I wrote earlier this year about the NBA’s happiest surprises: Gilgeous-Alexander, the Kings, and more. Today, it’s time to write about the flip side: the…
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Michael Shearer
Michael Shearer is an NBA obsessive who writes to answer the questions he has about the league. You can follow him @bballispoetry. He also is a contributing writer for Fansided at Hoops Habit and writes a free NBA analytical newsletter at basketballpoetry.com that goes out every Tuesday and Friday.
Conference Finals Questions
West: Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers History: These teams met four times during the regular season, splitting the series, but all four were before…
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Which Team Most Needs Lottery Luck?
I don’t dive too deep into draft coverage — watching and following the players already in the NBA takes up all my time, and I…
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1 stat explaining every second-round series
146-145 Denver Nuggets are tied with Phoenix Suns, 2-2 Nikola Jokic has scored 146 points in the Nuggets’ 2-2 series with Phoenix. Devin Booker has…
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How two MVPs hit the scoring switch
The MVP award is about to be announced, and everything we know suggests Joel Embiid will take the crown. But Embiid was forced to miss…
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How the Knicks have dominated the Cavs without making a shot
*Editor’s note: numbers per Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise noted* It doesn’t make sense. Teams that rank dead last in turnover percentage don’t usually take…
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1 Stat Explaining Every Series So Far
10:25 Kings lead Warriors, 2-0 According to NBA.com, Kings’ backup guard Davion Mitchell has spent 10 minutes and 25 seconds directly guarding Stephen Curry across…
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The Most Deserving 2023 All-NBA Teams
The first-round playoff matchups have begun, and we’ll focus on that for the next few months (with the occasional discussion into a few other topics).…
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2023 NBA Awards, Part II: DPOY, MVP, EOY, and Clutch Player of the Year
My first set of awards are here. Those were the easy ones. But alas, I’ve run out of time to reflect, ruminate, and come up…
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Why Each MVP Candidate Should Be The Favorite
A) Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1 p | 11.8 r | 5.7 a | 0.8 s | 0.8 b | FG%: 55.3 | 3P%: 27.5 | FT%:…
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2022-23 NBA Awards, Part 1: Most Improved Player, Coach, Rookie, and Sixth Man of the Year
Awards season is the best. The content resonates strongly with readers, unlike deep-cut profiles on John Konchar. Awards are fun to read and write about…
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2022-2023 NBA All-Rookie Teams
Many seasons, it can be a struggle to find ten rookies worth honoring. 2022-2023 is not one of those years. RELATED: In some ways, it’s…
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2022-23 NBA All-Defensive Teams
I can’t remember the last time I had so much difficulty picking All-Defensive Teams. It’s quite the paradox that in the league’s best-ever offensive season,…
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The All-Poetry Teams: Who have I enjoyed watching the most this season?
As we gear up for playoffs and accolades seasons, my content itinerary is quickly filling up. Matchup analysis, All-NBA and All-Defensive teams, individual awards… there’s…
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4 Looming NBA Playoff X-Factors
Josh Okogie, Phoenix Suns Assuming KD can return from injury for the playoffs, the Suns have four locked-in starters and closers: Chris Paul, Devin Booker,…
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Four Dream First-Round Playoff Matchups
With the postseason approaching in 12-ish games, the playoff picture is starting to take some semblance of shape — postmodern art, as opposed to a…
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Five Happy Surprises This Season
1) Shai, ascending Perhaps no player in the NBA has exploded quite like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander this season. Already a star before the year began, SGA…
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Are There Too Many Technicals Today?
The NBA does not like it when referees are the topic of discussion. Officials in any sport are at their best when their names never…
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The Wild, Wild, Mediocre West
As of this writing, four teams are tied for the last two play-in spots: the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Portland…
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Can Quin Snyder Save The Hawks?
Sorry, Grant Williams Batman. The Scarecrow is back! After resigning from the Utah head honcho position after last year’s disappointing playoff exit, Snyder took his…
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