The hottest NBA Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Sports Topics

Let's talk about coaches

Good Morning It's Basketball • 491 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Some NBA championship coaches over the past 20 years are still coaching while others are retired.
  2. Popovich and Kerr are facing criticism for their coaching performances this season.
  3. Erik Spoelstra recently signed a record-breaking 8-year, $120 million extension with the Miami Heat.
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(Unofficial) NBA All-Star Reserve Selections

Marc Stein • 393 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. NBA All-Star reserves selections by conference coaches to be revealed soon.
  2. East frontcourt and backcourt reserves include players like Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brunson.
  3. West reserves feature talents like Stephen Curry and Anthony Edwards.

Fred VanVleet and the fabric of the NBA

TrueHoop • 746 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Fred VanVleet appreciates some NBA referees for their effort and fairness.
  2. Henry Abbott has been busy working on a book called "BALLISTIC."
  3. VanVleet's words have caught Abbott's attention and sparked his interest in discussing NBA-related topics.

KD Trade: More to it than meets the eye

Marc Stein • 707 implied HN points • 14 Feb 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The 2022-23 NBA trade deadline was historic with three players with eight All-Star appearances being traded.
  2. Kyrie Irving was traded to Dallas, Russell Westbrook to Utah, and Kevin Durant to Phoenix in multi-team deals.
  3. The Kyrie Irving trade to Dallas set the tone for an intense week leading up to the trade deadline.

Did the Thunder get too good, too fast?

Silver Bulletin • 399 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The Oklahoma City Thunder became a top team in the NBA really quickly, winning their first championship just three years after being one of the worst teams. This fast rise is unusual in sports.
  2. Despite their success, many fans and analysts are skeptical about the Thunder's achievements because they have not faced well-known competitors in the playoffs, which affects how their championship is viewed.
  3. The Thunder are very young and have a lot of potential for future success, but their small market and style don't generate the same excitement compared to other teams with star players or bigger fan bases.

Eight NBA notes from a hectic NBA week

TrueHoop • 353 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The Bucks firing Adrian Griffin and replacing him with Doc Rivers was perplexing.
  2. The general state of NBA officiating is a concern.
  3. The Miami Heat's move turning Kyle Lowry into Terry Rozier is worth noticing.

Participation vs. playing hurt

Good Morning It's Basketball • 334 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. NBA players have to meet specific criteria to qualify for certain awards like All-NBA.
  2. Injuries can impact a player's ability to meet these criteria and affect their contract extensions.
  3. Teams have to balance player health with contractual obligations in these situations.

The NBA season starts in eight days

Marc Stein • 648 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The NBA season starts in eight days, with teams beginning practice and preseason games.
  2. FIBA's world rankings have changed, with USA rising to the top and Germany moving to third.
  3. There are 49 NBA players classified as 'stars' subject to the new Player Participation Policy.

Wemby Mania

Marc Stein • 589 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Victor Wembanyama's NBA debut had its ups and downs.
  2. Despite foul trouble, Wembanyama impressed with a late nine-point flurry.
  3. Wembanyama rebounded well from a disappointing start in his debut game.

Milwaukee shocker

Good Morning It's Basketball • 569 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a surprise extension with the Milwaukee Bucks before the season, surprising many.
  2. The Bucks seem to be planning ahead with Giannis for future contracts and competitiveness.
  3. This move could alleviate some pressure on the Bucks for the upcoming season.

Win totals for all 30 NBA teams

TrueHoop • 511 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The NBA has a lot of talented players on various teams.
  2. The competition in the league is strong with very few bad teams.
  3. Projected win totals for the 2023-2024 season are lower, creating more drama in the games.

What is the standard for NBA disappointment?

Good Morning It's Basketball • 491 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Teams like Portland, Washington, and San Antonio are not expected to do well and are aiming for high draft picks.
  2. Teams like Charlotte, Detroit, Brooklyn, and Utah would be disappointing if they weren't in the race for a play-in spot in the second half of the season.
  3. Teams like Toronto, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, and Oklahoma City need to go beyond the first round of the playoffs to have a successful season.

The Specialist Sneaker Edition

Why is this interesting? • 1990 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Players' evolving playing styles demand specialized sneakers beyond just ankle support and cushioning.
  2. Sneaker design has shifted focus to meet specific playstyles like cutting, running, and jumping.
  3. New era of playstyle specialization in basketball shoes emphasizes using the right tools for optimal performance.

Re-tiering the NBA

Good Morning It's Basketball • 471 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Consider 8 teams as top contenders in the NBA.
  2. Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, and Phoenix Suns are in Tier 1 of contenders.
  3. Philadelphia 76ers, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, and Cleveland Cavaliers are also strong contenders.

Work beef in the NBA dark ages

Good Morning It's Basketball • 452 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The internet changed sports debate by providing more sources of information and hot takes.
  2. Pre-internet NBA drama relied more on TV, work discussions, and real-life arguments.
  3. The Shaq vs. Kobe feud was a major story that crossed over to become a work beef for many fans.

David Thorpe’s preseason notebook

TrueHoop • 432 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Preseason excitement is high but it's important to be cautious.
  2. Winning in preseason is not the main focus; it's more about trying out strategies.
  3. Ben Simmons is still a work in progress and has a long way to go.

The Julius Randle Question

Knicks Film School • 833 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The Julius Randle Question is a hot topic in the NBA community.
  2. Julius Randle's performance has been a mix of highs and lows, sparking varied opinions.
  3. Deciding the future of Julius Randle with the Knicks is complex and impacts the team's dynamics and potential trades.

Depth Charge

Knicks Film School • 674 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Depth has been crucial for New York in the playoff series.
  2. Jalen Brunson finished 3rd in the Most Improved Player voting.
  3. Knicks' depth has allowed them to take advantage of opponents' lineup weaknesses.

Let the Real Games Begin

Knicks Film School • 694 implied HN points • 10 Apr 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The Knicks are heading into the postseason with a pair of losses and uncertainties about Julius Randle's availability.
  2. Luka Doncic may want out of the Mavericks, and Kyrie Irving skipped his exit meeting, adding to the drama in Big D.
  3. Donovan Mitchell's pull-up 3-point shooting will be a key factor in the upcoming series between the Knicks and the Cavs.

Fake

TrueHoop • 294 implied HN points • 15 Mar 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. Faking in basketball can disrupt the defender's timing and slow down the offensive player.
  2. Faking is a basic skill that all basketball players can do, but many NBA players don't utilize it effectively.
  3. Coaches often discourage NBA players from faking during games.

Predicting the 2024 Paris Olympics Boomers roster

The Pick and Roll • 157 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The race for the 12 man Boomers roster at the 2024 Paris Olympics is heating up.
  2. Key players like Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, and Dante Exum are expected to be locks on the team.
  3. Other players like Joe Ingles, Matisse Thybulle, and Duop Reath are also predicted to be part of the final roster.

God bless Robert Sarver

That was bullshit and so can you • 117 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. The author's admiration for Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.
  2. The negative impact of Robert Sarver's decisions on the Phoenix Suns.
  3. How the author's fandom shifted from the Phoenix Suns to the San Antonio Spurs due to Sarver's actions.

Prospect Watch: NBA scouts weigh in on Bronny James and D.J. Wagner

Chad Ford's NBA Big Board • 59 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎾 Sports NBA
  1. NBA scouts are discussing Bronny James and D.J. Wagner as top prospects for the 2024 NBA draft.
  2. Both players are sons of former NBA players and have high expectations, but are facing challenges in their current season.
  3. There is a possibility that they may not be first-round picks and might consider staying in college to improve their draft stock for the 2025 class.