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Viewers are transported into the Clippers’ locker room to witness the portrayals of the difficult conversations the players had to make when the Sterling tape was leaked. In an interview with the Hoopsology Podcast, J. Alphonse Nicholson who plays Chris Paul stated he knew the story had many uncomfortable moments but he felt the series was able to add lighter moments to the story.?

“There's a thin line, you know that you play with it. And I think we were able to kind of jump to both sides. So it's like, hey, we'll make you laugh. But yeah, we'll make you cry and think a lot as well,” Nicholson said.

“Clipped” is based on the 30 for 30 podcast, “The Sterling Affairs” which is hosted by ESPN senior writer Ramona Shelburne. The critically acclaimed podcast received much interest in adapting it into a scripted television series. After vetting a variety of different writers, the responsibility to bring the story to life fell to Gina Welch who became, the showrunner, executive producer, and writer of several episodes.?

While talking to the Hoopsology Podcast, Shelburne explained how being heavily involved in the creation of “Sterling Affairs” created anticipation to see her podcast come to life via a narrative told on television.?

“It was kind of fun to sit back and just, you know, do what they needed me to do as a producer on this and as a consultant, but also just kind of let them do their Hollywood magic,” Shelburne stated.

The media have mostly reported Donald Sterling’s former personal assistant V. Stiviano in a one-dimensional manner. Shelburne praised “Clipped” for making Stiviano relatable by showing key scenes with her children, managing her food truck, and balancing her new fame with her personal life.

“I'm glad that we were able to humanize her character because she really is such an interesting character in person. And I think she's so important to the show, because you have to think about like, none of this happens without her. None of what happens to Donald Sterling, to the NBA, to the players, to all the characters involved, happens without her making that tape,” Shelburne said.?

During its portrayal of the 2013-14 Los Angeles Clippers playoff campaign, "Clipped" depicted actors embodying Blake Griffin, JJ Redick, Chris Paul, and DeAndre Jordan navigating Donald Sterling's disruptive behavior in their quest for an NBA championship. With the series obligated to depict multiple basketball scenes, Nicholson was impressed with how much due diligence the production put into making sure the basketball looked as realistic as possible.

“And then Gina and her team, they were very specific about the plays that we were running and capturing. So they had all real plays, all real shots. And so that became much like a choreography almost to where we had to kind of rotate and practice those plays multiple times. And then we had some great stunt doubles who came in there and made it look top-tier,” Nicholson said.

Laurence Fishburne, who portrayed Doc Rivers, was tasked to give confidence and authority while showing the vulnerability of Rivers. To accomplish this Fishburne, who had limited sports knowledge had to meet with Rivers to capture his essence as a head coach.

“And it turned out he's really not a sports fan and doesn't really know much about it, but he and Doc actually did get together. I think they went to some barbecue, either it was either at Lawrence's house or Doc's house, and they bonded in their own way. You know, they connected so he had a feel for who Doc was,” Shelburne said.

The aftermath of the Sterling scandal resulted in Donald Sterling being banned from the NBA and owners having to increase their awareness of their public image. The league now features prominent owners like Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, who face heightened scrutiny in the eyes of public perception.

“I think there is a lot more accountability in life and there's a lot more recognition that something you say or do can have very big consequences outside of the realm that you're in. And to me, at least, that's a really big difference,” Ramona said.

Viewers of FX’s "Clipped," currently available on Hulu, will witness how the leaked Donald Sterling audio was one of the first controversies to garner strong reactions from social media.

“Social media, the Internet, this was all very new back in 2014. Like we had Twitter, we had social media back then, but it was very, it was still quite new. And this idea of going viral, this idea that like an audio tape or a story could just kind of take over the monoculture, take over the world. That was all new in 2014. Now we're kind of used to it,” Ramona said.

As "Clipped" concludes its narrative on Hulu with its final episode, the Donald Sterling scandal continues to illustrate how a private moment could resonate profoundly and have far-reaching consequences in the era of social media.

The author of this article is Justin Goodrum. He is a sportswriter, podcast host, and producer of the Hoopsology Podcast. Justin currently resides in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Journalism.

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LeBron James might finally get the chance to team up with his son in the NBA after all.

On Friday morning, USC freshman Bronny James announced on Instagram that he will be entering the 2024 NBA Draft with a heartfelt message. Just days prior, James announced he would enter the NCAA transfer portal for next season.

BRONNY JAMES HAS DECLARED FOR THE NBA DRAFT

Will he team up with LeBron? Where do you see him headed? pic.twitter.com/5bbBkfE5Dw

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) April 5, 2024

"I've made the decision to enter the NBA Draft, while maintaining my college eligibility, and will also be entering the NCAA portal," said James on his personal Instagram account. "Thank you to USC for an amazing Freshman year, and as always thankful for my family, friends, doctors, athletic trainers and fans for their support."

Bronny James, the son of NBA star LeBron James, finished his first season as a member of the USC Trojans. At 19 years old, James played just 25 of the Trojan's 33 games. 15-18 on the season, Bronny got the starting nod just six times. In his first year, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. He primarily earned a bench role this season, behind guards Boogie Ellis, and Isaiah Collier.

Bronny entered the NCAA Transfer Portal earlier this week

Recruited as a potential lottery pick in this year's draft, his numbers have decreased due to limited playing time. While he's the son of LeBron James, that may affect his draft stock. Either way, Bronny can hoop, and may need more time to prove that. But who knows, maybe NBA GMs have already seen his raw talent.

While averaging 19.4 minutes per game, Bronny had a standout performance during USC's loss to Oregon State in late December. Perhaps his most efficient game, James finished with 15 points on 6-11 shooting off the bench.

Considering all of his options, James revealed his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal as well. While joining his father in the NBA would be groundbreaking, returning to collegiate basketball offers him the chance to hone his skills and gain more experience.

Bronny James has committed to USC!

pic.twitter.com/v2kIFUtbze

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) May 6, 2023

Former Trojans head coach Andy Enfield's move to the SMU Mustangs didn't catch many off guard. With his departure after an 11-year stint, it's expected that there will be significant changes to the roster. Coaching transitions can have a big impact on players, as evidenced by Nick Saban's departure from Alabama football. Since then, Eric Musselman, former Arkansas head coach, was hired to replace Enfield.

Bronny James overcame adversity this year

In a social media post, Bronny acknowledged the last year was filled with "some ups and downs." In late July, James suffered cardiac arrest, in which LeBron James revealed his son underwent surgery following a congenital heart defect. While his future was in doubt over the summer, he's since been cleared by doctors to return to the game he loves the most.

The 6 foot 4 guard returned to USC, making his collegiate debut against Long Beach State on Dec. 10.

According to the Athletics Shams Charania, his decision to declare for the draft while maintaining NCAA eligibility will give James multiple options. He added James will "work out for and visit NBA teams and make a decision based on evaluation."

A four star recruit out of Sierra Canyon, James was named an All-American in high school. With his future in the air, it's possible he gains experience in the G-league before heading to the stage. LeBron James has shown interest in playing alongside his son in the NBA, but it might be better for Bronny to go back to NCAA basketball.

Returning to college would give him a chance to gauge NBA expectations and his own skills against others. Plus, he'd have many recruiting opportunities if he chooses to return to college. While he will workout for NBA teams, he will have until Jun. 16 to withdraw from the NBA Draft.

LeBron James: “I got to be on the floor with Bronny"

Shortly after Bronny James entered the NCAA transfer earlier this week, LeBron gave his thoughts to Lakers reporter Jovan Buha following the Lakers 128-111 victory over Toronto.

"Bronny is his own man," said James. "He has a tough decision to make.  When he’s ready to make those decisions he’ll let us all know. But as his family, we’ll support whatever he does."

No matter the outcome, Bronny is supported by the King himself, who is slated to become a free agent at the end of the year. While his future remains up in the air, he has the talent to play in the NBA.

If Bronny does choose to continue his career in the NBA, both he and LeBron will have the chance to make history. They would be the first father-son duo to play in the NBA simultaneously.

Stay tuned for more related NBA articles and podcasts. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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LeBron James makes history as the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, achieving the milestone during a critical game against the Denver Nuggets.

King James has done it all and now he's joined a club all by himself.

LeBron James is the first & maybe last player to ever join the 40K CLUB

Nick Wright: "For Giannis, he would have to average 30 PTS, playing 75 GMS a year for the next 11 years. For Luka: 35 PTS, 75 GMS, 12 years. For a new player: 35 PTS, 75 GMS, 15 and a half seasons." pic.twitter.com/DRpGZgKblD

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) March 3, 2024

LeBron James has now entered an exclusive group, surpassing 40,000 career points. The reigning king of basketball, James becomes the first to achieve this milestone, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387 points. Among a roster of elite basketball players, LeBron sits at the pinnacle, unmatched. It's truly the most astonishing record i've seen throughout my lifetime in sports. And that doesn't include the 8,023 points he's scored in the playoffs.

After his bucket, Laker nation celebrated LeBron and the moment in a time out. Grateful for the fans, the former Cavalier recognized how special it is.

"Being the first player to do something is pretty cool in this league", said James (NBA).

What an incredible feat, reaching 40,017 points. Since he was just 18 years old, LeBron has played in 1,475 career games, totaling 55,988 minutes, with 10,847 assists, and 11,046 rebounds. Even after playing over 55,000 minutes, the Lakers star continues to perform at a level reminiscent of his mid-twenties.

Although 40,000 is a heck of a lot of points, LeBron said "I was that on no kid. He emphasized the weight of expectations he faced at just 18 years old, acknowledging the pressure and scrutiny from those who hoped for his failure.

Just a few days after the big accomplishment, James was named Western Conference player of the week. Through week 19, James averaged 30.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists on 50 percent three-point shooting.

James has never missed an entire season in his career

While LeBron's achievement is undoubtedly remarkable, his durability stands out as his greatest attribute. Throughout his career, he has consistently been able to maintain a high level of performance despite the wear and tear of the game. LeBron managed to play in 74 games during 13 out of his first 15 NBA seasons. Remarkably, he has never missed an entire season due to injury, showcasing his remarkable resilience and commitment to the game.

Not many athletes can claim such durability. After setting the record with his 20th All-Star appearance, LeBron's game count began to decline only after he joined the Lakers. Nonetheless, this season, he has appeared in 54 games, averaging an impressive 35.1 minutes per game. The remarkable physical condition and high level of basketball he continues to demonstrate are truly extraordinary.

James, 39, is in his 21st NBA season. The oldest active player in the NBA, LeBron was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers no. 1 overall in the 2003 draft. Throughout his career, he's played for the Cavaliers, Miami Heat, now the Los Angeles Lakers. The all-time leader in NBA points scored, the King has several personal and team accolades.

LeBron, a four-time NBA champion, four-time Finals MVP, four-time MVP, olympic gold medalist, and a 20-time All-Star, has lived up to his reputation as a generational talent since his 2003 debut.

As I forecasted on episode six of the Cook it and Book it Podcast, LeBron James reached his 40,000th point in classic LeBron style. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the King isolated Michael Porter Jr., executing a drive and spin move for a layup. Despite his recent success from beyond the arc, shooting at an impressive 51.1% over the past ten games, LeBron's athleticism and drives to the basket have always been his trademark.

LeBron James daughter was present for the Lakers "girl dad" night

FIRST-EVER.

40K Points for the Scoring King https://t.co/wKcT0F54Op pic.twitter.com/GKwU3xwIln

— NBA (@NBA) March 3, 2024

As LeBron returned to play defense, the crowd erupted in excitement, with his wife Savannah, mother Gloria, and daughter Zhuri all in attendance. Being an Akron native, LeBron expressed how meaningful it was to have his daughter there, emphasizing his pride in being a "girl dad."

"It's definitely special," said LeBron post game. "When I looked up there in the stands and seen her sitting up there and when the 40,000-point mark hit, definitely looked up there at my wife, looked at my daughter, my mom, and my daughter was just clapping and pumping her arms up in the air so that was a super cool moment."(NBA YouTube).

And on the Lakers first official girl dad night, LeBron was able to share a moment with his daughter immediately after he surpasses 40,000 points. With the special occasion, LeBron was able to share the moment up close and personal with his loved ones.

"Blew her a kiss, she blew one back to me," said James. "That's super cool for sure. Definitely a girl dad, and happy she's a part of the family. She runs everything, so what Z says goes." (NBA YouTube)

While it was a momentous occasion for LeBron James, it was also bittersweet as the Lakers suffered a defeat to the Nuggets, losing 124-114 on their home court. Despite LeBron's milestone, the Lakers' overall record stands at 33-29, placing them at the 10th position in the Western Conference. Losing a game after such a significant achievement is undoubtedly disappointing, regardless of the opponent.

And to make it worse, the Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Nuggets in last year's western conference finals. With the loss on Saturday, James led with a team high 26 points, 3 steals, 9 assists, and four rebounds. He finished the night on 12-20 from the floor. After maintaining a first half lead, the Nuggets were simply too much for the Lakers, outscoring them 67-48 in the second half. Not only did Denver dominate on the boards, but they had 64 points in the paint.

LeBron James is the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 regular season points

With this achievement, LeBron James has now exceeded some of the greatest players in basketball history, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan. In a class by himself, James gave some insight how he achieved 40k points, and whether he can see any current athlete surpassing him.

LeBron credits durability and longevity to hitting this major milestone

From the way LeBron James talks about it, he attributes his longevity and durability to his ability to play at such a high level for so long.

"Obviously you have to play the game quite a while and have some good luck as far injuries and things of that nature," James told the media. "You have to take care of your body, you have to be present on the floor. Then you have to be productive as well. Obviously we have a lot of great guys in our league that can score the ball. If they were able to stay healthy and they were to play a long time, then they can eclipse it." (NBA)

Just last February, James passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA all-time scoring leader in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

While LeBron James continues to be the face of the NBA, there has been considerable speculation about who will assume that role once he retires. Names like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Jayson Tatum have emerged as potential successors to carry the torch for the league.

At the end of the day, LeBron was very fortunate for good influences despite hardships growing up. While James had a "great head on his shoulders," he thanked his mother and little league coaches for raising him the right way. He also adds his friends accountability and support from his now wife, Savannah kept him on the straight and narrow.

Stay tuned for more related NBA articles and podcasts.?Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Tune into Episode 6 of the Cook it and Book it Podcast, sponsored by Ballislife, as hosts Sara Jane Gamelli and Looch start things off by sharing their top NBA and NHL betting picks for Friday, March 1st. Get ready for some sizzling betting insights from both hosts!

(3:30): In the opening segment, Sara Jane delves into Caitlin Clark's recent announcement to enter the WNBA Draft. Clark, who is just 18 points shy of becoming the all-time leading scorer in NCAA basketball history, sparks discussion and anticipation.

(5:50) In the subsequent segment, Sara Jane and Looch dissect LeBron James and the Lakers' narrow victory in overtime against the Wizards. With LeBron only nine points away from reaching the remarkable milestone of 40,000 career points, Sara Jane shares her top predictions on how LeBron will notch his 40,000th basket.

(9:30) In their NBA segment, the hosts delve into Victor Wembanyama's standout performance, tallying five blocks against the OKC Thunder. Listeners are encouraged to tune in to discover which bet Sara Jane successfully cashed in on related to this exciting matchup.

(14:00) In the NHL segment, Looch delves into the weekend's slate of games, offering his top odds and predictions. He also highlights the best value bets and shares his hottest NHL betting takes for the night ahead, providing listeners with valuable insights into the hockey action.

(22:00) Sara Jane dissects her top NBA wagers for the evening, offering comprehensive analysis, assessing value, and presenting the latest betting lines. With confidence, she unveils her hottest NBA bet of the night, sure to captivate attention and potentially shake up the betting landscape.

(42:00) Discover the features of Juice Reel, the premier app designed to monitor your bets and empower you to make informed decisions.

(43:00) In the closing segment, Sara Jane and Looch discuss the week's winning community parlay and explore Ballislife's Discord community, inviting everyone to participate.

Be sure to follow hosts Sara Jane Gamelli & Looch on all Socials!

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Jrue Holiday is anticipated to be a part of the 2024 Olympic team following his pivotal role as a player during the Tokyo Olympics. Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the official Tokyo games were held in 2021.

The USA Men's Basketball team is aiming for redemption following a disappointing 4th place in the FIBA World Cup. Despite being ranked no.1 by FIBA globally, the team suffered defeats against Germany and Canada. Shams Charania, an NBA insider for The Athletic, reports that Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker are anticipated to be among the 12 core members of the forthcoming Olympic team.

Holiday, 33 was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Boston Celtics in a surprising move following the Damian Lillard trade. Renowned as one of the premier two-way players in basketball, Holiday excels as an elite perimeter defender and has been integral to the Celtics' success this season.

Across 53 games, the guard has maintained averages of 13 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. Impressively, Holiday ranks 9th overall in three-point shooting with a 44.3 percent success rate, having made 108 shots from beyond the arc this season. Notably, he leads the NBA with an outstanding 63% accuracy rate from corner threes.

With 15 years of experience in the NBA and a championship title under his belt, Holiday has established himself as a seasoned veteran. He was a key figure in the 2020 Olympic team, contributing significantly to their gold medal triumph in Tokyo. Throughout the six matchups, spanning the group phase, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, Holiday maintained averages of 11.9 points, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, and 4.8 rebounds.

Jrue Holiday played a pivotal role on the Tokyo Gold Medal-winning roster

JRUE HOLIDAY
One of the most valuable players on the Bucks & Team USA pic.twitter.com/Kyoz1bV0Yl

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His shooting prowess was evident, with a commendable 48.8% accuracy from the floor, with 55% of his shots being two-pointers. This impressive performance solidified his status as an Olympic gold medalist. A vital part of the 2020 squad, Holiday excelled as a reliable contributor on offense and defense, making crucial defensive stops during matchups.

Amongst a roster brimming with stars, Holiday stood out by finishing third in both scoring and rebounds, while also leading in assists. Hypothetically, if Boston were to embark on a serious championship pursuit and reach the Finals, Holiday would seamlessly transition into Olympic preparation and practice immediately thereafter.

With his exceptional playmaking skills and basketball IQ, Holiday is among the first players to commit to the 2024 Paris USA Olympic team.

Devin Booker and Jrue Holiday were both core members of the Tokyo USA Olympic team

Devin Booker is a problem #ballislife pic.twitter.com/DAIwqtljs5

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Although the USA men's basketball roster is not finalized, Devin Booker seems to be the second player committed to participating in the Olympics, as reported by The Athletic.

In his ninth season, all with the Phoenix Suns, Devin Booker is averaging 27.5 points, a career-high 7.0 assists, and 4.6 rebounds. With Bradley Beal sidelined for much of the season, Booker has assumed additional responsibilities alongside Kevin Durant. He's shooting a career-high 49.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Appearing in 48 games this season, Booker has been a cornerstone of the Suns team, which currently holds the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference with a record of 34-24. Known for his elite mid-range jumpers, Booker has been a core member in the team's resurgence over the last couple of years. Similar to Holiday, Booker was a member of the 2020 Tokyo USA Olympic team and is a gold medalist.

Participating in all six games of the 2020 Olympics, Booker ranked 5th in points with 9.3 per game. Additionally, the guard finished second on the team in steals per game (1.5) and averaged 20.6 minutes per game. Booker is a seasoned veteran known for his exceptional versatility and elite scoring ability on the offensive end of the court.

Team USA is the reigning four-time Olympic gold medalist in men’s basketball

The USA Men's Basketball team boasts an unblemished record in the Olympics over the past 16 years. During this remarkable streak, the team has secured gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As training camp commences in July, emerging news will reveal the members of the 12-man roster for Team USA. Taking into account factors such as health and prior commitments, Team USA initially released a list of 41 players who could serve as replacements if needed.

As the 2024 Paris Olympics are scheduled to kick off in late July, the USA Men's National Team will be under the guidance of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr.

Additional details regarding both the Men's and Women's Olympic teams will be disseminated as the event draws nearer.

RELATED: USA WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM HOLDS MINI CAMP IN BROOKLYN

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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She talked her talk, and she delivered.

Sabrina Ionescu unquestionably showcased her greatness to the world, doing so with remarkable humility. And she accomplished this feat while representing women's basketball on one of the grandest stages.

To all basketball enthusiasts, including young fans worldwide, she not only embodied the essence of being a role model but also showcased that both women and men can compete on a level playing field.

"If you can shoot, you can shoot. it doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl," said Ionescu, who's known for her prolific shooting prowess. From Oregon to the WNBA, she ranks among the top shooters in the realm of basketball.

Sabrina Ionescu balled out on the biggest stage

She made 26 successful deep shots from the NBA three-point line, matching Damian Lillard's record, who had just been crowned the three-point champion moments earlier. Similarly, Trae Young, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Tyrese Haliburton also achieved a high of 26 made three-point shots.And she did so shooting from the same line, on the same court.

Sabrina Ionescu finishes with 26, Steph Curry with 29!

What a SHOOTOUT! Odds for Steph to win -225pic.twitter.com/9i6Fj5ib38

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) February 18, 2024

In a single round, the victor was awarded a personalized wrestling belt dubbed "Sabrina vs. Steph 3-point champion." In a closely contested shootout, Curry emerged as the winner.

For Curry, he's always been a supporter of women's hoops. "Little boys and girls who are watching, it doesn't matter what gym you show up to. Don't discount who's to your left or to your right, " said Curry. "If they can shoot, they can shoot. You can compete and have fun. Hopefully we can be models of what that looks like on the biggest stage. Long term, you continue to find awesome ways to further the conversation on how amazing the women's game is, getting the eyeballs on it."

For Sabrina, Ionescu, this isn't just a win for women's basketball; it's a win for the sport as a whole. This innovative form of entertainment raises the standard for viewers and fans alike, offering a fresh way to showcase the competitive spirit between two of the world's top hoopers.

"Being able to have this crossover and understanding the respect that I've been able to receive from a lot of the NBA guys. Just knowing that Steph wanted to do this as well in terms of just respecting another shooter," said Ionescu in terms of spotlight and growth of the sport. "I think it's going to show a lot of young kids out there, a lot of people who might have not believed or even watched women's sports, that we were able to go out there and put on a show."

Ionescu wants a rematch with Curry next year

Don't be misled by Sabrina, she's not one to go down without a fight. In typical three-point contest fashion, neither star managed to secure more than one round. With the NBA All-Star game set to take place in the Bay Area next year, Ionescu openly discussed a rematch, underscoring her inherent competitiveness. Another words, game on Steph Curry.

"If you can shoot, you can shoot."

- @sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/9E21ngf1Qk

— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024

"We were talking about just getting a second round, Ionescu told I think we both finally just kind of got warm after sitting for a while and wanted to run it back. Maybe we will be able to evolve that next time. Obviously Steph[Curry] won for a reason, and I'm gonna have to try and beat next time." (Warriors PR)

The evening unfolded flawlessly, featuring a showdown between two of the finest shooters, both firing from the same line. However, Curry openly confessed to feeling nervous once Sabrina took off.

"Absolutely, I saw the first rack, I think she made the first six I believe, maybe seven," Curry told the press Saturday night. "Thankfully I made enough to get over the top. That was perfect. Great entertainment, great shooting on both sides, and awesome 70 seconds for both of us." (Warriors PR YouTube).

Sabrina matched an NBA record with an impressive 26 points in the three-point contest.

Ionescu is known for never revealing her hand and thrives on competing in the spotlight. Despite being unsuccessful in hitting all of her shots during warm-up just moments before the event, once it was her time to shine, it was as if a switch was turned on.

And her performance was as authentic as it gets. Often practicing her shots from the NBA line, Ionescu seemed to be in mid-season form. With intense focus and determination, she hit all five of her first shots and continued her streak, nailing seven consecutive shots while the crowd roared with excitement. Though she missed just one three-pointer from the top of the arch, Ionescu faced some difficulties from the right wing.

Stephen vs Sabrina @sabrina_i20 of the @nyliberty goes off for 26 points pic.twitter.com/pYPmLnqroh

— WNBA (@WNBA) February 18, 2024

With 22 points and only 16.8 seconds left, the New York Liberty star managed to hit three of the last five corner shots, including a two-point money ball at the end. Regardless of what many say, she truly shoots and warms up from the NBA three-point line.

Despite Curry's victory, Ionescu illuminated the world of women's basketball.

The only individual who surpassed the 26 mark was Steph Curry, who managed to score 29 three-pointers. Demonstrating exceptional form midway through the season, he displayed remarkable precision by hitting every shot from his money ball rack. With just 8.8 seconds remaining, Ionescu maintained her lead. However, in the final 7 seconds, Curry sunk the remaining two shots, elevating his total to 29.

Although Curry emerged victorious, the competitive spirit remains strong, and his admiration for Ionescu as both a person and a hooper remains unchanged. Their friendship, which began during her Oregon days, is founded on mutual respect, with Curry consistently applauding her work ethic and commitment to her craft.

Before entering the competition, Curry is well aware of Ionescu's profound dedication to both herself and the game of basketball.

"When I first met her [Sabrina Ionescu] back in the Bay, right before the Oregon rocket ship went off, Curry told the media. "You see a different demeanor and a different kind of killer instinct and a focus. The skill is one thing, but the mentality is a whole totally different thing that you kind of can't teach. She's demonstrated that every step of the way. I knew how matter how the buildup was, there would no stage that would be too bright for her. The way she started-- there' no fear. She know's who she is, and she also works." (Warriors PR).

Both Sabrina and Steph have been adamant that this competition was genuine and not merely a box-checking competition. While she may not have emerged as the winner of the competition, Ionescu demonstrated her ability to compete at the highest level alongside male counterparts.

"The respect that I've been able to receive from the NBA guys... it's going to show a lot of people that haven't watched women's sports that we're able to go out there and put on a show."

Sabrina Ionescu on how this competition will help the game of basketball as a whole pic.twitter.com/zmaRMEftBp

— NBA (@NBA) February 18, 2024

Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu blaze trails, setting the standard for future events.

Her fearless demeanor captivated 10 million unique viewers, showcasing the greatness of women's basketball and advocating for its broader broadcast to a larger audience. In a time when women's sports are flourishing, this event served as the ideal platform to highlight their excellence and capture the attention of millions of basketball enthusiasts.

To me, that embodies leadership and courage—a readiness to compete on the biggest stage, irrespective of the result, to foster the growth of women's basketball. It truly reflects bravery and determination.

According to NBA Communications on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Saturday night events attracted 10 million unique viewers. These numbers mark a significant increase of nearly 54 percent from last year.

"You don't do things to just check a box," said Curry. "This is something-- If you're supporting basketball, and generally supporting women's basketball, it's something you continually do. You find new creative ways to have investment in the game. The fact this is a first of a kind in our sport, the fact that it's on this stage, it's a step in the right direction. We will always be able to say we were the first." (Warriors PR).

Truly two special individuals, this is only the beginning for promoting women's sports.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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This upcoming NBA All-Star weekend is a "pinch me moment" for New York Liberty star, Sabrina Ionescu. How many people can say they are competing during a first ever shootout against your idol? It's a dream come true for not only Sabrina, but WNBA and NBA fans as well.

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"We've had fun," said Sabrina Ionescu. "I mean, we've competed a couple of times, obviously never on this stage. I feel like we've always been competing and being able to keep up with one another from afar. " Since the WNBA and NBA seasons don't overlap, Sabrina mentioned that they shoot "a lot" and "love to play" whenever they have the opportunity to spend time together in the gym.

After all, it's the NBA's all-time leader in three-pointers made versus the three-point queen. Can you imagine just how many threes are sunk during their meetups?

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However, when he eventually calls it a career, we'll most likely look back at his time in Los Angeles as wasted potential.

But the Lakers' shortcomings have nothing to do with the King's play. Instead, roster mismanagement by the front office possibly threw away multiple championships.

James' tenure with the purple and gold isn't nearly a failure. The Lakers' 2020 championship says so.

That Bubble lineup was special. The group finished as the top seed in the Western Conference and only lost five games on the way to the Larry O'Brien Trophy. In the following preseason, they were the clear favorite to repeat.

Unfortunately, that ring is pushing five years old, and the franchise hasn't returned to the big stage. So, what happened in the next four seasons that prevented another run?

Coming off a shortened 2020 offseason, the Lakers were poised to go back-to-back. They started 21-6, featuring the best defense in the league. But the injury bug got to Davis and James, dropping the team in the standings. Fortunately, the duo returned to good enough health at the right time, closing the regular season with five straight wins.

After defeating Golden State in the Play-In Tournament, L.A. had the eventual West champs, Phoenix, up 2-1. But Davis went down, and the Suns took the series in six games.

If the history books had to mark when the Lakers' title window started to close, the 2021 offseason would be the obvious choice.

The Lakers panicked that summer. After the AD injury, the front office disliked the lack of competitiveness in the postseason. So, management looked to make a splash move for a star to provide greater support when there are injuries.

General manager Rob Pelinka's focus was to upgrade from Kyle Kuzma. The forward left a bad taste in fans' mouths when he couldn't step up in Davis' absence.

However, the organization made a franchise-altering move by trading Kuzma for the worst star to pair with Davis and James: Russell Westbrook.

Reportedly, L.A. had deals lined up for other big-name players, but pressure from James forced the Westbrook move. However, Pelinka is the general manager and vice president of basketball operations. He has the final say in trade matters. He should've understood Westbrook was a bad fit with the two duo, especially concerning floor spacing.

Russ' time as a Laker was disastrous. The team had a 56-74 record with him. Of course, the duo missing time didn't help, but Westbrook was one of the worst three-point shooters in the league. Missing the postseason in 2022 was a far cry from their conference dominance just two seasons prior.

The organization has spent every last resource undoing the Westbrook trade in the last year. At the 2023 deadline, they shipped Russ out in a?three-team deal?to save that season.?

Pelinka has done a decent job rebuilding an adequate supporting cast around the duo. However, he has neglected the lack of 3&D talent on the roster for years.

As a result of bringing Russ in, the Lakers forfeited essential 3&D wings from the 2020 championship. The luxury of having players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who can hit threes consistently and guard at the point of attack, is vital to winning championships. This type of athlete is the best to put around Davis and James to maximize winning.

Possessing a talent like Alex Caruso comes with a price. But L.A.'s front office has been left with nothing but pennies and low-end draft capital to replace that skillset. And the defense has suffered dramatically.

This season's trade deadline allowed the organization to acquire a quality 3&D starter. The roster is filled with guys who can shoot or defend, no in-between for 30 minutes a night. Especially with Jarred Vanderbilt's health in question, the team has no answer for containing opposing permitter threats.

To everyone's surprise, the Lakers stayed put. Pelinka believed any available move at the deadline wasn't worth giving up the little assets they had. Instead, the organization plans to push for?a star player via trade in the offseason.?

L.A. didn't 'punt' on the season per se, but whatever improvements to be made in the coming offseason wouldn't be as impactful as Pelinka may think. James and Davis can't afford to wait till next season.

James turns 40 years old next season in December. It would be hard to compete for a championship when one of your most important pieces is at that age.

And for Davis, he's playing his best ball as a Laker. There's no guarantee he will continue to be this healthy next season. They needed Pelinka to go all in at the deadline to inch the team closer to contention when their window is still cracked.

The Lakers did do at least something recently. A few days after the deadline, the Lakers picked up former Brooklyn Net guard Spencer Dinwiddie fresh off the buyout market. Dinwiddie's not a bad player by any means. He can add scoring value off the bench.

But Pelinka's decision to wait and sign him instead of attacking the deadline is another example of him falling in love with castaway cheap ball handlers instead of solid 3&D rotational pieces.

It's absolutely inexcusable that the Lakers have been playing around .500 basketball since 2021. Champion contention should be consistent when an organization has two top 10 players.

James' L.A. arc isn't a failure. Unfortunately, the Lakers mismanaged the LeBron era by prioritized the wrong type of supporting cast around him when the 2020 championship laid out a blueprint.

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Thursday morning, the New York Knicks acquired Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks from the Detroit Pistons. In exchange, New York sent Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn, Evan Fournier, Ryan Arcidiacono, and two second-round picks to Detroit.

Overall, the Knicks have successfully improved their roster without giving up any first-round picks. It reflects astute decision-making and strategic planning by the team's front office, led by Leon Rose. This approach allows the Knicks to enhance their competitiveness in the short term while maintaining flexibility and assets for the future.

Making the playoffs just two times in 11 seasons, Leon Rose and the Knicks mean business. It started with the signing of Jalen Brunson in 2022, who is arguably their best point guard since Clyde Frazier.

The move comes less than a month after the Knicks acquired two-way forward OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors, in exchange for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Since the acquisition, the Knicks are 12-2 with Anunoby in the lineup. With Bogdanovic on the roster, he will be able to fill on for Julius Randle and OG Anunoby, who are dealing with ailments.

RELATED: NEW YORK KNICKS ACQUIRE OG ANUNOBY FROM RAPTORS FOR RJ BARRETT

The Knicks instantly upgrade their bench

Bogdanovic, 34, is a veteran sharpshooter, who's really blossomed into his own over the past six seasons or so. He's averaging 20.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, on 41.5 percent three-point shooting. A true sharpshooter, Bogdanovic will provide an excellent veteran presence in the Knicks locker room. He has proven to be a valuable asset for teams seeking scoring and shooting prowess on the wing.

34 for 44 pic.twitter.com/Isugo4TZ3A

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 25, 2024

The former Piston, known for his scoring ability and three-point shooting, could indeed provide a significant offensive boost coming off the bench for the Knicks. His outside shooting threat would force opposing defenses to stretch out, creating more room in the paint for players like Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle to drive to the basket or operate in the post.

With the move, the Knicks bolster their bench, which has struggled since the departure of Quickley. In fact, they are one of the least efficient teams in terms of their second unit, who put up 30.6 points per game.

In 87 games with Detroit, the 6'7 forward has started 86 of them. Arguably one of the best players on the Pistons roster, he's been limited to 28 games with a calf injury.

11 seasons in the NBA, the wing was drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft. A member of the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons, he now joins a Knicks team that is making a serious playoff push. At 33-18 on the year, New York is now tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 3 seed in the eastern conference. 9-1 in their last ten games, Bogdanovic gives New York the offensive boost they've demanded.

Alec Burks isn't a stranger to New York

Alec Burks with the lob to Kevin Knox

Assist of the Week powered by @BELFORGroup pic.twitter.com/VWkuTY6Enc

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 28, 2024

The Knicks remain a top defensive squad, limiting opponents to just 109.4 points per game. On the offensive end, they haven't been as dominant, putting up just 115.2 points per game, on 37 percent three-point shooting. Adding a prolific three-pointer shooter is just another example how this organization is in the midst of a structural renovation.

At 34 years old, Alec Burks is a seasoned NBA veteran, that will bring a wealth of experience and skills that can benefit the team in several ways. Providing depth and bench production, Burks is a reliable scorer, who's capable of putting up points in various ways.

Averaging 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on the year, Burks is playing nearly 20 minutes per game. Appearing in 43 games for the Pistons, Burks is shooting an efficient 40.1 percent from deep. A familiar face, he returns to the Knicks after a member through the 2020-2022 seasons. Having played 130 games under Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau is monumental for the Knicks. Having some familiarity with the franchise can never hurt. This move may impact Miles McBride, who saw an increasing role after Quickley was shipped to Toronto. Although his role will be narrowed, I don't see him falling out of rotation.

After all, the Knicks are extremely deep, and we all know how coach Thibodeau will have plenty of players to utilize before the playoffs.

The Knicks are serious playoff contenders

With the trade, the Knicks fortify themselves as a legitimate contender in the eastern conference. Grimes became disgruntled and unhappy with his decreased role on the team. There was a time New York made Grimes untouchable in trade talks for Donovan Mitchell, and perhaps saw more initial value in him. Evan Fournier, who's on a $19 million expiring contract, got lost in the Knicks rotation. In 2.5 seasons with New York, the guard played just 110 games.

Throughout his career, Fournier was a solid player for the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics. He made an impact in his first season with New York, and unfortunately fell off after that. Flynn, who was shipped to New York in the Anunoby trade, averaged just 4.3 minutes for Thibodeau.

The New York Knicks will aim for their second straight win when they host the Dallas Mavericks Thursday evening. The Detroit Piston, who secured a rare victory over Sacramento Wednesday, will face the Portland Trail Blazers on the road.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are killing it this season, and they just made one of the biggest moves before the 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.

Thursday morning, OKC acquired veteran swingman Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets, in exchange for guard Tre Mann, and forward David Bertans. The No. 1 seed in the west, the Thunder continue to make moves for this year's playoff push.

Hayward, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, is in the last year of his 4-year, $120 Million contract signed with Charlotte in 2020. Once traded to Boston during the 2017-2018 season, Hayward suffering a season ending injury in his Celtics debut. He ultimately left for Charlotte in free agency three years later.

14 months after signing with Charlotte, the wingman alluded to that fact he wanted to "maximize" his full basketball potential. In another words, he wanted to be "the guy" in Charlotte. Talk about coming around full circle. At the time, Hayward shared the court with several high-profile athletes, including Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart. Now, he will join an inspiring, loaded OKC team.

There are injury concerns

Celebrating Gordon Hayward’s bday with some highlights from his All-Star days in Utah!

Dunk on Giannis
Chasedown Block on LeBron pic.twitter.com/oDr9O3rvYF

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) March 23, 2020

A frequent starter in every season since his rookie year, and second season in Boston, can Hayward accept his role off the bench? He's started a total of 646 times in 809 career games, including all 25 this season. Perhaps he's matured over the years and will embrace his new role with such vibrant, talented team. Who knows, maybe he will fit in as a starter at times.

Through 25 games this season, the 33-year-old is averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals. The former Butler star is shooting 36.1 percent from deep, and 46.8 percent from the floor. Missing 25 games this season, Hayward has been dealing with a left calf strain. He hasn't suited up to play since Dec. 26 vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.

There're certainly some concerns that come with the deal. Hayward's talent is undeniable; however, he hasn't played over 52 games since the 2018-2019 season. In the 2022-2023 campaign, he was held to just 50 games, and had a combination of 93 games played from 2020-2022.

Why Hayward fits in with OKC

Nick's gotcha @gordonhayward x @iamnickrichards | @drpepper pic.twitter.com/GFcge7yY2T

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 16, 2023

Not the same player since his ankle and knee injuries, Hayward isn't as explosive as he once was. However, he's still a prolific shooter, who will provide some defense behind Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams. 13th in three-point shooting, Hayward will also bring passing and movement along the perimeter. A player that can create his own shot, the wing should provide depth behind Giddey, who can be inconsistent at times.

If healthy, Hayward could be the missing piece the Thunder need, in addition to size next to Chet Holmgren. At 6'7, the wingman will be the veteran presence for a Thunder team who's exceptionally young. For a roster that's the third youngest in the NBA (24.1 years old), they have certainly impressed and made headlines this season. It's not the first time Hayward has played with a young core of players. The Hornets have several players that are 21 years and younger and sit at 10-40 on the season.

I love the fit for several reasons, one being Hayward has postseason experience. He led the Utah Jazz to the Western Conference Semifinals in 2017. As a member of the Celtics, Hayward was a key part of their run to the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Miami Heat in 2020. In 29 career playoff games, Hayward put up a stat line of 15 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. He doesn't have a ton of experience, but it's more than most players on OKC's current roster.

The former ninth pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Hayward will join the Thunder, who have nothing to lose. The franchise hasn't sniffed one bit of the playoffs since the 2019-2020 season, and now find themselves the most appealing team in the western conference.

Led by All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Hayward will join a rotation that includes rookie Chet Holmgren, Josh Giddey, Dort, and Jalen Williams. If healthy, they easily have one of the best top 6 in west. In fact, their current starting unit averages the fourth most total minutes (539) and remain a top five offensive team.

OKC didn't have to give up core players

Mann is a former first rounder in the 2021 NBA Draft. Although he's shown flashes of talent, he lost his way in the depth chart, behind Giddey and Cason Wallace. Just 23 years old, Mann is averaging 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 13 games played this season. Having dealt with injuries; he's one year removed from a 67-game season with OKC. With Lu Dort injured last season, Mann showcased his shot creation and perimeter scoring abilities. At one point, he was the second scoring option behind Gilgeous-Alexander. He will become a restricted free agent in 2025.

Bertans, 31, is a nine-year NBA vet featured as a member of the San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Thunder, and now the Hornets. In 15 games played, he's averaging 2.9 points. Not a fully guaranteed contract, Bertans has the option for early termination for next season.

Charlotte is in full rebuild mode, after trading Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat earlier this year, and now P.J. Washington to the Dallas Mavericks. An accomplished NBA player, Hayward again joins a contender and a chance to compete for an NBA Championship.

The best part about this deal? The Thunder didn't have to part ways with any of their core players, and they don't take on a player with a hefty salary. With a similar play style to Josh Giddey, Hayward will have impacts on role players such as Kenrich Williams, Cason Wallace, and Aaron Wiggins. A short-term wing with size is a great player for Mark Daigneault, who will now have variety of bench options.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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As of Wednesday afternoon, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens added some insurance to the team's roster in hopes of winning their first championship since 2008.

Prior to Thursdays' NBA trade deadline, the Celtics acquired forward Xavier Tillman from the Memphis Grizzlies, in exchange for Lamar Stevens and two second-round picks. Tillman, a former Michigan State Spartan, was selected No. 35 in the second round of the 2020 draft. In his fourth season with Memphis, the 6'8 forward is averaging 6.0 points, 1.2 steals, 1.7 assists, and 4.6 rebounds.

Tillman was a reliable playoff starter against the lakers last season

22 PTS 13 REB 10/13 FG#GLeagueAlum Xavier Tillman went off for a CAREER-HIGH scoring performance and a season-high in rebounds to help the @memgrizz earn a gritty Game 2 win over the Lakers in the #NBAPlayoffs! pic.twitter.com/GRSQJsHjWW

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 20, 2023

In 34 games played,Tillman has started 13 of them. He made headlines last season, when he logged solid minutes against LeBron James and the Lakers in the playoffs first round. Throughout six matchups with Los Angeles, Tillman averaged 8.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 8.0 rebounds. He accumulated four steals and four blocks in six games. In two of those matchups, he finished +10 and +11 on the court, which is impressive for a fourth-year player with only three seasons of limited playoff experience.

In the deal, Boston will send a 2027 second-round pick via the Atlanta Hawks, and a 2030 second-round pick from the Dallas Mavericks to Memphis. By moving Lamar Stevens, the move creates a salary match for Tillman. Set to earn just over $2 million this season, Stevens will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. Tillman's $1.9 million salary fits perfectly within the budget of the Celtics, keeping them in the second apron space.

In addition, the deal with go into the Celtics $6.2 Million trade player exception following the Grant Williams trade. With the exception, they are grants offering teams an additional way to sign players, according the Spotrac. With this move, the Celtics will have one roster spot open.

He's a strong, underrated defender

Some Xavier Tillman defense. pic.twitter.com/5WK5jPHQzs

— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) February 7, 2024

For the Grizzlies, they have been riddled with injuries all season long, including 13 players listed as out against the Celtics last Sunday. A 18-33 record, Memphis remains 4th in the Southwest Division, and owns the sixth worst record in the NBA. 3-7 in their last ten games, they will look to next year. This move comes after Memphis traded away center Steven Adams to the Houston Rockets, in exchange for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks.

Currently hampered by a knee injury, Tillman hasn't played since Jan. 29 vs. Sacramento. Besides that, he immediately brings depth and defense to Boston. Ranking in the 99th percentile among defenders in the NBA, he should fit in nicely among the Celtics frontcourt. With that said, he is a solid screener, who's averaging one block and one steal in under 21 minutes played per game. He will fit in perfectly with Joe Mazzulla's culture, as a player who will hustle and contest plenty of shots.

While he hasn't been much of a difference maker on the offensive end, Tillman joins a C's team that rank third in defensive rating (110.6), behind the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers. Their defensive rating among forwards is third best in the league, and Boston is tied with Oklahoma City, for the most blocks per game (6.6). Holding opponents to 110.7 points per game, Boston remains in the top 10 in opponent paint points (47.6).

The Celtics add much needed frontcourt depth and strength

OH MY XAVIER TILLMAN pic.twitter.com/kPbndqBIww

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 12, 2021

The Celtics have been seeking frontcourt depth, and Tillman nicely adds some insurance. Dating back to the 2023 NBA Draft, Stevens was meticulous in planning for the moment and the future. You have to give credit where credit is due, hat's off to Brad Stevens. He turned the 25th overall pick into rookie Jordan Walsh and four future second-round picks.

With Kristaps Porzingis limited by some injuries, Al Horford and Luke Kornet are to handle the duties when he's out. With Tillman, it gives Boston a much-needed addition in the frontcourt, along with Sam Hauser and Kornet. At times, the forward even played the center position when former Grizzlies center Steven Adams was out with injury.

Although he's a free agent in the summer, Tilmann gives the Celtics an extra body that can defender at a high level. With their eyes set on a championship, this proves why Brad Stevens is one of the best in the business.

At 38-12, the Celtics own the best record in the NBA, and he will join a full the frontcourt that consists of Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta, and Oshae Brissett.

The Celtics next host the Atlanta Hawks tonight at the TD Garden. The Grizzlies will host the Chicago Bulls on Thursday evening.

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Days before the NBA trade deadline approaches, the Detroit Pistons struck another move. This time, acquiring sharpshooter Simone Fontecchio from the Utah Jazz, in exchange for Kevin Knox, a 2024 second-round pick, and draft rights to Gabriele Procida. According to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski, the Pistons traded for him as part of their longer-term core. One of the youngest rosters in the NBA, Detroit has an average age of 24.87 before the trade.

For the draft pick, Detroit will send the most favorable of either Washington or Memphis second-round picks in this year's draft. This means Utah is likely to land a strong pick in return.

The move comes after Detroit acquired Danilo Gallinari, Mike Muscala from the Washington Wizards, in exchange for Margin Bagley III, Isaiah Livers, and two second-round picks back in January. After a historic 28-game losing streak, it appears the Pistons are strategically planning for the future.

The Utah Jazz are trading Simone Fontecchio to the Detroit Pistons for a 2024 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 7, 2024

Simone Fontecchio, 28, is in his second year in the NBA. Undrafted in 2017, the Italian swingman played for several teams overseas before signing a two-way contract with the Jazz in 2022. Earning his way as a starter, the Italian native is averaging career-highs in points (8.9), steals (.6), blocks (.4), rebounds (3.5), assists (1.5), and minutes per game (23.2). In addition, No. 16 has shot far more efficiently from deep, at 39.1 percent. In 102 career games, he's averaged 7.6 points, 1.1 assists, 2.6 rebounds, on 36.3 percent three-point shooting, and 41.2 percent from the floor.

Fontecchio will be a restricted free agent this summer

A popular player in Utah, Fontecchio earned his way into the starting lineup, earning the nod in 34 of 50 games played this season. Putting up a season high of 24 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 14, he finished the night shooting 100 % from the three-point line.

Emerging as a trade target for quite some time, the forward was linked previously to the Boston Celtics and the Phoenix Suns as potential suitors. Any trade made sense, since Fontecchio is in the final year of his $3.1 million contract annually. Given he is a restricted free agent this upcoming summer, Detroit will retain their rights to negotiate with the forward, if they please.

Detroit is 3-7 in their last ten games and hold the worst win percentage in the NBA (.122) at 6-43 on the season. Ironically enough, an Italian native, Fontecchio will now play at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. A 6' 8 wing, Fontecchio has been a solid rotational and catch and shoot player for Utah. Averaging 9.4 points on 38 percent three-point shooting over his last ten games, he brings spacing to Detroit. Especially with younger players, such as center Jalen Duren, it will help with their spacing problem.

Svegliati, Italia! SIMONEFONTECCHIO is ?????????????? #TakeNote | @simofonte13 pic.twitter.com/zgGHS3EhgW

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 2, 2024

Simone Fontecchio brings much needed offense to Detroit

He will join a Pistons roster, led by Monty Williams, they have certainly had their growing pains. Led by point guard Cade Cunningham, he will likely have a bench role behind Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Isaiah Stewart, and Jalen Duren. All when healthy, this is the potential starting lineup.

Not only is Simone Fontecchio an effective shooter, but he also proved his perimeter defense in 50 games this season. With his size and length, the former Jazz was often tasked with guarding some of the top opponent defenders.

Although it made sense for him to land on a championship contending team, he will add some much-needed offense to Detroit, who own the 24th worst three-point percentage in the NBA (35.6). In addition, the Pistons only put up 112.6 points per game, which is the 8th worst in the league, and allow 122.5 opponent points per game, which puts them in the basement.

Knox, 24, is with his fourth team since drafted by the New York Knicks as the no. 9 pick overall in the 2018 draft. His second stint with the Pistons, he's averaging 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, on 46.2 shooting from the floor. While he hasn't averaged points in double figures since his rookie season, he will most likely have to fight for playing time.

The Pistons will face off against the Sacramento Kings on the road tonight, following a three-game losing streak. The Jazz, who are coming off an impressive victory over the Thunder, will next play the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The NBA has announced the starting lineup for the Ruffles NBA Celebrity game All-Star Weekend!

Each team will feature a WNBA star, with two-time WNBA champion and five-time Seattle Storm All-Star Jewell Loyd and WNBA Champion and Phoenix Mercury guard Natasha Cloud. pic.twitter.com/kYlQbaIv0N

— Ballislife Womens Basketball (@ballislifewbb_) February 7, 2024

On Wednesday morning, the NBA announced the 2024 Ruffles All-Star Celebrity player rosters and coaches. Hang onto your seat, because this year's contest is filled with a diverse group of individuals, ranging from current athletes to professionals in other fields such as chefs, musicians, and film industry figures.

The Ruffles celebrity game is just one of the many events that will take place during the eventful weekend. Also, it's not the first All-Star weekend that will feature a collaboration with the WNBA. It takes me back to the 2 Ball Competition, where members of the NBA and WNBA were paired in a shooting competition during All-Star weekend in 1998, 2000, 2001. As the WNBA continues its growth, this opportunity only expands the discoverability and expansion of women's sports.

The head coaches include First Take co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe, who joined ESPN last fall, will mesh well with Smith. Notorious for fun arguments on air, the two analysts will bring both knowledge of the game and comedic relief. Sharpe is also a Pro Football Hall of Famer, who played 14 seasons as a tight end in the NBA. The Duo will be amusing, and certainly captivating to watch.

The 2024 #RufflesCelebGame rosters!

Friday, 2/16 at 7:00pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/ocm3KYxI3H

— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2024

WNBA x NBA

Bringing her talents to the #RufflesCelebGame at #NBAAllStar… it’s @T_Cloud4! pic.twitter.com/w2XHVa7EbK

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 7, 2024

Furthermore, NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning will join forces with Grammy Award recording artist Curtis Jackson (50 Cent), as featured coaches on team Shannon. On the opposing side, 2x WNBA Champion and 2x WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson will serve as a coach for team Stephen A. In addition, 5x Grammy award winning recording artist Lil Wayne will also serve as a coach for Stephen A. It will be fun to especially watch Wilson collaborate with Stephen A.

Aside from the Steph Curry and Sabrina Ionescu three-point showdown, the celebrity game will feature two WNBA players, who will be on opposing teams.

2x WNBA Champion and 5x WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd will join 'Team Shannon.' Newly signed Phoenix Mercury guard and WNBA Champion Natasha Cloud, will join 'Team Stephen A.' Both Loyd and Cloud are ballers and will be fun to watch head-to-head at the guard position.

This year, the court will look different from years past. Appealing to fans and spectators, the hard wood will be LED themed, featuring several animations. Once again, the 4-point line will return, along with several in game challenges.

Team Shannon

Coaching Team Shannon for the #RufflesCelebGame at #NBAAllStar... @ShannonSharpe! pic.twitter.com/HQ7Vf7Qbaz

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 7, 2024

• Micah Parsons (2x First-Team All-Pro linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys)
• Quincy Isaiah (Former football player and actor: Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty)
• Conor Daly (IndyCar Series Racer)
• Jewell Loyd (2x WNBA Champion, guard for the Seattle Storm)
• Kai Cenat (Online streamer and YouTuber)
• Dylan Wang (Actor)
• Lilly Singh (Emmy Award-winning entertainer)
• SiR (Singer and song writer, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist)
• Walker Hayes (Country singer and song writer, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist)
• Anuel AA (Latin American Music Award-winning recording artist)
  
• Coaches: Shannon Sharpe, Peyton Manning, 50 Cent

Team Stephen A

Coaching Team Stephen A. for the #RufflesCelebGame at #NBAAllStar... @stephenasmith! pic.twitter.com/XQCazS15TC

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 7, 2024

• Jennifer Hudson (Grammy Award winning singer, actress, producer, and talk show host, youngest female EGOT winner)
• Tristan Jass (Basketball entertainer, social media star, content creator)
• Jack Ryan (Basketball entertainer)
• Metta World Peace (Former NBA Champion and 2004 Defensive Player of the Year)
• AJ McLean (Founding member of the Backstreet Boys, singer, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist)
• Kwame Onwuachi (James Beard Award-winning chef).
• Natasha Cloud (WNBA Champion, guard for the Phoenix Mercury)
• Adam Blackstone (Grammy Award-nominated musician)
• CJ Stroud (Pro Bowl Quarterback for the Houston Texans)
• Gianmarco Tamberi (Olympic High Jump Champion)

• Coaches: Stephan A. Smith, A'ja Wilson, Lil Wayne

Assistant Coaching Team Stephen A. for the #RufflesCelebGame at #NBAAllStar... @_ajawilson22! pic.twitter.com/2T625uM6ue

— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 7, 2024

In addition to the epic rosters and coaches, the broadcast team will feature several talented and well-known analysts. The broadcast lineup includes:

• Host for the game and M.V.P trophy presentation, and player/coach interviews: Cassidy Hubbarth of ESPN
• Play-by-play commentary: Ryan Rucco, Richard Jefferson, and Monica McNutt.
• Special guest: Pat McAfee

The special event will take place on Friday, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. ET, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It will air on ESPN and the ESPN App.

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For the first time ever, two of the most prolific shooters will compete against each other in this year's NBA All-Star weekend. This time, New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu will go head-to-head with Golden State Warriors guard, Steph Curry in a three-point challenge. The first WNBA x NBA three-point challenge, spectators are in for a real treat.

SABRINA IONESCU COULD NOT MISS#WNBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/lEbXwvoTIp

— ESPN (@espn) July 14, 2023

The event's been brewing ever since the queen of threes broke the previous three-point contest record with 31, set by Curry in 2021, and Tyrese Haliburton in 2023. The highest record previously set by an WNBA player, was Allie Quigley with 30.

The news was confirmed this week after much speculation. On Jan. 25, 2x three-pointer contest champion Steph Curry was mic'd up prior to the game aired on TNT. Chatting next to rookie Brandin Podziemski, Curry was seen discussing the possible challenge.

"We got to settle this once and for all. I think I got to challenge her. It'd be lit, said Curry."

Presented by State Farm, Curry, the NBA all-time three-point leader will compete against Ionescu in "Sabrina vs. Steph." The historic event will take place on Saturday. Feb. 17, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“I think this is like the coolest thing ever. … It’s gonna be great and I think the fans will love it!”

Steph on 3-point challenge with Sabrina Ionescu pic.twitter.com/JRCTjzaEpZ

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 31, 2024

The Warrior's guard is calling this one-of-a-kind event the "coolest thing ever," after Golden State's 119-107 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday. I know she kind of broke the airwaves--when she only missed two or something like that. I was on some golf course somewhere; my phone was blowing up saying what Sabrina had done--I think the fact that we can join forces and put her front and center in the NBA All-Star weekend-- I love the confidence, I love the competition."

Ionescu has never been shy from shooting and has even agreed to shoot from the NBA three-point line. In fact, the WNBA perimeter line is significantly smaller, measuring 20-feet 6-inches from the basket, compared to 23-feet, 9-inches. While that was all in fun, she will shoot from the WNBA three-point line, and Curry will shoot from the NBA three-point line.

Fully embracing the competition, Ionescu was seemingly excited and accepted the challenge in several posts on social media.

What so great about this event? Eat. Learn. Play and SI20 foundation, Curry and Ionescu's respective charities, will receive a donation for every three-pointer made in the competition. In continuing to give back, State Farm will donate money from every three-point shot made to the NBA Foundation, which supports economic empowerment in the Black community.

A standard three will net at $1,000, while the "money ball" and "STARRY Range Ball" will be valued at $2,000 and $3,000.

Ionescu, a 2x WNBA All-Star, finished up her fourth season with the New York Liberty. Shooting a career-high 44.8 percent from three in 2023, the California native set an WNBA single season 3-point field goals made with 128. Capturing the Commissioners cup in August, Ionescu and the Liberty fell short in the WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces.

Curry, a 4x NBA Champion, is the NBA all-time leader in 3-point field goals with 3,585. Aging like fine wine, 'chef Curry' has a career 42.6 percentage from beyond the perimeter.

Both are set to make appearances in Brooklyn this week. For Ionescu, she's set to take part of USA Basketball Women’s National Team Training Camp, which will take place at the Barclays Center. Ironically enough, the Brooklyn Nets will host Curry and the Warriors on Monday.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Once again, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo were named Captains for this year's all-star game. Reverting back to the Eastern and Western Conference format, James will represent the west, and Giannis, the east. To be named captain, a player must receive the most votes in their conference.

By changing back to the conference format, there will not be a draft taken place by both captains. With the format change, the game will have four 12-minute quarters.

You may be wondering what factors determine who is an all-star, and where the percent of the votes come from. According to NBA Communications, 50 percent of the votes come from fans, 25 percent from NBA players, and the final 25 percent from select media. After that, the players are ranked by position. Both the east the west have two guards and three frontcourt starters.

Newly acquired Milwaukee head coach Doc Rivers will lead the eastern conference, while Chris Finch, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will coach the west. On Feb. 1 the reserves will be announced, whom are are selected by NBA head coaches.

With the event just weeks away, the TNT crew, led by Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie John, and Kenny Smith (Kenny the jet Smith) will announce the reserves next week. With the reserves, each conference team will have an additional two guards, three frontcourt players and two wild card roster spots.

Year after year, the final results always come with scrutiny from players and the fanbase. But lets first break down this year's staters:

NBA all-star starters: Eastern Conference

• Giannis Antetokounmpo: Milwaukee Bucks (Captain)

• Joel Embiid: Philadelphia 76ers

• Jayson Tatum: Boston Celtics

• Tyrese Haliburton: Indiana Pacers

• Damian Lillard: Milwaukee Bucks

In the east, captain Giannis Antetokounmpo is selected to his 8th straight all-star selection as a starter. Now in his 11th NBA season, Antetokounmpo is posting up a career-high 31.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, on 60.5 percent field goal shooting. Nicknamed the "Greek Freak," Antetokounmpo is coming off impressive back-back-back triple doubles, against the Cavaliers and Pistons. Truly an unstoppable force, No. 34 posted a career-high and franchise record 64 points in December.

Joel Embiid, of the 76ers, is having another MVP caliber season. Notching his seventh NBA all-star selection, Embiid is putting up a league high 36 points, 11.4 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks. A formidable threat in the east, Embiid recently posted a career-high and franchise record 70 points on Monday night. With that stellar performance, he grabbed 18 rebounds and dished out five assists. One of the best big men to ever play the game, Kevin Garnett recently described Embiid as "Shaq with a jump shot."

Jayson Tatum, of the Boston Celtics, will earn his 5th straight NBA all-star selection. At just 25 years old, Tatum is the heart and soul of the C's. Coming off a dominant win over eastern conference rival Miami Heat, Tatum expressed his gratitude for the selection. "It means the world", Tatum told Celtics on NBC Sports Boston. "I never get used to it. I never want to take it for granted. As a kid, it was my dream." Leading Boston to an NBA best 35-10 record, he's averaging 27 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and one steal. Improving his post-up game and strength, he earned the third overall fan-votes, behind Giannis and LeBron.

ALL-STAR STARTER

Tyrese Haliburton has been named a starter for the 2024 #NBAAllStar Game in Indy.

https://t.co/buwgCdB36v pic.twitter.com/MRvYfCHS8P

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 26, 2024

Tyrese Haliburton, of the Indiana Pacers will get a unique chance to play in front of his home fans. Although he's been out with a hamstring injury, Haliburton has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the league. A 2x all-star, the Pacers guard will be named a starter for the first time in his career. Leading the Pacers to a 25-20 record, he's averaging a career-high 23.6 points, 12.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 4.1 rebounds. Recently, Haliburton had a career 23 rebounds along with 22 points in late December.

Such a nifty, athletic facilitator, Haliburton finds unique ways to score at the rim, and is a threat from deep "All-Star Starter, man. Been sitting here soaking this in like damn I wasn’t supposed to be here, but I put in the work, it was written! To my peers, the media, and the fans…This can’t happen without y’all." Haliburton recently posted on X his thoughts on getting the nod as a starter.

Damian Lillard, of the Milwaukee Bucks, will be named a starter for the first time in his career. An 8x NBA All-Star, Lillard is averaging 25.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in his first year with Milwaukee. Nicknamed "Dame Time," Lillard remains one of the most prolific scorers in the league. Racking up seven double-doubles on the season, Lillard remains one of the most clutch players in the NBA.

NBA all-star starters: Western Conference

• LeBron James: Los Angeles Lakers (Captain)
  
• Kevin Durant: Phoenix Suns
  
• Nikola Jokic: Denver Nuggets
  
• Luka Doncic: Dallas Mavericks
  
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Oklahoma City Thunder
  

LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, is very familiar with all-star weekend. A 20x NBA All-Star, James made NBA history, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most selections in history. Named a starter for all 20 years, James continues his streak since the 2005 season. With the Lakers 23-23 on the season, LeBron is averaging insane numbers, especially for his age. Putting up 24.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.3 steals, James shows no signs of slowing down.

His 39.7 percent three-point shooting is the highest it's been since the 2012-2013 season. A vital part to the Lakers team, James had a classy reaction to yet another selection. “It’s just humbling. It’s very cool to be able to continue to have accomplishments throughout your career, " James told the Media on X.

Kevin Durant, of the Phoenix Suns, a 14x NBA All-Star, has been selected to his first as a member of the Suns. Prior to the season, Phoenix had high expectations, with the addition of Bradley Beal. With notable injuries to Beal throughout the season, Durant has picked up the slack and then some. In 37 games played, Durant is averaging 29.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks, on 45.5 percent three-point shooting. 10th all time on the NBA's scoring list, he's the first member of the Suns to start an All-Star game since Amar’e Stoudemire and Steve Nash.

Nikola Jokic, of the Denver Nuggets, has been selected to his 6th consecutive All-Star game. A core member of the reigning NBA Champions, Jokic is averaging 26.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1.1 blocks on 59.3 percent field goal shooting. First in player and media voting, the Joker leads the NBA in triple-doubles this season. 4th in assists and rebounds per game, Jokic most recently delivered a game winning 31-point triple double over the Pacers.

Luka Doncic, of the Dallas Mavericks, will make his 5th NBA All-Star appearance, and 4th as a starter. The most All-Star starts in Maverick's history, Doncic is putting up MVP caliber numbers. Second in points, the guard is averaging 33.6 points, 8.5 rebounds, 9.3 assists, on 48.2 percent field goal shooting. Now in his 6th NBA season, Doncic is putting up career-highs in points, assists, three-point percentage, and minutes. Finishing second in player and media votes, just 24 years old, Doncic remains one of the most elite guards in the league.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, will make his second NBA All-Star appearance. Selected as a starter for the first time, SGA continues to put up career numbers for OKC, who sit at the top of the Western Conference standings. Averaging 31.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.4 assists, Gilgeous-Alexander has one of the smoothest mid-range jumpers in the league, along with his handles. An elite scorer, SGA leads the NBA with the most 30+ point games this season. Although this may come as a surprise to some, he deserves it.

All-Star starter snubs

Like every year, the All-Star game tends to upset fans, and even some players. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the game when it comes to sports. While I have the upmost respect for all of the respective starters, there are a few players who easily could've been voted a starter based off of their talents and play this season.

Eastern Conference

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers: Now in his second season with the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell has risen his game to new heights over the last two seasons. Averaging the 6th most points per game (27.6), the guard is posting 5.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.9 steals. With the Cavaliers riddled by injuries, Mitchell has put the Cavs on his back. Having a slower start, the Cavaliers are now 26-16 on the season, and 8-2 in their last ten games. The Cavaliers leading scorer, Mitchell is putting up career highs in assists, rebounds, and steals. He put his full talents on display in Paris, adding 45 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, and 6 assists against Brooklyn.

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks: There have been so many arguments whether Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is truly a 1a or 1b option. Here's what I can tell you, he's a hooper, and he's leading this team to their best few starts in years. 28-17 on the season, Brunson is averaging career-highs in points (26.5), assists (6.4), three-point percentage (42.4 %), minutes (35.6), and field goal attempts. One of the smoothest mid range jumpers in the game, his 59 percent true shooting is also a career best. The King of the big apple, Brunson is third in total points at the guard position (1,139). Finishing second in media voting, Brunson remains one of the top guards in the east.

Western Conference

Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers: Let's face it, when Kawhi Leonard is healthy, he's a top player in the NBA. Fully healthy this season, Leonard is averaging 23.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals. One of the best two-way players in the game, Leonard is shooting at a high clip, 44.3 percent from deep, and 52.2 percent from the field. Despite a 28-14 record, the Clippers won't have a single player as a starter, and that includes James Harden and Paul George. MVP of the 2019-2020 All-Star game, Kawhi has missed only four games on the season. The Clippers are one of the more elite teams in the west, and outscore opponents over 11 points per game with Leonard is on the court.

Honorable mention: Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

The 2024 73rd NBA All-Star game will take place on Feb. 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, located in Indianapolis, IN.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislife Bets. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind of events.

It was announced by ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski Tuesday morning that Milwaukee Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin was relieved from his duties. Less than 12 hours later, CNN broke the emerging news that Doc Rivers would be named next head coach of the Bucks.

This time, Rivers will be coaching another Eastern Conference Rival. First the Boston Celtics, next the Philadelphia 76ers, and now Milwaukee. Not many coaches can say they've had that unique opportunity.

Wednesday morning, Wojnarowski and Chris Haynes broke the official news that Rivers will be Milwaukee's next head coach. An NBA Analyst for ESPN, Rivers will take over for Bucks, who have the second best record in the NBA. At 30-13, the firing of Griffin came as a shock to many.

As of this morning, Shams Charania announced on X, Rivers will sign a contract through the 2026-2027 season. The deal is thought to be worth near the $40 million range.

Doc Rivers was named head coach after the firing of Adrian Griffin

Sources: Doc Rivers is signing a contract through the 2026-27 season worth in the range of $40 million to be the Bucks’ head coach. Milwaukee is paying out former coaches Mike Budenholzer and Adrian Griffin, and now Rivers for next 3.5 years. pic.twitter.com/TJNafNFms9

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 25, 2024

Griffin's time with the Bucks was short lived. Replacing Mike Budenholzer, Griffin originally interviewed for 14 different coaching opportunites over 13 years. It was this off season, Milwaukee took a chance on Griffin, inking him to a multi-year deal. This comes after former coach Budenholzer was let go after the Bucks conceded to the Miami Heat in the first round of the NBA playoffs. In fact, Budenholzer led Milwaukee to their first NBA Title in 50 years. It was expected the Bucks would regress slightly before the Damian Lillard trade.

Before we dive into the Rivers deal, there's an insane catch to all this. Having three head coaches in two years, Milwaukee is still paying Budenholzer and Griffin their salaries. With the breaking news, the Bucks will now pay for all three salaries this year. If you didn't know the team, you would think they had the worst record in the NBA. Budenholzer and Griffin are on the books for the next 3.5 years.

Under Griffin, the Bucks are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the second best win percentage. However, they rank 21st in defensive rating (116.5), allowing nearly 120.5 points per game. Allowing a league worst 94.5 field goal attempts per game, their point differential is only a +4.0.

Aside from blowing out the Boston Celtics 135-102, the Bucks have a point differential of +6.75 in their last four wins. Escaping back-to-back wins over the league worst Detroit Pistons, they allowed them to put up 124 points over two matchups. On the offensive side, Milwaukee ranks second, behind the Indiana Pacers.

According to CBS Sports, the firing of Adrian Griffin caught Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo? "by surprise." "At the end of the day I trust the ownership decision, I trust the front office." (Jack Maloney)

Can Doc Rivers help shape Milwaukee's identity?

Doc Rivers is someone who knows how to coach, and has done so very well. Over his career, he's led the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angles Clippers, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Most notably, he helped bring a NBA Title back to Boston in 2008. During that championship run, he coached the trio of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. He's also coached several stars, including Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Grant Hill, and Tracy McGrady, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.

A few months into his broadcasting career, Rivers has the availability and experience to coach two superstars in Lillard and Antetokounmpo. Although the Bucks are an excellent offensive team on paper, they lack fluidity and chemistry at times.

?Bucks General Manger Jon Horst admitted this team could be more efficient on the defensive end, and the acquisition of Lillard makes this team a serious contender in the NBA. According the ESPN, Horst had an "urgency to win," especially after they made a late push for a second super star. He also believes the team has time to "find an identity."

Overall, it's very clear Horst believes in this team, and their capabilities are greater than they've shown. Often in the NBA, there is a short window to win championships, especially with salary cap space and max contracts of various players.

Rivers has been heavily criticized in the playoffs

Rivers has 24 years of coaching experience, with a regular season win/loss record of 1097-763, and playoff record of 111-104. Racking up the 9th most regular season wins as an NBA coach, Rivers is one of the best to ever do it. With that, after watching Rivers all these years, he loves to coach the game of basketball.

While Rivers is a great coach, he's been heavily criticized, especially in the playoffs. Expected to bring a NBA Title to the Clippers, he led Los Angeles to the playoffs in six out of his seven seasons as head coach. In 2015 and 2020, both teams blew 3-1 leads in the playoffs against the Warriors and Rockets. As 76ers head coach during the 2022-2023 season, his team blew a 3-2 lead to the Celtics. In a dramatic ending, Philadelphia got crushed 112-88 in a game 7 loss. He was fired by Philadelphia after that, which led to his broadcasting career.

With all the scrutiny, the Bucks feel Rivers is the right coach to help this team build an identity, and win another NBA title. He's done it in the past with the Celtics, especially with the big three.

Can Doc Rivers finally lead a team to the NBA Finals? Can help establish an identity and defensive plan? With the second best record in the NBA, can Milwaukee outshine the other contenders in the East? Only time will tell. The Bucks are getting themselves a future Hall of Fame coach.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager for Ballislifebets.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The NBA trade deadline is a little over two weeks away, and there's been a shake up between two Eastern Conference teams. On Tuesday morning, ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski announced the Miami Heat acquired guard Terry Rozier, in exchange for Kyle Lowry and a 2027 first-round pick.

This move comes after the Hornets 128-125 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, in which Karl-Anthony Towns scored 62 points. With a 10-31 win/loss record on the year, Charlotte finds themselves once again in the basement of the East Conference standings. As a franchise, the Hornets haven't seen a playoff run since the 2015-2016 season, and have a cumulative 295-375 record since that year.

Welcome to the Miami Heat, Scary Terry! pic.twitter.com/6DQ3UWW7rF

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) January 23, 2024

Charlotte hasn't seen the playoffs since the 2015-2016 season

There was newfound hope after the franchise selected sensation LaMelo Ball third overall in the 2020 draft. While he's dealt with injuries, especially throughout the past two seasons, Ball is showing steady improvement in his scoring capabilities. Limited to just 36 games in the 2022-2023 season, Ball signed a 5-year $260 million extension this past offseason.

After Ball, Charlotte found themselves with a top lottery pick three years later. In 2023, the Hornets selected former Alabama forward Brandon Miller second overall. Logging his third straight game of 20+ points, Miller's found his stride after an inconsistent month. While the verdict is still out whether Miller is a franchise player, the loss columns keep stacking up for Charlotte.

4th in the Southeast Division, the Hornets have been plagued with several injuries. Forward Gordon Hayward has been out with several, limiting him to just 25 games on the season. Cody Martin's been limited to eight games, and big men Mark Williams and Nick Richards are injured as well.

The Hornets haven't had much luck despite drafting Ball, Miller

Following Michael Jordans recent sale of the Charlotte Hornets, it seems Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall are ready to sell and rebuild. While I can't confirm this information, this certainly seems the case. If you look at the Oklahoma City Thunder, they are a prime example of a team that found success after a rebuild.

A laughing stock in the NBA, Charlotte remains one of the worst teams on both sides of the ball. 27th in offensive rating, Charlotte averages only 108.8 points per game on 45.9 percent field goal shooting. Allowing close to 120 opponent points per game, the Hornets allow a league worst 40 percent three-point shooting. Unable to rebound efficiently, it's best the Hornets implode the team.

Terry Rozier is an instant upgrade for the Heat

@T_Rozzay3 | @Lowes pic.twitter.com/RtG3UNFzSW

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) January 21, 2024

Terry Rozier, 29, is now in his 9th NBA season. Having left the Boston Celtics for Charlotte in free agency five years ago, Rozier blossomed as a player. In 294 games with the Hornets, the guard averaged 20.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. This season, he's averaging a career-high 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals on 45.9 percent field goal shooting. He's a baller, and he fits in with the toughness and grit that Miami stands for.

In addition, Rozier has the highest usage rate percent of his career (26.8 %), and he's known for being one of the more clutch players in the league. In fact, according to the NBA, Rozier ranks 6th in highest clutch effective field goal percentage since the 1996-1997 season. With Lowry's play declining, Rozier isn't afraid to shoot the rock. He takes a ton of pull up three-pointers and makes nearly 40 percent of them.

For the Heat, it's a brilliant move, especially since veteran Kyle Lowry's name has been on the trading block for quite some time. Although Miami didn't get their man in Damian Lillard, Rozier is a major upgrade in their backcourt. In his prime, Rozier is player who's consistent, trending up, and can provide Miami with durable minutes.

Terry Rozier will join Tyler Herro in the backcourt

Rozier will be immediately inserted into the starting lineup at the point guard position for the Heat, along with Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, and Bam Adebayo. As i've said years prior, don't sleep on the Heat. They are 24-19, and that's with Butler missing considerable time due to injury. This lineup is scary, and Miami has a higher chance of competing in the Eastern Conference. Their odds of winning an NBA Championship is currently at +4000 on DraftKings.

Overall, Scary Terry is a an upgrade over Lowry, who's 37 years old. From my days watching Rozier in Boston, he's an explosive guard, who should excel well when it comes to the pick and roll with Bam Adebayo. Not afraid to drive to the lane, Rozier will provide an offensive spark and secondary playmaking for this team. Similar to last season, the Heat rank 20th in offensive rating, putting up 113.4 points per game. They rank 9th in assist percentage, which should increase with Rozier.

The weakest part of his game is his defense, which head coach Erik Spoelstra can help develop during his time in Miami. While this deal looks great on paper, we'll see how he fits with Tyler Herro in the backcourt, and with start Jimmy Butler, who's back from injury.

Kyle Lowry spent three years with Miami

Thanks for everything @Klow7! We appreciate you! pic.twitter.com/EWxf7AVcOE

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 23, 2024

Veteran Kyle Lowry is averaging 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4 assists in 37 games this season. An NBA Champion with the Toronto Raptors, he was a key part in Miami's run to the Finals against the Denver Nuggets in 2023. In his 19th NBA season, Lowry is a 6x All-Star who's played for Memphis, Houston, Toronto, and Miami. He was most recently taken out of the starting lineup, struggling over the last five games.

With Lowry on an expiring contract worth $29 million, Rozier has three-years remaining on his 4-year $96 million contract. Making $23 million this year, he's due to make $24.9 million in 2024-2026, and $26.6 million in 2025-2026.

Lowry will certainly be missed by his teammates in Miami. Bam Adebayo described Lowry as a "brother," and Kevin Love emphasized losing a "hall of fame, championship pedigree point guard" is tough. (Clutch points). With that said, it will give Love and other players from Miami the opportunity to step up.

Sitting at the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, the recent moves signals another playoff push for the Miami Heat.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Content Creator and Social Media Manager at Ballislife.?She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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On Wednesday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers bolstered their roster, acquiring Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam in a three-team deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. In what I consider a win-win trade, the Pacers sent guard Bruce Brown, forward Jordan Nwora, and multiple 2024 second-round picks to Toronto. In addition, Indiana shipped a projected top-four 2026 first round pick to the Raptors. As a part of the deal, Indiana received guard Kira Lewis Jr. and cash consideration from New Orleans.

Pascal Siakam TRADED to the PACERS!

via @wojespn pic.twitter.com/2NW9QUmZvC

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) January 17, 2024

Indiana didn't have to give up their young, core players

RELATED: RAPTORS TRADE OG ANUNOBY TO THE NEW YORK KNICKS

A bold, yet brilliant move, the Pacers didn't have to part ways with any of their younger players. Bennedict Mathurin remains a core part of this team, along with defensive specialist Andrew Nembhard. They even retained Jarace Walker, whom they selected 8th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

We're incredibly excited to welcome Pascal to Indiana," said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard in a PR team issued statement. "As a two-time All-NBA selection and two-time NBA All-Star, Pascal is a player that our organization has long admired and respected. We feel that his unique offensive skillset will complement our style of play, while his defensive versatility will be a valuable asset to our team."

It was only a matter of time before Siakam was moved, as trade rumors continued to heat up in recent weeks. Currently 16-25 this season, Toronto recently shipped OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, in exhange for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. While Toronto hasn't seen a playoff run since the 2021-2022 season, they're in clear rebuild mode, and will continue to see 22 year-old Scottie Barnes as their focal point.

welcome to Indy, Pascal Siakam pic.twitter.com/KbzTdvxDKq

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 18, 2024

The trade makes sense, especially since Siakam and Anunoby were likely to enter free agency this summer. Besides their championship title in 2019, the Raptors displayed nothing but mediocracy since the 2020-2021 season. With the departure of Kawhi Leonard and Fred VanVleet, Toronto simply couldn't find a way to win, despite retaining several talented players. With the recent changes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will continue to develop, and the Raptors organization can plan for the future. Imploding their post championship roster was the inevitable.

The Pacers front office believes in this team

The Pacers haven't seen playoff action since the 2019-2020 season. In fact, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard has been vocal about striking a colossal trade in the past.

Considering Indiana has the young talent, and draft capital, now was the perfect time. It's clear as day, the Pacers are way ahead of their rebuild schedule. From 2020-2023, Indiana had a cumulative win loss record of just 94-142.

From my perspective, the Pacers front office believes in this team, especially after the splash they made in this year's In-Season Tournament.

The downside? Pacers will depart ways with veteran guard Bruce Brown, who brought championship experience from his time in Denver. Brown, who signed a 2-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers this past offseason, was a monumental contributor this year. The former Pacer started all 33 games with Indiana this season, averaging career-highs in point (12.1), minutes (29.7), and free-throw percentage (81.7 %).

"A two-time All-Star, who's 29 - right in the heart of his prime."@PatBoylanPacers & @PacersJJ break down the deal that brought Pascal Siakam to the Pacers on today's episode of The Sideline Guys powered by @GainbridgeSport.

https://t.co/XKmOsTMGTU pic.twitter.com/laP8sTxxgr

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 18, 2024

In eight seasons with Toronto, Siakam averaged 17.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, on 32.7 percent three-point, and 49.1 percent field goal shooting. In 510 career NBA games, the forward was named a 2x NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Team, Most Improved NBA Player, and was a key part in the Raptors championship run.

He brings defensive versatility to the Pacers

He now joins a Pacers team, who leads the NBA in total offense this year. Not only is this a dynamic team scoring wise, they have the highest offensive rating in NBA history. Led by guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana is currently in playoff contention, and remains dedicated to building a winning roster. With Haliburton emerging into a star, Siakam is everything the Pacers hoped and dreamed for.

While Indiana is elite when it comes to scoring, they lack defense, and size, next to center Myles Turner. Putting up a league best 125.6 points a game is great, however, when it comes to contention, this team will need defense. Ranking 27th in defensive rating (119.5), the Pacers allow a league worst 50.2 field goal percentage. In addition, they lack perimeter defending, and struggle on the boards. When I mean they struggle, they rank near last in defensive rebounding (30.6 per game).

Siakam, who is 6'8, is a two-way wing who will make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball for Indiana. While Myles Turner was once involved in several trade rumors, he's now a concrete part of their front court. With Turner's ability to stretch the floor, Siakam will bring versatility, along with size and length on the defensive end. He's excellent at defending multiple positions, which should help their guards. He's also a viable scoring option, who will replace Jalen Smith in the starting rotation.

Can the Pacers sign Siakam to a long-term deal?

Sure, the Pacers gave up several assets for Siakam in a rare move by the Pacers. With how talented Hailburton is, Siakam has never played alongside such a talented facilitator and scorer like him. While this team is very young, their bench remains extremely deep. Jalen Smith, Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, and Aaron Nesmith remain in rotation for Indiana. Perhaps their depth will be the secret to their success.

With $38 million left on his expiring contract, the biggest question remains if the Pacers can retain the forward longterm. Although he's ineligable to sign a long term deal until summer, there's speculation among several reports that the Pacers are optimistic.

In an interview with interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Siakams agent, Todd Ramasar, spoke about his clients upcoming free agency and the recent trade.

“I could see Pascal in Indiana long term,” Siakam’s agent, said Todd Ramasa. “They want to see Pascal with the organization long term.” He also added the forward is "excited and ecstatic about the opportunity in Indiana."

A high risk,high reward move, the Cameroon native is in the prime of his career, and will make an immediate impact for Indiana. In 39 games this season, Siakam is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Additionally, he's shooting at a high clip from the field (52.2 percent), his personal best since the 2018-2019 season.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Social Media Manager, and Sports Content Creator at Ballislife. She has a focus on the Sports Betting, NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant returned for just nine games after serving a 25 game suspension earlier this season. On Monday, the Grizzlies announced Morant will miss the remainder of the 2023-2024 campaign after he suffered a right shoulder labral tear.

The @memgrizz announced the following medical update: pic.twitter.com/Cr7xKj1Wm4

— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) January 9, 2024

His season was over before it started. After a poor start to the year, Memphis went just 6-19 without their star Ja Morant. Even worse, they had injuries pileup among several players. In fact, they lost their first six games of the season.

Upon Morant's return, the Grizzlies trajectory drastically changed, improving to 6-3 with Morant in the lineup. Winning four consecutive games against the Pelicans (twice), Pacers, and Hawks, their star reminded the Grizzlies just how vital he is to the organization. Just his first game back, No. 12 hit a game-winner to secure the victory over New Orleans.

Ja Morant x Allen Iverson pic.twitter.com/FPCQecsq8B

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) January 9, 2024

Their Championship Odds changed drastically following the injury to Morant

In just nine games, he had a colossal impact on his team. With as much athleticism as he has, Morant is able to score and facilitate in various ways. In fact, he's been compared to Allen Iverson several times.

In just a short amount of time, the former Racer averaged 25.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 8.1 assists, on 47.1 percent field goal shooting. He had a season high 31 points in a thrilling 116-115 overtime win against the Pelicans on Dec. 26. Most recently, the Grizzlies guard had a 21 point, one steal, one block, seven rebound, and seven assist night in their victory against the Lakers.

Their Championship hopes seemed far away after Morant was suspended in June, due to detrimental conduct to the league. Prior to the start of the season, Memphis had +2500 odds to win the NBA Title. Now with Steven Adams and Morant out, oddsmakers are seeing the impact of both injuries.

No surprise, Memphis odds to win the Larry O'Brien trophy are currently +40000, which ranks in the bottom third of the NBA.

Along with Adams and Morant, the Grizzlies have one big dilemma. With Brandon Clarke and Derrick Rose out indefinitely, who will be the leader of this team? After trading for Marcus Smart in the offseason, will the Grizzlies retain him?

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) January 9, 2024

Sitting at 13-23, Memphis is coming off a two game win streak, against the Lakers and the Suns. Only halfway into the season, the rest of the season looks rather bleak.

And with the injury, the team announced Morant would undergo surgery to repair the labrum tera in his right shoulder.

While this season is a washout for Morant, the team announced he "is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2024-2025 season." Terrible news coming out of the NBA, he will simply have to wait to have his comeback season.

Morant seemingly addressed the injury in a somber social media post on Tuesday morning. Prior to that post, He posted a blue heart on Jan 8.

What does this mean for the Grizzlies moving forward?

get the JOB done.

https://t.co/4OjofQp6CN pic.twitter.com/pOpkZFwQWy

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 8, 2024

While this is a gut punch for Memphis, there may be a silver lining in all of this. If we follow the trajectory before Morant's return, it doesn't look as though Memphis will make a playoff run. However, while the Play-in tournament is still within arms reach, Memphis could end up with a high draft pick. It was just five years ago, Morant was selected by the Grizzlies No. 2 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Currently, Memphis is No 4. in the Southwest Division, and No.13 in the Western Conference. For now, Marcus Smart, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane remain the team's core players. Now in his 4th NBA season, Bane is averaging a career high 24.2 points, and 5.4 assists per game. Jackson Jr., in his 6th year, is putting up a career high 21.6 points.

pic.twitter.com/JVufeLKSKO

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 8, 2024

There's certainly nothing to sniff at when it comes to Jackson Jr. and Bane. Two all-star worthy players, the Grizzlies will see the development and improvement of both while Morant remains sidelined. Behind the trio of Bane, Jackson Jr. and Smart, not one player is averaging points in double figures besides Aldama. Half way through the season, the Grizzlies averaging / least amount of points in the NBA, with 107.8.

Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. are studs

Known for his defensive prowess, Jackson Jr. has been fairly dominant on the offensive end. Coming off an impressive 28 point performance against the Suns, he's averaging 27.6 points in the last three games, specifically 31 versus the Lakers.

With a tough schedule ahead, 26 of their 46 matchups will come against teams .500 or better. At the end of the month, Memphis will have consecutive challenging matchups against the Heat, Magic, Pacers, Kings, Cavaliers, Warriors, Celtics, and Knicks.

While the Grizzlies finished as the No.2 seed, it's scary to think how dominant this team could end up next year with a healthy roster. Just one season ago, Memphis had 51 wins, second behind the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference.

Just 24 years old, Morant has a career average of 22.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. While the future is bright, Memphis will soon put this season in their rear view mirror and look to build when their star is healthy again.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business

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NBA guard Ricky Rubio announced Thursday that he is retiring from playing basketball in the NBA. In a heartfelt post on X, formerly Twitter, the Spain Native stated he is stepping away to address his mental health. This came after he chose not to participate in the World Cup last summer.

"July 30th was one of the toughest nights of my life. My mind went into a dark place. I kind of knew I was going in that direction, but I've never thought I was under control of the situation. The next day, I decided to stop by professional career."

In the second year of a three-year, $18.44 million contract, both Rubio and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a buyout. With that said, Rubio, 33, hasn't played a single game for the Cavaliers this season. Candid with his mental health journey, Rubio thanked the Cavaliers organization for their support throughout his journey. The Cavaliers will receive financial relief from the buyout, given he was due $6.1 million this season, and $6.4 million in 2024-2025.

… pic.twitter.com/3NzE2QKO5F

— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) January 4, 2024

"Special mention to Cleveland, said Rubio in a social media post. "You have an amazing organization, with Koby [Altman] and JB [J.B. Bickerstaff], who have been extremely respectful and understanding of my situation and caring for me as a person."

A true playmaker and floor general, Rubio was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves at No.5 in the 2009 NBA Draft. Before Draft Night, the Spain native played two seasons in Barcelona.

He went on to play for Minnesota for the first six years of his career, and then was traded to the Utah Jazz in 2017 in exchange for a 2018 first-round pick. From there, he spent several years bouncing from team to team. While he didn't lead the Timberwolves to a single playoff appearance, we can't forget his long locks and unselfish game play. While he wasn't the best shooter, he made up for that through defense. Having stellar IQ, Rubio never quite flourished into the star as expected, yet was never a bust. A solid starter, he was known as a flashy guard who was a spectacular facilitator.

These Ricky Rubio highlights pic.twitter.com/gHNc4aZl23

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) August 3, 2021

A fan favorite in Utah, Rubio led the Jazz to the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018. Hampered by injuries, he never returned despite Utah advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets. Following a career high 13.1 points per game in 2017-2018, the former guard signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Phoenix Suns. Once the Covid-19 Pandemic struck, he was then traded back to the Timberwolves in 2020.

Averaging a career low 8.6 points per game, Rubio was then traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Aug. 2021, in exchange for Taurean Prince, and a 2022 second-round pick. Shortly after reaching 5,000 assists, the journeyman was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a deal that surrounded Caris LaVert. Due to an ACL tear and knee injury, the guard never played a single game for the Pacers.

It was then, he resigned with the Cavaliers on a three-year $18 million contract with Cleveland in summer of 2022. After much promise and talent on this roster, he played just a combined 67 games in two seasons. After starting most of his career, Rubio started just 10 games for Cleveland from the 2021-2023 season. For a majority of those two seasons, the former Cavalier spent time rehabbing a torn ligament in his knee.

“RICKY RUBIO, HE THE GOAT!” pic.twitter.com/BsfBaBvOSw

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) November 8, 2021

Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman issues a statement on his retirement as of yesterday.

"“Ricky Rubio embodied everything a franchise would want from such an accomplished player, who helped instill a confidence and leadership quality that still resonates within our team,” said Altman. “We wish Ricky nothing but the best and remain supportive of his decision to continue focusing on his mental health.”

Through all the ups and downs, it seems Rubio has an appreciation for his time in the league.

"I have collected lots of good memories and great relationships. Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix, and Cleveland. Wow. Thank you!"

Despite several stints on various teams, Rubio marked his talent as an established EuroLeague player early in on his career. A EuroLeague Champion in 2010, the guard has been compared to the late Pete Maravich on several occasions. Coincidently, the basketball world lost Maravich 36 years ago to the date. Finishing second in rookie of the year voting in 2010, Rubio was named NBA All-Rookie First Team.

These players were drafted 12 YEARS AGO today

1 Blake Griffin
2 Hasheem Thabeet
3 James Harden
4 Tyreke Evans
5 Ricky Rubio
6 Jonny Flynn
7 Steph Curry
8 Jordan Hill
9 DeMar DeRozan
10 Brandon Jennings
17 Jrue Holiday
42 Patrick Beverley
46 Danny Green

UNDRAFTED: Joe Ingles pic.twitter.com/dYcJ9ab6ZH

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) June 25, 2021

In addition to all of his NBA accolades, Rubio gained several awards outside the NBA. The FIBA World Cup MVP in 2019, he was also named EuroCup Champion (2008), Liga ACB Champion (2011), FIBA EuroChallenge Champion (2006), and EuroLeague Rising Star (2010). Having played overseas since the age of 14, Rubio was a silver medalist in the 2008 Olympics, next to the great Pau Gasol, Marc Gasol, and Rudy Fernández.

Not the first player to address mental health, Rubio had an impactful first season with the Cavaliers just a few years ago. It was then he teamed up with former teammate Kevin Love, who's also been very vocal about mental health through his career.

In 698 career games, Rubio averaged 10.8 points, 1.8 steals, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. He was a career 32.4 percent shooter from the three, and 38.8 percent from the field. Very brave to share his story publicly, he's chosen self care and taking care of himself over anything else. Extremely, courageous, there's so much more to life than just basketball.

Stay tuned for more NBA related articles.?Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The NBA's first 2023-24 All-Star fan voting return revealed Young as the third-ranked Eastern Conference guard. However, Damian Lillard has almost 100 thousand more votes despite the Atlanta Hawks guard having better stats.

One could say the vote differential could be due to the Milwaukee Bucks having 10 more wins than the Hawks. But team record isn't a huge driving force in voting. In 2019-20, Young received half a million more votes than Lillard despite the Hawks owning one of the worst records.

While Ice Trae is still a popular guard, it's clear on social media that fans don't value his game as much as they once did. Interestingly, Young's career path is shockingly similar to Kyler Murray of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.

The two playmakers were the faces of Oklahoma sports near the end of the 2010s. Young led Division-I basketball in points and assists in his final season. And Murray was awarded the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2018. After dominating college, both Sooners were selected in the top five in their drafts to immediately carry historically losing franchises.

They share the same flaws: undersized and tend to turn the ball over due to an unorthodox style of play. But, the negatives in their games didn't seem to matter early in their careers. In 2019, Murray was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Young was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

By 2021, most fans regarded them as one of the best at their positions. Murray led the Cardinals to the playoffs for the first time in half a decade despite playing in a division that featured two NFC Championship teams. And Young took the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals without an All-Star teammate.

Unfortunately, bad playoff games, injuries, and poor team records in the last two seasons have changed how most value the two athletes. Now, they're seen as losing players who may not be the faces of their franchises.

But it's not like they've regressed.

In his seventh game back from an ACL injury, Murray proved he was still worth the number one overall pick. He threw for three touchdowns in a win at Philadelphia.

Young's putting together one of the most elite playmaking seasons in recent memory. He's averaging the seventh-highest points per game (28.2) and the second-highest assists per game (11.3) on about 44% field goal shooting. His 22 double-doubles are the fourth-best in the East.

Plus, he averages the most points in the fourth quarter amongst players who've played at least 15 games (8.6). His ability to shoot from the parking lot at a high level and create easy opportunites for teammates has the Hawks with the sixth-best offensive raiting (119.5).

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is averaging nearly four fewer points than Young and more than one assist. However, the national conversation is much more in favor of Haliburton today. With the In-Season Tournament runner-up seen as the league's new rising playmaker, Young's dominance flies under the radar. Did you know Young dropped at least 30 points and 10 assists in seven straight games this season? No, but you most likely saw posts about Haliburton's impressive 20 & 20 game.

December was arguably the best stretch of Young's career. He recorded 30.4 PPG and 12.2 APG. You have to go back to the preseason to find a game where he finished with fewer than seven assists. All while NBA fans outside of Atlanta aren't paying attention. Those same critics labeled him inefficient after a few rough outings in playoff losses. But conveniently, they didn't notice his 47.5/42.2/84.4 shooting splits last month.

People say, "New year, new me." But Young's carried his end-of-year momentum into 2024. Last Wednesday, he put on a playmaking clinic against Oklahoma City's top-five defense. He finished with an efficient 24 points and 11 dimes. The victorious performance included a sweet lob pass to teammate Onyeka Okongwu to go up 16 in the fourth quarter.

If there were ever a perfect NFL & NBA comparison, it would be that Trae Young is the Kyler Murray of the NBA. The two climbed to the top of their positional rankings before poor team success buried them from the public eye. Fortunately, Young can retake some lost national spotlight tonight in a matchup against Haliburton. An incredible night from Young would make fans rethink their view of him.

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The struggling New York Knicks struck a deal with the Toronto Raptors this afternoon. According the Adrian Wojnarowski, New York will acquire two-way forward OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn, in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a 2024 second round pick.

The Toronto Raptors are finalizing a trade to send OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks for a package including RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and draft considerations, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/Z81TH1EexF

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 30, 2023

Less than 24 hours ago, Raptors forward OG Anunoby was present at the TD Garden in Boston. In a close matchup against the Celtics, the forward contributed 12 points, two steals, two assists, and two rebounds, on 50 percent three-point shooting.

Now, he's been traded to the New York Knicks. In his seventh season in the NBA, Anunoby is due to make $18.6 million this season, and according the NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the Knicks will attempt to recruit him to stay in free agency this summer.

A core member of the Raptors Championship team in 2019, he's spent all of his career with Toronto, and was a first round draft pick in 2017. Known for his defensive prowess, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive second team last season. He will bring that winning experience, along with a defensive presence the Knicks very much need. This comes after New York announced big man Mitchell Robinson would miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.

The former Indiana star led the NBA in steals last year, and is currently averaging 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1 steal in 27 games. He has a career average of 11.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals. At 6 foot 7, Anunoby is a threat beyond the perimeter, and is having another solid season. He's shot a career 37.5 percent from three-point range, and 47.3 percent from the field.

Precious Achiuwa, a first round draft pick in 2020, has spent the past three years with Toronto after originally drafted by the Miami Heat. The former Memphis Tiger is averaging 7.7 points, 5.4 points, and 1.8 assists, on 47.2 percent field goal shooting.

While Anunoby's been on the Knicks radar for quite some time, he joins a team that's 17-14 in the Eastern Conference, and lost two straight games against the Orlando Magic and the and Oklahoma City Thunder. Aside from the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers, the Eastern Conference remains wide open, and the Knicks currently hold the No. 7 seed. A Knicks team that ranks 15th in defensive rating, Anunonby will join Tom Thibodeau's starting lineup that will now consist of Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo, Julius Randle, and Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Toronto Raptors once found themselves as one of the prime defensive teams in the NBA early on. At 12-19, Toronto finds themselves currently out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, and are 3-7 in their last ten games. With a -1.3 point differential, the Raptors have struggled offensively, only averaging 113 points per game.

In five seasons with the Knicks, RJ Barrett was drafted third overall by New York in the 2019 draft. A solid scoring option, Barrett is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists, on 42.3 percent field goal shooting.

A productive member off the bench, Immanuel Quickley is averaging 15 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.5 rebounds, on 39.5 percent long rang shooting. Having spent all four seasons in New York, Quickley is averaging career highs in points, and field goal percentage.

A Toronto Native, the trade is a homecoming for Barrett, who will provide an offensive boost for the Raptors.

More on this trade to come.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, kept an eye on the 76er guard throughout the summer. Three games into the 2023 season, the Clippers sent a collection of role players and draft picks for the reigning assist leader.

The Clippers had a good reason to make the trade. The duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have yet to provide the franchise its first championship due to injuries or playoff meltdowns. Harden would give the team additional all-star-level help for the core's possible last season together.

However, the new roster got off to the worst start possible. They lost six straight games immediately after the acquisition, falling to 3-7 overall.

The offense didn't have an ounce of rhythm. There was only one basketball to accommodate ball-dominant starters.

In particular, the backcourt pairing of Harden and Russell Westbrook noticeably failed to coexist. In his 111-97 debut loss to the New York Knicks, the former teammates logged 31 minutes each. However, they struggled to establish the team's primary facilitator when on the court together. With no floor general, the starting group took turns creating their own shot. The offense's flow suffered as a result.

Los Angeles finished the game with a season-high 22 turnovers, more than their assists (21). Westbrook contributed five turnovers of his own.

But head coach Ty Lue had faith in his team smoothing the bumps despite the alarming start. After their sixth-straight defeat, Lue asked Westbrook to come off the bench. And it's working.

Los Angeles has a 13-3 record with Harden as the starting point guard. The squad's eight victories in a row is the longest active winning streak in the league.

Flash-forward 40 days from losing to the Knicks, the Clippers beat New York 144-122. The offense showed an efficient flow with Harden at the helm and Russ playing just 15 minutes. The team produced 36 assists and only eight turnovers. Harden was responsible for 12 of those assists, along with 10 points.

The future Hall of Famer may not be the same scorer he was in Houston, but the 34-year-old is still one of the league's best playmakers. He led the association with 10.7 APG last season. Since becoming the point guard, he's been creating easy looks for teammates while limiting his shot attempts.

Leonard has immensely benefited from Harden's play creation. His efficiency plummeted in early November in the previous dysfunctional offense. The Claw averaged 22.6 PPG on 48.2/36.5/84.4 shooting splits last month. With Harden running the show this month, he's progressed to 29.3 PPG on an insane 62.3/54.8/95.1 split.

During the first 16 days post-Harden trade, the team ranked 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio. In the first 16 days of December, their assist-to-turnover ratio ranked sixth.

Not only did the Clippers' starting unit need time to gel together, but Harden also needed more reps himself. His previous game before his debut was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. That was in May. After the loss to the Knicks, he attributed his lack of shape to not being a full participant in training camp or preseason.

It's safe to say after last night's 151-127 win in Indiana, Harden is back to the 20 & 10 guy he was last season. In Los Angeles' first five losses with the Beard, he averaged 15 points and 4.2 assists per game. In December, he is averaging 20.1 points and nearly ten assists. Last week, he put on a vintage 28-point and 15-assist performance in a win without George against the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers don't need Harden to be the game's leading scoring like he was last night. Although, he still left Indiana with nine assists. But if he can turn back to his old self in a given matchup, the team is an obvious contender.

Harden's Clippers have arrived at 16-10, currently the sixth-best record in the Western Conference. The offense has shown no sign of slowing down with him, winning five of their last six by double digits. We will remember Coach Lue's decision as season-saving.

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Draymond Green suspended indefinitely by the NBA

The league has seen enough, and so have the players, the fans, referees, and myself. Basketball is rather a physical sport, but this has gone on way too long. To be fair, Draymond Green has no one to blame but himself.

A 4x NBA Champion, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is known for his defensive prowess and playmaking. While he's future Hall of Fame candidate, No. 23 has been subject to controversy his entire career. Tuesday night. Green struck Jusuf Nurki? in a matchup against the Phoenix Suns after the two were at battle for their positions. After receiving a Flagrant foul 2, Green was then ejected from the game.

And then came the breaking news that sent shockwaves across the basketball world. The NBA suspended Draymond Green indefinitely. While we don't know for how long, it was the best course of action. In this case, it will give Green the time to receive proper help and treatment for his actions on and off the court.

This is his second suspension of the year

https://twitter.com/jxyyswrld/status/1735277404812190180/video/1

Earning his third ejection of the 2023-2024 season, Green has lost control of his anger and temper in several instances. While he's vital to the Warriors success, it cannot come at the expense of volatile acts on other players. This incident comes less than a month since he was suspended five games for putting Timberwolves big man Rudy Gobert into a headlock. The 33 year old now has 19 cumulative career ejections, the second most behind Rasheed Wallace, who had 29.

From a full blown fight with Bradley Beal in 2017, Green has also gotten into altercations with with refs on numerous occasions. Unable to keep his cool, the forward received his first career postseason ejection against the Memphis Grizzlies in 2022. One his most notorious ejections came with the stomping on Kings Domantas Sabonis in the playoffs last year. Off the court, we've seen him get into full on fights with ex-teammate Jordan Poole via leaked videos online.

Rather than attacking Draymond, the news has come from a place of concern, and the league has finally put their foot down. Handed down by NBA executive Joe Dumars, the NBA has issued Green a rare, yet very necessary suspension. While the games missed are undetermined, the NBA stated in a press release that the suspension will begin immediately.

The last time the league has seen in indefinite suspension was in 2010 when former Wizards player Gilbert Arenas brought a firearm into the team building. From then on, former NBA Commissioner David Stern handed him an indefinite suspension. In fact, his NBA career was never the same, and shortly dwindled out a few years later.

The NBA release a PR statement on Draymond Green

The following was released by the NBA. pic.twitter.com/MUyW5ygJsb

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 14, 2023

For Draymond, he will be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play, stated in an NBA press release. Per the league, 'this outcome takes into account Green's repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts.'

Post game, Green stated he didn't intended to hit Nurki? in the face. Intending to sell the call, he was clear he was not going to apologize for the incident.

"I sell calls with my arms, so I was selling the call, and I swung and unfortunately I hit him, " Green said post game on Tuesday.

With the Warriors at 10-13, they have lost two games in a row, and will be without one of their best defensive playmakers. Although his future in unknown in Golden State, he's been nothing but a distraction for the team. In a very competitive Western Conference, the Warriors are 3-5 without Green in matchups.

https://t.co/qlzSWcWF74

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) December 13, 2023

Former teammate Kevin Durant shared his thoughts on the incident. For Durant, he's now a member of the Phoenix Suns, and won two Championships with Green and the Warriors in 2017 and 2018.

"It was insane to see," Durant told the media. "Glad Nurk [Nurki?] is all right. Never seen that before in a basketball court in an NBA game. I hope Draymond gets the help he needs--It's been incident after incident. Hopefully, he gets the help he needs to get back on the court and put all this stuff behind him."

For Durant, he insisted Green wasn't that way around him and when he entered the league.

Represented by Rich Paul, of Klutch Sports Group, Green has earned up to $2,239,780 in finals over 11 year career. Due to earn $22,321,429 this season, the Warriors forward signed a 4-year $100 million contract in July.

While I like Draymond and his competitive spirit, the violence simply has to stop. More news on Draymond Green to come.

Stay tuned for more NBA related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Los Angeles Lakers have won the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament, defeating the Indiana Pacers 123-109. Future Hall of Famer LeBron James was named MVP

The Lakers are your FIRST NBA In-Season Tournament Champions!

Beginning odds: +1300#NBA #Lakers pic.twitter.com/mpXb7SzimH

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) December 10, 2023

Members of the Los Angeles Lakers are one pay check richer, and have possession of the first ever "NBA Cup." While both Indiana and Los Angeles earned their first trip to Las Vegas, it was the Lakers that secured the win. With such a unique opportunity, both LeBron James and Anthony Davis showed just how valuable they are to the Lakers organization. For Laker fans, all they've known is winning, since the franchise is tied with the Boston Celtics for 17 banners. With the court at a neutral site, many Lakers fans were in attendance to capture the special victory.

While Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 41 points, 20 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks, it was LeBron James who took away the NBA In-Season Trophy MVP trophy. Known to ball out on the biggest stage, James finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and one steal in 35 minutes of action. While many remember Michael Jordans "flu game," this time, guard Austin Reaves was feeling under the weather. While this isn't the NBA Finals, Reaves finished with an impressive 28 points, three assists, and two rebounds in 28 minutes. With Reaves the only productive player off the bench, all five Lakers starters were positive on the court. Reaves production certainly took a tiny bit of pressure of James and Davis.

Anthony Davis had a shaq-like performance

#LakersWin pic.twitter.com/5zaksVGKxH

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 10, 2023

The Pacers truly had a spectacular run, making their first ever tournament finals. While the Pacers have never won a championship, Tyrese Haliburton expressed his desire and excitement over the possibility of winning a trophy. Although the Pacers fell short of that goal, the duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James was overwhelming. In fact, Anthony Davis had facial expressions we've never seen before. Perhaps after being doubted so many times, the Lakers are out for blood.

The duo was so spectacular, coach Ham compared Davis and James to two former NFL Stars. "LeBron is our Tom Brady on offense, Anthony Davis is our Ray Lewis. He anchors our defense, he plays middle linebacker, he communicates, he does all of that." And with that said, the duo are certainly propelling the Lakers success this season.

Surprisingly, the Lakers only attempted 13 long range shots, in which they hit 15 % of them. With the Pacers ranked as the top offensive team, Los Angeles attacked and exposed their biggest weakness. They attacked downhill, and outscored Indiana 86-44 in the paint. With the NBA so heavily focused on three-point shooting, this came at a bit of a surprise to me. 86 points in the paint? I can't remember the last time i've seen a team so dominant below. To be honest, it's quite refreshing.

LeBron and AD were dynamic in the paint

Know it was crazy when you get that reaction from Dr. J pic.twitter.com/mJjER4eV8c

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 10, 2023

For Anthony Davis, he was aggressive as head coach Darvin Ham could ask for. Double teamed, in transition, Davis was everywhere on the court. For Davis and LeBron, it was about executing mismatch and post ups in the paint. Once leading by 16 points, the Lakers maintained a majority of the leade shortly after the start of the first quarter. To showcase paint dominance, 6-45 combined shot attempts from Davis and LeBron came outside the paint. While the Pacers are an extremely well-oiled machine offensively, the paint was left wide open on several occasions.

Often rolling to the basket, Davis looked elite in his tournament debut. While the IST finals don't technically count in the standings, AD would now have 12 straight games with a double-double. For Reaves, his 17 first half points were monumental. Like the Warriors have the "splash brothers" with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, James and Davis were the ultimate "paint brothers." LeBron James even described Davis's performance as "Shaq-like" post game.

Anthony Davis made it known while winning the tournament is special, the Lakers have their eye on the Lombardi trophy come June. ?"This is special for us, said Davis. "Just winning the inaugural In-Season Tournament, but we want to also win the same thing in June.”

The Pacers struggled offensively

Held the league's top-ranked offense to 36.8% FG pic.twitter.com/sYrrXkiNZW

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 10, 2023

While it was rare to see the Pacers struggle offensively, they were held to just 36.8 % from the field and 24.4 % from three-point range. Tyrese Haliburton, who has risen to stardom, struggled especially from long distance. The Pacers guard tied Bennedict Mathurin for a team high 20 points, 11 assists, one steal, block, and rebound. After watching Haliburton scorch the Celtics and the Bucks in rounds prior, the Lakers used a rather aggressive approach, limiting Haliburton to just 7 first half points.

Overall, the NBA In-Season Tournament told a story of two teams with different play styles. The Lakers had the clear cut size advantage, while the Pacers continued their ruthless three-point shooting and high pace play. I will say, while Rick Carlisle's team doesn't play stellar defense, it definitely showed on the biggest stage in Vegas. As mediocre as the Lakers have been the last few seasons, we know one thing, LeBron James knows how to win in the spotlight.

Shoutout to you, Lakers Nation pic.twitter.com/P8NNFdu8RX

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 10, 2023

The Lakers once again take another trophy home, while the Pacers got a slight taste of playoff type basketball. With both teams currently ranked as the No. 5 seed in the Western and Eastern Conference, they will face off two more times in March. As for LeBron James, he officially has every trophy and award you can think of during his 21 seasons in the NBA. For a player thats 38 years old, his ability to still dominate and play basketball at such a high level has been on full display. While coach Ham stated the Lakers "needed this," Los Angeles will try to build off their recent momentum as the season progresses.

Along with his MVP trophy, LeBron didn't shy away from his love for Las Vegas. He's been vocal about his post career plans, and didn't hold back. “My enthusiasm about being here post-career, bringing a team here has not changed,” James told the media. “The fans are amazing here."

Stay tuned for more NBA related articles.?Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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In its inaugural season, the NBA In-Season Tournament is set to see its first semifinals, where four teams remain in contention for the championship. In this article, I will break down the games for Thursday, Dec. 7

WIN OR GO HOME
LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS

The first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament Knockout Rounds continue TODAY with the Semifinals on ESPN and TNT!

5:00pm/et: Pacers/Bucks
9:00pm/et: Pelicans/Lakers pic.twitter.com/fSsNI9nAQF

— NBA (@NBA) December 7, 2023

Tonight, there four teams that remain in the running for the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament trophy. For the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Pacers will matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, beginning at 5 p.m. EST on ESPN. For the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans will face the Los Angeles Lakers, starting at 9 p.m. EST on truTV/TNT. With the Final Four set, both games are single elimination matchups. With the Finals scheduled for Dec. 9, which teams will move onto the final round? Here you will find the NBA betting odds, lines, schedule, and predictions for the NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals.

NBA In-Season Tournament Schedule

Semifinals: Thursday, Dec. 7

• ESPN, 5 p.m. ET: Indiana Pacers (+170) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (-205) (-5): O/U 257.5
• TruTV/TNT, 9 p.m. ET: New Orleans Pelicans (+110) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-2) (-130): O/U 231

Championship Game: Saturday, Dec. 9

• ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET: TBD

NBA In-Season Tournament Championship Odds

• Milwaukee Bucks: +170
• Los Angeles Lakers: +240
• New Orleans Pelicans: +360
• Indiana Pacers: +425

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

NBA Eastern Conference: Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks

The Indiana Pacers (11-8, 4-3 away) will face the Milwaukee Bucks (15-6, 10-1 home) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. After knocking the Boston Celtics out of the first round, the Pacers have earned their first trip to the NBA In-Season Tournament final four. Undefeated in the tournament, Indiana continues to knock off teams left and right with the lowest payroll in the NBA. With slightly over $126 million on the books for 2023, Indiana caught the Celtics sleeping in the quarterfinals. Having original odds of +3800 to win the tournament, the Pacers now have the fourth best odds at +425 to win it all.

The Indiana Pacers stun the Boston Celtics and advance to the Semifinals

Monday evening, Indiana stunned the Boston Celtics, cruising to a 122-112 victory, followed by a Buddy Hield three-pointer at the end of regulation. As I've mentioned before in several articles, the emergence and stardom of Tyrese Haliburton, along with several role players, makes them one of the prime teams in the Eastern Conference. As expected, Indiana, led by head coach Rick Carlisle, leads the NBA in offensive efficiency and pace per game. Shooting over 50 percent from the field and long range, Indiana held Boston to just 29.3 percent. Furthermore, their pace of play disrupted the Celtics defense, not allowing them to adjust, specifically in transition.

While Boston dominated on the boards, especially second chance points, the Pacers forced 17 turnovers on the Celtics, which led to 14 total fast break points. Playing with high momentum and pace, the Pacers had 7 players finish with points in double figures. With his first ever career triple double, Tyrese Haliburton finished with 26 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds, on 55.6 % field goal and 45.5 three-point shooting. After 16 lead changes, the Pacers mainly kept a lead from the middle of the third quarter until the end of regulation. Buddy Hield finished with 21 points and 2 steals, while Obi Toppin, Myles Turner, Bruce Brown, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 72 points, 4 steals, 26 rebounds, and 9 assists.

The Pacers play at a high pace, and it's disrupting the opposing defenses

It's no secret the Pacers are balling out this year, hitting the over on totals 16 times, and rank third in three-point percentage. The Celtics, who have an elite defense from the top down, couldn't top Haliburton anywhere on the court, for that matter. In fact, if I didn't watch the NBA, I would've thought this was game 7 of the NBA Finals. Not letting off the gas pedal for 48 minutes, the Pacers played fast, and stayed aggressive.

When it comes to defending past pace basketball, it often doesn't give teams ample amount of time to set up reads and plays defensively. For the Pacers, at any given moment, could be up half court and have a shot off within two to the seconds. This is one of the most dangerous aspects of this team, and they are simply fun and exciting to watch. While Haliburton is rising to stardom in front of our eyes, the Pacers have a ton of role players who couldn't find their stride with their old teams. With Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin finding the right opportunities, this Pacers team is filled with talent and depth. Tonight, I don't expect the pace to change against the Milwaukee Bucks, who also play at a higher speed.

The Pacers have the lowest payroll in the NBA

Indiana may not be the favorites to outright win the tournament at +450, however, they have the most passion and determination out of all the teams left. With a payroll just over $126 million for this season, not one person was sitting during the final stretch of their last matchup against the Celtics. Having felt like a true playoff atmosphere, the Pacers, along with the fans are looking forward to this opportunity, especially since the organization has never won an NBA Championship. And this is why I love the tournament, it gives younger teams a chance to compete, even on a small scale. Their last victory over Boston was a monumental statement, and they should bring that same energy into tonight's game.

While Haliburton has broken into the MVP conversation, the guard is averaging a career high 26.9 points, and an incredible 11.9 assists per game. While tonight won't be an easy task, it's hard to full fade Haliburton and what the Pacers are doing right now. In fact, Indiana defeated the Bucks 126-124 back on Nov 9, expect a great matchup out of these two teams.

Injuries

Pacers:
Jalen Smith, F: OUT

Bucks:
Pat Connaughton, G: OUT

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

^{*ATS-Against the Spread}

Indiana Pacers

• Indiana Pacers: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 5-5 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 11-8-0
• O/U Record: 16-3-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 9-2 in the last 10 games.
• 1st in Offensive Rating (123.6)
• 28th in Defensive Rating (120.2)
• 1st in Points Per Game (128.8)
• 1st in Pace: 104.05
• Opponent Points Per Game: 125.2 (29th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 38.8 % (3rd)
• Rebounds Per Game: 39.5 (31st)
• Indiana ATS won last 10 games: Philadelphia 76ers (+6.5), Atlanta Hawks (+3.5), Detroit Pistons (-9.5), Miami Heat (+4.5), Boston Celtics (+4.5)

“We can compete with anybody who’s on the floor.”

it’s gameday in VEGAS! pic.twitter.com/yckwQP2NfW

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 7, 2023

The Bucks had their best offensive game of the year

Similar to Indiana, the Milwaukee Bucks are undefeated in the NBA In-Season Tournament and will head to Vegas to play the Pacers. Having put up 125.5 points per game in group play, followed by Eastern Conference best +11.5-point differential, the Bucks will have their biggest test this evening. With the fourth most salary cap in the NBA ($185 M), Milwaukee is 10-2 in their last ten games, after a rough 6-4 start. With the addition of star guard Damian Lillard, the Bucks are the No. 2 seed team in the East and put up nearly 122 points per game. Although they haven't been as sharp defensively, the Bucks are a serious threat to win the Tournament and NBA Championship this season.

On Thursday evening, Milwaukee faced the New York Knicks, who were a wild card team, along with the Phoenix Suns. Blowing out New York 146-122, Giannis Antetokounmpo finished a double-double, and him and Lillard combined for 63 points. With six players finishing with points in double-figures, the Bucks shot over 60 percent from the field and beyond the arc. In fact, outrebounding the Knicks led to 22 second chance points, and the Bucks finished with 12 steals, forcing the Knicks to turnover the ball 16 times. By the way, all of those shooting statistics are season highs for the Bucks.

Milwaukee certainly put their talents on full display against the Knicks, it was arguably one of their best games of the year offensively. While it's been the story of the duo in Lillard and Giannis, Malik Beasley put on a show for 18 points. With the Knicks known as one of the best defensive teams in the league, the Bucks were able to dominate and then some.

Tonight's matchup total is the highest since 1991

Considering tonight is a prime matchup with the two highest scoring offenses, the total of 257.7 is the highest of any total since 1991. With that said, with a trophy and cash on the line, that's a heck of a total. While it may or may not be a high scoring affair, averaging 30.2 points, 10.7, 5.2 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.3 steals, Antetokounmpo is playing at an elite level. Coming off four straight double-doubles, Giannis now enters the final four, averaging 27.4 points, 2 steals, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists in the tournament. Tonight, he faces the Pacers with a career average of 22.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, in 36 total matchups.

Given the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers average a combined 250.6 points per game, bettors are looking at pace and defensive numbers as factors as well. While the Bucks have been a complete powerhouse on offense, if the Celtics couldn't stop Haliburton and the Pacers, who can?

Lillard and Giannis are starting to gel

Prior to the start of the season, both Giannis and Lillard stated their chemistry was going to take time. Able to trust the process, Milwaukee has figured out how to balance the two superstars, which the help of their role players. Although the two haven't run the pick and roll nearly as much as expected, Milwaukee is 8-2 in their last ten games, and 5-1 in their last six. While Giannis is putting up career numbers in some respects, Lillard averaged 25.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in 19 games played. In fact, Lillard is averaging 41.6 % from three, 26.8 points, and 8.1 assists in the last ten games.

Milwaukee Bucks

• Milwaukee Bucks: 4-1 in their last 5 games.
• 8-2 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 9-11-1
• O/U Record: 14-7-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
• 3rd in Offensive Rating (119.2)
• 22nd in Defensive Rating (115.3)
• 3rd in Points Per Game (122.3)
• 5th in Pace: 102.63
• Opponent Points Per Game: 118.3 (24th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 38.4 %
• Rebounds Per Game: 43.5 (20th)
• Milwaukee ATS won last 10 games: Charlotte Hornets (-8), Dallas Mavericks (-2), Washington Wizards (-9.5), Boston (+6), Miami Heat (-4.5), Atlanta Hawks (-6.5), New York Knicks (-4.5)

Giannis scored 54 points vs. the Pacers on November 9th.

: @betwayusa pic.twitter.com/5l543nz1Fp

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) December 7, 2023

Predictions:

Giannis Antetokounmpo double-double
Tyrese Haliburton 25+ points
Damian Lillard O 29.5 points + assists

NBA Western Conference: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Los Angeles Lakers

The New Orleans Pelicans (12-10) will play the Los Angeles Lakers (13-9) tonight, starting at 9 p.m. ET. Finishing 3-1 in group play, New Orleans went on to defeat the Sacramento Kings 127-117 in the NBA In-Season Tournament quarterfinals. Riddled by injuries, the Pelicans finally have a healthy squad, which poses a threat to the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

Let me guess, you bet over Zion Williamson points last game, I did too. Only putting up 10 points, 3 steals, and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes, Williamson had enormous help from his teammates. With Brandon Ingram leading the way with 30 points and 6 assists, all five starters finished with points in double figures. With Trey Murphy III back healthy off the bench, both him and C.J. McCollum combined for 33 points alone. With their offensive on display, the Pelicans finished the night shooting 54 percent from the field, and 45.2 percent from three. Crashing the rebounds and dominating in the paint was key for the Pelicans against the Kings.

The Pelicans are a sleeper team in the Western Conference

I've said this before, New Orleans was one of the top teams in the Western Conference, before losing Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram to injuries last season. With the Pelicans holding a majority of the lead against the Kings since the 2nd quarter, second chance points mattered. Middle of the road in terms of offensive and defensive efficiency, the Pelicans will face the Lakers, who have the 9th best defense.

The story of this year continues to be the elevation and dominance of forward Brandon Ingram. Averaging 23.7 point this season, the Pelicans forward is putting up big numbers during the tournament. Averaging 27.4 points, 6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, Ingram will once against face his former team on one of the biggest stages tonight.

In group play, the Pelicans finished with a +8.3-point differential, limiting opponents to 107.5 points per game, which was third best in the west. With heavy hitters in their starting lineups, the return of Trey Murphy III gives New Orleans a deep bench, along with José Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins. While Ingram has risen as a star for the Pelicans, they have tons of talent around them to beat this Lakers team tonight.

Injuries

Pelicans:
Matt Ryan, F: OUT

Lakers:

Jarred Vanderbilt, F: GTD
LeBron James, F: GTD
Anthony Davis, F: GTD
Gabe Vincent, G: OUT

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

^{*ATS-Against the Spread}

New Orleans Pelicans

• New Orleans Pelicans: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 6-4 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 13-8-1
• O/U Record: 10-12-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.
• 14th in Offensive Rating (114.2)
• 14th in Defensive Rating (112.8)
• 12th in Points Per Game (114.6)
• 12th in Pace: 100.41
• Opponent Points Per Game: 113.4 (17th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 35.7 (19th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 44.1 (T-14th)
• New Orleans ATS won last 10 games: Minnesota Timberwolves (+7.5), Sacramento Kings (+2, +1.5, +3), Los Angeles Clippers (+5.5), Philadelphia 76ers (-2.5), San Antonio Spurs (-12.5).

The Semifinals are set.

We face the Lakers on Thursday at 8 PM CT on @NBAonTNT/@truTV pic.twitter.com/PpNNIDtkKF

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 6, 2023

Los Angeles Lakers

• Los Angeles Lakers: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
• 7-3 in their last 10 games.
• ATS Record: 10-12-0
• O/U Record: 9-13-0
• 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
• 6-4-0 ATS in their last 10 games.
• O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
• O/U: 4-6-0 in the last 10 games.
• 24th in Offensive Rating (110.6)
• 9th in Defensive Rating (111.4)
• 20th in Points Per Game (112.2)
• 11th in Pace: 100.48
• Opponent Points Per Game: 113 (16th)
• Three-Point Percentage: 29.5 (29th)
• Rebounds Per Game: 44.1 (14th)
• Los Angeles ATS won last 10 games: Portland Trail Blazers (-9.5), Utah Jazz (-7.5), Cleveland Cavaliers (+4.5), Detroit Pistons (-7.5), Houston Rockets (-4.5, Phoenix Suns (-1.5)

An exclusive look at the squad's win over Phoenix to earn their ticket to Vegas

Mini-Movie: IST Quarterfinals

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) December 7, 2023

While the Lakers season started off a bit rocky, Darvin Ham's plan is failing when it comes to limiting LeBron James minutes. while LeBron and Anthony Davis have proven their value to the organization, the story has been about trusting the bench and the role players. In a thrilling matchup on Tuesday evening, the Lakers defeated the shorthanded Phoenix Suns 106-103 in dramatic fashion. While James and Davis combined for 58 points, it was Austin Reaves who came up clutch off the bench with 20 points.

The Lakers bench has been inconsistent and hurt

While the Lakers season has been widely inconsistent, it's proven that LeBron and Davis have to play, and play a good volume of minutes in order to win matchups. While LeBron wants to trust a majority of his teammates, Russell, Reddish, Prince, and Hachimura combined for just 24 points. For a player that's in his 21st season at 38 years old, that sort of production is not going to cut it for the Lakers. Davis, who's averaging 23 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, is coming off his 10th straight double-double, including 15 rebounds against Phoenix. His play tonight will be imperative against Valanciunas and Williamson.

While still undefeated in the NBA In-Season Tournament, the Lakers had a league best +18.5-point differential in group play, while averaging 123.5 points, and allowing 105 points per game. Tonight, they get a chance under a big stage, in front of national television, family, friends, and fans.

While the Lakers expressed their confidence in Reaves and various role players, it will be a tough matchup tonight against the Pelicans. With Reaves making the go ahead three with 15 seconds left, can he do it again tonight? Below are my predictions:

Predictions:

Pelicans +2
Anthony Davis- Double-Double
Brandon Ingram 20 + points
C.J McCollum O 3.5 assists

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets had a rather physical matchup Saturday night, involving several technical fouls, and the ejection of Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

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One thing has been made clear, LeBron James beef with Dillon Brooks and head coach Ime Udoka is here to stay, so get your popcorn out.

The Los Angeles Lakers (12-9) hosted the Houston Rockets (8-9) at home Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. With their third matchup in less than a month, the Lakers once again take a 2-1 series lead over Houston. In what should've been a routine matchup between two western conference teams turned into a physical, emotional dog fight.

With the Lakers holding a career 148-88-win loss record against the Houston Rockets, many fans are left wondering why there is so much hostility between these two teams. First, there's been the Dillon Brooks versus LeBron matchup since last season. Second, there's a playoff history between these two organizations dating back to the 2009, 2004, 1999, 1996, 1991, and 1990 playoffs.

Although the Rockets haven't faced the Lakers in the playoffs in nearly 14 years, fans won't forget the way Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets beat Los Angeles with a 4-1 series win in the 1986 Western Conference finals. Saturday night, the defense told the story, and for the Lakers, they finally have a healthy roster.

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Prior to the game on Saturday evening, 84 percent of users on our threads account predicted the Lakers would get the win over the Rockets. They certainly got the victory, and it came in dramatic fashion. When introduced pre-game, Lakers fans made sure they expressed their feelings about Brooks amongst the entire arena. As expected, Brooks received several boos, as he was pumped up by his teammates.

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The LeBron James vs. Dillon Brooks rivalry was on full display

And so much for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham for limiting LeBron James minutes. For the oldest player in the game, 16 points, 1 block, 1 steal, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 35 minutes isn't too shabby. In fact, LeBron had several inside baskets in the low post in Dillon Brooks, which resulted in an immediate stare down. While James has downplayed his rivalry with Brooks, the body language speaks for itself.

For James, that prime matchup with Brooks dates back to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last year. Although he hit some nice shots beyond the perimeter, Brooks finished the night -10 on the floor, with 10 points. In fact, Brooks finished with zero points when guarded by James, and shot 33 percent when guarded by Anthony Davis. If the Lakers can get this version of Davis, LeBron, and their rotational players on a nightly basis, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the west.

James is still performing at a high level

The leader in all-time points, No. 23 is still showing why he's one of the best players in the game. Averaging 24.4 points a game this season, LeBron showed no signs of slowing down at the age of 38. While the Lakers trailed for a better part of the first half, James was turning heads all night. Creating jab step lay ins, backdoor cuts, James put his athleticism on full display. While father time is creeping up, the man is creating 360-degree layup moves over Tari Eason and Jeff Green. Although LeBron had a decent night, he was loving the work his teammates put in beside him.

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Along with LeBron, Anthony Davis showed his defensive prowess, having 5 blocks, 27 points, 3 assists, and 14 rebounds in 37 minutes. With Davis as an elite rim protector, Houston's Alperen Segun finished with 21 points on 8-25 field goal shooting. With 11 steals as a team, the Lakers were able to crash the boards and put up 13 total second chance points. As a whole, the Lakers held the Rockets to just 40.4 percent shooting from the field, and 35.5 percent from long range. For a team that allows opponents to score 114 points a game, the Lakers arguably had their best defensive outing of the season, next to their 100-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers bench steps up massively

With a two man-game with LeBron and Davis, the Lakers had 6 players finish with points in double-figures, including Austin Reaves and Max Christie off the bench. Offensively, the Lakers unit did what they were supposed to do to help out AD and James. Bullying the Rockets in the paint, Hams team utilized the mismatches and got the foul calls they wanted. They finished 19-27 from the free-throw line, compared to the Rockets, who had just 18 free-throw attempts. The return of Vanderbilt and Reddish created a ton of physicality against the Rockets this matchup. Although Houston beat LA on the boards, the Lakers starting five had 31 total rebounds, including 6 from Taureen Prince.

Lebron and Ime Udoka exchange words

It's no secret Ime Udoka was hired to turn the Houston Rockets franchise around after a 22-60 finish last season. With last year's free agency signing of Fred VanVleet, Houston arguably had the steal of the draft with rookie Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson. Having previous success with the Boston Celtics, it's evident Udoka wants to win. In order to win, the Rockets need to play hard fought basketball and compete night to night. Visibly frustrated by their recent play, the Rockets remain winless on the road. Following a technical foul in the second quarter, Udoka was ultimately ejected late in the game.

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For Laker fans, Brooks and Udoka immediately become the villain since their disputes with the King. A feud that's likely to stay, originated from common foul on Cam Reddish against Tari Eason. From there, Reddish made it known he was upset, which caused tensions to rise on both sides. While words were exchanged between the Rockets head coach the LeBron, Brooks blamed the officiating.

In his 21st season in the NBA, LeBron James seemed rather unbothered by the situation post-game. Bringing in some comedic relief. he even went out of his way to tell the press it looked "rather friendly." While he stated him and Udoka "were talking about how much we enjoyed thanksgiving," both head coaches had harsh words.

Whether the ejection was warranted, the was a clear disrespect felt by Udoka after James walked over to the sidelines. With one more regular season matchup between these two teams in January, tensions will sure be high.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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The Bucks are currently 13-6, winning three of the last four games. It's true that all wins look the same in the standings. However, given the competition, their recent way of winning is concerning.

Milwaukee entered the 2023 season slightly behind the Boston Celtics as the NBA championship favorite. But squeezing out wins against some of the league's worst is inexcusable.

Last Friday, the Bucks were 13.5-point favorites against the then 2-12 Washington Wizards. The Bucks won by three. Two days later, the then 4-11 Portland Trail Blazers came to town as 12.5-point underdogs. The Bucks needed to pull off a 26-point comeback to win by six.

The following two games are even more alarming. The 4.5-point favored Bucks visited a Miami Heat team without its best scorers, Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. Milwaukee trailed for most of the fourth quarter but won by seven. Once again facing a team without its two stars, Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, the 10.5-point favored Bucks lost by seven in OT to the Bulls.

Any team can win on a given night because basketball is a make-or-miss sport. So, the Bucks' loss to the dysfunctional 6-11 Bulls would not be as big of a deal in a vacuum. However, four-straight games playing bad or injured opponents down to the wire is concerning.

So, what's wrong with Milwaukee? The team no longer has one of the league's premier defensive units.

From the 2018 to 2022 seasons, the Bucks's defensive rating ranked 1st, 1st, 9th, 14th, and 4th in the league. In 2023, they have the 20th-best rating.

When the Bucks shocked the league by trading for superstar Damian Lillard, the team sacrificed their perimeter defense. The deal included shipping out three-time All-Defensive First-Team guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday held down opposing perimeter players for the Bucks. Now, he's in Boston.

The Bucks have zero defensive talent on the outside. Lillard is a liability in the pick and role. Offseason pickup Malik Beasley looks lost whenever on an island. And Kris Middleton is having his worst season regarding defense rating.

The Wizards are awful. But the Bucks allowed an embarrasing 70 combined points from a Jordan Poole, Tyus Jones, and Kyle Kuzma trio.

In place of injured Tyler Herro, Miami's Josh Richardson started alongside Kyle Lowry against Milwaukee. Before the match, Richardson and Lowry averaged around eight points per game on low efficiency. The Bucks gave up an efficient 41 points to that backcourt.

Last night, Chicago's Nikola Vucevic had his way in the paint, dropping 29 points. The last time the big man scored at least 20 points was against who else but the Bucks over two weeks ago.

The Bucks shouldn't hit the panic button because they're the third seed in the Eastern Conference. The franchise can thank the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard for the success.

The duo has combined for at least 60 points in five of their last seven games. The Bucks lost the two contests the duo fell short.

The 60-point threshold seems like the Bucks' only way to win. Without Dame in an early November matchup in Indiana, Giannis had 54 points himself. But the Bucks lost by two, surrendering 55 total points to the Pacers starting backcourt.

Sometimes, Dame and Giannis recording more than 60 total points isn't enough. In the particular game against Washington, the Bucks needed 35-year-old Brook Lopez to turn back the clock by tying his career-high of 39 points.

Still, the Bucks are a great team. With a duo as excellent offensively as Dame and Giannis, the team should win most games. However, defensive issues are holding them back from being the near-championship favorite, as projected in the preseason.

People don't say "defense wins championships" for no reason. Only one Finals winner in the last 43 years had a defensive rating ranked 20th or below: the 2000-2001 Los Angeles Lakers. Shaq and Kobe combined for nearly 60 points a night to hide the Lakers' inabilites.

If Milwaukee doesn't make a move at the trade deadline for a perimeter defender, the Bucks' duo should prepare themselves to handle a historic workload. If not, they'll continue to find themselves in games like the recent ones.

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LeBron James makes history again despite suffering the worst loss of his career against the Philadelphia 76ers.

LeBron James now leads the most minutes in NBA History

Inspire the next generation pic.twitter.com/Dg11Mub5cZ

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 27, 2023

LeBron James may be the oldest player in the NBA, yet he still remains one of the finest. A generational talent, James set another milestone in one of the worst losses of his career. On Monday night, the Lakers conceded to the 76ers, 138-94, a 44-point deficit, making it the fifth worse loss in Lakers history. Now in his 21st season in the league, James is still making moves along the history books amongst the greatest athletes to ever play the game. This time, James now leads the NBA in minutes played (Including the playoffs).

There are a few aspects we do know, LeBron James has played a lot of basketball, and it doesn't look as though he's slowing down anytime soon. He's arguably the best player to ever play professional basketball, next to Michael Jordan. We'll save that debate for a later time.

The Lakers got blown out by the 76ers

Not our night. pic.twitter.com/b8ozTYkSeW

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 28, 2023

Monday was such a prime accomplishment for James, although it was such a strange scenario. In spite of witnessing greatness, Los Angeles got destroyed from the three-point line, and No. 24 finished with zero rebounds. Averaging 7.5 rebounds per game this season, it's the first time the 4x NBA Champion hasn't grabbed a single board since Nov. 2010. Overall, we can't take away the eminence of LeBron James. Incredibly durable at his age, James remains of the strongest, most athletic players in the game. With James vs. father time, the forward leads the Lakers in scoring and assists, putting up 25.1 points and 6.5 dimes per game.

There are not many players who are putting up those calibers of numbers, next to Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid. LeBron James currently ranks top 10 in points scored, and right outside the top 10 in minutes per game. That's not bad for a player who's been in the league right out of high school.

LeBron's is the NBA all-time leader in points scored

With LeBron James becoming the first player in NBA history to reach 39,000 points, look back at his journey to becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer! pic.twitter.com/t3YTnJIccF

— NBA (@NBA) November 22, 2023

Having four NBA rings of his own, James recently surpassed Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar with the most points scored in NBA history with 38,388. Now at 39,078 career points, James once against has soared past Abdul-Jabbar for the most minutes played in history (66,318). With that record including the playoffs, at 38 years old, the Cleveland native already holds the records for most minutes played in the post-season with 11,654. Right behind him is Karl Malone, with over 62,000 minutes played, Dirk Nowitzki, and the late Kobe Bryant.

So much for Darvin Ham limiting James this season. Proving his value to this organization, as of November 25, the Lakers are +87 with LeBron on the court, including a 115.8 offensive, and 107.7 defensive rating. Without James, Los Angeles has a -13.2 net rating. If that doesn't speak volumes how important this man is to the Lakers and the game of basketball, I don't know what does. Blessed with a fairly, healthy career, James is showing the meticulous athlete he is, putting up fascinating statistics.

James is only focused on winning

For James, he has a lot of mileage on the court. Even more impressive, No. 23 has as total of 16 years of postseason runs between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. Not an easy task, playing a high volume of playoff minutes would be tough mentally and physically for any player. Approaching 40 years old, James has a career postseason average of 41.3 minutes per game.

Sitting at 10-8 in the Western Conference, the Lakers found themselves down 32-19 in the first quarter and reached a deficit of 46 points. Scoring a team high 18 points on 8-12 field goal shooting, the King wasn't thrilled about his personal accolades alongside the worst loss of his career. Previously, the Lakers were rocked by the Indiana Pacers 136-94 in 2019 and finished with a 37-45 overall record.

Last night, the Lakers allowed Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey to combine for 61 points and 19 assists. Embiid finished the night with another triple double, in which Philadelphia finished with game high 11 steals. The Sixers finished 22-26 from the free-throw line, and 22-46 (47.8) percent from beyond the arc.

LeBron James wasn't too thrilled with the milestone following the loss

"That don't mean much to me," James told the press inside the locker room. When asked about the blowout against Philadelphia, the future Hall of Famer stated "a lot" needs to change. A man of few words, the Lakers star wasn't enthusiastic about the milestone.

Far less interested in the history books, 17 games into the season, James is dialed into what the Lakers need to change in order to win banner No. 18. As he continues to climb the stats book, James currently ranks fourth in all-time assists, behind John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and good friend Chris Paul.

Los Angeles is the 8th seed in the West, and sealed victories in four of the last six games. James and the Lakers will look to bounce back against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday evening.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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Davis is a confusing talent. The league's blocks-per-game leader (3.3) is by far the best defender on the planet. Plus, he ranks first in many offensive metrics from the post. If you were to count on your fingers the number of players better than him when he's on, you would have many fingers left. Most would say the big man is better than James at their best.

Unfortunately, AD's offensive production is more up and down than a roller coaster. In the Lakers' first meeting with the Sacramento Kings, the former Kentucky Wildcat scored 30 points and hauled 16 rebounds. In the second match, he failed to score double-digit points or boards.

The Lakers extended Davis through the 2027-28 season with the richest annual salary for a reason: to take the number one option role from James. However, Davis' unpredictable production has forced the Lakers to continue to rely on James despite his age.

Father Time must have made an exception for James. He is averaging 26.4/8.2/6.5 on a ridiculous 58.6/39.7/69.1 shooting split. Davis has some catching up if he wants to be the man. 22/11.7/3.3 on 53/30/86.3 shooting splits is great, but not enough to be the best player on the Lakers.

Everyone agreed that James would still be Lakers' best distributor. But not many foresaw him continuing as the LakeShow's primary scorer at 38 years old. In last night's 105-104 win against the Houston Rockets, James dropped a season-high 37 points on an extremely efficient 74 FG%. Davis's 27 points was the game's 2nd-highest scorer, but foul trouble removed him from big spots.

The offensive gap between the duo was more apparent in last Friday's 107-95 win in Portland. James tallied 35 points, doubling Davis' 16.

Can you believe that James has scored 28 points or more six times this month? What you actually can't believe is that Davis has failed to score more than 20 points five times this month. The Brow plays exceptional defense and is capable of star-level offense, but James never reaches the same offensive lows as his partner. The Lakers know what to expect from James on a nightly basis, but crosses its' fingers with the big man.

The Lakers' early season story has been that the squad is not even functional when James is off the court. He had a 25.6 +/- net per 100 possessions in his first 12 games. Without the King on the floor, the Laker offense cannot move the ball in the half-court or push in transition.

It's not like the Lakers don't have the personnel to be fine without James running the show. But Davis' inconsistent offensive aggression begs the opponent to go on a run. James subbed out with 4:29 left in the first quarter while up 13 points in Portland. The Blazers looked utterly outmatched but found life on a 15-4 run in following six minutes. Davis was scoreless during the attack.

What ultimately separates James from Davis is James' ability to close games. The Clutch Player of the Year award could find its way amongst James' stacked trophy case because he's been the king of the fourth quarter. He's averaging a league-leading 9.2 points per fourth quarter on 66.1 FG%.

In the Lakers' last two contests, the team needed to pull away in final quarter with Davis on the bench in foul trouble. That might have been a problem for most players, but not for James.

James scored 14 fourth-quarter points against the Rockets, including the game-winning free throw. Davis put up a donut hole in the quarter's points column.

To close out the Blazers, James put on an offensive masterclass. No one in the building could stop the man from scoring or assisting on 23 of 25 Laker points in the 4th. Flashbacks had to have hit Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. James scored the Cleveland Cavaliers' last 25 points to win Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals against Billups' Detroit Pistons. 16 years later, James still owns the final quarter.

On Tuesday, the Lakers host the 4-9 Utah Jazz. The opportunity is there for Davis to silence his haters by proving some consistency. A 30-point and 12-rebound game would be ideal. But another underwhelming offensive night would further prove why LeBron is still the Lakers' best player.

The post LeBron James Is Still The Lakers Best Player appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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Sara Jane Gamelli

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The NBA In-Season Tournament starts November 3rd.

Odds to win:
Bucks: +900
Celtics: +900
Nuggets : +1000
Suns: +1100
Warriors:+1200
Lakers: +1300
Cavaliers: +1300
76ers: +1400
Heat: +1500
Kings: +1500
Clippers: +1800#nba #sportsbettingtwitter pic.twitter.com/v8UmhDNf7K

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) November 1, 2023

The 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament is underway, which includes group play, knock out rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals, and a championship game. With a long 82 game season, this new experience will find ways to engage fans, yet raise a new level of competition for teams and players. Much like the NBA Finals, there will be one crowned winner, which will include an MVP trophy. Similar to the Commissioners Cup in the WNBA, there will be a prize pool, and a trophy given to the winning team.

With this so new to the league, several organizations have never won an NBA Championship, including the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, and Orlando Magic. Although it's not the Larry O'Brien Trophy, perhaps teams will feel they are closer to that goal. For example, the NBA Summer League has an end of the season tournament and Championship.

During the In-Season Tournament, each of the 30 teams will have a custom court design on their designated games, in addition to City Edition Uniforms.

What is Group Play?

IN-SEASON TOURNAMENT FRIDAY

Players from around the association sounded off after the first night of NBA In-Season Tournament hoops

The action continues TONIGHT on ESPN and the NBA App pic.twitter.com/OfXo2rolKH

— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2023

Based off team's record the previous season, all thirty teams were randomly assigned into six different groups within their respective conferences. For the Western and Eastern Conferences, there's West/East group A, B, and C. For the duration of the tournament, teams will have four set group play games, which will continue until Nov. 28. Group play tournaments will be featured every Tuesday and Friday of the week. There are two components to this entire tournament, which include group play and knockout rounds.

In terms of team and group selection, each team is placed into a pot before being randomly selected. There are five different pots a team will be placed in, depending on the outcome of the 2022-2023 season. Below is a example of the five Pots, provided by the NBA:

? Pot 1:?The teams with the three best prior-season records in a conference.
? Pot 2:?The teams with the fourth- through sixth-best prior-season records.
? Pot 3:The teams with the seventh- through ninth-best prior-season records.
? Pot 4:?The teams with the 10th-through 12th-best prior-season records.
? Pot 5:?The teams with the 13th-through 15th-best prior-season records.

If you're confused, you're not alone. Multiple NBA players are puzzled by the tournament, including ESPN Analyst J.J Redick. For Steph Curry, it seems he is embracing the tournament.

"This isn't any other Friday night," said

Tournament Groups

A sneak peak of the in season NBA tournament courts.

Thoughts?
#nbapic.twitter.com/LyE7pC5dzv

— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) October 30, 2023

Along with the In-Season Tournaments, the NBA have designed individual courts for all thirty teams. With that, each team will wear city edition uniforms, and each court will draw influence from those. Behind every team's logo is the new trophy, which is placed in the center of the court. Instead of hardwood, each court is painted top to bottom, visualizing each theme. If you didn't know, the horizontal stripe on every court design is meant to represent the airport runway in Las Vegas. Given the Championship is in Vegas, that makes perfect sense.

In a way, custom, alternate courts aren't new in the NBA. More traditional franchises, such as the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, and New Orleans Pelicans will display a new hardwood for the first time.

Thoughts around the league

The addition to the In-Season Tournament and City Edition has gathered mixed reviews from both the fans and the players. A first type of experience in NBA history, the new tournament is inspired by other sports, such as international soccer leagues. While the play-in tournament has become a popular fixture since the Pandemic, the augural In-Season tournament will have to work out the kinks.

Marcus Smart, of the Memphis Grizzlies hasn't won a championship, yet became very close in recent years. On Media Day, the Grizzlies star was honest about the experience, and how it affects him personally.

"Being completely honest, nobody cares about winning the in-season tournament," said Smart, "It's the big one that we care about."

Players including P.J. Tucker and Khris Middleton are optimistic, as it is part of the business, and could potentially bring in more viewership and growth of the game.

For me, I think it's a neat concept. However, I think using the prize pool for the winner's charity of choice would create even more incentive to win it all.

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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

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