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Posts tagged NBA
Luck of the Irish: Boston Celtics Surpassing Expectations
Luck of the Irish: Boston Celtics Surpassing Expectations

When the Boston Celtics opened the 2017 season, many people had them finally getting over the hump and winning the East, and maybe even win their 19th NBA Championship.

Just off the top, they had the number one seed in the Eastern Conference last year, made it to the conference finals, and though they lost, they retooled. They added Jayson Tatum from the draft, then lured Gordon Hayward away from the Heat and Jazz, then shocked the NBA world by getting Kyrie Irving in a trade and sent Isaiah Thomas to the Cavs in return.

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NBA, Basketball, Op-Eds, SportsGregory HarrisKyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Boston Celtics, NBA, BasketballComment
Donovan Mitchell is the Utah Jazz's Diamond in the Rough
Donovan Mitchell is the Utah Jazz's Diamond in the Rough

If you told me that Donovan Mitchell was going to be a better NBA pro than Lonzo Ball in the first month of the season, congratulations, you’re a prophet.

Not many people could have seen this coming. Based on the logic that draft position is “traditionally” supposed to make you a better prospect, Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball are supposed to be leagues better than Donovan Mitchell.

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NBA, Op-Eds, SportsGregory HarrisDonavan Mitchell, Utah Jazz, NBA, Basketball, Men's Basketball, NBA RookieComment
The Lake Show: Why Kyle Kuzma is the most NBA ready Laker 
The Lake Show: Why Kyle Kuzma is the most NBA ready Laker 

After watching a relatively unknown rookie out of Utah erupt for 21.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and claim the Summer League Championship MVP honors, this is exactly what you began to hear from fans and analysts alike.

You can’t blame anyone for being skeptical.  In his sophomore year at Utah, Kyle Kuzma put up just 10.8 PPG on 25% shooting from three. Not exactly numbers that jump out at you.  It wasn’t  until his junior year that things really started to click for the Michigan native.  He set out to better his three-point shot.  He improved from 25% to 32% shooting from beyond the arc, scoring 16.8 PPG in the process.  Regardless, most experts didn’t expect Kuzma to be drafted at all, let alone in the first round.

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NBA, Op-Eds, SportsGregory HarrisKyle Kuzma, Lakers, Utah, Los Angeles, NBA, Los Angeles LakersComment
SUPERGriff: How Blake Griffin is evolving the Clippers
SUPERGriff: How Blake Griffin is evolving the Clippers


Is Blake Griffin a superstar?

I don’t know. After eight years in the league, I’m still not sure.  
I also don’t know if he’ll live up to his five-year, $173 million contract. But I do know Blake Griffin can do three things very well: he can punch very well, he can dunk very well, and he has the potential to change the game when he’s able to be on the court and healthy. 

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NBA, Basketball, SportsGregory HarrisBlake Griffin, LA Clippers, Los Angeles, Sports, NBAComment
Herbs and Hoops: Marijuana’s Future In The NBA
Herbs and Hoops: Marijuana’s Future In The NBA

If you had told me that medical marijuana could be legalized for professional athletes a few years ago, I probably would have laughed in your face. Or at least blocked you on all social media. 
But now in 2017, we’re looking at something that is on the verge of being brought to the table as a serious alternative to prescription painkillers for athletes. 

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Features, NBA, Op-Eds, SportsGregory HarrisAl Harrington, David Stern, Marijuanna, Medical Marijuana, NBA, Op-Ed, FeaturesComment
New Team, Same Vision: How the Clippers can become Contenders in 2017-18
New Team, Same Vision: How the Clippers can become Contenders in 2017-18

The Clippers lost their best player in franchise history in Chris Paul. There’s no replacing that. At the same time, they did find a nice way to bounce back and fill a few of the pieces and actually come back with more depth than ever before. As part of the trade that sent Paul to Houston, the Clips received defensive pest Patrick Beverley, former Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams, solid big Montrezl Harrell, and developing wing Sam Dekker.

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NBA, Op-Eds, SportsGregory HarrisLos Angeles, LA Clippers, Austin Rivers, Blake Griffin, De'Andre Jordan, Sports, NBAComment
Rebooting the Bull: How can Zach LaVine elevate the Chicago Bulls
Rebooting the Bull: How can Zach LaVine elevate the Chicago Bulls

When the Chicago Bulls hit restart on their franchise this offseason by trading Jimmy Butler, they got a consolation prize of Zach LaVine. Bulls fans hoping he turns into the next Jimmy B, sorry. While he may not turn into a superstar, LaVine is a great player and has given us plenty to salivate about now that he’ll have his opportunity.

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NBA, Basketball, SportsGregory HarrisChicago Bulls, Zach LaVine, NBA, Basketball, Men's BasketballComment
Dancing with the Wolves: Will Minnesota's Offseaon Efforts Pay Off?
Dancing with the Wolves: Will Minnesota's Offseaon Efforts Pay Off?

The Minnesota Timberwolves quickly went from up-and-comers to a team that’s expected to perform with their acquisitions this offseason. Potentially the biggest offseason trade brought all-star Jimmy Butler to Minnesota to be reunited with his former head coach Tom Thibodeau. Butler will join a talented core of Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins as well as a group of experienced veterans who signed in Jeff Teague, Jamal Crawford and Taj Gibson. The Wolves still boast starter Gorgui Dieng, Shabazz Muhammad, Tyus Jones and Nemanja Bjelica. 

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NBA, Basketball, SportsGregory HarrisJimmy Butler, Minnesota Timberwolves, MInnesota, Jeff Teague, Andrew Wiggins, NBA, Basketball, Men's BasketballComment
Apollo Rocket: Will Harden and Paul Takeoff in Space City? 
Apollo Rocket: Will Harden and Paul Takeoff in Space City? 

The Houston Rockets finished 55-27 last season. In the past, that would’ve been enough to sit back and get ready for next season but with today’s super teams, the Rockets had to make a splash. They did just that by grabbing future hall of fame player Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers. To make the money match, they had to part ways with a host of players who all provided depth for these Rockets but they should find plenty of success this season led by two superstars.

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Basketball, NBAGregory HarrisHouston Rockets, Chris Paul, James Harden, ESPN, NBA, Basketball, Men's BasketballComment
The Battle for the East: Are the Celtics closer to a title?
The Battle for the East: Are the Celtics closer to a title?

The last time we saw the Boston Celtics, they were bowing out 4-1 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. In what was their last game of the season they lost by 33 points (135-102) and Lebron James and his Cavs stormed into the finals. The series was one sided, with Cleveland winning every game they did by double digits. It was a sad end but a dose of reality for a team that had managed to become the number one seed in the East going into the playoffs.

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NBA, Basketball, Op-Eds, SportsGregory HarrisCeltics, Boston Celtics, Gordon Hayward, Isaiah Thomas, Utah Jazz, NBA, BasketballComment
Once Bitten Twice Shy: Is OKC’s future secure with Paul George and Russell Westbrook? 
Once Bitten Twice Shy: Is OKC’s future secure with Paul George and Russell Westbrook? 

It was a move that sent shockwaves through the NBA free agency market, particularly as it was no secret that George expressed interest in going home to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers. It was also one of the biggest shake ups of the free agency frenzy as OKC was not tabled to make any serious moves outside of trying to furnish 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook with reasons to sign an extension and stay with the Thunder.

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NBA, Basketball, SportsGregory HarrisOklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Sports, NBA Free Agency, NBA, BasketballComment
Trusting the Process: Is Philly Finally Seeing Success or Continuing in Mediocrity
Trusting the Process: Is Philly Finally Seeing Success or Continuing in Mediocrity

The team lost more games than any other team, broke the NBA’s record for consecutive games lost and became the second worst NBA team of all time. Now, years apart from the initial decision to tank and build through the draft, Philly could be one of the teams to watch in the East.

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Sports, Basketball, NBAGregory HarrisJoel Embiid, Sports, Philadelphia Sixers, Markelle Fultz, Philly, The Process, Philadelphia, Ben Simmons, NBAComment