Sport Thoughts

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 ...

Today begins the early stages of trade season in the NBA. Players who signed during the 2024 offseason are now eligable for trades. Several contendering NBA teams are now in the mix for trade upgrades to their playoff caliber rosters. The question becomes why would a team sell players with over 50 games remaining in the 2024-2025 season. The answer is simple: to tank. The NBA 2025 draft lottery is 5 months away but that wont stop many NBA general managers from selling high or low. Rebuilding NBA teams have a chance to impact their draft lottery odds by selling as soon as possible. Selling early often leads to impacting the number of game losses. For example, the Golden State Warriors traded multiple future second round picks and injured guard Deanthony Melton for Brooklyn Nets point guard Dennis Schroder. The Nets made this trade to impact their season’s tank, while gaining assets for the future. They are now essentialy waving the white flag and no longer foccusing on winning games. Ta...

The 2024-2025 NBA Season began on October 22nd, 2024. Each NBA team has played at least 14 games since opening night. There are a fair amount of surprising teams thus far. In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the biggest surprise team. The Cavs are currently undefeated with a 15-0 record. Their offense and defense has dominated and showed consistency game by game, led by stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. In terms of disappoinment lies the Milwaukee Bucks and Phildelphia 76ers. Both teams are currently sit at the very bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The Bucks and Sixers have underperformed and dealt with many injuries. Philadelphia star Joell Embiid has played just 2 total games during the 76ers first 12 games. Khris Middleton has yet to play in a game for the Bucks. Star Giannis Antetokounmpo has shown signs of frustration and disappointment during the Bucks 4-9 slow start. Things could get very ugly for both Eastern Co...

Sunday afternoon concluded the 2023-2024 NBA season. The final day of the regular season would reveal the final seedings of the NBA playoff and play in picture. In the Eastern Conference; The Philadelphia 76ers will host in the Miami Heat, while the Chicago Bulls will host the Atlanta Hawks. In the Western Conference; The New Orleans Pelicans will host the LA Lakers, while the Sacremento Kings will host the Golden State Warriors. The 76ers, Heat, Pelicans and Lakers will have at least two chances to reach the playoffs. The Bulls, Hawks, Kings and Warriors will enter win or elimination matchups. The Philadelphia 76ers Vs Miami Heat matchup could go eitherway as both teams will play with healthy rotations. The same availibility could be said about the LA Lakers Vs New Orleans Pelicans matchup. Those matchups will come down to levels of talent and playoff experience. The Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks will battle while missing several rotation players. The Bulls will be without All Star ...

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 NBA 2024 trade deadline has offically passed and contending teams have made their moves. There were several buyers as expected but much fewer sellers than intended. Winners and losser could describe several NBA teams at this years deadline. The Winners of trade deadline include the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Dallas Mavericks. Each contending team added key role players to their rotations while trading away non rotational role players and low end draft picks. The Knicks improved their bench depth with the additions of Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks. The Sixers added shooter Buddy Hield to their starting five and Cam Payne to their second unit. The Thunder added former star and veteran Gordon Hayward. Lastly, the Dalllas Mavericks improved their roster depth by acquiring six man PJ Washington and big man Daniel Gafford. The LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls could be described as the biggest losers of the trade ...

The 2023-2024 NBA season has had it’s share of big surprises. Some NBA teams have played better than expected and others have played worse than intended. The Golden State Warriors are perhaps the biggest disappointment thus far into this 2023-2024 season. The Warriors entered the 2023-2024 season as championship contenders. The team had won the 2022 NBA Championship less than two years ago. The Warriors brought back majority of the team from the previous season, while replacing Jordan Poole with Chris Paul. This season has not gone well for Golden State. The Warriors are currently the 11 seed in the Western Conference standings, with a 9-11 losing record. Injuries have played a key role to the Warriors poor season. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Chris Paul have all missed games at different points during this season. Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins have played like a washed up role players. Steph Curry is the Warriors only bright spot and has carried the Warriors. Cur...

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 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...