NBA Playoffs Articles - Page 56

Ever since the Sacramento Kings surprised the world during the 2022-23 season by snapping their postseason drought and being the league’s darling with their Light The Beam gimmick, they have been itching to reclaim the heights they were once on. Since then, things have gone downhill for the Kings, as for the second consecutive season, […]

The Indiana Pacers are coming off a heartbreaking defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers courtesy of a LeBron James game-winner, but they have managed to get back on track with a win over the Washington Wizards on the second night of a back-to-back. They are currently sitting in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, […]

The Los Angeles Clippers have mostly made good on Norman Powell’s “addition by subtraction” declaration in the offseason in the aftermath of losing Paul George to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. While they are guaranteed to finish with a worse record this year than last, they have held strong while dealing with the routine […]

The New York Knicks are on relatively uneven ground right now. They are still without star point guard Jalen Brunson—although Brunson appears to be heading for a return before the playoffs. And Mitchell Robinson remains on a recovery plan that will hopefully (but not definitely) cease to exist once the playoffs begin. But, whether the […]

The New York Knicks’ front office moved to improve the roster last offseason. They inventively circumvented some of the newer salary cap rules, saying goodbye to Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and Isaiah Hartenstein to add Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Their 50-32 squad became a thing of the past and they had a new-look core. […]

It is getting hard to ignore how the fifth-placed Memphis Grizzlies have been getting bullied off of the boards and out of the paint recently. Unfortunately, Santi Aldama is more of a sharpshooting, backdoor-cutting swingman who cannot be counted on to come up with rebounds or rim protection consistently. Thankfully, the fix is straightforward. Jaren […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are searching for answers with just under a dozen games left in the regular season. Taylor Jenkins needs someone to step up soon or Ja Morant and Desmond Bane will have to shoulder immense offensive burdens. Sure, Santi Aldama, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jaylen Wells are a formidable secondary trio but the […]

The Minnesota Timberwolves are proving they have the depth, chemistry, and defensive intensity to make a serious playoff push. The Timberwolves’ 134-93 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night was a clear statement, highlighting their path to success as they eye the playoffs. Minnesota delivered a mesmerizing two-way performance, fueled by relentless energy […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are facing odd-man-out situations in more ways than one as the 2024-25 NBA regular season winds down. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. have been battling injuries all season, leaving Taylor Jenkins to make some difficult rotational decisions. Lineup inconsistency has been the main factor in Memphis falling down the […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are still waiting for an X-factor to emerge from a rotating cast of bench options while Santi Aldama heals up. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane have all spent significant time on the shelf recently as well, putting even more pressure on the second unit. However, these absences have given […]

The Golden State Warriors (39-29) have been nearly invincible with trade-deadline acquisition Jimmy Butler in the starting lineup, but Monday’s 114-105 home loss to a painfully shorthanded Denver Nuggets team proved that they are still mortal. A 14-2 record with Butler is still sensational, but this ugly showing highlights just how steep a climb back […]

The Detroit Pistons hold a 5.5-game lead over the seventh-place Atlanta Hawks and are on pace to make the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season. Even so, speculation is that the Eastern Conference is dominated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. However, former NBA player turned analyst […]

It is becoming easier for fans to admit Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies have a problem. Ignoring some issues is impossible this late in the season, especially after a 132-122 loss to the Sacramento Kings (34-33) kicked off a five-game road trip. The fifth-placed Grizzlies (43-26), led by Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, will […]

The Memphis Grizzlies answered toughness questions after a four-game skid but talent questions remain as the NBA Playoffs picture shapes up. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane are locked in on a four-game winning streak now and should see an uptick in on-court time once the elimination stage begins. The Grizzlies are still waiting for Jaren […]

The NBA Playoffs are right around the corner as teams across the league jockey for position and seeding. The postseason has a long history of generating rivalries in the league, and it sounds like Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is eyeing to possibly renew one with the Detroit Pistons. During a guest appearance on “The […]

There is no story better in the NBA right now than what the Detroit Pistons have achieved this season. Around this time last year, the Pistons were the laughingstock of the league when they finished the 2023-24 season with a 14-68 record after a historic 28-game losing streak. With a month left this season, the […]

If the NBA Playoffs started today, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 112-100 statement victory over the Milwaukee Bucks might have been a sneak peek at an Eastern Conference Semifinals clash. Of course, this depends on Milwaukee handling business against the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland taking down the Play-In Tournament winner. But given the Cavs’ dominance this season […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are banking on more than just their star trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. to fuel a deep NBA Playoffs run. While All-Stars lift championship windows toward the ceiling, role players who can thrive under pressure anchor those NBA Finals expectations. With minutes tightening and the stakes rising, […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are headed to the postseason, and they’re the first team in the NBA to punch their ticket. With a 112-107 victory over the Miami Heat, the Cavs became the first team to officially clinch a playoff berth, reinforcing their status as a legitimate contender. The win was Cleveland’s 12th straight, pushing them […]

The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the verge of making history. With a win against the Miami Heat, the Cavaliers can become the first team in the NBA to officially clinch a playoff berth this season. It’s a remarkable milestone, one that underscores their dominance and sends a clear message to the rest of the league— […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are not issuing standardized grades midway through the season but the 15-player deep squad has undeniably passed the first 50-game test. Taylor Jenkins has the team sitting tied for second place despite Ja Morant and Desmond Bane missing significant time. Jaren Jackson Jr. has led the Grizzlies by example and now the […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are in a four-team fight to avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-10) this spring but a gamble last summer has been paying significant dividends. Zach Edey’s upside with Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant was under severe scrutiny given the reliance on a traditional, post-heavy game at Purdue but already looks ready for NBA […]

Revenge isn’t always instant. Sometimes, it simmers, waiting for the right moment. For the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the New York Knicks, the moment was just right. On national television, under the bright lights of the newly named Rocket Arena, the Cavs obliterated the Knicks, 142-105. However, for Cleveland, it wasn’t just another late February […]

They could use a little Magic in Orlando, or else this year’s squad may go down as one of the worst shooting teams in the history of the NBA. In the era of the three-pointer, no team has been as inept behind the arc as the 2025 Magic. Going into the NBA All-Star break, not […]

The muscle-flexing Memphis Grizzlies are in a tight battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. While the downright scary Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as the front-runners for homecourt advantage, the race for second place is wide open. Securing that spot could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early […]

Throughout most of this NBA season, the San Antonio Spurs have hovered around the .500 mark. But since the start of February, they’ve dipped to their worst mark of the year a couple of times. Past the midway point of the 2024-2025 campaign and as we approach the All-Star break, Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox and […]

Getting to and winning in the playoffs is all that matters to the Golden State Warriors at this stage of Stephen Curry’s career. That is why general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. and this front office were super aggressive ahead of the NBA trade deadline, ultimately striking a deal with the Miami Heat for six-time All-Star […]

Making the NBA playoffs is already a huge accomplishment. However, winning a championship altogether is a different animal. But while players can consistently make the postseason, being in the playoffs doesn’t always end with a title. Some players make many runs at a title and never get it. Here’s a look at 10 NBA players […]

With the NBA championship up for grabs, it isn’t surprising that the playoffs are the most competitive stage during the NBA season. While stars come out to play during the big moments, some struggle to handle the bright lights. However, people often forget that basketball is a team sport. As a result, teams competing for […]

Facing elimination is one of the toughest parts of NBA playoffs basketball. While players can easily throw in the towel, there’s no question that some of them decide not to go down without a fight. Here are the 10 best individual NBA playoffs performances facing elimination. 10. Tim Duncan (Game 5, 2002 Western Conference Semifinals) […]

A lot of basketball fans will agree that winning an NBA championship in any era was difficult. However, one couldn’t help but claim that some championship runs are just easier than others. Here’s a look at the 10 easiest trips to the NBA Finals in NBA history and how they rank. 10. 1985-1986 Boston Celtics […]

NBA commentators don’t necessarily affect the games being played. However, they certainly aid in giving television and radio followers a more memorable experience. In fact, while we witness these iconic moments in the NBA, commentators have a critical job in adding more flavor and hype to elevate the games. Here’s a look at the 10 […]

With a championship up for grabs, the playoffs are when it matters most for NBA stars. As a result, the pressure is higher than ever in the postseason, demanding every player to step up their game. Here are the 10 best playoff risers in the NBA, ranked. 10. Derrick White Regular season: 12.3 points, 3.5 […]

In NBA history, not a single team has ever recovered from a 3-0 playoff series deficit. In fact, NBA teams are 0-154 when faced with a 3-0 hole in the playoffs. Here’s a closer look at 10 times an NBA team came close to coming out of a 3-0 playoff series hole. 1951 NBA Finals […]

PJ Washington recently opened up about a viral moment during the Dallas Mavericks‘ 2024 first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers. In an interview on ESPN, the Mavericks forward reflected on the incident that caught the attention of fans and media alike. “Terrance Mann came out and he pushed me a little bit—and told […]

LeBron James is arguably the best basketball player in the world. He has garnered four NBA championships, four Finals MVPs, an NBA In-Season Tournament Championship, an In-Season Tournament MVP, four NBA MVPs, and 20 All-Star Game appearances. He’s also the NBA’s All-Time leading scorer. But while James’ Hall of Fame legacy has been cemented, there’s […]

Kevin Durant is arguably the most unstoppable scorer in the NBA. Thanks to his combination of size and skills, Durant has established himself in the NBA for several seasons. Furthermore, his career has also seen him win two NBA championships, two Finals MVPs, an MVP, and 14 All-Star Game appearances. With plenty of success in […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have plenty of reasons to be excited for the 2024-25 NBA season. They also have a lot of the same problems as last year’s squad, both good and bad. Bench depth that makes other contenders envious is a positive. A lack of shooting and rebounding around Zion Williamson in the starting […]

The Denver Nuggets entered the 2024 NBA playoffs as the defending champions. Despite Nikola Jokic leading the charge as a three-time MVP, no team really feared the Nuggets all that much. This was especially true when LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers came to town as the 7-seed in the Western Conference. […]