OKC Thunder fans may be eager to see their team’s revamped roster take the field for what should be a title-winning 2024-25 campaign, but there are still a few months to go before things start to get going.In the meantime, to soothe that proverbial itch, some might be content to see a virtual version of the club by purchasing and playing NBA 2K25, which is set for release on September 6.Excitement for the latest installment in the video game franchise is at an all-time high, and just recently, fans were treated to the official release by 2K Sports of the…
Author: Game Recap
The Philadelphia 76ers are carefully put in place heading into the 2024-25 season as the undisputed contender not just in the East, but across the league — a stark reversal from what had unfolded at this point previously, when chaos had engulfed the team from every possible angle.If you need a refresher, it was the still-fresh blockbuster trade that sent disgruntled All-Star Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden, filling a seemingly inevitable situation where the stagnant star was holding the team hostage after holding out for an entire season.Revisiting tradeBleacher Report gave the 76ers a “C+” grade…
Things didn’t go exactly as planned for the Phoenix Suns Last season, the trio that was supposed to dominate the NBA, composed of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, ended up winning just 49 and losing 33 and was swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Suns have struggled mightily in the fourth quarter all season, and questions remain about Durant’s happiness in the desert. For now, Durant is staying put and Phoenix will try to win the championship again in 2025 (even though the team doesn’t really have a choice). On…
THE Portland Trail Blazers are still in a transition phase, seeking to build a new identity in a post-Damian Lillard world. Scoot Henderson It wasn’t exactly the jackpot of the 2023 NBA Draft, but the organization is ready to make the most of the situation. There have been much worse outcomes after all, and Chauncey Billups has plenty of talent to build a competitive team.Portland may not be able to make the NBA Playoffs this season, but it looks like they’re on the verge of taking a step forward as a franchise sooner rather than later. Henderson seeks second opinion…
Jonathan Bachman/Getty ImagesDiscussions about the starting lineup are likely to cause many NBA fans to roll their eyes and consider themselves above the debate.”It’s not the one who starts that counts,” they say, adjusting their monocle with one hand, shaking their bourbon glass with the other, their little finger pointing to the sky. “It’s the one who finishes that counts!”Except that it’s also the one that starts.The starting five is no longer the uncompromising given it once was. Rotations are more fluid than ever, subject not only to availability but also to matchups and stylistic preferences.Yet starting lineups are usually…
Stephon Castle couldn’t be in a better position to begin his NBA career. Much like his college team (UConn), the San Antonio Spurs are a well-run, fundamentals-based organization. Castle comes to San Antonio bringing maturity, a leadership attitude, and a superb skill set. These traits could give Castle a significant role early in his career, but the Spurs’ history shows that’s easier said than done.Under Gregg Popovich, there have been only a few instances where a Spurs rookie has had significant playing time in his first season. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Victor Wembanyama are the only players who have…
THE Toronto Raptors I looked at the free agency landscape this summer, with the potential to open up a significant amount of cap space, and pulled the ejection lever. While teams around them made numerous trades, the Raptors failed to add a single new player in free agency to a guaranteed contract. They re-signed Immanuel Quickley and Garrett Temple, and brought in a few players to participate in training camp, but otherwise abandoned free agency entirely.That conservative approach has prevented the Raptors from committing money to help win now as they retool their roster, further burdening their already contract-heavy payroll.…
Alors que Kyle Filipowski était assis parmi les meilleurs espoirs du basket-ball dans la salle verte de la draft NBA à Brooklyn, sa mère passait cette nuit de juin chez elle à Westtown, New YorkIls étaient à 120 kilomètres l’un de l’autre et vivaient dans un monde différent, espérant tous deux des choses très différentes.Alors que les minutes passaient, Kyle attendait que son nom soit appelé et que sa carrière professionnelle commence.De son côté, Becky Filipowski espérait, comme toujours, un réconfort qu’elle disait ne pas avoir pu trouver depuis que sa relation avec son fils s’est effondrée.« C’est comme un…
The Washington Wizards’ rebuild is in full swing. They hired Michael Winger to lead their front office in May 2023, and he quickly pivoted the franchise toward a complete dismantling. Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis were traded in an effort to amass young talent and draft picks. The Wizards I have a potential star in Alex Sarr with the second overall selection in 2024, but they are still years away from the competition. Their goal is development. Head coach Brian Keefe has a plan for its three recruits and Bilal Coulibaly, a second-year lottery pick, still needs a lot of…
The Houston Rockets have been rebuilding since the start of the 2020-21 season after trading James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, but the team now appears to be starting to challenge for a playoff spot.After four straight years of selecting a player in the top four picks, the Rockets have a wealth of young talent that can make them one of the best teams in the NBA.Bleacher Report reporter Dan Favale believes the Rockets have the 16th-best three-year prospects in the NBA.“Alperen Şengün, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr., Cam Whitmore and Tari Eason are all essential…