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ESPN True Hoop (4 days ago) |
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Bob Kravitz of The Indianapolis Star: Let’s be honest: The befuddled, frustrated Knicks are out of answers. New York coach Mike Woodson blinked first, rolled out a big lineup for Game 4, much as the Atlanta Hawks did in Game 3. That meant inserting Kenyon Martin into the lineup at the power forward and moving Pablo Prigioni to the bench. “It’s the only choice they’ve got,&r...
ESPN True Hoop (4 days ago) |
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Game 5 was not about Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the duo dubbed by Warriors head coach Mark Jackson as “the greatest shooting backcourt” in NBA history.
Instead, it was about one of the best trios in NBA history. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili won their 93rd playoff game together, tying Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Byron Scott of the Los Angeles Lakers for th...
ESPN True Hoop (4 days ago) |
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AP PhotoNam Y. HuhIn the first two rounds, injuries have slowed down Dwyane Wade, but not his teammates.A litany of injuries have derailed Dwyane Wade this postseason, which has been one of the least-productive playoffs of his career. A bone bruise in Wade’s right knee has sidelined him for one game this postseason, and other lingering injuries (knee, ankle, foot) have had a clear impact on ...
ESPN True Hoop (4 days ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (4 days ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (4 days ago) |
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Nate Robinson came through late in Game 1.
This one was a stunner -- with the Chicago Bulls getting the big performance from the star at game's end to upset the Miami Heat in Game 1. The Bulls wore the Heat down, frustrating LeBron James in particular in the early going to set the tone.
Let's run through the statistical highlights.
Historical context
The Heat lost for the third time i...
ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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Rocky WidnerGetty Images
The Warriors are at their best shooting 3s, which they don't do much with Lee in the game.
A team gets its first All-Star in 16 years. They've been wandering, starless, through the desert, and finally, this guy's featured in the big game. In that game, he represents the ascent of a much maligned franchise, and the validation of the new owner's controver...
ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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Garrett W. EllwoodNBAEGetty ImagesStephen Curry set the NBA record with 272 3-pointers this season, and has kept it up in the playoffs.The only California team left in the NBA playoffs is the Golden State Warriors, who take on the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals. Game 1 is scheduled for tonight at 9:30 Eastern.
Defending the Alamo City
The Warriors are looking to win in San...
ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: Kevin Durant is showing us how special he is. It was one thing to average 35, nine and six and shoot 51 percent in four games without Russell Westbrookagainst a who-cares-about-defense team like the Houston Rockets. It’s totally different for Durant to open this semifinal series against a defensive-minded team like Memphis and put up 35, 15 and six while sh...
ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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Paul George was one of the big keys to the Pacers win in Game 1.
The Indiana Pacers won Game 1 against the New York Knicks with defense and did so thanks to three players in particular- Paul George, Roy Hibbert, and Lance Stephenson.
Here’s a thorough breakdown of the numbers that best illustrate that.
George’s impact
George led the NBA in Defensive Win Shares and showed why with his...
ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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Kevin Durant excelled in the second half for the Thunder.Let’s run through all the accolades for the star of stars in the Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Kevin Durant became the third player in the past five postseasons with a 35-point, 15-rebound, five-assist game, joining LeBron James, who did it twice, and Carmelo Anthony.
The Elias Sports Bureau tells us th...
ESPN True Hoop (2 weeks ago) |
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Nate Robinson was in all-time great mode in the fourth quarter comeback
The Brooklyn Nets looked to be on their way to evening this series, with a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter. But an epic comeback powered by Nate Robinson, thwarted the Nets efforts and made for a remarkable victory for the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls now hold a commanding 3-games-to-1 series lead in the series. Let&rsq...
ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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In his book "Relentless," legendary NBA trainer Tim Grover talks about what motivates his superstar clients Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. Then he talks about different character types, the highest of which, in his judgment, is what he calls a "cleaner." Jordan, Bryant and Wade are, Grover says, all cleaners.
What about LeBron James, whom Grover does not train G...
ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- As news of the injury to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook reverberated through the NBA on Friday, the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies reacted to the Westbrook’s possible absence in a potential second-round series between the Thunder and the winner of the first-round series between the Clippers and Grizzlies.
“[The Thunder] are still a great t...
ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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A who's who of NBA players are on the shelf. A team made of Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, Danny Granger, David Lee, Danilo Gallinari, Amare Stoudemire, and Lou Williams would contend. Instead all those players and more are out for all or most of the playoffs.
Asking what caused all those injuries takes you on a bit of wild goose chase. There have alwa...
ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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Christian PetersenGetty Images
The West's top team will play without point guard after Russell Westbrook for the first time.
The Thunder have announced that Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus after an injury in the second quarter of Game 2. At this time it's not known how long he'll be out.
How will the Thunder be different without Westbrook, who has ...
ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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Rocky WidnerNBAEGetty ImagesKlay Thompson and Steph Curry both made over 200 3-pointers this season.Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson made this bold statement at his postgame press conference following Golden State’s 131-117 win over the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night:
"We are a very good shooting basketball team. We've got guys that can knock down shots. You talk about K...
ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (3 weeks ago) |
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Ronald MartinezGetty ImagesThis is what they're playing for.
The NBA playoffs begin this weekend with four games Saturday and four more on Sunday.
Let’s get you ready for the next two months with a list of our top stats to know heading into the postseason.
Heat trends point to a title
The Miami Heat enter the playoffs as the unquestioned favorites and will look to become back-to-back...
ESPN True Hoop (4 weeks ago) |
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ESPN.com Insider David Thorpe predicts every first-round playoff series. East series are here.
ESPN True Hoop (4 weeks ago) |
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Tim Grover -- author of the new book "Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable" -- has trained the likes of Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade, and is now deeply involved in helping his long-term client Kobe Bryant do everything he can to get back on the court to achieve his longstanding goal of winning a sixth title.
In his first appearance on TrueHoopTV, Grover discussed his original...
ESPN True Hoop (4 weeks ago) |
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ESPN True Hoop (4 weeks ago) |
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Noah GrahamNBAE via Getty Images
Late in close games, including against the Lakers on Wednesday, the Rocket offense stagnates.
The Rockets had a shot against the banged up Spurs. That's the thinking.
But there's no worse West draw than opening on the road in Loud City.
To avoid that all the Rockets merely had to muster one more win. It could have been in Wednesday's overtime loss ...
ESPN True Hoop (4 weeks ago) |
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Teams typically like to use high picks on players with good size. But if you ignore that, things tend to work out beautifully.
ESPN True Hoop (1 month ago) |
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Tom Moore of phillyBurbs.com: In the wake of a published report saying the organization privately hopes Doug Collins doesn’t return next season as 76ers coach, his agent claims it will be Collins’ call. “The relationship with Doug, me and Sixers management has been terrific,” said John Langel during a Thursday afternoon telephone conversation. “What they told me beyon...
ESPN True Hoop (1 month ago) |