Tag: nba

March 2025 NBA Power Rankings: Texas Held ‘Em- The Probability of Why Dallas Dealt Away Luka Doncic

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There’s still shock over Dallas trading franchise star Luka Doncic (77) to the Lakers.

There’s irony in the biggest trade of the NBA season taking place less than a week after I published the last power rankings. For those who read the January rankings, you knew something was off after Dallas lost to Charlotte and New Orleans. These were the same Mavericks who beat Houston, Cleveland, Memphis and Denver before those losses. Everyone assumed Dallas had to make a minor move near the trade deadline and adjust their mindset given the opponents on the late February and early March schedule. The Mavericks made changes all right, but not the expected ones.

By now, you’ve heard Dallas traded face of the franchise and star point guard Luka Doncic and forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris late night February first to the Los Angeles Lakers for former league MVP center Anthony Davis, shooting guard Max Christie, and a 2029 first round pick. Utah was involved and got point guard Jalen Hood-Schifano and two 2025 second round picks from each team.

Since the trade happened on a Saturday night, regular sports programming was disrupted. Everyone in the U.S. found out about it in different ways and each one left the announcers, reporters, fans, and even Utah Jazz general manager Danny Ainge in shock. Why and how could the Mavericks decide to trade their franchise cornerstone star to the LeBron James-led Lakers? Was general manager Nico Harrison as dumb as fans first thought? What happened behind closed doors that made Dallas decide to give up not just one talented star, but two talented forwards not even a full season after reaching the NBA Finals?

There are still no clear answers to any of these questions despite what Harrison and majority owners Miriam Adelson and Patrick Dumont publicly said. Many speculated Adelson, a big donor to the State of Israel, needed to recoup personal funds after the year and a half long war. That meant giving up the Mavericks’ biggest asset. When asked about the trade, Harrison remained adamant that Luka’s health and eating regimen were detriments and could no longer be tolerated. If that’s the case, Harrison shouldn’t have let go of the team doctor almost two seasons ago after forward Jalen Brunson was traded to New York. (The doctor reunited with Brunson shortly after.) Regarding the weight issue, one could reasonably argue that New Orleans’ Zion Williamson should be traded, and he’s never led the Pelicans to a conference championship.

Perhaps the main reason Doncic was traded stems from legal battles taking place between Miriam Adelson versus the state of Texas. Many were confused when one of Adelson’s responses about Nico Harrison trading their star point guard was, “the team isn’t moving to Vegas.” Not only was Adelson not asked about the status of the team, but the answer was at an inconvenient moment. It turns out the reason she said it stems from an ongoing lawsuit with state authorities over planned casinos in Dallas’ home stadium, American Airlines Center. Miriam Adelson has a point saying legalized gambling brings massive profits to professional basketball. She wants to make more money by adding the “Vegas experience” and two casinos within the stadium. Texas however still has laws in place that prohibit this despite the recent pushes by the state legislature and governor Greg Abbott. It was reported as far back as 2023 that Adelson and former majority owner Mark Cuban (who helped push the campaign) wanted to expand gambling within the state. Casinos were seen as an option.

Despite these pushes, the Texas judiciary hasn’t budged. The most likely reason for the Luka Doncic trade might be because the trio of Miriam Adelson, Patrick Dumont and Nico Harrison decided to force the public’s hand. That meant making a radical decision. If that meant trading Doncic to the league’s most popular team, so be it. It would throw the Dallas-Fort Worth area in chaos, but it would also let the state know how serious ownership is about making more money than it is about winning. Legalized gambling would make fans feel upset if the team gets worse, but the opportunities to win more money tempts other residents.

While this theory (and court case) may hold up as the main reason, it’s also possible Harrison thought the roster would be more balanced with bigger forwards and needed center depth. Kyrie Irving could go back to playing point guard while Klay Thompson returns to his starting role at shooting guard. It’s not a bad idea and there’s enough talent to make the postseason. However, the loss of Doncic and two talented forwards while getting an injury prone center may very well eliminate any chances the Mavericks have of returning to the NBA finals for at least a decade. Players now know the organization doesn’t reward nor respect loyalty despite their constant messaging for over 25 years. Miriam Adelson could be the real winner in the end, but the team and fans are the biggest losers.

Luka’s now the new stunning face of Los Angeles.

Here are the second power rankings of the calendar year. This will be the third and last time you see this notification in the regular season. Like the NHL rankings, some have tiebreakers based off how teams perform on a neutral site.

#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)

This is starting to be a destination players go to end their careers. First Khris Middleton was traded to the Wizards, then Marcus Smart. The veteran leadership could help younger talent develop but it’s more likely one of the two retires once the regular season ends.

#29 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 29)

The oddest part of the Dallas-Los Angeles-Utah trade might have been when general manager Danny Ainge said he only knew the specifics of the trade 30 minutes before it happened. There are league rules that can override and veto trades if they aren’t seen as fair or well-balanced. Ainge could have let the league know even by text ahead of time but chose not to.

#28 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 27)

It is unfortunate Dejounte Murray suffered another serious leg injury this season. Murray’s season ended after he tore his achilles February first versus Boston. It’s been a brutal season of injuries for New Orleans.

#27 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 28)

Charlotte became the first team in NBA history to lose three straight games by 35+ points. One factor in those losses is the lack of talent the Hornets have outside star point guard LaMelo Ball and forward Miles Bridges. Charlotte sports fans should turn their attention to the Carolina Hurricanes the rest of this season.

#26 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 26)

Toronto won three games in February. That is not a surprise given how hard the schedule was for the Raptors. What’s surprising is how that didn’t affect their postseason odds. Philadelphia and Chicago are awful and Brooklyn is inconsistent. Toronto has an easier month and a half left and could sneak into the play-in.

#25 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 23)

Speaking of Philadelphia, this has to be one of the most disappointing teams we’ve seen. Former league MVP center Joel Embiid is shut down the rest of the season with lingering knee injuries, forward Paul George is still whining about mediocrity and having to stop side hustles from interfering with his play, and the 76ers have lost eleven of their last 12 games. The Trust the Process era is over.

#24 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 25)

It doesn’t help that despite a good February, Brooklyn lost to lowly Washington twice. Injuries and suspensions played a part in four of the five losses to end last month and could cost the Nets a play-in spot. Losing close games to Oklahoma City and Cleveland because De’Angelo Russell’s injured or Nik Claxton is suspended one game adds up after a while.

#23 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 21)

Outside of trading for Sacramento star forward De’Aaron Fox, February was one of their worst months in franchise history. San Antonio lost both sophomore star center Victor Wembanyama to blood clots in his right shoulder and future Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich to health setbacks after suffering a stroke in November. Then starting point guard Chris Paul said he was retiring after this season. The Spurs will miss the play-in, but it’s a rare time most viewers are relieved given the serious issues holding back San Antonio’s improvements.

#22 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 22)

The Bulls kept Nikola Vucevic despite rampant trade rumors but dealt Zach LaVine to Sacramento when there’s no solid option at power forward. This again proves why Chicago’s one of the worst run teams in the NBA. It’s no wonder the Spurs see them as a great trade partner.

#21 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 24)

Don’t be fooled with this placement. Portland has improved as I talked about in the last rankings, but that doesn’t mean they’re close to being a top 20 team. If anything, this says more about the teams behind them and how far some have fallen.

#20 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 20)

Hilariously, Miriam Adelson wasn’t the worst owner or loser at the trade deadline. That honor goes to Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia who relentlessly told the media all of 2024 there was no way star forward Kevin Durant would hit the trade market. When reports broke out days before the trade deadline that Ishbia was trying to see what he could get for Durant, it was understandable Durant’s reaction would be negative. Kevin Durant now wants out due to Mat Ishbia’s two-faced guarantees. The Suns might lose a lot more talent in free agency because their owner doesn’t know when to shut up.

#19 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 12)

Thankfully the Hawks came back to earth. Though they’re 28-34, Atlanta’s back in the play-in and the east has stabilized. We can all breathe relief.

#18 Miami Heat (last ranking: 18)

Jimmy Butler getting traded refreshed the locker room and let the players get back to playing hard. Yet Miami is 5-8 since trading Butler to Golden State (the Warriors are 9-2 with Butler). It might take a while for the team to fully move on from owner Pat Riley’s tantrum.

#17 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 13)

New Orleans gets a lot of heat for how poorly they’ve played despite injuries. Orlando is in a similar position, but they still won a lot of games due to great coaching and how younger stars like Paolo Banchero don’t want to lose. It may not look like it right now due to current struggles and inconsistency, but the Magic have improved. They’re just learning the hard lessons many teams go through before making deep playoff runs.

#16 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 14)

I originally wrote the Mavericks would be fine in the short-term due to how the current guard tandem of Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson would be enough to get them into the play-in, but after Kyrie Irving tore his ACL in a blowout home loss to Sacramento, I don’t know if Dallas can hang onto the last play-in spot. Imagine being a Mavericks fan since the Luka Doncic trade and seeing the series of events that have taken place after January. The first two months of 2025 must feel like two different years for Dallas.

#15 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 19)

I’m also not sure pairing DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine is a good idea considering how things didn’t work out in Chicago. More importantly, LaVine isn’t better than De’Aaron Fox. At some point the Kings front office must decide if this roster is enough to get back to the second round of the playoffs.

#14 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 17)

Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards improved some of his play last month. However, the rest of Minnesota isn’t doing well. The Timberwolves turn the ball over a lot and have struggled against most playoff contending teams with better records. They didn’t have consecutive wins until this past week. It’s a bit surprising given some of the roster improvements, but general manager Tim Connelly has more work to do in the offseason.

#13 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 10)

That was a disappointing month for Los Angeles. Losses to Toronto, Detroit and both the Pacers and Lakers (twice) knock them into the play-in. That’s a shame given how well they’ve looked most of the season.

#12 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 16)

Golden State getting Jimmy Butler was the best, immediate impact trade at the deadline. The Warriors go from a play-in team to top five in the west. Golden State now has to make the decision of what seed they want. Some analysts believe the seed opposite of where Memphis lands in the first round. The Warriors should at least try for a top four seed and draw a team like Houston. It’s a better choice than drawing Denver on the road to start round two of the playoffs.

#11 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 15)

Nobody could’ve predicted Detroit just outside a top ten power rankings or close to having a top ten league record to begin March. Not only is J.B. Bickerstaff a great choice as coach of the year, but Cade Cunningham could get some league MVP votes. He’s in the top three for almost every team stat.

#10 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 9)

Their lethal offense is back. Indiana put up at least 110 points in all but one game in February and show no signs of letting up after their routs against Chicago and Houston. The defense has faltered but there’s still time to get back to the late 2024 improvements before the postseason.

#9 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 7)

There was criticism over Milwaukee trading a veteran star like Khris Middleton to Washington for forward Kyle Kuzma. Before February ended, the Bucks had the highest scoring trio in the league with 72 points per game from Kuzma, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. If Milwaukee keeps this production the next two months, there may not be a team that can stop them in a seven game series. That’s big for a team that lost forward Bobby Portis Jr. to a 25 game suspension.

#8 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 4)

I flipped Houston with Denver on this list because March is where veteran playoff teams start to distance themselves. The Rockets are a young, rising and well-coached team, but let’s keep in mind the teams listed below would win a best of seven series against them. Houston’s inexperience shows at times and that’s ok. Growing pains were predicted.

#7 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 11)

For anyone who’s read this blog over the years, you know there’s caution exercised against teams (no matter the sport) that add at least one super-star. Just because Los Angeles added Luka Doncic, doesn’t mean they’ll go to the NBA Finals. The Lakers have a lot of holes on defense with Anthony Davis now in Dallas, though the Doncic-led offense cancels out most of those issues. Despite the winning streak, the Los Angeles has a lot to work on. Let’s see how things are in April.

#6 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 6)

Memphis didn’t have a great February, but it wasn’t enough to knock them out in the rankings. The Grizzlies need to bounce back after some questionable losses. March will say more about where Memphis is headed than any month the last year and a half.

#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 5)

It’s possible I leave New York at five in the next rankings too. Via ESPN, the Knicks are 0-7 against the Thunder, Cavaliers and Celtics. New York is stuck as the third best team in the eastern conference. While that says how good they are, it also says how high their ceiling is with this current roster.

#4 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 8)

Every loss Denver took last month was against a really good or improved team. Playoff experience makes the ranking swap with Houston logical. The Nuggets will be hard to beat the next two months.

#3 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 3)

As a matter of fact, the first to third spots could stay the same next month too. The Celtics had some struggles last month and it’s more confusing than the previous ones. Sometimes teams get bored before the playoffs, but this isn’t a team that looks bored. It leaves one to wonder what’s going on behind closed doors.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 2)

The NBA Network had a great discussion after Oklahoma City’s overtime loss to Minnesota on February 24th. The Timberwolves found ways the last quarter and a half in regulation and all of overtime to constantly double-team MVP candidate point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. It slowed down an offense that scored 102 points in three quarters, to 26 the last two. Watch for this to be the new method on how to stop the Thunder, especially in the playoffs.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 1)

Not only was Cleveland the first team to lock up a playoff spot, they’re the most fun team to watch every night and currently have a 12 game winning streak. Shooting guard Donovan Mitchell should win league MVP this year for how he has both elevated his game and made everyone around him better.

Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (45) is having his best season yet.

Analyzing a Decade into Adam Silver’s Tenure, Part Two: A Wounded League Limps Through Disasters It Created

jminx943 Comments
NBA ratings have fallen for years. Some factors for the decline include the league leaning on older veterans stars and poor promotion.

Read with discretion: this article contains multiple, public opinions that have been supported and given the green light by the editor, promoter and owner of this website. These views contain the true thoughts of the writer in regards to what’s going on with one of America’s top sports.

In part one of Adam Silver’s decade long analysis, I wrote about a lot of active, on-court issues the league’s struggling with such as All-Star game changes, the in-season tournament and sometimes lack of respect for current leadership. Many people agree the new rules created many issues that’s turning the sport into a laughingstock (see Philadelphia 76ers). Puns are everywhere online and even shows like TNT’s Inside the NBA joke about them. While a lot of these issues can be quickly fixed, the long term problems show the league’s in worse shape than many believe.

The biggest issue is the rise of sports gambling since its legalization in spring 2018. Play rapidly became an afterthought. Yes, the profits are too good to pass up and there are many benefits the move brings. However for this league, it’s a cause for concern. For those who may not or don’t remember, former referee Tim Donaghy fixed NBA games in the early and middle 2000s before sports gambling was legalized. Donaghy began as an honest ref who cared about the game. However his eventual greed led to a lifelong ban from the sport. Throughout then-commissioner David Stern’s tenure, there were theories and reports of rigging games, seasons, stats and even dynasties (Shaquille O’Neal’s story on how he went to Orlando is worth a read if you’re suspicious). That doesn’t go away just because the executive changes or something becomes legalized. On the contrary, it grows.

Many believe the NBA, like the NFL, is so enamored with promoting sports betting and gambling that it’s affecting on-court play. Last spring, Raptors forward Jontay Porter was subject to an investigation into betting on his personal performances. Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert accused referees calling fouls on him to be on the take, feeding into the narrative officials fix games in order to meet a certain over/under or matched stat lines for star players. Then there’s Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff who told media outlets that when he coached Cleveland, fans/gamblers got ahold of his phone number and insinuated things about his family over a parlay.

Legalized sports gambling has affected every major North American sport, but Adam Silver was the first commissioner and executive to openly embrace it once the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the industry. A good number of viewers aren’t enamored with the NBA anymore because of nightly or weekly bets. We’ve seen people go from fans and viewers of the game to watching the sport because they can hit a parlay or a correct over/under if certain stat-lines and point margins are final.

This isn’t the only financial issue the NBA’s going through. Since the pandemic ended, Silver’s failed to promote its product to a broad range of people. Consider this: when Michael Jordan retired from Chicago in 1999, he took 50% of the NBA fandom. Jordan’s popularity was (and still is) unlike anything we’ve seen outside the NFL. It grew so much that when he left the NBA the sport never recovered nor found the desired replacement. This isn’t about stars Kobe Bryant or LeBron James not being some of the best players since Jordan retired either. It’s about who could win the public over in droves and entertain like none other.

Losing half the fandom with a retirement meant an inevitable decline. We’re now seeing the effects. NBA supporters are mostly older adults (anyone born in the early 1990s and before) or those who became fans last decade. Casual fans are at a loss and struggle to follow what goes on. Ask the average NBA fan who was this year’s number one draft pick. They might know the team that had the pick, but not the player. What about the other picks in the top five? That’s a serious problem.

Both audiences and players are hit with another financial problem: the sport is expensive. Unless you have a kid who’s into basketball and played it recently or even gone to summer camps, it would be eye-opening to learn that the sport costs around $30-100 an hour to train. Playing for an AAU team costs around $300-600. That’s without travel, shoes, food, hotels, gas, fluids and much more factored in. Watching the sport is expensive too. Many audiences found out when the Los Angeles Clippers opened their brand new stadium, tickets cost around $200 to attend, and that’s without parking fees. Then there’s television and broadcasting rights issues. Most games aren’t shown on national television, dampering potential interest on new or rising fans. The league’s making so much money because of t.v. deals but struggles to air games that would draw huge ratings. A great example of this was December first’s Houston Rockets v. Oklahoma City Thunder 6 p.m. (U.S. central time) game. It was a matchup between what’s now the top two teams in the western conference and it should’ve been aired on either ESPN or TNT. Instead it was blacked out on all t.v. stations and was only aired if someone bought NBA’s League Pass.

This is why the NFL is king and everyone else takes a backseat. For all the complaining audiences and analysts do about the U.S.’ most popular sport, commissioner Roger Goodell has an understanding of when to air and flex games. The NFL even passed rules to flex certain matchups on different nights of the season. Sadly, the NBA usually airs one of four teams (usually New York, Boston, Golden State or a team from Los Angeles) and let the remaining 26 fight over what’s left.

Finally, one of the biggest issues the league has is competing against overseas programs that play more physical and have better coaches. Some stars recently said that leagues in China are better because they play the more physical 1990s and early 2000s version of basketball. Former champion point guard B.J. Armstrong said earlier this month that, “the coaching there (Europe) is better than over here.” Former players recognize that the sport’s top talent is coming from Europe, Africa and even east Asia. It won’t be a surprise when the NBA’s problems grow and top talent leaves to play elsewhere.

Nothing’s more American than gambling your future away in a bundle for NBA League Pass. For the love of God, please call that number.

Here’s the first power rankings of 2025. Similar to the NHL rankings, this one will be objective in placement as there’s been just two articles throughout the season.

#30 Washington Wizards (last ranking: 30)

The trade of Jordan Poole to Denver for Michael Porter Jr. says more about how the Wizards didn’t want Poole anymore. Poole wore out a six win team. He has nowhere to go but up.

#29 Utah Jazz (last ranking: 29)

Another point about the gambling fiasco that isn’t talked about is how it affects games from the coach perspective. Jazz coach Will Hardy had an eerie warning when asked by Salt Lake Tribune beat writer Andy Larsen on how common this is. Hardy said that while it hasn’t reached the tension J.B. Bickerstaff had in Cleveland, he admitted fans yell crazy things at him every night. At least one person from the crowd; home or away go off on a particular player, the spread, points, rebounds, minutes, or fouling at the end of games. This will get worse before it gets better.

#28 Charlotte Hornets (last ranking: 26)

Charlotte’s won five of their last ten (including a split with the Suns) and stole a win from Dallas on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Considering the Hornets won one game last month, they look good to start 2025. Now they have to work on offensive scoring.

#27 New Orleans Pelicans (last ranking: 21)

If we want to defend the NBA for one thing that’s out of their control, it’s the promotion of a younger generation of players who were labeled the next big stars. The league and many fans of the sport believed Pelicans forward Zion Williamson was going to be the next big name back in 2019. Commissioner Adam Silver, analysts and fans couldn’t foresee his weight issues, constant injuries or him getting bogged down in porn scandals. In five seasons, Williamson went from the hottest name and number one pick to being suspended for showing up late to the team’s January 10th flight to Philadelphia and possible trade talks. He’s played in fewer games this regular season than NFL San Francisco 49ers rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, and Pearsall was shot in the chest before training camp. You can’t blame that on the commissioner.

#26 Toronto Raptors (last ranking: 28)

Toronto won more games in January than they did all of December. The Raptors weren’t going to make the play-in but losing all but two games to end 2024 damages a potential run to end the regular season.

#25 Brooklyn Nets (last ranking: 19)

The current losing streak all but eliminates Brooklyn from any potential play-in talk. It’s surprising given how many good players are on the roster. General manager Sean Marks could deal a lot of talent at the trade deadline in March.

#24 Portland Trailblazers (last ranking: 25)

More teams are learning to play Portland hard. The Trailblazers occasionally steal a win from contenders like Denver or Milwaukee. Whether it’s Chauncey Billups’ coaching or a better roster this season, there’s sustainable growth and development.

#23 Philadelphia 76ers (last ranking: 27)

Nothing highlights the on-court problems plaguing the NBA like Philadelphia. If Joel Embiid’s load management stories weren’t bad enough, the ongoing Paul George controversies where he’s bored of playing center makes anyone laugh, scream or grow outraged. Certain dynasties, stars and eras have been hated more for doing less, but boredom of playing a position and sitting out games because of small injuries has got be one of the most blatant offenses to the sport and anyone looking up to athletes. It has to be fixed.

#22 Chicago Bulls (last ranking: 24)

Given how sloppy and soft the 76ers are, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Bulls clinch the last play-in spot early. Despite the constant trade rumors of forward Zach LaVine, Chicago plays hard and has enough to keep the three game gap ahead of Philadelphia.

#21 San Antonio Spurs (last ranking: 23)

If there’s any young star the NBA needs to slam audiences in the face with, it’s San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. Last month he became the first NBA player to record multiple games of 10+ blocks at the age of 20 or under. Wembanyama plays in a beautiful city that’s growing in size and popularity and is located in the second most populous state. San Antonio is also well integrated and friendly to foreigners. This is a reflection of the demographic changes within the U.S. and if the NBA can’t capitalize off of the perfect opportunities Victor Wembanyama creates for marketing, the sport will not survive.

#20 Phoenix Suns (last ranking: 12)

The decision to move on from guard Bradley Beal and center Jusuf Nurkic means Phoenix’s front office was fed up with how both players underachieved. It also helps keep franchise star forward Kevin Durant satisfied and find better complimentary players. Don’t be surprised if the Suns trade for talented players in Brooklyn or New Orleans in March.

#19 Sacramento Kings (last ranking: 14)

Maybe the firing of former coach of the year Mike Brown was justified. The team regressed after a return to the playoffs two years ago and a trip to the play-in last year. However there’s uncertainty and a disturbing feeling that the players quit when things got difficult. Right now it won’t matter because the Kings have won seven of their last ten. It is something to keep in mind when Doug Christie has the interim tag removed and there’s another losing streak.

#18 Miami Heat (last ranking: 20)

The Jimmy Butler fiasco is a black eye for the organization. Butler’s personal issues go back to earlier 2024 and the franchise hasn’t let up. Owner Pat Riley’s been right on a lot of things throughout his time in the NBA but this is not one of them. If anything, Riley might have alienated a lot of top talent from ever coming to play for the Heat. As for Butler, it would make sense to let him go where he wants with little pushback.

#17 Minnesota Timberwolves (last ranking: 7)

Watch this important four and a half minute clip that aired on January second on TNT’s Inside the NBA after Boston beat Minnesota 118-115. What Shaquille O’Neal said about what’s gone on with franchise star guard Anthony Edwards at the 2:03 mark was perfect. Edwards is a young, fantastic player who’s still learning how to read defenses. Opposing teams don’t care about complaints and they sure don’t mind if he isn’t learning when to pass the ball and find open lanes to the basket. Kenny Smith had a great followup on how great players make their teammates better by making plays and the focus on being a scorer. That clip is the Timberwolves’ lesson from the 2024-2025 regular season.

#16 Golden State Warriors (last ranking: 6)

Wow. Golden State went from one of the western conference’s best teams to being just outside the play-in. A lot of issues keep popping up and it’s a wonder they’re still competitive any given week. The Warriors will be active at the trade deadline. Who they trade and move on from is hard to predict.

#15 Detroit Pistons (last ranking: 22)

There are a lot of underrated stars in the NBA but Detroit’s franchise star point guard Cade Cunningham is one of the most overlooked. After a dismal 2023-24 season, Cunningham’s in the top three of the Pistons scoring, rebounding, assist, steals and block shots stats. Detroit will be a fun postseason watch if they can make the play-in or steal a top six playoff seed.

#14 Dallas Mavericks (last ranking: 11)

It’s one thing to lose by double digits to Houston, Cleveland, Memphis and Denver. Most viewers knew all four would be some form of good this season. Losses to lowly New Orleans and Charlotte in a week was concerning. Dallas has to play better next month if they want to reach the playoffs and not have a hard opponent in the play-in round.

#13 Orlando Magic (last ranking: 5)

Injuries battered Orlando the last month and a half. Losses included both Wagners, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac and Cole Anthony. While former first overall pick Paolo Banchero returned, the Magic are bottom three in almost every offensive category. No one needs the All-Star break more than Orlando.

#12 Atlanta Hawks (last ranking: 18)

Atlanta’s 10-12 since the last rankings and for those keeping track, that means they’re a hilarious 22-24 throughout the season. Hawks fans may not like how I’ve made their beyond average record a running theme, but this is how sports journalism works. It’s also alarming that Atlanta’s a few wins from being top four team in the eastern conference.

#11 Los Angeles Lakers (last ranking: 9)

NBA Network had a wild stat for the Lakers; they have have lost by 20+ points seven times this season, the most for any team in the league. For the most part Los Angeles has been a solid team most of the year. When the Lakers play well, they can hang with almost anyone. When they lose, they play like one of the NBA’s worst teams. Go figure.

#10 Los Angeles Clippers (last ranking: 10)

Only Oklahoma City and Memphis have won more than 17 home games this season in the western conference. Intuit Arena is glamorous and the Clippers finally play well in their new building. While it was later than anyone expected, it wouldn’t be a shock if that gave Los Angeles a different kind of home court advantage the rest of the season.

#9 Indiana Pacers (last ranking: 17)

The top offensive unit from 2023-2024 is finally back after sleepwalking through the first two and a half months of the season. Indiana should be fun to watch next month with how everything’s clicking on offense and the defense has improved.

#8 Denver Nuggets (last ranking: 4)

Center Nikola Jokic proves almost every game he’s the best player in the NBA. Outside of Jokic, Denver can’t figure out who’s their second best player. While most agree it’s point guard Jamal Murray, he needs to get back to his old championship form and forward Aaron Gordon has to step up. It would be a shame if the Nuggets can’t make another deep postseason run because no one outside of Jokic breaks out.

#7 Milwaukee Bucks (last ranking: 15)

Many believe Milwaukee’s the team that trades for Heat star forward Jimmy Butler after the organization told forward Khris Middleton he’s out of the starting lineup indefinitely on January eighth. Last week ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported forwards Middleton, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton could be moved to bring in a major impact player. If Butler is that player, the trade would vindicate the Damian Lillard move and instantly make the Bucks the championship favorite…even if Doc Rivers is their coach.

#6 Memphis Grizzlies (last ranking: 16)

It shouldn’t surprise many readers Memphis is this high. Unless you were new to the NBA last season, the Grizzlies haven’t been awful for a while due to their abundance in young talent. With few injuries this year, Memphis picked up where they left off in the 2022-23 season. Now viewers can wonder if they’ll make a deep playoff run.

#5 New York Knicks (last ranking: 6)

New York looked tired until they picked up three wins last week. If the Knicks keep this winning streak going, they could be one of the league’s best teams the second half of the regular season. That should worry the other eastern conference favorites.

#4 Houston Rockets (last ranking: 13)

Houston’s progress is legit and they don’t yet have a top ten scoring offense. General manager Rafael Stone’s building a roster that will be dangerous for years to come. Beating the Rockets in a best of seven series will be hard for any western conference team to do no matter the veteran talent available.

#3 Boston Celtics (last ranking: 2)

If any other NBA team was 32-15, we’d be praising their playoff potential and coaching. Boston’s looked vulnerable much of the last month and a half which is surprising given how they could jump over Cleveland. Perhaps the Celtics will unleash that next level once March starts, but it’s got to be puzzling for those who look at the roster and last year’s championship and not see a team dominate almost every game.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder (last ranking: 3)

Thunder fans may not like this ranking but the team up next has the better conference and home record. Plus Oklahoma City is still young and figuring out how to play to their strengths. That’s chilling for the rest of the league.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (last ranking: 1)

Donovan Mitchell is having an MVP season (he’s top four in team stats in points, rebounds, assists, and steals) and Kenny Atkinson is an easy coach of the year candidate. Cleveland’s held up after their fiery start to the season and it doesn’t look like that’ll end anytime soon.

Guards Jaylon Tyson (left) and Darius Garland (right) celebrate during a thrashing of Phoenix on January 20th.

Analyzing a Decade into Adam Silver’s Tenure, Part One: Is this the best we could get?

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver implemented a lot of changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. However the league doesn’t have a good direction moving forward like it did with predecessor David Stern.

Yahoo senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill ended March with a well-written article detailing the fast-changing landscape taking place in the league. In Goodwill’s article, the main focus was how commissioner Adam Silver has been tasked with maximizing profits, growing the game and making sure the players compete after new rules take place. The league’s improved with players rights, safety and dialogue compared to 20 years ago. Most of the improvements are because Silver values the league and cares about who benefits.

There has been a lot of difficult things to navigate through. Most issues took place after the COVID-19 pandemic almost five years ago. The play-in at the end of the regular season draws ratings, but many viewers complain it disrupts a sport that should be determined by the top eight teams. A good number want to forget about the remaining four play-in teams not in the top eight. There’s the creative and new in-season tournament, but it isn’t needed less than one month into a new season. What’s there to show for a tournament that doesn’t stand out compared to the playoffs in April?

There’s also the recent All-Star game format fiasco. Silver believes that how the NHL does their All-Star game, so should the NBA. While it’s a preposition, popular analysts like Stephen A. Smith had a strong rebuke of the new format idea. The NBA has been criticized for constant elimination of defense, terrible officiating and a growing season schedule. There’s now a rule in place that any player up for an award must play 65 games to be considered. Silver’s not respected nor taken seriously enough by the players when it comes to play and events like the All-Star game.

While some of these changes are to grow revenue and make the game safer, it’s also difficult to watch and pay attention to for nine straight months. Silver’s predecessor David Stern got many things wrong in his 30 year tenure, but he also got a lot of things right. Stern knew how to grow the league, who to promote and market, how to get players and owners on the same page and how to make events fun. Adam Silver has failed to make the NBA fun once play resumed (minus increasing the number of games), made both the players and owners unhappy (for various reasons) and doesn’t know how to grow the league past revenue, sales and promotions.

It doesn’t help commissioner Adam Silver that with the longer schedule and added tournaments, the playoff race is a non-factor. Yes, all but a half dozen teams can clinch high seeds, but there’s no reason to watch a sport an extra week or two when audiences know who’s going to at least a play-in game for two or three more extra days.

While it’s important the consumer understands the league’s current business model, viewership has declined every week of this new season. I’ll discuss in the next NBA power rankings (part two) how gambling has tied in and how the league struggles to stay at or near the top while balancing revenue and growing the brand for future generations. Commissioners consistently balancing both is how they leave a positive mark once stepping down. They also need to deal with certain obstacles and detriments that harm the sport. When one is prioritized more than the other, business plateaus. There should be easier solutions implemented before the profits become losses.

Minnesota center Rudy Gobert was ejected out of a March 8th loss to Cleveland for making the money gesture at referee Scott Foster. While Gobert’s a controversial player on and off court, it’s another chapter in how the players don’t trust officials to make the right calls.

Here’s the first power rankings of the new season. Similar to the NHL rankings, this one will be objective in placement as the season is still young.

#30 Washington Wizards (last season’s final ranking: 30)

Congratulations to Washington on their recent accomplishment. The Wizards join last year’s Pistons as the second team in the last nine years to lose every game in November. Unlike Detroit, there’s little hope they play better before spring.

#29 Utah Jazz (last season’s final ranking: 22)

You won’t find a blunder like the one Utah committed in a home loss against the Lakers December first. Jazz coach Will Hardy called his last timeout right before Colin Sexton’s game-winning layup. Utah lost by one point and Hardy’s been compared to former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.

#28 Toronto Raptors (last season’s final ranking: 24)

Toronto’s offense is better, but the defense has to improve. It’ll be a hard month to play better with the number of postseason favorites on their schedule.

#27 Philadelphia 76ers (last season’s final ranking: 17)

Philadelphia’s the true test of patience for anyone doing power rankings. While the NHL power rankings weren’t too difficult outside of Nashville, the 76ers push the envelope on how they play worse each game. From former league MVP center Joel Embiid’s extreme load management, players arguing in the locker room and now Paul George’s left leg injury, Philadelphia went from title contender at the start of the season to selling tickets for $1 in their Wednesday home game against Orlando.

#26 Charlotte Hornets (last season’s final ranking: 28)

Franchise star point guard LaMelo Ball’s fully healthy yet Charlotte has the worst field goal percentage 21 games into the season. The efficiency will get better but it could be slower than expected.

#25 Portland Trail Blazers (last season’s final ranking: 26)

Portland surprised viewers with their better start to the season despite injuries to center Deandre Ayton and forward Matisse Thybulle last month. Solid play from guards Anfernee Simmons and Shaedon Sharpe makes the Trail Blazers more competitive than last year.

#24 Chicago Bulls (last season’s final ranking: 19)

If there’s any national station talking about the Bulls, the conversation is on how Josh Giddey shouldn’t be a point guard. This wasn’t what Chicago had in mind when they traded for him in the offseason. Though a lot of analysts did say trading Alex Caruso for Giddey wasn’t a good idea. The Bulls are a mess despite the roster talent.

#23 San Antonio Spurs (last season’s final ranking: 27)

When coach Gregg Popovich had another stroke and star center Victor Wembanyama missed some games after a bruised right knee, veteran point guard Chris Paul stepped up. Paul’s been one of the Spurs’ better free agent signings the last five years. Chris Paul’s leadership got San Antonio wins against Sacramento and Oklahoma City, two teams expected to make the playoffs this year. The Spurs will be a tough team to keep out the play-in.

#22 Detroit Pistons (last season’s final ranking: 29)

The Pistons have more wins after one month than they had after December 2023. They finished November at 8-9 for the first time since the 2018-2019 season. It’s already a success for Detroit and coach JB Bickerstaff was a great hire for the team. They might be the best early season story.

#21 New Orleans Pelicans (last season’s final ranking: 11)

Unlike Philadelphia, New Orleans has legit reasons for a poor start. Injuries to stars Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum and Jose Alvarado doomed their season after a month. It’s not fair when so many people were excited to see how New Orleans would hold their own in the west.

#20 Miami Heat (last season’s final ranking: 18)

We might be having a different conversation about Miami if they pulled out wins in November against Phoenix and Detroit. If we take those two games out of the Heat’s first month of the season, they’ve beaten playoff hopefuls Minnesota and Indiana while losing to Denver, Sacramento and division rival Orlando. Miami’s not a good team to start the season.

#19 Brooklyn Nets (last season’s final ranking: 23)

This will be one of the hardest teams to analyze throughout the season. Brooklyn barely beat New Orleans and Charlotte but almost beat Boston, New York and Cleveland. The Nets are last in rebounding but top five shooting three-pointers. At least they’re interesting to watch.

#18 Atlanta Hawks (last season’s final ranking: 20)

After last rankings had the hilarious mediocre Hawks stat, Atlanta’s won five straight to get back to over .500 at 12-11. One couldn’t find a more average sports franchise if they tried.

#17 Indiana Pacers (last season’s final ranking: 13)

Indiana still has a top ten offense but the defensive issues balance out the positives. The Pacers are a bottom three team in rebounding and that’s a factor in losses to Orlando (twice), Philadelphia and New Orleans. They have to show growth on defense or it’ll be a fast postseason exit.

#16 Memphis Grizzlies (last season’s final ranking: 25)

Almost every basketball fan knew last year was an anomaly for Memphis. Now that almost everyone’s back fully healthy, the Grizzlies are top three in rebounds and field goal percentage and second in points scored. Starting forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has improved the most for the veterans while rookie Scottie Pippen Jr. and undrafted center Jay Huff look like offseason steals.

#15 Milwaukee Bucks (last season’s final ranking: 9)

Milwaukee should feel good they won seven of their last nine but remember, this was a championship team that decided to tweak their roster two years after winning a championship. The Bucks remain stagnant since winning their second franchise title back in 2021. That’s a shame since many wanted to see the smaller franchise dominate the league this decade.

#14 Sacramento Kings (last season’s ranking: 14)

If Sacramento makes the playoffs as a top six team, forward De’Aaron Fox has to be an MVP candidate. He’s averaging 28 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals a game. It would be criminal for him to miss accolades and awards he deserves.

#13 Houston Rockets (last season’s final ranking: 20)

Ime Udoka should be the favorite for coach of the year. Houston’s gone from worst team in the league to division leader in the southwest and second place in the western conference. It’s a surprise the Rockets are this good.

#12 Phoenix Suns (last season’s final ranking: 12)

Though star forward Kevin Durant will only miss a week with a sprained ankle, Phoenix is a different team without him. They’re 10-2 when Kevin Durant plays and a stunning 2-6 without him. No wonder Suns owner Mat Ishbia said Durant’s not leaving.

#11 Dallas Mavericks (last season’s final ranking: 6)

Although it’s on Facebook, the site Full Court put some very interesting stats on the current Dallas winning streak. Franchise star point guard Luka Doncic has been a liability for the Mavericks and the starting forwards and centers. Dallas is a .500 team when he’s started games compared to 5-1 without him. It’s eye-opening that forwards P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall score 20+ points a game and Dallas’ offense averages ten more points without Doncic in the starting lineup.

#10 Los Angeles Clippers (last season’s ranking: 5)

Los Angeles went on a three game losing streak, four game winning streak, three game losing streak and five game winning streak. No wonder Ty Lue’s more gray than usual.

#9 Los Angeles Lakers (last season’s final ranking: 15)

Media outlets will talk about the emergence of shooting guard Dalton Knecht, and for good reasons. Right now the Lakers are doing well because Anthony Davis averages 28 points and eleven rebounds a game. This is how Davis used to play in New Orleans before the trade to Los Angeles. It would be fun if he stayed at this level of production the whole season.

#8 Golden State Warriors (last season’s final ranking: 16)

No one expected the Warriors to be a top team in the western conference after trading Klay Thompson to Dallas. Center Trayce Jackson-Davis and forwards Jonathan Kuminga and Andrew Wiggins have done well to start the season but the two areas that count for all but three of Golden State’s wins are better rebounding and bench depth. The Warriors haven’t had a decent scoring bench in years and they’re top three in second chance scoring opportunities. Once Golden State finds ways to stop choking fourth quarter leads, they’ll be one of the best teams in the west.

#7 Minnesota Timberwolves (last season’s final ranking: 3)

Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards was right for blasting his team on playing, “soft” and “growing apart.” A big reason Minnesota struggled was their drop in rebounding. Center Rudy Gobert can still get a good number of second chance points, but Minnesota’s one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. There’s a valid discussion that the nosedive in offensive rebounds is a downside of trading Karl Anthony-Towns to New York last summer.

#6 New York Knicks (last season’s final ranking: 8)

What a dominant win over Orlando. New York’s already a top five team in points scored and third best in both regular and three point field goal percentage. Now the Knicks are playing like the team many wanted to see in October. Don’t be surprised if the New York is in the top five or top ten all year.

#5 Orlando Magic (last season’s final ranking: 7)

The Magic have done well since star forward Paolo Banchero went down to a torn, right oblique. Franz and Moritz Wagner have stepped up on offense and Jalen Suggs is more efficient. That’s something to build on once Banchero returns.

#4 Denver Nuggets (last season’s final ranking: 1)

Two things can be true: Russell Westbrook’s 200th triple-double is a feat worth celebrating and he’s not going to be what makes the Nuggets a title contender. Denver needs starting point guard Jamal Murray to play like it’s the 2023 postseason if the Nuggets want to make a deep playoff run.

#3 Oklahoma City Thunder (last season’s final ranking: 4)

Signing center Isaiah Hartenstein was one of the best free agency moves for any team. Chet Holmgren’s hip injury means he’s out at least another month. The veteran Hartenstein makes Oklahoma City rebound better. It’s made the Thunder stay in first place in both the northwest division and western conference.

#2 Boston Celtics (last season’s final ranking: 2)

Should it concern more viewers a good number of Celtics wins to playoff contending teams have been closer than they should be? It’s still early in the season but keep an eye on Boston after Christmas. The Celtics have the depth and talent to wrap up the eastern conference before 2025. It’s odd they aren’t separating themselves this early.

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (last season’s final ranking: 10)

Head coach Kenny Atkinson became the only coach in NBA history to win his first 15 games to start a tenure with a franchise. Cleveland will also improve throughout the season, especially on second chance scoring opportunities. That should get more attention.

Scoring depth from players like guard Ty Jerome (2) are a good reason Cleveland has the league’s best record.

2024-2025 NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Picks

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The Boston Celtics broke the eastern conference two year championship drought and won the 2023-24 title. In response, the top teams added more stars and roster depth. The conference outside of Boston has a lot of teams that can make deep playoff runs similar to last year. Indianapolis could have another breakout season. New York and Miami desperately want a championship. Cleveland, Milwaukee and Philadelphia view anything less than a conference finals appearance a failure. It’ll be a fun and competitive regular season.

Time to break down which eight teams in the east have the best chance of making the playoffs.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are the favorites to repeat their title run and win their league high 19th championship.

The reigning champs kept most of their deep roster. Boston will make the playoffs even if injuries are a factor. No other NBA team has this luxury.

Milwaukee Bucks

There are concerns over how Milwaukee improves with coach Doc Rivers and chemistry between Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Luckily the Bucks have more than enough talent to clinch a top six seed.

New York Knicks

While the Knicks added more talent trading for Karl-Anthony Towns, New York’s strength is great coaching from Tom Thibodeau.

The Knicks made a bold trade sending Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns. The former first overall pick will have an interesting time learning coach Tom Thibodeau’s defense while giving the offense consistent scoring.

Miami Heat

Franchise star forward Jimmy Butler will lead a healthier Heat team into the postseason as long as Erik Spoelstra is the coach.

Indiana Pacers

Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacer offense were number one almost all of last season. Many will tune in to see if Indiana can do it again.

The Pacers rode the league’s best offense to the conference finals and came up short in three of their four losses to eventual champion Boston. Viewers are excited to see how coach Rick Carlisle and his roster replicate last season’s success with the franchise stars signed long-term.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland’s another year better and closer to having their franchise stars in their prime. Last year’s postseason elimination taught them how to play more physical against better defenses, rebound better and the importance of second chance scoring opportunities. The Cavaliers will be tested by veteran teams but have enough talent to make the postseason.

Orlando Magic

No one attacks the basket harder than Orlando’s Paolo Banchero (5).

Orlando’s 2023-24 season was predictable. The Magic are a rising team with a lot of young talent learning how to win. Signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a good addition at shooting guard. Depth at center and power forward will help throughout the year.

Philadelphia 76ers

Although Philadelphia lost Tobias Harris in free agency, Paul George, Kelly Oubre and Reggie Jackson are the needed guard and forward depth that should take all the scoring pressure off center and former league MVP Joel Embiid.

Play-in losing teams: Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks

2023-2024 NBA Western Conference Playoff Picks

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The western conferences two year championship run snapped last season. After an interesting playoffs, Dallas lost in the finals 4-1. Most western teams made major moves once the offseason began. Viewers have interest in the stacked northwest division and how every team in the pacific could make the playoffs. Teams like Memphis could break out and have a longer playoff run. The conference champion Mavericks have a tough task to getting back to the finals.

That’s a lot to process, so let’s focus on which eight teams have the best chances of making the western conference playoffs.

Denver Nuggets

(Left to right) League MVP Nikola Jokic and teammate Aaron Gordon should have another dominant season.

League MVP Nikola Jokic wants payback after missing the conference finals. Denver’s depth makes them the top pick to clinch a playoff spot in the west.

Memphis Grizzlies

Injuries shouldn’t be a problem this season even if star point guard Ja Morant is suspended again. Memphis drafting Yuki Kawamura adds to an explosive offense and physical defense.

Phoenix Suns

This is an important year for Kevin Durant and Phoenix’s championship aspirations.

The Suns have a great trio with Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. Now they have the depth with Monte Morris and Grayson Allen at guard and forward. Phoenix needs a fast start and better chemistry after a wasted 2023-24 season.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Minnesota was great last year, but they could be better this season. Trading Karl-Anthony Towns was a great move because it brought in better players who are physical on defense and not afraid to drive to the basket on offense. Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo are upgrades at the forward positions while the Timberwolves kept their center and guard depth. Minnesota is a top contender for the first overall seed in the west.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was close in the league MVP running last year. Oklahoma City has a chance at a high playoff seed because of him running the offense.

The young Thunder were great last year. Then they traded Josh Giddey to Chicago for Alex Caruso. The veteran guard tandem of Caruso and last year’s highly praised league MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can elevate Oklahoma City into another top playoff seed and go further in the postseason. The Thunder also added depth at forward.

Dallas Mavericks

Dallas has one of the best guard tandems in the league and should get more contributions from center Daniel Gafford this season. The Mavericks will be fun to watch.

Golden State Warriors

Golden State’s Stephen Curry will have to do more after Klay Thompson signed with Dallas.

It’s a big year for the Warriors. Klay Thompson left in free agency and coach Steve Kerr has to give the younger players more minutes. We’ll find out how Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II and Andrew Wiggins adjust to these changes the first month of the season. Brandin Podziemski should have a breakout year starting at shooting guard.

Sacramento Kings

There’s too much talent for Sacramento not to miss the playoffs. Coach Mike Brown should have an easier season now that there’s better forward depth.

Play-in losing teams: Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs

2024 WNBA Semi-Finals Predictions

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What a fast first round of playoff basketball. All four teams that advanced swept their opponents and are closer to the championship. The semi-finals should be more fun and give us the best basketball we’ve seen all year. The two teams who win their series go to the championship round. It’s time to decide which two teams have the best chance of making the finals.

#1 New York Liberty v. #4 Las Vegas Aces

Vegas has to get more out of Chelsea Gray (12) in order to get past Sabrina Ionescu (20) and the Liberty.

True WNBA fans are excited for this special series. The sequel to last year’s finals matchup should be one of the most watched series of the playoffs. The unanimous MVP A’ja Wilson will battle against elite center Jonquel Jones for at least three games. Guard play will be fun and there will be a lot of points, rebounds and blocks.

New York swept the regular season series and always looked in control no matter how well Wilson played. The Liberty have better roster depth this year and it showed in each regular season win. The Aces might have the best player all-time in her prime, but it won’t be enough if their bench doesn’t step up.

Prediction: Liberty win series 3-1

#2 Minnesota Lynx v. #3 Connecticut Sun

Second best player in the WNBA Napheesa Collier will go against the league’s most physical defense for at least three games.

Liberty-Aces will gain more attention for many reasons, but this series should be the best in the semi-finals. Every game Minnesota and Connecticut played versus each other was close. The Sun are determined to win their first ever championship while it’s another stellar year for the Lynx under coach Cheryl Reeve.

Both teams have some of the league’s best players, but coaching in critical situations and championship pedigree plays a part in which team advances. Minnesota lost both of their games to the Sun before Connecticut traded for guard Marina Mabrey in August. The Lynx’s lone win was when Mabrey played more minutes. Reeve is known for adjustments late in playoff series and how to contain other team’s stars. The Sun are more determined but more likely to get into foul trouble and be easily frustrated in a longer series.

Prediction: Lynx win series 3-2

First round playoff predictions: 4-0

2024 NBA Finals Prediction

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The conference finals went faster than many expected. Dallas dominated Minnesota in five games while Boston swept Indiana. The Celtics lost only two games in three eastern conference matchups. Whoever wins this year’s championship deserves the praise and accolades. It’s time to break down which franchise has the best chance of winning a championship and raising a banner in the NBA’s 77th season.

#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #1 Boston Celtics

Boston and Dallas quickly eliminated the young and inexperienced Pacers and Timberwolves in the conference finals. After not playing for at least a week, both teams will start a chess match of a championship series. While there are many similarities with the star duos and both head coaches are in their first finals, the Celtics and Mavericks differ in roster depth, veteran experience in previous finals appearances and the number of possible adjustments.

Both Dallas and Boston have great guard duos, but the Celtics can counter with their talent at center and forward.

Dallas extending this series depends on how well elite guard duo Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving perform. Forwards P.J. Washington and Maxi Kleber have to play their best series with how much depth and talent Boston has at center and forward. Coach Jason Kidd must decide early in the series which offensive matchups he likes best and how the Mavericks will capitalize on more scoring opportunities.

There couldn’t be more pressure on coach Joe Mazzulla to win this round. Boston has more than size and experience advantages. It’s possible we see Derrick White guarding Doncic and Jrue Holiday locking down Irving most of the series. Dallas center Daniel Gafford will struggle against Kristaps Porzingis or Al Horford, no matter who starts. Last but not least, the Mavericks have no answer for the forward duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Boston’s roster depth makes this a fast series. Coach Jason Kidd is limited in moves and matchup changes before the Celtics inevitably tire Dallas’ younger roster and secure a comfortable finals victory.

Prediction: Boston Celtics defeat Dallas 4-1 and win their 18th Larry O’Brien Trophy

2024 total playoff predictions record: 10-4

2024 NBA Western Conference Final Prediction

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The remaining two teams in the west had a long and fun second round. Dallas and Minnesota were more committed and better coached than the star-studded teams in Denver and Oklahoma City. While the Mavericks are on a roll, there’s a lot of hype on the Timberwolves after they eliminated the defending champion Nuggets. One of these two teams must advance to the championship round. Time to break down which one has the best chance to represent the west in the finals.

#5 Dallas Mavericks v. #3 Minnesota Timberwolves

A new era of the NBA is upon us. Get ready for the Luka Doncic v. Anthony Edwards narratives. Both players aren’t just franchise stars, they’re new faces the NBA wants to see take over the game in and outside the U.S.

While Minnesota won the regular season series 3-1, the one loss came when guard Kyrie Irving (white) played for Dallas.

Both teams have great guard duos and two-way production from their centers at both ends of the court. Everyone wants to watch Mavericks point-guard Luka Doncic and shooting-guard Kyrie Irving take on Timberwolves point-guard Mike Conley and shooting guard Anthony Edwards for at least six games. The older Irving and Conley will have their hands full on defense while trying to facilitate and elevate their offenses. If Doncic and Edwards have low-scoring games, they still impact the players around them with their play-making and passing.

Minnesota has a slight advantage outside the guard positions. Power forward Karl-Anthony Towns stunned viewers out-performing improved Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon last series. The nine year veteran played well on offense and improved defensively against the Nuggets. Sixth man of the year Naz Reid plays better each round and Jaden McDaniels can be a thorn against any opponent. Dallas’ P.J. Washington has struggled in previous rounds while Derrick Jones Jr. will have a hard time with McDaniels alone. Coach Jason Kidd should adjust his forward depth by playing Maxi Kleber and Tim Hardaway Jr. for longer stretches of time.

Both teams mirror each other from coaching to bench depth. To stay consistent with the other conference finals pick, it’s a better decision to go with the more determined, veteran team. Yes, Minnesota has the fundamentals to beat Dallas this series, but the Mavericks have more pressure to make the finals.

Prediction: Mavericks win the western conference and series 4-3

Western conference playoff picks record after two rounds: 3-3

2024 NBA Eastern Conference Final Prediction

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The remaining two teams in the east had an entertaining second round. Boston and Indiana were more committed and better coached than Cleveland and New York. The Celtics look unstoppable and the Pacers are on a roll led by coach Rick Carlisle. It’s the first time since 2011 Carlisle has both won a series and coached a team to a conference finals. They’re rewarded with a conference finals matchup against the league’s best team in Boston, who easily dispatched their first two opponents. One of these two determined franchises must advance to the championship round. Time to break down which one has the best chance to represent the east in the finals.

#6 Indiana Pacers v. #1 Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum (white) and the Celtics get their first, true test of the playoffs against Indiana.

After two easy series, Boston finally plays a fully healthy opponent. Indiana may have gone a full seven game series against the injured Knicks, but the roster’s surging at the best time. The league’s best offense has maintained their high scoring despite playing shaky defense at times.

The Pacers have solid depth with forwards Obi Toppin and Doug McDermott. Without center Kristaps Porzingis the first two games, the Celtics will rely on their guard quartet of Jayson Tatum, Peyton Pritchard, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown to score more. Backup veteran center Al Horford could struggle against Indiana’s Myles Turner on both sides of the ball, so the Pacers have to take advantage of their matchups in the first three games if they want to be in the championship round.

Boston has reached the conference finals six of the last seven years, advancing to the finals just once. Indiana’s a great offensive team but inexperienced despite coach Rick Carlisle being in the conference and championship round last decade. Franchise star Jayson Tatum can easily pick the Pacers defense apart with or without Kristaps Porzingis in the lineup. It will be a fun series, but there’s little doubt who wins.

Prediction: Celtics win the conference and the series 4-2

Eastern conference playoff picks record after two rounds: 5-1

2024 NBA Eastern Conference Second Round Playoff Predictions

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The first round was fun but didn’t have many surprises or upsets. Cleveland overcame an 18 point deficit (the largest game seven comeback in NBA history) to beat Orlando in a full, seven game series. Boston took care of Miami in five games. New York and Indiana have advanced further than at any point the past decade. The Pacers have a great offense and the Knicks a great defense to make a great series while the Cavaliers will be more of a challenge for the Celtics. Two of the remaining four will advance to the conference finals. Time to break down which of the two have the best chance to make round three.

#4 Cleveland Cavaliers v. #1 Boston Celtics

Donovan Mitchell (45) and the Cavaliers will be a tougher opponent against Jayson Tatum (0) and the Celtics than Miami was last round.

The easiest of the second round matchups, both teams are opposite in team depth, coaching and health. Cleveland center Jarrett Allen will be battling bruised ribs like he did at the end of round one. Depending on the minutes Allen plays, this could be another simple series for Boston. The Celtics might start veteran Al Horford at center if Kristaps Porzingis isn’t ready to play the first two games due to his calf injury. Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard are important role players the Cavaliers have to stop in critical minutes.

Prediction: Celtics win series 4-1

#6 Indiana Pacers v. #2 New York Knicks

Jalen Brunson (blue) has to propel New York’s offense to the conference finals once their defense stifles the Pacers.

A refreshing matchup where both teams haven’t played in the NBA’s second round in at least a decade. Both Indiana and New York have talented young rosters and great coaches. The Pacers have a franchise star in point-guard Tyrese Haliburton and quality talent with center Myles Turner and forwards Obi Toppin and Pascal Siakam.

The Knicks have one of the best starting rosters in the league. Guard duo Jalen Brunson and Donte DiVincenzo have great chemistry going back to their Villanova days. Forwards OG Anunoby and Josh Hart play well together. Center Isaiah Hartenstein could determine the series with his solid play on both sides of the ball. New York plays great defense and well-rounded offense. Indiana’s been one of the best offensive teams in the league, but they don’t play defense well and that will hurt them this series.

Prediction: Knicks win series 4-1

Eastern conference first round playoffs record: 4-0