CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors guards James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Raptors 115-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Monday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks evened the series with the New York Knicks, 107-106; Tyrese Proctor and his Cleveland Cavaliers took down RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram, 115-105; while Minnesota came back from 19 down to beat Tyus Jones and the Denver Nuggets, 119-114.
Johnson scored 17 points and had 8 rebounds for Quin Snyder’s Hawks, who tied the series 1-1 with the win.
RJ Barrett had 22 points, shooting 10-13/0-1, while Ingram scored 17 on a poor 3-15/1-3 night from the floor. He’s hearing about it, especially since he complained after Game 1 that he didn’t get enough shots.
On the NBC broadcast, Noah Eagle mentioned the timeout and how it would shape the final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks-Hawks Game 2 battle Tuesday night.
Inside the NBC studios, Carmelo Anthony touched a monitor wondering why the Knicks had not used a supposed final timeout to set up a potential game-winning shot.
And the millions watching at home surely had similar thoughts after seeing Mikal Bridges clank a last-second jumper in the Hawks’ 107-106 upset road win rather than seeing a designed play out of a timeout.
The Knicks had a timeout, according to the NBC broadcast. @NBA_NewYork/X
Yet, all the focus on the timeout and Knicks fans’ consternation about Mike Brown seemingly pocketing it proved to be the unfortunate outcome from what would be called a “data issue” with NBC incorrectly adding a timeout the Knicks did not actually have before the rushed final play.
“We just want to say that the scoreboard showed a timeout that the Knicks did not have on the final play, but due to a data issue, the wrong timeout information was communicated, so that’s why you see a timeout on the score bug,” NBC’s Maria Taylor said during halftime of the Timberwolves’ 119-114 Game 2 road win over the Nuggets while the studio show recapped hectic final 5.6 seconds of the Knicks’ loss.
Whether the Knicks had a timeout for the final play Tuesday had a great effect on how they handled that last shot and NBC’s untimely error altered how viewers analyzed the chaos in real time.
Before CJ McCollum took the first of his two free throw shots with 5.6 seconds remaining and the Hawks leading, 107-106, the score bug showed the Knicks with no timeouts.
That meant the Knicks would have to attempt to score from either underneath their own basket or in transition off a miss.
The Knicks did not have a timeout right after McCollum missed his first free throw. @WorldWideWob/X
After McCollum missed the first free throw attempt, the Knicks suddenly had a timeout added to their tally.
Having a timeout would allow them to advance the ball and set up designed final shot out of an inbounds pass rather than a rushed play.
Eagle then noted how the presence of said timeout would affect the Knicks’ strategy.
“New York will take its timeout almost guaranteed here,” Eagle said.
McCollum missed the second and Josh Hart grabbed the rebound, yet, to the surprise of those following the score bug, he pushed ahead and passed to Bridges, who settled for a long jumper.
A contested long two-pointer is not an ideal shot, especially if one is under the impression that the Knicks had a timeout to burn.
Anthony, the Knicks legend, said that his initial frustration with the outcome in part stemmed from believing Brown had let them go.
“Well, I was touching and screaming because I was under the impression that there was a timeout, so thank you for correcting that,” Anthony said to Taylor.
Brown did not provide a concrete answer when asked if he would used a timeout had the Knicks possessed one.
“I usually like to go, so they can’t put in their best defenders and all that other stuff,” Brown said. “Five to seven seconds is close. It would have been by gut feel. There is a chance I could have taken a timeout … and then there’s a chance I wouldn’t have. I thought it was a good shot.”
NBC’s data error doesn’t completely absolve Brown, though.
He did not use the timeout the team needed to burn before the three-minute mark before losing it due to the NBA’s two-timeout maximum rule in the final 180 seconds, and then oddly used a timeout with 2:43 remaining when it seemed Jalen Brunson had a chance to score with the Knicks leading, 100-99.
Brown used his final timeout with 10.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks trailing, 107-103.
“A couple of possessions weren’t fluid,” Brown said of the timeout with 2:43 remaining. “So I wanted to make sure that we had something we wanted to get to, or to set something up offensively, because we had whiffed on the last couple possessions. It just didn’t look right, it didn’t feel right.”
The Los Angeles Lakers started the 2026 NBA Playoffs on a strong note with a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday, thanks in large part to a 19-point, 13-assist, eight-assist effort from LeBron James and a 27-point spark from Luke Kennard.
It was exactly the kind of game that the Lakers needed to play, and it's one that they'll have to continue to replicate in the first round without the presence of Luka Doncic.
Doncic has been out since April 2 with a grade 2 left hamstring strain, sustaining the injury late in the Lakers' blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. After undergoing an MRI, Doncic was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Before going down, Doncic was playing some of the best basketball of his career, leading the league with 33.5 points per game while averaging 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game. Despite finishing outside of the top three in NBA MVP voting, Doncic is still in line to receive All-NBA honors.
Doncic returned to the team on Friday ahead of Game 1 after undergoing an injection procedure in his left hamstring in an attempt to accelerate his return from the usual 4-6 timeline, but as of Tuesday morning, an update on Doncic's status remains to be seen.
“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick told reporters last week, referring to both Doncic and Austin Reaves. “I’m not going to have an update for you this week. They're out indefinitely.”
As of Tuesday, it looks like the most likely scenario is that Doncic will not return to the floor until at least the second round if the Lakers advance.
Luka Doncic injury update
Doncic is listed as out for Game 2 (hamstring) in the NBA injury report as of 6 p.m. PT on Monday. Redick addressed the injury earlier in the week but did not give too much information, merely stating Doncic and Reaves (oblique) are "out indefinitely."
"I’m not going to have an update for you this week," Redick said.
The Rockets failed to secure the win despite Los Angeles missing both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who remain out with hamstring and oblique injuries, respectively.
Clearly, the Rockets need Durant to return sooner than later. However, his return date may not come tonight for the team's second road game of the series Tuesday, April 21. He was still listed as questionable on injury reports Monday night with a right knee contusion.
Here's the latest on Kevin Durant's injury and when the 16-time All-Star might return:
Kevin Durant latest injury updates
The New York Times reports that Rockets' coach Ime Udoka believes Kevin Durant will be a game-time decision for Game 2 in Los Angeles.
Reports also indicate that Durant has been seen on the court during practice going through drills and moving "fairly well."
What is wrong with Durant?
Udoka noted that Durant's issue is not one of pain, but of mobility.
"Mobility probably [is most important], Udoka said Monday, April 20. "The pain tolerance is one thing, but actually moving and feeling comfortable doing all the movements is going to be the biggest thing."
Udoka also noted that the Rockets needed to play with more urgency, something that Durant's presence would certainly help with. He said, "We did a lot of things well. We won a lot of areas. But our efficiency and, I think, our shot creation and our shot quality can be a lot better."
When do Rockets play Lakers next?
Game 2 of the first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers is Tuesday, April 21 in Los Angeles. The game is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local) and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Jordan Ott of the Phoenix Suns watches the action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game 1 has come and Game 1 has gone. To no one’s surprise, the defending champion, 64-win Oklahoma City Thunder crushed a Phoenix Suns team that limped to the finish line.
There isn’t much that went right for Phoenix. The game was already firmly in the hands of OKC by the halfway point of the first quarter. Shortly after that, the Thunder finished off a 17-2 run. The Suns would end up losing 119-85 and never really put up much of a fight.
So, what specifically went wrong for Phoenix in Game 1?
We could mention Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, ostensibly the Suns’ second and third best players, combining for 12-38 from the field. We could talk about the Thunder outscoring the Suns 34-2 off turnovers. We could talk about the Suns losing a rebounding battle once again. But John Voita already covered all of those points in Sunday’s game recap.
What went wrong for Phoenix in game 1 of the first round is the same thing that is going to go wrong in game 2. It is the same thing that went wrong against Portland in the Play-In Tournament. And it is the biggest problem the Suns have been trying to overcome all season long.
What went wrong didn’t happen on the court, but in the front office. The Suns’ biggest problem is roster construction and positional balance.
Playing the Thunder is always frustrating. OKC gets whistles that nobody else could dream of. Shai’s foul-baiting antics make prime James Harden look like a rookie. Unfortunately, Shai’s shot-making is the only skill more profound than his foul-baiting.
Whenever Shai is on the court, you feel his presence. All ten guys on the court shift their attention towards him when he has the ball. He has gravity that forces both teams to revolve around him, and no team can make up for it by targeting him on the other end. He is the reigning MVP for a reason. He is a superstar.
Devin Booker is not. He is a star, yes, but not a superstar. Book had a good game on Sunday. He poured in an efficient 23 points and 6 rebounds. But every time he scored, I thought, “Oh, Devin Booker is on the court.” It felt like he was an invisible man, reappearing here and there. He picked his shots well and was definitely a net positive for the team despite having the second-lowest +/- for the Suns.
I didn’t always see Devin Booker as a phantom, catching glimpses of him when he decided to show up. From the bubble season all the way until Chris Paul was traded away, I felt like Booker was an impact player.
Why could that be? At this point, everyone should know that Devin Booker is better when he plays next to a competent, playmaking point guard. With Ricky Rubio or Chris Paul, Devin Booker could compete with any star in the league. For most of his career, however, Booker has not had the luxury of playing next to a solid facilitator.
If Brian Gregory and Mat Ishbia are serious about continuing to compete in the Devin Booker era, the reality is that Jalen Green, Collin Gillespie, Grayson Allen, and Jamaree Bouyea are the wrong kinds of backcourt partners for Book.
All four of those guys bring something different, and three of the four are starting-caliber players in the NBA. But none of them are floor generals. They all fit into the category of secondary playmakers. Unfortunately, I think it’s time for us to admit that Devin Booker does as well. Booker is, in fact, such an elite secondary playmaker that many of us have been convinced for years that he is capable of being a primary playmaker.
What this roster does have going for it are its wings. In fact, this is going too well. Booker, Green, Brooks, Allen, and O’Neale have gotten the lion’s share of the minutes on the wing this year. While that is a respectable quintet, its presence is leaving massive holes at the forward positions. If you have a backcourt of Booker and Green with Brooks at the small forward position, who is playing the power forward? Recently, it’s been all 6 feet and 3 inches of Jordan Goodwin.
This team has the wrong point guards, too many shooting guards and small forwards, and no starting caliber power forward.
Why does all of this matter? Why am I diving into the roster construction in an April article about game 1 of the playoffs?
Because the Phoenix Suns players and Jordan Ott have been set up to fail.
The Suns have had a fun season, and they have exceeded expectations. But regardless of what Mat Ishbia and the rest of the front office want to call it, this was the first season of a rebuild. It might not be a rebuild in the same way the Utah Jazz are rebuilding, but a rebuild it is nonetheless.
That means that the roster is just kind of awkward right now. Jalen Green might be the best young player the Suns could get for Kevin Durant last offseason. Does that mean that Jalen Green is going to be on the Suns for the next decade? No, it does not. Brian Gregory may already have plans to break up Phoenix’s shooting guard logjam.
But by refusing to call it a rebuild, the Suns have placed low-level playoff expectations on a team that was never supposed to be here. Once again, awkward.
That should be remembered when evaluating the talent both on the court and standing on the sideline. Jordan Ott is already a top-two coach in the Devin Booker era, yet the last few weeks of the season and the postseason thus far have left many fans unhappy with Ott’s performance. The context of what he has had to work with this season should be remembered in the upcoming offseason coaching discourse.
But, for now, the Suns and their imbalanced roster are having to face down one of the most harmonious and well-constructed teams in recent NBA history. Game 2 may go down just like Game 1 did. That doesn’t mean there aren’t lessons to be learned and experience to be gained to prepare for next year, when the roster will hopefully fit together a lot better than it has this season.
NEW YORK — So, who’s to blame for the fourth-quarter collapse of New York Knicks?
The Atlanta Hawks rallied from a 12-point deficit to start the period and stunned New York, 107-106, evening the first-round playoff series at one game apiece Monday, April 20. It tied for the worst blown fourth-quarter lead in Knicks playoff history. The other game was the infamous Reggie Miller "choke" game in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals.
Is it OG Anunoby, who, with a chance at the line to take a one-point lead with 1:54 to play, missed both free throws?
Is it Karl-Anthony Towns, who didn’t record a single point, rebound, assist, steal or block in nearly eight fourth-quarter minutes?
Is it Jalen Brunson, who got cooked on defense down the stretch (twice) by CJ McCollum and whose shot selection in the fourth felt forced, if not potentially self-serving?
Or is it coach Mike Brown, who oversaw it all?
The reality, frankly, is that it’s some combination of all of the above. Losses like these are rarely the fault of a single person, but of an overall breakdown that’s gradual, at first, before it becomes sudden.
"In that fourth quarter, too, you could tell that they were playing with a level of desperation," Brown told reporters after the game. "There were four 50-50 balls, and they got three of the four. We always use that stat to gauge the level of aggression. And in the fourth quarter, their aggression stepped up."
But – fairly or unfairly – the blame for losses like this almost always fall on the head coach. In this case, there’s plenty to back it up.
The Knicks were outscored 28-15 in the fourth, at one point allowing an 11-0 run that finally ended with 1:21 left in the game. New York shot just 22.7% in the period and converted just five field goals, compared with Atlanta’s figures in the period: 72.2% and 13, respectively.
The curious thing about the fourth was that Brown seemingly didn’t reward Towns for a big third quarter.
In the third, Towns dropped 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and was active on the offensive glass, getting easier second-chance points. He relied on his range to hit two massive trail 3s. Yet, in the fourth, Towns was not a principal part of New York’s offensive sets or actions, and he recorded just two shot attempts.
The offense, instead, ran through Brunson, which, on one hand, makes sense. Brunson is the team’s best offensive player and elite closer. But the Hawks threw double-teams and traps at Brunson in the quarter, making his touches and shots far more contested.
New York could’ve adjusted to use Brunson almost as a decoy in pick-and-rolls, creating open space and looks for other players, especially Towns.
Granted, Towns also could’ve remained active on the glass to earn some of those offensive touches, but it’s difficult for a player to assert himself when he’s not a key piece in an action.
Another curious thing was that Brown, at one stretch (from 1:50 left in the third, through 7:56 left in the fourth) had both Brunson and Towns getting breathers on the bench. Teams often stagger their rotations so at least one of their primary scorers is on the floor at all times.
In that span, the Knicks lead went from 12 to nine, but it signaled a change in the game for Atlanta, which built momentum from that point.
"I don’t think (the game got away)," Brown said. "We’ve played that lineup quite a bit since the end of the season, and that lineup has been pretty good. We weren’t good tonight, and we turned the ball over a few too many times during that period.
"But we had opportunities where our starters were in and we were up eight to 10, and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t say that specific lineup caused it."
He’s not wrong, but it’s the job of the coach to understand that a team’s drive or focus or determination has been compromised, especially late in games. It’s also the coach’s job to motivate and guide his team to correct that.
The Knicks became far too passive. They didn’t match Atlanta’s pace and intention, and Brown’s tactics seemingly never addressed that.
So, now, the Knicks may have just given a young team a ton of confidence.
"This is a game we should’ve won," forward Josh Hart told reporters after the game, "and in the playoffs you can’t give away games."
There’s a strange tension hovering over the first-round playoff series between the Rockets and Lakers.
Like a night sky devoid of stars, you know some sort of storm is coming, you just don’t know when it will hit.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball while defended by Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets during the game on March 16, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and now Rockets’ superstar Kevin Durant were all out for Game 1 on Saturday, but it feels inevitable that one, two, or all three return at some point in the series.
Houston was supposed to walk into this first-round matchup and impose their will. They entered the series as heavy favorites. They had the health advantage, the deeper roster, and the defensive prowess to dispatch of the Lakers easily. Some analysts even predicted a sweep.
On paper, it wasn’t a fair fight.
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And then, about an hour before tipoff, everything flipped.
Durant — arguably the one player Houston couldn’t afford to lose — was ruled out of Game 1 with a knee injury.
Initially it sounded minor.
According to ESPN Insider Shams Charania, Durant has been diagnosed with a deep bruise in his right patellar tendon and his status for Game 2 on Tuesday is “up in the air.”
Durant — arguably the one player Houston couldn’t afford to lose — was ruled out of Game 1 with a knee injury. NBAE via Getty Images
Without Durant in the lineup in Game 1 the Rockets looked lost. Despite winning the battles regarding rebounds, turnovers, and possessions, they still came up short, 107-98.
“There’s a lot that you have to do with Kevin [Durant] and you just kind of scrap that and you move on to other stuff we’ve worked on,” said Lakers’ head coach J.J. Redick of adjusting their game plan on the fly with Durant out in Game 1. “I thought our guys responded well and met the moment.”
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant shoots a basketball during a timeout. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
When Durant returns to the court, he will be a game-changer for the series.
He’s averaging 26 points per game this season and shoots 52% from the field and nearly 42% from three. Those two things alone are enough for Rockets’ fans to get excited about.
Game 1 exposed Houston’s biggest flaw without him: they don’t have a natural release valve. Shot-making dried up. The offense stalled. The Rockets shot 37% from the field and just 33% from three. That’s not just cold, that’s shivering.
Durant fixes that immediately.
Not just with his own scoring, but with the quality of shots he will provide to everyone else.
That means Reed Sheppard spotting up for three. Amen Thompson cutting into open space. Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason will also benefit from Durant’s return with wide-open looks. That’s not theoretical, it’s the natural byproduct of the attention Durant draws from opposing defenses, like a magnet attracting metal.
Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 18, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) NBAE via Getty Images
In their two back-to-back meetings in mid-March, the Lakers already revealed their defensive gameplan against Durant.
In the first game, they blitzed him relentlessly in the second half. The moment he crossed half court, they rushed two defenders at him like a trap snapping shut. It worked in that game, Durant was held scoreless until the waning seconds, by which point the Lakers had turned a double-digit deficit into a 10-point advantage.
The Lakers tried it again in the first half two nights later and Durant adjusted.
He again only scored two points, but everyone around him benefited from open looks. Six players scored in double-figures including a team-high 27 from Thompson. If not for Doncic dropping 40, the Lakers would have lost.
Doncic and Reaves were both available in those two games, scoring a combined 105 points.
That luxury is gone and now Houston becomes dangerous.
If the Lakers try that same tactic again when Durant returns, they’re not solving a problem—they’re creating another one somewhere else. Durant won’t panic against the pressure. He’ll dissect it, make the right read, and find the open man.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers do a handshake during a time out in the second half of a game against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Getty Images
That’s why the Lakers’ Game 1 victory was not just a luxury, but a necessity.
Without Doncic and Reaves the Lakers are on borrowed time. Every game they steal buys them another couple days for their superstars to heal. If Durant is out again for Game 2, the Lakers can’t afford to lose that one either.
“Obviously getting the news that KD [Kevin Durant] was a late-scratch changed some of our situational things, but that team is still dangerous,” said LeBron James. “Even more dangerous with KD [Kevin Durant], obviously.”
Even if the Rockets go down 0-2, they don’t have to panic. They can afford to be patient.
Houston doesn’t need to rush Durant back recklessly, not with Doncic and Reaves still “out indefinitely.” If there’s any weakness in Durant’s knee that limits him or puts him at risk of further injury, then missing one more game might be the smarter long play.
Because once Durant is back, the series changes shape.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 14: Victor Wembanyama #1 of Team World smiles during the NBA All Star Media Day as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On Monday evening, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year was announced, the first of many NBA honors beiong revealed this week. Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is the first unanimous recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award. He is also the youngest.
This is his third NBA season and his third season to be the blocks leader.
Wemby was sitting with his mother as well as members of the Spurs coaching staff when Maria Taylor, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, and Carmelo Anthony of Peacock notifies the Spurs superstar of his first major career award.
Wembanyama continue to show poise and grace as he expressed how the award reaches beyond one man.
At each point in his career, Wemby has been thoughtful in his answers and careful to share credit with those that are involved with his day to day training and health.
His gratitude was so moving that Carmelo commented how his upbringing has taught him well, crediting his parents, and specifically his dad, for how well Victor handles himself with the media.
The Peacock team was in San Antonio for a nationally televised San Antonio game and had an opportunity to meet Wemby’s parents.
The announcement for Clutch Player of the Year is next, followed by Sixth Man of the Year on Wednesday. The Sixth Man involves another member of the Spurs, Keldon Johnson.
Thursday reveals the NBA Sportsman Award, for which Harrison Barnes is a finalist.
Closing out the week on Friday is the NBA Most Improved Player.
Three Spurs could soon be hoisting individual honors.
Go Spurs Go!
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Billy Donovan is “stepping away” as head coach for the Chicago Bulls, the team announced Tuesday.
In a message posted by the team on Instagram, Donovan said the decision came “after a series of thoughtful and extensive discussions with ownership regarding the future of the organization” and “to allow the search process to unfold.”
“I believe it is in the best interest of the Bulls, to allow the new leader to build out the staff as they see fit. My gratitude for this community and this organization is permanent,” he said in a statement. “Thank you Jerry and Michael for giving me this opportunity and more importantly, for the relationship that has been forged. I was so blessed to be able to work with such great owners. I owe so much to my players and staff over the last six years. You all have worked side by side with me, day in and day out to drive the Bulls organization forward. And a huge thank you to Bulls fans, your energy, passion and unwavering support provided a home-court advantage that is generally unmatched around the league.“
Donovan marks the latest to leave the team after a front office shakeup earlier this month that saw executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley both fired.
“I want our fans to know that I hear you and understand the frustration,” Bulls CEO and president Michael Reinsdorf wrote after the earlier firings.
In his letter to fans, Reinsdorf said “these decisions are never easy, especially when they involve people we respect both personally and professionally,” but noted he hopes to build a team that can “ultimately contend for championships.”
It was for that reason, he said, the team and Donovan decided to part ways.
“While we clearly wanted Billy to return as our head coach, we had open dialogue about the importance of respecting the process of bringing in new Basketball Operations leadership,” Reinsdorf said. “Together, we mutually agreed that giving that person the freedom to shape the organization was the best approach for everyone involved. We are grateful for everything he has given to this team and wish Billy and his family all the best.”
Donovan has led the Bulls since 2020, going 226-256 over six seasons with one playoff appearance in 2022.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf called him “one of the finest people and coaches I have had the privilege of knowing and working with” and said the decision followed the earlier front office changes.
“He brought class and genuine care to this organization that made a real impact on people. We wanted Billy to continue as our head coach – that was never in question. But through honest conversations, we all agreed that giving our new Head of Basketball Operations the right to build out his staff was the most important thing for the future of this franchise,” he said. “That is the kind of person Billy is – he put the Bulls first. We are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this organization.”
Just eight players have guaranteed contracts for next season (Josh Giddey, Patrick Williams, Matas Buzelis, Rob Dillingham, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, Tre Jones and Noa Essengue), so it should be a busy offseason with new decision-makers in charge.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 24, 1981: Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics drives against Julius Erving #6 of the Philadelphia 76ers during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals at The Spectrum in April 24, 1981 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The answer is yes, he could still run the league, and for a few reasons.
First, Bird was, as Joe Dumar once said, a basketball savant. Do you think Charles Barkley could play today? Magic Johnson? Michael Jordan? Isaiah Thomas? James Worthy?
Of course they could – and they all said Bird was the one whom they feared most, who gave them sleepless nights.
The main criticism of Bird is that he was slow and couldn’t jump. Well, neither can Nikola Jokić or Luka Dončić, and both of those guys will be in the Hall of Fame, because they, like Bird, can force the game to adapt to them, rather than vice-versa.
If nothing else, Bird’s passing ability was off the charts, and his hand-eye coordination was superb. So was his ability to keep track of everything happening on the court: he didn’t have to see his teammates to know where they were.
What also really works in Bird’s favor is this: in his heyday, the NBA was far, far more physical than it is today. Go look at some Bill Laimbeer highlights.
The NBA in the 1980s could be brutal. Consider the courage Thomas had to go into the lane the way he did at his size, and consider also the Jordan Rules the Pistons had for #23. They all knew they were going to get a beating every game.
It’s not like that now. The game is far more open, and Bird would either drive, pass, or hit jumpers at will.
Finally, there are some other factors that would work in his favor. The first is personal. Bird’s desire to dominate would propel him in today’s game, too. His mindset is far different from anyone in today’s NBA. He would sneer at 90 percent of the players in the league now.
And second, the advances in training, nutrition, equipment, and medical care would have really helped him. Just for one thing, a back problem ended Bird’s career. The treatment options today are far better.
Note – for some reason, the embed doesn’t want to work, so please hit the link above.
While today's sports fans may not be able to imagine an American sports scene without basketball, more than 115 years passed between the signing of the "Declaration of Independence" and the first game of hoops in Springfield, Massachusetts.
James Naismith's invention began its spread across the nation in 1891. One year later, colleges began playing. The NBA was founded in 1949, and George Mikan quickly became the first professional basketball superstar. Now, as we near our nation's 250th birthday, we look back at the best U.S. athletes to play this uniquely American sport.
About USA TODAY's '250 for 250' series
Now through July 4, USA TODAY Sports is releasing our "250 for 250" list of America's top homegrown athletes of all time. Each week we'll bring you all-time standouts from across the sports world, and give readers a chance to vote on who should be featured.
Now, on to the list of our nation's top homegrown men's basketball players:
Michael Jordan, Laney High School (NC)
Jordan first became a national star when he hit the game-winning shot for North Carolina in the 1982 national championship game. He then took the NBA to new global heights as a six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls and member of the original Dream Team. Jordan won five NBA MVP awards and his "Air Jordan" shoe line and Jordan brand transformed Nike and the basketball apparel industry.
LeBron James, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School (OH)
James was a high school sensation who lived up to all the hype to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and the most influential player of his generation. The Akron, Ohio native has won four NBA titles with three different teams, three MVP awards and three Olympic gold medals. He ushered in the league's player empowerment era when he made "The Decision" to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in 2010 and became the first NBA player to earn more than $1 billion in salary during his active career.
Kobe Bryant, Lower Merion High School (PA)
The 5-time NBA champion spent his entire 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, initially starring alongside Shaquille O'Neal en route to three-straight titles (2000-02) under coach Phil Jackson. Bryant then won two more NBA championships without O'Neal and earned league MVP honors in 2008. He died tragically in a helicopter crash in Southern California in January 2020.
Stephen Curry, Charlotte Christian School (NC)
The greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history burst onto the scene as a March Madness star who led the country in scoring and set NCAA records for 3-point shooting at Davidson. Curry then led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA championships and his infectious style of play, with the ability to hit shots from anywhere inside the halfcourt line, helped change the way the game is played by relying on the 3-point shot to historic levels.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Power Memorial Academy (NY)
Abdul-Jabbar, under the name Lew Alcindor, led Power Memorial Academy to a national record 71-straight wins and won three-straight NCAA championships at UCLA (1967-69) while being named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in all three appearances. Abdul-Jabbar won an NBA record six MVP awards and six NBA titles with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers. The skyhook became his signature move.
Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, Everett High School (MI)
Johnson's rivalry with Larry Bird, beginning when Johnson won an NCAA championship with Michigan State over Bird's Indiana State team in 1979, jumpstarted the NBA's growth during the 1980s. Johnson won five NBA titles and three MVP awards, revolutionizing the point guard position and turning the "Showtime" Lakers into a national sensation with his combination of size, court vision and sublime passing skills.
Larry Bird, Springs Valley High School (IN)
Bird became a household name after leading Indiana State to the 1979 national championship game and began a career-long rivalry with Magic Johnson that helped define an entire generation of NBA basketball. "The Hick From French Lick" won three NBA championships and three-straight MVP awards (1984-86) with the Boston Celtics. He is also the only person in NBA history to be named rookie of the year, MVP, NBA Finals MVP, NBA All-Star Game MVP, coach of the Year, and executive of the Year.
Bill Russell, McClymonds High School (CA)
Russell led San Francisco to back-to-back NCAA titles (1955-56) and served as captain of the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team that won a gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Games before becoming the most important figure of the NBA's greatest dynasty. Russell won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics as a dominating defensive force, including eight titles in a row at one point. He also served as a player-coach for the Celtics later in his career, becoming the first Black coach in a major U.S. sport and the first to win an NBA championship in 1969.
Wilt Chamberlain, Overbrook High School (PA)
Chamberlain's prodigious ability on offense using his 7-foot-1 frame allowed him to lead the NBA in scoring, rebounding and assists at various points in his legendary career. He is the only player in NBA history to score 100 points in a game and the only player to average more than 30 points and 20 rebounds for a season. He won two NBA championships and four MVP awards, with his matchups against Bill Russell's Celtics turning into the league's biggest attraction for years.
Shaquille O'Neal, Cole High School (TX)
O'Neal's combination of size, power, footwork and personality made him a dominating figure on and off the court during his NBA career, initially when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in 1992 and later when he won NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. He is one of only three players in NBA history to win the regular-season MVP award, All-Star Game MVP award and NBA Finals MVP award in the same year (2000). He remains a ubiquitous presence with his role on "Inside the NBA" and a plethora of endorsement deals.
Tim Duncan, St. Dunstan's Episcopal High School (U.S. Virgin Islands)
Duncan won five NBA titles and three MVP awards over 19 years with the San Antonio Spurs, emerging as arguably the greatest power forward of all-time thanks to his remarkable consistency. He is the only player in NBA history to earn all-NBA and all-defense honors in each of his first 13 seasons.
Kevin Durant, Montrose Christian School (MD)
"The Slim Reaper" is viewed as one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, with four Olympic gold medals, two NBA championships, one NBA Finals MVP and a regular-season MVP to his credit. He remains one of the league's stars after finishing his 18th NBA regular season with the Houston Rockets this year.
Allen Iverson, Bethel High School (VA)
Iverson was one of the most influential players of his time because of his fearless athleticism as a 6-foot guard, his signature crossover move, his embrace of hip-hop culture and even his hairstyle (cornrows). Iverson was a four-time NBA scoring champion who won MVP in 2011 when he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals.
Oscar Robertson, Crispus Attucks High School (IN)
Robertson, or "The Big O," is one of the NBA's greatest point guards and the first player in league history to average a triple-double over an entire season. The 1964 MVP and 11-time all-NBA selection also forced the NBA to become the first major American professional sports league to establish free agency when he filed class-action antitrust lawsuit that led to the "Oscar Robertson Rule" in 1976.
Elgin Baylor, Spingarn High School (DC)
Little-recruited out of Washington, D.C. due to segregation laws, Baylor led Seattle University to the 1958 national championship game and became a significant NBA star over 14 years with the Lakers. Baylor earned first team all-NBA honors 10 times and is credited with bringing a more athletic and creative style to the game, using superior hang time and an array of mid-air moves to become one of the most emulated players of his generation.
Jerry West, East Bank High School (WV)
West led West Virginia to the 1959 national championship game and served as co-captain of the gold-medal winning 1960 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team. Nicknamed "The Logo" because his silhouette became part of the league's logo, he was named all-NBA in 12 of his 14 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and remains the only player to be voted NBA Finals MVP from the losing team. He also won six NBA championships as the Lakers' general manager and was twice named NBA executive of the year, with the Lakers (1995) and Memphis Grizzlies (2004).
Julius Erving, Roosevelt High School (NY)
Known as "Dr. J," Erving was the best player in the ABA when it merged with the NBA in 1976 and earned four MVP awards between the two leagues. He won two ABA titles with the Nets before winning an NBA championship in 1983 as part of the Philadelphia 76ers. Erving is also considered one of basketball's greatest dunkers, both in games and during Slam Dunk contests.
Moses Malone, Petersburg High School (VA)
Malone is one of the greatest rebounders of all-time who starred in the ABA and NBA over 21 seasons after becoming the first player in modern basketball to go directly from high school to the professional ranks. Malone was named NBA MVP three times and won an NBA title with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983.
Kevin Garnett, Farragut Career Academy (IL)/Mauldin High School (SC)
Garnett starred for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics, and "The Big Ticket" remains one of five players in league history to have been named the NBA's MVP award and its defensive player of the year at various points of his 21-year career. Garnett was a 15-time All-Star who won an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008.
Charles Barkley, Leeds High School (AL)
Barkley is arguably the NBA's best undersized power forward and the 1993 MVP winner remains one of the league's most influential voices through his role on "Inside the NBA." Barkley, a member of the original Dream Team, was a 10-time all-NBA selection during his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
Karl Malone, Summerfield High School (LA)
Malone, nicknamed the "Mailman," ranks third all-time on the NBA's scoring list and won two MVP awards teaming with point guard John Stockton on the Utah Jazz. He was a first team all-NBA selection for 11-straight seasons (1989-99).
David Robinson, Osbourn Park High School (VA)
Nicknamed "The Admiral" for his standout college career at Navy, in which he experienced a massive growth spurt, Robinson became a perennial NBA All-Star with the San Antonio Spurs upon fulfilling a two-year military commitment. He was the 1995 NBA MVP and won two NBA titles, while leading the league in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots at various points.
Isiah Thomas, St. Joseph High School (IL)
Thomas, one of the league's greatest point guards, was the leader of the 1981 Indiana men's basketball team that won a national championship and the "Bad Boy" Pistons teams that won NBA championships in 1988 and 1989. He ranked third in assists in NBA history when he retired.
John Havlicek, Bridgeport High School (OH)
Havlicek, known as "Hondo," won eight NBA championships with the Boston Celtics and retired in 1978 as the NBA's all-time leader in games played and third on the league's all-time scoring list.
George Mikan, Joliet Catholic (IL)
Mikan led the nation in scoring and won an NIT title at DePaul and then helped define the sport in its formative years because of his size. Mikan's dominance inside as a scorer, rebounder and shot blocker led to the creation of the goaltending rule and the "Mikan Rule" that widened the lane under the basket. He won seven NBA/NBL championships in an eight-year span (1947-54) with the Minneapolis Lakers. Mikan was one of the founders of the ABA and served as the league's first commissioner after his playing career.
Bob Cousy, Andrew Jackson High School (NY)
"The Houdini of the Hardwood" helped transform the point guard position for the modern era with his fast-paced dribbling and fantastic passing skills. He led the NBA in assists eight times, won six NBA championships and earned league MVP honors in 1957. Cousy also helped establish the NBA Players Association as the first trade union among the major U.S. professional sports leagues and served as its first president.
Pete Maravich, Daniel High School (SC)
"Pistol Pete" Maravich is the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history at LSU (1967-70) and averaged more than 44 points per game before the introduction of the 3-point line and shot clock. He was also a four-time all-NBA selection with the Atlanta Hawks and New Orleans/Utah Jazz.
Chris Paul, West Forsyth High School (NC)
Paul ranks second on the NBA's all-time assists lists after his 21st and final NBA season this year. The 6-foot point guard is an 11-time all-NBA selection and one of three players in league history to record 20,000 points, 10,000 assists and 2,000 steals for his career.
Meadowlark Lemon, Wiliston High School (NC)
Lemon had a legendary 24-year run with the Harlem Globetrotters thanks to halfcourt hook shots, dribbling tricks and charisma that earned him the "Clown Prince" nickname.
Dwyane Wade, Harold L. Richards High School (IL)
Wade won three NBA championships with the Miami Heat during a 16-year NBA career in which he became one of the sport's best shooting guards. He was named to eight all-NBA teams and 13 All-Star teams.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Donovan Mitchell #45 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers hugs after the game against the Toronto Raptors during round one Game two of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Cleveland is playing with a lot of physicality,” Rajaković said. “They’re very prideful of their physicality, and their whole team was very, very physical with Brandon.”
These comments were mostly directed at how the Cavs defended Ingram, but it also speaks to how this Cavaliers team has evolved on both ends of the floor.
Donovan Mitchell had one more thing to say to the media after his postgame press conference ended in the wake of his 30-point performance.
“As much as y’all talk about us three: me, him (James Harden), and Ev (Evan Mobley)… Dean Wade deserves a ton of credit for tonight,” Mitchell said. “I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just scoring. Y’all need to give him his credit. He’s playing at a high level right now for us.”
Playoff basketball often comes down to whether you can take away one of the things your opponent does best. The Cavs have made a concerted effort to make Ingram work — Toronto’s leading scorer — to impact the series with his jump shot. They’ve been physical with him at the point of attack, forcing him to work to get to his patented midrange jumper.
And the one making it difficult for Ingram was Wade, due to his strength advantage.
It’s hard to contest a tough shotmaker like Ingram. At 6’8”, he can usually rise above his defender in the midrange for a clean look. And even if the defender does get a contest, he’s skilled enough to make them anyway.
The best defense for someone like that doesn’t necessarily come from contesting the shot, but by making it challenging for him to get to his spots. This is what Wade did.
Wade was physical and aggressive in denying Ingram the ball wherever he was on the court. The play below is an example of that.
The Raptors had to run a screen for Ingram just to get him the ball. Even though Ingram gets a good look after the screen, the physicality from the denial, combined with the impending threat of Wade trailing the play without fouling, contributes to the missed shot.
Wade’s ability to stay connected with his combination of strength and footspeed means he doesn’t have to sell out to put a good contest on a shot, including one as difficult to do so on as a high-post fadeaway.
Even though Wade deserves a majority of the credit, he wasn’t the only one who was physical with Ingram. Both Harden and Sam Merrill also had instances of forcefully pushing Ingram off his spots when they were switched onto him. It was truly a team effort.
Ingram vowed after Game 1 that he needed to take more than just nine shots. He did so here, but wasn’t efficient, going 3-15 for just seven points.
Cleveland’s physicality on offense showed up in two main ways. First, the Cavs’ star guards weren’t able to be taken out of the game.
Both Harden and Mitchell did a good job of dealing with Toronto’s ball pressure and the extra contact the referees were allowing. They were still able to get to their spots and keep the offense on track. This has been an issue in the past, as Cleveland’s previously undersized guards were susceptible to double teams and pressure in the backcourt.
Second, Mobley punished mismatches. The Raptors played much smaller this game, opting to switch screens as much as possible. Mobley made them pay for doing so as he forcefully attacked his smaller defender whenever getting an opportunity to do so, even off of offensive rebounds. This led to a 25-point outing on 11-13 shooting.
That aggression was much needed on a night the Raptors decided to shift their strategy and play small. Toronto started 6’7” forward Collin Murray-Boyles at center in place of their usual big Jakob Poeltl, to open the second half. Afterward, Rajaković said he wanted to do this so that they could easily switch the pick-and-roll and shut that down.
To Toronto’s credit, the switch shut down the pick-and-roll. The issue is that it made them susceptible to drives to the basket.
The lack of rim protection more or less left every individual defender on an island. The defenders guarding Cleveland’s bigs weren’t in a position to really help off, given the size disadvantage they already had. This resulted in more lanes for Mitchell and Harden to get to the basket. They took full advantage of that as they combined for 58 points.
Jarrett Allen wasn’t able to make the most of Toronto playing small. They were able to hide RJ Barrett on him for long stretches without Allen becoming much of a factor as a scorer or as an offensive rebounder. This led to head coach Kenny Atkinson choosing to leave him out of the closing lineup.
The bench was an issue for the Cavs.
They only provided 19 points, with none of the five reserves tallying more than six. This gave way to the Raptors’ reserves outscoring Cleveland’s by 26.
Max Strus and Merrill seem locked into the rotation. The same might not be said for the other three bench players who received minutes.
Dennis Schroder once again couldn’t find his shot, as he went 1-5 from the field with five points.
There are concerns about Keon Ellis’s defensive impact on this team. He’s likely best used guarding ones and twos, but he won’t often have the luxury to do so given Cleveland’s backcourt. This leaves him defending some of Toronto’s bigger and stronger wings. He’s struggled in that setting, which makes it difficult for him to get minutes when he isn’t providing much offensively.
Jaylon Tyson had some good moments as he seemed to calm down after a difficult playoff debut on Saturday. He handled Toronto’s bigger wings well defensively, but hasn’t found a rhythm yet on the other end.
The Cavs’ offense will go as their core four takes it. That said, the others need to provide much more on that end than they are. The current scoring balance isn’t sustainable over what could be a long postseason run.
The chemistry between Mitchell and Harden looks like it’s been forged over multiple playoff runs. It hasn’t. This was the duo’s 24th game together. That speaks to how well their games fit and how much they’ve invested in making this work.
Harden admitted that because they haven’t had much time together, they needed to find other ways to get on the same page. “I think what speeds that process up is communication and talking,” Harden said.
That includes pointing out when you see something the other could’ve done better, as was the case on at least one occasion on Monday.
“We always communicate what we see,” Mitchell said. “He was telling me what he saw, even though I scored on that possession…there was an easier read that I didn’t see.”
The Cavs made a daring and aggressive move when they traded for Harden as late as they did in the year. Adding someone that important into the mix when they did doesn’t have much of a precedent for resulting in a title or overall playoff success. That just isn’t how basketball is typically played.
But if it ever were to work, it’d be in a setting like this. One that is open to listening to and implementing feedback. Right now, it seems like the Cavs’ top two stars are trying to approach this the right way.
“We’re behind,” Harden said. “I don’t even know how many games we’ve had together, so I think our communication during games, practice days is very, very important. That can get us over the hump. So anytime I gotta say something, or Don say something, we communicate it. We let it be known to the team just so we can all be on the same page.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets speaks with Alperen Sengun #28 following the game against the Detroit Pistons at Toyota Center on October 24, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The tale of the tape in the Houston Rockets’ opening round postseason matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers was one that hinged on health. Especially heading into the series.
The Los Angeles Lakers were seemingly at their weakest, as the team was forced to play without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves seemingly for the entirety of the matchup. Granted, the Rockets have also not been at full strength at any point of the regular season, having been without Fred VanVleet all season and Steven Adams for the last three months of the season.
Neither of those two are at the level of Doncic or Reaves on the star scale. Not even close.
The assumption was that the Rockets would easily take care of a ragtag bunch centered around 41-year-old LeBron James and role players. And right so.
They should’ve been able to. They should be able to. However, when Kevin Durant went down, the narrative shifted.
People began to give the Rockets sympathy since they were without Durant. Sure, Durant is a surefire All-NBA player this season who turned in one of the greatest individual scoring seasons in Rockets history, especially when factoring in efficiency (26 points on 52 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from deep, 87.4 percent from the foul line, 64.2 percent true shooting and 58.8 percent effective shooting).
But again, the Lakers were playing without their top two leading scorers, and the league’s leading scorer. The Rockets should be able to beat this iteration of the Lakers without Durant.
They tanked for three seasons and amassed four years of top-five draft picks. Alperen Sengun is a two-time All-Star.
And Amen Thompson is one of the best two-way players in the league. Jabari Smith Jr. was viewed as the best player in his draft class.
Two of the aforementioned three have landed pay days. And Houston boasts much more youth and athleticism than the Lakers.
The Rockets also have more of their key players than the Lakers. The Lakers are much more compromised than the Rockets, even without Durant.
So they shouldn’t get any sympathy for losing to this iteration of the Lakers. They got gashed by Luke Kennard, after all, who was the game’s leading scorer.
And nothing against Kennard, who is a very good shooter, but he shouldn’t be outplaying Sengun, Smith, Thompson or Reed Sheppard.
Which is why the Rockets can’t use the injury excuse, as it pertains to Durant. Well, they can, but they shouldn’t get sympathy.
Because the Lakers managed to win in spite of much more significant injury-related absences.
GAH! Where am I? Whose laptop is this? CelticsBlog? “Grant Burfeind, Staff Writer?” That can’t be right. The last thing I remember I was Googling whether my appendix would be compatible with Joel Embiid’s body and what his address is so I could mail it his way. Now…well, now I’m somewhere else entirely.
I catch a glimpse in the reflection of this laptop screen. Dear god, I’m gorgeous. But it’s not me. My stress lines are completely gone. That soreness in my lower back, no more. Whose body is this, and why does it feel completely devoid of the stress that I’ve been so used to carrying my entire life?
I think back to last night. After I gave up on removing my own appendix, I opened up Twitter for some therapeutic trolling of Celtics fans. The storm was angry last night…is it possible a bolt of lightning careened into my room, striking me at the same moment this “Grant Burfeind” person was reading my awesome burn? And somehow, we’ve Freaky Friday’d with one another?
I can’t believe it, but I also can’t deny it. I’m a Sixers fan, and I’ve ended up in a Celtics fan’s body.
I push back from the desk I’m sitting at and take stock of the room I’m in. Celtics paraphernalia adorn the walls. A 2024 NBA Champions replica banner. A poster of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown holding the Larry O’ Brien trophy and the Finals MVP trophy, respectively. I think I’m going to be sick. I need to get out of here.
I race out of the room, practically jump down the entire flight of stairs I find in front of me, and burst out the front door. It’s a beautiful day, and the charm of the apartment buildings to my left and right is undeniable. Across the street, a man in a #11 Celtics jersey and a devastating sunburn catches my gaze, looks up from his phone, and says, “Hell of a game last night! The Celtics are the balllllls! You think the Sixers even show up for Game 2?”
I ignore him, still not fully processing this new reality I’m in. A “ring, ring” snaps me out of my stupor. I step back as a young child on a green bicycle whizzes by, two shamrocks painted on either cheek. “Can’t wait for your next article, Grant! I’ve got an idea for you – should any future playoff matchup between the 76ers and Celtics count as an automatic win for Boston to spare the Sixers fans the grief? Could be good!”
She doesn’t wait for me to respond, and lets out another “ring, ring” as she pedals away.
I watch her disappear down the street, that stupid little bike rattling over the pavement. I’m still stuck where she left me, trying to square what I’m experiencing with anything I’ve felt before.
I take a deep breath. Close my eyes. Open them again, accepting that this is really happening. Then, I take stock of what I’m seeing. Everyone here looks…happy. Like they’re not waiting for something to go wrong.
And not fake happy or “we’ll see what happens” happy. Actual, out-in-the-open, no-guard-up happy. There’s a couple walking a dog across the street, both in Celtics gear, debating whether they should buy playoff tickets for this opening round or wait until the next. A guy on his porch is smoking a cigar, coughing after every puff, but smiling all the same. Nobody looks tense or like they’re bracing for the other shoe to drop.
Even the sun feels different. Warmer, almost alive. I swear I can hear it whispering, “Who hurt you?” How does it know?
Back home, after that awful game 1 versus Boston on Sunday, I know the energy is the complete opposite. I bet this Grant fella is experiencing it for himself. My neighbor, Vinny, is probably yelling about VJ Edgecombe’s ceiling and comparing him to AI. Joey, our landlord, is likely lamenting that the Process died in 2019. I know Bobby has our favorite call-in show blasting through his open window. Right this second, they’re probably debating whether Tyrese Maxey is allowed to smile after a loss.
If Grant is standing outside my apartment right now, there’s a very real chance he’s watching my two roommates arguing in a pile of trash bags, one of them holding a half-eaten Wawa hoagie like it’s evidence in a court case.
That’s just April in Philadelphia.
I take a few steps down the street, not really thinking about where I’m going. I just need to move.
This is ridiculous. I’m PROUD of where I’m from. Philly made me tough, not like these Boston softies. You don’t grow up a Sixers fan and come out soft. You take your hits, build up a tolerance for things going sideways. It’s part of our identity, and we wouldn’t have it any other way…right?
I’m not one of these people. I’m not. I keep walking. The street opens up a little and then I see it.
TD Garden.
I’ve seen it before, obviously. On TV, in clips, in all the places I don’t like to look for too long. But standing here, actually looking at it, is different. It’s bigger than I expected. Goosebumps tingle across my forearms. It has this weird calmness to it, like it wants to wrap you up in a big hug after a long day. Almost like an old friend that you know will always be there when you need them.
I stop for a second. This is where they walk in expecting to win.
Expecting.
That’s the part that sticks.
Back where I’m from, nothing is ever that simple. Even when things feel good, there’s always something attached to it. A condition. A “yeah, but.” You learn to live in that space. You almost get comfortable with it.
Here, it’s just…confidence.
And I hate how much sense that’s starting to make.
I tell myself this isn’t real. That I just need to figure out how to get back, how to get myself struck by lightning and ensure this Grant guy gets struck at the same time. I should be panicking, maybe someone at Massachusetts General Hospital can help me reverse this?
Instead, I turn around and start heading back toward the apartment I woke up in.
By the time I get back inside, the panic I felt earlier is gone, or at least quieter.
I sit back down at the laptop, and read through the game recap on the CelticsBlog page that’s still up on my screen. “Celtics, Jays look sharp in Game 1, blowout 76ers 123-91.” I read about how the Celtics kept the ball moving, generated clean looks, and stayed connected from start to finish. The words are so unfamiliar that a sense of vertigo starts to wash over me.
For the first time, I’m not rage-reading about the Celtics from the outside. I’m part of it. I’m really here, in this body, in this life, starting to get a sense of what this must feel like every night, every season, every decade.
I think to myself, Celtics fans have no clue how good they have it.
These people wake up expecting things to work. Even when something goes wrong, there’s this baseline belief that it’ll sort itself out eventually. Even when they switch ownership groups, coaches, whatever. This aura and legacy of “Celtics basketball” seems to persist. What even is “76ers basketball”? The word “process” enters my brain for a second and I physically flinch.
This isn’t how it works where I’m from.
Back in Philly, you don’t assume anything. You hope, negotiate, and convince yourself it might be different this time, even when the writing is on the wall.
And now that I’m here…I don’t know why I’d want to go back.
I sit there for a while, staring at the screen.
I know I should probably try to undo this whole thing. No way Grant will know jack shit about making a Philly cheesesteak. He’s going to ask if we have gluten-free bread and I’ll be finished. Well…not me. Him. That sorry, down-trodden, pessimistic man who’s never seen the inside of a Conference Finals in his lifetime.
I guess there’s no reason to rush. After all, this might be the only time I get to experience this euphoria of supporting a quality basketball franchise.
This is a better situation. I’d never admit it in my old body, but here? Now? I can scream it from the hilltops without the fear of Joey or Vinny or god forbid Mr. McLaughlin pummeling me into oblivion.
Grant, wherever you are — whether you’re in my apartment trying to explain to my roommates that you’ve been Freaky Friday’d, or trying to figure out how to relieve your lower back (you never will, believe me) — I wish you nothing but happiness and good fortune.
I really do. You’ll need it as a 76ers fan.
Take care of my fish. Water the plants, or don’t, screw ‘em.
Because I think I’m going to stay in this new life for as long as I can.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the gam against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics’ Game 1 blowout was surgical. Limiting their turnovers to eight and Philly to 4-of-23 from behind the arc certainly helped, but offensively, Boston stuck to their core offensive principles en route to a 123-91 win over the 76ers.
There are 2,350 square feet from midline to baseline and head coach Joe Mazzulla maximizes every inch of it. On most offensive sets, the Celtics want to turn their halfcourt sets into 3-on-3 battles with shooters spaced out in the corners.
Conceptionally, Boston wants to force defenses to pick their poison between 1) a scoring ball-handler, 2) a scorer coming off a screen, or 3) a big man who can either pick-and-pop or roll to the rim. It sounds simple, but done with focus and precision, it has resulted in this year’s Celtics ranking amongst the most efficient offenses in league history.
Denver and San Antonio are still playing so this list isn't complete, but the GYC will finish with the 5th best offense in NBA history.
Sometimes, it’s this easy. Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Nikola Vucevic are walking up the ball and preparing to run an action to either free up White or Tatum. Payton Pritchard and Jaylen Brown are flattened out to the corners. And without a single screen, the spacing does most of the work.
Sure, Vooch does get shoulder into Kelly Oubre and is ready to receive the ball from White for a possible dribble hand off or another screen. Paul George sees none of that — all his attention is on Brown.
But because of all the space leveraged by everybody’s ability to shoot the three, Brown has so much space to play in. A simple back cut and a perfectly placed bounce pass from White has JB rocking the rim to extend the lead to 25.
However, it’s not always that easy and that’s where Mazzulla & Co. have employed a series of DHOs, back screens, etc. to put teams in a predicament. One of the Celtics’ most used actions is the Spain pick-and-roll. Here’s CelticsBlog’s resident Xs and Os expert, Nik Land, on the action: “Spain or ‘Stack’ Pick and roll is an on-ball screen followed by a back screen on the on-ball screeners man.”
Again, we’ve got Tatum — Boston’s best player on the floor — and Baylor Scheierman, in the corners. Pritchard, Neemias Queta, and Sam Hauser creating an almost football-esque I formation, and in a way, it’s set up to run the ball.
Queta sets and flips a screen for Pritchard and as soon as he sees Dominick Barlow’s attention switch to Payton, he knows that he’s got him beat. Hauser sets a back screen with solid contact, Tyrese Maxey makes zero contact with Neemy, and Queta is free for the alley-oop.
Queta is met by Quentin Grimes on the rim run, but the damage is already done. Mazzulla stresses the importance of creating 3-on-2s and 2-on-1s, but this is a 3-on-1 with Tatum drawing so much attention above the break.
Pritchard has three options here: hit the cutting Queta again, kick out to the now wide open Hauser, or eventually, take the easy layup himself. This is laser eye surgery for the Celtics.
Later in fourth and with the game in hand, it’s another Spain PnR with different personnel, but same result.
Jabari Walker does a good job positioning himself to defend Pritchard’s drive and Luka Garza running to the restricted area. Unfortunately, that leaves Jordan Walsh, a 38% corner three-ball shooter, alone for an open jumper.
The 76ers can certainly make adjustments in Game 2. The playoffs are all about moves and counter moves and counter moves to the counter moves. They could switch on the screens more or blitz and hedge the ball handler to blow up the movement. The chess match continues tonight at 7 pm.
