Top 15 Sneakers Worn During 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

Top 15 Sneakers Worn During 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend

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Last weekend the world’s best basketball players gathered in Chicago to celebrate 2020’s NBA All-Stars. Between the Rising Stars Game, Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest, and All-Star Game – the sneakers were out in full force on the hardwood. Brands and athletes use this weekend as a platform to showcase either new colorways of signature models or sometimes new signature models altogether. Nowadays, it’s hard to truly “debut” a new shoe or colorway without a leaked image being seen on social media first. Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard were successful in doing this however. James sported a new “Space Jam” themed colorway on his XVII silhouette, inspired by one of the main characters. Kawhi debuted his first official signature shoe with New Balance.

We at Sneaker Reporter compiled a list of the Top 15 Sneakers worn during the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend. In addition to new colorways and models being on the list, wearing customs is another way to make the Top 15. Additionally, if there is a big moment attached to when you were wearing a particular shoe, then that is another way an NBA player can find themself on the list. What were your favorite shoes from All-Star Weekend? Do you think our top pick deserved to be #1?

 

 

15. Nike Adapt BB 2.0 “Chicago” (Gamer Exclusive) – Ja Morant

 

     

 

 

14. Jordan XXX4 SE – Jayson Tatum

 

           

 

 

13. Jordan X “Wings” – Kemba Walker

 

           

 

 

12. Jordan CP3.XII – Chris Paul

 

     

 

 

11. Nike Zoom Freak 1 “Employee of the Month” – Giannis Antetokounmpo

 

     

 

 

10. Puma Clyde Hardwood “Miami” Custom – Derrick Jones Jr. (done by @solesbysir)

 

           

 

 

9. Jordan XXX4 Low “White Cement” – Luka Doncic

 

     

 

 

8. Jordan Why Not Zer0.3 “LA Born” (Home/Away) – Russell Westbrook

 

           

 

 

7. Adidas YZY QNTM “BSKTBL” – Zach LaVine

 

     

 

 

6. Nike Kobe A.D. Custom – Bam Adebayo (done by @solesbysir)

 

                 

 

 

5. New Balance “The Kawhi” – Kawhi Leonard

 

           

 

 

4. Jordan XXX4 “Infrared” – Luka Doncic

 

     

 

 

3. Nike Lebron XVII “Monstars” – Lebron James

 

                 

 

 

2. Nike Kobe 5 Protro “LA” – Anthony Davis

 

     

 

 

1. Nike Lebron XVII “Mr. Swackhammer” – Lebron James

 

                 

 

 

 

 

Feb 20, 2020 No Comments
SneakerReporter NBA Mid-Season Grades (Central Division)

SneakerReporter NBA Mid-Season Grades (Central Division)

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All-Star Weekend is over, and now we are going to wrap up the Mid-Season Grades for the league with the Central Division up next.

Chicago Bulls (19-36): C

The Bulls are truly beginning a new era for the organization, developing the core of LaVine and co. Their roster is very young, with their oldest player in Thaddeus Young at 31. It’s almost certain that people didn’t expect much success from the Bulls, but also had decently high hopes with LaVine, Dunn, and Coby White. I personally believe that this team has more potential to be better than their current record, but time will only tell once these players start developing individually and as a team.

Cleveland Cavaliers (14-40): F

It is definitely not a great feeling saying that a team is playing at such a low level, but we’re also discussing a roster that has no real standout performers. Whether it be from the younger names like Collin Sexton, Kevin Porter Jr., and Darius Garland to their more veteran players like Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Matthew Dellavedova, the Cavaliers have struggled to find any rhythm this season. They also recently made the trade for Pistons star Center Andre Drummond, a trade that left a lot of fans from both teams confused. It doesn’t seem very likely for Drummond to make enough of an impact for the Cavs to get a whole lot of tallies under the win column, or perhaps they’re planning so something much bigger for the future.

Detroit Pistons (19-38): D

What was previously said regarding giving an F to the previous team could also be said for giving a team a D. Personally I would want all teams to be playing at their full potential, but in just hasn’t been able to happen for the Pistons. The Pistons have recently lost acquisitions in Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, two of the bigger names on that Detroit roster. With Blake Griffin only playing 18 games so far this season, there isn’t too much to be excited about other than really watching Derrick Rose come back into his form. Depending on whether or not the Pistons will choose to build around Griffin and Rose is a matter that will most likely be addressed as the season progresses, which will hopefully put them in a better position for the remainder of games and so forth.

Indiana Pacers (32-23): B

It goes without saying that fans league wide expected the Pacers to be in Playoff contention this season, especially with the highly anticipated return of Victor Oladipo. With that said they have positioned themselves at the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference, working towards solidifying themselves into the Playoffs. The roster has looked solid together without their star Guard in Oladipo, and now with him getting back into the swing of things, their trajectory is definitely upside. What they can do with potential Playoff positioning is entirely up to them when that time comes.

Milwaukee Bucks (46-8): A+

Coming into this season, some were skeptical with the roster changes, or lack thereof, for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. People believed that the organization really needed to bolster their team with solid pieces surrounding their superstar in the Greek Freak, particularly after the loss of Malcolm Brogdon. This then brought upon players like Wes Matthews, Kyle Korver, and Robin Lopez. This too, brought more skepticism towards the Bucks before the season began, but was quickly shut down to the Bucks coming out with the best record in the league overall. This brings high hopes to Bucks fans worldwide, perhaps getting deeper into the Playoffs and potentially the NBA Finals. With Giannis playing as he has been, and the team surrounding him getting the job on their respective ends, the sky is the limit for the team.

 

Feb 20, 2020 No Comments
The Weekly Drop Pt. 28

The Weekly Drop Pt. 28

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It to be expected that with this week practically ending on Valentine’s Day, we’d receive a ton of music dedicated to love. From a surprise release of “Because of You,” by Kodak Black along with a poem for Zendaya to there being two singles entitled ” Valentine,”  we also got a fair share of music with the theme of heartbreak. We also got the complete projects of Justin Bieber with ‘ Change,’ and A Boogie with the Hoodies’ ‘ Artist 2.0,’ two projects that made multiple entries into the playlist.

This weeks ‘Weekly Drop’ includes music released from Feb. 9th – 15th  featuring the cover art of Pharrell Williams and two of the three shoes in his Human Made x Adidas Hu collaboration where all three silhouettes sport an unmissable oversized heart on the toe box branded “Human Made,” I thought these shoes would be fitting for this theme of Valentines weekend. Here are a few singles this week that you should keep an eye out for on the playlist.

Y.O.U – Luh KelLuh-Kel-Y-O-U.jpg

Following his chart success with help of social media platform, TikTok 17-year-old R&B/Hip-Hop artist Luh Kel is creating a buzz with latest single “Y.O.U.,” produced by Backroll Got It, DJ Luney Tunez and Beat Juug, and arrives along with a cinematic visual executive produced by Adam Ben & Edgar Jonny with Blanksquare. The visual sees Kel’s playing the new kid at school, competing with a typical Jock for his crushes affection. Providing the message that labels don’t matter when it comes to love.

This smooth R&B banger is Kel’s first single since the release of ‘Mixed Emotions,’ at the end of 2019 which has quickly earned Platinum certification from the RIAA. The 17-year-old has been hard at work touring alongside Polo G at 1500-plus sized venues across North America, performing at Rolling Loud Los Angeles to close out 2019, and headlining a show in hometown St. Louis at a sold-out FuBar. All of this is shaping up to be Kel’s break-out year in 2020.

Love Song – IV Jay

Image result for Love Song - IV Jay

IV Jay bringing back the feeling of 90’s R&B with a new school twist, with her single entitled “Love Song,” co-written by Pink Sweat$. The 17-year-old multi-talented Latinx artist who used her Instagram virality to leverage a record deal with Atlantic is expected to feature this single on her upcoming EP entitled ‘5th Element’ coming in March.

IV Jay states she never been able to write a love song and wishes she can write one. This is the dream of anyone you would consider a hopeless romantic, with dreams of falling in love with someone the way it happens in the movies. So what’s the reason she’s never had the chance to write a love song? While the reason for this that every time she felt that her feeling where moving in that direction whoever she with has done something childish to mess it up.

Monday – Kota the Friend

Image result for Monday - Kota the Friend

This is a little diversion from the mass amount of music that will have you feeling either love or hate for that person you been in a relationship with, Brooklyn native Kota the Friend has come with just a song to relax to with his newest single “Monday.” The first thing that stands out to me is the laid back and nonchalant tone of his cadence mixed with the sounds of someone plucking the strings on a basic Guitar I feel as if I’m watching a skateboard video on YouTube in it’s earliest stage or maybe on a beach in Hawaii with a Mai Tai. This is very ironic that he name the single after maybe one of the most stressful days of the week. Everyone knowns Monday is a necessary evil to get the bread for parties on Friday and Saturday so no complaints.

Honeymoon Fades – Sabrina Carpenter

Image result for Honeymoon Fades - Sabrina Carpenter

Coming on the heels of her casting as Cady Heron in Tina Fey’s MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL on Broadway singer, songwriter, and actress Sabrina Carpenter releases single “Honeymoon Fades.” The single in itself has Carpenter hoping that the love between her and whoever else doesn’t fade away the longer they stay together.

“My newest song “Honeymoon Fades” is a love letter penned directly towards my fans,” said Sabrina. “It’s a direct thank you to everyone who has followed and stuck with me through my journey so far.”

Eugene – Arlo Parks

Image result for Eugene - Arlo Parks

London-based singer-songwriter Arlo Parks is going places and her latest single “Eugene,” is proof of that. With an uncanny ability to zero in on a feeling during a delicate moment when the line between friendships and romantic relationships blur and, inevitably, feelings get hurt.

This relatable situation is captured perfectly in the song’s video directed by British rapper Loyle Carner and his brother Ryan, their debut project as The Coyle-Larner Brothers. Arlo’s bed is shown as a metaphor for the closeness she feels towards a pal. When things are good is is the backdrop for photo shoots, late-night chats, and movie screenings. However, the tone of the song shifts when Eugene enters. The Coyle-Larner Brothers demonstrate this fraying of the relationship via a literal crack in the bed that leaves the figurative distance a physical gap.

 “It’s supposed to be quite ambiguous. The general gist is about having complicated feelings towards someone you’ve known for a long time. That was something I had seen around me and experienced myself,” Said Arlo Parks in a recent interview with Fader  It’s not necessarily in a romantic sense, either. It’s just a feeling that you’re being left out or not getting the right kind of love from the people you care about. That amviguity is captured really well in the video. It is about two people who are close.”

Konclusions – YG ft. Kehlani

Image result for Konclusions - YG ft. Kehlani

On Thursday, a new single by hip-hop couple YG and Kehlani entitled “Konclusions,” YG professes his love for the singer while boasting about their sex lives.

After YG’s cheating allegations when TMZ camera caught him kiss another woman during Todd Gurly’s Halloween Party. Kehlani wrote in a since-deleted December tweet “I am single. and focused,” it seemed the couple called it quits. Earlier this month YG unveiled his new wrist tattoo dedicated to Kehlani. The SweetSexySavage artist shared a photo of the ink in an Instagram story, essentially confirming they were working things out. And fans couldn’t have been any happier.

On Sunday, Kehlani is putting YG on blast, with the song “Valentine’s Day (Shameful),” on which she appears to confirm their split.  Kehlani coming to terms with their relationship and realizing that she’s better off without him.

The playlist is posted below, so take some time and find your new go-to when you get the aux.

Feb 19, 2020 No Comments
THE WEDDING YEAR DOESN’T BREAK THE MOLD,BUT IT GIVE A NEW TWIST TO AN OLD STORY

THE WEDDING YEAR DOESN’T BREAK THE MOLD,BUT IT GIVE A NEW TWIST TO AN OLD STORY

Celebs

Have you ever felt like everyone you knew is becoming getting married, having kids, becoming adults? The feeling of being stuck in your 20’s or still chasing your dreams but being put them on the backburner because of…you know bills. While you not alone, everyone’s life isn’t on the same cloak some milestones are achieved at different points in life for people. Finding the right person to spend the rest of your life with could be as simple as swiping right on whatever popular dating app you have on your phone.

Robert Luketic’s “The Wedding Year,” starring Sarah Hyland and Tyler James Williams is the perfect example when you choose to swipe right it could lead you to the love of your life. Mara Hickey (Sarah Hyland) is a Los Angeles photographer whose fear of being rejected has gotten her to set on a retail job. This fear of rejection plays a big factor in her commitment issues as she only uses a dating app to get a free meal. The match between Jake Riddick (Tyler James Williams) would lead to an unexpected connection. As Mara starts to order everything off the menu, Jack has to come clean saying ” Okay, hold on I’m not a celebrity chef. I make minimum wage at the diner down the street.”  Jack asked if she would like to leave this upscale restaurant once she agrees We see the two at the diner where Jack makes Mara some pancakes.

As one thing led to another the two find themselves in a relationship, the couple is put to the test after being invited to 15 weddings in the same year and deciding to attend 7. Mara who doesn’t believe she is the marrying type and Jack who is evenly ready-to-settle-down after attending a few wedding. Sayin yes to his proposal but still having doubts Mara begins to pull away once meeting Jack’s overbearing family.

In all this was a good movie and it helps me to get over the idea of Tyler James Williams just being Chris form Everbody Hates Chris, and that terrible Disney movie about rap battles (yes that movie exists)

“The Wedding Year,” is available to stream now on Amazon Prime, Check out the trailer posted below:

Feb 18, 2020 No Comments
SR – NBA Power Rankings: Week 18

SR – NBA Power Rankings: Week 18

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Week 18 rankings are here, and even though it will be a delayed week with all basketball activity resuming on the very dawn of this upcoming Thursday, it is finally that time of the year where the dead sprint for the last remaining playoff spots starts up. It’s hard to believe that there are literally under 29 games left for all 30 teams to compile their 2019 campaigns, so for the teams that are on the bubble of achieving that sixth, seventh or eighth seed, there is little to no margin for error, for it could be detrimental and destructive to the build-up that got teams like Memphis, Oklahoma City, Indiana, and Brooklyn in this position.

Since the remaining residue of All-Star Weekend is to last until later this week, the two best teams in the NBA were led by the team captains of last night’s surprisingly intense All-Star Game, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Los Angeles’ LeBron James. the Lakers and Bucks are more than likely secure enough to hang onto their spots atop the league’s food chain, but as for the rest of the 28 others, teams like the Heat, Clippers, Celtics, and Nuggets will certainly ascertain themselves into the final say of who gets into the top four spots in their respective conferences.

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1. Milwaukee Bucks (46-8, Last Week’s Ranking: 1)

At this point in the season, it’s up to head coach Mike Budelholzer if he wants his Bucks to challenge for that on-pace-for-70-wins mark or have them rest in time for the playoffs with their 6 1/2 game lead over 2nd-place Toronto. And as mentioned in a previous power ranking article, it took the last team to win over 70 games (the 2016 Warriors that went 73-9) 58 games to clinch a playoff spot. These Bucks, however, already clinched a playoff spot in 49 games, and are still unlikely but somehow on track to achieve that coveted 74-8 with the exceptionally put-together team GM Jon Horst was instrumental in crafting.

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2. Los Angeles Lakers (41-12, Last Week’s Ranking: 2)

The Lakers enter the second half of the season with a four-game lead over the climbing 2nd-place Nuggets. Landing the top seed would be extremely valuable for LeBron James and the Lakers, who will be able to rest their key pieces in time for the grueling schedule of the postseason. And, It is also within the realm of possibility that a certain DeMarcus Cousins could be healthy in time for the playoffs, as his ACL rehabilitation is nearly complete. But a persistent problem for the Lakers is that if the Clippers just so happen to land the fourth seed, the Conference finals that many predicted in May could come a little earlier in the conference semifinals.

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3. Toronto Raptors (40-15, Last Week’s Ranking: 3)

Toronto’s dreams of entering the All-Star Break with a 16-game winning streak was ultimately crushed by the Brooklyn Nets, but to the chagrin of Raptors skeptics, this team is getting healthy at the right time, and are currently second in the East and are only three games out of having the second-best record in the NBA behind the 41-win Lakers. and the craziest stat of all: Their .727 win percentage and plus-6.3 scoring margin this year are better last season’s championship-caliber Raptors. (.707 win percentage, plus-5.8 scoring margin) from last season. So yes, no Kawhi, no problem.

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4. Boston Celtics (38-16, Last Week’s Ranking: 4)

The third-best team in the East was fortunate to pass on two Celtics into Sunday’s All-Star Game as both Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker contributed a total of 29 points to Sunday’s festivities. On the floor together, it’s imperative that both All-Stars, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and others work out any kinks and tighten up any insufficiencies in their last 28 games. Playoff positioning is imperative for everybody, and especially a Celtics team that is still the third-best defensive team in basketball.

Barring a losing streak — their longest is three games — the Celtics, who currently own the No. 3 seed in the East, will likely have home-court advantage throughout the first round. Boston has the capability to take over the Raptors in the East, and it’s probably a priority for them since they’re only 2½ games back of the 2nd-seed Raptors, and there is a distinct advantage to being the No. 2 seed rather than No. 4 as a date with the Bucks in the conference semis is less likely favored by them.

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5. Denver Nuggets (38-17, Last Week’s Ranking: 5)

Just like everyone else in the tedious West, eventual duels with the Lakers, Clippers or Rockets seems practically unavoidable, so for the last six weeks of the season, Mike Malone will be tasked at finding the top-tier of talent on his squad to compile what will look like a playoff-ready rotation. And seeing as how Denver is still the second-best team in the West with arguably one of the more solid and deep rosters in the entire league, that decision may be made sooner rather than later.

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6. Los Angeles Clippers (37-18, Last Week’s Ranking: 6)

So, here are some positives and negatives: the Clippers are plus-9.6 points per 100 possessions when both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard share the court. But they rarely get a chance to do so, playing a combined 572 minutes in the Clippers’ 2,655 minutes this year. One of them cannot stay healthy, and it doesn’t help that Paul George re-aggravated his left hamstring last Thursday in LA’s 2OT loss to the Celtics, further keeping him out of future contests after the All-Star Break ends. For their next six weeks of regular-season competition, it’s of utmost importance that they remain healthy as possible with their chemistry intact, or it could spell trouble come postseason time if things unravel as we enter April.

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7. Utah Jazz (36-18, Last Week’s Ranking: 8)

Now a full game out of 3rd in the West, the Jazz are still a top-10 defensive team in the league and are still getting their bearings with one another, as Mike Conley’s assimilation into Quin Snyder’s guard rotation is paying off handily. 20.3 points, 5 rebounds and 4.8 assists were averaged by the former Memphis Grizzlies guard in his return earlier this month.

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8. Miami Heat (35-19, Last Week’s Ranking: 7)

Dwyane Wade’s jersey retirement is taking place this Saturday, as Mickey Arison, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the Heat organization will celebrate the Heat’s greatest player in franchise history. Not bad for a way to kick off the second half of the season for Miami, who start the next six weeks of play against two beatable opponents in Atlanta and Cleveland in this short week. Additionally, the new acquisition of Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder should be helpful in their pursuit of the East’s No. 2 seed.

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9. Houston Rockets (34-20, Last Week’s Ranking: 9)

So here’s where the newly-integrated small ball game plan reaches a head. The usage rate of 6’5 center P.J. Tucker is high, considering that he (34.9 mpg.) and James Harden (37.1 mpg.) have logged the most minutes of anyone on the roster. That’s dangerously problematic for a variety of reasons, but mainly because it’s yet to be seen if they are to have enough in the tank for the playoffs in April. With the fifth seed in the West, only 3 1/2 games in front of the OKC Thunder, playoff positioning starts to become a thing of importance now, and this resurgent Thunder team is beginning to step foot on their trail.

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10. Philadelphia 76ers (34-21, Last Week’s Ranking: 11)

For the last 14 home games in Philadelphia on their schedule, the Sixers have a good chance to finish the season with only two losses inside the Wells Fargo Center, now 25-2 at home. But there’s still a considerable concern for a team that has the worst road record of any team over .500 this year. 9-19 is an ugly blemish on a team that is perceived as nearly unbeatable on home soil but lottery pick-esque away from it. And to add to the polarization to make matters worse, Philly has to travel to Milwaukee again this Saturday night and then head west to play both the Lakers and Clippers in the Staples Center. We’re now talking about Philly now completely falling out of the fifth spot in the East and to get out of this road rut, they’ll have to configure some way to replicate their efforts from their Dec. 12 win over Boston — the last team over .500 they beat on the road all season.

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11. Oklahoma City Thunder (33-22, Last Week’s Ranking: 10)

OKC is juggling with the sixth seed in the Western standings and is in the midst of a dead heat with the equally 33-22 Dallas Mavericks, who are getting healthy at the most opportune time. Seeding is debatable for this Thunder team, but what isn’t anymore are their heightened chances to get to the dance in April. This team, supposedly on schedule to coast this year on the path to acquiring more draft capital and free agents onto their roster, is now on the cusp of making it to the playoffs, entering the All-Star break with the league’s highest winning streak at eight games.

This week, two tough games both at home against San Antonio and Denver await the Thunder, and with six weeks to go, more experience for the young pieces in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo await in this already miraculous year.

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12. Dallas Mavericks (33-22, Last Week’s Ranking: 12)

Keep in mind: this is still the first season that Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are teammates, and they’ve only played together in 10 of their last 31 games. So for what it’s worth, they’ve done a pretty spectacular job in maintaining their Mavs’ spot within the pack of the Western marathon. These next couple of weeks will likely determine if the two are really prepared for a postseason berth and if the supporting cast around them is prepared as well. They entered the break on a high note, beating the Kings in a dominant showing by both Doncic and Porzingis and have both struggling teams in Atlanta and Orlando in this short week.

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13. Indiana Pacers (32-23, Last Week’s Ranking: 13)

The Pacers’ six-game winning streak was luckily abrupted with an upset win over the Pacers before the All-Star break happened this past week, but that doesn’t admonish the fact that this team is still in the early stage of easing Victor Oladipo back into Nate McMillan’s guard rotation, and is having quite the difficulty in doing so. But when they’re healthy, they have the potential to flip the East on its head and play any of the top 3 seeds in the conference tightly, regardless of who they may see in the first round of the playoffs.

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14. Memphis Grizzlies (28-26, Last Week’s Ranking: 14)

The Grizzlies have the capability to secure the eighth seed, and now with a comfortable four-game lead in the West over Portland, but here’s the catch: Memphis has the most difficult remaining schedule in the NBA with a combined opponents’ winning percentage of .554. That’s not easy, but that’s still more opportunities for Memphis’ development of their youthful core of Brandon Clarke and Rookie of the Year favorite Ja Morant. And for the first time in what feels like five years, meaningful basketball is to be played in the last three months of the regular season in the Grindhouse.

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15. Brooklyn Nets (25-28, Last Week’s Ranking: 16)

Are these Nets better off without Kyrie Irving? Let the tabloids speculate and post whatever they may, but the fact of the matter is that the Nets, during the stretches that Kyrie Irving was inactive, have exceeded win limitations all year, and they did it again going 4-1 without Irving in the past couple of weeks. Their 101-91 win on Toronto was huge and with the developing game of Caris Levert playing such an integral part in the Nets’ boosted win percentage, Irving’s return to a lineup that has proven they can perform well without him certainly helps, considering that Brooklyn will enter the final 29 games with 16 of them on the road, including three separate road trips of four games.

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16. Portland Trail Blazers (25-31, Last Week’s Ranking: 15)

Either this season is cursed, or the Basketball Gods must not be a fan of Dame D.O.L.L.A’s music. Every peak the climbing Blazers happen to reach, going on multiple winning streaks with Damian Lillard turning on the burners in the months of January and February and them finally seeing some improvement in getting their guys healthy just reached another drop and valley due to Damian Lillard suffering an untimely groin injury right before the All-Star break in a loss to the Pelicans.

He’ll be out for a week or so, which isn’t too injurious but they’re four games back of the final playoff spot. Time is running out and it’s felt like its been “four/five games out” for the whole season, so can things turn around?

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17. New Orleans Pelicans (23-32, Last Week’s Ranking: 18)

Just imagine if Zion Williamson was healthy enough to play for the entire season and until this point. My, oh my, how things would have tectonically shifted in the West, and that doesn’t just apply to the ROY contest. Zion has electrified and has taken the league by storm, to put it briefly. He’s off to a historically good start to his career while averaging 22.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks per contest. Though it’s unlikely that this young team, now 13 games out of the playoff seeding, has any chance of making it to the April tournament, the rest of the season is a means of development and chemistry building for the likes of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Jaxson Hayes, and Williamson.

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18. San Antonio Spurs (23-31, Last Week’s Ranking: 17)

It’s still startling to keep a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since I’ve been born this low on the list every week, but let’s face it: these Spurs just don’t have what it takes to keep the streak alive. For the first time since 1997, the San Antonio Spurs have yet to tread out of the dangerous territory that involves missing out on a postseason berth and don’t look as if they’re to improve that mark anytime soon with six weeks to go. A road trip out West to Utah and OKC is certainly a challenge for this Spurs team that is coming off this All-Star break only winning three of their last eight.

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 19. Orlando Magic (24-31, Last Week’s Ranking: 19)

In an ironic twist, the Orlando Magic are in a tug o’ war to keep their playoff spot as the eighth seed but are hugging it tightly with a slim, 3-game lead over the ninth seed Washington Wizards. Furthermore, they’re two games away from obtaining the seventh seed and will fight until April to keep their positioning and secure their second straight playoff visit. But, a singular truth remains: they can’t beat good teams. Out of 29 contests, they’ve only won 5 games against teams scheduled to make the playoffs all season. But for a plus, they have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NBA, and that could help them reach over the seasonal finish line with their postseason berth intact.

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20. Phoenix Suns (22-33, Last Week’s Ranking: 21)

Phoenix hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2010, when Steve Nash was their starting point guard. And in 2020, it looks as if there will be more of the same, regardless of first-time All-Star Devin Booker giving his all to get the Suns in a respectful spot to challenge for the eighth seed. Phoenix is now 6 1/2 games out of catching up to Memphis, and after opening this year with promise and playoff potential, are probably looking at the Draft Lottery for more answers on how to get into the top eight seeds in future seasons.

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21. Washington Wizards (20-33, Last Week’s Ranking: 22)

The Wizards aren’t as far away from challenging for the eighth seed as you might think. Sure, Scotty Brooks could take the time of the next six weeks to provide more confidence to the Wiz’s young pieces, thus waving the white flag to their playoff hopes and especially since John Wall is to return next year. But, Rui Hachimura is playing well, Bradley Beal can play like one of the best shooting guards in basketball, Davis Bertans is still shooting at a proficient 42 percent clip from deep, and this Wizards team is still one of the most efficient offenses in the league. So yes, there’s a chance.

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22. Sacramento Kings (21-33, Last Week’s Ranking: 20)

This season is already a lost cause, but hey, at least Buddy Hield was able to win the Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend. The health of this Kings team has been a sore spot all season, and losing De’Aaron Fox again for an extended time because of an ankle tightness issue that finds a way to bother Fox when he sits for an extended period of time.

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23. Chicago Bulls (19-36, Last Week’s Ranking: 23)

After a fun weekend of basketball festivities in the United Center and beyond, it’s time to snap back into the reality that the Bulls are more than likely going to struggle in attracting Zach Lavine to stick around for the Bulls’ plan of getting additional and better talent around their franchise cornerpiece. He’s still averaging 25.3 points per contest and was definitely in the conversation of being an All-Star, but his Bulls keep losing, now stuck at the 10th spot in the East.

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24. Detroit Pistons (19-38, Last Week’s Ranking: 24)

Detroit is now free of Andre Drummond’s contract, while they acquired some second-round picks in the process of letting their franchise’s 2nd all-time rebounder go to the Cavaliers. Which, in a sense, makes the rest of the season a tryout for the non-household names on the Pistons roster.

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25. Charlotte Hornets (18-36, Last Week’s Ranking: 27)

Despite their chances of getting to the postseason now at zero, the remaining 28 games for Charlotte still have meaning. The Hornets have 10 players under the age of 25 to evaluate through the end of the season, inlcluding Malik Monk, Caleb Martin, and Devonte Graham can look at the next 28 games as a reason for motivation to improve their games even more, starting with the Bulls and Nets on their schedule in this short week.

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26. New York Knicks (17-38, Last Week’s Ranking: 25)

Interim Head Coach Mike Miller has gotten this talent-deficient Knicks team to a solid 13-20 record in the short time that he’s been appointed as the lead playcaller for the Knicks’ organization. And in that short time, he’s made it known that the development of his young guys in Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina and the importance of emphasizing that experience is the best teacher has rallied this Knicks team around him to play hard every single night. So, for the rest of the year, just like all growing teams near the bottom of the league, development is key to the organization’s growth into a contender someday.

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27. Minnesota Timberwolves (16-37, Last Week’s Ranking: 26)

The Timberwolves will spend the rest of this season seeing what they have with their new core of Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell, and what they can do in the season’s final three months. The two best buds, both members from the 2015 NBA Draft, are very young, as Towns is 24 and Russell is 23. The deal for Russell and Towns’ conjoining is for at least the next three seasons, and for a young roster that’s likely to have another lottery pick added to it in the upcoming draft, the rest of this season is all about evaluation of the pieces, how they play with one another, and the future.

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28. Atlanta Hawks (15-41, Last Week’s Ranking: 28)

DeWayne Dedmon’s reunion with the Hawks isn’t necessarily coordinated with the league’s love affair with small ball, as the Atlanta Hawks also got Clint Capela from Houston in a trade in the sense that size will hopefully create more floor space for Trae Young and a growing roster.

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29. Cleveland Cavaliers (14-40, Last Week’s Ranking: 29)

A bunch of news coming out of Cleveland in the past two weeks: They acquired Andre Drummond via a trade, John Beilein is thinking of stepping down from head coaching responsibilities, the model of regression for both Collin Sexton and rookie Darius Garland is an unavoidable red flag, and they currently own the worst record in the East. If there’s any consolation, the Cavaliers are primed to get a decent pick via the draft lottery.

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30. Golden State Warriors (12-43, Last Week’s Ranking: 30)

It might not make much sense for Stephen Curry to play upon his March 1 approval date to return, but it could possibly be a prelude to next year’s healthier Warriors that, with Klay Thompson and a high draft pick, should get the Dubs back into the position to win back the West. Plus, who wouldn’t enjoy watching the former two-time league MVP hoist up 30-foot shots at the enjoyment of league supporters everywhere, regardless if it results in the Warriors winning?

Feb 18, 2020 No Comments