Category: Basketball

The 2026 NBA playoffs quickly became a battle of attrition. The number of significant injuries that loom over the start of the league's four conference semifinals are proof enough.

It's not clear yet when NBA star Jalen Williams will return from injury after missing games in the Thunder's first-round series. Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, hopes to get back on the floor for the Timberwolves sooner rather than later following a hyperextension and bone bruise on his left knee that kept him out of Minnesota's final two games of their series against the Nuggets.

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers has yet to play in the postseason due to a hamstring ailment. His teammate, Austin Reaves, only just came back. Same goes for the oft-injured Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.

The injury intrigue adds to the drama with only eight teams left in pursuit of an NBA championship. Some of the league's marquee names and role players under the spotlight when the second round of the playoffs begins on Monday, May 4.

Here's one star player and one role player from each remaining team whose performance (or availability) could swing their team's fortunes during the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs:

ORLANDO MAGIC: Who will replace coach Jamahl Mosley?

NBA playoffs 2026: Conference semifinals players to watch

USA TODAY Sports tabbed one star player and one role player from each team remaining in the 2026 NBA playoffs whose contributions could swing their respective teams' conference semifinals series.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers

• Luka Doncic: The availability and effectiveness of the Lakers' star is likely the key to them being competitive in the series. Doncic hasn't played in a game since injuring his hamstring in an April 2 game against the Thunder.
• Jalen Williams: The Thunder breezed past the Phoenix Suns in the first round despite a hamstring injury to Williams. His status for the start of this series remains uncertain.
• Marcus Smart: Assuming Austin Reaves regains his 3-point stroke, Smart's two-way presence looms large. He could be a primary defender on Shai Gilgeious-Alexander and called upon to hit 3-pointers in crunch time.
• Alex Caruso: He's a defensive weapon off the bench for the Thunder with a history of raising his level of play in the postseason. He can be deployed on Doncic or Reaves depending on the situation.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

• Anthony Edwards: When Edwards returns from the knee injury he suffered during the first round, and how limited he is upon getting back on the court, looms over the entire series.
• Victor Wembanyama: The Spurs only loss in the first round came in Game 3 when Wembanyama sat out due to concussion protocol.
• Rudy Gobert: His defense on Nikola Jokic helped spur the Timberwolves to a first-round upset of the Denver Nuggets. Now Gobert is tasked with making life more difficult on Wembanyama, his countryman from France.
• Dylan Harper: No Spurs player had a better NET rating than Harper during their first-round series against Portland.

New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers

• Joel Embiid: The version of Embiid that played the final four games of the 76ers' first-round series win over the Celtics, combined with Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, make Philadelphia a serious threat in this matchup. But will Embiid's body hold up?
• Jalen Brunson: The Knicks series against the Hawks swung in Game 5 when Brunson produced a 39-point gem, and he's two years removed from averaging 35.5 points and nine assists in a playoff series win.
• Mikal Bridges: He was mostly a non-factor in the first round, but came alive for 24 points in a Game 6 blowout over the Hawks. Bridges should factor heavily in the Knicks' strategy for slowing down Maxey.
• VJ Edgecombe: The 76ers' rookie served as a barometer for Philadelphia in the first round. He shot 50% from the field (including 45% from 3-point range) in the team's four wins. He shot 30.2% (and went 0-for-16 from 3-point range) in three losses to Boston.

Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

• Jalen Duren: The Pistons struggled to get past the Magic in the first round, in part, because Duren hardly resembled the player who blossomed into a dominating big man this season. Maybe a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double in Game 7 was a good sign because the Cavaliers won't be as forgiving as the Magic if Duren falters again.
• Donovan Mitchell: The Cavaliers needed a Game 7 to beat the Raptors because Mitchell shot 38.8% from the field and less than 28% from 3-point range over the final five games of the series. Cleveland will need his shot-making against Detroit's rugged defense.
• Daniss Jenkins: Cade Cunningham needs more help on offense than Tobias Harris for the Pistons to win this series, and Jenkins showed in Game 7 by making four of his five 3-pointers against the Magic that he could be the role player to provide it.
• Jarrett Allen: His third-quarter outburst in Game 7 pushed Cleveland past Toronto. The Pistons might not have the firepower inside to combat both Evan Mobley and an inspired Allen.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs second round players to watch for every team, series

With the first round complete, these are going to be the matchups for the second round of the playoffs.

Eastern Conference Semi- Finals

(1) Detroit vs. (4) Cleveland

• Game 1: Cleveland at Detroit | Tuesday May 5 (7 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
• Game 2: Cleveland at Detroit | Thursday May 7 (7 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland | Saturday May 9 (3 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland | Monday May 11 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit | Wednesday May 13*
• Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland | Friday May 15*
• Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit | Sunday May 17*

(2) New York vs. (7) Philadelphia

• Game 1: Philadelphia at New York | Monday May 4 (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 2: Philadelphia at New York | Wednesday May 6 (7 ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: New York at Philadelphia | Friday May 8 (7 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 4: New York at Philadelphia | Sunday May 10 (3:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 5: Philadelphia at New York | Tuesday May 12*
• Game 6: New York at Philadelphia | Thursday May 14*
• Game 7: Philadelphia at New York | Sunday May 17*

Western Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Oklahoma City vs. (4) Los Angeles

• Game 1: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City | Tuesday May 5 (8:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 2: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City | Thursday May 7 (9:30 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles | Saturday May 9 (8:30 ET, ABC)
• Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles | Monday May 11 (10:30 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City | Wednesday May 13*
• Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles | Saturday May 16*
• Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City | Monday May 18*

(2) San Antonio vs. (6) Minnesota

• Game 1: Minnesota at San Antonio | Monday May 4 (9:30 ET, Peacock/NBCSN)
• Game 2: Minnesota at San Antonio | Wednesday May 6 (9:30 ET, ESPN)
• Game 3: San Antonio at Minnesota | Friday May 8 (9:30 ET, Prime Video)
• Game 4: San Antonio at Minnesota | Sunday May 10 (7:30 ET, NBC/Peacock)
• Game 5: Minnesota at San Antonio | Tuesday May 12*
• Game 6: San Antonio at Minnesota | Friday May 15*
• Game 7: Minnesota at San Antonio | Sunday May 17*

My Predictions

Eastern Conference

Cleveland Cavaliers in 7

New York Knicks in 6

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers in 6

San Antonio Spurs in 7.

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If you want to discuss anything, you can do so below. I will update this thread as the semi-final round continues. Have at it in the comments below.

When I am not posting ridiculous trades on here you can find me talking about Nintendo, LGBT content, music, and the Lakers on my Twitter. You can follow Alexis on Twitter at @BeautifulShy_RS and on BlueSky at @msshyskye.bsky.social.

CINCINNATI (AP) — Adrian “Odie” Smith, whose Hall of Fame basketball career included a college national title with Kentucky, a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics and a 10-year stint in the NBA, has died at age 89.

Smith died on April 28th, the University of Kentucky said in a statement. There was no word on how or where Smith died.

Smith played for the Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) from the 1961-62 NBA season until the 1969-70 season, when he was traded to the San Francisco (now Golden State) Warriors.

The 6-foot-1 guard, who was named MVP of the 1966 NBA All-Star game, also played one season in the ABA with the Virginia Squires, finishing his pro career as a teammate of then-rookie Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

Smith grew up in rural Graves County, Kentucky, in a farmhouse without electricity or indoor plumbing. His path to profession basketball began with him tossing a homemade ball through a peach basket nailed to a tree.

His college career began at Northeast Mississippi Junior College, where his coach persuaded a Kentucky assistant to watch him, resulting in a scholarship offer from the Wildcats.

Smith played two seasons for Kentucky, averaging 10.2 points, and was one of the “Fiddlin’ Five” who brought the Wildcats a 1958 national title.

Smith served in the U.S. Army and was selected for the U.S. men's national team for 1960 Olympic Games. A year later, he began his NBA career alongside Oscar Robertson in Cincinnati.

Smith was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 along with the gold medal-winning 1960 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team.

Smith is survived by his son, Tyler, and his brother, Kenny.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

There’s a cadence to every postseason. Teams get eliminated, and they move into the space the Phoenix Suns currently occupy. The early exit offseason. As these teams book flights to Cancun, their players become names to ponder, evaluate, and wonder whether they are what your team is missing. It’s the natural order.

The latest name catching the attention of Suns fans? Former University of Arizona Wildcat, Aaron Gordon.

I get it. I understand the appeal. Power forward has been a problem area for a while. The roster has felt undersized, and it shows up at the rim. The Suns consistently finish near the bottom of the league in finishing around the basket as well as defending it. So when a name like Gordon is linked, people start connecting dots and picturing the fit.

The reality is pretty simple. There isn’t much Phoenix can offer the Denver Nuggets that moves the needle outside of sending out young prospects. That’s not a deal that makes sense here, and therefore, this one feels dead on arrival.

What I do find interesting, however, is the verbiage provided by Brett Siegel, which states that the Suns are a “win now” team. 

The Lakers, Suns, and Celtics are among the win-now teams expected to show interest in Aaron Gordon as realistic trade suitors, per @BrettSiegelNBA

“Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics are among the many win-now teams Gordon would obviously fit… pic.twitter.com/GbCHQkMsqc

— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) May 3, 2026

And that’s where I push back. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it throughout this offseason. The Phoenix Suns are not in “win now” mode. “Win now” mode is what teams like the Denver Nuggets live in. You have an MVP-level player, you have a real path to a title, and every move is about maximizing that window and competing at the top of the Western Conference.

That’s not who the Suns are right now. Good, bad, or indifferent, that’s the reality. It’s not fun to say. It’s not fun to hear. Your team is not positioned to win a championship next season.

You still have to live in reality. And once you accept that reality, you can start building a plan, both short-term and long-term. A path that puts you in a position to become one of those teams down the line. One that can actually operate in “win now” mode when the time comes.

I believe the Phoenix Suns want to run it back, hoping health swings more in their favor. Health never fully cooperates; injuries happen. Still, this team took a hit in 2025-26. Because of that, they never had enough data to truly understand who they are. We can all have our offseason conversations about what they should be and how they can operate better. That’s the fun part. I’m in that group. I don’t want to see three guard lineups. I’d bring Collin Gillespie back as a bench piece. I’d like to see Rasheer Fleming in the starting lineup, sliding Dillon Brooks to the three where he can be a defensive menace. That’s my view. Those are not moves of a team trying to “win now.”

The Suns do have desirable assets, sure. It means you’re going to hear noise from national pundits. It’s going to sound like they’re sellers, and while it would be irresponsible not to pick up the phone and hear offers, it doesn’t mean they’re actively shopping everyone.

The Suns’ priority this offseason should be continuity. Build a foundation and let it grow from a consistent place. You don’t plug in new pieces and expect chemistry to match overnight.

I’m currently watching Untold: Jail Blazers on Netflix, and one of the main takeaways from Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, and Bonzi Wells is how fragile chemistry can be. That team was 12 minutes away from knocking off the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. That offseason, a lot of the fringe pieces got swapped out. In came Shawn Kemp, Dale Davis, and Will Perdue. The chemistry slipped, and the team finished as a 7th seed.

That doesn’t mean the Phoenix Suns ignore the fringes. They should absolutely work those margins. But it doesn’t need to be splashy or dramatic like the national conversation wants it to be. That’s the part the fan base has to accept. When names like Aaron Gordon pop up, pay attention to the teams tied to those reports. You’ll see situations where franchises are trying to sell LeBron James on coming back, or a Boston Celtics group that just got bounced in Game 7 and sits closer to a title than Phoenix does right now. Both of those are “win now” teams as they are entering eras in which the window might be closing or is still wide open. That simply isn’t where Phoenix is right now.

Progression for Phoenix next season is clear. They need to win more games, climb the standings, and perhaps get a round, maybe two, in the postseason. That’s a win. That sets up a different conversation a year from now. Right now, this isn’t a team operating in “win now” mode. They’re building culture, leaning into continuity, and doing it in a responsible way.

This is the part of the cycle where patience feels like inaction, even when it’s the smarter play. Phoenix doesn’t need to chase noise to prove intent, it needs to define itself with clarity and consistency. Let the roster breathe, let roles settle, and let progression happen on its own timeline. If that foundation takes hold, the window everyone wants to force open now will come into focus soon enough, and it’ll actually mean something when it does.

Observations after Sixers start Round 2 of playoffs with 39-point loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK — The Sixers thudded back to earth Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

Two days after celebrating a historic Game 7 victory over the Celtics, the Sixers opened their second-round playoff series against the Knicks by suffering a 137-98 loss. 

Jalen Brunson starred in New York’s Game 1 win, posting 35 points on 12-for-18 shooting in 31 minutes.

The Sixers’ top scorer was Paul George with 17 points. 

Joel Embiid had 14 points on 3-for-11 shooting. Tyrese Maxey scored 13 points and went 3 for 9 from the field. 

Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. Here are observations on the Sixers’ Game 1 loss:

Not how the Sixers drew it up against Brunson 

Mikal Bridges scored the first points of the series with a fast-break slam. VJ Edgecombe replied with a sweet baseline jumper and also nailed a corner three-pointer in the early going. 

Edgecombe had done strong work defending Brunson during the regular-season series and unsurprisingly began the night on the Knicks’ star guard. The Sixers’ other defenders on Brunson included Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes. 

Brunson started out in a serious zone against whoever he saw in front of him, finding shots with subtle fakes and hesitations. He poured in 14 of the Knicks’ first 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting. Edgecombe picked up his third foul at the 4:26 mark of the second quarter when he tripped up Brunson as the two chased after a loose ball. 

The Sixers will need to keep throwing different defenders and coverages at Brunson throughout the series in an effort to be unpredictable and disrupt his rhythm. They’ll also have to be better with the fundamentals of on-ball defense and try to make everything less comfortable for Brunson, from stepping into pull-up jumpers to wriggling free in the mid-range. 

Short rotation doesn‘t work this time for Sixers

Embiid started 0 for 3 from the floor, although he did draw Karl-Anthony Towns’ second foul with 6:55 left in the first quarter. Mitchell Robinson entered.

The Sixers began intentionally fouling Robinson with a little under three minutes in the first quarter, aiming to exploit a widely known weakness. Robinson made a mere 40.8 percent of his free throws this year.

Back on Dec. 19, the Sixers also hacked Robinson and he had his best foul shooting game of the season, going 7 for 8. He did not replicate that Monday, starting 0 for 4. New York subbed Robinson out and briefly replaced him with Ariel Hukporti so the Sixers couldn’t keep hacking. 

Despite the issue with Robinson’s free throws, the Knicks’ bench clearly outplayed the Sixers’ in the first half. Part of that was simply because Sixers head coach Nick Nurse maintained a short rotation. Grimes served as the Sixers’ sixth man. Andre Drummond and Justin Edwards totaled eight first-half minutes.

The Sixers’ lack of rest was surely relevant in Game 1. They had a single day off following a very taxing series against the Celtics. At some point, it appears Nurse will have to expand his rotation a bit, buy slightly more rest for his stars, and see if the Sixers’ bench players can provide an impactful performance or two. 

The Knicks also rely heavily on their star power, but they played 11 men Monday before garbage time and kept growing their lead in the second quarter. Towns canned a three over Drummond early in the second to put New York up 49-37. The Knicks’ advantage ballooned to 23 points when Brunson sunk a second-chance three on the final play of the first half. 

“They’re deep, they’re big, they’re pretty physical as well,” Grimes said of the Knicks before the Sixers’ Monday morning shootaround. “They’ve got a lot of guys who can shoot the three. … They’ve got a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things to put pressure on us at the defensive end. We’ve got to be ready to take their punches and just take care of business.”

Another nightmare Game 1

Maxey didn’t make a field goal until he converted a driving layup with 6:58 to go in the second quarter.

Bridges guarded him well and the Knicks mixed up their pick-and-roll coverages effectively. Maxey committed an uncharacteristic turnover when the Sixers ran a double drag action and he threw a high-risk pass toward the paint that Josh Hart intercepted. 

Almost nothing unfolded as the Sixers would have hoped on either side of the ball. George did stay scorching from three-point range, going 4 for 6 after shooting 55 percent beyond the arc in the Celtics series. 

Just like in their Game 1 and Game 4 defeats to the Celtics, the Sixers had no chance in the fourth quarter and garbage time was abundant. Nurse called timeout with 5:19 left in the third following a Bridges three that gave the Knicks a 95-65 lead.

Though the Sixers were full of self-belief after their comeback against the Celtics, it’s worth remembering that the Knicks also entered Round 2 on a three-game winning streak and eliminated the Hawks with a 51-point Game 6 victory on the road.

Monday’s result doesn’t mean the Sixers are destined to get crushed in this series. They still have dangerous stars and showed in Round 1 that they can defy conventional wisdom.

The Knicks are unequivocally another difficult opponent, however, and now the Sixers must play from behind again. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves face the San Antonio Spurs in the first game of their Western Conference semifinals series. The Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets 4-2 in the first round while the Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1. Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards, who missed the last two games of the first round with a knee injury, could return in the opener.

How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs

• Date: Monday, May 4

• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

• TV Channels: Peacock

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: San Antonio Spurs -13.5

• Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -641 (83.0%) / Minnesota Timberwolves +464 (17.0%)

• Over/Under: 217.5

The Philadelphia 76ers meet the New York Knicks in the opening game of their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Sixers eliminated the Boston Celtics in seven games in the first round. The Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 4-2. The Knicks are favored at 7.5 points with an over/under of 212.5.

How to watch Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks

• Date: Monday, May 4

• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York

• TV Channels: NBC, Peacock

• Live Stream:NBA League Pass | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Odds

• Spread: New York Knicks -7.5

• Moneyline: New York Knicks -294 (71.4%) / Philadelphia 76ers +235 (28.6%)

• Over/Under: 212.5

NEW YORK (AP) — The “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast won a Pulitzer Prize in audio reporting on Monday for its deep dive into the finances of the Los Angeles Clippers and star Kawhi Leonard, capping a remarkable rise for the influential show.

Torre's show — which has three episodes each week — has reported on several major stories since its debut in 2023. Topics include Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Harvard, Madison Square Garden’s use of facial recognition software at games and team collusion in the NFL.

“We are honored to have been named the winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting!” the podcast’s official X account posted.

Last September, a report by Torre alleged that the Clippers violated NBA salary cap rules involving a $28 million endorsement contract between Leonard and the now-bankrupt California-based sustainability services company called Aspiration Fund Adviser LLC. The report led to an ongoing NBA investigation.

The Pulitzer judges called the project a “pioneering and entertaining form of live podcast journalism.”

Leonard has denied any wrongdoing, saying he didn’t receive all of the money he was owed from the company.

The Clippers have strongly denied that any rules were broken and said they welcomed the league’s investigation, which is being run by an outside firm.

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and the company and the team announced a $300 million partnership in September 2021. That was about a month after Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers.

The team ended its relationship with Aspiration after two years, saying the contract was in default. Aspiration’s co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, agreed to plead guilty in August after facing federal charges of wire fraud. Prosecutors said he defrauded investors and lenders out of $248 million, adding that “Aspiration’s financial statements were inaccurate and reflected much higher revenue than the company in fact received.”

Torre's podcast is produced by Meadowlark Media and licensed by The Athletic, which is owned by The New York Times Company. The 40-year-old Torre also has worked for Sports Illustrated and ESPN.

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

The team that’s won Game 1 has won every series that the Donovan Mitchell-led Cleveland Cavaliers teams have played. How much stock you put into that is up to you. What we can say is that Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons is important.

Neither the Cavs nor the Pistons have had much time to prepare for the second round. Both teams went seven games in a series that many thought would be over far before it was. As a result, both have just one day to transition from the highs of winning a Game 7 to the onset of a new series.

The lack of preparation usually means that the team, or more specifically the team with the star players, that executes better will come away with the win on Tuesday.

For what it’s worth, the Cavs and Pistons split their four regular-season contests this year.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) at Detroit Pistons (60-22)

Where: Little Caesars Arena – Detroit, MI

When: Tue., May 5 at 7 PM

TV: Peacock, NBC Sports Network

Point spread: Pistons -3.5

Cavs injury report: None

Pistons injury report: Kevin Huerter – QUESTIONABLE (abductor strain)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Pistons expected starting lineup: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Previous matchup: The Cavs defeated the Pistons 113-109 in March thanks to a big game from Jaylon Tyson

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

	Offensive Rating	Defensive Rating	Net Rating
Cavs	118.9 (8th)	115 (15th)	+3.9 (9th)
Raptors	118.3 (10th)	109.5 (2nd)	+8.8 (3rd)

Happy Monday everyone. The second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin tonight.

The New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs. Sorry for the blunder folks! All games on Peacock or NBC (WRC-TV).

DETROIT (AP) — Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff has agreed to a contract extension on the heels of Detroit's first-round playoff series victory over the Orlando Magic.

Details regarding the value and length of the extension were not released by the Pistons when they announced the deal on Monday.

The Pistons have gone 104-60 in regular-season games under Bickerstaff and made two playoff appearances since he took over for Monty Williams at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Detroit lost in the first round a year ago. This season, the Pistons had the best record in the Eastern Conference at 60-22 and on Sunday defeated Orlando 116-94 to close out a playoff series victory for the first time since 2008.

In the fall of 2024, Bickerstaff took over a Pistons franchise that had posted the NBA's worst record in each of the previous two seasons, including a 14-68 record in 2023-24.

Before Bickerstaff arrived, Detroit finished with the worst record in the NBA in consecutive seasons.

Detroit opens a second-round playoff series at home on Tuesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers — a team Bickerstaff coached from the end of the 2019-2020 season through the 2023-24 campaign.

___

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

The Dallas Mavericks made the flashy hire of Masai Ujiri on Monday afternoon, bolstering their front office less than a week before the NBA Draft Lottery determines where the Mavericks will be picking in June’s Draft. After Nico Harrison was removed from his GM responsibilities in November, the Mavericks operated somewhat unconventionally with no formal GM. Instead, they had the tandem of Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley running day-to-day operations, a pair that proved quite effective when they orchestrated the Anthony Davis trade that reset the Mavericks’ timeline and cap constraints.

With the “Fincardi” hivemind already in house, and virtually no solid evidence the Mavs’ even had a realistic outside target they were engaged with, the hiring of Ujiri comes as something of a surprise. Added to the Harrison departure and Davis trade, the Mavs continue to show they are turning the chapter, not just the page, on the Harrison era. While that distancing is surely welcome to the fanbase, the question remains as to whether Ujiri is the right choice.

What’s in a name?

In just a few hours post-hire, we are already seeing some confusion as to what role Ujiri will play. Logically, this was the GM hire to replace the void left by Harrison, and it seems many have understood it as such. In reality, that is not the case. Ujiri is “President” and “Alternate Governor.” Nowhere has the team officially referred to him as the GM. In fact, the Mavericks’ official press release clearly leaves that title out of his job description, despite said description heavily crossing over with what a GM normally does. Per the official news from the Mavericks’ website:

“Ujiri will oversee all aspects of the Mavericks’ basketball operations, including roster construction, player personnel, and scouting, while working with team leadership to shape the organization’s basketball philosophy and long-term direction.”

While some of that certainly sounds akin to a GM’s usual and customary duties, it also seems to indicate that Ujiri will have much more control than what may have been expected of a direct GM hire. On the other hand, maybe this is just another quirk of how the Mavericks have long done business. Recall that Mavericks’ longtime “GM” Donnie Nelson was not actually the GM in title. Technically, the Mavs did not have a GM for many years under Nelson’s leadership (remember Gersson Rosas’ cup-of-coffee hire as GM?). Time will tell exactly what Ujiri will be doing, but one thing is certain – he will play a major role in the Cooper Flagg era.

What is an Alternate Governor?

While we can only speculate at this point, it’s safe to say Ujiri as an “Alternate Governor” is a tremendous positive for the franchise. Why? This title seems to be deliberate in that it will likely allow Ujiri to stand in for the actual Governor, majority owner Patrick Dumont. In other words, Ujiri can likely be at the table for any NBA Board of Governors-related activities. With all due respect to Dumont, having a respected basketball executive at the table instead of a relatively new owner who’s early legacy is tarnished by the trade of Luka Doncic and poor fan relations, is a massive, massive win for the Mavericks. This further speaks to my earlier supposition that Ujiri’s influence is farther-reaching than that of a typical GM.

Safe bet

Ujiri is, simply put, a safe bet. Don’t let that fool you into thinking he will be an ineffectual stand-in. My calling him a safe bet in this context is a compliment. Ujiri is the antithesis of the outsider-turned-GM the Mavericks previously had making material decisions for the team. He is a well-respected, known quantity in the NBA landscape for over a decade-and-a-half. He was named Executive of the Year in 2012-2013 and oversaw the 2019 Toronto Raptors Championship. This is a big name hire that shows the Mavs are getting back to convention with an established individual.

Good draft history

Ujiri has show effectiveness on both the high and low end of the NBA Draft. Convenient, given the Mavericks have a lottery pick and a late first round pick this summer. To his credit, Ujiri drafted Pascal Siakam with the 27^th pick, Scottie Barnes with the 4^th pick and OG Anunoby with the 23^rd pick over a five-year span. Talent evaluation for a team that so often treated the Draft as an afterthought is a boon. Granted the Mavs don’t have a whole lot in the draft cupboard after this offseason, but that could change with a single trade. Even if it doesn’t, the Mavs need to nail their upcoming picks and Ujiri has at least demonstrated an ability to evaluate talent even in the latter half the first round.

There are two sides to every coin, of course, and there is a fair argument to be made that Ujiri was less impressive in his final years with the Raptors. Nonetheless, this is a big-name hire that shows Dumont is taking things seriously, even to the point of relinquishing some decision-making sway. Personally, I’m hopeful he will retain the services of both Matt Riccardi and Michael Finley as something of official co-GMs. That collective could (somewhat) quietly be a highly effective front office. In the early hours of the hire, this feels like a good day in Mavsland.

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The Los Angeles Lakers may never have a distinct edge in this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and my Lakers vs. Thunder same-game parlay picks believe that should be particularly true in Game 1.

My Lakers vs. Thunder predictions have no faith in Los Angeles in any regard before Game 1 on Tuesday, May 5.

Our best Lakers vs Thunder SGP for Game 1

SGP leg #1: Thunder First Half -9.5 (-115)

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Los Angeles Lakers four times in four tries this season. Is that not bad enough?

The Thunder covered the full-game spread at halftime in three of those games. In the fourth? Oklahoma City was an 18-point favorite for the game and led by exactly 18 points at halftime.

There is no traction here for the Lakers. Not in any regard.

SGP leg #2: Thunder -15.5 (-110)

Most of the time, the thought of a fourth-quarter flurry could inspire fear about a number this large. Los Angeles might push late, right?

Not in this Game 1. Not when on the road and already with a rest disadvantage. This is the one moment to expect JJ Redick to pack it in early if the game is out of hand, likely turning any 20-point deficit into a 30-point misery.

SGP leg #3: Austin Reaves Under 21.5 points (-120)

No one on the Lakers’ roster should be pulled sooner than Austin Reaves, not even LeBron James. Reaves has rushed back from an oblique strain to give James some scoring help, but he still shows some wear.

Save the stress for a winnable game.

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See our full Lakers vs Thunder Game 1 preview

Get Douglas Farmer's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Lakers vs Thunder predictions for Game 1.

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