Stephen Curry and LeBron James would meet in the Play-In tournament if the season ended today.
The NBA Mailbag is here to answer your questions throughout the 2023-24 season! Do you have a question for Jamal? Submit it at the bottom of this edition of the NBA Mailbag.
Do the Golden State Warriors have a legitimate chance at a deep playoff run?
– from Carter in Flower Mound, Texas
As long as you have Curry, you always have a chance. (No pun intended.) They can be dangerous with the right matchup and magic. What I mean by magic is that I’m not sure anyone allowed them to win their last championship before the playoffs started. So they showed that they can compete in these magical races when it matters most.
Who is your current All-NBA First Team?
– from Eli in Dallas, Texas
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Luka Doncic
- Jayson Tatum
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Nikola Jokic
Thoughts on The game winner for Kyrie against the Nuggets? Do you remember another buzzer like that?
– from Sam in Cleveland, Ohio
No, I’ve never seen a buzzer like that. The closest I can think of is The match winner for Kobe against D-Wade. It was another unorthodox photo. But Kyrie’s was on a whole different level. Shoot him with the left hand, over Joker, on the run? I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a photo like that, and I certainly I’ve never seen one like that to win a match.
OH MY GOD, KYRIE IRVING WINS THE GAME WITH A LEFT FLOAT ‼️
SPECIAL. ????#TissotBuzzerBeater#YourTimeDefinesYourGreatness pic.twitter.com/NJiVbYtV7p
-NBA (@NBA) March 17, 2024
What’s the key to Minnesota continuing to win? Karl-Anthony Towns sidelined?
– from Michael in Sioux Falls, SD
Anthony Edwards must continue to trust in his abilities to lead the team. He plays a elite level and always finding ways to keep his teammates involved. Naz Reid also remains the key to filling the void without Towns. And Jaden McDaniels needs to continue doing what he does on defense while finding ways to contribute offensively until Towns returns.
Which team are you most excited to see play in the playoffs?
– from Ben in Blenheim, New Zealand
The nuggets. I want to see if they can repeat. But also, they play basketball at the highest level in the playoffs and I love seeing how connected they are together.
Jamal, no one talks about the Most Improved Player award. Who do you think will win it?
– from Leon in Brooklyn, New York
Maxey seems to be the favorite and I really like him. His jump was great. But I would choose Alperen Sengun. I like the way he plays and I think he’s going to be an NBA star.
Why does OKC look so bad at rebounding? Is it because of Chet or the team structure/coaching?
– from Jason in Melbourne, Australia
Their rebounding has struggled as they need another big, ideally a veteran, next to Chet. Their coaching is incredible – I’m a big fan of coach Daigneault. And their structure is great. They just need another physical body to help break the glass.
When people analyze a team, they sometimes say, “This team won’t win a championship because its players don’t have playoff experience.” » Is the game really that different in the playoffs than in the regular season, and if so, in what way? What do players with playoff experience bring to the table versus a young team with no playoff experience?
– from Devin in Minnesota
There is a huge difference between the playoffs and the regular season. Everything is amplified. Every possession counts. You end up knowing the opponent’s games as well as your own. So it comes down to these little things. The reason it helps to have veteran experience is because players have lived it and understand that each game is its own mini-series. You can’t go too high because you won a game, nor too low because you lost. Some young teams realize this, like Golden State in their first round. So sometimes, not knowing what you don’t know is also a gift.
If you had to make a starting 5 of the best bench players in the league right now, what would it be?
– from Flex in Massachusetts
- Monk Malik
- Norman Powell
- Jordan Clarkson
- Bobby Portis
- Naz Reid
What do you think of LaMelo Ball’s future after these first few years?
– from Braxton to Denham Springs, LA
Keeping it healthy is the most important key. He is a special player who understands the game at a very high level. He’s a young star, that’s for sure. Just gather pieces around him so he can feel the playoff vibe. The messages coaches want to send him may be heard differently once he sees what it takes to win in the NBA.
Who is the best pure scorer you have played with?
– from Alex in Bay City, Michigan
I’ve never been asked that before! If we’re picking players who were best when I played with them, and not necessarily when they were in their prime, then I’d go with these three:
- Stephon Marbury
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Joe Johnson
What was your favorite NBA season that you played in?
– from Ethan in Los Angeles, California
My first year with the Knicks. I felt like all the actors and artists I was a fan of were there watching me perform on my stage. It was the first time I experienced this and it was great.
How far do you think the 2004 Pistons and 2014 Spurs go this year in the NBA?
– from DN in Boston, MA
Both teams would be a bit inconsistent in the regular season. But once they reach the playoffs, they will each be the toughest in their conference. So I would expect them to meet in the final. Defensively, both teams would slow the game down. And I think they could each find ways to add more 3-point attempts to their offensive game plan to keep up with the current offensive style. I remember when we played the Pistons, if they won by 10 it was like they won by 20 because of their methodical method of slowing down the game. They and the Spurs would still be able to do that in those days .
Which recently retired former players do you think would make good coaches?
– from Elan in Denver, CO
Andre Iguodala would be a great coach. And Brandon Roy, who is currently a high school coach in Seattle.
J-Will once said that he had practiced the elbow pass about 30,000 times and had succeeded twice. What’s a misconception that fans may have about how many years of your life you have to spend practicing these moves we see in highlights?
– from Jack in Birmingham, AL
I think fans think a player can see a move once and then do it. And some people can do it (raises hand ????). But it takes years and years to perfect a movement. For example, when I did the alley-oop through the legs to Blake, I learned this move when I was 8 years old. So I knew how to do this move and I practiced it for 20 years before this moment in the game. It takes years of practice to gain the confidence to do some of these things on the NBA stage. Everything has to be perfect, but this is achieved through perfect practice.
Among the 4 teams listed below, which do you think would be the best?
- Current Warriors with Shaquille O’Neal
- Current Bucks with Kobe Bryant
- Current Lakers with Larry Bird
- Current Nuggets with Michael Jordan
– from Bradley to New York
Wow. I’ll go with the Warriors + Shaq. This would open up so many things for Steph, and there still aren’t any players in the league who can slow down lead Shaq. This team would therefore be almost unstoppable.
Which three NBA cities were you most looking forward to traveling to, considering everything from arenas to hotels to food scenes?
– from Brett in Milwaukee, WI
New York, Miami and Seattle.
If you played in today’s NBA, what are the top 3 teams you would be interested in playing for?
– from Andre in Wilmington, DE
Lakers, Suns and Knicks.
You’ve seen the league grow and even played a valuable role in its development, but what do you think the league will look like in 30 years? Do you have any thoughts on the many changes in the league and what the league should do to grow?
– from François in Sandusky, OH
I think players going straight from high school to the NBA will become more common now that it’s allowed again. The power of the 3-point shot is here to stay, especially since it brings many other potential athletes into the game. You don’t have to be 6-foot-8 and athletic to get to the NBA. Just work on your skills and you can get there. This should therefore open up opportunities for more athletes around the world.
Should the NBA get rid of 3-second defensive violations?
– from Adam in Connecticut
This would be a start to giving defenses a better chance to compete. But I would prefer to see changes allowing for more physicality on the perimeter. This would force an offensive player to focus on the goal and not be able to score as easily. And that would increase the quality of the game because the guys would have to reach a higher level of play. The goal of basketball is to put the ball in the basket. So this should be the hardest thing to do. We allow it to be too easy.
Play on play… you must complete a dribble to win the game. What are you going with?
– from Steven in Orlando, FL
Hesitation pull-up, going left or right depending on the configuration of the defense. But it’s definitely a hesitation.
What is your opinion on the hoops community in Seattle right now? What would you like to see change?
– from Dan in Seattle, WA
It’s a really good place. The younger players have done a great job of taking over and trying to raise the generation that will come after them. The only thing that can make things better is to bring the Sonics back here.
What are your three must-have dribbling drills for high school basketball players?
– from Matt in Minnesota
I’ve never done dribbling drills, sorry! The main thing I did was take a basketball with me everywhere I went.
I’m 16 years old and trying to juggle physical work while trying to balance my mental health. No advice?
– from Sonnie in Greenville, South Carolina
Find something that relaxes you. For me, when I’m struggling with something or going through something, I play music and it gives me time to reset. For yourself, make sure you always talk to someone you trust, someone who knows how to listen. I wouldn’t keep it inside and let it build up. This is when the frustrations and challenges really arise. So even if you find yourself in difficult situations, if you talk about them with someone, you may feel better and learn a new way to overcome and come out of them.
Do you have a question for Jamal? Submit it below!
Check back on Tuesdays throughout the 2023-24 season for more editions of the NBA Mailbag!
