DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 2: Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of the Kansas City Royals is called out on strikes against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on August 2, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals are averaging just 3.11 runs-per-game, second-fewest in baseball. They have scored three runs or less in 12 of their 18 matchups so far.
But for long-time Royals fans, this is just business as usual. If the calendar reads April, that means taxes are due, Midwestern showers are common, and the Royals are leaving goose eggs on the scoreboard.
The Royals have scored fewer runs-per-game than the American League average in all but four seasons since 2007. But that shouldn’t be too surprising – the Royals have typically had a below-average offense. So I wanted to look at how the Royals performed in all months compared to the league average. Below is a chart that shows how much better or worse the Royals fared in runs-per-game compared to the AL average – 10% means they scored ten percent more runs than the average AL team, -10% means they score ten percent fewer runs than the average AL team. I also color-coded things to make it easier to scan – light blue means the Royals did 0-10% better than league average, and dark blue means they did over 10% better. Light red means they did 0-10% worse than league average, and dark red means they did over 10% worse.
If you think April is a bad month for the Royals, wait until May and June, it typically gets worse! The Royals have had some epic slumps in May. In 2014, they collectively hit .246/.300/.339 as a team, dropping 17 of 29 games. The team demoted Mike Moustakas and reassigned hitting coach Pedro Grifol in May. It was the second consecutive year the Royals had fired their hitting coach before the month of June, having reassigned Jack Maloof in May of 2013 after he suggested the team wasn’t hitting because of Kauffman Stadium.
And Royals fans have become familiar with the June swoon. The team dropped 20 of 26 in June of 2023, on their way to 106 losses. Last year’s June probably cost them a playoff spot – they lost 18 of 26 including series sweeps at the hands of the Athletics and Rays, and were shut out five times that month.
When do Royals hitters typically perform? They have fared well in August, particularly in 2013-15, when they made runs at a playoff spot. But often they also perform well in September, often when the team has been eliminated from contention.
Why do the Royals always seem to get off to a slow start offensively, only to get going as the summer warms up? I had a few theories.
The weather
Spring weather in the Midwest can be temperamental. It can be 80s degrees one day, and 40 degrees the next. Plus the Royals often make early season visits to chilly burbs like Minneapolis, Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit.
According to Baseball Reference, the Royals have had 101 games since 2007 played with a first-pitch temperature of 50 degrees or less. They average 3.84 runs in those games, a bit lower than their average of 4.20 in all games over that time. That’s about five games per season, so not nothing, but not likely to make a large impact. According to a 2013 study published by Weather, Climate, and Society found that Kauffman Stadium actually has fewer overall “cold” games than Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
The wind could be a different story. But according to Baseball Reference, the Royals have only had 36 games since 2007 where the wind was greater than 15 mph and blowing in – interestingly only five were at home.
Spring training hangover
We are very familiar with Royals hitters raking in the warm, dry air of Arizona, then having the bats go completely limp once the regular season begins. While weather may not be a direct culprit, moving from the desert climate of Arizona to a much more damp spring Midwestern climate could be a difficult adjustment for hitters. Pitchers are said to be ahead of hitters to begin the year, although the Royals seem to struggle more than other teams early in the year.
Roster construction
The Royals are a small market team that commonly has to rely on a few proven stars, with some question marks to fill out the lineup. Some years that may mean hoping a young hitter like MJ Melendez figures it out, or it may mean banking on a career rebound from a veteran like Lane Thomas. Sometimes it works, but more often it does not, and the lineup has precious little depth. The Royals are typically able to make mid-season adjustments – a callup from the minors, a trade to bring in more depth. Last summer, the Royals were able to significantly improve the lineup by simply jettisoning dead weight like Melendez and Hunter Renfroe, and adding solid, but unspectacular veterans like Adam Frazier, Mike Yastrzemski, and Randal Grichuk.
Coaching
Coaching does matter, although its direct impacts can be difficult to ascertain, particularly now when so many players seek counsel outside the organization. If hitters are unprepared to begin the year, they may struggle. By late summer, a good hitting coach has identified mechanical flaws, opponents have tipped tendencies, and experienced hitters have settled into routines.
In 2014, the Royals hit .253/.308/.352, averaging 3.86 runs-per-game when they fired hitting coach Pedro Grifol. They hit .267/.316/.388 afterward, averaging 4.09 runs-per-game. It is impossible to say whether replacement hitting coach Dale Sveum made the impact, or if the personnel change was the shakeup the hitters needed to wake them out of their funk.
Of course, the simplest explanation is often the right one. The Royals have finished in the upper half of the American League in runs scored just three times since 2007. It may be that the Royals just haven’t been a very good offensive team. April doesn’t make them worse. It just makes them exactly who they are, before the calendar has had enough time to obscure it. Moving in the fences hasn’t changed things yet. The Royals still have a flawed offense that is mired in yet another spring slump.
The Kansas City Royals (7-11) and Detroit Tigers (9-9) close out their three-game series. The Tigers have won the first two games, each by a score of 2-1. Kansas City has scored more than two runs only once in its past eight games. Starting pitchers are Kris Bubic for Kansas City and Keider Montero for Detroit.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs. Detroit Tigers
Apr 15, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Adrian Del Castillo watches his two run home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the tenth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Team News
Del Castillo punctuates D-backs’ strong trip with go-ahead HR in 10th “They’re winning players with a winning attitude,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “There’s good leadership on this team. There’s a good culture. The leaders carry the torch here and they don’t want to let bad things happen, and they address it right on the spot.”
The first papermaking process was documented during the 25-220 CE (Eastern Han period). At some point during the 8th century, Chinese papermaking spread to the Islamic world which later on was used as a method of making paper currency.
Abraham Lincoln was a wrestling champion.
Before taking a seat at the office, Abraham Lincoln was once known as a great wrestler and has won many awards from his time in the ring. One of his most famous matches was with his rival Jack Armstrong.
A shrimp’s heart is in its head.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you can’t choose between following your head or your heart? Well, it seems shrimp have an evolutionary advantage when it comes to tough decisions. Kidding aside, one of the fun facts about shrimps is that their hearts are literally in their heads. Specifically, it is found in the thorax just behind the head – but they are covered in the same shell segment.
Craig Berube wants — and expects — to be back as Toronto Maple Leafs head coach next season.
It was no doubt a difficult season for everybody around the organization, from management to players, to even the fans who spent their hard-earned money in hopes the team would win.
But there were countless speed bumps the Maple Leafs hit, causing them to veer off into the bottom of the NHL standings.
When asked during his end-of-season media availability on Thursday about how this team went from top of the Atlantic Division last season to the basement this year, Berube stated, "Goals against."
Toronto finished second-last in the NHL in that category with 295, only behind last-place Vancouver Canucks, who allowed 308 goals this season.
Despite all of the problems Toronto faced this season, Berube believes this version (or core) of the Maple Leafs can return to the playoffs next season.
"We have some good players here, and we have to make some adjustments," he said on Thursday. "We have to make some moves to bring in maybe some different players or different people, but there's a good core here and good players and good people, so I do believe we can bounce back."
Why, though, does Berube, whose coaching future hangs in the balance, believe he'll be back next season, especially when a new head of hockey operations hasn't been put in place yet?
Truth is, despite believing he'll be back, Berube is also unsure about his future in Toronto.
"No, I haven't heard anything about [being back]," he said. "Same as you guys heard. A new GM gets hired and people there, and they'll make a decision."
In what's now two seasons under Berube, the Maple Leafs have an 84-62-18 record, the 14th-best in the NHL. They reached the second round of the playoffs last year before getting ousted by the Florida Panthers in seven games.
Time will tell if they can get back to that level.
"I'm not going to sit here and talk about every little thing today about the on-ice performance and individuals' performance on the ice," Berube continued, "but those are things we've got to look at and assess and going forward here in what we're going to do."
The Calgary Flames wrap up their season with a matchup against the Los Angeles Kings tonight at Scotiabank Saddledome.
My Kings vs. Flames predictions are targeting Blake Coleman to stay hot in the season finale at home.
Read more in my NHL picks for Thursday, April 16, with puck drop set for 9:00 p.m. ET.
Kings vs Flames prediction
Kings vs Flames best bet: Blake Coleman Over 0.5 points (-110)
Calgary Flames forward Blake Coleman has 20 goals and 15 assists, and has picked up the pace of late. He’s notched points in back-to-back contests, tallying an assist on Sunday against Utah before scoring Calgary’s lone goal in Tuesday’s loss to Colorado.
The 34-year-old has now cashed the Over in points in four of his last six home appearances. The opportunities tend to be there when he faces the Los Angeles Kings as well, notching eight SOG in the three matchups.
Much of his production has come at the Saddledome, where he has registered 22 points in 32 outings.
Kings vs Flames same-game parlay
Morgan Frost has cashed the Over in SOG in three of his last five contests. He had two shots on target against the Avalanche and five against the Mammoth over his last two games.
The Kings are allowing 10.1 SOG per game to centers, which ranks toward the bottom of the league. Frost is averaging 1.85 shots on net at the Saddledome in 2025-26 as well.
Calgary won 3-2 against the Kings last month, and it's actually 2-1 against them this season, with all of those games being decided by two goals or fewer.
The Flames are also 22-13-5 at home, while L.A. has lost three of its last five on the road.
Kings vs Flames SGP
Blake Coleman Over 0.5 points
Morgan Frost Over 1.5 shots on goal
Flames moneyline
Kings vs Flames odds
Moneyline: Kings -140 | Flames +120
Puck Line: Kings -1.5 (+165) | Flames +1.5 (-200)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (+110)
Kings vs Flames trend
The Calgary Flames have hit the Moneyline in 7 of their last 9 games at home (+7.05 Units / 72% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Kings vs. Flames.
How to watch Kings vs Flames
Location
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB
Date
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Puck drop
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
Sportsnet One
Kings vs Flames latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Philly fans can clear their calendars for Saturday night.
That’s when the Flyers will open their best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Penguins. Puck drop is scheduled for around 8 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will have the local broadcast. Flyers Pregame Live will start at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The schedule for the remainder of the series will be announced later Thursday night when the NHL regular season wraps up.
Rick Tocchet’s club heads into the postseason with 18 wins over its final 25 games. The Flyers finished with 98 points at 43-27-12. The Penguins (41-25-16) also had 98 points, but they earned home ice via the tiebreaker of more regulation wins.
The Flyers split their four-game regular-season series with Pittsburgh (2-2-0).
SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 8: Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives on Scott Henderson #00 of the Portland Trailblazers in the second half at Frost Bank Center on April 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Spurs vs. Blazers series officially set, it’s time for us to go through what each team brings to the table. Today, we’ll start with a quick overview of some stylistic quirks to monitor, before releasing a full preview in the coming days.
First up: the turnover battle.
Turnovers
These teams are polar opposites in the turnover game. San Antonio is great at protecting the ball on offense (12.9% turnover rate, 4th best) but struggles to steal the rock on defense (forces turnovers on 12.8% of defensive possessions, 28th), while Portland loves coughing up the ball (16.8% turnover rate, 30th) but is also very good at taking it away from opponents (forces turnovers on 15.3% of defensive possessions, 7th). In other words, it’ll be a battle of weaknesses on the Spurs end, but also a clash of strengths on the Blazers’ side.
With that said, individual matchups will also matter, and Steph Castle could be an X-factor on both ends of the court. Castle averages over a steal per game and will likely spend lots of time guarding Avdija, who has both the highest usage and turnover rate (15.1%) on the Blazers. On the other hand, Castle himself is very turnover-prone (15.9%), which would play into the hands of Portland’s trifecta of elite perimeter defenders in Holiday, Camara, and Thybulle.
Portland’s rim frequency
Portland prioritizes shots near the rim, as 35.2% of their attempts come within four feet of the basket (5th highest league-wide). Thankfully, the Spurs have perhaps the greatest rim protector in league history in Wemby, whose presence alone deters opponents from shooting. In fact, only 26.2% of opposing shots come at the basket when he plays, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Blazers see a similar drop in rim frequency.
Even if they decide to keep shooting, don’t expect many to go in. The Blazers are only making 66.3% of their shots in that area (18th league-wide), and with Wemby on the court, the Spurs are letting in just 60.8% of those attempts. If Portland struggles down low, they could pivot to shooting more threes, as they’re already top 5 in three-point frequency (43.2%) while San Antonio gives up an average number of attempts (37.8%, 14th league-wide).
Portland’s pick & roll frequency
One way of pulling Wemby away from the rim would be putting him in as many high pick-and-rolls as possible, and Portland’s 17.1% P&R frequency ranks in the league’s top 10. However, the Alien is such a physical freak that he’s fast and long enough to contain both the ballhandler before recovering to the roll man. As a result, the Spurs actually welcome P&Rs, allowing 16.9% of defensive possessions to involve such a play from opposing teams, while conceding just 0.83 points per possession — the third-lowest number league-wide, and also the same scoring average for Portland on offense. In other words, the Blazers will have an extremely difficult time going against Wemby in P&Rs, and it’ll be interesting to see how they adjust.
Rebounding
Another way for Portland to generate offense is to crash the offensive glass. The Blazers’ 34.3% ORB percentage was 4th league-wide, but that’s going up against the #1-ranked defensive rebounding Spurs team that grabbed 74.1% of its own boards. Expect Clingan and Robert Williams III to get physical with Wemby and cause as much havoc around the Spurs’ rim as possible, especially if they have trouble generating other forms of offense.
However, San Antonio could also counter by doing the same on the other end. The Spurs are also a good offensive rebounding team, grabbing 29.5% of their misses (9th highest). Interestingly, Portland actually struggles on their own glass, conceding 70.2% of rebounds to their opponents (21st). If the Blazers don’t manage to clean up on their own end, then any offensive rebounds they grab will be rendered moot.
San Antonio’s corner three-point volume
The Spurs’ 38.8% three-point volume is average (14th league-wide), but they’re tied for first with New York in corner three volume at 12.9%. This is mostly attributed to Wemby’s insane roll gravity, as San Antonio generates 13.8% of their shots from the corners when he plays, which is the highest in league history. The Blazers allow 10.2% of opponent shots to come from those spots, (right around the league average), but if they prioritize defending the corners, then it’ll open up Wemby’s rolls and drives from the Spurs’ guards. San Antonio is also shooting 71.3% at the rim (90th percentile) on 36.4% frequency (87th), so Portland is stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Transition opportunities
16.5% of Spurs plays come in transition (6th league-wide), and their offensive rating on such plays is 128.5 (8th). The Blazers allow almost the same amount of transition opportunities on defense (16.4%, 26th) with a defensive rating of 126.8 (19th). San Antonio should dominate in fast-break points, especially since they’re also elite at preventing opposing transition opportunities, while Portland is bottom five in transition frequency. This could be a short series if the Blazers turn the ball over at their usual rate.
The semi-finals are set after a dazzling meeting between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. But there was plenty more to talk about in the last eight
Bayern Munich’s thrilling 4-3 win over Real Madrid on Wednesday, which gave them a 6-4 victory on aggregate and set up a semi-final meeting with PSG, was a stone-cold classic. If either of the semis is as good as Real and Bayern’s quarter-final, this season will have been blessed. Arda Güler showed off his brilliance on Wednesday, first with his presence of mind after Manuel Neuer’s mistake led to the opening goal and again from a free-kick in the 29th minute. Güler’s goals gave Madrid hope, but Harry Kane made another difficult finish look routine before Luis Díaz and Michael Olise’s late goals settled the tie. Bayern’s wing wizards were crucial in defeating the 15-time champions. This game had it all. That includes controversy, with a post-match scuffle set off by Madrid players enraged by Eduardo Camavinga’s dismissal for two quickfire yellow cards. Neuer, the hero of the first leg, had his blushes saved by his Bayern teammates, though one save from Kylian Mbappé was him at his best, combining reflexes with brute strength. Fine margins decided a battle of the giants.
MONTREAL, CANADA - APRIL 11: Jakub Dobes #75 of the Montréal Canadiens stands during the anthems prior to the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre on April 11, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Montréal Canadiens 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NHL regular season wrapped on Wednesday night.
Unfortunately for hockey fans around central Ohio, the Columbus Blue Jackets fell just short of making the postseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season where the playoffs were held in the bubble. This marks the second straight season where the Blue Jackets were officially eliminated from postseason contention on the night before their final game of the season.
Even though Columbus won’t be a part of this year’s NHL playoffs, there will be a couple players from Ohio State who will be competing in the NHL postseason. Goaltender Jakub Dobeš of the Montreal Canadiens and defenseman Mason Lohrei of the Boston Bruins will take the ice in the two-month grind to lift Lord Stanley’s Cup which will begin on Saturday and run through June.
Jakub Dobeš – Montreal Canadiens
After starting the season as the second-string goaltender for Montreal, Jakub Dobeš has established himself as the starter for Montreal.
Dobeš enters the postseason having started 42 games for Montreal during the regular season, posting a 29-10-4 record with a 2.78 goals against average. The former Ohio State netminder stopped 90.1 of the shots he has faced this season.
Dobeš is a big reason why the Canadiens were able to rack up 106 points during the regular season. Down the stretch, Dobeš was tough to put pucks past. Before losing his final two starts of the regular season, Dobeš had won his previous seven starts.
The streak was snapped when Columbus was able to score five goals on him in Saturday’s game in Montreal in a game where the Canadiens had already secured a playoff spot. In his final start of the regular season, Montreal was beaten 4-2 at Philadelphia, who had clinched the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference the night before.
Now Dobeš will face a Tampa Bay team who he started three games against during the regular season. In his first game against the Lightning on Dec. 9 he allowed three goals in 19:50 before he was pulled in a 6-1 loss.
Dobeš fared much better in the other two games, saving 36 shots in a 4-1 win on March 31 at Tampa Bay, followed by a 17-save performance in a 2-1 win at home against the Lightning on April 9. Montreal was 2-2 against Tampa Bay during the regular season.
The former Ohio State goalie at least has a bit of playoff experience to lean on heading into this year’s postseason. Last season against Washington, Dobeš was thrust into action in the middle of the series with the Capitals, appearing in three games.
In his initial playoff run, Dobeš was 1-2 across three games, saving 52 of the 59 shots he faced before Washington was able to end Montreal’s season.
Mason Lohrei – Boston Bruins
The other former Ohio State Buckeye who will be playing in this year’s NHL playoffs is Mason Lohrei. The defenseman for the Boston Bruins appeared in 73 games during the regular season, registering 26 points.
While Lohrei had seven more points in four more games last season, this year he had a career-high seven goals. The biggest improvement for Lohrei came in his plus/minus rating. Last year Lohrei finished the regular season with a -43. This season Lohrei was a +17.
The Bruins will entered the playoffs as the first wild card team in the Eastern Conference, meaning they will be taking on the Buffalo Sabres, who won the Atlantic Division to secure their first playoff berth in 13 years.
Despite the Sabres being one of the hottest teams in hockey over the last few months, Boston will take some confidence into the series since they are 3-1 against Buffalo, including a 4-3 overtime win on March 25th.
Lohrei played in three of the four games against Buffalo this year, but didn’t record any points. In the most recent meeting between the teams, Lohrei uncorked two shots and was a +1 in the game. Lohrei does have 11 games of playoff experience, which all came during the 2024 playoffs.
The Bruins beat Toronto in seven games before falling to eventual Stanley Cup winner Florida in six games. Lohrei netted a goal and was credited with three assists during his initial playoff run.
After a thrilling 126-121 win over the Clippers on Wednesday, the Warriors will face the Suns in Phoenix on Friday night with the last Western Conference playoff berth on the line.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament basketball game against the against the Los Angeles Clippers, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. AP
The No. 7-seeded Suns lost a nail-biter at home Tuesday to the Trail Blazers.
The winner of Friday’s game earns the right to face the defending champion Thunder in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which would begin Sunday in Oklahoma City.
No. 9 vs. No. 10 Western Conference NBA play-in game
Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 7 p.m. PT
Location: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix
TV: Amazon Prime
Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NBAE via Getty Images
Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns breakdown
Warriors projected starting five(regular season stats)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green steals the ball from Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard in the final minutes of the game of the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Warriors X factor: How much do their stars play?
Curry showed what star power can provide in a postseason setting, delivering a 35-point performance while stretching himself to 36 minutes in his most playing time since returning from a knee injury.
Porzingis and Horford also played important roles in the Warriors’ first play-in win.
Can the Warriors count on them for another respective 28 and 22 productive minutes, or more?
Suns X factor: Can Dillon Brooks and Co. cause trouble?
Brooks, the perpetual Warriors menace, recently returned from a monthlong absence after fracturing his hand, which is good news for the Suns and not so much for their opponents.
Phoenix is 32-24 with Brooks, whose hyperactive defense has also helped the Suns become one of the league’s best at forcing turnovers. The Suns ranked fourth in steals and forced more turnovers than all but two other teams.
Brooks’ history with Golden State notwithstanding, it makes for a potentially dangerous matchup for a Warriors team that can be prone to mistakes. Golden State committed the fourth-most turnovers in the NBA, including a stretch of four games with 20-plus last month.
Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. NBAE via Getty Images
Fast facts
No team in the NBA is more dependent on the 3 than the Warriors, who take an average of 44.1 per game and make an average 15.7 (35.6%).
The Suns are one of the NBA’s best teams at defending the perimeter, limiting opponents to 34.7% from beyond the arc, the second-lowest in the league.
The Warriors are 17-4 when they shoot 40% or better from deep.
Golden State is also 14-25 when it commits more turnovers than its opponent.
The Warriors have been one of the most turnover-prone teams in the NBA, committing 15.7 per game — more than all but three other teams.
Phoenix, meanwhile, ranked fourth in steals and forced its opponents to turn the ball over an average of 16.3 times per game, fourth-most in the NBA.
Season series: Warriors, 3-1
Nov. 4: Warriors 118, Suns 107
Dec. 18: Suns 99, Warriors 98
Dec. 20: Warriors 119, Suns 116
Feb. 5: Warriors 101, Suns 97
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks fouls Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II during the first half of Game 2 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. Brooks was ejected. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill) AP
Postseason history
The Suns are one Western Conference foe the Warriors didn’t bulldoze through at one point or another during their dynasty. The teams have met three times in the postseason, but the last time was all the way back in 1994, when Charles Barkley and Chris Mullin played starring roles.
Phoenix has won all three postseason series with Golden State.
The Warriors have more recent — and successful — history with Brooks.
Not only was he a core member of the Grizzlies team that played a hard-fought series on the way to the Warriors’ NBA title in 2022, Brooks was also part of the Rockets team that Golden State upset in the first round last year.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
‘Etihad is the ultimate test – bring it on,’ says midfielder
‘We have six games to go and we know how big it is’
Declan Rice has insisted Arsenal must be better at Manchester City on Sunday if they are to press their Premier League title claims.
The midfielder is conscious of his club’s curious situation: six points clear of City at the top of the table, albeit having played an extra game, and the only English team in the Champions League semi-finals. But the mood is edgy and Rice is aware that the fans have concerns over the style of play.
With Game 1 of Knicks-Hawks coming up on Saturday, an Eastern Conference scout shares three things to watch during the series:
SLOWING ATLANTA IN TRANSITION
"They have been really good getting out on the break. Jalen (Johnson) is such a great rebounder and he gets it and goes. New York’s transition defense has been okay lately. But Jalen will put a lot of pressure on them. You (have to) pay attention to (Nickeil Alexander-Walker). He’s great in transition. (Jonathan) Kuminga can hurt you. Atlanta doesn’t need a turnover to get going – that’s what makes them so tough. It’s a rebound from Johnson and they are off. And they have multiple guys who can (push the ball off of a rebound). Even if you get back, their flow and the screening in their half court offense is tricky.
"Maybe the Knicks give up something on the offensive glass and keep some people back to slow the Hawks. This, to me, is where the Knicks can get into trouble if they don’t execute.”
HAWKS VS. KAT
"So many teams have put a wing on (Karl-Anthony Towns) and put a center on (Josh) Hart. That’s obviously worked for some of (those teams). I don’t know if the Hawks will do that. I can’t see (Jalen Johnson) defending KAT. Maybe there is another wing who can do it? It’s one of the biggest factors, to me. If Atlanta defends Towns with (Onyeka Okongwu), I think that’s a potential series-killer for them. When a big (is guarding Towns) it just opens up so much for the Knicks.
Jan 27, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
"The (Jalen Brunson-Towns two-man action) was strong the (last time the Knicks played Atlanta, which was a road win). Putting (Okongwu) on KAT gives them a chance to really get (the Towns-Brunson action) going. Tough call for Quin (Snyder) and the group."
DEFENDING BRUNSON
"The results have been up and down, but I like (Dyson) Daniels on Brunson. If they try to get Daniels off of him with a screen, the Hawks have other (versatile defenders) who can step in. You know Brunson is going to get to his spots but you want to make him work for everything and play him physical without fouling. Not an easy (job), but I’d take Daniels over just about anybody.
"On the other end, does (Brunson) guard CJ (McCollum)? Can Atlanta create mismatches by screening (and forcing Brunson to switch who he is defending)? That’s obviously what they want to do. But (Brunson) is tough and doesn’t die (on screens). That’s another (part of the) chess match I’m keeping an eye on."
PREDICTION
"I love Atlanta but I think the atmosphere at the Garden could be tough for them and I think they’ll struggle with Towns (and Mitchell Robinson). I don’t think this is going longer than six (games), so I’ll take Knicks in six."
DENVER , CO - MARCH 1: Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets stand on the court during the third quarter at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, March 1, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
For the third time in four years, the Minnesota Timberwolves will take on the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs. The two teams have become incredibly familiar with each other as they have played a total of 28 times over the past four seasons.
Three years ago, fresh off a trade for Rudy Gobert, the eighth-seeded Wolves lost to the eventual champion Nuggets in five games, a series that Nuggets players called the toughest of their playoff run. The next season, in possibly the greatest game in Timberwolves history, Minnesota came back from 20 points down in the second half of Game 7 in Denver to reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.
For the two fanbases, the history goes back even further than that. In 2004, the Wolves’ first-ever playoff series victory as a franchise came against Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets. In 2018, Jimmy Butler and the Wolves beat the Nuggets, eliminating them on the final day of the regular season while clinching the franchise’s first playoff berth in 14 years.
“I don’t think there’s anything else to call it but a rivalry.” -Anthony Edwards on the Timberwolves-Nuggets matchup.
A new chapter in this rivalry is set to begin Saturday afternoon in Denver, and it’s sure to be electric. It always is with these two teams.
DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 19: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts to a three point basket during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Second Round Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 19, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Playoff Anthony Edwards
Any discussion of the Timberwolves in the playoffs, but especially against the Nuggets, has to begin with the team’s superstar, Anthony Edwards.
Edwards comes into the playoffs as the biggest health question mark for Minnesota. Ant played in a career-low 61 games, 18 fewer than the past three seasons. Since mid-March, Edwards has only played in a total of three games, averaging just 25.3 minutes per game.
The most recent issue has been what is colloquially known as “runner’s knee.” It’s an injury that is unlikely to lead to further issues, but also one that can flare up seemingly out of nowhere and cause pain. The best thing an athlete can do to treat the injury is rest, something Edwards has gotten plenty of the past month.
Edwards was a full-go at practice this week, but his ability to play at 100 percent in this series likely won’t be known until the two teams step on the floor for Game 1. If Ant is limited physically in this series, the Wolves’ path to winning this series becomes a lot more clouded.
If Edwards is healthy, this Denver matchup should be an advantageous one for him. The Nuggets’ defense ranked 21st during the regular season, and they do not have a traditional rim protector or an All-NBA caliber wing defender, two archetypes that have given Edwards issues in the past.
Given Denver’s lack of point-of-attack defenders or an ideal matchup for Ant, the Nuggets will likely throw multiple defenders at Edwards as many as possible. That is what happened during the Wolves’ lone win over the Nuggets on March 1. The Nuggets consistently sent two defenders at Edwards in an attempt to get him off the ball, and by the end of the game were picking him up the moment he crossed the mid-court line.
How Anthony Edwards deals with Denver's different defensive coverages and double-teams is going to play a huge role in this series. Here's what that looked like in the Wolves lone win over Denver on 3/1
Finch said at practice today: “If they’re going to pick him up and pressure,… pic.twitter.com/gExYnkuz0r
“My 4 is better than they 3,” Edwards said following that game. “We’re playing 4 on 3. So, I hit Rudy, and he makes a play, and I feel like we’re gonna win if they keep making us play like that.”
A month and a half later, Ant still feels the same way. “I’ve seen everything now. So nothing they’re going to throw at me that’s unexpected. I know they’re going to put two or three on the ball. I’ve just got to be willing to make the right play and take my shots and live with it.”
“Ant sees a ton of different types of coverages,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch explained. “We review them as the season goes along. This week gives us a chance to put him through a lot of live reps where he’s gotta make reads against what we think might be coming or just anything that’s out there.”
Speaking specifically about Denver picking up Edwards at halfcourt, Finch said, “If they’re going to pick him up and pressure, we just need him to make the easy play to the right guy and trust the open man to make the same decision.”
Ant’s ability to pick apart the Denver defense and dominate the series offensively is the Wolves’ most straightforward path to beating the Nuggets. If Edwards is merely good instead of sensational, that will likely not be good enough against a Nuggets team looking for revenge from what happened two seasons ago.
Game 1 should be an interesting litmus test for this. The Wolves’ margin of error in this series is already slim, so if Edwards is slow to find his legs or a rhythm in the game, that might be a bad sign for the Wolves in this series. Minnesota will need Edwards to step up his game right from the opening moments or potentially dig themselves into a hole.
Let’s see if Ant can rise to the occasion yet again.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 05: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter at Target Center on April 05, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tradeoff of Offense vs Defense
The Timberwolves’ largest challenge in this series will be containing the Nuggets on offense. During the regular season, Denver sported the league’s best offensive rating of 121.2, a full point better than second place.
Unsurprisingly, the two main drivers for Denver’s incredible offense this season were Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray. This season, the pairing of Jokić and Murray led the NBA in scoring efficiency among qualified pairings with an offensive rating of 128.7. For comparison, the Wolves’ best offensive two-man pairing was Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo with a 120.8, which ranked 102nd.
If Minnesota has any chance of slowing down the league-best Denver offense with possibly the best two-man game of the past half-decade, they are likely going to need to utilize Rudy Gobert in this series, both on offense and on defense.
While Gobert has been the foundation of a Timberwolves defense that has been one of the best units in the league since he arrived in Minnesota in the summer of 2022, the Wolves have struggled to maximize his impact on the offensive end. This season has possibly been the most extreme differential between the two sides of the court with Gobert.
With Gobert on the court this season, the Timberwolves have a defensive rating of 109.8, which would rank 3rd in the NBA as a team. The offense on the other end had a 114.8 rating, which would rank 16th. While the +5.4 net rating Gobert generated while on the court speaks positively of his impact, it also begs the question: Can the Timberwolves outperform their mediocre offensive numbers with Gobert on the court?
At many points this season, when the Wolves have been down in games, the first lever Finch has pulled is to take Gobert off the floor to generate more offense. While that move may make sense in the regular season or in a different
In the minutes with Gobert on the bench this season, the Wolves had a defensive rating of 118.8, a number worse than the 26th-ranked Memphis Grizzlies’ defense. While the offense often made up for that and more in those minutes, the Wolves’ inability to defend without Gobert on the floor would likely mean disaster if Minnesota decided to increase the minutes of the Julius Randle-Naz Reid frontcourt.
With Edwards set to receive an outsized portion of the attention from the Nuggets’ defense, the ball is more likely to end up in Gobert’s hands as it did down the stretch of the Wolves’ win over the Nuggets on March 1. Gobert was successful in that game in receiving the ball from Edwards and making the right play against the shifted defense, often finding open teammates either under the basket or on the perimeter.
“Just being poised,” Gobert said about the potential of increased offensive touches against Denver. “Take whatever the defense gives us. I’m going to have a lot of opportunities to find my teammates. I’m going to have a lot of opportunities to be aggressive. It’s the beauty of our team. Taking what the defenders give us and doing that as a team, and if we do that, we will have some success.”
“I feel like every series that we’ve been in when I play with Rudy, they’re like daring us to throw it to him,” Edwards explained about Gobert. “Just getting comfortable with throwing that lob, with getting downhill, with him getting to the dunker more instead of pick-and-roll, just getting to the dunker and allowing me to go by my man and them helping uphill, just throwing that lob, learning how to throw it, how much touch to put on the pass.”
To keep Gobert on the floor in this series, the Timberwolves will need to keep him involved in the offense, at least on a level that prevents Denver from completely ignoring him on that side of the court. Minnesota has not done well in that area this season, or really at any time during Gobert’s time with the Wolves. They have often been hesitant to throw him the ball with worries that he will either fumble the pass or be unable to finish near the rim.
To upset a dangerous Nuggets team, though, what the Wolves did during the regular season is not going to be good enough. They will need to either trust their franchise center on offense or look to find any defense with their other lineups.
DENVER, COLORADO – MARCH 1: Julius Randle #30 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots against Christian Braun #0 of the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What Version of Julius Randle Shows Up?
The Timberwolves have seen two different forms of Julius Randle this season.
The one from the first half of the season gave the Wolves exactly what they needed. Randle scored at a solid clip, defended his matchup well, and dished out assists whenever a second defender came to help. For most of the first couple of months of the season, it appeared Julius was on track to make the All-Star Game.
In the second half, all of that completely flipped for Randle. The scoring dipped, his defensive focus fell off a cliff, and the turnovers went up while the ball movement stopped.
The statistical splits from before and after the All-Star Break tell the story of Radle’s Jekyll and Hyde season. Before the All-Star Break, Rande averaged 22.3 points and 5.4 assists on 49.2/32.5/82.3 shooting splits with a net rating of +5.7 while he was on the court.
In the second half, all of those numbers went down. Randle had just 18.1 points and 4.2 assists per game while putting up rough shooting splits of 44.9/28.2/75.3.
A large x-factor in this Timberwolves-Nuggets series is whether or not Randle can return to his first-half form. One possible reason for optimism in that area is that Julius was outstanding in the first two rounds of the playoffs last season.
“First and foremost, health,” Randle explained as the reason for his success in the playoffs last season. “ Going into the playoffs healthy was big. Just a competitive nature. It’s the basketball you live for throughout the year. Just having that certain level of focus and sharpness and attention to detail and all that different type of stuff. I felt good. Coaches had a great game plan for us and myself. It’s really about trusting that and trusting your work. It’s no different than any other game.”
A positive sign for Randle is that he appears to be entering the playoffs healthy again. Julius played in the Wolves’ first 79 games before sitting out the last three once the Wolves’ seed was more or less solidified.
If the Wolves can get the first-half version of Randle, the Wolves will have a much easier time attacking the Denver defense, which is likely to focus a majority of their attention on Edwards. If the second half of the season is more indicative of what to expect from Julius, it might spell the end of the power forward’s time in Minnesota.
DENVER, CO – MARCH 1: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets and Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves look on during the game on March 1, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Can the Wolves Flip the Switch?
For the second straight season, the Timberwolves finished the regular season with 49 wins and in sixth place in the Western Conference. Unlike last season, though, there was not a big trade that was made right before training camp; instead, they returned all but Nickeil Alexander-Walker from their “seven starters” rotation.
There have been some solid stretches of play and wins against the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs. There have also been mind-numbingly poor stretches, including a five-game losing streak in January and a three-game losing streak by a combined 66 points in March.
There has been a sense all season that the Timberwolves have just been waiting for the playoffs to begin, and that when they do, they will be able to flip a switch and transform into a capable of beating anyone in any given series. In their minds, it seemed they had proven all they needed to by making the past two Western Conference Finals, the second of which as the lower seed following a lackluster regular season.
Edwards was asked if the team had been just waiting for the playoffs to begin: “It felt like that at times, like we was just trying to get through the season to get to the playoffs, but we’re here now, and all the other excuses are out the window. So it’s time.”
Ant is right about one thing: nothing from earlier in the season matters now. While there will be plenty of time in the offseason to debate the success or failure of the regular season, the entire context of the season changes if the Wolves can play as they have in the past two postseasons.
To do that, though, they are going to need to play with a level of intensity and consistency on the defensive end of the floor that was severely lacking during the regular season.
“We don’t have a choice,” Gobert said about the defense needing to find another gear. “When our group doesn’t have a choice, usually it shows up, and so once again it’s all in our hands. It’s all in our power. We’re facing a great opponent, and we know that if we don’t come out hungry, we don’t have a chance.“
Naz Reid echoed Gobert’s points, saying, “It has to. We have no choice. Defense wins games. They say that in football, and I think it translates to basketball, as well. You can score, but who’s going to get the stops? We have no choice.”
Whether or not the Wolves can pull it all together will be tested right out of the gates against the Nuggets. “It’s really on us to do it,” Randle posited. ”We gotta come in with that focus from Game 1. We can’t ease our way into the series.”
The Timberwolves have said all the right things. They’ve acknowledged their shortcomings, identified what needs to change, and spent the week at practice and in film sessions implementing their new game plan. Everything gets put to the test Saturday afternoon in Denver for Game 1. The Wolves can either back up their words and lock in for the next weeks and possibly months, or continue down the path of a disappointing season.
When asked if Finch believes the Wolves have a flip to switch, the Wolves coach stated through a chuckle, “We’ll see.”
CHARLOTTE, NC - APRIL 14: Kon Knueppel #7, Sion James #4, and Grant Williams #2 of the Charlotte Hornets smiles before the game against the Miami Heat during the 2026 SoFi Play-In Tournament on April 14, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Charlotte Hornets beat Miami in a highly entertaining play-in game the other night, and it sparked a ton of conversation. Some of the themes: Kon Knueppel blew the Rookie of the Year race, the Hornets are in big trouble, and one more we’ll get to in a minute.
The Rookie of the Year business is stupid. It’s going to be Knueppel or Flagg, if not both. One game is not going to change that.
And secondly, for anyone who has paid attention to Knueppel, he’s not going to let that game control the next game. He’s too smart and too competitive to do that.
Third, Miami has one of the best cultures in the NBA, and in particular, one of the best defensive cultures in the league. They singled out the rookie, and took him down.
And fourth, while Knueppel had a bad game, Charlotte definitely didn’t.
On Friday, the Hornets will play the Orlando Magic for the final spot in the playoffs. Orlando has some talent, notably up front with former Dukies Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter.
The teams played four times this season, with the Hornets winning three of those. Orlando won the first one, in October, but the Hornets won the other three quite easily.
Knueppel averaged 12.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in those games. It doesn’t mean the Hornets will win a third time, but it is a clear pattern.
Okay, back to what we said we’d come back to. It turns out that LaMelo Ball had a key role in Charlotte’s drafting Knueppel. In fact, his analysis of Knueppel was so impressive that Hornets GM Jeff Peterson said this about Ball:
“[Ball] was very detailed in his evaluation of why he liked him. That was even more impressive that he was able to kind of highlight him because there were some other guys that he didn’t highlight. He may have a future in the front office if he wants.”
That’s pretty high praise.
That said, one other topic of conversation about Ball is his flagrant foul against Bam Adebayo. It was intentional and dangerous, and it may have cost Miami the game. He’s lucky to have only gotten a $35,000 dollar fine.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JANUARY 13: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game on January 13, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
And just like that, the 2025-26 NBA regular season has come to an end.
It’s been one of the weirder years in league history. We started with a tree-planting controversy in pre-season, to the tanking and 65-game rule discourse hitting overdrive, and most recently, the entire Wizards organization almost got cancelled for a misinterpreted April Fools joke.
Thankfully, that’s all in the rearview mirror. Before the playoffs start, though, we need to have a cordial discussion about awards.
Let’s start with the Big Kahuna.
Most Valuable Player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Runner-ups: Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic
The MVP is Shai, and I don’t think it should be that close. His 55.3% FG is the highest out of every 30-point-per-game season in history, and his 66.5% true shooting is also the second-highest, only behind Steph’s outlandish 2016 season at a nice 66.9%. Shai also tied his own record for least turnovers per game in any 30ppg season at just 2.2, which he first set two years ago. Oh, and did I mention that the Thunder are the West’s one-seed for the third straight season?
The best argument against Shai is OKC’s elite supporting cast, as the Thunder still have a +4.8 net rating with him off the floor. However, they are also an absurd +12.3 with Shai on and Chet and JDub both off, and OKC has arguably been the most banged-up team amongst the MVP candidates. The case in favor of Wemby and Jokic is that they both have larger on/off splits than Shai does. However, Jokic’s lack of defensive effort is impossible to overlook, and while the Alien has a case as the most impactful player per minute, it doesn’t make up for the 400-minute difference between him and Shai (as shown by their overall plus-minus, with Shai at 788 and Wemby at 682).
If the award only takes into account the last three months, then Wemby and Luka would have a case. If it only takes into account the first two months, then Jokic would have a case. Unfortunately for those three, MVP encompasses the entire regular season, and none of them consistently played at their best for the whole year. Shai did, which is why he is the clear MVP.
Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Wembanyama
Runner-ups: Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert
Uhh… do we even need to discuss this? It’s obviously Trae Young — his defensive prowess forced Ben Simmons into a pro fisherman!
Jokes aside, this year’s DPOY is the most obvious award pick since Steph’s 2016 unanimous MVP season, and Wemby should be the unanimous pick here too. San Antonio’s 105.1 defensive rating in Wemby’s minutes is 2.2 points lower than OKC’s this season, and many already consider the Thunder to be one of the greatest defensive teams ever. Unlike OKC, though, the Spurs only have one other elite defender in Castle, and the numbers bear that out too: San Antonio has a 117.4 DRTG without Wemby, which would rank 21st in the league.
Surprisingly, Wemby isn’t the absolute best in any one rim protection stat, but that’s because opponents only take shots around the basket when they’re somewhat confident he can’t block it, and oftentimes, he still does. The more revealing number is the drop in opponent rim attempts when Wemby is on/off the floor: with him playing, 31.7% of opposing shots are at the basket (49th percentile), which drops to just 26.2% when he plays (94th percentile). Opponents are also making just 60.8% (93rd percentile) of their shots around the rim, even with those being very selective attempts.
Wemby is well on his way to becoming perhaps the greatest defensive player ever, and he’s just getting started.
Coach of the Year: Joe Mazzulla
Runner-ups: JB Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson
I didn’t have much hesitation picking Mazzulla over Bickerstaff, though the latter is very deserving of this award too. Ultimately, the decision came down to the following question: which team exceeded expectations more through the coach putting players in the best position to succeed?
To me, the answer is Mazzulla. Boston lost 3/5 starters and their entire frontcourt rotation in one offseason, and none of their core players are young enough to make the leaps that the Detroit stars have. Mazzulla has gone from running 5-out with Porzingis and Horford to designing a scheme with a rolling big in the middle, while also rotating a bunch of former “who he play for?” guys to fill Tatum’s absence. Bickerstaff has done a great job maximizing Duren’s improved offensive game and role players like Jenkins too, but Mazzulla leading Boston to 56 wins following their roster turnover is simply more impressive.
Most Improved Player: Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Runner-ups: Keyonte George, Neemias Queta
NAW is the epitome of what this award is for: a player well into their career who takes an unexpected leap when everyone thought his role would never change. Yes, he’s been given more responsibility in Atlanta, but the Wolves were also desperate for another lead guard to play alongside Ant, and they moved on from NAW specifically because he never showed the ability to be that guy.
This year, he’s more than doubled his scoring average from last season, going from 9.4 to 20.8 points per game. Remarkably, NAW has increased his efficiency too, and not by a little: his 61% true shooting is way above the positional average, and his previous career average was just 55.7%. Atlanta also has a +4.6 net rating with him playing, which drops to -1.8 when he sits, with most of that change coming from offense. Moreover, NAW has still been a good perimeter defender even with the increased offensive responsibilities, playing at an All-Star level on both ends of the court.
Rookie of the Year: Cooper Flagg
Runner-ups: Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe
One of the tightest award races in recent history, ROY is truly a coin toss. However, if you base this off advanced metrics, it’s not even close. Kon is way ahead due to his three-point volume and efficiency, and he’s also been an underrated playmaker who’s been Charlotte’s connector at times. Leading the league in threes made as a rookie is absolutely bonkers, and Kon’s already one of the most efficient players at his position with a true shooting of 63.3%.
With that said, my pick is Flagg because his season has been just as impressive, and I view him as the better player — not just moving forward, but right now too. Yes, his 54.8% true shooting is way below not just Kon’s, but also the league average, but I think he’s a better player in every facet of the game outside of shooting. Now, the gap between their shooting is much larger than the gap in every other skill that Flagg has an advantage in, but I also believe that Kon went to the absolute best team for his specific skillset while Flagg went to the worst: the Hornets would be just as good with Flagg in Kon’s place, while Kon wouldn’t be in this race if he were on the Mavs.
Again, both players are absolutely deserving of this award and this pick was by far the most difficult one to decide on. I flip-flopped 10 times while writing and could regret this choice in the next hour, but as of this exact moment, I’m going with Flagg.
Sixth Man of the Year: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Runner-ups: Keldon Johnson, Naz Reid
No offense to Jaime Jaquez, but this is one of the worst sixth-man crops in recent memory. All other candidates either did not play enough minutes (off the bench) or had lackluster counting and/or advanced stats. Keldon Johnson, for instance, played all 82 games, but I didn’t even think he was the most impactful bench player on the Spurs. That belongs to Dylan Harper, who I would’ve picked if he played more minutes. Reed Sheppard also lacks the minutes, while Naz Reid isn’t as well-rounded a player as Jaquez is. The latter is the only player who has somewhat eye-popping stats (15/5/5) with positive plus/minus splits while also playing enough minutes.
Congrats Miami! You can hang a new banner beside the #heatculture and #bam83 ones.
All NBA First Team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi has been the best player this year outside of the four MVP candidates, which is why he snagged that final First-Team spot over Jaylen Brown. It was a hard decision, though, given the Clippers’ turbulent season (and their tree planting), but Kawhi deserves almost all the credit for LA finishing above .500, along with help from Harden at the start of the year. Meanwhile, I would attribute Boston’s overachieving more to Mazzulla’s genius than Brown’s play since the Celtics are good no matter who’s been on the floor, though I’d also have no problem with the latter finishing on the First-Team given his borderline MVP-level play this year.
All NBA Second Team: Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, Jamal Murray, Jaylen Brown, Kevin Durant
Jamal Murray deserves a special shoutout. Contrary to popular belief, he never deserved to be an All-Star in previous seasons, and was overrated due to playing above his usual level during the 2020 and 2023 playoff runs. However, he’s finally played at that level for a full regular season, being one half of the most dynamic offensive duo in the league (Denver has a 130.6 ORTG with him and Jokic playing, the highest in league history) while also keeping the Nuggets’ offense afloat without Jokic (116.5, 61st percentile). Murray is also having the most efficient high-volume three-point shooting season in the league by making 43.5% on 7.5 attempts per game, vaulting his true shooting to 62.2% — the first time he’s been above 60%.
All NBA Third Team: Jalen Duren, Jalen Johnson, Tyrese Maxey, Chet Holmgren, Deni Avdija
The Third-Team is composed of first-time All-NBA selections. Maxey leads the league in minutes per game and is fifth in overall points, Chet will likely finish second in DPOY voting, and Johnson is averaging 22/10/8 as the first option on a playoff team. Meanwhile, Duren went on a rampage after I foolishly left him off my All-Star team, averaging 23 and 10 with Cade out. I’m still not sure if he can be the second option on a true title team, but there’s no doubt that he’s blossomed into one of the 30 best players in the league and is still just 22. The last spot was a toss-up between KAT, Deni, and Toronto’s own, Scotland Barnes. KAT has by far the best advanced numbers and also improved his defense during the second half of the season, while Scottie is arguably the most well-rounded player of the three. I ultimately went with Deni, though, since he was essentially a one-man offense in Portland, averaging 24/7/7 and leading the Blazers to an above-average 116.7 ORTG with him on, which drops to 110.8 when he sits — equivalent to the 28th-ranked offense in the league.
This week, please check out Marilyn’sregular season recap! The Spurs have been one of the league’s most pleasant surprises this year and are ready to get their first taste of the playoffs.
