season, after the James Harden trade and the Blake Griffin […]

With Game 3 swinging back to Florida, the Miami Heat have a chance to impress their home crowd with a win over the Milwaukee Bucks to avoid a 3-0 deficit. The Heat knows that being down 3-0 is almost like a death sentence. It means that they can never lose a game and beat the […]

While the Phoenix Suns have yet to snag an NBA title in their history, they’ve still had a number of great moments. These are moments that die-hard Suns fans will remember for years to come, and they’re hoping the franchise will be able to provide more, perhaps as soon as this postseason. Let’s take a […]

Even if the Golden State Warriors made the playoffs this year, they would still have to give their performance a thorough review in the offseason. The best way to do this is to evaluate their players’ performances, especially the new ones like Kelly Oubre Jr. Oubre particularly stands out since he’s one heck of a […]

Memphis Grizzlies fans are probably the happiest people in the world right now after their team beat the Utah Jazz in Game 1 of their first-round duel. Not only did they steal homecourt advantage, but they seemed to have figured out a way how to beat the number one team in the league. However, they […]

As expected, the first game between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks was a nail-biter that had to be decided in the final few seconds. Fans of both teams were ecstatic to see their squads in the postseason after years of drought. For Knicks fans, this year has been special. They’ve been the […]

It’s in the NBA Playoffs where stars are truly born. Fans have heard this over a million times because it really is true. The postseason has one of the tensest and most competitive atmospheres in all of sports. Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, in his first ever NBA Playoffs game, responded to the call by […]

The first round match-up between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks is one of the most anticipated duels in this year’s NBA Playoffs. This is a rematch of last year’s second round duel, where the Heat upset the Bucks, 4-1. As such, the Bucks will come out with a vengeance and employ a specific […]

The first-round series between the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers will be an exciting one for the mere fact that it features Nikola Jokic, Damian Lillard, Michael Porter Jr. and CJ McCollum–some of the hottest players right now heading into the postseason. However, the reality is the Nuggets are the better team–as they […]

Everyone knows why the NBA included a play-in tournament to determine the seventh and eighth spots for the playoffs: money (of course) and the promise of exciting games. However, the first day of the play-in tourney featuring the Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, and the Washington Wizards was an absolute flop from a casual […]

Charlotte Hornets fans should not be disappointed one bit that their team failed to qualify for the postseason. After all, the 2020-21 NBA season was a year plagued by injuries to their key players such as LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, Miles Bridges, and Devonte’ Graham. Despite this, head coach James Borrego and crew managed to […]

Though the Portland Trail Blazers are the weaker team on paper, NBA fans know how upsets are very much possible in the NBA Playoffs. Nikola Jokic has been the main man for the Denver Nuggets for the past few years. However, Nuggets coach Mike Malone will be missing the services of Jamal Murray. The Trail […]

The Portland Trail Blazers will face off with the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2021 postseason. It will feature two perennial playoff teams who have tons of experience and the capability to make a deep run. Though the Nuggets seem the better team on paper, they should never underestimate the Blazers, especially […]

The Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks will meet once again in the first round of the playoffs, but this time as the fourth and fifth seeds. It seems as though the Mavs and Luka Doncic have improved over the course of the season. The Clippers, meanwhile, have strayed away from elite status by […]

It’s official. The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors will participate in the upper leg of the play-in tournament. The winner of Wednesday’s game will secure the seventh seed in the playoffs, while the loser will play the winner of the San Antonio Spurs-Memphis Grizzlies duel. It’s an odd sight to see LeBron James […]

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was once again battered by his haters after claiming that the one who came up with the play-in tournament should be fired. LeBron James’ Take On Play-In Tournament: Here’s what the Lakers star had to say on the matter just a few weeks before the 2021 NBA playoffs. LeBron […]

Ja Morant and Stephen Curry will be part of something special. Sunday’s duel between the Golden State Warriors and the Memphis Grizzlies will mark the first time in NBA history that two teams will battle it out for the two play-in lanes. The winner will likely become the eighth seed and will therefore need just […]

Since entering the NBA in 2018, Luka Doncic was already tagged as the next big superstar. Fans saw the young stud from Slovenia punish defenders with his dreaded step-back and basic yet effective offensive skill-set. Along the way, he guided the Dallas Mavericks from a bottom-feeding team into a serious up-and-coming squad. Doncic, however, wasn’t […]

The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the most prolific franchises in the sporting world. This is not just because they have 17 titles (including the most recent one in the 2020-21 season). They also have bred a ton of Hall of Famers. Along with all of this are the unforgettable moments crafted by those […]

It’s understandable and even smart to root for either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Brooklyn Nets as the ones who’ll represent the East in the NBA Finals. They have been on a tear for pretty much the entire season. If you’re familiar with some NBA history, the top teams in the regular season are usually […]

Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook has once again made the sports headlines as the all-time leader in triple-doubles with 182. Given that Westbrook has several years left in his NBA career, fans should expect this number to increase–maybe even breach the 200-mark. The triple-doubles won’t stop. So are the haters who will continue bringing up […]

Without Jamal Murray in the fold, the Denver Nuggets’ championship hopes might be in jeopardy. After all, Murray was instrumental in the team’s impressive playoff campaign last season–which included back-to-back 3-1 comebacks. The Nuggets still have Nikola Jokic, who’s having another MVP-caliber year. It’s safe to expect him to bring his A-game night in and […]

Amid the New York Knicks’ success this season, it’s understandable to lay all the praise on forward Julius Randle. He’s clearly the Knicks’ best player, leading them in almost all statistical categories, not to mention being named to his first All-Star selection. But basketball is a team sport. Even Randle has pointed this out in […]

The Boston Celtics amassed a ton of hype entering the 2020-21 season amid the expected development of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The two were named All-Stars which meant the hopes were reasonable. The Celtics as a team, however, teetered between a mid-tier squad to a team barely making it to the NBA Playoffs. As […]

It’s that point in the season where it would be wiser for teams which have a losing record to raise their chances of acquiring a top pick in the upcoming NBA draft. One effective way to do this in the NBA is to sit out your star player, and in the case of the Chicago […]

Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard is without a doubt one of the best players of his era. But unlike his colleagues who share the same elite status, Leonard doesn’t flaunt his personal life that much. But as his fame grew, especially when he won his second title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, it […]

Amid the controversy surrounding Nate Bjorkgren and the Indiana Pacers, Caris LeVert and Doug McDermott are choosing to stand by their coach and continue to play their best basketball. Guard TJ McConnel, referring to their 104-93 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, said that they’re still standing by Nate Bjorkgen. Reports surfaced earlier this […]