Category: Sports News

Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep-down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.

Fantable Questions of the Week

Q1: Throughout the season, fans have voiced many doubts as to whether Devin Booker and Jalen Green could successfully play together. What are your thoughts on this pairing now?

Diamondhacks: While acknowledging Booker as the more accomplished player, both careers have been characterized by questionable shot selection. Curtailing their threes off the dribble is one identifiable change that could make them a very formidable offensive pair. They’re both too talented with the ball, even more so in concert, to settle for that relatively low % shot as often as they do. Catch and shoot 3s, yes. Off the dribble, not so much.

Ashton: Not much.

Yes, Green showed his potential in March, but I am still just not seeing the play-making and assists that should come from good to elite guards. Even if one just looks at offense and who has the ability to take a game over. I remain unconvinced in that area with both players.

So, put me in the doubter club? But I really wonder if this is so much of a pairing as it is to both players’ limitations.

OldAZ: It depends on how long we as fans are willing to wait and on our ability to remember that Jalen Greene is still a young player at only 23 years old. It is fair to recognize that by 23 Devin Booker was an All-Star and had leveled up his assist numbers and shooting percentage. However, now that Green and Booker are on the same team, we can hope that Green emulates some of his game around what Booker does, although with an additional dose of athleticism. We have seen some incredible passes from Green at times and we have seen effort given on the defensive end. Neither of these are consistent at this point, but this was also true of Book in his younger career.

Suns fans been skeptical of playing “point Book” and recall all those times when the Suns played without a true point Guard, but if Green can develop into something close to the same level of facilitator while still being an offensive threat like Booker, then there is a chance this backcourt pairing can be very effective. We have seen it in flashes, but are we willing to wait for consistency?

Rod: While I don’t think it’s perfect, I do like the way their strengths don’t overlap. Green’s speed and quickness getting to the rim are a welcome addition that complements Book’s mid-range game. I wish both of them were better distributors, but neither is shabby in that respect. The real question that has yet to be answered is if they can function together as the only guards on the court. I’d love to see a lineup of those two plus Brooks at SF, Fleming at PF, and Williams at C, a lineup with some size to it, just to actually see how well it works. No matter how well Book and Green can play together in small-ball lineups, that’s not going to be a good enough excuse to keep the two of them together in the long run.

Q2: Rookies Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach are finally playing meaningful and productive rotation minutes. Do you believe this is because Jordan Ott brought them along slowly or in spite of it?

Diamondhacks: People sometimes confuse playing time with development. Any lottery coach can pencil in a high draft pick for 20 minutes a night and call it ‘development’. But that’s playing time, and I’m not sure any two draftee teammates have tangibly improved more from their respective draft day projections than Maluach and Fleming have.

If development is defined as learning and getting better, then Rasheer and Khaman are developing fast, not slow. Both played a lot in the G-League, and Rasheer has played more NBA minutes than about 2/3 of second rounders. I suspect they’ve been ‘brought along’ methodically and effectively, assimilating valuable standards and skills as they go, on a non-lottery team.

Ashton: I do not think Ott had a choice with the injuries that occurred. I believe the plan was to bring the rookies slowly along, and that seemed to be working, but with Mark Williams and Brooks sidelined with injuries, they were both pressed into play.

This question was asked before the Orlando game, and KM really did not get meaningful minutes in that game. Sheer did fine. This is one of those running questions where we see if the equation changes against the Hornets (before my submission), but in no way do I put this on the coach.

Would Izzo do it differently with the MSU Suns? I think he would have played the player minutes the same way.

OldAZ: I have said many times this season that the rookies should be made to earn their minutes, which justified the lack of playing time early this season. I could also be generous and say that Ott had a master plan to avoid the rookie “wall” by limiting their early minutes. Their recent play and contributions would justify all these efforts if that was really what was going on. Unfortunately, the last few weeks I am not inclined to be this generous in my interpretation of Ott’s motivations.

It is clear that he trusts veterans far more than younger players, and only the very high IQ Oso has worked himself into continuous meaningful minutes. Even after Fleming has shown to have the potential to be a major contributor, and KM has proven to be competent when they were down to only 2 centers Ott continues to only play veterans down the stretches of games, despite mounting evidence that having only one or no bigs on the floor in the 4th quarter also correlates to anemic offensive output and a massive disadvantage on the boards. I do still think that their success has been in large part to being brought along slowly, but Ott loses a little more credit for this every game as he fails to utilize them in a bigger way.

Rod: I really think Ott made the right decision in sending them to the Valley Suns early on and not throwing them directly into the fire of the NBA early on. Maluach still looks as though he needs more seasoning, but he started out so raw that it’s understandable. Fleming looks NBA-ready, something I didn’t see in him even during early-season garbage minutes. Maluach’s offense still needs some polish but his defense seems to have come along nicely.

Would it have worked as well (or better) if they were gifted more meaningful NBA minutes early in the season? Perhaps but it also could have backfired and hurt their confidence. And one thing that’s for certain is that they haven’t been pushed hard enough to slam into that “rookie wall” that comes from the extended NBA season. For Fleming especially, I’m glad that he’s relatively fresh at this point of the year instead of running on fumes.

Q3: What would you say are the keys to the Suns having any chance of getting past the 1st round of the playoffs?

Diamondhacks: First round? You mean the Clippers or OKC/SAS?

Neutralizing Darius Garland is a key to beating the New Improved Clippers, and a “healthy Jordan Goodwin” might be the best man for that job. If that’s even a thing at this point. Poor guy.

Outside of major injuries, I can’t offer a key or ‘secret’ to beating OKC/SAS in a meaningful series. The Suns don’t match those rosters’ top-end talent, depth, or experience.

Ashton: Go for the jugular here, Rod. Let’s just get it all on record. I can’t wait to read your response.

I have spent the month of March looking for Cinderella (I am married btw) and have not found it yet. The projected playoff brackets look as chalky as the NCAA, but in the month of April.

I doubt the Suns get out of the play-ins, much less the playoffs. Just so many inconsistencies on defense and offense on a season that was unreasonably full of hope and well done on a 40-plus win season. But they are fading in the stretch, and that is where it matters.

OldAZ: This is a continuation of the last question for me. They simply have to get away from playing only one player with size at a time. Even before Williams got hurt, they would often leave him on an island with 4 smaller players and when Brooks was out this led to some brutal results as average power forwards would feast on the Suns diminutive front line. I think Ott has got to recognize that as of late, the younger players are bringing more energy and effort that is lacking from his all veteran, small ball units.

Earlier in the season, the Suns won many games because they out hustled the other team. Now, as teams ramp up their intensity for the playoffs the Suns have not been able to match that when an older and undersized lineup is on the floor. It is an interesting mix, because most of the Suns youth consists of taller, longer players while the vets are mostly guards and smaller wings. This should work to their advantage “IF” Ott would put at least 2 of the bigger bodies on the floor for most of the minutes. Brooks and Goodwin would be far more effective if the other “forward” on the floor was not really an out of position guard.

For example, Brooks as the PF with Dunn at SF and either center, or Fleming and Goody with the other center make for a nice balanced front line that would compliment ANY combination of the Suns talented guards. I realize this limits O’Neale’s minutes, but in reality he should only play longer minutes if he is on fire shooting during the few minutes he would be left with. This would put at least 2 bigger players on the floor at all times and significantly increase the Suns athleticism on the defensive end.

We have all seen that when the Suns play better defense this season, their offense magically clicks as the ball moves faster and they get more early buckets. Unless this change is made, I see a quick and early exit for the Suns, which has the double downer of not giving those young players any significant playoff experience for the future. However, if he does mix them in more the value of this experience will be worth it AND I believe they would probably win an extra game or two in the process.

Rod: The way they’ve been playing lately, IF they actually get past the play-in games, I don’t see them having much of a chance of even winning a single game against either OKC or the Spurs in a 7-game series. Maybe they might win one game at most if they have one of those nights where everyone’s shots are falling, but that would be more luck than anything else to win that way.

They’ve just seemed so out of sync over the past few weeks that I have little hope/faith that they can somehow get their stuff together between now and the end of the regular season. If they can somehow do that, I could see them throwing a bit of a scare into a 1st round opponent by winning a game or two but that’s about it. I think they could do better than that if all the things that have gone wrong lately suddenly start to go right again, but I don’t think we can count on that happening.

As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!

Quotes of the Week

“Everything is on the table. We’re trying to figure this thing out on the fly and that’s what I just said. We’ve got to expedite it. There’s no excuse. We just have to figure it out.” – Jordan Ott

“Us being a first-year team, we just need some consistency. It hasn’t been that this year due to injuries and that’s just part of it.” – Devin Booker

“I think what the Suns take advantage of is just the energy that he (Jordan Goodwin) brings on and off the court. He’s a really good person and a good teammate. He really wants to see everybody do well.” – Ryan Dunn

“He (Collin Gillespie) is the definition of coming in here, getting your work in every day, sticking with it, and he’s definitely showing that it pays off.” – Devin Booker

“I’m extremely grateful to my teammates, coaching staff put me in great opportunities, but would’ve liked to get a win. That was the main thing.” – Collin Gillespie on beating the Suns’ single season 3-point record

Suns Trivia/History

Jordan Goodwin has 35 games this season with multiple steals, the fifth most in the NBA this year, behind only Kris Dunn, Ausar Thompson, Cason Wallace, and Dyson Daniels. The last time a Suns player had that many was in the 2018-19 season when Mikal Bridges had 40.

On April 6, 1993, the Suns entered the 4th quarter up 98-81 over the LA Lakers. They extended their lead to 20 points before going cold and allowing the Lakers to take a 2-point lead with just 1.6 seconds to go. The Suns had possession and inbounded the ball to Dan Majerle, who made a 33-foot three-point basket for a 115-114 win. Following the shot, Majerle jumped on the scorer’s table to celebrate as cheers from the home crowd lasted for several minutes. It was the Suns’ first-ever season sweep of LA.

On April 6, 1994, Suns point guard Kevin Johnson had a career high 25 assists in a 107-95 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The entire Spurs team had just 1 assist more than KJ’s total for the game. KJ’s 25 assists in this one is also the Suns’ franchise record for most assists in a single game.

On April 7, 1969, as a new expansion franchise, the Suns took part in their first-ever NBA draft. The draft is mostly remembered because Phoenix lost the historic coin toss between them and Milwaukee, which gave the Bucks the right to draft Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) with the first pick. What is not widely known is that the Suns went on to draft a total of 22 players in that draft! The last player they selected was Jim Plump in the 20th round with the 216th pick of the draft.

On April 9, 1990, the Suns made an NBA record 61 free throws (out of 80 attempts) in beating the Utah Jazz 119-115 in overtime. A total of 121 free throws were attempted by both teams. Kevin Johnson was sent to the line 24 times and made 23 on his way to leading the Suns in scoring with a total of 37. Tom Chambers was just behind him with a total of 36 points and was 17 of 22 from the line. The Jazz were 29 of 41 at the FT line and had four players foul out of the game, two others finished with five fouls, and another four had four fouls each. Two players, Mark West and Dan Majerle, fouled out for the Suns. The Suns’ 61 made FTs is still the NBA record for the most FTs made in a single game. The 121 total FT attempts by both teams is not an NBA record, however. That record was established during the NBA’s first season on Nov. 24, 1949, when the Syracuse Nationals and the Anderson Packers combined to attempt a whopping 160 free throws in a 86-74 5-OT win for Syracuse.

This Week’s Game Schedule

Sunday, April 4 – Suns @ Chicago Bulls (12:30 pm)
Tuesday, April 7 – Suns vs Houston Rockets (8:00 pm) Peacock
Wednesday, April 8 – Suns vs Dallas Mavericks (7:00 pm)
Friday April 10 – Suns @ LA Lakers (7:30 pm)

Important Future Dates

April 12 – Regular season ends (All 30 teams play)
April 13 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3 p.m. ET)
April 14-17 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament
April 18 – NBA Playoffs begin

By now you’ve likely seen our first three parts (Part I, Part II, Part III) covering the NBA’s attempt to curb tanking. In this, our fourth and final part, we’ll take a look at the last of the proposed changes being brought before the Board of Governors.

For ease of reference, here are the basics of the current rules that we’ve included in each of the prior parts. As it stands, the 14 teams that do not make the Playoffs are eligible for the lottery. Don’t confuse making the Play In Tournament with making the Playoffs – they are not the same. 16 teams make the Playoffs when all is said and done, with 14 heading to the lottery. Lottery odds are flat (14%) for the three worst teams, with the odds decreasing from there down to the 14^th worst team (0.5%). The team with the worst record can receive no worse than the 5^th pick, as the lottery only determines picks 1-4 with the rest of the draft order following inversely of a team’s record.

Option 3 – Five-by-five, dual-lottery

Key aspects of the proposal include:

• 18 teams in the draft lottery (10 that miss the Playoffs outright plus 8 that make the Play In Tournament).
• Each of the 5 worst teams have the same lottery odds, with other teams having worsening odds inversely with their record.
• The first 5 picks would be determined by a lottery drawing.
• After the first 5 picks are determined, the remaining 13 picks would be determined via yet another lottery drawing.
• If any of the worst 5 teams fall outside the top 5 picks, they can fall no lower than the 10^th overall pick.

Thoughts on the proposal

This proposal is probably the best indication that the NBA has a lot of lawyers running things. It seems this proposal is the most likely of the three to confuse fans. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good one either. It matches the first proposal in terms of the number of lottery teams, but pairs it with a level of complexity that echoes the second proposal in terms of variables. A dual lottery is intriguing, but flat odds for the five worst teams doesn’t move the dial all the much from where things currently stand (flat odds for the three worst teams). It also may result in plenty of teams still looking to tank, just maybe slightly less so. The second lottery for picks 6-18 is where things get even more interesting. Is the prospect of being in a second lottery enough to incentivize teams to make the Play In Tournament? A Play In team with a good chance to jump to the number 6 pick is certainly enticing.

What it could mean for the Mavericks

Dependent upon when the changes take place, this could potentially benefit the Mavericks. If a reasonable expectation is for them to be a Play In team that quickly becomes a lock for a top-six Playoff team, it could put the Mavericks in position to move up in the draft just as they are breaking through the Play In Tournament phase of their growth. As with all of these scenarios, there are a ton of variables and timing concerns that would greatly change things for Dallas. With the number of picks swaps going against them in the coming years and how little control they have of their picks in general until 2031, their best outcome would be getting good quickly and hoping these changes are not imminent. The latter seems unlikely, so it’s possible Dallas could get some good draft luck that serves only to benefit another team.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Luka Doncic laid on his back with his hands over his face. 

His anguish was palpable. 

Amid his hottest stretch of the season, one that was propelling him toward the top of the MVP race, he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain midway through the third quarter of the Lakers’ 139-96 loss to the Thunder on Thursday. 

The injury typically sidelines players for about a month, a major blow for the Lakers considering the playoffs begin April 18. 

It’s a cruel twist of fate.

Doncic was extinguished right when he was exploding. 

He averaged the second-most points in March in NBA history (37.5), behind Michael Jordan. He led the Lakers on a 16-2 run. 

On Thursday morning, he was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for games in March. And he was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Month, a nod he received for the first time in his career. 

That evening?

He was laid out on the floor, unsure of his future. 

The worst part of it is the timing. Things were finally clicking for Doncic. Really clicking.

Lakers coach JJ Redick kept describing Doncic as “clear-headed.”

Basketball had become his refuge amid the turmoil in his personal life.

And it had become obvious that he had truly embraced Los Angeles as his home following the shocking trade last season that ripped him away from Dallas, where he thought he’d spend his entire career. 

He was on the verge of leading the 17-time champion Lakers into the playoffs as real contenders. He had the rest of the league on the edge of their seat, unsure what he and his team were capable of doing in the postseason.

In addition to becoming the 10th player in NBA history to score over 600 points in March, he was averaging 8 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals over that stretch. He was trying on defense. He was a complete player who was challenging Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama for the league’s most prestigious individual honor. 

Then he went down. 

Doncic, who was grabbing at his left hamstring in the second quarter, felt it seize while driving against Jalen Williams with 7:39 left in the third period. 

He hopped a few times. He doubled over in pain. Then he slowly sat down, collapsing onto his back. 

What a shame. 

Now, both he and the Lakers are plunged into uncertainty. 

Will he be able to return in time to help the Lakers? Will he qualify for awards using the “Extraordinary Circumstances Challenge,” even though he will miss the 65-game threshold? Are the Lakers toast? 

The narrative has changed in whiplash-inducing fashion for a player who leads the league in scoring (33.5), is third in assists (8.3) and sixth in steals (1.6). 

It has also shifted for the third-seeded Lakers, who now need to refind their identity after the Big 3 had finally jelled. 

It took them until spring to find their groove, with Doncic as the head of the snake, Austin Reaves as the second option and LeBron James as third. And then with the playoffs five games away, the rug was ripped from underneath them. 

For the Lakers, this was dizzying.

And for Doncic, it was gut-wrenching. 

Over the last month, Doncic was inspiring MVP chants during road games. He had 51-point and 60-point performances. He made a game-winning shot against the Nuggets in overtime. 

He was him. 

Now the Lakers need to figure out who they are without him. 

Draymond Green drops perfect two-word response to Steph Curry's impending return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry is expected to return Sunday, and no one is as thrilled as Draymond Green.

The Warriors forward, who has spent his entire 14-year NBA career playing as Curry’s partner-in-crime, shared the perfect two-word response to Curry’s impending return.

“Thank God,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.”

Curry has been sidelined for more than two months with a nagging knee issue.

He made a major leap in his rehab this past week after returning to full practice for the first time and participating in 5-on-5 scrimmaging. Curry scrimmaged for the second time on Thursday, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr shared that “he looked good” and “looked like Steph Curry.”

“We’re excited,” Green continued. “No. 1, just to see him back on the floor, the NBA is a much better place when Steph Curry is on the floor. I think we all can agree with that from a team perspective. The most important thing for us the past couple of weeks has been staying competitive, making sure we’re building great habits, because realistically, I don’t believe we had enough. But continuing to build the right habits, continuing to stay competitive, continuing to keep spirits high, so that when Steph returns, when Al [Horford] returns, you’re not trying to break bad habits.

“You plug those guys in where they go and you try to build on the good habits that we’ve been working on. You try to build on some of the experiences that these guys have been getting due to the injuries. If you just let go of the rope while Steph is out, when Al’s out, when they do come back, it’s just going to be more of the same. And quite honestly, we didn’t win a ton of games, but what we did was build some good habits and guys have grown in different areas. And now, you get your reinforcements back and you try to give yourself a chance.”

Curry hasn’t played since Jan. 30. The Warriors have posted a 9-18 record without their best player.

Golden State currently holds a 36-41 record and sits in 10th place in the Western Conference standings, three games behind the ninth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.

“Going into this play-in situation, you go in healthy and a little fresh, which is one upside of the injuries,” Green said. “And with a group of guys who have been there. I’ve been there. Steph’s been there. Al Horford’s been there. Porzingis has been there. mixed with guys who haven’t had many opportunities. And you roll the dice and you see what you get. So we’re excited as hell.”

With just five regular-season games remaining, Curry’s return comes at the perfect time.

And Green shared that despite speculation, the Warriors never actually considered shutting down Curry for the season.

“As I told you all, there was never really an idea of Steph shutting it down,” Green said. “He’s been working to get back and obviously had the frustrating days in between. But there was never really a talk of like, ‘Yo, let’s shut it down.’ It’s just not who he is. So we’re excited as hell. And honestly, you just want to give yourself a shot at the playoffs. You give yourself a chance.”

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1. Historic First Half Offense

After dropping a franchise record 53 points on the Miami Heat in the game before, the Celtics came into this matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks and dropped 43 more. Boston scoring 96 points in back-to-back first quarters is a new NBA record, beating the previous mark set by the Denver Nuggets of 92 points in 2008. Boston once again shot ridiculously well, going 15-25 (60%) from the field and 8-12 (67%) from three with 0 turnovers.

Boston also set a franchise record for the most points in consecutive first halves with a total of 155 points after scoring 80 points against Miami and 75 points against Milwaukee, breaking the previous record of 152 points. In the first half against the Bucks, the Celtics shot 28-53 (53%) from the field and 12-23 (52%) from three with only 2 turnovers.

2. Tatum Ethical Hoops

After recording his first triple-double of the season against the Heat, Jayson Tatum was about as close as you could get when it came to getting two in a row, finishing with 23 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals on 8-16 shooting from the field and 4-8 shooting from three. One of the craziest stats on Tatum in this game is that he finished as a +30 in 31 minutes, just ethical hoops.

When it came to his shot, Tatum looked like he was shooting in an open gym for most of his attempts. The Bucks did not have a guy who could guard him and his work navigating screens from Neemias Queta allowed him to get a ton of wide open shots.

Tatum’s rebounding in this game was big on the defensive glass but it was his assists that were the most impressive thing to watch. Tatum was seeing the floor like Neo in the Matrix. He knew what play was coming and made the pass to a teammate before even they knew what they were about to do. Just pinpoint accuracy that not every player in the NBA can master.

I was also really impresses with Tatum’s defense in this game. The 3 steals that he ended with were in result of Tatum using his heightened sense of awareness for the situation to pick off passes and create offensive opportunities. Maybe he really is Neo.

3. Queta for Most Improved Player

For the 16th time this season and the second game in a row, Neemias Queta finished with a double-double of 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks on 8-11 shooting. This game is a perfect example of why Queta needs to win Most Improved Player.

Queta has improved so much when it comes to setting the best screens in the NBA and making quick decisions once he has the ball in his hands. This play where he caught it at the free throw line and passed it to Derrick White show’s his improvements in his decision making.

When it comes to scoring, Queta’s connection with Jayson Tatum is really starting to blossom into an unstoppable force. Out of his 8 made shots, 4 of them were assisted by Tatum. Queta’s job was just to finish the play and he did a great job of putting himself in the right position to receive the passes.

On the defensive end, we have seen Queta transform into an incredible shot blocker. He had 4 blocks in this game that he was able to time up perfectly. Going from the fourth string center last season to the starter this year has been an incredible testament to his development and that should put him as the favorite for Most Improved Player.

4. Brown Makes Scoring Look Easy

It must be so awesome to be able to have an offensive bag like Jaylen Brown. He finished with 26 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals on 7-17 shooting and 2-4 from three but when you watched him play in this game it looks like its just a regular game of pickup.

We saw Brown take and make a ton of pull-up jump shots against Milwaukee mostly due to the fact that they just couldn’t guard him. Similar to Tatum, Brown was able to get wherever he wanted to on the court with relatively no pushback from the defense and just rise up over people. Brown finished his night on fire, scoring 13 points in the third quarter before sitting for the rest of the game.

That’s why I think it has to be so cool to have Jaylen Brown’s offensive ability because he knows how to make the game of basketball look so easy.

5. Hauser-Matic

Coming off a first quarter where Sam Hauser shot 6-6 from the field and 5-5 from three in the first quarter against the Heat, he followed it up with a 3-3 shooting first quarter against the Bucks with all of his shots coming from beyond the arc. Hauser finished this game with 13 points on 5-6 shooting from the field and 3-4 shooting from three.

Hauser’s ability to get hot early is huge for the Celtics offense. When he is hitting his threes, Boston can build up a lead quick and in a hurry. This reminds me of how the 2024 Celtics would use Jrue Holiday on offense when he shot 43% from three that year. Boston was able to close out games by the end of the third quarter up by 50 points all because Holiday was hitting wide open corner threes.

Hauser has that same ability to just make wide open shots to demoralize a defense and that makes Boston’s offense so much scarier to any team that runs into them.

6. Pritchard Paint Precision

Payton Pritchard continued his streak of good performances in this game, finishing with 16 points and 6 assists on 7-12 shooting from the field and 2-6 shooting from three. The thing that impresses me most with Pritchard’s offense is how is able to navigate himself when he is in the paint at his size.

Pritchard loves when a big gets switched on to him so he can completely embarrass them by taking them off the dribble and shooting a fadeaway jumper that doesn’t even touch rim. The defends the jump shot? Pritchard is just going to use an array of up-and-under moves to continue to embarrass them. If he’s not doing that, Pritchard might just use his speed to blow by you and finish through contact for a layup.

No matter what happens, in the end the big man on the other team ends up feel sad and embarrassed while Payton Pritchard just continues his asention into the Gen Z version of Steve Nash.

7. White Three-Point Slump Busted?

Ever since Jayson Tatum has come back on March 6th, Derrick White has been in a shooting slump from three, shooting 26% from three on 78 attempts in his last 12 games. Although he was able to buck that trend in this game against Milwaukee, finishing with 17 points 5-9 shooting from three.

White is currently having the second worst three-point shooting season of his career at 32% but this game feels encouraging. He looked a lot more comfortable taking them in this game verses last game against Miami where he only attempted 1 three. Hopefully White can get hot for the playoffs, but his shooting as a whole is the least bit concerning considering all of the other ways he can impact the game on offense and defense.

8. Buck Hunting vs Zone

In the Miami game, it was pretty obvious the Celtics plan was to attack Tyler Herro any chance they got and tonight Boston did the same thing with Milwaukee’s AJ Green. In the second quarter we saw Brown and Tatum attack Green on back-to-back plays with similar results.

Tatum started it out by getting the ball at the three point line. With Green only being listed at 6’4”, this was a free basket Jayson, backing down the Bucks sharpshooter and splashing a step back jumper in his face.

On the next offensive possession the Celtics had, Brown got the ball at the three point line and just bullied his way to the free throw area where he hit Green with a fadeaway jumper that looked like shooting practice.

These were a couple examples of the way the Celtics were able to exploit mismatches on the undermanned Bucks all night long. After years of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum having to play against the Miami Heat’s zone defense in the conference finals, it feels funny that teams even try to run it when the Jays are on the floor and they don’t have the personnel to hold up.

9. Board Man Gets Paid

Boston dominated Milwaukee in pretty much every aspect of this game but one area that stands out was their ability to dominate the glass, out-rebounding the Bucks 48-30 on the night. Craziest part about the Celtics rebounding number is the fact that Tatum and Queta combined for 21 of the 48 rebounds for Boston.

When it came to the points in the paint battle, the Celtics blew them out 56-22. With Myles Turner being the only person that has even the slightest ability to defend the paint against Boston, it was pretty much an all you can buffet down there. Boston shot 22-26 (85%) directly underneath the basket in this one, finished off by a Jordan Walsh alley-oop dunk.

10. The Celtics Defense Makes No Sense

It’s hard to find negatives when the Celtics have blown out their opponents the last two games by an average of 25 points while scoring an average of 140 points, but there is one thing that just doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense and that is Boston’s three point defense.

This game made it back-to-back games where the Celtics allowed 20+ threes to their opponent and still won. This has only happened one other time in NBA history from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. Although the Celtics are winning is there any cause for concern with the three point defense?

I’m going to say no when it comes to being concerned given the fact that Boston averages 14.1 threes given up a game so this could just be an outlier. The Celtics were blowing out their opponents by so much, in some meaningless regular season games and they were just a little lackadaisical on defense. Even in their last loss to the Atlanta Hawks on March 30th, Boston only allowed 15 made threes.

My final verdict is that there is nothing to really be concerned about as of now but it really is just a strange statistical anomaly. Leave it to the Celtics to break both brains and stat sheets.

Mere hours after a straw poll of NBA media members said Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel was firmly in the lead for the NBA Rookie of the Year award as the 2025-26 season winds down, Cooper Flagg made a closing argument that would put Perry Mason to shame.

Flagg poured in 38 of his game-high 51 points in the second half on Friday in a 138-127 loss to the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center. It was jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring stuff. He had the same determined look on his face after starting the game with a pedestrian five points in the first quarter that he featured in that dazzling 49-point display on Jan. 29 against Knueppel and the Hornets. Flagg set a new record for single-game scoring by a teenager in an NBA that night, then broke it on Friday to hammer home

Flagg made 6-of-9 from 3-point range, five of which came in the second half, against the Magic. He recorded three steals on the defensive end. But most of all, his performance proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that a straw poll with six regular-season games still left on the schedule is an imperfect endeavor. He left no shadow of a doubt on Friday who should be named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

It has to be Flagg.

“I would hope it helps,” Flagg said when asked how his 51-point explosion should factor into his chances at winning the Rookie of the Year award. “But I’m not going to worry about that. I’m just going to worry about getting better every single night.”

At 19 years and 105 days, Flagg became the youngest player in NBA history to record a 50-point game and just the third rookie to do it since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976. Brandon Jennings scored 55 for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 14, 2009, and Allen Iverson scored 50 for the Philadelphia 76ers on April 12, 1997 at the Cleveland Cavaliers. If his current season averages hold through the final five regular-season games of the year, Flagg will become just the fourth rookie to average more than 20 points, more than six rebounds and more than four assists per game, after Larry Bird, Michael Jordan and Luka Dončic all did it in their first years. He joined Jordan as just the second rookie to have multiple 45-point games since the merger as well.

He dwarfed his 14-point effort in the third quarter on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor with an astronomical fourth quarter against the Magic. He was an absolute maniac getting to the rim, but also made 2-of-3 from distance in the frame. He nuked Orlando for 24 points in the fourth on 11-of-18 shooting overall, then got a bottled water shower in the locker room after an 11-point loss, which felt a little weird.

We’ll excuse the awkwardness because, honestly, what’s the appropriate response to a night like Friday, when every Maverick not named Cooper Flagg combined to shoot 25-of-65 (38.5%) from the floor? At least it shows that the kid owns that locker room, as he damn well should.

Flagg scored 10 straight points for the Mavs in a span of less than two minutes early in the third, including a step-back 3-pointer with just over nine minutes left in the frame to put him at 23 points on the night. Two free throws and a pull-up jumper late in the third put him at 27 points entering the fourth and gave Flagg his 18th game of 25 or more points in his rookie year and before turning 20, passing Dončić, who had 17 games of 25 or more points as a teen. But that was just an appetizer.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd was ejected early in the fourth quarter after arguing a non-call that should have been whistled for a foul on Desmond Bane, who tugged on Flagg’s elbow following a shot attempt. Flagg scored all 24 of his fourth-quarter points after the ejection in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Flagg’s stop-and-pop 3-pointer from the right wing with 9:45 left to play put him at the 30-point mark, and that’s when he detonated. The next time down, he dropped the hammer on a high-flying dunk over Paolo Banchero. Two possessions after that, Flagg nailed his fourth 3-ball of the game, this time from the left wing to force a Magic timeout with the Mavericks trailing 123-102.

The one hole in Flagg’s game across his rookie season has been his jumpshot. His six 3-pointers on Friday are the latest evidence that he has what it takes to plug that hole in short order. And when he does, the NBA is on notice. He’s going to be the best player in the league.

Scoff at the fact that his final 21 points came in “junk time” against an Orlando team that had lost eight of its last 10 coming into Friday’s game at your own peril. Flagg is the realest of real deals, but we’ve known that for quite some time. He spun for a hoop and the harm inside over Jamal Cain with 2:05 left to play, then flopped to the ground with his arms extended overhead, in relief after reaching the 50-point peak. The ensuing free throw put Flagg at 51 points for the game, elevating Flagg to even more rarified air than he already occupied.

The kid is a monster, and he should be the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. He now owns the three top-scoring single games (51, 49, 42) by a rookie this year and five of the top eight.

“Well he’s a rookie, he should be Rookie of the Year,” Kidd said in his postgame press conference. “It’s unbelievable, the country is not watching the same thing that we get to watch on a daily basis. The things that he’s done, he’s in rare air, he’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year, and as a teenager. And so to see what Cooper’s doing, just the excitement, the joy of playing the game. Win or lose, his spirit is about winning, and right now we’re not, but as he just said in the locker room, we’re just gonna be that much better come next season.”

I’d say case closed, but he’s still got five chances left to do something special again.

The NBA playoff picture continues to take shape entering the weekend.

All of the postseason berths have been clinched, but teams continue to battle for position in the final days of the regular season. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Houston Rockets became the latest teams to clinch full playoff spots on Thursday.

The Rockets were dominant with a 140-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are not only the defending champions but also made another statement to the rest of the league with a convincing 139-96 win against the Lakers on Thursday. The Thunder remain the No. 1 seed in the West, followed by the San Antonio Spurs and the Lakers — suddenly without Luka Doncic — rounding out the top three.

The Eastern Conference standings remain tight, with 4.5 games deciding the seedings between teams No. 5 through No. 10. The Detroit Pistons have held their ground as the top team in the East, with the Boston Celtics trailing by 4 games. The Celtics outscored the Milwaukee Bucks 43-26 in the first quarter before winning 133-101 on Friday.

Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Saturday, April 4:

NBA schedule for Saturday, April 4

• Washington Wizards at Miami Heat, 3 p.m. ET
• San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 3 p.m. ET
• Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET

NBA standings

All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division):

Eastern Conference

• (1) d-Detroit Pistons: 56-21
• (2) x-Boston Celtics: 52-25 (4 GB)
• (3) x-New York Knicks: 50-28 (6.5 GB)
• (4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-29 (8 GB)
• (5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-33 (11.5 GB)
• (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-34 (13 GB)
• (7) Toronto Raptors: 43-34 (13 GB)
• (8) Charlotte Hornets: 42-36 (14.5 GB)
• (9) Orlando Magic: 41-36 (15 GB)
• (10) Miami Heat: 40-37 (16 GB)

Western Conference

• (1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 61-16
• (2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 59-18 (2 GB)
• (3) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-27 (11 GB)
• (4) x-Denver Nuggets: 49-28 (12 GB)
• (5) x-Houston Rockets: 48-29 (13 GB)
• (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-31 (15 GB)
• (7) Phoenix Suns: 42-35 (19 GB)
• (8) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (21.5 GB)
• (9) Los Angeles Clippers: 39-38 (22)
• (10) Golden State Warriors: 36-41 (25 GB)

NBA playoffs bracket

(As of Friday, April 3)

Eastern Conference

• (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
• (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
• (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference

• (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
• (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
• (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
• (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Play-In Tournament

(As of Friday, April 3)

Eastern Conference

• (7) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
• (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat

Western Conference

• (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) Portland Trail Blazers
• (9) LA Clippers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

When do the NBA playoffs begin?

• The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
• The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
• Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

Eastern Conference

• Brooklyn Nets
• Chicago Bulls
• Indiana Pacers
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Washington Wizards

Western Conference

• Dallas Mavericks
• Memphis Grizzlies
• New Orleans Pelicans
• Sacramento Kings
• Utah Jazz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs bracket, standings, schedule if postseason started today