The NFL, MLB and NHL all have essentially the same system that rewards the very worst teams with the very best picks. Yet none of those leagues are dealing with anything that comes close to the NBA's annual existential crisis. Read more »
Wes Goldberg - Basketball Analysis
The Root Of The NBA's Tanking Dilemma
LeBron's Fascinating Brand New Last Act With Luka Doncic
In Luka Doncic, the Lakers have their bridge to the future, but LeBron James also has his bridge to another career-defining chapter. Read more »
NBA Stars Used To Play For The Best Teams But Not Anymore
Having the best player in the world no longer guarantees anything. The new salary cap structure made stars, the guys who sell tickets and jerseys, matter a bit less, and depth matter a lot more. Read more »
The Burgeoning Partnership Of Jared McCain, Tyrese Maxey
Jared McCain is the clear front-runner for Rookie of the Year and maybe the only silver lining in a season that has gone sideways. The potential of a McCain-Tyrese Maxey backcourt has already begun to redefine a franchise otherwise mired in uncertainty. Read more »
8 Role Players Who Can Swing The NBA Title Race
Stars open championship windows, but adding the right mix of role players brings home the rings. OG Anunoby, Christian Braun, P.J. Washington and even Bradley Beal are among the players who will have an outsized impact on who wins in June. Read more »
Can Tom Thibodeau Change His (And The Knicks') Stripes?
Tom Thibodeau has always loved to play his best players a lot of minutes, but he rarely plays small. This season, in order to fulfill the former, he will likely have to compromise on the latter. Read more »
Team USA Has Become Kevin Durant's Defining Team
Kevin Durant has spent his NBA career touring the country, ingratiating himself to different fanbases before making a complicated exit. The through-line for it all has been his place on Team USA. Read more »
The Era Of Easy Max Contracts Is Over
A very good but not great player like Zach LaVine comfortably got a max contract in 2022. With a new CBA, a similarly stationed player in Brandon Ingram almost certainly won't receive one in this climate. Read more »
Four Players Who Won The 2024 NBA Offseason
On how Paul George, Klay Thompson, Chris Paul and Dario Saric have found great situations for themselves in free agency. Read more »
How Alex Caruso For Josh Giddey Was A Win For All Sides
There's proof of concept that Josh Giddey's size, playmaking and tempo are needed in Chicago, while the Thunder are more in need of Alex Caruso's defense and shooting. Read more »
How The Pacers Became The NBA's 'Second Draft' Oasis
Trading for Tyrese Haliburton was the most extreme and important example of Indiana's team-building strategy - one that takes advantage of a market inefficiency and could become a model for teams going forward. Read more »
Time For Nuggets, Thunder, Knicks To Tend To Wounds Instead Of Overreacting To Playoff Exits
It’s up to these teams who were each so close to reaching the Conference Finals to take a step back, revisit their respective plans and get back to doing what makes them special. Read more »
Nikola Jokic's First Stress Test
The NBA superstar journey inevitably encounters a situation like Nikola Jokic has faced against the Wolves where their burgeoning legacies are perilously threatened. Read more »
These Celtics Are Different... Right?
Whatever mental hurdles the Celtics hope to overcome may not present themselves until the NBA Finals. Read more »
The 2023-24 HAGS (Have A Great Summer) Team
The season is over for Cade Cunningham, Devin Vassell, Vince Williams Jr., Deni Avdija, Alperen Sengun and Collin Sexton, but their play and promise for next season are very encouraging. Read more »
The Biggest X-Factors Of The 2024 NBA Playoffs
Some names are bigger than others, but from Jaylen Brown and Luka Doncic to Donte DiVincenzo and Chet Holmgren, here are the 10 biggest playoff X-factors. Read more »
Anthony Edwards Has Answered The NBA's Hardest Question
Despite the injury to Karl-Anthony Towns and their looming salary cap concerns, Anthony Edwards has crystalized this season that the Wolves have the most valuable and rare thing in the NBA. Read more »
One Potentially Fatal Flaw For Every NBA Title Contender
Depending on who you ask, there are between 10 and 14 contenders this season. We dive into what could be each team's undoing to prevent them from hoisting the Larry OB in June. Read more »
Are The Cavaliers For Real?
The Cavaliers have surged since the turn of the calendar in large part due to Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen establishing themselves as their top two stars and others stepping into roles that complement their strengths. Read more »
How Doc Rivers Can Optimize The Milwaukee Bucks
In order for the Bucks to win a title this season, Doc Rivers will have to fix the defense, systematize the offense and maximize the role players. Read more »
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