I love doing quarterly awards. First-quarter awards are always the most enjoyable, too, since there’s usually some things that deserve acknowledgment but tend to fade…
View More NBA 1st Quarter Award Winners (at least for us)
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.
Devin Booker is the Most Well-Rounded Guard in Basketball
Smart basketball people love to say that growth isn’t linear; that makes Devin Booker’s evolution as a player even more satisfying. It doesn’t necessarily show…
View More Devin Booker is the Most Well-Rounded Guard in Basketball
The Kings Offense is Good, but it’s not Good Enough
The Kings were riding high after last season, which culminated in the team’s first playoff berth in a high school junior’s lifetime. They had a…
View More The Kings Offense is Good, but it’s not Good Enough
Paul George is the Clippers’ best player. That’s not great!
Last night, the full-strength Clippers (sorry, Mason Plumlee!) lost to a Nuggets team missing its three best players playing on a road back-to-back, and it…
View More Paul George is the Clippers’ best player. That’s not great!
How the Orlando Magic created an elite defense
The Orlando Magic’s elite defense is a bit unusual. They aren’t filled with lockdown one-on-one stoppers. They give up a ton of shots at the…
View More How the Orlando Magic created an elite defense
Why you should care about the NBA Cup
Short post today as I’m traveling all week, but I’ve wanted to get something off my chest for a while now. Plenty of people out…
View More Why you should care about the NBA Cup
Is RJ Barrett for real? Grumpy Gus and Hopeful Hal debate.
Folks, thanks for being here! If you haven’t yet, please make sure to follow me on X/Twitter (@bballispoetry) and/or on Blue Sky (@basketballpoetry), and don’t…
View More Is RJ Barrett for real? Grumpy Gus and Hopeful Hal debate.
Chet Holmgren Is Here
The Chet Holmgren/Victor Wembanyama comparisons are inevitable. Both are rookies. Both are tall and so thin as to be two-dimensional. Both have untraditional skills for…
View More Chet Holmgren Is Here
Three Role Players I’ve Enjoyed
Folks, thanks for being here! If you haven’t yet, please make sure to follow me on X/Twitter (@bballispoetry) and/or on Blue Sky (@basketballpoetry), and don’t…
View More Three Role Players I’ve Enjoyed
Fact or fiction? Analyzing three early-season trends involving Zion, Wembanyama, and more
Folks, thanks for being here! If you haven’t yet, please make sure to follow me on X/Twitter (@bballispoetry) and/or on Blue Sky (@basketballpoetry), and don’t…
View More Fact or fiction? Analyzing three early-season trends involving Zion, Wembanyama, and more
Tyrese Maxey Is A One-Cut Running Back
Let’s start with the obvious caveat: it’s been three games. Nothing we’ve seen remotely approximates a significant sample size. But it’s also long enough that…
View More Tyrese Maxey Is A One-Cut Running BackWestern Conference Preview Haikus
Folks, it’s here. The NBA season tips off tonight. I can’t wait to have new games to write about! Here are my Western Conference haikus…
View More Western Conference Preview Haikus
2023-24 NBA Eastern Conference Preview Haikus
As I have in years past, I’ve created a season preview haiku for every NBA team. (Please don’t click away!) This year, I’ve included an…
View More 2023-24 NBA Eastern Conference Preview Haikus
Herb Jones is great, but he needs to be better
I jumped on the Herb Jones bandwagon early in his career. Most rookies typically struggle on defense, unused to complex team rules and the athleticism…
View More Herb Jones is great, but he needs to be better
13 Unlikely – But Plausible – NBA Predictions for the 2023-24 Season
Zach Lowe used to do an annual column featuring his “Crazy Predictions,” which were exactly what they sounded like. He stopped doing that column several…
View More 13 Unlikely – But Plausible – NBA Predictions for the 2023-24 Season
The Top 30 Best NBA Players for the 2023-24 Season
Disgusted with ESPN’s efforts at #espnrank? Wondering how on Earth Jalen Brunson could miss the top 30? We’re here for you (just barely). Hoop-Social paneled…
View More The Top 30 Best NBA Players for the 2023-24 Season
Portland sets the East on fire with the Jrue Holiday trade
Oh, Trail Blazers, you scamps! Positively scallywaggian! Just days after sending All-NBA point guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for another All-Star…
View More Portland sets the East on fire with the Jrue Holiday trade
Can Desmond Band keep the Grizzlies afloat?
Desmond Bane is even better than you think. The Grizzly with the beach ball biceps isn’t just a shooter, although he certainly is that. Few…
View More Can Desmond Band keep the Grizzlies afloat?
Five dark horse Sixth Man of the Year candidates
The Sixth Man of the Year (6MOY) award is one of the strangest NBA whimsies. A tribute to the best non-starter is both unnecessary and…
View More Five dark horse Sixth Man of the Year candidates
Is John Collins Lauri Markkanen 2.0?
A power forward is drafted in 2017. He makes an immediate on-court impact and slides onto the All-Rookie team. He averages nearly 20 and 10…
View More Is John Collins Lauri Markkanen 2.0?