Sport Thoughts

Only four teams remain in the 2025 NBA playoffs. The final four include the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves. The rest of the league is watching at home from their couches. With that said, it is offseason mode for twenty-six other NBA franchises. While no trades have been made, a lot could be discussed from now until the 2025 NBA Draft. Several stars and role players could be on the move during and following the June 25th NBA draft. The landscape of the league could be very different in a matter of weeks. Between regular season disappointments, early playoff exits, and injuries, a lot of changes could be on the horizon. For starters, the injuries to stars Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Kyrie Irving will impact the offseasons of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Dallas Mavericks. Underachieving teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and New Orleans Pelicans could look to trade stars su...

The 2024-25 NBA season is down to the final week left. A lot has happened in the last 6 months among all 30 NBA teams. Injuries, blockbuster trades, and coach firings have all played a role throughout this memorable season. Several playoff contenders have clinched their playoff spot and lived up to their expectations, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder. There has also been a mix of surprise teams clinching playoff berths after long playoff droughts, including the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets. Seeding is mostly decided in the Eastern Conference, but that is not the case in the Western Conference. In the Eastern Conference, the Play-In Tournament teams are set. The Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, and Miami Heat will battle it out through the Play-In Tournament. Out of the 4 teams, the Miami Heat had the higher expectations entering the season. Their season took a turn following the trade of All-Star Jimmy Butl...

The NBA trade deadline has finally passed, and the league is looking quite different in the last 24 hours. There were blockbuster trades and minor moves. The 2025 NBA trade deadline was perhaps the greatest deadline of all time, as multiple NBA All-Stars, including Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, Jimmy Butler, Zach Lavine, and De’Aaron Fox, were moved. The variation of the winners and losers after the deadline was noticeable. The three biggest winners of the NBA trade deadline include the Cleveland Cavaliers, LA Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs. The Cleveland Cavaliers gained starting wing Deandre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter entered the deadline as the front runner to win the 6 Man of the Year Award, averaging nearly 19 points per game. The Lakers acquired 5-time All-Star guard Luka Doncic for 10-time All-Star center Anthony Davis. Doncic joins the Lakers with a higher ceiling than Davis, at just 25 years old and a career full of accolades. He is a generational talent, and the Laker...

As the holiday season approaches, it is time to analyze the current state of the NBA. While there are several teams finding surprising success including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies; there are many underachieving teams in a state of flux. One could make the argument that these underperforming teams are readying to press the panic button. These disappointing teams include the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and Sacremento Kings. These four Western Conference teams began the 2024-2025 season with championship expectations. Each team’s struggles have led to poor positioning in the Western Conference standing, falling below 6th place. The underachievement of these teams have also led to several trade rumors. These teams will be forced to buy prior to the NBA trade deadline. Selling is not an option as these teams look to take a leap in the Western Conference standings. A trade could be minimal or drastic depending on the player ...

The first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs has offically concluded. Eight NBA teams have advanced to the semi finals and eight teams have gone home. A lot was learned about these playoff teams closing out their series. Starting in the Eastern Conference, the 1 Seed Boston Celtics eliminated the 8 Seed Miami Heat in 5 games. The match up was a deep mismatch as the Heat poorly struggled to score the ball without injured stars Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. It was a series loss that could lead to many changes this offseason. Next, The 2 Seed Knicks eliminated the 7 Seed Philadelphia 76ers in 6 games. The series was nearly neck and neck but exposes the 76ers and Knicks inconsistent supporting cast. A Game 7 was with in seconds of being forced. However, Josh Hart hit a Game 6 clinching 3 pointer, helping the Knicks advance past the 76ers in triumphant fashion. In term of a series upset, The 6 Seed Indiana Pacers eliminated the 3 Seed Milwaukee Bucks in 6 games. The Bucks were missing their in...

The stage is set for the 2024 NBA Playoffs. All 16 teams have been established following the conclusion of the NBA Play In Tournament. Some of these playoff matches will be predictable, while others are evenly matched and questionable. Starting in the Eastern Confefence, the 1 Seed Boston Celtics will face the 8 Seed Miami Heat. This matchup will be rematch of last years Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics will be considered the heavy favorites, as they improved their current roster during last offseason and finished with the best record in the NBA. The Miami Heat will also be missing injured All Star Jimmy Butler. The 2 Seed New York Knicks will face the 7 Seed Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks and 76ers series could go both ways as both teams have dealt with injuries to key rotational players. The Knicks will be missing injured All Star Julius Randle, while the 76ers will play All Star Joell Embiid, who not 100% healthy. That series could come down to 7 games, where the Knicks will h...

The 2024 NBA Play In Tournament is a few weeks away from begining. These final weeks are crunch time for NBA playoff contending teams. With just a few weeks left, it has become clear which teams will be in the Top 6 in the Eastern and Western Conference. The possible Play In Tournament teams in the Eastern Conference include the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks. The possible Play In Tournament teams in the Western Conference include the New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns, Sacremento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Health and remaining schedules will be key factors during these teams final stretch of games. According to Tankathon, Play In teams including the Suns, Kings, Pacers and Pelicans rank in top 10 most difficult remaining schedules. The Magic, Bulls, Mavericks, Warriors, and Heat rank in top easiest remaining schedules. The Knicks, 76ers, Hawks, Suns, Lakers and Warriors ...

The final eight teams are set for the NBA In Season Tournament Knock Out Round. The Eastern Conference teams consist of the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks. The Western Conference teams consist of The LA Lakers, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns. The Bucks and Lakers finished the group round undefeated with 4-0 records. The rest of the qualified teams finished 3-1 in the their respective groups. In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics will Vs the Pacers in Boston and the Bucks will vs the Knicks in Milwaukee. In the West, the Lakers will vs the Suns in LA and the Kings will vs the Pelicans in Sacramento. It is best believed that final four teams will consist of the Bucks, Celtics, Suns and Kings. The Knicks and Pacers will be heavy underdogs in their matchups against the Bucks and Celtics. The Western matchups could go eitherway as the talent between the four teams are very similiar. All four games could go down to the wire in te...

The 2023-2024 NBA season begins this week. Expectations increase at the highest when a NBA team starts a new chapter. The NBA has recently become more known as a player empowerment league. A league where a star has the power to request a trade at any time. Entering the 2023-2024, there are several NBA All Stars, who could change the league with the power of a trade request. Last season, mid season trade requests from Kevin Durrant and Kyrie Irving helped reshape the Eastern and Western Conferences. The East and West reshaped again following offseason trades of Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. With the new season comensing, NBA Teams will need to start their season hot and keep their stars happy. Pressure will surely play a factor for contending teams including the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks. The thought of trade requests from Joell Embiid, Donovan Mitchell and Luka Doncic could negatively impact these franchises presently and going forward. NBA teams c...

The 2023 NBA Pre Season has come to an end. It is time to analyze the stand outs from the exhibition games. For starters, the Boston Celtics look like a force to be reckoned with. Their big 4 consisting of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis looked dominant in their pre season games. The Milwaukee Bucks duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo look they could become the best duo in the NBA. The East might be a two team race but it does not excuse the quality of eastern conference teams. The Philadelphia 76ers did not see James Harden play a single pre season game for them, hoping he can get a trade to the LA Clippers. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks struggled defensively in their pre season games, while teams like the Indiana Pacers and Atlanta Hawks showed a lot of promise. Out in the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns promoted their elite big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. They looked like ...

The Phoenix Suns are entering the upcoming 2023-2024 season with a very different looking team compared to the roster of their 2023 NBA Playoffs.  The changes made to the Suns could best be described as a team overhaul. The Suns began their Summer offseason by trading All-Star point guard Chris Paul and shooting guard Landry Shamet to the Washington Wizards for All-Star guard Bradley Beal. The blockbuster trade would be the first domino of many to fall in their roster shake up. The Suns would then trade backup point guard Camron Payne to the San Antonio Spurs as a salary dump. They would let multiple role players walk in free agency including Bizmack Byombo, Jock Landale, Torey Craig, Darius Bazley, TJ Warren and Terrence Ross. The Suns recent decision to trade  starting center Deandre Ayton to the Portland Trail Blazers was the final step to finishing the team’s shake up. As currently constructed, only Superstars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant are returning from the previous s...

The long awaited Damian Lillard trade has finally happened after nearly 3 months of waiting. A three team blockbuster trade was the end result, with two fairly shocking teams in the process. The Miami Heat were heavily favorited as the front runners of the trade talks. The Heat were Lillard’s one and only trade destination. That destination would not longer be the case as the Milwaukee Bucks would become  the real trade partner. The Bucks aqcuired Damian Lillard as their game changing trade, while moving on from All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday and backup guard Grayson Allen. The Phoenix Suns would become the surprising third team trade partner. The Suns moved on from disgruntled center Deandre Ayton, sending him to the Portand Trail Blazers for veteran center Jusuf Nurkic. Trail Blazers role players Nassir Little and Keon Johnson would also included with Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen in the blockbuster trade to the Pheonix Suns. In the long haul, the Milwaukee Bucks are the clea...

The 2023-2024 NBA season begins on October 24th. The Christmas Day NBA schedule has been announced 4 months in advance. Christmas has always been a special day for NBA teams to showcase their talent on the big stage. It is a day to market NBA teams that are high in the power rankings. There are also teams trying to gain recognition through the holiday showcase. This years Christmas Day slate is arguably a carbon copy last years Christmas Day participants. The Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, LA Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Pheonix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies were last year’s Christmas Day teams. The Miami Heat replace the Memphis Grizzlies as the 10th and final team this year. In some ways there are several NBA teams who should feel like they were snubbed. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings, LA Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans are teams wh...