theeasternconferencefinals Page 6 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

It’s okay to find the feel-good in Kemba Walker’s return to New York
From the land of chopped cheese and quarter waters emerged the coldest motherfucker to come out of New York City playgrounds and gyms since Sebastian Telfair in 2004. And that same guy is now a New York Knick, bringing it full circle 10 years after being drafted into the NBA, and after hitting possi...

The Knicks’ low-risk offseason is a smart long-term strategy
Is it a coincidence that The LOX and Dipset had a classic Verzuz at MSG Theater less than 12 hours before Kemba Walker agreed to a deal with the New York Knicks? Probably not....

Keeping John Collins was key for the Hawks' championship hopes
The Hawks just helped secure their core for the next 4-5 years. And who knows where the ceiling is....

Deadspin fixes NBA free agency, Part IV: Power Forwards
Charles Barkley once said, “What do you call a power forward that only averages six rebounds per game?” Someone said, “what?” And the answer was, “A small forward.” That was funny as shit....

Deadspin waffles: Why the Bucks will win Game 6… aaand why they won’t
Jeff Teague is on the verge of winning a championship. ...

Giannis is the Shaq of this era
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the most physically dominant player we’ve seen since Shaquille O’Neal....

Despite 0-2 hole in NBA Finals, Giannis has already won
Most thought he would never be here....

Jrue Holiday is better than what he showed in Game 1
In a continued theme of searching for consistency amongst Giannis Antetokounmpo’s All-Star caliber running mates, Jrue Holiday is next on the clock....

If the Bucks want to win these Finals, this is the change they need to make
In the days leading up to the NBA Finals, I thought the Ayton-Lopez matchup was going to be the most pivotal matchup of the series. NBA All-Defense First-Teamer Jrue Holiday could put the clamps on Chris Paul. Khris Middleton and P.J. Tucker could rotate to help on Devin Booker. Giannis could muscle...

The Middle man in Milwaukee
We talk about him more nowadays, and rightfully so, his resume demands it....

Brook Lopez turned back the clock, and a shoutout to Bobby Portis, while I'm at it
There’s a long list of heroic playoff performances made by All-Stars turned role players later in their careers, and now, Brook Lopez has entered the chat....

A report about the NBA wanting to add games, on the same day Giannis got hurt? The irony
Less is more, even if it causes you to leave money on the table....

Down 2-1, the Hawks are still capable… if Trae Young is active
John Collins has a point....

Khris Middleton must be better for the Bucks to avoid an upset
Khris Middleton was once a relatively unknown prospect, packaged by the Detroit Pistons — along with Brandon Knight and Viacheslav Kravtsov — to acquire Brandon Jennings eight years ago....

Basketball gods, please give us a Young-Booker NBA Finals
I’m not sure if the Atlanta Hawks won the series or if the Philadelphia 76ers lost it, but either way, the Hawks and Trae Young have surprisingly made it into the Eastern Conference finals. On the other side of the bracket, the Phoenix Suns and Devin Booker are surging. Dreams are forming in my head...

As expected, ‘The Process’ failed
When Keyzer Soze infamously said, “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist,” at the end of The Usual Suspects, he wasn’t just talking about the con he’d just gotten away with. He was also foreshadowing what Sam Hinkie would do to Sixers fans....

In recent coaching trend, NBA stood for No Blacks Allowed... That MUST change
The NBA is finally back in the Black. In coaching, that is....

For Giannis, ‘greatness’ is an enigma
Giannis Antetokounmpo is becoming another NBA enigma....

The Kemba-Horford deal should work for both the Celtics and Thunder
Admit it. You woke up not knowing that NBA teams not currently playing could make trades during the playoffs. Don’t feel bad — a lot of people learned that today, in a startling way. ...

Can we all finally recognize Paul George for his greatness?
With Kawhi Leonard sidelined with an ACL injury, everyone rushed to their computers to rule out the Clippers in their series with the top-seeded Utah Jazz. Even though the series was tied 2-2, no one expected the Clippers to steal a game in Utah without Kawhi on the court. Much like my colleague Jon...