LEAGUEWIDE STORIES
The Wild West of NBA Jump Balls
Ben Dowsett, The Ringer
The jump ball is simultaneously one of basketball’s oldest traditions and one of its most curious regular events. Each jump ball is its own game-within-a-game, at once a primal contest of athletic prowess and a constantly evolving game of chicken between players and refs—and among jumpers themselves. There’s at least one jump ball in every single NBA contest, and most have a limited impact on the winner; rare exceptions, though, come at huge moments and can swing games.
The Paul George trade created one of the NBA's best duos. It also birthed a potential NBA dynasty
Tim MacMahon, ESPN
NBA Power Rankings: One reason for hope or concern for all 30 teams heading into home stretch
Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports
It’s Been 30 Years Since the NBA’s Last Quadruple-Double. Will We See Another Soon?
Zach Kram, The Ringer
All signs point to the Lakers and Warriors being past their primes
Brian Windhorst, ESPN
TEAM STORIES
BOS: For Celtics’ Brad Stevens, Deep Roots in Indiana, Butler Remain
Steve Bulpett, Heavy
CLE: Celtics are a terrible playoff matchup for Cavs, and talent has nothing to do with it
Jimmy Watkins, Cleveland.com
If the Cavs play the Celtics this postseason, [playoff] seasoning will be a bigger Boston advantage than any of the above. No Eastern Conference contender has more than Boston’s core (top six minute-earners). And no Eastern Conference contender has less than the Cavs’ (which does not include Thompson).
DET: Ausar Thompson and The Definition Of Skill
Marc Campbell,
Ausar’s shooting mechanics reflect the search for biomechanical perfection in a vacuum. There are perfect angles throughout the shot; his hips, knees, elbow, and wrist all scream “textbook.” However, there’s no connective tissue; the ball and the body are disconnected. They are not working as a team. It’s like all the engineers at NASA just laid out the parts of the rocket on the floor and never put them together.
GSW: Stephen Curry, Steve Kerr and a Golden State Warriors dynasty at a crossroads
Baxter Holmes, ESPN