Category: Basketball

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Doc Rivers reportedly meets with Lillard, Antetokounmpo to discuss what is holding Bucks back

Bringing in Damian Lillard (and shipping out Jrue Holiday) was supposed to bring the Milwaukee Bucks closer to a title. Last year, injuries got in the way.

This year, a healthy Bucks are good — 38-30, fifth in the East — but have gone 2-5 in their last seven and look worlds away from a contender. Milwaukee is 0-11 against the teams with the four best records in the NBA (Oklahoma City, Cleveland, Boston and New York).

Following Tuesday night's loss to the Warriors (who were resting Stephen Curry), coach Doc Rivers had a sit-down meeting with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard to talk about what is not working in Wisconsin, reports Chris Haynes.

"Now in this meeting, I'm told, was an open forum for both stars to provide input on ways to improve the team. It was a constructive session, with each individual being allowed to share their perspectives."

There is no single answer for Milwaukee. There may not be an answer at all.

The Bucks' biggest problem — in these seven games and all season — has been their offense. Even with Antetokounmpo and Lillard, this has been a middle-of-the-pack offense most of the season that has fallen into the bottom 10 across the last seven games. This is an outstanding shooting team — second in the league in 3-point percentage and fifth in eFG% — but nothing ever feels smooth and natural in getting to those shots.

If the Bucks get beat in the first round (which Indiana could do in a 4/5 matchup) or get routed by the Cavaliers or Celtics in the second round, Milwaukee is going to have to take a step back this summer and ask some hard questions. Can this personnel, at this age, contend? A Kyle Kuzma for Khris Middleton swap-out was not the answer. This summer, much more drastic changes may be called for.

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Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world'

Why Kerr confidently states Draymond is ‘best defender in the world' originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has immeasurable respect for two-way force Draymond Green.

And on Wednesday, the 11-year coach showed his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame-bound forward even more love, in talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs.”

“I think he’s the best defender in the world, and I realize how good [Victor] Wembanyama is, how good Rudy Gobert is and others,” Kerr said of Green to Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Kerr didn’t lie.

Green, who has made eight All-Defensive teams and is the 2016-17 Defensive Player of the Year, needs no defensive introduction. He has spoiled opposing offensive sets throughout his entire 13-year NBA career and, as a four-time champion alongside Kerr, plays today with the same hunger on both sides of the floor as if he were ringless. 

Kerr further explained that Green has plenty of respect outside of the Bay and across the league.

“Draymond said it himself – ask the other coaches around the league who don’t they want to face,” Kerr told Willard and Dibs. “I have personally asked other coaches around the league. Trust me, there’s so much respect around the league for Draymond around the league, amongst the coaches. They see the versatility in his defense. 

“These other guys are good defenders; I don’t think any of them can do everything – protect the rim, guard pick and roll out in half court, blow up stuff from the weak side.”

Green can guard any player, from Damian Lillard to Wembanyama. As Kerr said, the same can’t be said for other top defenders.

Green brings with his defensive skill set an unmatchable passion. Kerr acknowledged that sometimes Green goes over the line, but concluded by explaining how that’s part of the deal for the game’s best defender.

“Draymond, he’s a defensive genius,” Kerr told Willard and Dibley. “He’s also a competitive freak of nature. Obviously, his emotion gets the best of him at times. But it’s all part of the package, and the package is incredibly disruptive to opposing teams. We are so lucky to have him. He remains an amazing player, even at this stage in his career.”

There never will be another player like Green to play for Golden State or in the NBA; Kerr understands and praises his longtime forward often.

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Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks

Podz contemplated hitting ‘night night' celebration vs. Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski almost hit one of the NBA’s more iconic celebrations in Golden State’s 104-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at Chase Center.

In talking to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” on Wednesday, the second-year Swiss Army Knife detailed his temptation to demonstrate superstar teammate Steph Curry’s “night night” celebration after knocking down a clutch 3-point shot toward the end of regulation against the Bucks.

“I was contemplating it on the second [three-point shot], but then I was like, that’s kind of [Curry and Draymond Green’s] thing, so let me just not intrude on their little celebration,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley.

Dub Nation probably wouldn’t have minded. Nevertheless, here’s the “second” triple Podziemski referenced:

Podziemski could’ve done any celebration he wanted Tuesday night in San Francisco.

Over 29 minutes, he finished the Golden State win with 17 points on 4-for-7 shooting from deep and collected seven rebounds and one steal.

Sure, the “night night” celebration might be Curry’s trademark – and Green’s new rental – but Podziemski should have his own signature move after a game-sealing play; it’s on his mind, at least.

“I got to find some of mine that I could kind of label as mine and stick with it,” Podziemski admitted to Willard and Dibley.

Something with the hair, maybe? Podziemski said that would be “something.”

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NBA power rankings 2024-25: Celtics back on top of final rankings, Thunder, Cavaliers round out top three

This is the final NBC Sports NBA Power Rankings of the season. By this time next week we will be deep into the Play-In Tournament and talking seedings and possible upsets. It's appropriate that this final ranking comes full circle with Boston on top.

TRUE TITLE CONTENDERS

1. Boston Celtics (59-20, Last Week No. 2). It's fitting that the Celtics end the season where they started it — on top of these NBA Power Rankings and as the team to beat in the title chase. Boston is peaking at the right time, having gone 17-2 in their last 19 (best in the league), led by Jayson Tatum, who somehow almost gets taken for granted despite playing at an MVP level all-season long. The road to the Larry O'Brien Trophy runs through Boston.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder (65-14, LW 1). Oklahoma City ran away with the West, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a deserving MVP. Still, in the loss last week to the Lakers, the playoff concerns with this team seemed to raise their heads again: Can Jalen Williams or Chet Holmgren step up when opponents sell out to stop SGA? That's the question this team has to answer to reach the NBA Finals and possibly win it. Nobody is going to question SGA or if the Thunder defense is good enough, but a one-man offensive show doesn't get this team where it wants to be.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (63-16, LW 3). Cleveland has locked up the No. 1 seed in the East and heads into the playoffs looking like a legitimate contender and threat to Boston. Kenny Atkinson will be deservingly rewarded with the Coach of the Year award. Donovan Mitchell will be rewarded by likely being First Team All-NBA/fifth in MVP voting — but, for my money, Evan Mobley is the guy who deserves that honor, he has been the player on both ends driving the Cavaliers' improvement.

SECOND TIER CONTENDERS

4. Golden State Warriors (47-32, LW 4). What a mid-season turnaround — the Warriors enter the playoffs looking like the biggest threat to the Thunder. Since the Jimmy Butler trade, Golden State is 22-6, and the team has a top-five offense and defense since the All-Star break. If you needed more proof, wins last week over the next two teams in this ranking — the Nuggets and Lakers — cemented the Warriors as a team that can make a title run. Also, all the self-promotion aside, Draymond Green has a legitimate case for Defensive Player of the Year.

5. Los Angeles Lakers (48-31, LW 9). Nico Harrison didn't just gift the Lakers a bridge to their post-LeBron future, he gifted them a player in Luka Doncic who makes them a threat to win any playoff series starting this season. Adding Doncic has allowed LeBron James to thrive as a play finisher rather than a creator, while Austin Reaves has taken over a lot of the shot creation. J.J. Redick has proven himself as up to the job. We'll see how the Lakers' defense holds up in the playoffs, but this team is legit.

6. Denver Nuggets (47-32, LW 5). WHAT?!?!? Owner Josh Kroenke apparently had been thinking about firing Mike Malone since midseason (at least) but didn't want GM Calvin Booth to "win" the long-running battle between coach and GM, so he fired them both. With three games and less than a week left in the season. Officially, Kroenke said he hoped the firings would be a "jolt" that would inspire the team in the playoffs. In reality, this feels destabilizing and like throwing in the towel on this season. Is anybody picking Denver over the Lakers or Warriors, let alone the Thunder, in the West now?

7. Houston Rockets (52-27, LW 6). Are we all sleeping on the Rockets as a playoff threat? The conventional wisdom has been they are a promising young team but who would their No. 1 option be in a tight postseason game? They are seen as a year or two — and a move or two — away. However, that athletic and long-armed defense got the Rockets wins against the Thunder and Warriors in the past week, maybe this team is a bigger threat than we realize. Whatever happens in the playoffs will set the course the front office takes going forward.

PLAYOFFS OR BUST

8. Los Angeles Clippers (47-32, LW 7). Tyronn Lue has his team peaking at just the right time. Kawhi Leonard has scored 20+ points in his last dozen games, Ivica Zubac is a force in the paint (and had a 20-20 game this week), the Clippers are stout defensively and smart offensively. Things are unsettled in the West — with four teams tied at 47-32 as of Wednesday morning — but if the Clippers face the Nuggets, Timberwolves or Grizzlies in the first round, it would be tough to pick against them.

9. New York Knicks (50-29, LW 10). The Knicks are locked into the No. 3 seed and Jalen Brunson is back in time for the playoffs. That means it’s time for the annual concern that Tom Thibodeau has run his starters into the ground during the regular season — it’s a legitimate concern. Check out this stat from Chris Herring at ESPN: “Looking at the teams the Knicks could face in the first round of the playoffs, Bridges this season has run 37 miles more than Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, 41 miles more than Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and 66 miles more than Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard, according to NBA tracking data.”

10. Indiana Pacers (48-31, LW 11). Another team peaking at the right time, the Pacers have won five in a row, 11-of-13, and they have a top-10 offense and defense over that stretch. The Pacers are on the verge of a 50-win season and will have home court in the first round of the playoffs, likely against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (Milwaukee won the season series between the teams 3-1).

11. Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33, LW 8). The season started with management trading away Karl-Anthony Towns, leading to rough patches as Minnesota tried to find a new identity. That identity has come around of late, with the Timberwolves going 14-4 in their last 18, but Tuesday's ugly come-from-ahead loss to Milwaukee (where Minnesota led by 24 with 10:09 left and got outscored) hurt. Huge game Thursday against Memphis, Minnesota needs that one to avoid the play-in.

12. Memphis Grizzlies (47-32, LW 13). After dropping their first three games under interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, the Grizzlies have won three straight and find themselves in the four-way tie between seeds 4-7 in the West. The Grizzlies face a critical back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Nuggets on Thursday/Friday and need wins to avoid the play-in. This summer, there are some hard questions in Memphis that need to be answered about the direction of this franchise (and who is coaching them).

13. Milwaukee Bucks (45-34, LW 14). Are we underselling Milwaukee as a playoff threat? The Bucks are peaking at the right time, having won five in a row — including an insane comeback against Minnesota — and Giannis Antetokounmpo has three straight triple-doubles. Milwaukee seems likely to land the No. 5 seed, meaning on the road against Indiana in the first round, followed likely by the Cavaliers in the second round. If the Bucks get bounced in the first round or get destroyed in the second round, it could be a very hot summer in Milwaukee.

14. Detroit Pistons (43-36, LW 12). The Pistons made a massive leap this season and are playing with house money entering the playoffs (where they likely get the Knicks in the first round). Cade Cunningham is deserving of an All-NBA nod and maybe Most Improved Player, while J.B. Bickerstaff will get votes for Coach of the Year. After some rough years, Pistons fans should savor this season, it's been fantastic.

15. Orlando Magic (39-40, LW 15). Orlando will want to clinch the No. 7 seed before facing No. 8 seed Atlanta on Sunday in the final game of the regular season, but that means beating one of two red-hot teams to close the season in Boston or Indiana (though both may not have much to play for and rest key guys). Last season Orlando pushed the Cavaliers to seven games in the playoffs, a great learning experience for Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and the rest of the team, but it's going to be tough to build on that facing Boston (if Orlando is the No. 7 seed) or Cleveland (if No. 8). Still, this is a team on the rise if it can stay healthy.

16. Miami Heat (36-43, LW 17). The Jimmy Butler III era is over in Miami, but now the hard questions come: Who is this team without Butler? Can they land another name free agent? How do the Heat take a step forward off being a bottom-tier play-in team this season? They have Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, and Kel’el Ware had a strong rookie season, but right now this is a middle-of-the-pack team, and that is not where Pat Riley likes to be.

17. Atlanta Hawks (37-42, LW 16). Is there a player more at a crossroads entering the playoffs than Trae Young? He has matured his game, become a strong playmaker and at least tries harder on defense, but the question about whether the Hawks can build a winner around him remains. If (really, when) the Hawks are bounced either in the Play-In Tournament or the first round, the Hawks need to take a hard look at this team and where they want to go. They have other talent on the roster, including Jalen Johnson and Dyson Daniels, among others, but is it time to pivot from Young? Can they?

18. Sacramento Kings (39-40, LW 20). It's going to be a rough offseason in Sacramento. De'Aaron Fox pushed his way out the door to San Antonio and now Domantas Sabonis and others will have questions about what direction this franchise goes, or they may push to leave, also. This isn't a terrible roster with Zach LaVine on it, maybe a .500 team, but in this West, that will not get the Kings very far.

19. Chicago Bulls (36-43, LW 18). Chicago made its move towards a youth movement — then kept winning games because Coby White and Josh Giddey stepped up and played well. Giddey and White are good, but not the No. 1 option the Bulls need, and they are winning too much to draft that star. The big question this summer: How much do the Bulls want to pay Giddey? He wants starting point guard money (around $30 million a season), but do the Bulls want to tie themselves to him long term, or really go all-in on the rebuild? (If not the Bulls, who pays Giddey?)

20. Dallas Mavericks (38-41, LW 19). Dallas has its path for next season, if it can just get and stay healthy. Anthony Davis in the paint and Kyrie Irving — likely returning mid-season from his torn ACL — give the Mavericks two All-NBA level players when they are on the court. Dallas ownership needs them on the court because the bad blood from the Luka Doncic trade is only going away with wins on the court.

CAPTURE THE (COOPER) FLAGG

21. Portland Trail Blazers (35-44, LW 22). The final months of the season showed that Portland has a lot of quality on its roster: Deni Avdija took a big step forward, as did Scoot Henderson, they have Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. Look for the Trail Blazers to make a leap next season and be playing in late April (and maybe beyond). The big question this offseason, will Chauncey Billups get an extension and be back coaching, or are the two sides parting ways? A lot of buzz around the league about a split.

22. Phoenix Suns (35-44, LW 21). Celtics announcers Brian Scalabrine and Mike Gorman pretty much summed up the Suns' season when Boston and Phoenix played last week. Scalabrine: “Great practice game for us. You really want to execute your offense, just call the Phoenix Suns. It’s the best way to work on what you want to work on.” Gorman: “You are not gonna face much resistance against this team.” Yup. There are big changes coming this offseason, with Kevin Durant likely traded and league sources expecting Mike Budenholzer to be out as coach.

23. Toronto Raptors (29-50, LW 23). Rough season in Toronto, but their future is laid out: Brandon Ingram gets healthy and returns next season to play alongside Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. Toronto should move up and be a playoff team next season.

24. San Antonio Spurs (32-47, LW 24). We only got five games of Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox together this season, but next season look for them to show some chemistry and for the Spurs to make a leap in the West. The big offseason question: Who is going to coach them? Will Gregg Popovich return, and if so, for how long? Long-time Popovich right-hand man Mike Budenholzer is expected to be available, as is Taylor Jenkins (who was the right-hand to Budenholzer for a long time). And don't forget Michael Malone.

25. Brooklyn Nets (26-53, LW 25). The bright spot in Brooklyn this season was the job by rookie coach Jordi Fernandez, who kept this team competitive even as GM Sean Marks traded away talent as the team is in a full-on rebuild. It will be interesting to see what Fernandez can do with real talent in a few years.

26. New Orleans Pelicans (21-58, LW 26). Is Zion Williamson back in New Orleans next season? The Pelicans are expected to test the trade waters for him, there will be interest, but will New Orleans get the haul they hope for the former No. 1 pick? Might they just hold on to him? What happens with Zion determines where this franchise goes next year.

27. Philadelphia 76ers (23-56, LW 27). Nick Nurse and Daryl Morey need to swing by a church every day this summer and light a candle for the health of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia is locked into that core, and while they can tweak the role players around them, that core being healthy for 55+ games next season is the only way they get anywhere near the heights they expected this season.

28. Charlotte Hornets (19-60, LW 28). Two keys to the Hornets' offseason: 1) How the lottery balls bounce; 2) The answer to the question "Do they still want to build around LaMelo Ball?" Those two things could be interrelated.

29. Washington Wizards (17-62, LW 29). Rookies Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George showed promise this season, but the Wizards still need the lottery balls to bounce their way this offseason. This is not going to be a fast rebuild.

30. Utah Jazz (16-63, LW 30). While the short-term focus is on the lottery balls and the NBA Draft, the other big question for Utah is whether they trade Lauri Markkanen this summer or bring him back and try to win with him? Expect a Markkanen trade, but if the lottery gods are unkind that could change the dynamic.

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Darian DeVries faces a tall task in helping put Indiana back on the national basketball map for good

New Indiana Hoosiers coach Darian DeVries hit all the right notes Wednesday. At his introductory news conference, DeVries promised this time would be different, even at a school where lofty expectations have been the norm for decades. No, the 49-year-old DeVries wasn't quite as blunt as Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti, who started his tenure in December 2023 by challenging anyone who doubted he could win at Indiana to Google him.

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Podz reveals Butler's unique Warriors pregame ritual

Podz reveals Butler's unique Warriors pregame ritual originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors wing Jimmy Butler is unique. 

Unlike his teammates, the 35-year-old has a distinctive locker room tradition that many NBA players never have seen. Such as second-year guard Brandin Podziemski, who told 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” about Butler’s pregame routine. 

And, yes, the six-time All-Star’s ritual is out of the ordinary. Unique. 

“I think the biggest thing that stands out to me is he lights a candle in his locker – home or away,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley. “I’ve never seen that before.” 

Outside of lighting candles prior to games, the veteran forward has been electric since his arrival in the Bay, helping Golden State to a red-hot 15-2 record and boosting its NBA playoffs panorama.

In those 17 games, Butler has also made franchise history, being the fastest player to reach both 100 rebounds and 100 assists. 

Regardless of why Butler lights candles, Podziemski argues it’s rewarding. 

“I don’t know if it’s something spiritual or just a good luck thing, but he does that,” Podziemski added. 

“I’ve never seen that. I saw it for the first time in Chicago when we were there, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is different.’ But, hey, it’s working.” 

You heard him, Jimmy: Keep lighting candles.

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Podz admits to ‘lick my chops' attitude during Steph's absences

Podz admits to ‘lick my chops' attitude during Steph's absences originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors never want to play without superstar Steph Curry, but they know they must step up in his absence as they did in Tuesday’s 104-93 win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Chase Center.

However, Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski, who scored 17 points against Milwaukee on 4-for-7 3-point shooting with seven rebounds and one steal, admitted he looks forward to games when Curry is unavailable – for understandable reasons, of course.

Podziemski on Wednesday explained to 95.7 The Game’s “Willard and Dibs” why he genuinely enjoys opportunities to suit up without his four-time NBA champion teammate.

“I mean, [when] No. 30’s out, I tend to lick my chops a little bit, knowing I’ll get more shots,” Podziemski told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley. “[I] understand everyone’s play has to elevate because of his absence and just be ultra-aggressive; I think I was for three quarters, I think a little bit in the third quarter I was a little bit passive. 

“And ‘aggressive’ doesn’t always mean scoring, it’s just always trying to be assertive and make the right play; I think we did that, for the most part, in yesterday’s game.”

Golden State never wants to be Curry-less. But sometimes, the 37-year-old just needs a break. And Curry was given a rest day Tuesday night.  

Podziemski proved his later point by helping lead the Warriors to a massive win over the Bucks in Curry’s absence, specifically knocking down a couple of Curry-esque, big-time triples late in the fourth quarter. 

Six-time NBA All-Star wing Jimmy Butler also poured in a historic, game-high 24 points on 6-for-11 shooting with an impressive 10 assists and eight rebounds, while rookie center Quinten Post and reserve sharpshooter Buddy Hield combined for 29 points and 10 boards.

As Podziemski mentioned, the Warriors understand they must step up to minimize Curry’s absence. So far, Golden State is 7-3 without Curry during the 2024-25 NBA season, and Podziemski has averaged 13.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists over the eight Curry-less games he has played this campaign.

While the Warriors prefer Curry to be active for every game, at least coach Steve Kerr and the rest of the organization know Podziemski always is ready to answer the call.

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