NBA Cup Looking Up in Year Two: Ahead of the finals tonight, the NBA Cup is doing pretty well with players and coaches in its second year. The league hopes it will grown to become "a true second championship," said NBA strategist and analytics exec Evan Wasch.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:24 AM - 1 comment

NBA Pickem Week 16: : The NBA Pickem is highlighted this week by Tuesday's NBA Cup Final on ABC between the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder. The game's played in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena and OKC is favored by 4.5. I'm holding on to the contest lead by 21, but Ufez got 10 more points locking Houston over Golden State.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:49 AM - 7 comments

NBA Pickem Week 8: NBA Cup Runneth Over: The quarterfinals and semifinals of the second NBA Cup are this week's national games. Tonight its Magic/Bucks and Mavs/Thunder on TNT. Tomorrow night it's Hawks/Knicks on ESPN and Warriors/Rockets on TNT. The winners play Saturday. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:53 AM - 9 comments

NBA Pickem Week 7: Three Thousand Threes: Just four games on the national NBA calendar this week, beginning tonight with Magic/Knicks and Warriors/Nuggets on TNT. I won the week with 30 to pass Ufez for first place. Thank you, Phoenix Suns. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 08:56 AM - 7 comments

NBA Pickem Week 6: Six Games No Turkeys: There are six national NBA games before and after Thanksgiving, starting tonight with a Bucks/Heat and Lakers/Suns doubleheader on TNT. Ufez holds onto first place in the pickem, where we all thought the Thunder would beat the Spurs and paid the price. Make your picks and enjoy the holiday.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:00 AM - 6 comments

NBA Pickem Week 5: Cavaliers Go for 16-0: The NBA has six national games this week, starting on Tuesday night when the 15-0 Cleveland Cavaliers face the defending champion Boston Celtics. The Cavs are tied for second all time with wins to open a season. Ufez Jones takes first in the pickem after hitting close locks on the Knicks over the Sixers and the Thunder over the Pelicans. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:09 AM - 7 comments

NBA Pickem Week 4: Let There Be Cup: The in-season tournament now known as the Emirates NBA Cup begins today. There are six national TV games starting tonight on TNT with Knickerbockers/Sixers and Mavs/Warriors. I lead the pickem with 102. Howard_T wins the week with 28. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:49 AM - 7 comments

NBA Pickem Week 3: The Warriors Are Good Again?: The NBA doesn't schedule games on Election Day, so this is a slow week with just four national TV games beginning tonight when the surprising 6-1 Warriors visit the 7-1 Celtics. Ufez Jones has taken the lead in the pickem after not locking the Celtics over the Pacers. Make your selections.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:14 AM - 9 comments

NBA Pickem Week 2: Paolo in the Zone: There's a TNT doubleheader tonight of Mavs/Wolves and Pelicans/Warriors to start the NBA national broadcast week. Former rookie of the year Paolo Banchero of the Magic dropped 50 on the Pacers Monday and has a game on ESPN tomorrow. I'm in first in the pickem after scoring 66 and hitting five locks. Fortune favors the bold.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:43 AM - 9 comments

Tony Bennett's retirement is yet another sign of college basketball's brain drain: “The game and college athletics are not in a healthy spot. I think I was equipped to do the job the old way.”

posted by NoMich to basketball at 01:27 PM - 0 comments

Enter the NBA Pickem: The NBA Pickem returns to SportsFilter for the final season of the greatest studio show of all time. TNT is losing its NBA package to NBC and an online bookstore, which means no more Inside the NBA. The Knicks face the Celtics in the season opener Tuesday night on TNT. Pick the games, set some slam dunks and say goodbye to Charles, Shaq, Kenny and Ernie.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:07 AM - 10 comments

Sam Mitchell Doxxes Cohost on NBA TV Pregame: A mild joke about salaries led to former NBA coach Sam Mitchell going on a strange rant against his cohost Chris Miles during NBA Gametime Live Friday night on NBA TV. Mitchell revealed the address of Miles' Florida beach house at one point after he said, "I done told you, young fella. You got to stop messing with me on national TV." A 2005 incident where Vince Carter picked up Mitchell and threw him was hilariously recounted by Jalen Rose.

posted by rcade to basketball at 08:54 AM - 1 comment

Coming to Broadway this season: KAT!: The Minnesota Timberwolves are trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a first-round draft pick.

posted by Ufez Jones to basketball at 03:01 PM - 0 comments

NBA Playoff Pickem Champion: ic23b: The SportsFilter NBA Playoff Pickem champion is i23cb, who finished 23 points over Howard_T. Ic23b picked the Celtics to win game 1 and the series, Luka Doncic to score the most points per game and P.J. Washington to get the most fouls. Kudos! My fellow deflated Mavs fan Ufez Jones claims the coveted Costanza.

posted by rcade to basketball at 05:32 PM - 3 comments

Kyle Filipowski Drafted By Utah Jazz After His Brother Says He Was Groomed By Mormon Culture: According to Filipowski's older brother, his family has not had contact with the NBA Draft prospect in two years after a goodbye email was sent.

posted by NoMich to basketball at 09:08 AM - 3 comments

Lots of Grousing About Refs as Celtics Take 3-0 Finals Lead: It's all over but the crying in the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics have a 3-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks. Four fouls were called on Luka Doncic in the fourth quarter Wednesday, including a blocking call on a possible charge that sent him out of the game after the Mavs rallied from 21 down to within 3.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:50 AM - 5 comments

RIP The Logo, Mr Clutch: Jerry West, the inspiration for the NBA's logo, died peacefully at his home at the age of 86...One of basketball's most accomplished contributors, West was a staple of the sport across eight decades, winning nine championships as a player, scout, coach, executive and consultant. Jerry West's legendary career ended with him unquestionably among the sport's all-time greats.

posted by NoMich to basketball at 10:09 AM - 4 comments

NBA Playoff Pickem: NBA Finals: The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics play game one of the NBA Finals tomorrow night. Boston last won a title in 2008 and Dallas in 2011. I'm looking forward to hearing the reception that Kyrie Irving gets at TD Garden. After three rounds Ic23b is leading our pickem by four over me and 23 over Howard_T. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:23 AM - 6 comments

Bill Walton dead at 71: Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton died at the age of 71 on Tuesday after a prolonged battle with cancer. Jay Bilas remembers Walton in a moving eulogy.

For his greatness on the floor, Walton carved out a special place in the game's history that will never be forgotten. As a friend and colleague, Walton had a spirit that was bigger than life. He was a showman. I will always love Bill Walton -- he was a national treasure, and there will never be another like him.

posted by NoMich to basketball at 09:35 AM - 5 comments

NBA Playoff Pickem Round 3: Conference Finals: The NBA Conference Finals begin tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern when the Indiana Pacers visit the Boston Celtics in the East while the Dallas Mavericks go to the Minnesota Timberwolves tomorrow night in the West. Make your picks in our playoff pickem.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:16 AM - 14 comments

Coach, radio show host: Doug Gottlieb, trustworthy roommate, has been hired by University of Wisconsin - Green Bay as their next men's basketball coach. He will be allowed to continue to do his daily radio show with Fox Sports Radio. I'm sure there will be no rules violations at all, ever.

posted by NoMich to basketball at 10:54 AM - 0 comments

NBA Playoff Pickem: Second Round: The second round of the NBA Playoffs has begun. Make your picks, which can be changed up to game time of each series opener, and choose your props. The Cavaliers' game seven win over the Orlando Magic has Ic23b and myself in a tie for first with 80 points.

posted by rcade to basketball at 03:52 PM - 17 comments

Lakes Fire Coach Darvin Ham After 2 Seasons: Darvin Ham has been fired as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after going .574 in two seasons and winning the NBA's first In-Season Tournament in December. Stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis played the most together this year since they became teammates in 2018, but the first-round exit to the Denver Nuggets cost Ham his job.

posted by rcade to basketball at 02:45 PM - 2 comments

Enter the NBA Playoff Pickem: Though four teams are still playing tonight to earn their spot, the NBA Playoffs begin Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Orlando Magic play the Cleveland Cavaliers. To play in our pickem, choose the winners of eight playoff series, the games needed, and four props.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:43 AM - 10 comments

NBA Pickem Champion: rcade: Another NBA regular season is in the books and the SportsFilter NBA Pickem champion is Rogers "The Greek" Cadenhead. Ufez Jones made a late climb but a blown Celtics lock against the Bucks at the start of the final week kept them too far back. I probably won't be buying the Wilson Evolution basketball I owe me.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:31 PM - 2 comments

NBA Pickem: Final Day Edition: ESPN has added two TV games on Sunday, the final day of the NBA regular season. Chicago visits New York and the L.A. Lakers visit New Orleans. The Pelicans may be playing to stay out of the play-in games and the Knicks may be playing for home court as a 3rd or 4th seed in the East. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:26 AM - 1 comment

Lindsey Harding to interview for Hornets' coaching job: In her first season as coach of the Stockton Kings, Harding was voted the 2024 G League Coach of the Year and advanced her team to the Western Conference finals. Charlotte was granted permission on Monday to interview her for the job, sources said.

posted by NoMich to basketball at 07:07 AM - 0 comments

NBA Pickem: Final Week Edition: There are six national TV games on TNT and ESPN in the final week of the NBA regular season, starting Tuesday night. My lead was cut by 31 after a dismal week and now I'm in first by 32 over Ufez Jones. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:43 PM - 11 comments

Iowa is not just Caitlin Clark: Clark was held to "just" 21 points, but her teammates stood up strong to outlast UConn in their exciting Final Four matchup. And South Carolina completely smothered NC State in their Final Four matchup. The championship game is set for 3:00 PM EDT tomorrow.

posted by NoMich to basketball at 09:52 AM - 3 comments

Iowa Advances Past LSU to Final Four: Caitlin Clark had 41 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds to lead Iowa past defending champ LSU and advance to the Final Four. She tied a tournament record with nine three pointers in the game, moved ahead of Diana Taurasi for most tournament three pointers in a career and broke Taylor Robertson's record for most career three pointers in Division I.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:59 PM - 5 comments

NBA Pickem Week 21: Second-to-Last Week Edition: There are just two weeks left in the NBA regular season. There are six games on TNT and ESPN, beginning Tuesday night when Oklahoma City visits Philadelphia at 7:30 p.m. on TNT. Howard_T wins the week with 34. NoMich picks all dunks and suffers the agony of defeat. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 10:28 PM - 6 comments

NBA Pickem Week 20: Crunch Time Edition: As the NBA regular season nears its end, this week's picks are tonight's ESPN doubleheader followed by five NBA TV games. I'm in first by 65 over Ufez Jones, a sign that Dallas Mavericks fans are basketball savants. Make your picks, gentlefolk.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:14 AM - 6 comments

NBA Pickem Week 19: Little Penny Edition: There's an 11-game national NBA week stretching from a TNT doubleheader tonight to an ESPN doubleheader next Monday. Last week was carnage in our contest with Howard_T scoring 23 to win the week. Make your picks and enjoy this old school NBA moment.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:57 AM - 8 comments

NBA Pickem Week 18: Don't Miss Tipoff Edition: There are 11 national NBA games this week beginning with a doubleheader tonight on TNT. In our contest Ufez Jones wins the week with 88 points and is now 74 back in second place. Make your picks promptly. Don't be late like Anthony Edwards.

posted by rcade to basketball at 11:46 AM - 11 comments

Max Strus Sinks Mavericks with 59-Foot Buzzer Beater: After the Dallas Mavericks went ahead by 2 with 2.6 seconds left, Max Strus of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored a 59-foot three-pointer to win the game Tuesday night. It's the second longest buzzer beater to win an NBA game in the three point era.

posted by rcade to basketball at 12:31 AM - 4 comments

NBA Pickem Week 17: Enough Basketball For You Edition: There are 13 games this week on TNT, ESPN and ABC, starting tomorrow night with a TNT doubleheader of Sixers/Celtics and Rockets/Thunder and ending Sunday with ABC and ESPN doubleheaders. Howard_T won week 16 with 30. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:36 PM - 7 comments

The Life of an NBA Beat Writer: HoopsHype talked to several longtime NBA beat reporters, past and present, about their jobs. "The money has changed things," said Kerry Eggers, who covered the Portland Trail Blazers for The Oregonian in the 1990s. "And more of the players are not willing to do media interviews. They don't feel like they have to. I remember sitting down with Michael Jordan before games -- just me for a few minutes. Now, that would never happen."

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:10 AM - 0 comments

NBA Pickem Week 16: Ufez Gets Results Edition: There's a shortened schedule of five national games in the week leading up to the NBA All-Star Game. First up is a TNT doubleheader Tuesday of Thunder/Magic and Kings/Suns. I won the week with 40 after switching to Mavs over Knicks to test whether Ufez being in attendance influences the outcome of games. Spoiler alert: It does. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 03:20 PM - 4 comments

NBA Pickem Week 15: Blown Locks Edition: There are eight NBA games this week, including a TNT doubleheader tonight and games on ABC Saturday and Super Bowl Sunday. Locking the Lakers to lose turned out to be a terrible idea last week. I have regrets. Howard_T wins the week with 23. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 09:43 AM - 9 comments

NBA Pickem Week 14: Luka Puts Up 73 Edition: There are eight NBA games on national TV this week, starting with Tuesday's TNT doubleheader of Pacers/Celtics and Sixers/Warriors. Howard_T wins the week with 30. I hold onto first. Make your picks.

posted by rcade to basketball at 04:01 PM - 5 comments