Category: Basketball

The Los Angeles Lakers star guard Russell Westbrook, who is equally well known for his off-court reputation as an enthusiastic fan of fashion, attends the 2022 Met Gala:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g63zxtMJ8rY

The dynamic between Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell has reportedly gotten to a point where the Stifle Tower has told Utah front office executives that it’s “him or me” and could possibly request that he or Mitchell get traded out of Utah per Sean O’Connell.

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I know I am not usually @utahjazz breaking news guy, but a source close to situation has informed me that Rudy Gobert is at “him or me” point with Donovan Mitchell and will demand that one of them be traded in next few days. Doesn’t feel they will win championship together.

— Sean O’Connell (@realOCsports) May 2, 2022

The reported rift between the two franchise cornerstones has been much maligned since Gobert and Mitchell became the NBA’s Patient Zero for COVID-19, causing the League to shut down for several months before the Orlando Bubble took place. Since then, the pair of All-Stars have publicly made sure to downplay any issues they may have had.

“My understanding is that conversation has yet to happen,” O’Connell said per KSL Podcast. “Maybe he and his agent are formulating a better strategy than a simple ultimatum, and that’s why we haven’t had anything. This is from a very trusted, hashtag, source for me, and it could be less than 100 percent complete information from what Rudy and his camp are actually planning on doing. Obviously, I’ll fully allow for that.”

Although the experimental 1-2 punch hasn’t yielded the result the Jazz want, Gobert seemingly isn’t ready to quit on the Jazz or continue to play with Mitchell, letting NBA Twitter know that the rumors were false.

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Everyday has it’s own new “rumor” 🙄

— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) May 2, 2022

Gobert averaged 15.6 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game during the regular season. His playstyle has come under fire for being unable to guard forwards and centers who can stretch the floor. He was endlessly teased for being the main defender being cooked when Terance Mann scored 39 points to eliminate the Jazz in Game 6 in the Clippers’ run to the conference finals last year.

Meanwhile, Mitchell finished the 2021-22 season, averaging 25.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. As a volume scorer, Mitchell has tended to settle more for jumpers instead of exploding to the rim like he’s done in the past.

After a controversial ejection due to a Flagrant 2 assessed to Draymond Green that sent NBA Twitter into a frenzy, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Monday that the NBA would not look to reduce the Flagrant 2.

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Warriors star Draymond Green’s Flagrant Foul 2 in Game 1 will not be reduced by the NBA, league spokesperson tells me and @anthonyVslater.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2022

Later that afternoon, Green set up an emergency episode of his podcast ‘The Draymond Green Show’ in his Memphis hotel room to set the record straight on his hard foul and reaction to the ejection.

“If we went through the definition of a flagrant 2 foul, I’m not sure that that play would quite fit the definition of a flagrant foul; I’m not sure if it’ll meet that criteria,” Green said.

The former Defensive Player of the Year reiterated during his postgame press conference and via the pod that his reputation as a player was the reason he was ejected, saying “tonight was probably a reputation thing.”

The penalty for Green’s ejection has yet to be disclosed while the Warriors prepare for Game 2 of their Western Conference Semi against the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night.

“If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready.”

That’s been Victor Oladipo’s mantra since undergoing two major surgeries to repair a right torn quadricep. 11 months ago, Oladipo couldn’t walk, let alone bend his leg. But in Miami’s Game 5 win over the Atlanta Hawks last Tuesday, Oladipo was more than ready; he was itching to remind the world of the type of player that he is.

After pouring in a team-high 23 points, three dimes, and three steals, Oladipo reveled in his performance with the Miami crowd as his resurgence as a critical piece in Miami’s lineup can’t be denied.

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I’m just trying to ball and live. How can I lose when we the who’s who’s?💪🏿 pic.twitter.com/XlaJD69cBp

— Victor Oladipo (@VicOladipo) April 27, 2022

On Monday, Oladipo sat down with Stadium’s Shams Charania to chop it up about his road to recovery, his return to the court, and how he views his game today compared to his All-Star years.

“I would be a fool not to feel like I’m still there,” Oladipo said about being an All-Star talent. “That’s my goal is to show everyone that I’m still elite.

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Heat’s Victor Oladipo sits down with @Stadium: “From why me, to giving up, what do I do next, to should I just stop. Go through every single emotion…then look yourself in the mirror and say: Man, keep going.” On revival, goal to regain All-Star status, new album, more. pic.twitter.com/TeMYcqLRVb

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2022

While the unknown still lingers as to how often Oladipo will be inserted into lineups and the length of time he sees on the hardwood, in just two playoff appearances so far, Oladipo is focused on “controlling the controllable” while averaging 17.2 points, 4.5 boards and 1.5 steals per game.

“I know it’s going to be a process. I know it’s not always going to be easy, but I’m willing to put in the work. I don’t shy away from it, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings,” Oladipo said.

When the Dallas Mavericks start their second-round series against the Phoenix Suns on Monday, they will be taking on the tough task of not only having to guard Chris Paul and Devin Booker but the challenge of finding a way to stop a versatile big man in Deandre Ayton.

In the first round against the Pelicans, Ayton averaged 20.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game on 70.0 percent shooting from the field. A good jump from his regular season when he posted 17.2 points and 10.2 boards per game.

As the Mavericks-Suns series rolls, Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd’s use of small-ball lineups might not be as valuable against Ayton, who is athletic enough to keep up with shooters like Maxi Kleber when Kidd deploys him as small-ball 5. The Suns also have lengthy and versatile defenders like Mikal Bridges, Jae Crowder, and Cam Johnson, who can chase the Mavericks’ marksman

“We have to adapt,” Kidd said per Sports Illustrated. “Our game plan against Utah is not going to work against the Suns. We’ve already changed that mindset because we’re not playing the Jazz.

Ayton will be tasked with taking advantage of the Mavs whenever he’s in a pick-and-roll situation with CP3, rim-running in transition, and bullying his matchup when he’s given the rock in the low post. Ayton is also a threat to score from deep, sinking 50 percent of his four three-point attempts so far in the playoffs.

“We understand their strength is midrange, but they hurt you with the 3 in transition, and they can hurt you in the paint with JaVale and Ayton. This isn’t Gobert or Whiteside. These guys can put the ball in the basket. So, our bigs are going to be tested.”

First-year point guard Jalen Suggs underwent medical surgery in order to fix a slight stress fracture in his right ankle, the Orlando Magic announced on Monday.

Per Magic, Suggs is expected to heal up, resume his basketball activities this offseason and fully rejoin the team in training camp for the 2022-2023 campaign.

Suggs, 20, was chosen as the fifth overall pick of last year’s draft out of Gonzaga University. With the rebuilding Orlando, he recorded a 48-game average of 11.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 boards, 1.2 steals and 45 percent true shooting % in 27.2 minutes of play.

For the last two years Steph Curry was without playoff basketball. This year he is back in familiar territory and he enjoys himself.

Over the six playoff games so far the three-time NBA champion is averaging 27.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 31.2 minutes per game.

“I just missed everything about this, the atmosphere… the opportunity to play meaningful games that require everything,” Curry said after Game 1 win over the Grizzlies.

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“I just missed everything about this, the atmosphere… the opportunity to play meaningful games that require everything”

Steph Curry on missing playoff basketball. pic.twitter.com/PAGlutKGhX

— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2022

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Dean Wade continues to make some good progress in his road to full recovery. 

Per Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the big man has finally returned to doing on-court activities following a meniscus surgery. 

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#Cavs Dean Wade has been cleared following meniscus surgery and returned to on-court activities last week, sources tell @clevelanddotcom.

— Chris Fedor (@ChrisFedor) May 1, 2022

Wade suffered from a right knee meniscus tear in March and was ruled out for the rest of the 2021-2022 campaign. Via 51 games, he had an average of 5.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 19.2 minutes of action. 

Wade’s absence served as a huge blow on the Cavs’ frontcourt slate in late season, coming up short in advancing to the playoffs after failing to capitalize their two Play-in opportunities to secure a slot. 

The Cavs do have a $1.91 million team option on Wade for the next season. 

Ime Udoka didn’t like what he saw from his players in Game 1 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks (101-89). The head coach of the Boston Celtics opened up about what his team should change ahead of Game 2.

“The adjustment is obviously playing against their physicality,” Udoka told media afterwards. The Celtics scored just 89 points in the contest and had a poor shooting percentage from the field (33.3%, 28/84).

Boston now trails series 1-0 and will aim to even it in Game 2 on Tuesday. The series will then move to Milwaukee for Games 3 and 4.

The Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green, who was ejected in Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies after a questionable call, responds to his ejection: “I think tonight was probably a reputation thing.”