Let's check in on this new graphic template. I'm struggling a little with finding a good website template for articles, but let's try this. Here we go, using a Power Rankings snippet. Written & Illustrated by Jackson Boake Power Rankings are a fickle endeavor. I spent an unspecified amount of time meticulously crafting some sort of quantifiable criteria, only to throw it all away as a sunk cost — because let’s be real: Power Rankings never have a real criteria. So I’m going to begrudgingly lean into the impalpability here. These rankings reflect some amalgamation of recent results, future projections, championship equity, and the likelihood of the pieces actually falling into place as intended. If that was hard to digest, here are some examples (with some spoilers): Boston takes a little dip because of their recent skid, even though I’d still pin them as title favorites. Philadelphia is probably higher on this list than most, if not all others on the internet. I’m willing to somewhat look past their cataclysm start because of their promising flashes of late and contingent full-strength upside (more on this in a minute). Houston’s durability, depth, and defense resembles your archetypal regular season buzzsaw, but their inexperience and, for lack of a better term, lack of a “top dog” renders me highly cynical of their championship ceiling—thus knocking them down just a bit here. And the “likelihood of the pieces actually falling into place as expected” hurts teams like the 76ers and the Clippers. Yes, these teams receive a boost for what they might look like at full power (Sixers with Embiid; Clippers with Kawhi), but no, I’m definitely not ignoring the overwhelming possibility that such scenarios remain merely hypothetical. I’ll attempt to rank them based on some intermediate between the ceiling and the floor. Teams like Orlando, on the other hand, feel like a far safer long-term health bet, so I’m tipping more towards their full-strength rendition in my assessment. This gets real murky when the subcategories start counteracting each other. I think that Boston wields more championship equity than Cleveland, despite Cleveland (pretty irrefutably) boasting a superior night-to-night output at the present moment. In these cases, I’m defaulting to the team that’s better right now. In this case: the Cavaliers.

NBA basketball returns in late October, but it'll look a little different than you remember. I synthesized the most significant shifts of the offseason by answering eight key questions. Written & Illustrated by Jackson Boake The 2024 Paris Olympics flipped the ordinary NBA landscape on its head. A thrilling assemblage of multinational, intergenerational hypotheticals converged on the court, supplemented by a cast of shiny new narratives set to permeate media spaces during the dog days of the offseason. Are LeBron James and Steph Curry in love? Should the Nuggets pair Nikola Jokic with Bogdan Bogdanovic in the NBA? Is Steve Kerr deliberately sabotaging the Celtics? Can anyone conquer the Red, White, and Blue? Let’s capture the essence of this year’s Summer Games by indulging in its most riveting, intoxicating figures, ranked from 20 to 1. Some require long-winded explanations. Others, not so much. 20. Anthony Edwards - United States 12.8 PPG - 2.8 RPG - 1.2 APG - 1.7 TOPG - 58% FG - 48% 3P (4.2 A/G) Edwards seized a fitting role as a primary second-unit scoring dynamo with the liberty to dance in isolation, slash in pick n’ rolls, and rev his engine in transition. He’s a lightning rod, and his scintillating talent took center stage in a 17-minute, 26-point outburst versus Puerto Rico. We witnessed decorated NBA legends differ to the Ant-Man when he got going—an incredible testament to his trajectory as a defining figure of basketball’s next generation. It wasn’t all suns and rainbows, but that’s okay. The growing pains of a 23-year-old wunderkind exploring the breadth of his skillset are to be expected. Edwards is in the process of phasing out certain tendencies that can be disruptive to the offense as a whole—namely, his inclination to stall possessions by taking a few too many dribbles and driving into traffic, versus perpetuating the flow with quick-hitting swing passes. His turnover count eclipsed his 1.2 APG, likely a byproduct product of reverting to old habits amidst some inevitable soul-searching in an unfamiliar basketball ecosystem. It was a pleasure to watch Edwards “figure it out” in this transformational stage of his career. He’ll be at the forefront of the American attack in the 2028 Olympic Games. 19. Giannis Antetokounmpo - Greece 25.8 PPG - 6.3 RPG - 3.5 APG - 68% FG - 17% 3P (1.5 A/G) There's not much to do here aside from singing Antetokounmpo’s praises, who operated under a degree of heliocentricism that we’re yet to see from him at the NBA level. The Greek Freak was denied touches by multiple defenders off the ball, and on the catch, he saw at least three bodies instantaneously—two of whom smothered his airspace while the third over-shaded into the near-side driving gap. Greece’s excruciatingly stagnant offense consisted of non-threatening guards pounding the ball above the break in search of entry-pass angles to Antetokounmpo in the high post. An agonizing formula, yet one that went toe to toe with a slew of NBA mainstays out of Canada. 18. Josh Giddey - Australia 17.5 PPG - 7.8 RPG - 6.0 APG - 5.0 TOPG - 50% FG - 47% 3P (4.8 A/G) - 54% FT Giddey’s Olympic performance was a breath of fresh air following a tumultuous NBA season of being tethered to the perimeter as a spot-up threat. Australia tossed him the car keys, casting him as the kingpin of a breakneck offense with the freedom to spread his wings as a tempo playmaker. His fingerprints were all over each game as a slasher, glass-cleaner, table-setter, and most impressively, three-point gunner! That’s right: Giddey flashed life as a perimeter shooter—cause for bludgeoning optimism. Leveraging three-point viability is a key ingredient to generating consistent paint pressure and opening up inside-out facilitating opportunities. Hopefully, Giddey can build off his strides from this Summer. Giddey’s untempered playmaking ambition (5.0 TOPG) and late-game indecision contributed to Australia’s ultimate demise in the Quarter-Finals versus Serbia. He’s still searching for that “Goldilocks Zone”: the middling offensive gear between unyielding dynamism and modulated maturity. Luckily for him, he’ll have plenty of time to experiment with Chicago this year. 17. Bogdan Bogdanovic - Serbia 18.3 PPG - 4.0 RPG - 3.8 APG - 48% FG - 46% 3P (6.5 A/G) “Hey Atlanta, want to take a flier on Michael Porter Jr.? We’ll take Bogdan Bogdanovic and DeAndre Hunter off your hands!” - Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, probably. Seriously though, Bogdanovic’s poetic chemistry with Nikola Jokic has me glued to the trade machine. Let’s bring Bogi to the Mile High City. 16. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Canada 21.0 PPG - 4.3 RPG - 4.0 APG - 54% FG - 33% 3P (3.0 A/G) Team Canada’s underperformance relative to pre-tournament expectations can be whittled down to numerous factors, none of which involve Gilgeous-Alexander. If anything, he was too liberal in his approach to orchestrating the offense when the team was, in fact, at its best when he tapped into “give me the ball and get out of the way” mode. His delicate, composed offensive repertoire willed Canada to crucial eleventh-hour triumphs over Greece and Spain. Death, taxes, and hyper-efficient intermediate-level scoring from SGA. 15. Franz Wagner - Germany 18.5 PPG - 5.8 RPG - 2.5 APG - 47% FG - 20% 3P (5.8 A/G) I’ve never seen a player with immaculate basketball instincts and such a robust foundation of skills leave so much to be desired, and yet make as profound of an impact as Wagner. The German swingman recently inked a Five-Year, $224M rookie scale extension with the Orlando Magic just weeks ago—one that was met with intense scrutiny rooted in his imperfections on display as an NBA Junior. The phrase “shoot for the moon, land among the stars” epitomizes Wagner. For such a hoops savant, how on  Earth  is he not a better distance shooter? He doesn’t pop off the screen athletically, nor does he dazzle in the open floor like other young guns of his class. Worst of all, he capped his third-year campaign with a ghastly  1-for-15 shooting performance in Game 7 against Cleveland. Yet, despite this extensive space for pronounced growth, Wagner still offers a baseline of efficient slashing, steady playmaking, veteran savvy, and immense versatility. His +5.3 on/off swing this past season smashed all other Magic starters. His consistent outpouring of paint pressure buoys a congested Orlando offense, while his blend of size, switchability, and off-ball vigilance is a key component for their stifling defense. Continued investment in Wagner’s upside is essential to the Magic’s long-term title aspirations. All of what I just said, the good and bad, perfectly encapsulates the Wagner experience in the Paris Olympics. In a vacuum, he was great! Even under the alternative confines of international basketball, he did what he does: veer and connive his way into the paint for efficient two-point shot creation. His stretches of assertiveness produced near double-digit free-throw attempts versus France in Group Play and Serbia in the Bronze Medal Game. He both contained the ball on the perimeter and disrupted drives on the interior. There was a lot to like.  But man, the three-point shooting and elimination-game voodoo grew disheartening. He cashed just 7-of-35 perimeter shots over six games—solid volume, frightening accuracy. Germany’s biggest game of the summer came against France in the Semi-Finals. After ripping off a quick seven points in the opening frame, the disappearing act that followed was a scathing reminder of his Game 7 horrors from a few months back. I’m so fascinated by Wagner. He’s an indisputable bedrock for a blossoming organization, but is he worth north of $200M? The jury is still out.   14. Luol Deng - South Sudan - - The South Sudanese basketball revolution was the unequivocal feel-good story of the 2024 Olympic Games—and one that was unbridled by the personal funding of Sudanese native turned refugee and NBA star, Luol Deng.  An imposing, omnipresent triple-double from Carlik Jones and the sweltering shooting prowess of Marial Shayok had Americans staring down the barrel of a shotgun in a harrowing exhibition thriller. A signature steamroll from LeBron James with eight ticks remaining was enough for Team USA to circumvent a historic 43.5-point upset, but nonetheless, South Sudan was coronated on the global stage. Soon after, the nation captioned its first-ever Olympic victory in a 90-79 win over Puerto Rico. 13. Bruno Caboclo - Brazil 17.3 PPG - 7.0 RPG - 59% FG - 55% 3P (2.8 A/G) Welcome to the most underappreciated subplot of international play: the Draft Bust Renaissance.  The NBA has become increasingly calculated, with hyperspecific, data-driven parameters shepherding player utilization, roster building, financial maneuvers, etc. The contrast between Caboclo’s foiled NBA endeavors and expansive international utility is a microcosm for the situational dependency of certain skillsets and archetypes. Assessing his game through a more progressive, modernized scope yields parallel perspectives to NBA General Managers: he’s a low-volume spot-up non-threat who shackles your collective spacing when plugged onto the perimeter, yet an insufficient small-ball center hindered by his limited interior defensive chops. In theory, the inverse of this would be an analytics darling—Caboclo just isn’t optimized in this setting. But the confines of the international game are far less restrictive, and in a way, focus more on what a player “can” do than what he “can’t." A tranquilized fixation on rim protection—the byproduct of a more qualitative-over-quantitative approach—and looser emphasis on the powers of spacing make Caboclo’s drawbacks appear far less detrimental. Combine that with his scaled-up usage amongst an inferior talent pool, and you have a basketball ecosystem that is much more conducive to gifted but “antiquated” players like Caboclo. Caboclo was once tagged as being “two years away from being two years away”—a derivative of his rare blend of length, mobility, and ball-handling with an obvious slight to his egregious stipulations. He may have never panned out in the NBA, but it was fun to see the flashes of old materialize in this alternative Olympic universe. The highlights? Monstrous 33-point, 17-rebound, and 30-point, six-rebound performances versus Japan and the United States. 12. Dennis Schroder - Germany 17.2 PPG - 7.5 APG - 3.3 TOPG - 46% FG - 39% 3P (7.7 A/G) I’ve always had an irrational fondness for Schroder and his manic, balls-to-the-wall attitude and intensity. There’s a lack of malleability to his uniquely linear, nose-down style of creation, but when he’s operating at the helm, he’s more than capable of fueling an effective offense with his incessant paint pressure and creative playmaking. Schroder seizes that very role with Germany, spamming spread pick n’ rolls with Daniel Theis and digging into his bag of tricks to create advantages by exploiting opposing big men in space. He’s quicker than you, craftier than you, and definitely not afraid of you.  For better or worse, Schroder’s eyes light up at the sight of the front-running Americans. In their sole exhibition matchup this Summer, his brimming confidence manifested itself in multiple forms—a dismal 3/15 shooting performance, yet a net-positive two-way effort featuring 10 assists and suffocating defense both on and off the ball versus Steph Curry.  Ultimately, Germany’s non-medaling outcome is an indictment on their concentrated offensive attack—but that’s no knock on Schroder himself. If Franz Wagner can find another next gear as a true co-directing offensive engine, this team will be an international force. 11. Devin Booker - United States 11.7 PPG - 3.3 APG - 57% FG - 57% 3P (3.8 A/G) Has any player bolstered their public perception more than Booker this summer? It’s pretty well documented at this point: his adaptation to a focused, assiduous role with Team USA was seamless. He flew around screens, executed razor-sharp reads off the catch, shot a homing missile from the perimeter, and buckled down on defense to a level that we hadn’t yet seen from him. Mr. Booker: please shoot more threes with Phoenix next season! 10. Jamal Murray - Canada 6.0 PPG - 3.8 APG - 29% FG - 14% 3P (3.5 A/G) - -5.8 +/- I’m not going to disparage a max-level NBA player who’s grappling with evolving responsibilities next to a ball-dominant guard (Gilgeous-Alexander), popped routinely in big moments before, and is just a year removed from co-captaining a championship team.  Gulps   But this was a hard watch. Murray’s never been an elite athlete, but his first-step burst and lateral agility looked completely shot over this entire stretch. I’m kindly stamping the evaporation of his shooting touch as an aberration, but his utter inability to manufacture crevices of space in isolations, pick n’ rolls, and DHOs was irrefutably disturbing. Canada was -23 (!) over 82 minutes with Murray on the court in non-exhibition outings—none of which were inorganically deflated by a matchup versus the United States. Retrospectively, the alternative of Andrew Nembhard’s point-of-attack defense and efficient three-level scoring was probably a better late-game option—though that might be the lingering PTSD of a Celtics fan talking. Let’s hope Murray bounces back in his ‘24-25 campaign. Denver absolutely needs it. 9. Mathias Lessort 7.2 PPG - 3.3 RPG - 67% FG - 60% FT (4.2 A/G) If you didn’t watch the Olympics, you’re probably confused by my ranking of a guy you’ve never heard of who averaged seven points and three rebounds. But I was mesmerized, enthralled, and bewitched by all 82 minutes from the “French Harrell” (I just made that up) this summer. Lessort, a 6’9” battering ram emblematic of a blast-from-the-past archetype, completely usurped Rudy Gobert as France’s screwball in the non-Victor Wembanyama minutes. His incessant motor crested in a cinematic quarter-final performance versus Canada, where he swung the balance of the game by brutalizing Dwight Powell and Kelly Olynyk for 14 free-throw attempts in 19 minutes. The undersized, interior-focused small-ball center is antithetical to the trajectory of the modern NBA, so Lessort’s destiny is probably as a skull-masher overseas—but I’d love for our paths to cross again in the future. 8. Joel Embiid 11.2 PPG - 3.8 RPG - 57% FG - 54% 3P (2.2 A/G) I’m still searching for the best adjective to describe Embiid’s 2024 Olympic campaign. Bumpy? Polarizing? Resilient? It’s kind of a mix of all three. His decision to play for the USA over France was not met kindly by the fans, given that the Olympics were held in … well, France . Thus, emphatic booing careened from the crowd on each catch, dribble, and shot; reminiscent of Kyrie Irving’s return to the Boston parquet or LeBron James in Cleveland post-“Decision” in 2011. He certainly has his share of cynics here in the States, but the anti-Embiid troupe only multiplies overseas. Embiid’s on-court play was also mired in controversy. He stalled the offense on high post touches by catching, collecting, faking, and barrelling toward the rim at a deliberate pace, contradicting the organizational emphasis on tempo and movement. His poor conditioning, omnipresent in transition and as a pick n’ roll defender, became a throbbing pressure point in an otherwise staunch American defense.  But the buzz surrounding Embiid’s poor play evaporated in an instant after a torrid pair of elimination-game performances versus Brazil and Serbia. In a combined 39 minutes of play, he totaled 33 points and 11 rebounds on 13/17 FG and 5/6 3P. The USA outscored opponents by 40 points over that stretch.  This was the Embiid we’ve become so accustomed to seeing on Tuesday nights of the regular season. An inevitable, indestructible palisade of force blending ox-like strength with surgical precision. The playoffs are a different animal and one that he’s yet to fully conquer, but perhaps we can learn from his eventual high-leverage Olympic dominance. In operating as a secondary option without the onus of creating every ounce of offense, Embiid was able to explore life as a play-finisher with the freedom to pick his spots as a scorer. With the ascension of Tyrese Maxey and the home-run acquisition of Paul George, maybe the Sixers can replicate this formula to harness maximum energy and efficiency from their certified superstar. 7. Rudy Gobert 3.3 PPG - 4.0 RPG - 1.3 BPG - 69% FG - 14.2 MPG For better or worse, the “Stifle Tower” has become a permanent fixture in NBA discourse of the utmost toxicity. These conversations, in which Gobert is portrayed as the maligned adversary to hoops purists, hot-take hunters, and analytics skeptics, are some blend of hostile, humorous, and illuminating. Needless to say, the Olympics dumped a river of petrol on the fire. Gobert is excellent at what he does, but his nonexistent malleability to venture beyond a hyperspecific role spelled death for France’s double-bigs experiment with Victor Wembanyama. Coach Vincent Collet wanted to play fast, free, and spaced; an obverse approach to twin-tower lineups with multiple seven-footers inhabiting the paint. Gobert and Wembanyama were essentially negating each other, and when forced to choose, France unsurprisingly sided with its 20-year-old evolutionary marvel dropped from outer space—relegating Gobert to second-unit duties. Only, those were quickly usurped as well—this time by Mathias Lessort in a shocking   turn of events orchestrated by Collet. The move made sense, but it’s important to acknowledge the situational context before using it to nuke what’s left of Gobert’s reputation. He’s a ceiling raiser to the bone, with momentous two-way rim gravity accessible in an environment furnished with playmakers to assume the responsibilities that Gobert himself cannot. But the floor is as low as the ceiling is high, and the architecture of France’s roster tapped into its depths. In the absence of trusty table-setters and marksman floor spacers, Gobert was forced to operate in congestion—a scenario in which he’s handicapped by his stone-mitted hands, poor touch, and frenetic composure at the whiff of resistance. This simply didn’t work out. “Unfavorable” conditions magnified the worst of his weaknesses, while France’s roster simultaneously housed perhaps the only other human on Earth capable of replicating his ability to wall off the rim defensively. This shouldn’t be an indictment on Gobert’s NBA viability, but rather a testament to the uniqueness of the single most polarizing basketball figure of our generation. 6. Guerschon Yabusele - France 14.0 PPG - 3.3 RPG - 52% FG - 29% 3P (3.5 A/G) The “Dancing Bear,” selected 16th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, headlines part two of the Draft Bust Renaissance. A burling embodiment of physicality with traces of shooting touch and quick-hitting passing chops, Yabusele was always an interesting case in theory—just not as much in practice. He was simply too big and slow to slide with wings on the perimeter, yet not nearly the vertical leaper to deter shots around the rim. His offensive skillset hadn’t materialized, and thus, he didn’t really have a niche on that end of the court either.  Fast forward to 2024, and Yabusele is resurfacing on

NBA basketball returns in late October, but it'll look a little different than you remember. I synthesized the most significant shifts of the offseason by answering eight key questions. Written & Illustrated by Jackson Boake 2024 Free Agency is more or less in the books, and while seismic shifts of the past were few and far between, the collateral impact of various moves will have its hand in high-leverage happenings of this coming season. As cap numbers shoot through the roof, so do salaries—but the newly renditioned Collective Bargaining Agreement, AKA the team-building grim reaper, is plowing through contending rosters like a wrecking ball.  Select transactions will capture national headlines, but it’s often the lower-AAV bargains that swing title hopes in June. Look no further than last year’s Dallas Mavericks. Derrick Jones Jr. was instrumental in tooling their defensive identity predicated on length, instincts, and activity—all on a veteran minimum! Kelly Oubre injected key two-way juice into Philadelphia’s frontcourt on the same deal. Prolific acquisitions can revolutionize an organization, but they can send one into a tailspin just as quickly. It’s a risk-reward game of weighing on-court upside versus financial flexibility. I’ve thrown together eight questions to capture the essence of this summer’s transactions in as many angles as possible. Some are restricted to free agency; others will encompass maneuvers in the trade market. To indulge in a full list of the names and numbers, click here . Which signing shifts championship equity most dramatically? Paul George to Sixers (4Y/$210M): The George acquisition marks the apex outcome of Daryl Morey’s master contingency plan. As the James Harden marriage wilted beyond repair, Philadelphia flipped him to Los Angeles for a rather … conservative return. Obviously, you lose leverage with an openly disgruntled asset, but a heap of mid-level draft picks and role-player rentals felt like 40 cents on the dollar.  But Morey’s chess move was cold, crisp, and calculated, with an arrow pointed 10 months in the future. The slew of expirings wiped the slate clean around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the ladder of whom was yet to cash out on his rookie extension and, in turn, offered boundless financial flexibility. Ultimately, this was a gamble on the Clippers’ demise. As tensions seethed out west, Morey swooped in and poached his dream costar in George—a tantalizing amalgamation of length, shotmaking, and malleability tailor-made to fraternize with Philadelphia’s two franchise pillars. The Sixers were first-round exits last season, but savvy offseason maneuvers and mitigated injury misfortunes (fingers crossed) set the table for genuine contention in ‘24-25. Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder (3Y/$87M): Hartenstein isn’t the sexiest grab, but he was the indispensable anchor for an injury-riddled Knicks team on the doorstep of the Eastern Conference Finals. 10 years ago, we didn’t have the tools to appreciate the impact of players like Hartenstein—but modernized analytics illustrate the essence of what makes him an $87M dollar man. Advanced metrics (BPM, LEBRON, on/off rating swings) paint Hartenstein as one of the absolute best players in the league. While those probably embellish the breadth of his role, they’re founded on irrefutable truths. Hartenstein isn’t at George’s level as a basketball player, but his rebounding fills a distinct, pressing need for an otherwise rock-solid foundation with empirical title aspirations. Which acquisition, between George and Hartenstein, holds the most weight over championship equity? I’ll let you decide. Which trade was the most consequential? Mikal Bridges to the Knicks : After toying with the hypothetical of effectuating the Villanova quartet for what felt like a year, New York finally pulled the trigger: departing with Bojan Bogdanovic and a profusion of draft capital in exchange for a sharpshooting wing-warden in Bridges. The Nova-Knick quartet now stars Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Done DiVincenzo, and Josh Hart—flanked by a mutant Wildcat in Julius Randle and ex-Hoosier OG Anunoby. What a time to be alive for New Yorkers. Synergistic wonders aside, Bridges is a beautiful addition to the Big Apple. His widened offensive skillset, cultivated in Phoenix and nourished in Brooklyn, can oscillate between spacing the floor and self-creating in a pinch. Anunoby’s defensive prowess allows Bridges to freelance off the ball with his length and instincts in shared minutes on defense. It’s a no-brainer fit—he supercharges New York’s preexisting identity without causing any disruptions. But this is a highly consequential gamble for the Knicks. Not only did they surrender a bounty of future draft picks, but financial repercussions paved the way for Isaiah Hartenstein to earn his payday elsewhere in free agency. The Knicks are risking a precipitous freefall at the center spot behind Mitchell Robinson, who has played 70 games in a season just once in his career. Competing for a championship requires risk and sacrifice—New York did just that in this cross-borough maneuver. Which signing was most improvised? DeMar DeRozan to the Kings (3y/$74M) : I didn’t see this coming, and my intuition says neither did the Kings. A blend of limited leaguewide financial latitude and his somewhat archaic offensive archetype drove down market interest in DeRozan. After vibing in free agency for over a week, DeRozan inked a three-year, $74M deal with Sacramento. The "Beam-Team" exchanged Harrison Barnes, Chris Duarte, and a juicy 2031 first-round pick-swap in a three-team sign-and-trade for the six-time all-star. While Sacramento isn’t the most flattering destination, it hosts an exciting basketball ecosystem founded on selfless stars, a high-character fanbase, and tornados of ball and player movement. DeRozan, a poetic mid-range scorer and mature facilitator, has a lot of juice left in the tank. But can his methodical, antiquated approach coalesce with a turbocharged tempo-pusher and low-post skull-masher in DeAaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, respectively? I have a feeling we’ll get our answers sooner rather than later. Which contender took the biggest risk? The Mavericks : Luka Doncic is a blessing, but one that necessitates a meticulously devised supporting cast to accentuate his strengths without magnifying the stipulations of his ball-dominant approach and conserved defensive intensity. After a whiffed playoff chase in ‘22-23, Dallas ditched its “sharpshooting” role-player parameter for beacons of length and athleticism in the frontcourt—a smashingly successful gambit. The physical imposition of Derrick Jones Jr., PJ Washington, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford suffocated drivers, tightened passing windows, and upped the altitude on Doncic-driven pick n’ roll attacks. But this reinventive brilliance came to a screeching halt in the NBA Finals. Against a Celtics squad laden with point-of-attack stoppers and switchability, the Mavericks’ trademark heliocentrism was exposed. Thus, they faced a curious paradigm in the offseason: rerun an established formula, or swing on another counter to the unique challenges posed by a specific team? Dallas opted for the latter by injecting five-time All-Star Klay Thompson to the mix. Thompson is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and while he's now just a mere echo of his former self, he still bends the floor with his spot-up archery. That said, the deterioration of his auxiliary skills has narrowed his all-around utility. Fortunately for all parties involved, he’ll be relegated to focused duties as a catch-and-shoot specialist next to Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Thompson trounces Jones as a spacers, and in turn, will command a degree of defensive vigilance off the ball that dilates driving lanes for Dallas’ initiators.  But it’s a double-edged sword. Transposing Jones with an aging veteran in Thompson complicates things defensively—a gamble that risks fracturing Dallas' newfound identity from last season. Not only did Jones boast the on-ball chops and positional versatility to assume top assignments on a nightly basis, but the ubiquity of his long limbs and unrelenting motor was instrumental in congesting off-ball real estate to cover for inevitable blow-bys surrendered by Doncic or Irving. Dallas is playing Jenga: can they remove a key defensive piece without collapsing the entire structure? Thompson’s floor spacing will elevate the Mavericks’ offense, but time will tell if they can absorb the blow of the projectable defensive dip. Who is the biggest victim of the newly-ratified CBA? Denver Nuggets : Denver’s title-certified roster is falling out from beneath its feet. First Bruce Brown, now Kentavious Caldwell-Pope—the Second Apron continues to hamstring the Nuggets into unshackling coveted assets to avoid devastating future penalties.  The NBA’s new front-office boogeyman employs trade and draft restrictions with cataclysmic repercussions in future team-building ventures. Those effects continue to reverberate leaguewide, not just through the Mile-High City, as owners weigh current title aspirations with long-term autonomy. My guess: this is what ultimately drove a wedge between Paul George and Los Angeles, as well as Klay Thompson and Golden State during negotiations. Denver loses their best point-of-attack defender and a perennial 40+% three-point shooter in Caldwell-Pope. Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, and Justin Holiday will be tasked with replicating his steady production and unwavering stability at the two-guard spot. Who scored this year's short-term, high-AAV deal? Tobias Harris to the Pistons (2y/$52M) : Even in today’s market, Harris isn’t worth $26M per year in a vacuum. But that’s okay! The high-cost, low-tenure deal is a savvy maneuver for teams looking to capitalize on temporary cap space while maintaining long-term flexibility. Detroit won’t need to dish out big money to Jaden Ivey for two years. When that day comes, Harris will be off the books. Why not round out your roster with a stabilizing veteran in the meantime? There’s precedent for this type of deal—the latest being Bruce Brown to Indiana last summer. Ultimately, there’s little risk attached to short-term assets. Brown didn’t crush expectations as a Pacer, but it didn’t really matter—Toronto was happy to swipe his soon-to-be-expiring in the Pascal Siakam trade anyway. Speaking of trades: these pricey contracts are perfect for salary matching. Coughing up $52M to Harris is definitely a sacrifice from the organization's higher-ups, but it won’t handcuff Detroit’s team-building efforts. Which veteran-minimum signing will be most impactful? Tyus Jones to the Suns (1y/$3.3M) : With organizations spooked out of crossing first and second apron thresholds, market parity is burying the middle class in free agency. Select teams are consolidating their financial leeway on singular assets (see: Tobias Harris). The rest? Those hovering above the cap are squeezed into tightfisted spending as they dodge landmines bestrewn by the CBA. But even in this landscape, Jones is ridiculous value at the minimum. He’s the ultimate stabilizer—an immaculate decision-maker who can alleviate ball-handling responsibilities from Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant. Jones’ 7.35 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best mark since turnovers were first tracked in 1977! Booker, Durant, and Jusuf Nurkic are locked into the Suns’ starting lineup next season. The rest is at the discretion of newly acquitted head coach Mike Budenholzer. Personally, I’d go with Jones and Grayson Allen, leaving Beal as the second-unit kingpin.  Gary Trent Jr. to the Bucks (1Y/$2.6M) : As it did for Jones, the market simply swung out of Trent’s favor. Rumors indicate that offers exceeding the minimum were on the table, but he instead opted for a one-year prove-it deal on a fledgling contender in Milwaukee.  A drastic shortage of point-of-attack counters crushed the Bucks last season. Trent isn’t a renowned stopper by any means, but his blend of on-ball defense and spot-up shooting trumps that of Malik Beasley and Patrick Beverley—the two stopgaps from a year ago. Who will benefit most from a change of scenery? Josh Giddey (traded to the Bulls) : The contextual variability of NBA performance is just as cruel as it is beautiful—evidenced by Giddey’s tribulations in year three. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren assuming the lion’s share of opportunity in Oklahoma City, others were tasked with focused duties of spot-up shooting and spirited defense … not exactly Giddey’s forté. He was frequently shoved into corners as a theoretical spacer and closeout-killer—both non-conducive to his limited perimeter touch and first-step burst. After grappling with fluctuating roles and involvement levels all year, Giddey was ultimately pivoted away from by the Thunder in favor of a more proven commodity in Alex Caurso. But it’s too early to write off Giddey as a long-term asset. For the “he has no role on a good team” truthers, I’d counter with the historical precedent of complementary skills harvesting with opportunity. Take Kyle Kuzma: after struggling to find a niche on a title-winning Lakers squad, he’s widened his offensive repertoire with expanded creative freedom in Washington. When he inevitably relocates to a better team (although it’s Kyle Kuzma, so you never know), his enhanced shooting and facilitating chops should materialize as a third or fourth banana. Giddey’s foundation of youth, size, intellect, and select talent is worth an investment. As a pace-pushing playmaking fulcrum unburdened by expectations, I’m excited to see how Giddey evolves. He’ll be bestowed with touches, furnished with athletes, and infused with confidence in Chicago.

The first 30 picks of the 2024 NBA Draft are in the books! This year's class is unique: with extensive balance replacing the usual batch of projectable all-stars, personal opinions are deviating more than ever. Check out my 2024 Draft Guide for thoughtful evaluations of each prospect! Written & Illustrated by Jackson Boake The NBA Draft is a beautiful time. Momentous transactions amend the league’s ever-changing shape while, more importantly, the lives of 58 young phenoms reach a remarkable inflection point—the crux of their varying basketball journeys as lifelong dreams morph into reality.  The absence of a transcendent star has injected gusts of external negativity into this class. I empathize with Zaccharie Risacher, who was disparaged against the expectations of a top draft pick across every media outlet—though the blink-of-an-eye transformation into a millionaire is a fun consolation. But as a hoops junkie,   I loved this class for its flatness. Diversions from consensus viewpoints were plentiful as ever, dilating selection ranges and channeling illimitable power to the eye of the beholder. I get more and more infatuated with the draft every year, but this one has a special spot in my personal lore.  Now for my two cents. Below, I’ve assigned letter grades to each pick that juxtapose my projections for their return on investment versus other options on the board. This fuses fit-based analysis with my personal opinions on such prospects. Looking to learn more about these guys? Check out my intricate, navigable 2024 Draft Guide! ... 1. Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher , F, JL Bourg I’m not going to rip on this pick, but I firmly believe Risacher was neither the best available prospect nor the perfect remedy for Atlanta’s needs. Ideally, an offense optimized for Risacher would feature pace, player movement, and kickouts off paint pressure—a contrast from past Hawks' offenses that will require more deferral from Trae Young. Young is a savant pick n' roll passer who leverages his floater to spoonfeed catch-and-finish opportunities to big-men, but his heliocentric offensive approach is less conducive to complimentary-style wings who thrive off advantages. I worry that fluctuating levels of involvement within Atlanta's offense will compound Risacher's propensity to phase out of games. DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish, and AJ Griffin have struggled in this environment —let's see if Risacher can be the exception. On a more positive note:  I do like the fit next to Jalen Johnson in the frontcourt, whose interior dynamism will make for a nice compliment next to Risacher’s perimeter-oriented game.  Grade: C 2. Wizards: Alexandre Sarr , C, Perth Kudos to the Wizards for selecting my top-ranked prospect in the class, but I’m anticipating some growing pains here as Sarr navigates a disorganized offensive structure. All signs point to Washington continuing its downward trajectory in 2024-’25. With Tyus Jones testing the UFA waters and Deni Avdija packing his bags for Portland, expect Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma to soak loads of initiator usage— likely  not the quintessential formula for maximizing Sarr’s projected day-one role as a play-finisher. He’ll find success attacking downhill and executing simple kickout reads in the short roll, but these opportunities will be scarce if his work is siloed in Washington’s inconsonance. Hopefully, the Wizards land a virtuosic young point guard in the near-ish future to grow alongside Sarr. Perhaps Dylan Harper or Nolan Traore in next year’s draft? Grade: A- 3. Rockets: Reed Sheppard , G, Kentucky Houston nailed this pick. Sheppard diversifies their staunch young nucleus as a combo guard who stretches the floor, sets the table for others, and seamlessly slides on and off the ball. As the predecessor to a savvy veteran in Fred VanVleet, he’ll have the luxury of easing from a more simplified role into widened responsibilities as he adds experience. Financial restraints and positional overlap will eventually force the Rockets to consolidate assets, but expect Sheppard’s coherent theoretical fit to play a major part in their future plans; at least for now. Grade: A- 4. Spurs: Stephon Castle , G, Connecticut This is the correct pick in a vacuum. The caveat? It doesn’t necessarily patch up San Antonio’s immediate needs. Castle is an excellent connective playmaker who perpetuates the offensive flow through constant activity and sure-headed floor-reads. This won’t be optimized, however, until the Spurs add another gravitational offensive fulcrum next to Victor Wembanyama. While Castle thrives in motion, he’s not yet suited to incite the motion himself. At UConn, he excelled when working off advantages manufactured by surrounding playmakers and team concepts that drove defenses into rotation. San Antonio currently lacks the ammo to replicate this at the NBA level, which slides Castle into a pseudo-creator role—in which he’ll be overstretched. Until he adds sophistication to his handle and a viable jumpshot to leverage in pick n’ rolls, he won’t be consistently pulling defenses out of shape on his own ... ... which is why I was psyched about his fit next to Rob Dillingham; that is, until San Antonio flipped him to Minnesota after drafting him at 8. Dillingham, a far more polished initiator who dazzles with his shotmaking and pick n’ roll passing, makes for a consummate fit next to supercharged complimentary pieces like Castle; who would then reciprocate the favor on the other end by seizing the more challenging defensive assignments in the backcourt. I initially found myself less enthused by the Castle addition after learning San Antonio wasn’t pairing him with another playmaker on the perimeter, but I’ve since done another 180. While players of Dillingham’s archetype are a necessity for competing, San Antonio hasn’t yet accumulated the championship equity to where they need to take that swing right now. Those players will always be available in the free agency, the draft, and the trade market, and San Antonio has the assets to cash in on one when they need to. Players of Castle’s mold are just as difficult to acquire, and if that’s who the Spurs had on top of their board, then they nailed this selection. Grade: A- 5. Pistons: Ron Holland , F, G-League Ignite I like Holland as a prospect, but not in the context of Detroit’s roster. Unless he makes significant strides as a shooter, he risks compounding preexisting spacing issues—allowing opponents to congest driving lanes with yet another help defender. Constant traffic is generally detrimental to player development: ask Holland himself, who suffered through a miserable basketball ecosystem with G-League Ignite. Conversely, inserting a shooter frees up space for players to thrive. The Pistons were +8.0 points better per 100 possessions with Simone Fontecchio on the floor last season. Opposing ball pressure was alleviated, evidenced by the -2.6% dip in their collective turnover rate in his minutes. Dalton Knecht, a name that circulated draft circles as a potential Piston, could’ve provided a similar boost. This selection may very well work, but it banks on Holland taking a dramatic leap in a somewhat adverse environment. Grade: C- 6. CHA: F Tidjane Salaun , Cholet — C Assessments of this pick ultimately swing on varied perceptions of Salaun. It’s a logical fit: he counterbalances the graceful, skill-based creation methods of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as a play-finishing wrecking ball off cuts and kick outs. Charlotte lacks defensive artillery, but perhaps Salaun, an imposing athlete with multipositional upside, can cover for their weak links.  Personally, I would’ve gone in another direction here. He’ll need to smoothen the edges of his game as he searches for a niche in high-leverage situations, where the inconsistencies in his touch, shooting, and playmaking are at risk of being exploited. I like Aaron Gordon as a viable high-end outcome here. Like Salaun, Gordon’s raw skills were mired in question marks—but he found his match in Denver next to Nikola Jokic. 7. POR: C Donovan Clingan , Connecticut — A- Clingan was widely considered a top 3 prospect in this year’s draft for his defensive prowess—a byproduct of his massive frame, flexible hips, impeccable timing, and intricate understanding of the NBA’s rule of verticality. A lucrative draft day netted Deni Avdija, a versatile swingman, alongside Clingan. Together, they can spearhead Portland’s nuanced defensive blueprint with both rim protection and switchability. Let’s be clear: Clingan’s archetype is not obsolete. Effective drop bigs, even in the absence of their aesthetic appeal, still offer massive value in deadbolting opposing rims.  Clingan’s stellar defense and interior-oriented offense are much of a known commodity, but his fit within Portland’s current frontcourt nucleus remains a question mark. The Blazers are swinging on three-point shooting leaps from one, if not all, of Clingan, DeAndre Ayton, and Robert Williams. Otherwise, they’ll endure the pitfalls of conjoined non-shooters—an antiquated offensive recipe that nullifies the benefits of modern spacing.  Luckily for the Blazers, there’s no need to expedite the assessment process. Fielding talent is, and should be, priority number one before exhausting transaction capital in ironing out the creases. Clingan was the best player on the board at 7, and Portland did right in taking him. 8. MIN (via SAS, TOR): G Rob Dillingham , Kentucky — A Woah! Minnesota exchanged a 2030 pick-swap and an unprotected 2031 first-rounder for the draft rights to Rob Dillingham—a gamble on both the readiness and longevity of the foundation surrounding budding megastar Anthony Edwards. This pick zaps Minnesota’s looming long-term uncertainty at point guard. With Mike Conley’s days numbered, the need for a successor was inevitable. Insert Dillingham: a dizzying playmaker who flexed his malleability at Kentucky by thriving under a number of offensive parameters: heading pick n’ rolls, flying through screens off the ball, pouncing on gaps off the catch, orchestrating open looks for teammates, etc. Plus, his discounted rookie contract maximizes financial flexibility for the next four years. Thriving in Minnesota’s title-ready ecosystem will necessitate further evolution, but Dillingham’s track record is a positive indicator.  In full transparency, I was magnetized by Dillingham’s prospective fit in San Antonio before news of the trade. Victor Wembanyama would’ve made for an uber-dynamic pick n’ roll/pop partner and the ultimate defensive security blanket. With that said, perhaps Minnesota can aggregate the combination of several pieces to optimize Dillingham in a similar way. Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid are bullseye three-point shooters who can lure matchups out to the perimeter with their shooting gravity. Rudy Gobert’s bravura in covering blown defensive assignments is rivaled by only Wembanyama himself.  San Antonio would’ve been really fun for Dillingham, but Minnesota provides alternative intrigue as a ready-made contender with personnel equipped to nurture his growth. This is cool too—a no-brainer trade and selection. 9. MEM: C Zach Edey , Purdue — B+ Another fun surprise here! My draft board ranked Edey as the 17th-best prospect in a vacuum, but my optimism skyrockets with his harmonious fit in Memphis. Perhaps he can be their souped-up version of Steven Adams: a brick-wall screener and gargantuan lob target for Ja Morant, as well as a rebounding vacuum to alleviate the burden on Jaren Jackson Jr.  Morant will most certainly want to push the pace in transition. Can Edey keep up? His bruising, methodical, larger-than-life dominance still poses stylistic contrasts to the modern NBA. Meticulous opposing gameplans will force him to guard in space away from the hoop. He must learn how to provide small doses of perimeter resistance with his length, but Jackson Jr.’s lurking backline presence is a pretty good buoy for the inevitable blow-bys. Memphis also has the optionality to go small in a pinch. With Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, and GG Jackson all capable of playing spot minutes at center, Edey is more of a luxury than a necessity. 10. UTA: F Cody Williams , Colorado — B This one is more straightforward. Utah is in the process of establishing direction and foundation personnel, so it’s safe to assume they went with their best player available here at 10. Williams offers shades of multipositional perimeter defense, shot creation, playmaking, and floor-spacing, but he’ll need to fill out both his body and the roundedness of his skillset in order to make a consistent impact. His ball-handling offers an immediate niche as a DHO threat in Utah’s motion offense. If he hastens his processing speed, he can pair his dexterity as a slasher with surgical inside-out passing. 11. CHI: F Matas Buzelis , G-League Ignite — A- I thought I was lower on Buzelis than consensus—that is, until he slid all the way to 11 on draft night. Buzelis thrives in transition, where he can weaponize his length, athletic pop, and ball skills to punish scrambled defenses in space. Chicago was one of the slowest offenses in the league last season—hopefully, that evolves with Coby White seizing the baton from DeMar DeRozan as the primary creator (barring a Zach Lavine resurrection). Shooting is Buzelis's swing skill—its absence will cap his ceiling both on and off the ball. If his shot develops, he can leverage it to create driving lanes in on-ball actions while simultaneously expanding his malleability off the ball by forcing genuine closeouts. He also needs to add weight to fortify his interior scoring and defensive versatility. Don’t expect Buzelis to blast expectations as a rookie. But if his shades of roundness materialize down the line, his blend of size, fluidity, and refinement boasts a tantalizing two-way ceiling. All things considered, this is strong value at the 11th spot in a limited class. 12. OKC (via HOU): G Nikola Topic , Crvena Zvezda — B Topic was my second-ranked prospect for most of the cycle, though I ultimately soured on his shooting virtues and the injury chronology that narrowed his sample size as a prospect. Still, his constant rim pressure and innovative pick n’ roll passing are fascinating attributes for a prospect. I ultimately slotted him as my number-10 prospect—the intermediate between his lofty upside and truncated floor. My stance on his fit with OKC diverges into two opposing schools of thought. Optimist: Topic isn’t a guy you want to rush, and the Thunder have the infrastructure to bring him up slowly. His ACL injury likely sidelines him for a year, but what does his pseudo-rookie season in ‘25-26 look like? Oklahoma City’s slew of high-level guards offers the latitude for patience and proper tutelage. It also forces Topic to shape his game around the constraints of playoff basketball. Staunch defense, tight decision-making, and the willingness to move off the ball will all be necessary if he wants to see the floor in meaningful games. Pessimist: The Josh Giddey parallels are a little bit eerie—and we just saw him fold in the role Topic is likely to assume in the future. Giddey, a supersized playmaker whose limited off-ball skillset necessitated a large share of touches, struggled to compliment Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and OKC’s offensive framework. Will Topic adapt his game to avoid a similar fate? The Thunder backcourt continues to swell with talent, especially with the addition of Alex Caruso and the projectable development of Cason Wallace. If Topic wants to play, he’ll need to evolve.  This pick could be an emphatic hit. It could also go in the completely opposite direction. 13. SAC: G Devin Carter , Providence — B+ Carter is essentially Sacramento’s second swing at the Davion Mitchell archetype. Both entered the NBA as seasoned college stars with suffocating defensive chops at the point of attack, but Carter flashes proficiency in pivotal areas that spelled death for Mitchell. DeAaron Fox and Malik Monk are dynamic playmakers who inject indispensable shotmaking and rim pressure into Sacramento’s offense, but their slight frames elicit supporting size and versatility on the other end. As abrasive as Mitchell may be on players of similar stature, he’s just 6-foot with a 6-foot-4 wingspan—inadequate measurements for scaling onto bigger guards. At 6-foot-3 with an extensive 6-foot-8 wingspan, Carter’s physical attributes more closely resemble Keon Ellis—who stuck in Sacramento’s rotation more last year than Mitchell ever did. Like Ellis, Carter’s disruptive length is equipped for various matchups. Carter can really separate himself from both Mitchell and Ellis on the offensive end. With Fox and Monk commanding touches, Sacramento needs a floor-spacing off-guard who can dissect defenses with quick reads off the catch. This wasn’t Carter’s role at Providence, but his lightning first-step quickness and dramatically improved shot are suited for opportunistic attacks in advantage situations. I think he can eclipse the low-frequency rim-rates of Mitchell and Ellis—both of whom struggle to get two feet in the paint on drives. 14. WAS (via POR, GSW): G Bub Carrington , Pittsburgh — B A simple look boils Carrington down to your prototypical “pass, dribble, shoot” point guard, but his game complexifies beneath the surface. His shooting profile is both captivating and enigmatic. He cashed 32.2 percent of his 3s at Pitt, but that compounds a chilly 23-game stretch to open the season (28.6 percent) with a steamy 10-game close (40.3 percent). The touch indicators are auspicious: a blazing 51.3 percent from the mid-range and 78.5 percent from the line. Carrington’s mechanics draw likeness to two-part shooters like DeMar DeRozan and Jimmy Butler—a motion that often proves more conducive to intermediate distances than from beyond the arc. The Wizards are gambling on the expansion of his catch-and-shoot range—a sensible bet given his distilled levels of feel and fluidity with the ball.  He’s also a genius passer. Many young guards are predestined in their maneuvers, but Carrington is reactive. He sniffs out tight windows for kickouts, dump-offs, and crosscourt rifles in traffic. That said, there’s a difference between passing and playmaking, and Carrington is further along in the former than the latter. If someone’s open, he’ll find them—but pressuring the rim is paramount in manufacturing these opportunities. Carrington’s lean frame and mid-range touch yield heavy doses of driving pull-ups, rather than hardened journeys into the teeth of the paint. The lofted, buttery jumpshots are effective in a vacuum, but they don’t collapse the defense. Carrington will need to improve in getting all the way to the rim in order to stamp himself as a multifaceted playmaker—an achievable means if he adds strength and comfort in playing through contact.  Is he a “combo guard” or a “tweener”? If Carrington rounds out his shooting and playmaking skillsets, his on/off ball versatility will unlock success at either backcourt spot. If some of the question marks extrapolate to a larger sample size, he may struggle to find his niche.  With the franchise in flux, there’s not much to say about Carrington’s fit with the Wizards. One thing is for sure: his license for experimentation, paired with the nightly acid trip of Jordan Poole, makes for a captivating Wednesday night watch on League Pass. (Shifting to some more consolidated analysis as we exit the lottery.) 15. MIA: C Kel'el Ware , Indiana — A- Ware’s length and verticality add new dimensions to Miami’s defensive skeleton. Bam Adebayo, one of the league’s apex defenders, will have the luxury of freelancing on defense with another dynamic rim protector at his side for the first time in his career. Ware’s fluctuating effort and energy levels will put the dark arts of Heat Culture to the test, but my unwavering confidence in Erik Spoelstra trumps most reasonable doubt. This feels like the perfect fit. 16. PHI: G Jared McCain , Duke — A- McCain shoots a homing missile from beyond the arc—a lethal counterpunch against defensive crowds drawn to Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Plus, he knows how to make himself available by relocating into unoccupied space when the defense shifts. The hope is that he avoids a similar fate to Buddy Hield, whose defensive drawbacks outweighed his shooting prowess as a Sixer. McCain is undersized and lacks high level agility, but he’s savvy, sturdy, and anticipatory.  17. LAL: F Dalton Knecht , Tennessee — A As the Sixers did in McCain, the Lakers snagged their shooting ace in Knecht. Darvin Ham scraped the bottom of the barrell in search of a fifth shooter for closing lineups last season. If Knecht can stay afloat defensively, that could be his role from day-one. Also, who better to access movement shooting skills than newly aquitted Head Coach JJ Reddick? Weakside pindowns and flares for Knecht will help assuage any off-ball stagnation around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.   18. ORL: F Tristan Da Silva , Colorado — B+ There’s very little risk attached to Da Silva’s archetype because a) his strengths are employable in any environment and b) the lesser-developed areas of his game don’t exceed the bounds of his projected role. He seizes a defined day-one niche as the Magic’s best catch-and-shooter in the frontcourt and a fun contrast to their ubiquitous defensive gadget in Johnathan Isaac. Last postseason, pick n’ rolls headed by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were self-sabotaged by Orlando’s inadequate spacing. Perhaps Da Silva’s shooting touch can help open up the floor. The next step? Adding the requisite quickness to crossmatch across positions in Orlando’s switch-heavy scheme. 19. TOR: G Ja'Kobe Walter , Baylor — B- …the spitting image of fellow Raptor (for now), Gary Trent Jr.—both long-limbed 6-foot-5 wings who offset limited interior skillsets with laser shooting. Aside from a six-year age gap and negligible difference in wingspan, they’re cut from the same ilk. Trent has cashed at least 2.5 threes per game in each of the past four seasons, but his limited peripheral impact as a passer, finisher, and point-of-attack defender made him an expendable commodity for Toronto. If Walter ascends to Trent’s level as a shooter, he’ll stick in the NBA. But he’ll need to round out the fringes of his game to solidify himself as a long-time starter. 20. CLE: F Jaylon Tyson , California — C Tyson joins the small forward carousel in Cleveland. The Cavs’ hunt for a connective piece to bridge their dynamic backcourt and supersized big men predicates on two main search parameters: shooting and defense. Isaac Okoro provides the latter in spades, evidenced by his 11th-place finishing in BBall Index’s “matchup difficulty” ranking last season, but his narrow perimeter tool kit is too much of a spacing detriment with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen already dominating real estate on the interior. Max Strus does enough of both, but he’s overstretched as a primary perimeter stopper—his assumed role next to Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Is Tyson the missing piece to the puzzle? The final infinity stone? I’m not so sure. He’ll need to take another step as a shooter while proving he can scale into a lower-usage role. 21. NOP: C Yves Missi , Baylor — A New Orleans clearly prefers a blend of spacing and versatility at the center spot over the more methodical, skull-bashing approach of Jonas Valanciunas. Even when Valanciunas found success on the interior against Oklahoma City last postseason, Willie Green leaned on small-ball units anchored by Larry Nance Jr. in crucial moments. Like Nance, Missi enhances the Pelicans’ defensive flexibility. His athletic traits—speed, lateral quickness, hip mobility—are conducive to switching onto perimeter players and oscillating between pick n’ roll coverages. His length and explosiveness add a vertical dimension as well—a fresh import for a unit surrendering top-five opposing rim percentages in each of the past four seasons. Missi doesn’t space the floor at all, but perhaps his strides as a faceup creator will evolve into a viable counter when defenses sag off. 22. DEN: F/C DaRon Holmes , Dayton — B Denver gets a mulligan on the Zeke Nnaji experiment here in their search for a second-unit stabilizer in non-Jokic lineups. If things break right for Holmes, he can fit the bill. His offensive utility swings with his shooting touch. He upped his volume and accuracy dramatically in his final year at Dayton, burying over 38 percent of his 2.5 three-point attempts per night. But it’s not all sun and rainbows. He hit just 7 threes over his first two college seasons and shot under 68 percent from the free-throw line in sum. He’ll need to prove that year three wasn’t an aberration. The auxiliary stuff on both ends could really go either way. On the one hand, he flashes a dynamic handle, shot-stuffing prowess, and elite athletic pop. Contrarily, he’s exploitable when guarding in space, lacks the length of a true rim-protector, and most of his on-ball work comes with his back to the basket. I would’ve liked this pick more at 28 than 22, but it fills an immediate need nonetheless. 23. MIL: G A.J. Johnson , Illawarra — D+ I’m sorry—I can’t get behind this one. Milwaukee has room for reinforcements on their depth chart and immediate impact options (Terrence Shannon Jr., Baylor Scheierman, Tyler Kolek) were still on the board. Johnson’s sales pitch is premised on long-term upside, but if Milwaukee is drafting for the post-Lillard era, what does it say about their confidence in their current product? 24. WAS: F Kyshawn George , Miami — B George has a nice foundation of length, feel, and a picturesque jumpshot. Channeling his innate basketball IQ into live-ball playmaking will take some time, especially in his absence of high-level athleticism, but he’ll have a blank canvas for experimentation as Washington bottoms out for the next couple of years. Let’s revisit this when George has some NBA experience under his belt. 25. NYK: F Pacome Dadiet , Ulm — B+ Dadiet knows how to put the ball in the hoop, and he can do it in a myriad of ways, both with and without the ball. He’s not just a shot-taker; he’s a shotmaker. Dadiet’s impressive three-level efficiency last season with Ratiopharm Ulm is a positive indicator of his natural touch and scoring versatility. He’s also an effective ball-handler with the ingenuity to develop into a playmaker. Ultimately, it’s all about how his intriguing individual skills coalesce. I doubt Tom Thibodeau throws him into the fire this year. Rather, expect the Knicks to bring him up slowly through their G-League affiliate. 26. OKC: G/F Dillon Jones , Weber St. — C Jones was universally mocked as a day-two selection before Oklahoma City reached for him at 26. He’s a burling, unorthodox playmaker who leverages his strength and creativity to bulldoze defenders and manufacture unique passing angles—indeed, a fascinating prospect. What on earth is his position? It’s unclear, but perhaps he plugs into a connective, positionless role adjacent to the talented shooters and playmakers in Oklahoma City. I don’t mind this pick in a vacuum, but I would’ve expected Jones to be available at 38. 27. MIN: G Terrence Shannon Jr. , Illinois — A This caps a beautiful first round for Minnesota, netting Dillingham and Shannon at picks eight and 27, respectively. Brace yourself: Shannon is primed to incinerate Summer League competition in a couple of weeks. He’s absolutely one of the most dynamic scorers in this draft. When he gains a half-step going left, he warps to the rim and finishes either through or over opposing rim protectors. The next step will be rounding out his toolkit beyond what was needed at the collegiate level. Can he add a reliable floater? Improve his right hand? Refine his decision-making? Regardless, he’ll inject some needed creation juice into Minnesota’s second unit. 28. PHX: F Ryan Dunn , Virginia — B+ Dunn is the needle-in-a-haystack prospect who enters the NBA as the unequivocal best defender on his roster. You can stick him at the point of attack, where he’s rendered utterly untraversable by his length and lateral agility, or you can play him as a roamer, where he processes circumjacent activity like a supercomputer and flashes to the rim to suffocate opposing drivers. The offensive bar is like three inches above the floor: can he merely be playable ? When the Suns' offense stagnates, Dunn will be a massive liability as a free outlet for added defensive help on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. Dunn becomes a non-detriment in motion, where he can set screens, role, and operate from the dunker’s spot. 29. UTA: G Isaiah Collier , USC — A This is a slam dunk for Utah. Collier was on the precipice of a freefall into the second round before the Jazz snagged him at 29. Of everyone in this class, you could argue that Collier offers the most consistent source of paint pressure. He mixes size, burst, and craft to torpedo through traffic and blitz the rim with a head of steam. Between Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson, and impending free agents Kris Dunn and Talen Horton-Tucker, Utah’s backcourt is pretty congested. This is an upside swing—expect Collier to effervesce in the G-League this upcoming season as he taps into his long-term potential as a primary playmaker. 30. BOS: G Baylor Scheierman , Creighton — B+ The Celtics are drafting for fit within their current framework, with premiums on spot-up shooting, processing speed, and defensive versatility. Scheierman cashed north of 38 percent of his 8.3 attempts from deep as a senior at Creighton—the perfect complement to the on-ball gravity of Boston’s prolific creators. To combat hard closeouts, he can put the ball on the floor, touch the paint, and execute the appropriate read to perpetuate the advantage. Can he survive defensively? He’ll need to add strength to enhance his suitability in Boston’s switch-heavy scheme. Sam Hauser is a promising case study—if Scheierman follows a similar trajectory, he’ll grow into a valuable depth piece as Boston looks to round out their roster with low-cost options. ...

It's been a long, arduous journey to the top for the Boston Celtics; but every misstep spurred an intricate maturation process that ultimately fueled their triumph. Enjoy an extended coronation of the champs through the lense of a Celtics lifer. By Jackson Boake | June 26, 2024 At last, they’ve done it. The Boston Celtics franchise has captured its illustrious, era-defining 18th banner—usurping the Los Angeles Lakers in the all-time hierarchy. Boston capped off a 4-1 “gentleman’s sweep” over the Dallas Mavericks with a 106-88 wire-to-wire victory on Monday night. Jayson Tatum dropped a game-high 31 points and 11 assists. Jaylen Brown added 21 points and a suffocating defensive effort versus Luka Doncic, crowning his postseason brilliance with the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award. The Celtics persevered through a dominant, yet polarizing season. “Pundits” weaponized past playoff tribulations to disparage their championship aspirations at every turn. Even as Boston smashed statistical models with their historic two-way production, external perceptions were mired in skepticism. Their response? Incinerating playoff competition like a hot knife through butter.  The Celtics cruised to a 16-3 postseason record in triumphs over Miami, Cleveland, Indiana, and Dallas. Losses were dissected, magnified, and extrapolated, but Boston retaliated in compelling fashion each time. The Celtics' prosperity offers a road map for other team-building ventures. Akin to last season’s victors in Denver, Boston nourished the requisite chemistry to diversify their winning formula and dominate the margins for 48-minute stretches. Patience, introspection, and continuity guided their analytically-driven approach to sustainable success—perhaps spearheading a shift in front-office philosophies around the league while the more traditional “superteam” blueprint fades into obsolescence. Boston’s Medusa; Dismantler of the Mavericks Chris Forsberg brilliantly analogized the Celtics’ adaptable, synergistic cast of high-level producers to a “Medusa.” I've put a handy little graphic on the side if you've forgotten what a Medusa actually looks like. Jayson Tatum is like the face in the middle. He’s the irreplaceable cog whose two-way superpowers are instrumental to the replicability of Boston’s success. Offensively, he’s their most frequent, reliable source of paint pressure. At 6’10” with a tight handle and bruising functional strength, Tatum bullies his way by smaller defenders while skirting past rangier, slow-footed bigs. From there, he perpetuates the offensive melody through ingenious inside-out playmaking. The Mavericks, quite simply, weren’t able to contain Tatum on the perimeter. He constantly bent the defense out of shape and unlocked Boston’s signature drive-and-kick game. His per-game averages of 7.2 assists, 10.8 potential assists, and 17.6 assisted points created all ranked first amongst both teams in the Finals.  Few stars are asked to replicate their offensive load on the other end, but Tatum is amongst the exceptions. His unparalleled switchability and positional rebounding are the harmonizing ingredients to unleashing the rest of Boston's devastating defensive core. Why exactly? Because players who can check guards, forwards, and centers enable the requisitive schematic freedom to optimize for your best individual defenders; not your weakest links. Tatum’s versatility took center stage in the Finals, this time in the form of guarding opposing bigs. His size and strength combatted Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in the post and on the glass, while his length and quickness allowed for Boston to switch perimeter actions with Dallas' top creators. This wrenched the Luka Doncic pick n’ roll—typically a go-to channel for manufacturing downhill penetration, but challenged by Boston’s willingness to crossmatch. But remember: this is a Medusa. In the same way that Tatum, a walking paint-touch and defensive swiss-army knife, accentuates those around him, the expansive skillsets of his teammates reciprocate the favor by multiplying his strengths while veiling some of his blemishes ( relative to other superstars ).  Tatum scraped through a chilly postseason shooting spell. His playoff true shooting aggregated a hair below 55%—a relatively low mark, elevated only by his high volumes as a finisher and foul-drawer. Amongst creation fulcrums who magnetize myriads of defensive attention, many argue that Tatum's shotmaking virtuosity lacks the consistency his rivals. But Boston is uniquely equipped to weather these droughts, evidenced by the roundedness of their scoring attack. They disperse the arc with shooters, drivers, and savvy decision-makers at every position. Their offensive formula, predicated on locating mismatches, drawing multiple defenders, and bombing three-pointers, is conducive to their holistic style of dynamism. Tatum’s complete skillset and democratic approach unlock advantage opportunities. In turn, his teammates excel as play-finishers with the benefit of a pre-created edge. Brown is a world-class co-star and Tatum's right-hand man; a terror in transition who blends ferocious slashing with silky touch in the mid-range. He slides perfectly into a “1B” role as a go-to scorer without the burden of conducting the entire offense. Disclaimer: Here’s my extended Jaylen Brown ramble. He’s earned it. This postseason accented a redemption arc for Brown. He vowed to improve upon his flaws that fueled last year’s meltdown in the Conference Finals versus the Miami Heat—a promise echoed by the Celtics’ organization when they inked his monumental $300 million contract the next month. Brown was the subject of heavy criticism deriving from the financial commitment linked to his playoff tailspin. In big spots, Boston’s offensive attack felt too narrow, or wing-centric, last season. Their guards were overstretched as trusted creators in late-game scenarios, while their bigs lacked the offensive juice to capitalize on mismatches. Celtics’ owner Wyc Grousbeck had an epiphany: changes needed to be made. “We’re not bringing back the same team,” he stated to President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and Head Coach Joe Mazzulla in meetings following the season. Boston swung big that offseason, parting with franchise mainstays in favor of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis—a pair of big names fusing immense talent with pluggable skillsets. When the dust settled, the Celtics were loaded. But how would Jaylen Brown, now heading Boston’s payroll, finetune his game to mesh with his new teammates? ... He did just that: he adapted, sculpting his offensive style to slide seamlessly on and off the ball while ramping up his intensity to carve out defined defensive responsibilities at the point of attack.  Given the immensely talented roster around him, Brown’s superpowers aren’t always a necessity. In many instances, his scoring punch can be replicated by a combination of Boston’s overqualified supporting pieces. He’s not an analytics darling—the byproduct of his unflattering on/off numbers, skewed by the staggering of his minutes with Tatum’s to offset absences in creation, and his antiquated shot diet (high mid-range frequency, low free-throw rate). But Brown’s value pops under amplified circumstances, evidenced by his irreplaceable production in the final two rounds of the playoffs. He’s the ultimate ceiling raiser who takes the baton in stride when needed most. In faceoffs with the Pacers and Mavericks, both of which he dominated, his contributions shape-shifted to optimize for stylistic discrepancies between opponents; indicative of the breadth and malleability of his prowess. Indiana suffers from limited defensive artillery on the wing, and in checking Tatum with Aaron Nesmith, they banked on containing Brown through mixtures of ill-suited matchups. The long-tried strategy of Boston’s opponents has been as follows: exhaust your ammo on Tatum and gamble against  Brown’s drawbacks as a primary initiator.  Judgments such as this, devised from past outcomes rather than present renditions, draw parallels to most external perceptions of Boston’s collective. Brown’s evolution from an all-gas, no-brakes scorer to a multifaceted offensive operator now renders this strategy obsolete. He’s more decisive off the catch, with closeout-maneuvering that has transformed from predestined to reactive. Refined instincts have sharpened his inside-out playmaking off paint touches. His electric first step still marries a killer crossover, but his newfound ambidexterity adds prudence and replicability. Brown’s scoring attack has polished and matured, but not at the expense of its signature gusto. Brown tallied 29.8 points per game on 51.7% shooting against Indiana en route to his first-ever Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. But the NBA Finals truly epitomized Brown’s growth. As a singular component of Boston’s staunch defensive nucleus, his individual endeavors against Doncic proved indispensable. Boston ’s defensive philosophy deviated from Dallas' other playoff opponents. Rather than churning blitzes and double-teams to combat the artistry of Doncic and Kyrie Irving, they leaned on their season-long principles of rampant switching, intrusive off-ball activity, and a strict reliance on single coverage. A spread dispersion of Boston's defensive ammo cut the facet on Maverick role players by clamping down on paint touches and corner three-point opportunities. Though the irrepressible nature of Luka-magic often extended beyond his control, Brown’s incessant pressure and suffocating physicality proved disruptive in key moments and visibly wore down Doncic over the course of games. He ramped it up another level in Game 5 by clawing through screens and committing to full off-ball denial. Brown tantalizing defensive upside, visible in spurts over past years, fully materialized against the league’s apex creator under the brightest lights. That, fused with a consistent outpouring of buckets and assists on the other end, earned Brown the Finals MVP award. …We’re once again returning to the Medusa analogy. Tatum, not Brown, is the fulcrum; the sun, around which Boston’s identity revolves. But Brown resembles a ravening, gnarly, weaponized snake that grows from the face and lashes at enemies on both halves of the court. A compliment, but infinitely capable of inflicting mass destruction on its own. Tatum initiates the avalanche by searing defenses with drives and pinpointing teammates amidst the scrum, while simultaneously unsealing loads of optionality on the other end, but it's often Brown who wields the dagger.   This title coronates the prolific Tatum-Brown partnership while also serving as a wonderful testament to their hypercharged, yet role-abiding colleagues. Porzingis was long-touted as Boston’s “cheat code” throughout the season—an inevitable, multidimensional force who torches mismatches at a ridiculous clip. His scoring from the block, nail, and free-throw areas weaponized a whole new layer of Boston’s offense. Since NBA tracking data was introduced in 2015, Porzingis’ 1.30 points per post-up in '23-24 ranks first (!) amongst qualifying players. As a lethal shooting threat above the break, he also provides a viable counterbalance to Tatum’s gravity as a pick n’ roll/pop ball-handler. A pair of unfortunate injuries limited Porzingis to just seven games in the postseason, many of which were played in compromised physical condition. Still, his tone-setting, legacy-defining masterpiece in Game 1 of the NBA Finals that forever penciled his name in Celtics lore. He cooked guards on cross-matches, ignited the arena with emphatic dunks, and buried a series of laser-beam triples from just inside the logo—all while deadbolting the rim on the other end.  Porzingis’ playoff exposure may have been brief, but it wasn’t without a signature performance.  Oh—and you couldn’t craft a more harmonious fit within Boston’s framework than Holiday and Derrick White. Both guards are spectacular compliments with similar strengths in theory, but are cut for distinctive, differentiated roles on both ends. Holiday is a point of attack bandit who incarcerated Kyrie Irving for most of the series, warping through ball screens and barricading spread isolations in single coverage. Dallas employs a pick-your-poison offensive formula: either you allow Irving and Doncic the freedom to create 1-on-1, or you send extra help defense and, in turn, unlock their supporting cast by surrendering open catch-and-shoot looks in the corners. Holiday’s defense on Irving, paired with Brown’s aforementioned efforts on Doncic, helped Boston toe a thin line between the two that held Dallas under 100 points in four of five games. Even with its individual talents, Boston’s defense consists of varied, specialized skillsets that amount to more than the sum of their parts. White defends admirably on the ball, but his strengths are maximized in a roamer-role—a rare niche amongst guards. His NBA Finals defensive checklist: Primary matchup was PJ Washington (6’8”) Game-sealing chase-down block in Game 2 Exploded from a two-foot standstill to deny Lively above the rim Switched every single ball screen; checked Doncic and Irving in space Versatility. Holiday and White are also exceptional offensive players. They soak up increased usage when necessary, but thrive off the ball in capitalizing on the gravity of Boston’s stars. Holiday takes on various forms: he’s a relocation guru who delivers timely cuts, an imposing screener with seasoned roll-man skills, a perimeter threat who drifts into open spaces and cashes threes, and a devastating corner-crasher on the glass. White, meanwhile, is a deep-range flamethrower who can run pick n’ rolls, attack closeouts, and set the table for teammates without ever turning the ball over. Together, Holiday and White make for a dream backcourt next to Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis. And then there's the glue: Al Horford. Horford is 38 years old with more tread on his tires than almost anybody. He entered the postseason as Boston’s frontcourt second-stringer budgeted for 20-25 minutes per night. But even in his advanced age, Horford’s efficiency (3.7-1 AST:TO, 65.0% TS) and savvy defensive chops have aged like fine wine. These contributions whiplashed from luxury to necessity the moment Porzingis went down. Accordingly, “Big Al” maintained his steadying two-way presence as his playing time dilated. He inched near 40 minutes on select nights—an impossible ask for 99% of 38-year-old bigs, but not Horford. Pitching into Boston’s switch-everything scheme against Dallas in the Finals was Horford’s tallest task. Because the Celtics are so loaded with defensive stoppers, their opponents relentlessly seek out pressure points to attack. Doncic and Irving were no different. Dallas employed a rinse-and-repeat offensive formula in Game 1 of spamming ball screens with Horford’s matchup to force him onto the ball, then clearing out islands of space for Doncic isolations. This was a tried approach that yielded great results in the series prior against Rudy Gobert. But Big Al is a different beast. Doncic wins through craft, not burst—but he met his match in Boston’s cagey veteran. Doncic exhausted his inventory of crossovers, stepbacks, body bumps, and head fakes, but Horford didn’t bite. NBA tracking data marked Doncic at 1/8 on FGs with Horford as the nearest defender in Game 1. As the series progressed, Dallas sought out other outlets for offensive creation.  Some other notes: Mazzulla (certified sicko) coached his ass off. Sam Hauser chipped in some huge minutes as an isolation defender (?) and movement shooter. Payton Pritchard capped an awesome season with a pair of magnetizing half-court heaves. Xavier Tillman legitimately swung a Finals game. The Pacers had no answer for Oshae Brissett’s pinch-center minutes in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Luke Kornet is fun. Unequivocally, Boston posed unique challenges for a Mavericks team that was somewhat rigid in its identity. But that’s what makes the Celtics so special: the shape of their attack oscillates with each game as opponents simply run out of counters. Most teams struggle going off-script, but Boston doesn’t even have  a script. The strength of Boston's collective, hardened from a series of failed exhibitions and the invaluable lessons that accompanied, is what makes the Medusa. And in true Medusa form, it turned Dallas to stone.

The Dallas Mavericks stabilized a struggling defensive unit by crafting it to offset the drawbacks of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Specific physical identifiers profile their sources of salvation. BY JACKSON BOAKE The Dallas Mavericks seized homecourt advantage on Wednesday night with a 108-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves to open the Western Conference Finals. While the dynamism of Dallas’ star duo (deservingly) dominated the Thursday morning headlines, key two-way contributions across the board underscored the fruits of a year-long identity revamp. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are basketball savants to the utmost degree, but they alone don’t make a team. Let’s shine some light on the Alfrids! Offensive philosophies are evolving with the rest of the NBA. They’re more resourceful than ever, with elevated intentionality in maximizing every advantage at their disposal. Elite modern offenses relentlessly seek and attack defensive pressure points. This reflects a studied approach to disassembling a defense; but moreover, elongated floor spacing makes vulnerabilities much more exploitable. Four offensive players, at minimum, disperse the arc at all times. Blitzes, scrambles, traps, etc., are combatted with quick swings—producing efficient shot attempts at high volume. In turn, length, athleticism, and versatility have become premium assets in mitigating the offensive upper hand. The easiest counter to mismatch hunting is … not to offer up any mismatches at all. Look at the Boston Celtics: a perennial top-5 defense with the personnel to essentially switch everything at the 1-4 spots in their best lineups. Jrue Holiday crossmatching on a post-up? Jayson Tatum sliding his feet with guards on the perimeter? No problem! But very few teams have this luxury. When switching isn’t an option, most other coverages surrender incremental advantages to the offense. The focus shifts from prevention to recuperation—at which point, the aforementioned physical attributes take on a new role. When the structure of the defense falls out of tact, long limbs and quick movement shrink passing angles and shot windows. Suffocating physicality and amplified ball pressure can put the offense on their heels, even with 4-on-3s existing on the backside. This reconstructed rendition of the Mavericks epitomizes the latter. Neither Doncic nor Irving provides much resistance at the point of attack, which necessitates supporting personnel tailored to cover their drawbacks. This is where precise front-office maneuvers have engineered a recipe for replicable defensive success. Dereck Lively II, the 12th pick in last year’s draft, was the first domino in Dallas’ reformation. Lively’s stock dipped after a single season at Duke plagued by his limited offensive repertoire. Had he been miscast in a disorganized offensive ecosystem, Lively may have never found his footing in the NBA. But with the Mavericks, Lively has achieved more by doing less. His offensive role is simple: set screens, roll to the basket, and complement Doncic's playmaking virtuosity with vertical gravity. Dallas accentuates his strengths while veiling his blemishes. Lively reciprocates the favor defensively. While Dallas may not always be able to contain the ball on the perimeter, Lively’s dynamic presence on the interior redirects drives and suffocates finishes. Doncic and Irving still have to fight their battles, but with Lively as a safety valve, they can prioritize protecting the three-point line while funneling penetration toward the paint. But Lively is far from a one-man defense. Without auxiliary support, Dallas wouldn’t be able to repress the offensive advantages perpetuated by drives. Indiana and Atlanta are plausible citations here—both defensive units are weak at the point of attack, but anchored by formidable shot-stuffers (Myles Turner, Clint Capela). The issue: neither team wields the apparatus to disrupt the simple reads that punish the defensive scramble. While initial attacks may not directly result in a basket, the actuated offensive flow often snowballs into open looks later in the possession. Here lies the second fold of the Mavericks’ staunch defense. Derrick Jones Jr. and P.J. Washington, Dallas’ starting forwards, both possess tremendous positional length and mobility. It’s never just Lively deterring drives; rather, it’s Lively beneath the rim and one of Jones or Washington offering secondary contests from blind spots while the other wardens multiple spacers on the weak side. That makes for three supersized sources of disruption for opposing penetration. Dallas has enhanced their depth in these areas as well. They now boast 48 minutes of sturdy rim protection, thanks to the deadline acquisition of Daniel Gafford: a catch-and-finish, rim-running specialist who practically mirrors Lively’s archetype to a tee. Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, and Dante Exum are long-armed, incessantly-active substitutes. The collective length of Dallas not only obstructs opposing attacks; it plugs driving gaps altogether. Let’s look at some of these tools on display in Game 1 versus Minnesota: Here, Dallas finds themselves bent out of shape after the ball disadvantageously pops out of a scrum. Anthony Edwards flying downhill at the basket typically spells death, but in this instance, Washington and Gafford suffocate the finish with disciplined straight-armed contests. Again, Edwards gains a head of steam, only this time, he’s forced into a kickout due to Lively’s contest. This is already an ambitious maneuver by Edwards, but Washington’s weakside presence cuts off his first read and forces an incredibly difficult wraparound pass intended for Karl-Anthony Towns. Great strip by Doncic, but the real hero here is Lively: he has tabs on the finish, the alley-oop to Towns, and the corner kick to Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Even without the swipe, Jaden McDaniels is completely stuck in the air on this one. Dallas is able to negate Towns’ unique combination of size and skill at the 4-spot. Washington and Lively both crowd his airspace and earn impressive blocks with their length. Perfect way to cap it off. Dallas nails a series of defensive rotations, and then … Luka-Magic! In the same way that supercharged offensive fulcrums demand a meticulously constructed supporting cast, NBA teams must find pieces that fit on the other end as well. Dallas' defense serves as a microcosm of how length, switchability, and activity can be leveraged to cover for certain vulnerabilities; perhaps a blueprint that more organizations will try to replicate in the future. The Mavericks now find themselves just three wins from an NBA Finals birth. Doncic and Irving will always steer the ship, but the refurbished supporting cast has shared responsibility in blazing the trail for newfound success as a collective. Game 2 in Minnesota tips off Friday night at 5:30 pm ET on TNT.

The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks are four games shy of penciling their names in the history books. Let's take a deep dive into potential strategic maneuvers and examine key factors in determining our 2024 NBA Champion. BY JACKSON BOAKE Nothing beats the NBA Finals. …At least, that’s the case for us basketball sickos. Conference titans collide in best-of-seven trench warfare as the chance for players, coaches, executives, equipment managers, etc., to stamp their legacy with a title finally falls within the scope of reality. Media discourse is as hostile and dumbfounding as ever. Superstitious fans overdose on superstitiousness. But past tribulations add yet another fold to Mavericks versus Celtics; the culmination of a brewing rivalry marinated in former friendships and nasty breakups. The air permeates with vengeance, hatred, and the cleansing power of burning sage. Oh—none of that even accounts for respective kingpins Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum; eternally pitted against each other by manufactured cliches, generalities, and absolutes. Pugnacious Twitter fingers are working overtime as ESPN cycles through variances of “face of the league” segments. Contrarily, not a fabrication: the Kyrie-Boston and Kristaps-Dallas feuds represent two of the messier, more publicized player-team disputes in NBA history. These are not media contrivances, but rather genuine dissensions mired in role obscurity, ego bruising, and clashing basketball ideologies. Kristaps Porzingis took ownership for his part in dissolving the relationship with Dallas. Upon his arrival, expectations were sky-high for the 22-year-old amalgamation of height, dexterity, and ingenuity. Ambition and inexperience clouded his willingness to conform to team needs, climaxing in open disobedience toward Coach Rick Carlisle. Porzingis has since matured—taking criticisms in stride and adapting to diversified responsibilities in Washington and Boston. Things appear amicable nowadays between him and the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving, on the other hand, found himself besieged by the state of Massachusetts during a Celtics-Nets first-round clash two years ago. Tensions seethed as Irving engaged in mortal combat with Bostonians; highlighted by obscenities, truculent gestures, and a 4-0 sweep in favor of the Celtics. Irving, perhaps phased, struggled mightily in the final three games of the series. This is where it gets hazy. Both Irving and Celtic lifers now appear somewhat moved on. Boston players have stuck their heads out in the media to defend Kyrie. With Irving settled into a new home and embracing his co-star duties alongside Doncic, it feels as if the friction has subsided—at least, to an extent. Will things between Boston and Irving remain cordial, or will the momentous stakes of the NBA Finals reignite the flame? Time will tell. For what it’s worth, I’d put my car, house, and the rest of my life savings on the latter. But the intricacies of the 2024 NBA Finals extend far beyond exhausted narratives and bitter divorcees. The stage is set—let’s dive into some critical strategic variables. Dallas on Offense Doncic, fresh off slicing Minnesota’s defensive meat-grinder into bits, remains a virtuosic, scheme-proof offensive superstar. His distinguished repertoire predicates on timing, feel, and intuition. Coverages are meticulously designed to mitigate Doncic’s counterpunches; “stopping him” is unachievable. In the Western Conference Finals, he played through the chest of Jalen McDaniels—a pronounced point-of-attack stopper, but captive to an overwhelming mismatch in size and strength. Doncic’s bruising, deliberate approach to creating space renders lateral quickness an ineffective deterrent on its own. He isn’t blazing by defenders; rather, it’s shoulder bumps, decelerations, head-fakes, and stepbacks galore. But Boston boasts the apparatus for unique counters. Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Tatum pair agility with tremendous positional size. While they’ll still be at the mercy of Doncic’s shotmaking, they possess the requisite disruptive qualities to tighten shooting windows and passing angles. The Celtics leaned on a combination of Holiday and Brown for the Doncic assignment in two regular-season matchups. Let’s examine their options: Holiday: A brick wall with suffocating lateral skills. Warps through ball screens. Out-lengthed by Luka, so offers weaker contests by nature and is probably less effective as a chaser in pick n’ rolls when Boston’s bigs are in drop. Brown: Quick, rangy, aggressive, physical. He’s voiced his likeness for seizing marquee defensive matchups in the past. Sometimes blindsided by ball screens, and his questionable discipline will be challenged by Doncic’s manipulation tactics. Tatum: Perhaps Boston’s best isolation stopper when all bets are off; evident by his incarceration of Kevin Durant in the 2022 postseason. Big body with sharp instincts and tremendous functional strength. Not as quick as Brown or Holiday. Can’t afford to pick up early fouls, so this likely caps out as a late-game option. My bet: Brown gets the first crack at Doncic while Holiday takes Irving-duty, or potentially splits it with Derrick White. Tatum’s malleability adds a fun wrinkle to Boston’s defense. Instead of matching him with a wing, Mazzulla often slides him onto the big; in this case, Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II. This allows the Celtics to switch freely in pick n’ rolls without conceding mismatches. Both Indiana and Cleveland spammed ball screens to attack Al Horford, who’s exploitable when guarding in space and lacks the verticality to consistently deter shots in drop coverage. Myles Turner erupted in the first half of Game 1 off pops and delayed rim-rolls. Boston then nullified the Tyrese Haliburton-Turner pick n’ roll by swapping matchups and switching ball screens with Tatum. Horford stayed out of the crosshairs by pairing with a low-frequency roll-man in Pascal Siakam. Porzingis, previously sidelined by a soleus strain, offers more optionality. Unlike Horford, he’s one of the league’s premier drop bigs. Doncic is a certified “drop-killer” (ask Minnesota), so I’d still probably avoid this avenue if I’m Boston. Porzingis’ mobility following his injury is also in question. Regardless, expect some experimentation in the early stages of the series. The Celtics’ defense is so fun that I haven’t even touched on White yet. He’ll definitely share the Irving assignment, but his real superpowers are off the ball. I’d trust him most as a helper off Derrick Jones Jr. and/or PJ Washington—where he can navigate the passing lanes, offer blindspot contests on Doncic and Irving, and fly out on corner shooters when needed. That was a lot of information. To summarize, here’s my blueprint: Holiday on Irving Brown on Doncic White and Porzingis on Jones and Washington Tatum on Gafford/Lively Ultimately, Doncic will use ball screens to manipulate matchups. He’ll relentlessly hunt Pritchard and Hauser in their minutes, creating a size and strength discrepancy that swings heavily in the Mavericks’ favor. I wouldn’t be surprised if White finds himself called into the fold when Boston has their strongest defensive corps on the floor. To combat adverse pick n’ roll pairings, Boston can blitz Doncic—forcing the ball out of his hands and surrendering the dump pass to the the roller. Washington in particular will be tasked with making key floor-reads out of the short roll. If Washington feels comfortable hitting 3s from above the break (not always his specialty), he can punish double-teams in the pick n’ pop game. Ball security will be crucial for Dallas in this matchup. A track meet spells death against Boston; they’re completely unstoppable with crossmatches against an unset defense. There’s more tactical variability in Boston’s defense than Dallas’ offense. The Mavericks are an open book: pick n’ roll and isolation dynamism from Doncic and Irving while the auxiliary components pounce on pre-created advantages. A simple recipe, yet a nightmare to stop. Boston on Offense The Mavericks have crushed expectations defensively thus far in the postseason, but the Celtics offense is a different beast. It’s death by drive-and-kick: paint touch, kickout, swing pass, repeat. They have shooters and playmakers at all five positions. When they compromise the first fold of the defense, it perpetuates an irrepressible offensive process. Dallas' defense leaned on length and disruption to veil its vulnerabilities in each of the first three rounds. The Clippers (Russell Westbrook and PJ Tucker), Thunder (Josh Giddey and Lu Dort), and Timberwolves (Kyle Anderson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker) all offered scot-free outlets for defensive help. The Mavericks funneled penetration to their bigs in the paint while rangy wing-wardens shaded kick-outs to non-shooters on the perimeter. Where the Celtics pose a challenge, however, is in the concerted nature of their marksmanship—in simpler terms, everyone can shoot. Each of their top eight can burn you through a combination of volume and accuracy. This multiplies the demand for perfect rotations off the ball from Dallas. Worth noting: Assuming full health, I doubt Mazzulla extends the second line of his rotation beyond Payton Pritchard-Sam Hauser-Horford. Oshae Brissett and Xavier Tillman Sr. had their moments versus Indiana, but Dallas' defensive strategies will exploit their spotty three-point shooting. Expect Boston to headhunt mismatches and bend the Mavericks’ defense out of shape through a myriad of pick n’ roll variations. The Celtics can target Doncic or Irving by inverting ball screens, using Tatum as the initiator and Holiday or White as the screener to bring their choice of second defender into the action. Dallas will either show-and-recover or surrender the switch; regardless, this is an achievable means of consistent downhill creation. In his minutes, Horford’s above-the-break shooting will be key bellwethers for this series. I think Dallas willingly surrenders these looks in favor of sending extra help when Boston pressures the paint. Horford’s accuracy fluctuates heavily between games, so anticipate the Mavericks adjusting on the fly if things go south. Pick n’ pops with Porzingis offer multiple potential advantages for Boston. Dallas likely starts in a drop with Tatum as the ball-handler, banking on the continuation of his erratic pull-up shooting this postseason. Porzingis creates a new dilemma, however; his pops can pull Lively/Gafford away from the hoop and decongest driving lanes for Tatum. An alternative option for Dallas? Simply switching the wing-big pick n’ roll to stay attached to Porzingis and out of rotation. Of course, this concedes a more favorable matchup for Tatum to attack with his quickness. But I think that’s a decent tradeoff for the Mavericks, as it combats the threat of Porzingis while eating valuable seconds off the shot clock. White, not Tatum, has been Boston’s highest-frequency pick n’ roll ball-handler this postseason, and his effectiveness multiplies with Porzingis back in the fold.  If he’s able to engage the defensive big and force the switch, Irving will find himself crossmatched on an island with Porzingis at the nail while Boston’s snipers disperse the arc, armed and dangerous. White loves to sit behind ball screens and launch three-pointers off the dribble, so trying to warp under the initial screen probably doesn’t work for the Mavericks either. I’d hedge these actions if I were Dallas, which Gafford and Lively are uniquely equipped to execute given their mobility. This allows Irving to chase over screens and use the back-side wing to tag Porzingis’ roll/pop until the big can recover. Tatum will incinerate this coverage with crosscourt rifles to corner shooters, but White suffers from slower processing speed in such scenarios. If the Mavericks nail the timing on these rotations, they’ll escape switches without allowing high-percentage shots. Brown has been particularly aggressive in seeking out the Doncic matchup, either through shake-and-bake face-ups or by pinning him in the post and exploding for powerful finishes. Boston can set the table for these opportunities by flowing into DHOs or simply bringing Doncic into ball screens with the sole intention of forcing the switch. This is where Dallas likely sends another defender. Brown is a shaky playmaker who’s easily sped up by defensive pressure. If he’s making sharp reads and tight-roping passes through narrow windows to perimeter shooters, tip your cap. Closing Remarks Candidly, this is one of the most fascinating Finals matchups. The unique compositions of both the Mavericks and Celtics make way for pivotal tactical adjustments. The Kyrie-vs.-Boston, Porzingis-vs.-Dallas, and Luka-vs.-Tatum rivalries will be dramatized to the max. Rising superstars are on the brink of immortality; inject seven games of this into my blood. Game 1 tips off Thursday night at 8:30 pm EST on ABC.

The supersized Timberwolves and their ravenous young superstar pose Denver its toughest challenge yet. BY JACKSON BOAKE The irresistible force paradox is a classic thought experiment exploring the conflict of two seemingly contradictory concepts, asking, “What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” The phrase and its formulation are believed to have emerged in the 20th century as a means of illustrating philosophical notions related to infinity, absolute limits, and the nature of contradiction. Nowadays, the irresistible force paradox is ever-so-commonly repurposed as a figure of speech for when some form of indomitable inertia comes at odds with a deterrent so deeply entrenched that it cannot be overcome—again, metaphorically speaking. So, what’s the basketball equivalent? I thought you’d never ask. The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves enter a best-of-seven playoff clash with drastically different playstyles. The Nuggets are guided by the virtuosic hand of Nikola Jokic—a selfless, metric-shattering, horse-loving, one-man offensive wrecking crew. At his side stands one of the NBA’s most lethal co-stars in Jamal Murray; a prolific playoff riser who recently ripped the heart out of 90% of the city of Los Angeles twice in five games (inadvertent Clippers stray; I apologize). Add in a synergistic slew of seasoned veterans, and you have basketball’s most self-sufficient, destructive, and, yes, unstoppable force. A suffocating Timberwolves’ defense marks the contrary: basketball’s immovable object—the antithesis to the point-churning offensive generators dominating the pace and space era. Rudy Gobert is the head of the snake, stifling every shot in the vicinity while flexing quicker-than-advertised lateral skills on the perimeter. Jaden McDaniels, Anthony Edwards, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker smother the point of attack. Minnesota’s defense surrendered a league-low 108.9 points per possession in 2023-’24. All of this to say, stylistic contrasts between Denver and Minnesota make for a fascinating arms race between two of the league’s top units. Both teams are riding the momentum of euphoric first-round triumphs. Alright, enough with the theatrics and ballyhoo. I’ll refrain from hyperbole regarding Minnesota’s offense and Denver’s defense, though that matchup carries just as much weight. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty: The Jokic Matchup Expect Karl-Anthony Towns to seize the primary Jokic matchup. While Towns’ unique positional size at the 4-spot is tailored to (somewhat) compete with Jokic physically, the primary intent of this maneuver is to optimize for Gobert’s defensive skillset. Jokic has made mincemeat out of the Gobert matchup in the past, weaponizing his lower center of gravity to bully the perennial DPOY candidate on the block while occupying his attention away from the hoop. With Towns absorbing the bulk of Jokic’s post-ups, Gobert is free to slide into the Aaron Gordon matchup—where he’ll gladly surrender open 3s in favor of patrolling the paint and side-contesting Jokic’s signature floaters and hook shots. Only, it’s not that simple. While Gordon doesn’t pose much of a threat away from the basket, his vertical gravity along the baseline incinerates defensive shifts. Gobert will have to strike a balance between monitoring Gordon and helping at the rim—every lapse will be disciplined accordingly with misdirecting dimes and rim-rattling jams. This is a vicious set that punishes Minnesota for moving Gobert onto Gordon. Jokic gets downhill and occupies Gobert, then flips a no-look pass to Gordon while simultaneously pinning Gobert under the rim with his body. Strategic genius. Denver has counters for counters. Mitigating the efficacy of Jokic-centric actions requires both on-ball resistance and backside discipline—a remarkable challenge, but one Minnesota is as well-equipped to face as anyone. Jokic is a back-to-the-basket, skull-smashing post operator who’s impossible to deter without extra bodies—the timing and location of the help are at Minnesota’s discretion. They typically opt to dig, rather than double, on post touches, but Jokic will decimate any semblance of strong-side help with quick kick-outs back to the entry passer. Expect the Timberwolves to experiment with aggressive baseline help supplemented with timely rotation on the weak side. This forces the ball out of Jokic’s hands and leans on the court coverage of Minnesota’s sweltering length to combat 2v1s on the wing. The quicker the extra defender comes, the less time Denver has to execute their patented off-ball motion. Baseline doubles likely impel Denver to relocate the Jokic post-ups to the free-throw line area. While this hijacks Minnesota’s methodology by practically nullifying the baseline altogether, the shifting geometry of the court makes it simultaneously easier for Gobert to sink on paint penetration. This chess match can unfold in multiple ways: In case you forgot: this is the unstoppable force versus the immovable object—there is no telling who will prevail! Minnesota’s Offensive Formula Denver has proven itself capable of elevating its defense in high-leverage situations, and for that reason, I’m skeptical of Minnesota's consistency in generating quality looks during this series. Still, there’s a recipe for Minnesota to force Denver’s defense into rotation. Denver doesn’t have many pressure points, but expect most actions to target Michael Porter Jr. and/or Jokic. Porter Jr. struggles to navigate actions off the ball and lacks the lateral agility to switch onto quicker guards, so Minnesota will involve him in as many flares, Spain pick n’ rolls, flex screens, and horns actions as possible. If Minnesota can transition these into favorable 2v2 scenarios with Edwards at the helm, perhaps they can strike replicable offensive success. Even with Jokic’s defensive evolutions, he still struggles when tasked with guarding the ball in space. Minnesota will spam the Edwards-Gobert high pick n’ roll to exploit this, which Denver likely greets with deep drop coverage, sacrificing Edwards the opportunity to flow into pull-up jumpers and potentially establish an offensive rhythm. If Jokic opts for a more shallow drop, Edwards will pressure the rim at will and punish defensive shifts with inside-out playmaking to Towns and Mike Conley Jr. spotting up on the perimeter. When Gobert sits, Minnesota can force Jokic into chase perimeter shooters in super-spaced double-big lineups with Towns and Naz Reid. But Denver’s defense will be tough to crack. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is probably the primary Edwards matchup, but Gordon’s physicality could potentially pose a more viable counter over the course of seven games. My real concerns for Minnesota derive from McDaniels, who Denver will gladly leave open on the perimeter in favor of contesting drives and swarming pick n’ rolls. He’s capable of stringing together open catch-and-shoot 3s, but that’s a gamble Denver will willingly take. This also means that Caldwell-Pope, Murray, and Gordon can amplify their on-ball defensive pressure on the perimeter with the fallback option of collective collapses surrendering kickouts to McDaniels. The Verdict Tim Connolly constructed the most well-oiled offensive machine in basketball, only to unveil an assemble of savvy, long-limbed Avengers tailor-made to give them hell. I’m sure he’ll quietly bask in his team-building prowess all series long—deservingly so. But as impressive as this Timberwolves squad may be, proven execution prevails more often than not. Denver will hammer some blend of the Murray-Jokic pick n’ roll and Jokic post-ups down the stretch, and regardless of defensive counters, it's probably going to generate decent looks. I don’t have the same faith in the maturity of Minnesota’s late-game offense, nor do they have equivalent talent to fall back on. This will be an incredible series. I’ll give Minnesota the slight edge as the better first-40-minute team, but ultimately, I trust Denver to close games when it matters. Give me Denver in 7.

Jalen Brunson's virtuosic shotmaking is making life miserable for the Pacers. How is New York exploiting mismatches, and what is Indiana's counter? BY JACKSON BOAKE A foot injury late in the first quarter of Game 2 induced a brief interlude for the Jalen Brunson onslaught. New York’s scoring maestro was held captive to the locker room with a “questionable to return” designation while the Indiana Pacers seized momentum and dashed to a 10-point halftime lead. Around 90 minutes later, Brunson grazed the roof of Madison Square Garden with a miraculous, high-arching fallaway jumper to extend his second-half scoring count to 23. A frenzy ensued as the Knicks put the finishing touches on a fourth-quarter masterpiece to take a 2-0 series lead. Indiana lacks defensive firepower at the point of attack, and Brunson is weaponizing every tool at his disposal to make them pay. Let’s discuss: Andrew Nembhard has been Indiana’s highest-minute Brunson matchup. His defensive skillset suffices for most assignments in the backcourt—quick feet, sharp reactivity, and superior positional length pose a logical counter to Brunson’s prowess. …Speaking candidly, this has shown to be a wildly disadvantageous matchup for Indiana through two games. Brunson is torching Nembhard from all three levels through a blend of delicate shotmaking and bruising physicality. Nembhard lacks the girth and core strength to deter Brunson from getting to his spots. Brunson pairs menacing shoulder drops with deft shooting touch. When he gets downhill and lowers into Nembhard’s chest, he creates a sliver of space—just large enough for lofting turnarounds, fadeaways, tear-drops, etc. Conflicting backward momentum renders Nembhard’s attempts at challenging shots useless. Brunson shot 9/12 when guarded by Nembhard in Game 1, per NBA tracking data. Game 2 defensive stats weren't published, but Brunson finished 11/18 from the field in 32 minutes. Aaron Nesmith, Indiana’s other proficient ball-stopper in the starting unit, has gotten a few cracks at Brunson as well. While his 6-6, 215-pound frame is better suited to absorb the brute force of barrelling drives, Brunson’s twitch and elusiveness as a ball-handler have proven insurmountable. Tyrese Haliburton’s defensive limitations offer another pressure point in Indiana’s defense. New York uses empty guard-guard ballscreens to bring Haliburton’s matchup, Donte DiVincenzo, into the action. Most teams would opt for a simple switch here, but Indiana hedges to keep Haliburton off the ball. DiVincenzo’s shooting gravity keeps Haliburton multitasked as Nembhard fights through the screen, which Brunson exploits with a straight-line drive to the basket. Indiana didn’t budge from their single coverage as Brunson erupted for 21 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Two days later, when Brunson appeared headed down a similar path, Indiana implemented a seismic schematic shift. Instead of surrendering advantage opportunities by continuing to hedge, Indiana switched to an extended blitz—launching double teams at Brunson in pick n' rolls and DHOs to force the ball out of his hands. Brunson relieved pressure accordingly with over-the-top passes to the roller. Unfortunately for Indiana, Josh Hart and Isaiah Hartenstein are excellent short-roll orchestrators in 4-v.-3 situations. With the laser spot-up threat of Donte DiVincenzo stretching the floor, the Knicks were able to generate quality looks at will. Given New York’s personnel, extended double-teams aren’t a sustainable long-term recipe for Indiana. The actual ball-screen was cut off by the broadcast on this play, but notice the ripple effect of the blitz creating an open 3 for DiVincenzo. Even with all that said, it’s not complete doom and gloom for Indiana just yet. Their shockingly effective counterpunch comes in the form of T.J. McConnell—a rather unsuspecting wild card off the bench inducing incessant headaches for New York. Despite his lack of size, McConnell has proven to be Indiana’s most formidable warden at the point of attack. His brisk lateral skills allow for amplified pressure above the arc. Through calculated swipes at the ball and a properly leveraged low center of gravity, he’s able to barricade isolations and combat Brunson’s signature slithery penetration tactics. Obi Toppin eastbay in a close playoff game? Nasty. McConnell’s equally effective in engineering Indiana’s offense, repeatedly compromising a staunch New York defensive front, pressuring the rim, and generating points for himself and others. Staggering on/off numbers illustrate McConnell’s absurd impact through two games: Indiana boasts a +21.9 net rating with McConnell on the court, which plummets to -31.7 when he sits. Notwithstanding, Rick Carlisle sided with Andrew Nembhard as Haliburton’s backcourt-mate down over the last 7:10 of Game 2. Carlisle deliberately staggers the Haliburton-McConnell minutes to mitigate overlapping offensive strengths, but McConnell has been an undeniable additive regardless of who’s on the floor in this series—especially in comparison to Nembhard. Infectious energy, savvy playmaking, and impressive defensive chops make unleashing McConnell the obvious adjustment for Indiana entering a pivotal Game 3. Carlisle’s minute distribution will be under the microscope. The series now travels to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where the Pacers accumulated a 26-15 record over the regular season and captured all three games against Milwaukee in Round 1. The Knicks, meanwhile, will have to manage in the absence of OG Anunoby—who’s been ruled out for Game 3 and doubtful for Game 4 with a hamstring injury. Expect either Deuce McBride or Precious Achiuwa to fill the vacancy in New York’s starting lineup. Game 3 tips off Friday night at 7:00 PM E.S.T.

Sizing up Boston's two-way juggernaut with the run-and-gun Pacers—which of the two highest-rated offenses in NBA history prevails? How can Indiana exploit Al Horford in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis? BY JACKSON BOAKE CLICK HERE for full access to my Celtics-Pacers series breakdown with The Lead! I identify pivotal matchups, schemes, vulnerabilities and more. Enjoy!

Boston took their first punch of the postseason in Miami’s series-leveling Game 2 win on Wednesday. Shooting variance, schematic genius, and Miami’s patented playoff voodoo proved formidable counters to a historic talent discrepancy. On Saturday night, seismic tactical shifts helped Boston restore order with a convincing 104-84 victory over the Heat in Game 3 at the Kaseya Center. The Celtics’ defensive approach in Game 2 was out of character and, in retrospect, misguided. What started with surrendering semi-contested looks to rudimentary Miami shotmakers dissolved into a negation of Boston’s defensive strengths—a plausible strategy in theory, but ultimately, not in practice. What Boston did was predicated on a season-long sample of three-point shooting from Miami’s supporting cast—now thrust into overstretched roles in the respective absences of Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier. The Celtics were purposefully reactive off the ball, overshading into nearside driving gaps and collapsing on the mere threat of penetration. Statistically moderate floor-spacers were dared into face-up three-pointers over pseudo-contests from Celtic defenders. But does molding defensive principles in accordance with inferior opposing personnel warrant bending the identity of a provenly dominant unit? On Wednesday, the answer was a resounding no. As Boston’s gameplan became increasingly apparent, Miami caught an unprecedented rhythm from behind the arc—cashing in a franchise-playoff record 23 three-pointers at a 53.5% clip. “They were making shots, guys that we want shooting the ball,” said Jaylen Brown. “Seemingly couldn’t get them to miss. Credit to those guys.” As can be inferred from Brown’s postgame commentary, Boston fell victim to their own methodology. Sometime in the following days, there was an executive decision to tighten the screws and scrap the unsuccessful strategic endeavor. Boston’s elevated intensity in Game 3 was tangible from the jump. An immediate 12-3 run in the opening frame set the tone for a night of suffocating defensive dominance. “I think we put the emphasis on defense,” Brown said. “Trying to make them uncomfortable a little bit. They had a slow start, we had a good start on defense and I think that kind of opened up the game.” Jrue Holiday, in particular, reestablished Boston’s disruptive presence at the point of attack. After struggling to consistently navigate high ball screens in Game 2, Holiday retained his Game 1 form—blowing up every Tyler Herro-centric action above the break. Holiday clung to Herro’s back pocket and effortlessly warped through ball screens as he cut the faucet on Miami’s primary outlet of offensive creation. A stark contrast from the previous game: the Celtics extended their ball pressure above the break, incessantly creating discomfort for Miami on the perimeter. Watch Payton Pritchard strangulate Duncan Robinson's attempt at initiating offense: In another wrinkle from Joe Mazzulla, Boston modified its pick n’ roll defense by bringing the screener’s defender up an extra step to funnel Herro into congested driving lanes. From there, Porzingis and Horford quickly retreated into a drop where they could smother shots at the rim. Boston flipped the psychological edge from Game 2 by dispatching the Heat’s offensive rhythm. With Miami backpedaling, Boston’s intensity trickled into various facets of the game. The Celtics dominated the possession battle through their work on the glass and in forcing Heat turnovers. As Boston continued to lean into its stifling defensive personnel, the Heat lacked the talent to counter. Even on a night where Miami actually outshot the Celtics from 3, Boston controlled the game through sweltering physicality. Much is (rightfully) made of Miami’s outlandish postseason shotmaking upswing. Given the Celtics’ advantages on paper, mitigating the threat of unfavorable shooting variance is perhaps Boston’s best bet at quelling any Heat-engendered playoff demons. Boston now faces the challenge of dialing up the intensity on a consistent basis—something they failed to achieve in the playoffs a year ago. Thwarting the success of Spoelstra’s adjustments in a pivotal Game 4 will be a telling test, especially after Mazzulla's failure to do so in Game 2. Time and again, the Heat have peaked in the face of adversity—expect Monday night’s contest to be no different.