Category: NBA

NBA analyst and former All-Star Wally Szczerbiak takes a shot at some playoff Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby. Szczerbiak will be in studio with Bill Pidto and Alan Hahn for MSG Network’s pre- and postgame coverage during the Knicks’ first-round matchup against the Hawks — with contributions by Alex Monaco, Monica McNutt and Tyler Murray. 

Q: Are the Knicks better equipped entering these playoffs compared to a year ago?

A: You can never predict. … I would think they would be because of the depth of their roster, and how many guys they can trust off the bench, and the different kind of rotations that Mike Brown has experimented with. … I remember when I played for Mike in Cleveland, he really did a thorough analysis of who he was playing, matchups in each individual playoff series. And I remember the first round we played against Detroit, and I was playing a lot of minutes, I was the first or second guy off the bench, but that series I didn’t play much at all because he didn’t like my matchup guarding Tayshaun Prince. So he wanted to keep LeBron [James] on him, I think, most of the time. I don’t even know if I even played until maybe Game 4, we won all four in a row.

And he explained to me, he was like, “Wally, just stay ready, this series I’m gonna experiment with some stuff. I’m gonna watch the matchups, see how the series goes.” … The following series we played Atlanta, and my matchup was different, I was taking on [Ronald] Murray, and I played like 25, 30 minutes every game and we won 4-0, and I played a lot in the Eastern Conference finals because I was matched up with Rashard Lewis, he liked that matchup for me. … He has a lot of options now with who he’s gonna go with off the bench. … These are all options that I don’t think the team had last year that Mike Brown and his coaching staff have at their disposal this year.

I personally would think they’re a little more equipped for success and the opportunity to win a championship. That’s how this team has been coached all season long. They’ve been primed to be healthy at this point in the season, peaking at this point in the season, tweaking matchups, tweaking lineups, tweaking benches here and there just to see what works best. … It’s not gonna be easy. … But I think this team is very equipped to make a championship run.

Q: What do you sense the mindset of these Knicks is trying to get over the hump?

A: I just think they embrace the journey. I think they really like each other in the locker room. I think they just need to focus on their opponent one at a time. The Atlanta Hawks are a good basketball team, they really are. They made some good moves, they’ve gotten better defensively and they have a great coach [Quin Snyder]. You gotta respect everyone on that roster. … The prep’s gonna be big for these guys this week and I know this team’ll be ready. I really believe experience wins in the playoffs.

Q: What is the key to the Hawks series?

A: Defend the 3-point line. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a very underrated player. He hurt the Knicks a little bit from 3, and I think they really have to do a good job of not letting [CJ] McCollum get going, obviously he’s like the orchestrator, the guy they trust in the fourth quarter. McCollum’s gonna be aggressive, he’s gonna get his, but when you start doubling McCollum that leaves their shooters open, and that’s a big problem. When the Knicks don’t defend the 3-point line, that’s when they’re vulnerable, and that’s when they get in scramble mode on defense. 

Q: This is a more rested Jalen Brunson?

A: Yes. Do you remember at the end of last year? He missed a month coming off an ankle injury, and he got back right before the playoffs. He looks quick, he looks athletic, he looks explosive, he looks rested, he looks healthy … and most of the guys do. All of ’em, almost. Obviously injuries are gonna come, but Mike Brown has managed minutes very well and trusted the bench. Landry Shamet’s a big part of the rotation, Mitchell Robinson’s been outstanding — he’s healthy this year, he’s had a bounce-back year in every way, shape or form, he’s a difference-maker on the boards. [Miles] Deuce McBride came back and had a big game. I think he’s ready to go now in the playoffs just to remind people how good he was all regular season. 

Q: Describe the Jalen Brunson we see now compared to the Jalen Brunson in Dallas.

A: With Luka Doncic, he was playing Robin to Luka’s Batman. So it’s his team [now], he’s got the keys to the car, he’s the captain. He gets to impose his will on the game when he feels he needs to, and that he can pull the foot off the gas and be a pure point guard when he sees his guys are going. He is completely the engine to this team. He’s the best, if not one of the best, in closing games. He always delivers when the defense is loaded up on him and they’re locked in and they’re playing their hardest. The way this team plays in the fourth quarter and the way he executes the offense in the fourth quarter, I think, is just second to none. 

Q: What do the Knicks need out of Karl Anthony-Towns in these playoffs?

A: I just think aggressiveness is important with him, when teams dare him to switch and put a small guy on him, be aggressive, demand the ball … work him into the offense. I think we saw a lot of high pick-and-roll with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns towards the end of the year, and I think that’s an impossible play to guard. I think we’re gonna see a lot in the playoffs. That’s gonna be maybe their go-to play at the end of games possibly. They’re playing great in the fourth quarter. This team is built to win close games, and they have clutch guys on their team. Karl-Anthony Towns seems fresh, he seems like he doesn’t have as much mileage on his body this year as he did last year. I think that’s a credit to Mike Brown and the coaching staff and the training staff really managing these guys to keep them healthy for the playoffs.

Q: What kind of X factor can Robinson be?

A: Huge factor. Huge. Obviously he has a few limitations — he’s not a jump shooter and he’s not a great free-throw shooter. But what he does well, he has maximized to the fullest. The bench unit, when he comes out there and plays with those guys, he solidifies them defensively. He’s a big-time rim protector. The offensive and defensive glass, when they come in with that unit with [Jordan] Clarkson and Deuce and Shamet and Mitchell Robinson, I think that unit’s really developed a lot of chemistry and played great in the last couple of weeks, and that’s gonna be a dynamic bench unit that can really, I think, help this team in the playoffs.

Q: The entire starting lineup is battle-tested in the playoffs.

A: This team is experienced. They’ve had a couple of pretty good playoff runs the last couple of years. I guess your top eight is the same that made the Eastern Conference finals. … At the same time, Boston’s playing well, Detroit’s playing well, Cleveland’s scary now that they picked up James Harden. … No one’s gonna hand you anything, you gotta go out and earn every one.

Q: Compare Josh Hart starting versus off the bench.

A: I like it, especially with the way he’s shooting the ball. He brings such intangibles to that starting lineup, he doesn’t have to shoot, he does all the other little things while all the other guys are looking to be aggressive and score. I think Josh Hart’s confidence shooting the basketball is in a great place, and that’s one thing that I think hurt the Knicks a little bit in last year’s playoffs, the fact that he didn’t trust his 3-point shooting, and as a result teams were able to load up defensively on all of the other guys. They can’t do that this year. 

Q: Why was the trade for OG Anunoby so important for Leon Rose?

A: In order to win in the playoffs, you need wing defenders, and OG and Mikal [Bridges] are two of the best. The main reason why they got OG, he’s one of the best defenders in the league, he can guard all five positions, and he can play all five positions, so you can play small and you can bump him to the 5. I think he’s been great rebounding the basketball this year, which has allowed Mike Brown to play a lot of different lineups. A winning player is what you got in that trade. 

Q: What should Knicks fans expect from Bridges?

A: The Knicks don’t get by the Celtics without his defense last year. They’re gonna need more of the same. I think he’s had a better shooting year than he did last year. Sometimes he doesn’t get as many shots as maybe he would like and a lot of people think he should get, but he doesn’t complain, he just goes out there and does everything that the team asks of him to win. I love when he’s aggressive and looks to get himself into rhythm, looks to be aggressive and shoot. He’s a very capable outside jump shooter and 3-point shooter, so that opens up the floor for Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and all of the other guys to have a lot of driving lanes to the basket. 

Q: What’s the loudest you’ve heard the Garden?

A: Donte DiVincenzo hit that 3 a couple of years ago in the playoffs. I think that was just the loudest I’ve ever heard a building. It was unbelievable, it was awesome.

Q: How big of a factor can the Garden play?

A: Huge. Massive. Like, every time I go to the Garden, I think they’re never losing, especially in the playoffs, with how loud it is, and how amped-up the crowd is and the way that energy is. I know as a former player, having that kind of home-court advantage, it’s just electric, it really is. They have been a very good road playoff team, too. This team can win on any floor, it doesn’t matter, but it sure helps having home-court advantage with that great crowd.

Q: How crazy would a Knicks-Celtics second-round series be?

A: Oh, that would be awesome. It would be really, really good. Obviously the Celtics have a little different makeup than they did last year. I think the Knicks were very fortunate to steal those first two games in Boston when Boston had those huge leads in the second half and completely fell apart. I wouldn’t bank on that happening again, but I think this year the Knicks match up a little bit better. I think Boston has retooled very well. You had three key pieces that aren’t on the roster anymore that won a championship. That’s a little bit of a question mark for Boston. Some of these guys haven’t played in the playoffs, they’re a little inexperienced, but they sure have stepped up to the plate this year and played outstanding basketball. So a Boston-Knick series in the second round would be really, really fun for the NBA, too.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory when you played for the Celtics?

A: I enjoyed the fans, I enjoyed playing there. Unfortunately, I was a little banged-up, had some injuries there. One of my favorite games was when I first got traded there, I landed like right after the first quarter ended and I made it for the second half, and we beat the Sacramento Kings, just threw on a uniform and went out there and played, made a couple of 3s, and it was off to the races in my Boston Celtic uniform.

Q: How did your game compare to your father’s, Walt?

A: Very similar. The only difference was I had a little bit more ball handling to my game. He was more of a catch-and-shoot guy, and that was maybe because of the time. He was probably a better rebounder. He loved playing down low and just rooting himself down there rebounding. I think I had a few more perimeter skills, and he had a few more big man skills.

Q: Did you play one-on-one against him?

A: Yeah, first time I ever beat him one-on-one was after my freshman year in college that summer. I remember we played a game in Pittsburgh, we were on a little mini-vacation with his family, who grew up in Pittsburgh, he grew up in Pittsburgh. We played at a local YMCA and I said, “Let’s get this over with, buddy,” and I finally beat him.

Q: How did he handle it?

A: He was alright. I was All-Freshman in the MAC [Mid-American Conference], so it was about time he handed over the reins.

Q: Did he coach you growing up?

A: Oh, yeah. He coached me in CYO and stuff. He didn’t coach me, per se, in high school, AAU, but he was very influential in being at games and being in my ear whenever I had questions or just kind of steering me in the right direction all throughout my NBA, college, all my careers.

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Q: How would you sum up your NBA career?

A: The All-Star Game was great, I think I made the playoffs seven out of the 10 years. I fell short of an NBA championship, which still haunts me to this day, made the Eastern and Western Conference finals. I was just all about wanting to win, I played on good teams with great players — K.G. [Kevin Garnett], LeBron, Kevin Durant, Paul Pierce, [Latrell] Sprewell, [Sam] Cassell, you name it. I was very proud of my career, I just wish I could have avoided some injuries. I would have liked to have played a little longer, and I was still pretty healthy after that 10th year. But that would be my only regret.

Q: Did you have a chip on your shoulder after you were not heavily recruited and chose Miami (Ohio)? 

A: Not really. I liked Miami, it just was a great place for me, we had a great coaching staff. I just looked at it as a kid that needed to get better, I used it as motivation to get better. I had Sean Miller, Thad Matta, Herb Sendek, Charlie Coles, Jenny Christian — great coaching staff that were experts in developing players.

Q: Tell me about your 43-point game in your 1999 opening-round upset of No. 7 seed Washington in March Madness.

A: Well, that was fun because they didn’t double-team me for the first time my whole senior year (laugh). I was dealing with triangle-and-twos in the Mid-American Conference — teams were all over me, really physical, double-teams every time I touched the ball. I had my best games in the nonconference and in the NCAA Tournament because the teams I played against didn’t really think they needed to double-team me as much.

Q: What was that like going to the Sweet 16?

A: That was awesome, it was great. I came off a loss in our Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game where I had a terrible game, lost like 49-42, I shot 4-for-17, I was getting roasted by “Mike and the Mad Dog” on the radio. That’s the first time my games were televised. And I used that roasting as motivation to go out and prove ’em wrong in the NCAA Tournament.

Q: Long Island memories growing up in Cold Spring Harbor?

A: The biggest ones were going to Robert Moses Field 2 with my brother, my sister and my mom and dad — that was my summer vacation. It was so much fun. I used to love boogie boarding. I also was really into soccer at a young age — we had a really good soccer team, travel soccer — and then I played New York State Select and Long Island Select soccer until I was in eighth grade. Another huge memory is growing up going to my dad’s summer league games, my dad’s Huntington League games, Friends Academy games, he played in the leagues after he retired (Real Madrid), so I loved palling around with him, hanging with the guys afterwards for a burger and Coke. That’s kind of where I got my bug for the game of basketball. 

Q: Favorite players growing up?

A: Dominque Wilkins was my favorite. I used to go to the All-Star games with my dad, so I loved his dunking prowess, dunking off two feet. I always loved Chris Mullin, I loved [John] Starks and [Patrick] Ewing, I was a huge Knicks fan, the Knicks were my team growing up. I used to go to the Garden maybe once or twice a year, my dad would take me to a game, and it was just so much fun rooting for the Knicks teams in the ’90s. I loved Larry Bird.

Q: Whatever comes to mind: Bill Pidto.

A: He’s a wonderful host, just a joy to spend so much time with during the season and talk Knicks basketball.

Q: Alan Hahn.

A: A numbers genius that is always fun to debate at times about his stats.

Q: How good of a basketball player was he?

A: He was pretty good, he was a solid Division II player [LIU Post], great athlete, he was like a hustle 4 man, utility 4 man-type guy, a little bit like a Mitchell Robinson type where he rebounded, played defense, just hit the glass hard, could make his free throws and stuff like that. He was a big energy guy, and we played a little bit once I would come home in the summers, we used to play at St. Mary’s, we would always call him up. But unfortunately we got him when his knee was kind of cranky ’cause he had that ACL surgery that derailed his career a little bit in college. 

Q: Monica McNutt.

A: She’s great on camera, she really knows a lot about the game of basketball, the NBA game. She’s great on the radio, too. Having her point of view is big time.

Q: Mike Breen.

A: He’s the GOAT, he’s the best. Ultra prepared. One thing I learned from Mike is it doesn’t matter whether it’s Game 7 of the NBA Finals or whether it’s game 52 [of the regular season] and the Knicks are up 20, 30 points, you gotta bring the same enthusiasm, the same energy to every broadcast. I think that’s what makes him so special. He never lets the fans down, he always delivers, and he knows his job is to call the game where the fans are gonna always respect his call, and he does this like no other guy in the business and he’s just nothing but pure professionalism.

Q: What do you hope the viewers say about you?

A: I hope they see the joy I have about the game of basketball when I talk basketball, whether it’s a broadcast in the studio or whether it’s a broadcast doing the color. I love talking Knicks, I love talking about the skill level and the quality players they have on their team, and I hope the fans can see the joy that I have having the opportunity to call this a job even though it really isn’t. 

Q: Would you ever wear one of Clyde Frazier’s outfits?

A: I’ve tried to wear a little something a little bit Clyde-esque. I would always give anything a shot. Christmas, I wear a red velvet, like, smoker’s jacket so I always try to mix it up a little bit. I think Clyde looks great. As long as the suits fit, and they’re tailored nice, I’ll wear absolutely anything, and Clyde’s all fit to a tee.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Michael Jordan, Nicole Kidman, Scottie Scheffler. 

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Gladiator.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Russell Crowe.

Q: Favorite entertainer?

A: Metallica.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Paella. 

Q: Who could be a Knicks X factor?

A: Josh Hart. I just think what he brings to the table in close games, the ESP that he has with Jalen Brunson, is so key in must-win games and crucial clutch situations at the end of games. And I think his shooting’s gonna be a big X factor, also.

Q: Do you think the Knicks will embrace the pressure of NBA Finals-or-bust?

A: Yes. They have embraced it all season long. They love it. Having been in that situation as a player, you want those expectations. That’s what you live for. That’s the only reason you play this game, is to win the championship. The more pressure, the more glory when you accomplish your goal.

Q: As a New Yorker, paint the picture of the city if the Knicks reach the NBA Finals.

A: Oh, my goodness. Well they’re gonna have to shut down Seventh Avenue for a long time, that’s for sure. … I just think we’re so ready as a fan base — everyone’s just ready to explode. … But I caution everyone to just be patient and enjoy the ride and not just expect it to happen … let it happen. That’s the most important thing. And if it happens, it’s gonna be amazing, and I know this team isn’t only gonna be satisfied with the playoffs. … This team seriously has the capabilities to win the whole thing. … It’s gonna take a little bit of luck, it’s gonna take some great play, and I’m just really excited for the ride. These next couple of months are gonna be, I think, something we’ll never forget as longtime Knick fans.

There’s been plenty of discourse over the past couple of days following the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Portland Trail Blazers in the 7–8 game. A lot of it has centered on Devin Booker and Jordan Ott’s rotations. That’s the natural reaction. You focus on what went wrong and look for ways to fix it. But “moving forward” is now a fragile concept. If the Suns don’t beat the Golden State Warriors, there is no next step. That’s the end of the road.

What hasn’t been talked about enough is Jalen Green. He was electric. He scored 35 points in the loss, carrying the offense at times, keeping the Suns within reach in a game where scoring didn’t come easily. His final stat line on Tuesday? 35 points on 14-of-29 shooting, 2-of-7 from deep, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 5 turnovers.

Despite the loss, Jalen Green shined at home ☀️

35 PTS
5 REB

The Suns will face the winner of the @SoFi Play-In battle between the Clippers and the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/kb3muxoqeX

— NBA (@NBA) April 15, 2026

Being in the arena, one aspect of the game that stood out immediately was that Portland’s perimeter defense was relentless. They were draped all over Phoenix, pushing them off their spots, and forcing uncomfortable looks. It felt suffocating, and believe me, the fact that Toumani Camara was the culprit was not lost on me. But there was one player they couldn’t consistently contain. That was Green. His athleticism and quickness created space where none existed. He found openings, generated clean looks, and did it in a game where those opportunities were rare.

We received the full Jalen Green experience, didn’t we?

The scoring ability is real. It jumps off the screen. The efficiency? Ehhh, not so much. It took him 29 shots to get to 35 points, which puts him in a strange little corner of Suns history. How many players have taken exactly 29 shots and scored exactly 35? Three others. Devin Booker (2023), Josh Jackson (2019), and Stephon Marbury (2002). There’s your random useless nugget for the day.

Green’s shot selection wasn’t always clean. It usually isn’t. He forces the issue at times. Even that four-point play in the first half wasn’t a great look. Fading left from 29 feet. It was low percentage, but he hit it. Knocked down the free throw, too. It turns into a highlight, and that’s part of the deal with him.

Jalen Green ends the first half with a 4-PT PLAY 🔥

Phoenix just one possession away from Portland, trailing 65-62 👀

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/C5Lbfteh2V

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 15, 2026

And then there are the turnovers. Five of them, many of the live ball variety, which is never ideal. But again, that’s part of the Jalen Green experience. He is aggressive, sometimes too much so as he’s dribbling into defenders, thus dislodging the ball. It needs to be cleaned up, but I doubt it will ever be completely cleaned up. If you look at his career statistics, he’s actually improved in that respect. A player who averaged 2.6 turnovers in 2022-23 has that number all the way down to 2.3. Oooo. Aaaah.

He missed the shot that could have put the Suns ahead with under 10 seconds left, but you know what? He took the shot. He didn’t shy away from the moment; he didn’t pass out of it. No. He wanted the ball, he was ready and willing to take it, and I find value in that. 

This season has been about evaluation. We haven’t had enough clean data to fully understand who Green is within this Suns ecosystem, so these games carry weight. Especially ones with stakes. If Phoenix can defeat the Warriors tomorrow for the eight seed, they run into the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s a defense that can swallow you whole, so there are limits to what you can take from that series from an evaluation perspective. But how a player responds to pressure, to emotion, and to moments like the Play-In game on Tuesday tells you something.

That’s been a concern with Jalen Green following his performance tast postseason with the Houston Rockets. In the seven-game series against Golden State, the 22-year-old kid who led his team is scoring at 21.0 points per night in the regular season faded. He averaged 13.3 points in the postseason on 37/30/67 splits. He was a shell of himself. The moment affected him. You saw it again recently against Houston as he played against his former team. The emotions got loud, and his game followed. 

Against Portland, it felt different. He stepped into it. He didn’t shy away. He took 29 shots in a grind of a game and he took the final one. Again, there’s value in that. He wanted the ball. He made decisions. There was no hesitation. Devin Booker gave it up because he knew Green wouldn’t shrink from the moment. He missed, but he took it.

"He had it going the whole night. I can take that shot, too to force overtime, but I saw Jrue (Holiday) sleeping a little bit and Jalen shifted to the open space."

Devin Booker on finding Jalen Green for 3-point look Green missed for the win as Suns lost 114-110 in 7-8 play-in… https://t.co/hNRBnArBYbpic.twitter.com/qS8UpNQW5m

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 15, 2026

That’s the duality with him. The same lack of filter that leads to bad shots and turnovers is also what allows him to step forward when it matters. It’s the strength and the flaw, living in the same space. So in my evaluation, this one against the Blazers leans positive. The red flags are still there. The shot selection. The turnovers. They don’t disappear. But the willingness to be the guy? That gets logged too.

Now comes the next challenge. The Golden State Warriors. A familiar stage for Jalen Green, and not one that went well the last time he was there. What do you get from him now? How does he respond? And what does it add to the overall evaluation as you start thinking about his place on this team next season? Those are the questions sitting in front of this game.

There’s real weight here. These aren’t empty reps. Every possession, every decision, every response to pressure adds to the file. The hope is that the results are positive, that he builds on what we saw against Portland and leans into the moment again. Because if they aren’t, the timeline shifts. The decision on whether to move forward with Green comes quicker than expected.

The Suns exceeded expectations this season. That part is real. But now the goal is to extend it, to get into the postseason, to gather more data, more clarity. That’s how you build something sustainable. That’s how you move from a promising team to a consistent one. And understanding and  determining what part Jalen Green plays in the grand scheme of things is vital.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finally discovered midway through this season that they’re better when Jarrett Allen is heavily featured than they are when he’s not. That process was halted at the beginning of March when he injured his knee during the team’s win over the Detroit Pistons. Allen returned to the lineup the last week of March, but admitted that he was playing through pain. Everyone is pushing through something in the playoffs, but Allen is in a better place now than he was a few weeks back.

“It’s better,” Allen said when he was asked about his knee after Thursday’s practice. “I’ve had some time off for it to calm down and try to get back to homeostasis, back to the level where it should be.”

Even though Allen is feeling better, he wouldn’t go as far as saying he felt perfect when asked if he’d be limited by his knee in any way.

“I’d be lying if I said I would expect it to be 100%,” Allen said. “No, I don’t think anybody would be 100% going into the playoffs. That’s just how it is. That’s my very political answer. … But yeah, it’s definitely something I’m going to have to deal with and manage, get treatment before, take the medicine that I’m supposed to to try to be at my best.”

We don’t know the exact severity of the injury and how much Allen is possibly downplaying it now. What we do know is that Allen has had a rough go of it this season from a health perspective. He played the fewest regular-season games in his career due to various injuries to his hands and knees throughout the season. Allen has done his part to persevere through them as much as he can, and may need to do so again in the postseason.

Allen averaged 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds on 63.8% shooting in 56 games this season.

The Cavs open up their first-round series against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday afternoon.

The postseason atmosphere in Denver won’t be confined to the seats inside Ball Arena this spring.

In a move aimed at extending the playoff experience beyond the building’s walls, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment announced plans to transform the area surrounding the arena into a large-scale, open-air viewing and fan engagement space for both Colorado Avalanche and Denver Nuggets home playoff games.

Chopper Circle, the main thoroughfare bordering Ball Arena between 9th and 11th streets, will be closed during all home playoff dates to accommodate the expanded footprint. The space will operate under two different identities depending on the event: “Avs Alley” for Avalanche games and “Base Camp 5280” for Nuggets contests. Each will feature a 20-foot outdoor video board broadcasting the game live, along with DJs, food trucks, beverage stations, team mascots, dance teams, and sponsor activations.

Both fan zones are scheduled to open two hours prior to game time and remain active throughout the duration of each contest. For example, ahead of Game 1 of the Nuggets’ first-round series against Minnesota, Base Camp 5280 is set to open at 11:30 a.m. local time for a 1:30 p.m. tipoff. Avalanche playoff scheduling—and corresponding Avs Alley dates—will be finalized following the conclusion of the NHL regular season.

Access to both areas will be free through the first two rounds of the playoffs, though fans must secure a digital pass for entry. Notably, possession of a game ticket does not guarantee admission to the outdoor zones, and separate passes are required even for those attending the game inside the arena. Conversely, fans without tickets are welcome to attend the outdoor viewing experience, space permitting.

Organizers indicated that admission fees could be introduced in later playoff rounds, with proceeds directed to Kroenke Sports Charities. The organization previously generated more than $1.1 million during similar postseason initiatives tied to the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run and the Nuggets’ 2023 NBA title campaign.

The location is accessible via Denver’s RTD rail system, with the Ball Arena–Elitch Gardens stop serving as the primary transit point. Standard event parking rates will remain in effect for all playoff games.

The initiative underscores a broader effort to turn downtown Denver into a centralized postseason hub—one that caters not just to ticket holders, but to an entire fan base looking to share in the moment.

Bright lights, big stage, same LeBron.

Unmoved by postseason pressure, superstar LeBron James said he doesn’t plan to change his preparation ahead of the Lakers’ playoff opener against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Approaching his record-tying 19th postseason appearance, James has reason to believe in his well-established routine.

“Nothing changes for me from the regular season to the postseason,” James said, “besides just making even more heightened focus.”

The consistent approach that guided him through 23 regular seasons puts James in position to star in another high-stakes game as the Lakers (53-29) chase the franchise’s 18th NBA championship. James will command almost the entire spotlight with guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves still sidelined.

The 41-year-old, 22-time All-Star has never had a problem with being a leading man.

“I think a lot of the great players, the best players, what they're addicted to is being the showman,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, referencing Stephen Curry’s fourth-quarter heroics that pushed the Golden State Warriors over the Clippers in a thrilling play-in game Wednesday night. “And being on the stage and giving a performance. …

Read more:Luka Doncic eligible for NBA's postseason awards after league, NBPA rule in his favor

"One of the reasons they're great and they're able to be the showman so consistently is because they recognize [that] to be the showman, I have to do all the things necessary to then go on stage and perform at my best. And that's the commitment with LeBron that I've talked about so often.”

The stage is set for a star-studded first-round series with James and Houston’s Kevin Durant. The Rockets' superstar rose to fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list this season. He and James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, have 76,037 combined regular-season points, more than the rest of the Lakers' roster combined (57,341).

“He’s the head of the snake,” James said of Durant. “But it’s the Houston Rockets and they have some damned good players on that team.”

Durant has the support of two-time NBA All-Star center Alperen Sengun, who is averaging 20.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. James leads the Lakers alone. They’re without Doncic (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) indefinitely.

Since Doncic and Reaves were injured, James assumed the primary role in the Lakers' offense and has delivered 25.5 points, 11 assists and 6.8 rebounds per game. Battling the emotional toll of Doncic’s and Reaves’ injuries, James set the tone for the Lakers’ strong finish to the regular season with his vocal leadership and strong play, Redick said. His teammates are falling in line.

“He’s been in the playoffs I don’t know how many times,” Lakers guard Bronny James said. “So he’s won series, won Finals, I think we just need to have our mind open and ears open and listen to whatever he says because he knows the most."

After years of competing against each other in the NBA and with each other on the international stage, Durant said earlier this season that the Miami Heat version of James was the hardest player he's ever had to guard. James said every version of Durant feels like an impossible matchup.

The 37-year-old scores in bunches and does it efficiently, Redick said. Durant hasn’t shot worse than 50% from the field in a season since 2011-12. Now in his 18th season, Durant played the second-most total minutes of any player this season, trailing only 23-year-old teammate Amen Thompson.

“He’s a guard in a big man’s body,” Lakers guard Marcus Smart said. “I’m 6-3 and he’s 7-foot so he has that advantage and that’s what makes it tough, because he’ll shoot right over top of you it seems. But playing him the years that I have played him — and last month — it definitely gives you insight of what to expect.”

Durant averaged 18 points, 5.5 rebounds and three assists in two losses to the Lakers in March. He shot 55.6% from the field but had 11 total turnovers. The Lakers, who often double-teamed Durant to take the ball out of his hands, forced 36 turnovers in the two wins.

The Lakers expect the same defensive pressure from the Rockets, who are ranked sixth defensively. Guards Reed Sheppard and Thompson both rank in the top 10 in the league in total steals with 122 and 119, respectively.

Smart and guard Luke Kennard have taken larger ball-handling responsibilities along with James to offset the loss of Doncic and Reaves. Bronny James is in line for rotation minutes in the Lakers’ shorthanded backcourt. The 21-year-old guard has played in 10 consecutive games, the longest stretch of his young NBA career, averaging 6.6 points, two assists and a steal with seven-for-17 shooting from three-point range in the five games since Doncic and Reaves were injured.

Read more:Deandre Ayton knows the Lakers need him to be his best in the playoffs

Getting to share the court with his son, whether in regular-season games, practice or now the postseason, is “the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career,” the elder James said.

With his future unknown beyond this season, James pledged all season to stay in the moment. The Lakers hope to make this postseason one last.

“The moment is all we have,” James said. “At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

This is it. 

The last eight years for the Cleveland Cavaliers will come down to the next eight weeks. From LeBron James leaving town that jumpstarted a rebuild featuring Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. To acquiring Donovan Mitchell in 2022 to start their contention window. To multiple playoff failures, including last year’s catastrophe against the Pacers. To Garland being traded for James Harden in February.

This is without a doubt the most crucial, critical, important…you get the point. There is a lot riding on this Cavs playoff run. They have arguably their deepest and most talented roster of the Mitchell era. They have the experience now with a battle-tested group that is adding someone with 174 playoff games of their own in Harden. Now is the time for them to break through, and it starts with the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

With that comes tough lineup decisions, and it will be on head coach Kenny Atkinson to push the right buttons. This is what his rotation should look like against the Raptors.

Starters: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

This lineup projects to be the most reliable and complete unit that Atkinson will put on the floor against Toronto. The sample size is extremely small with this group, but in the 75 possessions this five has shared the court, the Cavs have a +38.9 net rating.

Not much needs to be said about Harden and Mitchell. They are the orchestrators of the offense and are one of the more lethal backcourts in the league. 

Wade, Mobley, and Allen have been Cleveland’s three best defenders for quite some time now. Their length, size, and switchability make them an extremely tough trio to get past on that end. In the 364 possessions those three have together this season, the Cavs have a 99.4 defensive rating. For a team that struggled on the defensive end at times this year, leaning on your best defenders will help alleviate those concerns.

Bench: Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Keon Ellis, Jaylon Tyson

The bench unit may not have as much size as the starters, but Atkinson will be able to stagger the minutes between the nine he ends up deciding on.

Merrill and Strus bring a lot of shooting, movement, and overall toughness that Cleveland is going to need from their role guys. Strus especially has a lot of playoff experience and has proven a willingness to do the dirty work and make winning plays. 

Ellis has shown that he can be an absolute defensive menace for the Cavs. He is great at putting pressure on the ball, getting deflections and steals, and has enough length to disrupt ball-handlers. His offense has been a pleasant surprise as well, as he is knocking down nearly 36% of his threes and shooting 49% overall from the field. 

The last spot should go to Tyson. When Cleveland was struggling early on in the season, he was one of the lone bright spots. His development into a key role player has been nothing short of amazing for the Cavs. His synergy with Mitchell in the short roll, his ability to knock down threes, and just playing with 110% effort every play is what Cleveland needs.  All of the bench guys I mentioned have the toughness, spacing, and tenacity that make them the essential bench pieces. 

Cutting Dennis Schroder from the initial rotation was a tough decision, but Schroder has struggled for the most part since he arrived in February. He’s shooting only 40% from the field and 29% from three. Atkinson could turn to him in spot minutes, and Schroder has enough defensive activity and veteran experience to be called upon at times, but he should not be a nightly fixture in the playoffs.

The Cavs have the star power and depth to make a run. It will be on Atkinson to push the right buttons against the Raptors and hopefully beyond. But this is how he should start out.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said he's expecting coach Brian Keefe to return next season after Washington finished with the NBA's worst record.

“Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here,” Dawkins said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference.

Keefe took over in the middle of the 2023-24 campaign, replacing Wes Unseld Jr. That was Washington’s first season under its new front office led by Michael Winger and Dawkins. The team eventually took off Keefe’s interim tag.

But the Wizards haven’t been built to win right away under Keefe. He went 8-31 in that first season, then 18-64 in 2024-25. This season Washington lost 26 of its last 27 games to go 17-65, ending any danger of the Wizards losing their first-round draft pick if it wasn’t in the top eight. It’s the first time since 1967 — when the franchise was the Baltimore Bullets — that the team finished with the league’s worst record.

“We put him in a situation this season which was a little difficult," Dawkins said. "We led the NBA in starts for players under 21. I think we had 50-plus different starting lineups. So we threw a lot at him.”

But soon, Washington hopes to turn the focus away from collecting picks and lottery odds and improve its performance on the court. There were certainly some steps in that direction this season, when the Wizards traded for both Trae Young and Anthony Davis, although Young played only five games for them and Davis didn’t play any. If both are healthy next season, Washington could be improved.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

The matchup for the 2026 NBA Mexico City Game is set.

USA TODAY Sports has learned that the Denver Nuggets will face the Indiana Pacers at Arena CDMX on Nov. 7, 2026, marking the 35th NBA contest played in the city since 1992.

It’s an intriguing matchup that should feature a fully healthy Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers star point guard who missed the entire 2025-26 season as he recovered from the torn Achilles tendonsuffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers are also likely to end up with a top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft after they finished with the second-worst record (19-63) in the league.

The Nuggets, one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, are led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, who averaged a triple-double this season. This will mark the second game in Mexico that the Nuggets play, while the Pacers will be making the trip for the first time.

And, for the third consecutive season, the game will coincide with the Día de los Muertos festivities across the country. To commemorate that, the game will be played on a themed court.

The NBA has continued to expand its reach across Latin America, with Mexico as its most prominent market. In fact, removing the U.S. and Canada, both of which are home to current and former NBA franchises (including the Vancouver Grizzlies), no country has hosted more NBA games than Mexico since 1992, when the first NBA game was played in the country.

That game, an Oct. 27 preseason matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, spawned a relationship that will enter its 34th year when the Pacers and Nuggets square off.

"The NBA Mexico City Game continues to give fans in Mexico a front‑row connection to the league, its teams and its players," Raul Zarraga, NBA Latin America and Canada senior vice president and head of operations, said in a statement. "Hosting our 35th game in the country reflects the depth of the NBA’s relationship with Mexico and the role this event plays in bringing the global game to fans locally, across Latin America and around the world."

The NBA will make the formal announcement with Zignia Live, a live event promoter, about the matchup Thursday, April 16. As is typical with the NBA’s international games, the league will offer social programs and activities in Mexico City to engage with the local community.

The 2026 Mexico City Game will air on ESPN.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA reveals teams for 2026 Mexico City showdown: Exclusive

Unfortunately for the Lakers, there hasn’t been much positive injury news regarding their two biggest stars, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.

Both missed the last five games of the regular season and have been ruled out indefinitely. Reaves is dealing with a Grade 2 oblique strain with a timetable of 4-6 weeks, and Dončić is suffering from a hamstring strain.

While Reaves has remained in LA, focused on returning to the court, Dončić went to Spain for “specialized medical treatment” to speed up his recovery.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has already confirmed the duo will be out to start the playoff series against the Rockets, and a recent article by Dave McMenamin of ESPN indicates that the franchise is moving forward assuming neither will play at any point during this series.

And as they prepare for it, sources told ESPN they have no expectation of having either Doncic or Reaves back at any point in the first round. But they also have not completely ruled out the possibility of one or both of them becoming available the longer the series lasts.

It’s a devastating blow for the Lakers if they have to play an entire playoff series without their two best players. Luka was the NBA’s leading scorer and averaged 33.5 points per game. It’s not just Dončić’s scoring that will be missed, he averaged 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game as well.

Reaves is just as important, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game during the regular season. The only positive here is that the Lakers have been able to prepare with the understanding that they’ll be playing without their starting backcourt.

For now, they just have to focus on figuring out how to outrebound the Rockets, limit turnovers, win Game 1 and ultimately this series.

And if Reaves or Dončić can make an appearance late in the first round against the Rockets, that’d be a great best-case scenario. Until then, though, they will have to try to extend their season without them.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

Look, I’m not here to tell Jordan Ott how to do his job. He’s in the building every day, around the guys, diving into film like no one else. He is a sicko. A junkie. I’ve appreciated the job he’s done this year.

I am merely a spectator, offering observations on what we all saw on Tuesday night. Now that we’ve got that part out of the way, it’s time to dive into a few rotational flaws that I believe cost Phoenix the game on Tuesday night.

The Small-Ball Trap

It’s vital for the Suns not to get caught up in pre-made plans again and to make in-game adjustments or counters as things develop in front of them.

The most glaring issue in the fourth-quarter collapse was the insistence on staying small while Deni Avdija was treating the paint like his own personal playground. Avdija is a 6’8″ matchup nightmare who plays with the strength of a power forward and the vision and speed of a guard as he attacks downhill. When he’s attacking, you can’t meet him with a “switch everything” mentality that leaves a 6’4″ guard as the primary rim protector. Or by throwing a slower Brooks/O’Neale/Oso on him when he’s already hitting full speed. It puts you at a disadvantage from the start.

Credit to Portland for creating those advantages and putting Deni in a spot to succeed.

He called iso and went straight bag work pic.twitter.com/cp18pOEmRn

— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) April 15, 2026

By the time Jordan Goodwin hit that layup to give us the lead with 32 seconds left, the damage was already done. The Suns had spent the previous six minutes getting bullied on the glass. Portland finished with a +4 rebounding edge, but it felt like +20 in the final frame. In a game decided by four points, those extra possessions are the difference between the 7th seed and a do-or-die that we now face against Golden State.

Leaving Size on the Pine

The Suns have length and athleticism on the bench that remained largely untapped when the Blazers turned up the physicality. Against a Portland team that starts length at almost every position, Phoenix opted for lineups that prioritized spacing over survival. Rasheer Fleming has shown he is already one of our best defenders. Rookie or not, he had to be out there. That’s the hill I will die on.

We needed a “hit back” presence. There were stretches where the Suns’ interior defense looked like a revolving door because the help-side rotations were coming from players giving up three or four inches in height. Jordan Ott has been a master of adjustments all season. He’s a major reason we’re even in the Play-In conversation in the first place, but on Tuesday night, the “tactician” got out-muscled. Using the bench’s size to disrupt Avdija’s rhythm or to at least make those 13 free-throw attempts harder to earn would have changed the geometry of the court.

The individual matchups didn’t tell the whole story, because it takes team defense (switching, helping, etc.) to slow down a downhill threat like Deni.

Deni got to the rim basically whenever he wanted. It’s what he does, but they had to make it more challenging. It was way too easy all night.

Devin Booker on why he thinks the Suns lost:

"Letting Deni get downhill…me missing 5 free throws" pic.twitter.com/a6keNThDfu

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 15, 2026

Jalen Green was spectacular, but he looked gassed in the final two minutes. That 18-8 run Phoenix put together to take the lead was fueled by pure adrenaline, but once the Blazers responded, the Suns had nothing left in the tank. Once the game slowed down, Portland’s size took over and won.

The Suns were up 11 halfway through the fourth. They had a 95% win probability. You don’t lose that game because of “officiating” or a few missed free throws, although nine misses at the line certainly didn’t help. You lose that game because you let the opponent dictate the physical terms of the engagement.

Friday is a new season. If Ott and the Suns want to avoid being the first 7th seed to ever miss the dance entirely, they have to stop leaning into the “small and skilled” identity when the game turns into a “long and athletic” street fight.

Things couldn’t be more polar opposite in this next one. The Warriors present an entirely different matchup problem, so it’s time to scrap the Portland plan and focus on doing what’s needed to take down Steph and the Warriors.

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The NBA Conference Finals MVP odds market is one of the simplest bets to understand, and one of the easiest to misprice. In most cases, it comes down to this: the best player on the winning team takes the award.

That’s why the board is typically loaded with short-priced favorites from the top contenders. But that also means value can show up quickly if you’re willing to back a team, and its star, before the market fully catches up.

Instead of laying chalk on established names, we’re targeting two young guns in Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham, both of whom have the usage, narrative, and upside to carry their teams through the Conference Finals.

NBA Conference Finals MVP predictions

Odds as of 4-16. 

Western Conference Finals MVP best bet

Pick: Victor Wembanyama (+320 at bet365)

The San Antonio Spurs are going to be a matchup nightmare for any team that stands in their path to the franchise's first NBA title since 2014.

A very big part of that will be the unique playing style of Victor Wembanyama. He's a walking highlight reel and virtually un-guardable, whether he's doing work in the paint, the mid-range, or stepping out and knocking down threes. 

While the offense will always be there (25 points per game), it's his defensive presence that will impact games more often than not. His ability to protect the rim (11.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks), alter shots, and disrupt timing is the added edge needed when picking a standout player in the conference finals. 

While the Spurs still need to win two rounds, and then potentially meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, Wemby's odds will not linger around at +320 for very long. 

Act now before you miss out on the best number. 

Long shot play

Pick: Alperen Sengun (+8000 at bet365)

If you're looking for a long shot play, look no further than the engine of the Houston Rockets, Alperen Sengun. 

Sengun has been nothing short of stellar for the Rockets this season, averaging 20.4 points per game and leading the team in rebounds (8.9) and assists (6.2). 

He may not be the sexy name on the Rockets with Kevin Durant still around, but he's still the straw that stirs the drink, and his ability to stuff the stat sheet in more ways than one can only help his case.

Eastern Conference Finals MVP best bet

Pick: Cade Cunningham (+550 at bet365)

The Detroit Pistons go as Cade Cunningham goes, and that’s exactly what you want when betting this market.

Everything runs through him. He’s the primary scorer, the primary playmaker, and the one with the ball in his hands when games tighten up. That kind of usage matters in a series where every possession is magnified.

Cunningham has taken a clear step forward as a scorer while still filling up the box score across the board. Points, assists, rebounds. It’s all there, and it shows up every night.

If the Pistons break through to the Eastern Conference Finals, it won’t be because of depth or balance. It’ll be because Cunningham carried them there.

At +550, you’re getting the best player on his team at a number that won’t last if Detroit makes a run.

Long shot play

Pick: Mikal Bridges (+20000 at bet365)

If you’re swinging for a number, Mikal Bridges checks every box as a long shot.

He’s one of the most reliable two-way players in the league and rarely comes off the floor. That kind of workload adds up over a playoff series.

Bridges doesn’t need high volume to make an impact. He scores efficiently, defends the opposing team’s first or second option, and consistently finds ways to influence the game without forcing it.

If the New York Knicks can put it all together for three rounds, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will play a part, but Bridges' ability to impact the game at both ends in meaningful moments could tip the scales in his favor.  

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures.

A change-of-plea hearing for Jones is scheduled for May 6 in Brooklyn federal court, according to a court filing Thursday.

Jones, 49, had previously pleaded not guilty to separate indictments charging him with profiting from rigged poker games and providing sports bettors with non-public information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Jones is charged in both cases with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

A message seeking comment was left for his lawyer, Kenneth Montgomery. He told a judge at Jones’ arraignments in November that they “may be engaging in plea negotiations.”

Jones, a onetime teammate of James, was arrested last October along with Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Basketball Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and others, including a sports bettor accused of cashing in on injury information.

Jones was one of three people charged in both the poker and sports betting schemes. He remains free on bail.

A native of Galveston, Texas, Jones earned more than $20 million playing for 10 teams in 11 seasons from 1999 to 2009. He and James played together in Cleveland from 2005 to 2008 and Jones served as an unofficial assistant coach for James’ Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-2023 season.

According to prosecutors, Jones sold or attempted to sell non-public information to bettors that James was injured and wouldn’t be playing in a Feb. 9, 2023, game against the Milwaukee Bucks, texting an unnamed co-conspirator: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.”

James wasn’t listed on the Lakers’ injury report at the time of the text message, but the NBA’s all-time scoring leader was later ruled out of the game because of a lower body injury, according to prosecutors, and the Lakers lost the game 115-106.

On Jan. 15, 2024, prosecutors said, sports bettor Marves Fairley paid Jones approximately $2,500 for a tip that Davis, the Lakers’ forward and center at the time, would see limited playing time against the Oklahoma City Thunder because of an injury.

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Fairley then placed a $100,000 bet on the Thunder to win, prosecutors said, but the tip was wrong. Davis played his usual minutes, scored 27 points and collected 15 rebounds in a 112-105 Lakers win, prompting Fairley to demand a refund of his $2,500 fee, prosecutors said.

In the poker scheme, according to prosecutors, Jones was among former NBA players used to lure unwitting players into poker games that were rigged using altered shuffling machines, hidden cameras, special sunglasses and even X-ray equipment built into the table.

According to the indictment, Jones was paid $2,500 for a game in the Hamptons where he was instructed to cheat by paying close attention to others involved in the scheme. His instructor likened those people to James and NBA All-Star Steph Curry, prosecutors said. When in doubt, Jones was told to fold his hand, prosecutors said.

In response, according to prosecutors, Jones texted: “y’all know I know what I’m doing!!”

The poker scheme often made use of illegal poker games run by New York crime families that required them to share a portion of their proceeds with the Gambino, Genovese and Bonnano crime families, according to prosecutors.

Members of those families, in turn, also helped commit violent acts, including assault, extortion and robbery, to ensure repayment of debts and the continued success of the operation, officials said in court documents.

A hot hand from outside the three-point arc, Jones once proclaimed himself in an interview with insidehoops.com as “the best shooter in the world.” He played in every regular season game for three consecutive seasons from 2003 to 2006.

After his playing days, he worked as a “shooting consultant” for the Cavaliers and was an assistant coach when the team, led by James, won the NBA championship in 2016.

Damon Jones, the former NBA player and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach indicted with Terry Rozier and four others in November on federal charges of conspiring to rig NBA outcomes and peddle inside information, has requested a hearing with the Eastern District of New York to change his plea.

Jones pleaded not guilty in November to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and two counts of money laundering, but ESPN reported at the time that he was already in discussions for a plea deal. His plea hearing is scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn.

Jones’ attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told ABC News in New York, however, that his client is “not cooperating” with prosecutors against his co-conspirators, who also pleaded not guilty. Jones is the first of the group to request a change of plea.

Jones accused of dealing non-public tidbit

Jones is accused of providing non-public information from his league contacts so that gamblers could make more informed bets on NBA games than the general public. Specifically, he’s accused of providing information that LeBron James would not play in a Feb. 9, 2023, game against Milwaukee. Jones is alleged to have texted to gamblers: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat.”

James is not named in the charging documents, but he was the only rostered player not to dress against the Bucks, who won, 115-106.

Federal prosecutors will file documents by next week updating which charges will have a change of plea.

Jones is also named as a co-conspirator in the so-called “rigged poker” case in the Eastern District of New York where sports celebrities including then-Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were allegedly used to lure in high-value players to scam. Jones pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges in that case.

Rozier, who was waived by the Miami Heat last week, has pleaded not guilty and asked for a dismissal.

It’s only natural for most people to not want to fix what they don’t believe is broken. It’s also fairly natural to suspect ulterior motives in any new plan or scheme. While those questions are worth asking, it seems clear to me that if the answer was not to change anything, ever, we’d still be living in caves with dinosaurs.

There is something to be said for novelties, even those with a profit motive of some sort, that succeed. I would argue that the NBA Play In system has succeeded. I understand some people have a need for a certain sort of mental tidiness, or a desire to make accomplishments more meaningful. The NBA’s play in games would seem to go against both things. Is a number seven seed in or out? Why does the 10th ranked team get a shot at a playoff series?

For the mental tidiness people, well, it’s a bit untidy not knowing exactly who the bottom ranked playoff teams will be, but there’s an upside to be gained in giving the teams that were not in the Play In more rest after the regular season. The system itself is also pretty easy to understand, and once you get how it works, it ceases to be untidy, just uncertain. If you are the sort that wants to get rid of all uncertainty in life, well, good luck with that.

There’s also hope for teams that say lose a crucial player for part of the season to be found in the Play In. They might still get into the playoffs, and create a better match up for the top teams, as opposed to ritual execution found in the typical 1v8 match up.

That goes for the sense of accomplishment argument people, too. Don’t want to keep playing games after the regular season, and before the Real Playoffs begin? Win more games. I believe the Play In bracket produces more incentive to win, for good teams, rather than less. A playoff team is guaranteed at least four post season games. A play in team is guaranteed nothing.

There’s something else the Play In offers while we wait for the more successful teams to being their playoffs: fun. These games are the NBA’s way of partaking in the chaotic fun of the NCAA Tournament. It’s one and done for a couple of teams. Their season ends with a loss. We saw some amazing games in that regard, played with real intensity and fire. The Hornets vs Heat game was a true battle, and a ton of fun to watch. It went to overtime, and we saw all kinds of intense things, including potentially dirty play, surprisingly not from Miami. Also, more shockingly, LaMelo Ball coming through in the clutch. Who would have predicted that?

In the end, that’s why most of us are watching basketball, right? To see great competition in a game we love? To see a spectacle?

The Play In, for all it’s gimmickry has worked, if the goal is fun. It’s easy to sneer, because it’s not how things were, but it’s easier to love something that can bring if not joy, then entertainment to the end of the season. There is not some law of the universe that the stricter the playoff system is, the better it is. There might be some logical contradictions, but the goal of sport is not to achieve logical consistency, at least as I see it.

That said, I’d much rather the Rockets be in the playoffs, not the Play In. Too much uncertainty in the Play In.

On another note, I’d say the play in may not have entirely (or sadly, largely) accomplished one of its goals, to curtail tanking, but it has brought fun to the league. Playing for stakes of some sort brings more fire, more interest, to competitions, generally. That’s why tanking is so bad, to me. Sure, it’s rational, but if we’re watching sports for their pure rationality, we might be missing the point. Or one might be better served watching competitive chess. Further, tanking, however you choose to define it, destroys intensity, destroys the idea of stakes in a contest. A tanking team isn’t so much playing basketball, as it is playing lottery ball odds, which might loom over a season, but are not part of the competition in any immediate sense. We’ve seen what immediacy does for a single game, with the play in. Tanking does the opposite, but spread, depressingly, across a season. A teams’ reward for tanking might be heaven, but their actual games are hell, as we well know.

Because winning, keeping a season alive, is possible in the play in, teams go all out. The stakes are real. Tanking is the opposite, it destroys in game stakes, and competition, and that’s why it must be ended, somehow, some way. We can expend a lot of words on what the best way to do that is, and maybe there isn’t a best way, as any system has trade offs built in. The NBA is going to do something in the off season. I’m sure we’ll discuss it when it happens. Anything, though, that is in favor of good basketball, in favor of striving to win, instead of working to lose, has to be better for the game of basketball, and the NBA.

Meanwhile, GO ROCKETS. A genuine playoff team.