The 2026 Western Conference Finals feature three very particular players: (1) a tall, lanky unicorn of a player who can move like a guard and shoot lights out from long range; (2) an explosive point guard (drafted fourth overall in his class) who is a triple-double threat on any given night; and (3) a left-handed, six foot five guard (drafted in the top 3 of his class) who comes off the bench but immediately makes an impact when he steps foot on the floor. Did we just describe the 2012 Oklahoma Thunder or this latest iteration of the San Antonio Spurs?

If you look closely enough at anything, you can often cherry pick eerie similarities between two different things. Give me an hour with a cup of coffee, and I can absolutely mirror The Godfather to Gabby’s Dollhouse: Cakey Cat is such a Fredo Corleone. Of course, the 2026 Spurs are not exactly the same as the 2012 Thunder. However, it shouldn’t be too uncanny to see the type of players NBA GMs prefer (e.g., height and length, athleticism, work ethic, basketball IQ, etc.). If anything, Stephon Castle is more DJ Catnip than Michael Corleone, but if you try to convince me that Victor Wembanyama isn’t Sonny Corleone with the way he threw them sharp elbows in the last round then don’t bother reading my modernized Godfather fan fiction where Google Maps takes Sonny on a faster, alternate route and he avoids the tollbooth massacre.

All of that is to say teams (and good front offices, at least) gravitate toward certain types of players and roster constructions. In the case of both the Spurs and the Thunder of the 2000 teens (I’m workshopping that one, it’s not the best. Life was easier when we could just say the ’60s, ’80s, and ’90s), they gravitated toward a generational centerpiece player who forced mismatches based on his very unique physical build and offensive skill set. Next, it only seemed natural to pair this rainbow unicorn with a point guard that can get him the ball and be their own scoring option when need be. The rising star that comes off the bench who happens to be left-handed is just a happy coincidence that both the Spurs and Thunder share. But if Dylan Harper shows up next season in a full on lumberjack beard, all bets are off that we aren’t living in a mirror universe designed to irritate big market NBA teams like the Lakers and Knicks.

At least that’s where I hope the similarities end. The infamous breakup of the big three in OKC reads like an NBA Greek tragedy in terms of “what could have been.” Sure, they ran into the Heatles, but what if Harden never left for the Rockets? What if Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook buried the hatchet and instead buried more teams in the playoffs? Watching every iteration of the Spurs from the ’99 Twin Towers to the 2014 Beautiful Game/Foreign Legion, you see the different types of teams they faced, defeated, lost to, etc. Of those teams, the Durant/Westbrook/Harden Thunder were particularly scary. Guarding them was a nightmare that I’m sure kept a lot of head coaches up at night. When Kawhi Leonard clawed the ball away from a screaming down the lane Russell Westbrook in the final moments of overtime in Game 6 of the 2014 Western Conference Finals, I let out a guttural cry of glee, relief, and sports exorcism. Revenge against the Miami Heat cannot happen without going through this scary Thunder team just like Michael couldn’t take revenge on the other crime families without going through his own family betrayal (looking at you, Salvatore Tessio).

Mind you, this is year one of this current iteration of the San Antonio Spurs. At the time of this article, they are tied 1-1 with the 2025 defending champion Oklahoma Thunder. They are the underdogs (like their mirror-verse 2014 Thunder counterparts), and while the series already is and will be memorable, at this current trajectory it does not look like this will be the last time these two teams meet. Sure the pieces around the main characters might change, but given what we’ve seen so far from both teams, both the Spurs and the Thunder are destined to clash again. Two of the smallest market teams consistently rising to the top is no accident. Ping-ponging lottery luck does help a lot. Castle falling to fourth helps a lot. But what teams do when certain basketball players are available to them plays a significant part in their success.

It goes to say how much nature (player skills and talents, draft lottery position) and nurture (team culture, front office) both having to coalesce just right to produce the perfect product we see on the court. Even if 2012 doesn’t seem that far away (oh my goodness, it’s 14 years ago!), it was a different time then—whereas it seems today we have more access to players’ thoughts, opinions, and feelings thanks to social media. Maybe the tension between the Thunder’s big three were obvious to teammates and people around the team, but we just weren’t as aware because “clickbait” and “engagement farming” weren’t as prevalent yet. Maybe it was all a nothing burger in that the tension was trivial because in the end a player might just want more money, a different environment, or be the main character on his own team—all of which are reasonable reasons to leave a team.

Knowing how the Spurs operate and based on what fans see from this current Spurs team, we are mostly (cautiously optimistically) confident that these players will be together for a while. And as a personal fan of De’Aaron Fox, don’t take this article to be De’Aaron Fox erasure. We’re seeing how his absence impacts the team because his presence would certainly help decrease turnovers, stabilize the offense, provide another body to match the insane depth of the Thunder, and be the closer that the Spurs need. Fox is 28 years old. He’s on his own personal basketball journey. He led the plucky but fun 2023 Sacramento Kings team against the Golden State Warriors in Round 1 where they ultimately lost a Game 7 to the Warriors. Now, he’s on the same ride with these young Spurs hoping to punch a ticket to the NBA Finals. This team has already out-kicked its coverage in terms of playoff expectations, and there are still obstacles like Fox and Harper’s health, but the biggest obstacle remains the same: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. That’s a direct quote from CatRat. If your six-year-old daughter doesn’t make you watch Gabby’s Dollhouse, then you can just take my word for it and not bother fact-checking me.

The offseason continues to roll along. Days keep falling off the calendar, and somehow we’re already nearly a month away from the 2026 NBA Draft. Yes, technically it’s still over a month away, which is the funny part about the NBA calendar. The season flies by, then once the offseason hits, time suddenly starts moving like you’re standing in line at the DMV.

That said, we’re officially at the point where draft conversations start taking over the landscape. We begin scouting prospects, building boards, and debating which direction the Phoenix Suns should ultimately take. They have a pick this year, albeit the 17th pick in the second round and 47th overall, but it still presents an opportunity. An opportunity to grow, an opportunity to develop, and an opportunity at hope. Sure, Paul Millsap is probably the best player ever drafted at 47, but maybe that changes. Maybe this year’s pick will be impactful for Phoenix.

Before we can arrive at a definitive answer of which way we think the Suns should go, I think it’s important to first understand what paths actually exist for Phoenix and why those paths matter. Because this isn’t simply about identifying a prospect and calling it a day. There are multiple layers attached to this conversation. Roster construction. Financial limitations. Development timelines. Prospect evaluation. Organizational direction. All of it intertwines together when you’re trying to determine what the Suns should do next.

So let’s talk about it.

Understanding Phoenix’s Roster Picture 

Before we even begin exploring who might be available at pick 47, it’s important to first understand who and what the Phoenix Suns currently are from a roster construction standpoint entering this offseason.

This is a team coming off an unexpectedly successful season in which they won 45 games and, quite honestly, still left plenty on the table. Between injuries and a handful of late-season collapses, Phoenix realistically could have been a 50-win team. When you combine that with the messaging from the organization about continuity and development being priorities, there really isn’t a ton of wiggle room attached to this draft class from the Suns’ perspective.

You already have Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming entering their sophomore seasons on guaranteed contracts. Koby Brea returns on a two-way deal. Add Oso Ighodaro and Ryan Dunn into the equation as third-year players, and the youth movement is already alive and well in Phoenix. With Devin Booker leading the way alongside Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, the Suns largely appear set on the identity they want to carry into next season.

There are still obvious questions surrounding the futures of Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin, and Mark Williams, especially when you factor in the financial implications of retaining all three. We still don’t fully know how aggressive Phoenix wants to be relative to the luxury tax and first apron.

When you look at the roster holistically though, it feels like there may only be one true open roster spot available if the organization successfully brings back the players it wants to retain. That likely leaves Amir Coffey as the odd man out, especially considering Haywood Highsmith is already on a non-guaranteed contract that Phoenix can choose to keep active.

Could the Suns use that roster spot on the 47th pick? Absolutely. Could they leave it open in case they move Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, or even Jalen Green in a trade? Sure.

Still, if Phoenix keeps the pick and drafts at 47, the most likely outcome is that player spends significant time on a two-way contract and in the G League. That’s typically what happens with selections in this range, especially when you consider Isaiah Livers will no longer be eligible for a two-way deal next season. And realistically, if the Suns move Allen or O’Neale, they probably aren’t bringing back two players in return. More likely it’s one smaller contract paired with draft compensation.

Phoenix also values flexibility. The organization has consistently preferred keeping that 15th roster spot open throughout the season, and we saw them operate that way last year. If one of their two-way players starts to pop (a la Jamaree Bouyea), that flexibility allows the team to convert them later without having to make a corresponding move.

So that’s where the Suns currently stand from a high-level roster construction perspective. Now comes the harder question. What path should they actually take in the draft?

Three Directions the Suns Could Take

Perhaps it’s rudimentary to say, still, the Phoenix Suns really only have three paths in this draft.

• They can trade up.
• They can trade out.
• Or they can simply make the pick.

Hey, I never said every offseason decision facing Phoenix was overly complicated. This one is actually pretty straightforward.

We’ve already discussed the possibility of trading into the first round, especially with the Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly exploring moving one or both of their first round picks in exchange for future draft capital. If that’s truly the case, Phoenix could probably find a willing partner if it decides moving up is the correct path.

That changes the conversation entirely, though. The 47th pick is most likely a two-way developmental player. If you trade into the lottery range, or even the middle of the first round at 12 or 17, that player immediately occupies a standard roster spot and becomes part of your NBA roster infrastructure moving forward.

We learned from last season that the organization is not interested in automatically handing rotation minutes to young players simply because of draft status. Players still have to earn those opportunities, which honestly is a healthy organizational approach. At the same time, if you trade up that aggressively, there has to be a legitimate developmental plan in place. You need a pathway for that player to realistically become part of the rotation in the near future.

With cap limitations tightening and future draft capital already somewhat limited, Phoenix cannot afford to move up simply for the sake of moving up. If they trade into the first round, it essentially signals they’ve identified a prospect they believe fits both the short-term and long-term vision of the organization, and they’re fully committed to developing him. Otherwise, you’re burning future assets without maximizing the value attached to the move.

There’s another path we really haven’t discussed much either, the possibility Phoenix simply trades out of the draft entirely.

I don’t personally view that as the most likely scenario because the Suns will have an open two-way slot available, and it would make sense to use pick 47 to take another developmental swing. Still, the possibility exists. Maybe Phoenix moves Royce O’Neale and receives a smaller contract and future draft compensation in return, with the 47th pick included in the deal. Unlikely. Still possible.

Maybe the organization simply decides that the current roster is largely complete, aside from some fringe adjustments, and prefers to defer draft capital to create more flexibility in future seasons. The Suns still own a 2027 first round pick, albeit one tied up in swap complications and worst-of-the-worst protections. If Phoenix wants another season to evaluate exactly who and what this roster is before making larger decisions next offseason, moving this year’s second round pick for future value could make some sense.

Then there’s the simplest option of all. Keep the pick. Draft someone at 47, bring him in on a two-way contract, and continue leaning into internal development. Honestly, that still feels like the most likely outcome. Which naturally leads us to the next philosophical thought exercise.

Talent vs. Fit 

This is always one of the more fascinating draft conversations. Are you somebody who drafts purely based on talent and the best prospect available? Or are you somebody who believes certain positions can become oversaturated, leading you to prioritize organizational fit and immediate need instead?

Personally, in most situations, I value talent over fit. The one major exception for me was the 2017 NBA Draft, when I felt adding Josh Jackson was duplicative of T. J. Warren, while De’Aaron Fox sat there on the board as a young point guard who matched the same, dare I say, “timeline” as Devin Booker. But generally, I will always lean toward talent over fit because fit is temporary, while talent can become permanent.

If you pigeonhole yourself into falling in love with a prospect simply because he checks a current organizational need, it becomes an incredibly narrow way to view roster construction. Especially when you’re talking about players on rookie scale contracts. At that point, you’re potentially standing in your own way by drafting the puzzle piece that fits today rather than the player who could someday become the puzzle master.

That said, pick 47 doesn’t necessarily carry the same weighted philosophical debate because that player is not expected to contribute immediately. These conversations feel much heavier when discussing lottery picks, although even there, I still prefer drafting talent first.

When you start looking at the range around 47, there’s a real possibility that some guards become available who intrigue the Suns. Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaden Bradley are two names that have surfaced recently. If Phoenix believes one of those players is the best talent available at 47, then that’s the direction they should go, even if the current guard room already feels crowded.

Because again, the expectation is not that this player contributes immediately. The expectation is that maybe, two or three years down the line, he develops into something meaningful. And honestly, who exactly the Suns will be two or three years from now is impossible to know.

Now maybe you’re somebody who values fit more heavily, and that’s perfectly fine. It’s a philosophical preference. One I personally disagree with, still a valid philosophy nonetheless. If that’s your approach, then maybe you target a player who fills a positional need for Phoenix today. I just wouldn’t recommend approaching pick 47 through that lens.

Whoever the Suns select, there is almost certainly spending significant time with the Valley Suns in the G League next season, developing reps and refining their game. Realistically, that player is going to have little to no immediate impact on the current roster construction of the Suns.

So, from a high-level philosophical standpoint, this is where the Phoenix Suns currently sit and the paths that lie before them.

A lot can still happen between now and draft night. Phoenix could make a trade or two to open additional roster spots, which would naturally alter the organization’s overall draft approach. Maybe they decide to accelerate parts of their timeline and aggressively pursue a move into the lottery. Maybe they remain patient and continue leaning into continuity and internal development. There’s still plenty of time for any of those scenarios to unfold.

The draft begins at 5 p.m. Arizona time on June 23, and if the Suns stand pat, the more important date for Phoenix fans is probably June 24 at 5 p.m., when the second round officially begins. That’s when Phoenix enters the conversation, assuming they keep the 47th overall pick and decide to continue investing in the slow-burning process of internal development.

2026 NBA mock draft roundup: New first-round predictions for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Can the Boston Celtics find a meaningful role player late in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft?

It’s a difficult but doable task.

There were many reasons why the Celtics blew a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, and one of them was a lack of scoring production from the role players/bench.

Outside of Payton Pritchard’s 32 points in Game 4, the bench was largely ineffective in Round 1. Pritchard was the only bench player to score 10-plus points multiple times in the series. The C’s had one or zero bench players score in double-digits in five of the seven games.

Building a stronger supporting cast around Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White needs to be a priority for Boston this offseason, and one of the most cost-effective ways to do that is making a good draft pick in Round 1.

The C’s own the No. 27 overall pick in the first round. Some examples of notable players taken in that slot over the last 15 years include Nikola Jovic (Heat, 2022), Cam Thomas (Nets, 2021), Robert Williams III (Celtics, 2018), Kyle Kuzma (Nets, 2017), Pascal Siakam (Raptors, 2016), Bogdan Bogdanović (Suns, 2014) and Rudy Gobert (Nuggets, 2013).

Here’s a list of potential Celtics targets in Round 1 based on recent predictions from experts in 2026 NBA mock drafts.

Jeremy Woo, ESPN: Koa Peat, SF/PF, Arizona

“Peat was a hot topic at the combine, as teams expressed concern over what appeared to be fully reworked jump-shot mechanics as he struggled in shooting drills. The door remains open for him to return to Arizona, which would give him additional time to solve those issues, with his shot viewed as the primary factor holding him back from having a solid NBA career. Whether he figures it out, his future might ultimately be as a small-ball five, a role that would allow him to use his strength and skill to his advantage while mitigating the potential negative impact of his shot.

“If Peat stays in the draft, teams picking in the 20s will have to consider investing in his development, noting his winning history, sturdy frame, and potential two-way versatility, provided he starts to make open jumpers. The Celtics have done a strong job with internal development and could view this as a value opportunity if he falls.”

Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports: Tarris Reed, C, UConn

“As good as Neemias Queta was all year, the Celtics clearly need to upgrade at center. Maybe Reed could be that choice. Reed is a throwback center who played at his best on the biggest stage on UConn’s way to the national title game. He does all the dirty work inside the paint as a finisher, rebounder and shot-blocker. But beyond his ability to screen and pass, he wasn’t all too comfortable on the perimeter as a shooter or defender. That story might have changed at the Draft Combine, though, since on multiple occasions Reed looked more nimble moving his feet outside, which could be the key to unlocking his potential.”

Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report: Luigi Suigo, C, Mega

“If Mara wasn’t a part of this draft, the hoops world might be raving about Suigo’s measurements instead. After all, the “Italian Wemby” measured a tick below 7’3″ without shoes and displayed a 9’6″ standing reach with a 7’5.5″ wingspan.

“Suigo isn’t super nimble or twitchy, and he doesn’t offer a ton of self-creation, but at his size, he offers an impressive blend of passing feel, shooting touch and above-the-rim finishing. If the Celtics don’t want to cover the cost of Nikola Vučević’s free agency, Suigo could be a fun pivot.”

Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports: Amari Allen, SF, Alabama

“Allen is a versatile wing who has both skill and toughness. He can handle, pass, and is a better shooter than his numbers indicate. Allen is a high-volume wing rebounder who is the type of competitor who should mesh well with Joe Mazzulla and ultimately realize his defensive potential. There is, however, still a possibility that he returns to school.”

Sean Deveney, Heavy.com: Zuby Ejiofor, PF/C, St. John’s

“The Celtics might need to go big with this pick, with few options available on the free-agent market or on the current roster. This pick could be traded, of course, but as it stands, Boston will have some choices based on whom falls to them. Ejiofor came in with a 7-foot-2 wingspan at the combine, and an 8-foot-11 standing reach, offsetting his 6-foot-7.5 height measurement. He finished last year strong. Ejiofor is a fast-rising center who needs offensive work but plays with energy and physicality. He averaged 16.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last year.”

The NBA Combine has officially wrapped up, and the 2026 NBA Draft is 32 days away. It’s been three years since the Utah Jazz drafted Brice Sensabaugh with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 draft, and now Bruce Thornton, who was in the same recruiting class as Sensabaugh, is hoping to get drafted.

Thornton is projected as a mid-to-late second round pick, which means regardless of who takes him, he will likely wind up signing a two-way contract and spend some time in the NBA G League. His height will always count against him, but Thornton did shoot the ball pretty well at the NBA Combine last week, and it seems like he is being considered by some teams as a potential second round selection.

Last week, Connor and Justin debated whether Ohio State needs to try to add another high major home game to the 2026-27 schedule.

The Buckeyes are already going on the road to face Notre Dame and UConn, playing a neutral site game against Kansas, and another “neutral” site game against BYU, although that game will be played about 40 miles fro BYU’s campus, making it far less “neutral” than it seems. What’s missing is a fun non-conference home game to bring the fans out, but as of now, there’s not one on the schedule.

Connor said that it wouldn’t be smart to add a difficult non-conference game to that schedule on top of those four games and the 20 Big Ten games Ohio State is already playing. It’s already a tough schedule, and you don’t want to make it impossible to navigate — kind of like what happened two seasons ago.

Justin said that yes, Ohio State needs to find a way to get a home game on the schedule, and that Ohio State should have a ranked team playing at the Schott in the non-conference every season.

Back to Bruce – the NBA Draft is next month, and Thornton could be one of the very last players taken in the draft. We expect that he’ll end up signing with someone regardless, but will he become the first Buckeye to get drafted since Sensabaugh in 2023?

This week’s question: Will Bruce Thornton get selected in the 2026 NBA Draft?

Connor: No

Maybe I’m jaded from several Ohio State players who I thought would get drafted go undrafted (Duane Washington, Kaleb Wesson, etc.) and others going way lower than I thought they deserved (Keita Bates-Diop, E.J. Liddell, etc.), but I think Thornton might go undrafted next month.

But is going undrafted really that much worse than being selected between picks 50 and 60? If Thornton goes undrafted, he’ll be able to communicate directly with the teams he worked out with before the draft and sign with a team that he thinks gives him the best opportunity to carve out a role this season.

The biggest knocks on Thornton are things that he cannot change. He measured exactly 6-feet tall and 225 pounds, which is the furthest thing from a prototypical NBA point guard. He can’t change that, and his college production was off the charts, despite not being built like a pro guard.

However, for both offensive and defensive purposes, his height especially is a knock against him.

Thornton was also one of the slowest players at the NBA Combine, timing .08 seconds slower than Michigan’s Aday Mara in the lane agility drill. His time of 11.55 seconds was one of the 10 slowest times at the Combine.

This shouldn’t be a big surprise to Ohio State fans, as Thornton was more of a deliberate, “one play at a time” point guard rather than a quick, run and gun, make things happen in the open floor type of point guard. He also tested pretty low in standing reach and wingspan at the combine, finishing in the bottom 10 of each of those as well.

I don’t doubt Bruce’s resolve, and I think he will eventually work his way onto an NBA roster. But between the testing at the combine and his height, I’m skeptical that an NBA team is going to use a pick on him on draft night.

Justin: Yes

There is one reason why Bruce Thornton will be drafted: teams love a guy that can shoot the ball.

Thornton was an elite shooter for the entirety of his career in Columbus, shooting 40.0 percent from three-point range his senior season and 38.1 percent from three-point range for his career.

His worst three-point shooting season was his sophomore season, were he shot 33.3 percent from deep. The other three years were all over 37 percent, and his final two were above 40 percent.

Any team will take an efficient scorer and an elite shooter. Specifically, the Minnesota Timberwolves have the No. 59 pick, and that is somewhere I could really see Thornton landing and thriving.

They did just trade for Ayo Dosunmu and have Terrance Shannon Jr., but he could be a point guard that they take a flier on late in the draft with Mike Conley at the end of his career. Buckeye replaces Buckeye.

The one thing that could affect this is if Thornton decides to tell teams he wants to be an undrafted free agent. Austin Reaves famously did this to get to the Lakers, telling teams not to draft him late in the second round.

The reason this is an option is the money between late second round and undrafted is not that different, and as a UDFA you can pick the spot you want to go to. That can help you succeed more than a place that might not be a good situation for their growth as a player.

We’ve really reached a point where the Knicks simply walk on the court, move around a bit, put on a half-baked effort, and beat teams by 20.

New York and the irrational Knicks fanmob head to Ohio for, potentially, the final two games of the Eastern Conference Finals… and the unmentionable that would come next.

Here’s what he heard and read off a H(e)arty Game 2 victory.

Mike Brown

On Josh Hart’s performance in Game 2:

“It’s just who Josh is. He’s a gamer. He knew what he had to do in terms of the adjustments he needed to make in order to be effective, not just for himself but for the team, and he was great, really decisive. Not only that, he helped us get out in transition, and we have to play fast. He knows the work that he puts in, and his confidence is not going to waver. He’s going to put pressure on himself to take that next one and make the next one.”

On encouraging Josh Hart to keep shooting:

“We want him to keep shooting it. [If] those feet are set, and Jarrett Allen wants to play in the paint, shoot it. And we’ll figure out the rest of the game after that. But just a hell of a game from Josh.”

On Hart’s impact beyond the box score:

“He does so many little things that don’t show up on the box score. I mean obviously, he shot well tonight, he scored 26 points, he had seven assists, one turnover, but he does so much more.”

On giving Hart extra leash:

“Because he’s so impactful as a connector, I gotta give him probably more leash than anybody else. I gotta let him go be him and get out of his way. And that’s hard sometimes as a coach because you’re looking at X’s and O’s and you want everything to be perfect and you’re looking at the box score and you’re looking at this and with Josh and with Andre, all that s— should be thrown out the window because those dudes are winners.”

On trusting Josh Hart after benching him in Game 1:

“It’s easy for me to say because I have the utmost confidence in the world in him. He’s a gamer. When you have guys who are gamers, they do stuff that people don’t think they can do. And he knows the work he puts in. We know the work he puts in. His confidence is not going to waver. He’s going to put confidence in himself to take the next one and make the next one.”

On comparing Hart to future HOFer Andre Iguodala:

“My time with Andre Iguodala in Golden State helped a lot (understanding players like Hart). They’re different players, but they’re similar players because Andre is edgy, too. Andre is a hell of a player. I mean, he’s a great player. He does so many little things that if you’re not careful, you won’t appreciate them. It’s the same with Josh. He does so many little things that don’t show up in this box score … starting with the versatility that he gives us defensively that you have to — and I mean, me — be careful not to dismiss it. On top of that, because he’s so impactful as a connector, I got to give him more leash than anyone else. I have to let him go be him and get out of his way. That’s hard sometimes as a coach because you’re looking at Xs and Os, you want everything to be perfect, you’re looking at the box score and looking at this … with Josh and with Andre, all that s— should be thrown out of the window because those guys are winners.”

On Jalen Brunson handling double teams as the Cavs adjusted in Game 2:

“As an MVP candidate, Jalen Brunson’s job is to make the game easier for his teammates, and that’s what he did. If you don’t send a second guy at him, he’s got a pretty good chance of scoring. If you send the second guy at him, he’s going to make the game easier for his teammates. They’re sending double-teams at him, and he had 14 assists. He did what he’s supposed to do.”

On Jalen Brunson’s demeanor:

“He’s just about the right stuff. And we’re fortunate to have him.”

On the free-throw disparity in Game 2:

“I don’t know what to do about the free throw line. 22 to 6 in the second half. I gotta go back and watch the film. Maybe we’re fouling… Maybe we were fouling and they weren’t fouling. I don’t know.”

On Mikal Bridges asserting himself offensively:

“He just started to impose his will on the game a little bit more. I also have to make sure I call his number every once in a while and make sure he stays in the flow because he has a tough assignment every game defensively … I have to make sure I continue to involve him offensively to let him know: ‘Hey, we know you can do this for us. So go do it.’“

On how they prepared for Game 2 after the Game 1 comeback:

“We have a veteran group. Any time you’re in the playoffs, you obviously need a little bit of talent, you need a little bit of luck and then you need skill. All those things came to play for us coming back from [22] points down with that little bit of time to go. I think our guys understand that we got away with one and we don’t want to put ourselves in that position again because Cleveland is a great team, they’re well coached and they have great players on that team. They’re not gonna let that opportunity slip through their hands again. We’ve talked about that but not necessarily about the emotional part.”

On Jose Alvarado leading from the bench:

“We actually pointed it out to our group in practice. You watch the film, he’s uplifting the entire team when he’s on the bench. He’s always talking in a positive way. He’s showing our young guys that you can impact the game if you’re present, because Jose’s always present. You’re using your voice and your energy, guys feel that on the floor. Jose’s been phenomenal.”

On the Knicks’ defensive focus during the nine-game winning streak:

“Our defense was pretty good, especially when you have the talent that they have and the All-Stars that they have and the shooting that they have. We just have to keep mixing up what we do. Our guys did a pretty good job of trying to pay attention and lock in on the details on the defensive end.”

Jalen Brunson

On assisting Josh Hart many times in Game 2:

“I’m really not trying to look for him, he just happens to be open. So I give him the ball. I got the utmost confidence in him watching the things he does after practice and with his routine and everything. He works hard. I know he jokes around a lot about his practice habits, but he does work hard.”

On Cleveland’s double-team strategy:

“I mean, they’re presenting two to the ball. I was able to find my teammates. They were knocking shots down. Just trying to create an advantage by putting two on the ball, trusting them to have to make the play.”

On adjusting to different game plans from the Cavs or anyone they face:

“I think it’s an advantage for us, learning how to play differently. There are going to be times where one game plan is going to be different than the next, so being able to adjust and learn on the fly and adjust on the fly, it’s something that we need to continue to get better at. But I think we’ve been doing a great job of it.

“The most important thing is that we’re growing and learning together. No matter what the situation is, whatever the series is or whatever, we’re open to getting better, open to figuring out how to win games, trusting each other. It’s a lot of different things.”

On the Knicks’ growth throughout the playoffs:

“A little bit more experience, and I think the most important thing is we’re growing and learning together. Whatever the situation is, we’re open to learning, getting better, and figuring out how to win games.”

On fueling their transition offense by playing stiff defense:

“We were able to get stops, run and get easy baskets. Our offense, the way we were able to play in transition, is definitely a credit to our defense.”

On playing alongside Mikal Bridges and trusting him in big moments:

“Fantastic. It’s not something I truly am thinking about until you said something, but it’s great to have guys like that that you’ve known for a long time be in those positions with you. We have a lot of fond memories of having big games and doing stuff like that. It was great, we’re all very thankful of everything that happened in that fourth and overtime.”

Josh Hart

On working through early misses in Game 2:

“Those first three [3-pointers that I missed], they felt good, and I was kind of frustrated about it, because, obviously, I’ve been putting in the reps with [assistant coaches Kwadzo Ahelegbe] and Peter Patton. And I was frustrated at first, I was like, ‘Bro, it’s not translating right now.’ And then I knew I just had to keep shooting. And I knew if I did that, I’d be good.”

On not believing in analytics:

“I’m never a huge analytics guy. At a certain point, they’re a lamp post to a drunk person – you can lean on them, but it won’t get you home. At a certain point, you gotta have a good feel for the game.”

On being compared to Andre Iguodala:

“Iggy was a hell of a player, I don’t know if I’m at that level, but I just try and go out there and play my game.”

On Brunson’s trust in his teammates:

“He had a huge offensive game [in the] last game, so we knew they were going to come in with a different game plan. I just think it shows, one, the confidence that he has in us, and the depth of the team that we have. It just shows the character of the team, character of him. It shows we can win games in different ways.”

On the team’s mindset being up 2-0:

“This shows the character we have of the guys in the locker room. We can’t be happy with just being up 2-0. The Cavaliers were just down 2-0 in their last series, and they know it and we know it. We have to go out there, they’ll have a sense of urgency, a sense of desperation, so we can’t just match it but exceed it.”

On serving the team no matter his role:

“I’m here to serve these guys … [to] make sure they’re in the best position to be successful. I put the success of the team over the success of myself any day.”

On refining his shooting after a bad Game 1:

“Improving reps and the consistency of those reps. For me, it’s not like I got to go out there and make 500 3s. If I go out and focus and make 500 3s, the mechanics slip just trying to make shots. So we’re just doing precise fundamentals of my shot and perfecting that. And if I did that, I’ll be in a good position. And that’s what I did.”

On trying to play with more joy and grace:

“One of the things I try to do is play with more joy and more grace. I don’t really celebrate when I score or make a good pass. I kick myself, probably a little bit too much, when I miss shots or make turnovers. I think I started to learn to play the game and give myself more grace and not to try and be perfect. I’m happy with that.”

Mikal Bridges

On never doubting his talents:

“Just trusting me. Corner three, just try and be ready and try to make the shot.”

On Josh Hart staying confident despite Cleveland’s strategy to dare him to beat them:

“Just staying mentally tough. That’s the biggest thing and just keep trusting his game, trusting his work. We’re super confident in him and we’re going to keep finding him.”

On Brunson’s 14-assist night:

“A great message. It just shows that he plays the right way. If you’re not going to send a double team, I think it’s an advantage for him. If you send a double team, he’s going to read and react and find the open guy and play the right way. Ever since I’ve known him, he’s played the right way. … If you’re going to keep helping off, he’s going to make you pay, and that’s what makes him great.”

On Brunson adjusting to double teams:

“It just shows that he plays the right way. If you’re not going to send a double-team, I think it’s an advantage for him. If you send a double-team, he’s going to read and react and find the open guy. Ever since I’ve known him, he plays the right way. Kudos to him, how he works, and his understanding of the game. If you’re going to come [double-team him], he’s going to make you pay and that’s what makes him great.”

On Josh Hart’s mental toughness:

“We’re super confident in him. We’re gonna keep finding him and we know he’s gonna make some shots — but for him, we just know he’s mentally-tough.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On avoiding complacency with a 2-0 series lead:

“We don’t feel any closer than we did last game or any game. It’s back to in our minds a 0-0 We got to win the next game. It’s the most important game of the year and that’s how we treat it.”

On Josh Hart’s frustration after early misses:

“I don’t know if we can say what he was saying to himself out loud.”

On Hart’s selflessness:

“That is a guy you want on your team. He’s so selfless. That makes us selfless.”

On adjusting his own approach in Game 2:

“Just seeing where the game goes. Last game, I felt was a game for us to kind of download a lot of information. Today, I just wanted to be aggressive — like I always say, playmaking, getting looks at the basket. It wasn’t even about scoring, it was about putting pressure on the defense, and I just found myself in good positions.”

Miles McBride

On Brunson’s selflessness:

“He’s about winning. We knew that from the jump. Obviously, he’s one of the best scorers in the league, but the fact that he’s willing to just be selfless and give up the ball when guys are double-teaming him proves that he just wants to win.”

OG Anunoby

On Josh Hart’s shooting confidence:

“He’s a great player. We just want to keep giving him confidence. He doesn’t have it but he has it. He knows, he works on it.”

Mitchell Robinson

On stepping away from social media amid the ECF:

“Last post before I delete this app. I finally have changed my number for many reason [sic] … as I fight through and keep fighting in this playoffs run my focus have to go to another level. This is the start of a new chapter in my life. Love and will miss y’all … Mitch out.”

Kenny Atkinson

On Brunson’s reading of Game 2:

“That’s what great players do, right? They read the game, and the game dictated that. Obviously, we were loaded up more to him, and he found other guys. … Took away some of his scoring options, blitzed him, gave him different looks. He made the right reads, the right plays.”

On making playoff adjustments and still losing miserably:

“You gotta pick your poison; that’s what the playoffs are about. You gotta pick players or (a) player you gotta help off of, so those are the choices you make in the playoffs.”

Donovan Mitchell

On being happy with Cleveland’s Game 2:

“Our process was right tonight. I’m happy because we really didn’t let Game 1 affect our mental (approach). We still came with the right intention, did a lot of positive things. And now we have to go home and handle business.

“So that’s why, for us, for me, I’m not sitting here scrambling trying to figure things out. We make some shots, we’ll be in good shape.”

Jarrett Allen

On the Cavaliers’ belief in their process:

“You’re going to hear it over and over again. We truly believe in that.

“I think getting away from the process, it happens. The other team starts making shots; everybody’s trying to make something successful happen.”

Evan Mobley

On Cleveland’s overall approach:

“It was definitely the right process. There’s definitely a few possessions you want back and a few turnovers and stuff like that, but overall, I feel like we played a pretty good game.”

The NBA All-Rookie teams were announced today, and Ace Bailey landed a spot on the second team. This is the first Jazz All-Rookie team selection since 2024 – in 2025, both Collier and Filipowski narrowly missed out on a spot.

While many Jazz fans were hoping that Ace could snag a First Team spot, a place on either team is an honor during a year of remarkably productive rookies. If Ace was able to reach his post All-Star game heights earlier in the season, it’s likely he would’ve replaced Cedric Coward in the First Team. In his 23 games after the All-Star game, Ace increased his scoring average by 6.6 (11.7 to 18.3) and his assists and rebounds marginally. This offensive leap coincided with a more aggressive attitude defensively; after the All-Star break, Ace increased his stocks per game (steals + blocks) by a solid 0.78 (1.26 to 2.04). While it is true that his increase in opportunities coincided with the league-wide buffoonery of March and April, his in-season improvements were undeniable; he was more confident offensively, highlighted by a 37 point game against a Raptors team battling for playoff positioning, and more overwhelming defensively – just ask the Philadelphia 76ers how they felt after his 5 block performance on March 21st. I had my hesitations about Ace at the beginning of the year – do we really need an inefficient shot chucker? – but his clear willingness to learn and do the little things on the court impressed me, and may not have been caught by some of the voters who likely had little incentive to watch late-season shellackings of the Utah Jazz.

What is the next step for Ace? In all promotional content, he is expressed an excitement to work over the summer, and I hope that work is focused primarily on his ball-handling and POA (point of attack) defense. Watching the tenacious backcourts of the Spurs and Thunder, and I am preemptively worrying for Keyonte George in the 2027 playoffs being Utah’s lone ballhandler. These perimeter defenders are too good for the Jazz to hope for success against without multiple options. Ace will need to improve his dribbling, but if he does then we will have the luxury of simply handing him the rock and letting him create a shot at any level, without fear that Cason Wallace or Stephon Castle will swipe the ball from him before it even reaches the apex of its bounce. Until then, he’s best utilized as an off-ball piece, which we already have in bunches (Kessler, JJJ, Markkanen). Ball-handling is his true swing skill.

Additionally, defensive improvements are necessary. An obvious commonality of the powerhouses in San Antonio and Oklahoma City is their impenetrable perimeter defense. Assuming we pay Walker Kessler, Utah has invested much more of its salary to interior defense. Who’s our defensive stopper next year – Cody Williams? A rookie Darryn Peterson? Maybe Elijah Harkless gets some more run? These names do not strike fear into hearts the same way that Alex Caruso or Jalen Williams do. This could be Ace’s role on the Jazz, if he is able to translate his athleticism and flashes to consistent, game-to-game impact. An extra 10 pounds of muscle likely wouldn’t hurt him in this regard.

With Ace on board and our #2 pick likely working out somewhere in Provo, Utah or Lawrence, Kansas, the Jazz’s future is bright. On what skillset do you think Ace should center his off-season work? Do you think he should’ve been selected for All-Rookie first team? Sound off below!

The Oklahoma City Thunder face the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. The teams split the first two games in Oklahoma City. Games 3 and 4 will be in San Antonio. San Antonio is favored by 1.5 points in Game 3. Thunder forward Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Spurs guards De’Aaron Fox (sprained ankle) and Dylan Harper (adductor) are questionable to play.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs

• Date: Friday, May 22

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT

• Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas

• TV Channels: NBC, Pea

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

Odds

• Spread: San Antonio Spurs -1.5

• Moneyline: San Antonio Spurs -129 (54.0%) / Oklahoma City Thunder +108 (46.0%)

• Over/Under: 218.5

Series schedule, results

Game 1:Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)
Game 2:Thunder 122, Spurs 113
Game 3: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Friday May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Sunday May 24, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)
Game 5: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Tuesday May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 6: Oklahoma City at San Antonio (Thursday May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*
Game 7: San Antonio at Oklahoma City (Saturday May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)*

* if necessary