Anything the New-Look Cavaliers Can Do, Golden State Can Do Better
From a barrage of three-pointers to a small-ball death lineup, the Cavs suddenly look a bit like the Golden State Warriors. But if the two teams meet again in the NBA Finals, the defending champs will still have the edge.
The Best Way To Beat A NBA Buzzer Is The One That Works
NBA fans can debate the best way to get the best end-game shot—calling plays versus isolation hero ball—but there's a reason that buzzer-beaters are so rare.
For The Boston Celtics, The Future Is Almost Now
Boston has nailed its NBA rebuild in every facet. But if the Celtics can't turn its assets into a difference-making superstar, they won't take that last step.
By The Numbers, Golden State Should Be Able To Stay Afloat Until Steph Curry Returns
Steph Curry's sprained knee has put a damper on the Golden State's back-to-back title push, but statistics suggest the Warriors can survive the NBA Playoffs until he returns.
The Detroit Pistons' Future May Depend On NBA "Hack-A" Rules Changes
Despite a first-round NBA Playoffs loss to Cleveland, Detroit has a promising future. But the Pistons' ceiling largely will be determined by the future of the intentional fouling strategy used on Andre Drummond.
Kobe Bryant Majored in Drama, Not Math
Kobe Bryant's 60-point, 50-shot final game was a microcosm of his career—and of a shot-jacking, hero-ball style that modern analytics have rendered obsolete. Is that a good thing?
Steph Curry Is Disrupting The Geometry Of Basketball
While retired basketball legends like Oscar Robertson grumble that Steph Curry wouldn't last in the rough n' tumble NBA past, the sweet-shooting Golden State guard is redefining the game's spatial limits.
The NBA Trade Deadline and the Myth of Being One Player Away
It's easy for NBA title contenders to convince themselves that they're one player away at the trade deadline, but history shows in-season deals seldom make a major difference.
MoreyBall, Goodhart's Law, and the Limits of Analytics
Math tells NBA teams to shoot more three-pointers and shots at the rim, but that formula isn't working as well as expected for Houston and Philadelphia. What gives?
Free Throw Follies: Andre Drummond Doesn't Need to Get Better from the Line
How can you be a professional basketball player and miss over half your free throws? The answer is surprisingly simple.