 With the NBA Finals underway, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is at the peak of his power. At 26 years old, he was the best player on a 68 win team, earned league MVP, and is starting his first career Finals where the Thunder are heavy favorites. Bringing the first championship to one of the most successful franchises in the last 15 years, a feat Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook never achieved, would be a fitting way to cap a terrific season.
But while SGA’s number of accomplishments has increased, so has the criticism directed at him. Detractors’ most common criticism of Gilgeous-Alexander is the benefit of the doubt he allegedly receives from referees. Critics believe SGA's tendency to draw fouls are bad for the game, because it has become nearly impossible for players to defend him. However, the reality is that there’s nothing foul about SGA’s game. He has a very simple skillset which serves as a contrast to the athleticism of LeBron James or Stephen Curry’s shooting. He’ll take what the defense gives him whether it’s a driving lane to the basket or a mid range shot, and use that against them. In doing so, SGA utilizes a herky-jerky playstyle where he changes direction at an unusually fluent pace. It’s why he’s always able to get to his sweet spots without needing to create much separation against defenders. While SGA’s inside game and three point shot are respectable, his midrange game is where he’s truly dangerous. According to Statmuse, he shoots well above league average in almost every area outside the paint. Most defenders are usually willing to give up a mid-range shot since analytics discourages those shots, but SGA is so efficient at them that they must commit to stopping it. This might not be as entertaining as LeBron or Curry, but it has elevated SGA to the point where he’s almost unguardable. If a skeptic was curious whether SGA would excel without the free throws, the answer is yes; even if you exclude all of his free throws from his point total, he’d still lead the league in total points. Although SGA’s playstyle may be frowned upon in the current era of analytics, his skill set has catapulted him to the Finals, where he’ll have the chance to silence his critics once and for all.  In just two weeks, Tom Thibodeau went from coaching the Knicks to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years, to being the most recent head coach fired this past Tuesday. It was a stunning move considering the team’s return to relevance, but there were too many doubts about Thibodeau's ability to maximize a roster built to win now. While questions about his roster management were understandable, the reasons for keeping him outweigh the drawbacks.
Since Thibodeau’s arrival, the Knicks have re-emerged as championship contenders after years of ineptitude. His leadership is the reason why Knicks fans are regularly parading on 7th Avenue after every win. The last three seasons have particularly seen notable progress, with multiple first round victories and a Conference Finals appearance this season. While the end was disappointing, the team was clearly headed in the right direction under Thibodeau’s guidance. This is why management should’ve given Thibodeau the benefit of the doubt in regards to having the roster play at its full potential. While Thibodeau’s philosophy of playing the starters extensive minutes was questioned by critics, there was no doubt that he always had them prepared to compete from the opening tip to the final buzzer. Even if some didn’t agree with Thibodeau’s minutes distribution, most players bought into his approach, which is an important success metric for a coach. There’s no better example of the players’ support than when Jalen Brunson walked out of the press conference after game 6, when asked if Thibodeau should continue as coach. It’s fair to say Thibodeau could’ve gotten even more out of a roster this talented, but the reality is that it takes time for a team to develop the chemistry necessary to win a championship. With the acquisitions of Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony-Towns, the Knicks’ starting lineup wasn’t even finalized until the eve of training camp. It made New York’s playoff run even more impressive, which is why Thibodeau would’ve had this roster ready to play at a higher level next season had he not been released. The Knicks front office is taking a massive chance with this move, which could be the difference between a decent playoff run and a championship parade through the Canyon of Heroes.  For the first time in decades, the New York Knicks are enjoying a period of relevance in the NBA. In the last five years they have had a .565 winning percentage with this season being their best yet at 51 wins. New York just upset the defending champion Boston Celtics to make their first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. Fans are understandably ready to crown Jalen Brunson as the king of New York, but the one person who’s proving his worth again is head coach Tom Thibodeau. Though criticized for his stubbornness at times, Thibodeau has done a remarkable job in what has been a memorable year. With the Knicks set to host the conference finals, here’s how Thibodeau’s stubbornness could also be his greatest asset.
There is no doubt Thibodeau has been the best coach for the Knicks in the last 20 years. During his five years, he has accumulated 226 wins which is fourth most in team history, three playoff series wins, and the 2021 Coach of the Year. Thibodeau’s no-nonsense approach, which is centered around grit and toughness, has formed an identity that has captured the hearts of almost all New Yorkers. Despite general manager Leon Rose’s willingness to routinely tinker the roster, Thibodeau continues to get the most out of every player on the team. Defense is where some of Thibodeau’s best work happens on the court. His schemes and preparation enable him to get every ounce of effort from his players. It is why the Knicks have been one of the league's stingiest defenses throughout his time in New York ever since Thibodeau arrived. However, he has also gotten plenty of individual production from players on the offensive end. He is capable of utilizing their skill sets, from Josh Hart becoming a triple double machine, to OG Anunoby’s career high 18 points a game. His coaching style has earned admiration from players such as Jalen Brunson, who has put together the most successful resume out of any Knicks player in Thibodeau’s tenure. “Individually, he’s meant a lot to my career,” Brunson said a couple weeks ago. “As a team, we’re always in a position where we can compete in the postseason since I’ve been here.” But with Thibodeau’s approach comes some stubbornness. Some fans now see it as a roadblock if the Knicks are serious about competing for an NBA Championship. His eight man rotation has raised questions on whether the starters will be worn out come playoff time. However, Thibodeau likely saw this as necessary because the team traded lots of draft capital for the talents of Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges. He used the regular season as a chance to get the starters used to playing with each other, and while it has arguably weakened an already flawed bench, the starting lineup is beginning to gel at the right time. The amount of crucial minutes from the starters in the regular season has put them in a position where they are capable of executing in the final minutes. All of the team’s close playoff wins have resulted from everyone’s newfound experience playing with one another. His continued trust in players is also very evident. Some fans were pushing Thibodeau to sit Josh Hart for Mitchell Robinson because the Knicks’ starting lineup was struggling for most of the series. Yet Thibodeau’s decision to keep Hart in the lineup resulted in him having a triple double during the team’s game 6 victory. The in-game lineups will be interesting to see going forward because there are other instances where this has hurt the team. This could be a problem against the Pacers, who are also a tall team. Thibodeau’s management of the rotation will be interesting to see against a very deep team. Personally, I think that despite all the credit players like Brunson get, it’s easy to forget the Knicks wouldn’t be this good again without Thibodeau. He’s elevated them to the point where they are actually expected to be among the league’s elite teams. While his stubborn approach can sometimes draw ire from fans, this year’s playoffs has proved why Thibodeau likes sticking to his methods. The question is whether it will be sustainable.  The NBA playoffs begin today with numerous teams having a legitimate shot at a championship. For the first time in 15 years, three teams have at least 60 wins. Right behind them are other talented and experienced rosters ready to embark on a deep run. Yet the team to beat remains the Boston Celtics who steamrolled their way to their 18th championship, and are well-positioned to win back-to-back titles despite finishing with the third best overall record behind the Cavaliers and Thunder. With postseason play soon underway, here are my predictions.
Eastern Conference: Western Conference: #1 Cavaliers 4 #1 Thunder 4 #8 Heat 1 #8 Grizzlies 0 #1 Cavaliers 2 #1 Thunder 4 #4 Bucks 4 #5 Clippers 2 #4 Pacers 2 #4 Nuggets 3 #5 Bucks 4 #5 Clippers 4 #2 Celtics 4 #1 Thunder 4 #1 Thunder 4 #3 Bucks 1 #2 Celtics 2 #3 Lakers 2 #3 Knicks 4 #3 Lakers 4 #6 Pistons 1 #6 Timberwolves 3 #2 Celtics 4 #3 Lakers 4 #3 Knicks 2 #7 Warriors 1 #2 Celtics 4 #2 Rockets 3 #7 Magic 0 #7 Warriors 4  On Saturday night, the Dallas Mavericks managed to surprise the sports world by sending their franchise star Luka Doncič to the Los Angeles Lakers in a package that primarily involved Anthony Davis. The shock waves caused from the trade were like a sonic boom as it’s rare that two spectacular players at different stages of their career get traded for each other. There were also no rumors of such a move occurring as neither Davis, Doncič, or even Mavericks coach Jason Kidd knew anything until the move was official. While people are still processing the trade, here is where both teams now stand.
For the Lakers, getting a player like Dončić gives them a lot more direction once LeBron James retires. They’re championship window was still open, but it was slowly closing and with that grew uncertainty about the team’s future. Dončić definitely makes their long term outlook a little more clear. At only 25 years old, Dončić is in the prime of his career with his dazzling ball-handling and clutch shotmaking. He is a regular on the All-NBA first team since 2020, and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last season. https://x.com/NBA/status/1794203009490014642 The Lakers will be getting arguably the best point guard of the league and a guy who’s capable of playing with anyone. This trade also bodes well for LeBron James. The last time he had a point guard of Dončić’s caliber was Kyrie Irving in Cleveland where they won a championship together. To get there however, the Lakers now have to find a viable replacement for Davis. This is a player who owned the paint on offense and defense, not to mention a perfect pick and roll partner for James. If Los Angeles was thin up front with Davis, they are now frail without him. The Lakers must restructure their big-man rotation before Thursday but they still have more than enough assets to trade for a big man since not much else outside of Davis was given up. Players such as Walker Kessler, Mitchell Robinson, or Robert Williams wouldn’t fully replicate Davis’s play but they would cover up that need. Meanwhile for the Mavericks, they’ve received a lot of understandable criticism for trading Dončić. The biggest takeaway is that they really must be trying to maximize their chances of winning now rather than in the long run. On paper, they have a more balanced roster as of now. Davis gives Dallas a big man who can score multiple ways and protect the rim. If he can stay healthy, the Mavericks will have a potentially dangerous duo with him and Kyrie Irving. In addition, they are surrounded by shooters such as Klay Thompson and their big-man rotation is now one of the deepest in basketball. https://x.com/NBAonTNT/status/1307864617171873794 That doesn’t exonerate the fact that Dallas is making a massive gamble by trading the face of their franchise a year after making the Finals. This shortens the Mavericks’ championship window. Dallas ideally should’ve sought a lot more in return for the future, whether it was more contributors like Rui Hachimura, or a surplus of draft picks. If they don’t win now, they may have to rebuild sooner since Davis and Irving are both over 30. Finally, this kind of trade could send a negative message to the team. Dončić was the leader of that team and the team’s confidence may now be rattled. The only current conclusion from this trade is that it’s clear where both teams believe they stand on their chances of contending. Los Angeles and Dallas basically flipped around their title windows in unprecedented fashion - and time will tell which team made the right decision.  The Boston Celtics completed their quest for an 18th championship in a convincing five game triumph over the Dallas Mavericks. Their success came after years of falling just short and now that they're on top, there’s talk of a potential dynasty coming into effect. While they are understandably regarded as the favorites to repeat next season, there are a fair number of teams who are poised to knock off Boston. This list will only consist of teams who may have emerged as contenders. This excludes Longtime playoff teams and frontrunners like the Nuggets and 76ers and talented teams with shrinking windows such as the Bucks and Lakers.
1. Minnesota Timberwolves Although it was Dallas who beat Minnesota in the conference finals, the Timberwolves will take the top spot in this list. Minnesota won 56 games and appeared in their first conference finals since 2004. They beat veteran playoff teams such as the Phoenix Suns and the defending champion Denver Nuggets, before ultimately running out of gas. However, it’s easy to forget that if Minnesota’s offense didn’t go ice cold at the end of the first three games, it might’ve been a different series. Shooting guard Anthony Edwards fully emerged as a superstar this season. He improved in almost every phase and made All NBA for the first time at 22 years old. Edwards shares the backcourt with Mike Conley who gives the team a veteran presence as well as a mentor for their newest draft pick Rob Dillingham. The defense was anchored by Rudy Gobert, who bounced back after a rocky 2023 season to win Defensive Player of the Year, and Jaden McDaniels who made All-Defensive Second Team. Naz Reid gave the team depth winning Sixth Man of the Year and emerged as a clutch player in the playoffs. Minnesota’s biggest roster change was trading away homegrown star Karl Anthony-Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. Randle has made two All-NBA appearances in three years and was well on his way toward another last season before going down with a season ending shoulder injury. DiVincenzo is coming off a career year with 15 points on 40% three point shooting. His shooting off the catch will bring more diversity to the Minnesota offense. 2. New York Knicks The Knicks’ resurgence under head coach Tom Thibodeau continued in a big way in 2024. They won 50 games for the first time in 11 years and were one win from the Conference Finals before a mountain of injuries proved to be too much. But to even be in that position was impressive, and New York now has the formula to be a championship contender. Point guard Jalen Brunson is arguably the franchise’s best player at the position since Walt Frazier in the 1960s and 70s. His toughness and creativity captured the hearts of all Knick fans as he blossomed into one of the NBA’s premier point guards. Guys such as Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson all have their own abilities that benefit the team on offense and defense. They also pushed a lot of buttons this offseason bringing in Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges. Anthony-Towns does come at the cost of giving up Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, but he’s someone who can take lots of attention off Brunson with his floor spacing. Bridges fits Thibodeau’s system thanks to his durability, offensive production without being ball-dominant, and defensive prowess on the perimeter. The team also re-signed Anunoby and inked Brunson to a four year, $156 million extension. It was a team-friendly deal that will enable the Knicks to pursue other valuable assets in the future. If this team can stay healthy and mesh well, there will be orange and blue for a while in New York. 3. Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks were one of the league’s hottest teams during the final two months and proceeded to ride that momentum into the NBA Finals. While their run quickly ended in the hands of the Celtics, Dallas figures to remain in contention. Their biggest strength lies in the backcourt where Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving had no problem meshing in their first full season. Both players took turns showing off their impeccable ball handling and amazing shot-making as they engineered Dallas’ strong finish. They only got better in the playoffs where Doncic and Irving combined for the most playoff points by a starting backcourt duo in NBA history with 1,079. Dallas has fortified their roster through various trades going back to the 2023 draft. They acquired Dereck Lively from the Oklahoma City Thunder on that night, and later traded for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford during the trade deadline. All of them emerged as key contributors throughout Dallas’ playoff run. Their most significant offseason move was signing Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors. It will be interesting to see how he fits with Irving and Doncic. Thompson’s best days from the Golden State Warriors may be past him, but his ability to score off the ball could be a great compliment for ball-dominant players like Irving and Doncic. 4. Oklahoma City Thunder The Oklahoma City Thunder continued their resurgence from 2023 into last season. They claimed the number one seed in the Western Conference and won their first playoff series since 2016 before falling to the Mavericks in the semifinals. Their turnaround came on the strength of their big three, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. Each of them were impactful thanks to their own skill sets. Gilgeous-Alexander made his second straight first team All-NBA and looks like he can lead a championship team. Holmgren showed no signs of a foot injury that kept him out all of 2023, and had a strong rookie season. He can score inside or outside and is already one of the top rim protectors. Jalen Willams would be a number two or even a first option on multiple teams thanks to his playmaking and versatility. While the loss to Dallas was a bit of a letdown given the Thunder having home court advantage, the experience should only make a talented team better going forward. To help instill that mindset, they added Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein who have adequate playoff experience. They additionally make numerous plays on offense that don’t show up in the statsheet, and while elevating an already stingy defense.  There is a ton of anticipation surrounding the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball team for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They have a decorated roster with talent ranging from Basketball Hall of Famers like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, to potential faces of the league such as Anthony Edwards. As a whole, this year’s roster consists of four MVP winners and seven champions. In contrast, the previous two teams had Kevin Durant as the only MVP winner and just two more NBA champions combined than this year’s team.
The makeup of Team USA from a skills perspective is highly balanced with players who can succeed in different ways. Offensively, they have guys who could score without needing the ball, along with other players who are willing to guard the opposing team’s best player. “We have the ability to play different styles,” Hall of Famer and USA Basketball Managing Director Grant Hill said recently in an interview with Andscape. “We have flexibility. We can go big, we can go small. We have shooting and we have experience.” One guy who checks all of those boxes is, of course, LeBron James. After winning his second gold medal in 2012, James has built a Hall of Fame career in the last 12 years alone. He may not be athletic like he was, but he returns as a more polished player with a valid case to be proclaimed the greatest of all time. Joining James are Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, who are seen as the next two best players of their generation after James. Durant is accustomed to Olympic play having won the last three gold medals, while Curry is probably the best point USA has had since Chris Paul in the 2012 Olympics. Defensively, they have two elite rim protectors in Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis. Both of them share a combined eight all defensive selections. Even Team USA’s best role players are Jayson Tatum, who is fresh off a championship, and Devin Booker who is one of the league’s top scorers. As a whole, there are a lot of players who specialize in all different areas which makes it easier for everyone to seamlessly compliment one another. It will require some players to sacrifice some of their skills. Davis and Jrue Holiday might be in the game only for their defense, while Booker might be better suited for a role off the bench. If they’re willing to make these sacrifices, Team USA’s path to gold will be the equivalent of a walk in Luxembourg Gardens. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges however. While Team USA boosts the best squad on paper, Olympic basketball is more of a contrast from the NBA game. While an NBA court is 94 by 50 ft, Federal International Basketball Association (FIBA) courts are about 91 by 49 ft. There are also different rules such as players being allowed to touch the ball after it hits the rim, and jump balls getting determined based on who was last awarded possession. Not only are team USA’s opponents more equipped with these regulations, but they also have more experience playing together. Most of these players spend their offseason playing with their countries and are used to playing with each other. Team USA might feature some players who played for the same team during the regular season, but not everyone has played together before. "They have to get acclimated for FIBA and to this style, and that’s what the preparation is all about is trying to get them to understand what wins and loses a FIBA game,” Head Coach Steve Kerr said recently. The teams as a whole have also improved going into these Olympics. Plenty of talented players like Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, and Giannis Antetokounmpo will be representing their countries. France, who narrowly lost out on gold to USA in 2021, will receive a massive upgrade with the newest NBA phenom and Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama making his Olympic debut. Canada has also emerged as a threat with a talented backcourt of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray among other solid NBA players. Germany is bringing back the same team that beat USA Basketball in the World Cup, and nearly won the rematch in the exhibition games. Even with the competition, there are plenty of reasons that team USA will win gold for the fifth straight Olympics. Not only is this one of their most talented rosters, but most of the players they will be counting on have already played in the Olympics at least once. With the competition improving, having experienced players such as James will be a huge factor. In their last two exhibition games against South Sudan and Germany, James’ last minute heroics were the difference. There is also a desire among the players and coaches to keep USA Basketball on top. Even if the players might not admit it, there’s no other reason why James would be returning to the Olympics while also recruiting guys like Curry and Davis. They are eager to show they can help the USA maintain their superiority in basketball at a time where other countries are looking to prove themselves. “We have competitors,” Hill said. “Part of why they want to do this is they want that challenge and they want to show that we could be the best.”  Last Sunday saw the New York Knicks' season end in convincing fashion to the Indiana Pacers. The combination of injuries and hot-shooting by the Pacers resulted in a 130-109 defeat for the team's biggest game of the season. But for the Knicks to even be in that position is nothing short of spectacular. In their third playoff appearance in four years, this year's team was arguably the best of the bunch and there are many reasons to support that statement.
For starters, the Knicks had their first 50 win season in 11 years and their second overall in the last 24 seasons. They had a talented roster that featured two all stars in Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, along with a resilient group of guys who stepped up despite injuries to multiple key contributors, including their entire front court. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has installed this mentality within the team since taking over, and he became the fifth coach in Knicks history to make the playoffs three times. Even when the team won six of their last seven games to clinch the number two seed, people believed they should tank for a more favorable matchup in the playoffs rather than face the Philadelphia 76ers who were riding their own hot streak. However, New York was rewarded for their approach as they defeated Philadelphia in six thrilling games, and were up 3-2 against the Pacers before running out of steam. Even with the result, the Knicks established themselves as contenders going forward. At the centerpiece of their team, is point guard Jalen Brunson. Last season, Brunson made an immediate impact leading the Knicks to the second round, but that now seems like a footnote compared to this season. Brunson enjoyed another career year in points and assists, along with his first all-star and All-NBA selections. Through his toughness and creativity, Brunson has become one of New York's most beloved athletes. He might not possess much physical gifts, but Brunson knows how to set up himself and his teammates to succeed. In the playoffs, Brunson continued his brilliance setting a franchise record for points in a playoff game with 47, along with being the fourth player in NBA history to have five or more playoff games with at least 40 points and five assists. https://x.com/NBAonTNT/status/1790567471738446021 However, Brunson isn't the sole reason for the Knicks' success. Although Julius Randle's season abruptly ended with a shoulder injury, he continued to grow his skills since winning Most Improved Player in 2021. After a slow start, Randle began to resemble the All-NBA player he was in two of the previous three seasons, averaging 24 points and nine rebounds. Randle was particularly at his best inside the three point arc where he tied his career best for two-point field goals with 6.9 makes. He was playing some of his best basketball in the last two months before his injury, and should bounce back strong next season. https://x.com/nyknicks/status/1734397520065769683 The Knicks additionally fielded a strong group of role players who excelled in different areas. In December, they traded fan-favorites RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley for OG Anunoby who proved to be a perfect fit with his defense and ability to score off the ball. In every game he suited up, the Knicks went 26-5. https://x.com/nypostsports/status/1786236199864000600 Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstien also became beloved role players with their hustle and willingness to make impact plays that didn't always appear in the box score. Their durability was essential during the second half of the season along with the playoffs. Hartenstien made 37 more starts than any other season combined while Hart played four playoff games without resting. https://x.com/NBA/status/1786238471004156058 Donte DiVincenzo enjoyed a career year in his first season wearing orange and blue. He averaged personal bests in scoring and three point percentage. In addition, he had a knack for big shots which occurred in the closing seconds of playoff wins against Philadelphia and Indiana. https://x.com/KnicksMSGN/status/1782594002232983608 Mitchell Robinson was still a reliable rim protector when healthy. He was initially diagnosed with a season ending ankle injury in December, but came back before the playoffs and was giving the team solid minutes before Joel Embiid grabbed his ankles while air-born. Yet Robinson came back during the series and was part of a team effort that contained Embiid in the fourth quarter of game six. Miles McBride went from being seldom used to the team's primary ball-handler off the bench. After trading for Anunoby, the Knicks gave McBride a three year, $13 million contract extension which now looks like a bargain. McBride grew more comfortable running the offense while remaining a tenacious defender. While the Knicks roster lacked the stability that other playoff teams enjoyed, the on-court chemistry every one of their players shared was undeniable. One can point to how Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo, who played together at Villanova, possessed their own skills that benefited the team. Or the fact that Anunoby immediately made a difference despite admitting to not fully knowing the plays early on. Unselfish sequences like Hartenstein keeping possessions alive, and the team's hard-nosed defense were common throughout the year. But none of that is possible without Thibodeau installing his philosophy of hard work, toughness, and resilience toward each player. Every player bought in to Thibodeau's culture and it was evident at various points of the season whether it was during the team's red-hot January, or against Philadelphia where all but one game wasn't decided until the final minute. Even during the most adverse times, such as a rough February, their mental toughness never faded. There were multiple players such as Brunson and Robinson playing through injuries, while Anunoby tried playing through a hamstring injury in game 7 before ultimately having to sit out. That type of competitive mindset is what enabled the Knicks to make it so far. This offseason will be more about keeping the roster intact than trying to find a star player. Perhaps no evidence better supports this case than their NBA-best 14-2 record in January. That was the healthiest version of the Knicks' current roster, and they were in the midst of a nine game winning streak at the time of Randle's injury. Despite playing the last two games of the month without him, New York's 246 point differential during the month was higher than any other NBA team in a single month this season. The Knicks will certainly try to resign Anunoby and Hartenstien who are both free agents this summer. Anunoby is expected to return while Hartenstien will be coveted by other teams though he has voiced a desire to stay. Brunson is also eligible for an extension and is reportedly willing to take less money if it means signing this summer. With those moves and some much-needed rest for everyone, a big year could be on the horizon.  After an entertaining 82 games, along with the play-in tournament, the NBA playoff standings are finally established. Teams were constantly moving up and down until the final day of the regular season, and the result is a well-balanced playoff field in both conferences. There are favorites to win the NBA Finals such as the top-seeded Boston Celtics, while other teams such as the up-and-coming Thunder are aiming to establish themselves. With postseason play beginning on Saturday, here are my playoff predictions.
Eastern Conference: Western Conference: #1 Celtics 4 #1 Thunder 4 #8 Heat 1 #8 Pelicans 1 #1 Celtics 4 #1 Thunder 4 #4 Magic 0 #4 Mavericks 3 #4 Cavaliers 3 #4 Clippers 3 #5 Magic 4 #5 Mavericks 4 #1 Celtics 4 #1 Celtics 4 #1 Nuggets 4 #2 Knicks 1 #2 Nuggets 3 #2 Thunder 2 #3 Bucks 4 #3 Timberwolves 2 #6 Pacers 3 #6 Suns 4 #2 Knicks 4 #2 Nuggets 4 #3 Bucks 1 #6 Suns 2 #2 Knicks 4 #2 Nuggets 4 #7 76ers 2 #7 Lakers 1   In a span of four months, the New York Times sports section has been disbanded and Sports Illustrated magazine appears to be on the verge of shutting down. Both moves can primarily be attributed to the rise of digital media which has contributed to these radical changes. But while people - myself included - have utilized digital media, it is still shocking to see two highly established print publications drastically change their operations.
Back in July, the New York Times announced that The Athletic, a sports website they purchased the previous year, would replace their daily sports coverage. It was devastating news for a department that is one of the most prominent sports writing industries. Although The Times' coverage of sports has changed over the years, this move was mostly frowned upon by long time readers for many reasons. One of them is the fact that it came at the expense of the writers who have spent years working for the sports section, and were some of the best sports journalists in the country. A few well known writers for the sports section include Harvey Araton, George Vescay, and the late Dave Anderson. Now most of the writers have to seek alternate jobs such as covering the business side of sports instead of playoff games, or even work for a new company. Although I might have not read The Times’ sports section as long as other readers have, it was easy to appreciate the writers who made it possible to visualize their stories about great players or games. Even if their stories were about topics I was following, they might have presented a perspective of the story that I didn’t think about. I had the privilege of attending a New York Times sports writing class involving Harvey Araton and Ken Belson, who are two writers from the sports section. Hearing stories about their previous assignments were incredible, and it made me more interested in developing my writing. They taught me numerous skills such as different ways to begin a story, and being able to provide the entire picture even if all the information didn’t favor the topic. Their advice enabled me to improve my writing skills in the two weeks taking that class. Sports Illustrated magazine is another prominent print news outlet that is on the verge of shutting down. From 1954 to 2018, Sports Illustrated was known for coming out with a new magazine on a weekly basis. But because of more people beginning to read news off the internet, the magazine transitioned to publishing biweekly. By 2020, that frequency was reduced to a monthly basis where it remained that way until this year. Accusations that they were posting articles with artificial intelligence serving as fake authors also put a black eye on the company's reputation. While Arena Group, which owns Sports Illustrated, has stated their intentions to not disband Sports Illustrated magazine, it's difficult to see any future continuation of the iconic magazine. There are no bigger losers in these transactions than the writers from these publications and fans who read their articles. Reading Sports Illustrated magazine was a hobby I enjoyed for years. It was fun getting the chance to read an in-depth article about an athlete's impact on their team's reputation, or the season preview for football. Their covers were also intriguing because they gave you an idea of what the subject for their main story. However, that wouldn’t have been possible without their iconic images. Whether it was a triumphant Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston, LeBron James in his St. Vincent-St. Mary high school uniform, or even the cover of Brandi Chastain above the story, you don’t get journalism presented like that online. The internet has certainly changed in the world of sports journalism, and it's understandable that some organizations would want to explore changes into how they operate for their content to better suit the public. However, sports journalism was initially presented through newspapers, and while I agree with trying to evolve news publishing, I don’t think it should come at the expense of completely abandoning the traditional methods. If two well-known companies could change their way of distributing sports coverage, it feels like every other sports journalism outlet is fair game. Maybe both publications will ultimately discover a way to bring back the print journalism that defined them for so many decades. For now, all those respected journalists and readers who enjoyed their work suffer from these decisions. |
Date Published
June 2025
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