VIDEO: Lonzo Ball to have solo workout with the Lakers

The UCLA point guard and perhaps the best prospect of the country at the moment wants to only workout with the Lakers before the NBA Draft coming up next month. He declined a workout with the Boston Celtics who currently hold the No.1 pick in the draft and will workout with the Lakers on June 7th. It will be a solo workout, which means he will not go against other prospects, point guards and shooting guards. At the moment Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be leaning towards drafting Ball, but they want to see how he can translate his game in the personal workout and improve this Laker team.

FREE BETTING Tips: NBA Finals

The NBA Finals are just around the corner. We are only one day away from Game 1 in Oakland, where the Warriors will face off the Cavs for the third straight NBA Finals. Free Tips Zone is back and gives you, free betting tips/predictions on the Finals, predicting the series score, the Finals MVP, and more.

1. Series Score: Golden State Warriors 4-1 (3.50) (5/2)
2. Finals MVP: Stephen Curry (3.25) (9.4)
3. Top Series Assister: LeBron James (1.73) (8/11)
4. Top series Scorer: Kevin Durant (2.20)

VIDEO: Scottie Pippen says Stephen Curry's not the best player in either team.

The six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and the multiple time All-Star, Scottie Pippen gave his thoughts earlier today, on the upcoming NBA Finals, the trilogy between the two teams,  the matchups of the Finals but also stated that Steph Curry is not the best player on either team. Well...

WATCH --->

REPORT: Isaiah Thomas prefers to not get a max deal, so that the Celtics can become even stronger!

Even though Isaiah Thomas just finished the best season of his career (28.9 PPG & 5.9 APG) with the Celtics, people would expect that he would push for max contract, but he might play for only 6.3 million dollars next season, because he wants the Celtics to get even stronger and become legit NBA championship contenders!

Even though he has the right to have a contract extension, with a max contract, Thomas does not have a problem with being paid as he is until 2018 in order to leave space on the salary cap for other free agents that the Boston Celtics may want to pursue into coming to Boston. "We need the best possible player that's gonna help us win, and I'm with that," Thomas said. "Anything Danny and this organization need me to do to help bring even more talent to this city, I'm all for that. I want to win a championship and being so close to getting to the Finals, that makes you want it that much more.

"I'm all help if they need it. I'll be around."

This shows how Thomas and the Celtics are ready to take on another step forward and challenge LeBron James and the Cavaliers for a spot in the NBA Finals and possibly an NBA title. The question is: Can they land a free agent in the summer, a Gordon Hayward, a Jimmy Butler or a Paul George? This is what Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics are certainly hoping for.

REPORT: 76ers Expected to Pursue Veteran Spurs PG in Free Agency

The Philadelphia Sixers, seem to be interested in signing a veteran point guard this free agency, in helping Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Dario Saric and their rookie on the offensive floor, and on the pick and roll system. They have been interested in signing a point guard because at the moment they don't have a capable starting point guard who will help the rest of the young guys. 

Kyle Lowry is a possibility, that they would want to pursue in the summer, along with a few others, but a more realistic goal is to sign Spurs points guard Patty Mills. If Chris Paul decides to go the San Antonio Spurs this summer, Patty Mills will have a lesser role in the Spurs, so the Sixers could actually be a real possibility. Mills has spent his whole career in San Antonio, but he does have a connection with the Sixers through coach Brett Brown, who was an assistant with the Spurs before taking over in Philadelphia. The Sixers, however, would have to pay Mills a pretty penny, if they want to sign him, and this is something that Philadelphia is strongly considering. If they cannot land Kyle Lowry, by giving him a max-deal, Mills is the next on the line. 

With the third pick in this year's NBA Draft, the Sixers are ready to become winners again next season, and could potentially land Tatum or Jackson. Mills will have to decide if he wants to join a rising phoenix, but one that won't be soaring right away, or be a role player in a championship contender team.

Sources: Wolves to target Derrick Rose in free-agency.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have shown interest in signing free-agent and New York Knick current player Derrick Rose this summer, as league sources told ESPN. The 28-year old will be a free agent this summer.

Last season with the New York Knicks, Rose averaged 18 points and 4.4 assists per game, as his team went disappointing 31-51 record. Rose has a strong relationship with the Timberwolves president but also with the head coach Tom Thibodeau; he played for five seasons under Thibodeau in Chicago. During the regular season, the Wolves and the Knicks have had some trade talks for a package headlined by Rubio and Rose but no agreement was made. Rose however and his agent have both stated that they'd be open to re-signing with the Knicks.

Phil Jackson said he was impressed by Rose expressing a desire to return for the following season as well: "He enjoyed playing here even with the losses, which of course surprises us because he's been on some very successful teams," Jackson said. "But he wants to redeem himself as a player. Which I like that attitude. I like who Derrick represents as himself. He's very direct about taking on a big challenge. At this point, it is unclear which other teams are interested in signing Derrick Rose, all we know at the moment is that the Wolves would welcome Rose in Minnesota and are now front runners with New York in signing them for the 2017-2018 season. Rose, who has a history of serious knee injuries, said in late March that he'd prioritize winning over money as a free agent.

"Not even thinking money. I've got more than enough money saved. If I stopped playing basketball now, I'll be all right," Rose told reporters in Utah on Wednesday night. "I want to win. I want to be happy and feel at peace with myself wherever I'm at. But being at the negotiating table, you never know. I'm not going to negotiate with people where money is the No. 1 thing I'm asking for. I want to win."

What should Rose do? Where would the perfect pick be for him?

REPORT: Charles Oakley's ideal situation for Carmelo Anthony is to join a playoff team.

Charles Oakley, a former New York Knicks player, and a current Knick fan gave his thoughts on where Carmelo Anthony should play next season, in order for him to be happy and reach his own personal goals. Oakley had been removed from Madison Square Garden and banned for life, back in February's incident, where the police had been involved and removed him from a Knick game.

One of the teams that have been emerging as a potential landing spot for the Knick star is the Los Angeles Lakers, but according to the 53-year old Oakley, the Lakers are not a good spot for Carmelo. He says: "No, Carmelo can't help the Lakers. He should go to a team that has a chance to get to the playoffs and be successful next year".

Anthony has been in many trade talks this regular season and has had a couple of different meetings with Phil Jackson regarding his future in New York. However, he has shown that he wants to remain a New York Knick player, and will eventually have the final 'say' due to his no trade clause. So, Carmelo has full control of where he wants to play next season; if he wants to stay in New York or leave New York to play for a different organization. The ongoing feud with Phil Jackson might lead him to make a different decision and perhaps leave the New York Knicks. Another source claims that either Carmelo Anthony or Phill Jackson will be removed from the organization before the start of the next season, 2017-2018. It will sure be an interesting offseason and summer for the New York Knicks and their near future.

Something bigger than the NBA...

This has nothing to do with basketball or the NBA. It is something a lot bigger, something that has shocked the world the last hours, something that you wish did not have happened, and hopefully will never happen again. In yesterday's Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, a terrorist attack occured and killed 22 children, while also injuring 59 in a suicide bombing. Something that we cannot put through words, something that we wish did not have happened, and wish will never happen again. People of all races, of all beliefs and countries must come together as one, be strong, fight terrorism with love and peace and don't let other terrorist attacks take place and destroy our world. 

The whole world is praying for Manchester, for the innocent lives of the children and the people lost. Our hearts are broken, and words cannot even express our sorrow for the victims and families harmed in this senseless attack. No words. LOVE is what we need, it doesn't matter where you are from, what are your beliefs, your ideas, your skin color etc. We can fight this together, we have to fight this together,  and we will fight this together for the love of the children, world peace and the future of world. Such cruelty is something that is not welcomed in this world! The only thing we can do right now is spread HOPE and PEACE toward Manchester and the whole world. Our most sincere condolences to anyone and everyone affected in this horrific attack. We have to raise awarness, show the world we are united as one and will keep fighting this horrific and unhuman terrorist attacks that are only bad and cruel for our modern world and our society. 

REPORT: Tristan Thompson's Cavaliers teammates are against his possible marriage with Khloe Kardashian!

According to RadarOnline, the reality star Khloe Kardashian uses money to make Tristan Thompson agree on marrying her this summer. The reality star has saved over $500,000 dollars for the ceremony, the dresses, the food, the drinks, the party and even the rings! Moreover, often enough Khloe buys him extremely expensive jewellery in order to strengthen their relationship and make him agree to the marriage.

On the other hand, LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates and friends have a different opinion about the marriage, and according to reports, they are warning him that these are not good signs for a marriage, especially after what happened to Khloe's ex-husband Lamar Odom who collapsed within this relationship. Now the question is what will Tristan Thompson do? Will he marry Khloe Kardashian this summer-autumn or listen to his teammates?

Kevin Durant on NBA playoff blowouts! (INTERVIEW)

Game 3

There has been a lot of talk regarding Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers and their blowout wins all the way in the 2017 NBA playoffs from the first round. The Warriors are 11-0 in these playoffs, while the Cavaliers are 10-0 in their respective conference. The question that has been asked the past week a lot, is whether this is good or bad for the NBA and the league in general. Whether Durant destroyed the NBA season by joining the Warriors last year and more similar questions have been questioned, and one was directly answered by Kevin Durant, in yesterday's win over the Spurs in the post-game conference. 

His reaction was the following: "The fans always want to see a tight game, they always want to see a buzzer beater every game, but it's not like that," Durant said. "You have your years where you have your great playoff series, four or five Game 7s. Then some years you have what you see in these playoffs. As players, you want to go out there and win by as much as possible and play as great as you can. Whatever happens with the score happens. Relay that to the fans who feel upset. If you don't like it, don't watch it. "

In 16 of the 26 semi-finals and conference finals game have been decided by 12 points or more, which shows that the super-teams cannot be stopped. The NBA Finals will be exciting, the regular season was exciting due to player performances and playoff races, but the NBA playoffs so far are lacking competition, and games are predictable.

Post Game Interview (question regarding competition starts at 4.40)

Eastern Conference Finals, PREVIEW

The Celtics have done it. They held off the Wizards last night, in a fantastic atmosphere and playoff intensity game at the TD Garden, and have faith in their team, their fans and the organization, that they can also pull off an upset and beat the defending champs in a seven game series. It took them seven long games to defeat the Wizards which was not easy because they were lucky Wall was having a really bad game, and could not help Beal score points and orchestrate the offense, especially when needed in the fourth quarter. The Wizards bench was also non-existing in yesterday's game scoring only 5 points, while by himself Olynyk had 26 points. To not take anything away from the Celtics, Kelly Olynyk was incredible last night, in the fourth quarter and together with the struggles of Wall, the great decision-making and shot-making ability of Isaiah Thomas and the passion they had as a team to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals was what got them there. Now LeBron James and the Cavaliers are a different story, a story that will be analyzed furthermore.

The Celtics were the last team to beat LeBron James before the Finals back in 2010; the question is can they do it again? Home court advantage can be a lethal weapon for the Celtics if they handle it right, but for LeBron that will not be a problem, as he has stated that he prefers to play in a different arena away from home. The Cavaliers have been rested for ten days and will be ready to advance to their third consecutive NBA Finals. The question for the Celtics is the matchups. Bradley will have to guard Irving, while Crowder gets LeBron, and Isaiah Thomas will guard JR Smith. This could be tricky for the Celtics, and the Cavaliers could take advantage of the matchups. Love will get a lot of touches down low against Johnson/Olynyk who will have to play a lot better defensively to guard him efficiently and make him miss shots. Fast break points are a weakness of the Celtics which they have to fix in these two days before Game 1, in particular against a team like the Cavaliers who like to run on the open court and make threes. Love is known for his outlet passes to LeBron. This is something that has to be limited, or not done at all if the Celtics want to hold on to the Cavaliers and actually challenge them for a place in the NBA Finals.


Offensively the Celtics don't have problems. Bradley had to step up and make big shots, Isaiah Thomas must get help from his teammates when doubled teamed in order to avoid careless and silly turnovers. The Cavaliers are not a great defensive team, ranked 18th in the regular season. Their defensive inconsistency is what the Celtics have to find and attack with possibly big runs (especially at the end of quarters). LeBron James has been in these situations before, he knows the environment will be hostile, pumped up, and ready to go, so he knows better than anyone else how important Game 1 is, especially when playing on the road. The Celtics have to realize that as well, and play like they did yesterday in order for them to win Game 1 and have the upper hand in the series. Defensive rebounding and overall rebounding has been a problem for the Celtics all year long, but also in the playoffs and during the seven-game series with the Wizards. They have to sacrifice their bodies if they want, again to challenge the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers will shoot a lot of shots, get some easy baskets off turnovers, off fast break points but also get second shot opportunities with offesnive rebounding. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson are known for their rebounding skills and will try to get that second chance. The Celtics cannot allow that!

Finally, the series tips off on Wednesday at 8.30 PM - ET, in a sold-out TD Garden, LeBron wanting to go to his 7th straight NBA Finals, while the Celtics want to pull off the upset and advance to their first in six years NBA Finals. Nevertheless, it will be an exciting series as the first two games are in Boston, and they have to get at least one if they want a chance. If they want to actually have the upper hand in the series and have a legit chance of making the NBA Finals, the Celtics have to get both games in Boston, on Wednesday and Friday.

My Prediction:
Cavs in six

Thoughts on Spurs vs Warriors (Game 1)

One of the most amazing playoff games in the 2017 playoffs was played last night in the Oracle. The place was going crazy, the intensity was high, the superstar players were ready to go, the passion was there, great coaches going at each other and the Western Conference Finals were underway. The Spurs in the first half were incredible. LaMarcus and Kawhi were leading the team scoring 18 points and being up by 20 points at the half. The Warriors with Kawhi on the floor were shooting only 13/38 from the field. The Spurs at the half led by 20 points, 62-42 showcasing their exceptional coaching both defensively and offensively, with Leonard and Aldridge showing their offensive repertoire. Leonard's injury in the third quarter send him to the line, he remained in the game, and then he shot an off-balance shot and landed in Pachulia's foot, rolled the same ankle, left the game and did not return.

This injury was the turning point of the game and possibly the series, as without Leonard on the court the Warriors were grabbing offensive rebounds, playing great defense, making threes, with Steph and Durant leading the way with 40 points and 34, outscoring the Spurs 58-33! This shows, how valuable Leonard is both defensively and offensively for the Spurs. Now, there has been a lot of discussions about whether the injury was intentional or not, dirty or just an accident. Leonard after the game stated that he did not do it on purpose, while Pachulia added that he would not do that because he is an athlete too. Either way, it was the toughest loss San Antonio could face, which led to an unbelievable comeback from the Warriors, as they rallied back from 25 points to beat a great team in the Spurs. The Warriors were lucky in the end though, by grabbing long offesnive rebounds, making crazy shots and playing in their home court. This was a game that could possibly affect the series to a large extent, if Leonard is not 100% ready to go in Game 2. The Warriors though, have learned their lesson, and will be ready to go in Game 2, and will be better from the first jump ball of the game.

As stated in my preview (http://morningnba.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/can-spurs-challenge-warriors-preview.html) the Spurs have the exceptional coaching of Greg Popovich the unbelievable talent of Leonard who at the moment is a top-3 player in the world, the experience of a Pau Gasol and Manu Ginobili, and yesterday they showed that they could challenge the Warriors, until Leonard went down. I still think the Warriors will win Game 2, and the Spurs will win both games in San Antonio, going back to Oakland for Game 5 and finishing the series in six games on the road in San Antonio.

The stats, however, do not lie. With Leonard on the court, the Warriors would not have turned the game around, as they did without him. It was an unbelievable comeback by the Warriors, but the turning point of the game was Leonard's ankle injury. If Leonard did not get injured the game would have been in the hands of the Spurs, and the series would have been in jeopardy for the Warriors. Tonight's schedule includes the Game 7 (!!!) between the Celtics and the Wizards at 8 PM ET. Game 2 of the Spurs vs. Warriors series will be on Tuesday 9 PM ET on ESPN.

Can the Spurs challenge the Warriors? PREVIEW

After yesterday's blowout win (75-114) and very impressive performance from LaMarcus Aldridge and Jonathan Simmons who replaced Leonard in the starting lineup, the Spurs showed how well coached they are, how they can react in tough situations when losing their best player, as they had an all around great performance in Game 6. They are now in the Western Conference Finals and will face off the excellent Warriors in a best-of-seven series, for a spot in the NBA Finals. A matchup that will be exciting, and will cause the Warriors some problems. The Spurs are going into the series with the mentality to win both games in Oakland, starting with Game 1 on Sunday. Leonard's health will be an X-factor to the series, but if healthy most importantly LaMarcus Aldridge has to be the guy he was yesterday, scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. If LaMarcus can average 20-25 points in the series, the Spurs can actually challenge the Warriors and could make it a fascinating series.



The Warriors, however, so far in the playoffs have been unstoppable winning all eight games, with an average margin of victory well over 15 points while shooting 48.4% from the field. They have been so far unstoppable, the question is, can Greg Popovich find a way to limit Kevin Durant and Steph Curry offensively, and can he attack the basket with LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol posting up inside the paint, where the Warriors are weak. Popovich will sure try, will he actually succeed, will the Warriors need help inside the paint? The Warriors have been spectacular in these eight games, all around both defensively and offensively, but the Spurs showed last night, how they can react to tough situations and can challenge the Warriors for a place in the 2017 NBA Finals.

The main question is can the Spurs play each game like they did last night. With Leonard possibly coming back for Game 1 and playing the whole series, they have the best defender who can both guard Steph Curry and Kevin Durant and will need other guys like Mills and Murray to step up as they did yesterday. Murray with his length will possibly start on Sunday and guard Curry, while Mills will give them positive minutes off the bench, knocking down some floaters and three-pointers. Gasol has to post up, LaMarcus has to play like he did in Game 6 against the Rockets, and Leonard must be the superstar he has been all season long, and prove why he should be considered for the second best player in the NBA.

The Spurs must do all of the things above if they want to challenge the Warriors and take the series to a Game 7. If they can't do the things above, the Warriors will more likely win the series in five games. I firmly believe that Greg Popovich will prepare his team well, he has shown how successful as a mentor and coach he has been over the past 15 years, and his team will be ready for Game 1 on Sunday. My prediction for this series is that the Spurs will actually challenge the Warriors, but the Warriors will escape and defeat the San Antonio Spurs in six games. The Warriors have more talent, they have four all-stars, while the Spurs have only one in Leonard, and have also played four more games than the Warriors in the 2017 playoffs. The Warriors until now have been unstoppable, want to get their second championship in three years after losing last year's championship dramatically, and will be in the NBA Finals by June. But, this series will be an exciting series, as many players have to prove themselves and that includes, Curry, Leonard, Aldridge. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday at 3.30 PM - ET on ABC.

Prediction:
Warriors in Six

Three European basketball players (EuroLeague) who may end up in the NBA and could be really good.

Bogdanovic and Teodosic

The EuroLeague, which is also known as the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, is the European-wide top-tier level professional basketball club competition. The association includes 16 teams from all over Europe. The last years, there have been made some changes, in the structure of the competition, that improved the level of play, attracted players and made it more interesting and spectacular for the fans. The competition also features some incredible young talents from historical teams, that could end up next year playing in the NBA. This article will discuss five different players from this year’s EuroLeague who have stood out and made themselves known, and analyze their style of play and how they can be successful in the NBA. 

• Milos Teodosic
• Position: Point Guard 
• Country: Serbia
• Team: CSSKA Moscow 
• Height: 6ft 5in (195cm) 
• Age: 30

An experienced point guard, and a European legend at the age of 30, Milos Teodosic is one of the top 3 point guards in the EuroLeague this season and has led his team CSSKA Moscow to the Final 4 in Istanbul, after also leading them to a title last season. He was undrafted in the 2009 NBA draft, but Teodosic finally stated that he might want to try out the NBA journey, for a team that will utilize him properly as he becomes a free agent July 1st. A fearless competitor, a great scorer and a fantastic playmaker said the following a couple of months ago: ‘I want to travel to the States, play in the NBA and compete against the best players in the world. Maybe now I am more ready mentally and also on the court.’ This year with CSSKA he is averaging 16.2 PPG and 7 APG while shooting 44.2% from the field and 37.5% on threes, on a much slower tempo and in a different environment, showing his experience and unique talent. 

He is known for his incredible court vision skills, knocking down mid-range jumpers as well as three point shots. As he stated, he wants to play for a team, where he could have a significant role, play meaningful minutes, and lead the team to wins. Two teams have emerged as the possible contenders in the NBA, the Denver Nuggets who are in need of a playmaker and also feature fellow Serbian star Nikola Jokic and the Brooklyn Nets who have struggled the last couple of years. Hopefully, the Brooklyn Nets can get a deal done this summer with the Serbian point guard, who can help Jeremy Lin orchestrate the offense, use Lopez in pick and roll situations effectively, score the basketball and make everyone around him better. 

Highlights from 2016-2017 season:

• Luka Doncic 
• Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard 
• Country: Slovenia 
• Team: Real Madrid 
• Height: 6ft 7in (201cm)
• Age: 18

One of the most talented prospects ever, at the age of 18 Luka Doncic will declare for next year’s NBA draft (2018). He is currently projected to go #2 overall in the 2018 NBA draft, and is already something special, with a full reach potential, incredible skills and talent. He is a hard working young man, and with this combination, the right coaching system and team, Doncic could be one of the best prospects the league has ever seen. At the age of 18, playing next to Sergio Jull in Real Madrid, he has emerged as the second best player in his team. At 6ft 7in he has a solid frame, can handle the ball like a legit NBA point guard, and make incredible passes with his full court vision. He can create penetration off the dribble, finish inside the paint or kick the ball to open shooters. His LeBron likewise vision is what makes him so outstanding on the offensive side of the floor. 

He is shooting 39.5 % from deep this season and has a great stroke, which is something that will help him a lot in the NBA. With his sturdy frame and height, Doncic has the ability to post up and bully some smaller guards, with a smaller size. He is perfect in the pick and roll situation and can break down a defense with just one pass. The other unique thing about the 18year old Slovenian is the ability he has to make his teammates better, by making them shoot open jumpers, filling the lane perfectly and understanding the pace of the team, whether in an open court situation or in breaking down a well defensive team. The way he uses the pick and roll to perfection reminds of LeBron James and James Harden. On the defensive side of the floor, he has shown the ability and the skill to be an on-ball good defender, and use his size to get in the opponent’s way. The potential he has is there, for him to become an elite defender in the NBA, learn to use his size, become quicker in off-ball situations and stop fast break attempts. Luka, however, has to learn to shoot the mid-range jumper coming off the pick and roll, must become quicker in some situations, on the defensive side of the floor and especially while guarding an off-ball defender. With a good coaching system, and help from his more experienced teammates Doncic can be a star in the NBA in year's to come.

If he lands in the Sixers, in next year’s draft, together with Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and Ben Simmons they could be an elite rebounding team, a great fast break team and possibly challenge for the top four spots in the Eastern Conference. A spectacular player to watch, a smart and young player with a full reach potential to be one of the greats, and possibly one of the best if not the best young prospect to travel overseas and play in the NBA. This sums up how Doncic plays, his unusual talents, his potential, and also the parts where his game has to get better and will be as time advances. 

Highlights from Real Madrid vs Baskonia:

• Bogdan Bogdanovic 
• Position: Shooting Guard / Point Guard
• Country: Serbia 
• Team: Fenerbahce 
• Height: 6ft 6in (197cm)
• Age: 24

A very talented young man plays with passion in every game, and has become the best player on his team, leading his team to a second straight Final 4 appearance in Istanbul. He was drafted in 2014, by the Phoenix Suns as the #27, but his pick was traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2016, which means that they are the frontrunners of bringing him to Sacramento and helping the young Kings find their rhythm and become a well coached young offensive team. He has played in Turkey from 2014 and has shown the world he has the talent of becoming an exceptional player in the NBA. In the EuroLeague this season, Bogdanovic is averaging 14.5 points per game and 4 assists, on 43.2% from the three point line, and 51% from the field. In the playoffs in a very hostile environment in Athens, Bogdanovic led his team to two straight victories against Panathinaikos scoring 23 and 25 points and being named the MVP of the series. As a 24-year-old, young and upcoming talent he has shown the skills and personality in tight situations, by being mature and leading his team to important and very significant victories on the road. 

With his height, he can create separation from the defender and knock down long three-pointers, behind the screen. He is perfect in pick and roll situations and can read the opponent’s defense and structure. His defense is something that needs improvement, but all around offensively he is unstoppable, especially when the team needs him to step up. Especially in the NBA, Bogdanovic has to be good in all games and this is something that is missing from him. Bogdanovic has the weakness of playing two great games and disappearing the next couple of games. This is something that if he finally decides to go this summer in Sacramento, the Kings have to work on and give him an extra boost and support, to be the best he can possibly be in all games. 

The question with Bogdanovic is if he is ready, personally to play in an entirely different style of basketball on the other side of the Atlantic. Divac (King’s owner) remains positive and confident that Bogdanovic will take this risk and will be coming over to play for the Kings next season, as Bogdanovic released a statement in early March saying that he would make the decision after the end of the Turkish league, and the EuroLeague. So, this summer. For Kings fans, Bogdanovic is a player that can change the future of the team, can become the centrepiece of the team along with Buddy Hield, Cauley-Stein and Giorgos Papagiannis. And he can dominate the offensive floor as good as anyone, can shoot and assist the basketball, can get to the line, which is what the Kings need at the moment, a good offensive player, a natural born scorer.


Highlights from Panathinaikos vs Fenerbahce:

Can the Wizards 'steal' game 5 on the road?

The Washington Wizards lost the first two games in Boston and won both games in Washington. The question is can they do what they did in game 6 in Atlanta and beat Boston on their home court, and have a legit chance of making the Eastern Conference Finals to challenge the Cavaliers?

The Wizards showed their full potential in the two wins against Boston. Two easy blowout wins, for them, with passion, playoff intensity, an incredible John Wall, guards making shots, and grabbing offensive rebounds. On these two games, they limited Isaiah Thomas, the best player on the opposing team, scoring only 13 and 19 points. The Wizards were playing great defense on him, guarding him in the perimeter, bumping him, and being physical with him. This resulted in two bad nights for the Celtic's star. However, can the Wizards do that again in Game 5 against a great home team, the Boston Celtics? Can they go on this amazing 26-0(!) run in Boston? The Wizards will go to Boston tonight with the mentality of winning. It

will sure be a fantastic ball game, with two teams going at it. Isaiah Thomas will find his rhythm and make some big shots, but in the end, I'm sticking with the Wizards to 'steal' game five on the road.

In my preview for this series, my prediction was the Wizards in six games. I'm staying with the Wizards, because they have shown more passion, and they seem to want it more and believe they have a chance against the Cavs. John Wall has been averaging 29PPG and 11APG, becoming a superstar in the making, while Bradley Beal the last game made some big shots, tough, but also open shots and help John Wall in the early start where he could not get it going offensively. Defensive rebounding was the issue for the Celtics before the series even begun, and thus why I believe it will be crucial tonight. Gortat and Morris must be kept off the glass if the Celtics want to protect their home court advantage and take a 3-2 lead in the series. The fast break points especially in Game 4, and during the 26-0 run where huge for the Wizards, who must hold on to a run, or an early 1st quarter lead like they did in Game 3, and Game 4 after the 26-0 run. They have proved they are one of the best 1st quarter teams, so they have to keep this lead all through the 4th quarter and the final buzzer.

These few weaknesses for both teams will play a huge role tonight. If John Wall has help from the other guys, Morris, Beal and Gortat, the Wizards will steal game five on the road, and take it back to Washington to finish the job. The same applies to Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics. If he has help from Horford, Crowder and Bradley, they will take the 3-2 lead and protect home court. But, because of the different mindset, the mentality, and the two amazing home games the Wizards played, I'm sticking with the Wizards on winning game five on the road in Boston.

Prediction:

Washington Wizards @ Boston Celtics = Washington Wizards 

Did Kevin Durant ruin the NBA season by joining the Warriors?

Durant & Curry

A question that has been raised for many months now, since Kevin Durant announced that he would join the team that beat him while up 3-1, is an issue that has kept many NBA analysts, reporters and even players busy all season long. After last night's 26 point win on the road against one of the best teams defensively who allowed 126 points (!), the Warriors swept the Jazz and advanced for the third straight time to the Conference Finals. With a record-breaking point differential (17.1) the Warriors are showing the world what they are capable of doing night in and night out. But, the question is, did Kevin Durant ruin the season by joining the Warriors, if they are going to win the title so easily as it seems to some? The short term answer is no.

Credit: NBA Facebook 

When an NBA season begins, in most cases, and especially the last five to eight years, we have a pretty good case of which team will be in the Finals, which team will compete and which teams are the final four teams competing for the championship. This year is no different. We had an unbelievable regular season, with Westbrook averaging a triple double, Harden challenging Westbrook for the MVP award. The very solid Spurs who continue to be on the top and challenging for a title, the struggles of the Cavaliers in the regular season, the story of Isaiah Thomas and the Boston Celtics, John Wall and the Washington Wizards who can challenge the Cavaliers, the emergence of the Greek Freak and more. This season has been fascinating, and fun to watch. Now, someone could argue that we already know what is going to happen, and the Warriors will be champions for the second time in three years. The Warriors are now unstoppable and are playing excellent basketball on both sides of the floor. LeBron James however and the Cleveland Cavaliers are also playing great basketball in the Eastern Conference and have swept their opponents as well, so this is going to be an epic third round in the Finals with two teams going at it. The Cavaliers, in fact, don't have the point differential the Warriors have but are shooting the basketball at 49% which is amazing, even better than the Warriors.

Kevin Durant's injury in the season affected the regular season of being more interesting and having more close games, even though the Warriors did more than fine without him and had an outstanding record. Last year they had a record breaking 73-9 in the regular season but lost the title, this year they had 67 wins for the third straight year, but will they become champions in June? The Warriors look better than last year, and with the addition of Kevin Durant, they are more capable of becoming the next champions in the NBA.

Finally, each person has their opinion on this topic and views it differently. Mine is that if the Warriors struggle, the Spurs or the Rockets challenge them to six or seven games, and we see an epic Final series against the Cavaliers, Kevin Durant did not ruin the season because the other teams are good as well. If however, they sweep the Spurs or the Rockets and the Cavaliers or whoever comes out of the East does not even challenge them, then yes he ruined the season, because the competition is lost. But at this precise moment, Kevin Durant did not ruin the NBA 2016-2017 season. It will be something that will keep as busy in the future and the next years where the Warriors could be even better, but for now, I don't think we have seen a bad NBA season with no competition, and no fun.


Highlights Game 4: 

credit: Ximo Pierto

Is John Wall the second best player in the Eastern Conference?

What a performance by the Washington Wizards and John Wall in game 4 of the second-round series against the Boston Celtics. In the first half the Celtics were up for the most of it, and at some point even led the game by 12. John Wall was struggling, he could not make shots, he had a couple of turnovers early on, and the Wizards were also struggling. However in the third quarter, the unstoppable John Wall showed up, and the team followed, going on to a 26-0 run! John Wall was assisting, scoring layups, making a couple of threes, being aggressive, going to the free throw line and helping his team come back and destroy the Celtics in the third and fourth quarter. But is he the second best player in the Eastern Conference behind LeBron James?

Credit: NBA Facebook

The answer is yes. John Wall at this particular moment is the second best player in the East. In the playoffs, he led fourth-seeded Wizards over the Hawks in six games, while now after being down 2-0, he has led his team to two straight blowout victories over the Celtics and tied the series in two games. Just like LeBron James he makes his teammates better. By assisting, going to the paint, coast to coast with his unbelievable speed with the ball, scoring mid-range jumpers, and hustling on the defensive side of the floor he is helping his team become successful this season. Kyrie Irving, Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan, Jimmy Buttler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Isaiah Thomas, Paul George are all up there, but they don't make everyone around them better like John Wall makes his teammates. In the regular season, he finished with 23.1 PPG and 10.7 APG while in the playoffs he has improved his game, become more aggressive, attacking and he is averaging 28.8 PPG and 11.1 APG on 47.7% shooting from the field. In his 6th years, he wants to let the world to know that he belongs in the conversation of the best point guard in the league, and could be in the top 3. In these ten playoff games in the 2017 playoffs, he has shown a matured player, who knows what to do, when to do it, and how to do it right. The Wizards have a legit chance of advancing to the Conference Finals to challenge the Cavaliers for a place in the Finals.

Game 4

The most important part of his game that makes him that good is the following. When he does not play well, turn the ball over, shots are not falling, cannot finish around the basket, his team is also struggling. But when he plays well, his team is also playing well. The action/reaction effect. This is what makes him so good. Now, you could make a case for a lot of other players that are up there and can challenge John Wall for that second spot, but in my opinion John Wall in these playoffs and particularly these four games against a great Boston Celtics team is showing why he is one of the top point guards in the league and the second best player in the East.

Finally, if the Wizards, advance I believe, have more belief in themselves that they can challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers for a place in the Finals and this is all starting from John Wall, a player who has turned things for his team, and himself all the way around. This is also something I don't see as much in the Boston Celtics, while the Wizards with John Wall as the leader can challenge the Cavs and take them to six or seven games.

Highlights - Game 4:

Credit: NBA Conference

Bold predictions for tonight's three games.

In the 'daily predictions' page, you can search for our daily predictions on the NBA schedule: http://morningnba.blogspot.co.uk/p/daily-predictions.html. In yesterday's pick, we chose the Jazz vs. Warriors game to score under 209.5 points, and we were right as they only scored 193 points together. However, today's picks are a lot more and a lot harder because we have three crucial games ahead of us.

The Cleveland Cavaliers want to end their series tonight and get one good week of resting, while the Toronto Raptors want to challenge for a game the Cavaliers and make a statement to the world that they believe they can take one game away from the defending champs. We will not pick the winner of this game, even though the Cavaliers will probably advance the Conference Finals in just four games and have a good solid week of resting, and watching tape, so we will pick the 'over 209.5 points in the game'. A pick which we have been picking throughout this series, and so far have a 2/3 record.

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronto Raptors = Over 209.5 points

Game 3

The two biggest games of the day and the weekend include the Celtics going up against the Wizards in game 4, and the Spurs against the Rockets. In the Boston vs. Washington game, the Wizards want to tie the series at two games a piece and go back to Boston for a crucial game 5. John Wall and Bradley Beal will be without Kelly Oubre who got a one-game suspension, and it will be another type of motivation for the rest of the team, which they will get done, and they will tie the series tonight. So, our second pick is the Washington Wizards to win the game. John Wall has been the facilitator throughout this series, and these playoffs as well, he will continue tonight and get over 10.5 assists in the game, as another 'bold' prediction. He will attack early, get his teammates open, Marcin Gortat has to have a good game offensively, has to put the pressure on Horford, while Beal has to knock down some difficult guarded shots, which he is capable of making.

Boston Celtics @ Washington Wizards = Washington Wizards 

Game 3

John Wall over/under 10.5 assists = Over 10.5 assists

Finally, our last game in Texas and Houston going up at the Toyota Center, on their home court against the Spurs, in a crucial game 4 for them. They lost the first game at home; they cannot lose this game. Harden was attacking the paint in game 3 scored 43 points, but besides Capela, he did not have anyone else helping him offensively. Gordon has to make shots in game 4, Lou Williams has to find his rhythm, and the rest of the team has to provide some solid minutes off the bench for coach D'Antoni. It is a do or die game for the Rockets, because if they lose they will have to comeback from a 3-1 deficit, going back to San Antonio for game 5. Thus, we believe the Rockets like the Wizards tie the game up at two games a piece and put the pressure on the Spurs for game five back in San Antonio.

San Antonio Spurs @ Houston Rockets = Houston Rockets  

Are the Cavaliers the best team in the 2017 playoffs?

The Cavaliers, with LeBron James as the leader of this team, the guy who does it all, have been if not the best, the second best team in the 2017 playoffs. Particularly in the three games against a better team (than the Pacers), in the Toronto Raptors, they have elevated their game to the next level. They want the sweep, they want this rest, and they will possibly get it. Lebron James in the playoffs has been phenomenal, in the perfect time of the year, and is averaging, 34 points, 9 rebound and 7.3 assists. This stat line in the seven games he has already played in the playoffs shows Lebron's greatness. An all time great stat line, over the course of seven games, going 7-0. He shows everyone why he still is the greatest player in the world. However, the opponents the Cavaliers had to face so far cannot even compare to the Cavaliers, do not believe they can even challenge the Cavs in a game. The Golden State Warriors on the other hand who are 6-0, faced a good team in the Trail Blazers, in the first round eliminating them in four games, and are now being challenged by one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Utah Jazz, and are up 2-0. So, if I had to choose between the Warriors and the Cavs on which team has been the best, I would pick the Warriors slightly over the Cavaliers. Despite the Warriors playing one fewer game (tonight will be a TEST for the Warriors), because of the tougher teams they are playing, and the way they are winning these basketball games.

34/9/7 Lebron's stats in the playoffs

If tonight the Warriors loose then the Cavaliers will be considered as the best team in the 2017 playoffs, and that is just and only due to their postseason record of 7-0. However, there is a big but, in the four games against the mediocre Pacers, the Cavaliers had to rally back, down 25 points, needing a super human performance from Lebron, and 'stealing' game 3 on the road. Despite this win, all four wins against the Pacers had been decided by less than 10 points, which shows that the Cavaliers were not ready, and with a tougher opponent, they could have lost one, maybe two games. Defensively the Cavs, against the Pacers were vulnerable. Paul George had no help whatsoever, but he challenged the Cavaliers in all four games. So in the first round, the Cavaliers were lucky that game tying and winning shots were not falling for the Pacers, while they were also lucky for not facing the Bulls in the first round, who beat the Celtics in the first two games. It would have been another story. Now, I'm not taking anything away from Lebron and the Cavaliers, as in the second round against a great regular season team in the Raptors, they have destroyed them on the offensive and defensive side of the floor. Lebron is making three's; Kyrie Irving is orchestrating the offense, Kevin Love is grabbing rebounds, and scoring tough points inside the paint, etc. Last night, the Cavaliers made a statement to the rest of the league, especially the Eastern Conference, that no one can actually challenge them as they beat the Raptors by 21 points in Toronto, in a much-needed victory for the Raptors.

116 points per game - Offense
100 points per game - Defense

On the other hand, the Warriors are playing unstoppable basketball right now, even though they are not with their coach Steve Kerr who might not return for the 2017 playoffs, with back problems. They are playing great basketball on both sides of the floor, scoring a playoff best 116.5 points per game, while only allowing 100.7 points per game from the other teams. They eliminated Portland easily in four games, without having to face any challenge, as 10 or more points decided all four games, and they are now leading the fifth-seeded Utah Jazz, who have been really great all season long, especially on the defensive part. Tonight's game will answer the question itself. If the Warriors win, they are at the moment considered the best team in the league, due to their performances, to go along with the teams they are facing. If they loose then, the discussion will change hands, as the Warriors will be 6-1, while the Cavs will be 7-0, even though they are facing weaker teams.

To conclude, both teams are showing their capabilities, but also are showing the rest of the league, the rest of the teams that they are ready for round 3 in the finals against each other.

Is the Celtics vs. Wizards an actual rivalry?

Series 2-1 
Game 3 Score: 89-116

We've been discussing the Wizards and the Celtics in some of our previous articles as well, including a recap of the unbelievable game 2 overtime victory for the Boston Celtics, the player performances of Wall and Thomas, as well as previewing this series before game 1, stating that it most likely will reach six or seven games. However, yesterday's game was a different type of ball game than the other two games played in Boston. The Wizards as they have done in all three games this series came out straight balling, shooting the lights out and causing some problems for the Boston defense early on. The 22-0 run is what made them in an excellent position, being at home to remain this lead and come out on top. That is what they did, the retained the lead throughout the game, with the Celtics trailing at the half, at the end of the third quarter, but also the end of the game, winning the third game of this second-round series easily. So much passion, intensity, fights, the competition was in the game, despite the Celtics not showing up in Washington and the Verizon Center to challenge the Wizards or going for the 'break' that would put them up 3-0. However, the question is if this is starting to become a real rivalry. The short term answer is YES. The article furthermore, will explain and discuss why this is becoming a rivalry in just only three games, as well as why this is good for the NBA and it was something the NBA was missing.

Credit: NBA Facebook

In yesterday's heated game, eight technical fouls were given, to go along with three ejections, fights on and off the court and fearless competitors going at it. It was one passionate game, that even though was over from the beginning, the tensions did not stop until the end of the game. In only three games, we have already seen enough to actually call this a new rivalry in the NBA. The regular season games were split going 2-2, while we had some technical fouls, ejections and unstoppable superhuman performances from John Wall, Bradley Beal and Isaiah Thomas. So before even the series started, as predicted in our preview article (http://morningnba.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/celtics-1-vs-wizards-4-preview.html), we predicted that it would be a heated series with many technical fouls, fights, possible ejections and unbelievable performances, that most likely would go to six or seven games.

In the three games we have already watched, we have seen an incredible comeback by the Celtics in game one where Isaiah scored 33 points and had 9 assists willing the Celtics to victory, while Markieff Morris got injured, landing on top of Horford's foot. While in game two the unreal matchup of Wall and Thomas going at it, Thomas scoring 53 points to secure an overtime comeback victory and a 2-0 lead, and Morris asking Horford if he meant to 'injure' him, and intention flowing in the air. Bodies were hitting the deck, including Wall's couple of ugly falls, Thomas hitting the deck hard, but also Olynyk and Smart, and overall were two crazy games, with an amazing playoff atmosphere. Going to game three, where the Wizards held on to their unstoppable first quarter lead and beat the Celtics easily with an 89-116 final score. Eight technical fouls, three ejections and many bodies hitting the deck was the story of this game that finally went to the Wizards. So, one can understand how throughout this three playoff games, to go along with the four regular season games, starting in November those teams do not like each other. There is a 'deeper' meaning in that, meaning that they will do all that it takes to make their team advance to the Conference Finals to face on Lebron James and the Cavaliers.

Game 3

Why are we stating it is a rivalry? Well for all of the reasons above, for the reason that both teams are playing their hearts out and want a shot, an opportunity at the Cavaliers, for the numbers stated above with the technical fouls and the ejections, and the way the players talk in the press conferences about each other. Isaiah Thomas said it perfect: 'These two teams don't like each other. We don't like them; they don't like us.' This, coming from Isaiah's post-game interview shows how he believes that this could be viewed as a rival in today's NBA. Wall also addressed it, laughed, and cursed, showing and proving us right. And this is something that is good for the NBA and was missing from the NBA. It reminds people of the rivalries back int the 80s and the 90s with the 'Bad Boys', the Bulls vs. Pistons rivalry, the Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry as well as the Clippers vs. Warriors rivalry in 2013-2015. Passion, intensity, belief, some bad refereeing decisions, technical fouls, some fighting in the court, did not hurt anybody, and certainly, the fans love it more. It is only game three of the second round series between the Celtics and the Wizards, and they already seem like real rivals. We were most excited for this series, as our preview states, and we certainly do believe that it will be decided in six or seven games. Take a seat and enjoy the rest of this passionate series, that might 'change' the NBA in the near future, to a small extent.


Highlights --->

Credit: NBA Conference (YouTube Channel)

Which team will advance to the Western Conference Finals? Spurs or Rockets?

Series tied 1-1

A great overall performance by the San Antonio Spurs in yesterday's game gave them the second game of the series and tied the series in one game a piece going into Houston and the Toyota Center. Leonard had an overall fantastic game, willing the Spurs to victory, with 34 points to go along with 7 rebounds and a playoff career-high 8 assists, as well as 3 steals. One of the best all-around players in the NBA, possibly the best, had himself a game last night in what could have been a very crucial and perhaps season-ending loss for the Spurs; had they lost game 2 at home. However, the question is the following: Which team will advance to the Conference Finals to most likely take on the Warriors, who at the moment seem unstoppable? In my opinion, the answer is the Spurs.

Credit: NBA Facebook

An exceptional coached Spurs team, who has been in championship contention for more than 15 years, and have won five championships, has to face another obstacle in the Houston Rockets. Leonard is turning into a superstar, a clutch player, the greatest wing defender in the world, and has the ability to also score, rebound and assist the basketball. One in a million. However, the only problem with the Spurs is that despite having the experience, the superstar player, and the greatest coach in basketball in Greg Popovich, they are getting old. Tony Parker's knee injury last night seems to be serious and he could miss the series, possibly the rest of the playoffs, while Gasol cannot play defense and sometimes is too slow, and tired to go up the court. As well as Lamarcus Aldrige who can at times be amazing on the offensive side of the floor but terrible on the defensive side of the floor. Leonard lacks help, but in the last years we have seen the Spurs win series against tough teams, challenging the Warriors and being the biggest threat there is in the Western Conference. Leonard, as previously stated in some games lacks help, being the biggest issue of this Spurs team. Nevertheless, as we saw yesterday Lamarcus Aldridge can be good offensively (15pts), Gasol can get you 10-15 rebounds a game, while Parker can still play an effective game and facilitate the offense (18 pts). They have the depth that's needed to go far in the playoffs, with Patty Mills, Jonathon Simmons and David Lee, coming off the bench and in my opinion, they can get a game in the Toyota Center and win the series in six or seven games.

Game 2

On the other hand, the Rockets shot the lights out of game one on Monday, but they never showed up last night. This is the problem with this specific team, and teams who shot many threes. One day they can shoot the ball exceptionally well while spreading the floor with James Harden being the facilitator and the next game the shots are not falling. This is what happened yesterday the shots for the Rockets were not falling. They made 11/34 threes last night. Leonard locked up Harden on the offensive side of the floor, limiting him to only 13 points, and the Spurs beat the Rockets by 25 points, 96-121. In order for the Rockets to have a chance and advance to the Conference Finals to face off against the Warriors, they have to shoot effectively from the field and especially from their favorite spot on the court, the three point line, and make 16-21 threes per game. If they can do that against a great defensive team in the Spurs, they can beat them twice in Houston and then have the advantage and the 3-1 lead. James Harden has to start to attack the 'weak' San Antonio paint and get foul calls. In yesterday's game, he only had six free throws attempted. He has to double that, he has to shoot more and attack the paint. This is something, I'm sure we will see coming Friday, with Harden being locked in, zoned in and attacking the Spurs more, thus creating more shot opportunities for himself, but also for his teammates.

A big question mark for the rest of the series is Tony Parker and his knee injury. He played well last night, scored 18 points helped Leonard on the offensive part, and facilitated the offense in a way he can do and has done best for the last 15 years, but now with him being injured, Patty Mills and the other guys, coming off the bench will have to step up, and this will be a big test for Popovich. Can he get them to do something they don't normally do? Can he make them step up? These questions will be answered on Friday when the Spurs travel to Houston to take on the Rockets in game 3 of the second round matchup. A matchup, that after the Celtics vs Wizards series will be the most exciting to watch, with two teams battling and being tied 1-1 in their fight to advance to the Conference Finals.

My prediction: Spurs in six


Highlights -->

Credit: NBA Conference (YouTube Channel)