NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
A fresh edition of NBA Courtside Chronicles coming at you now! With an eye toward the playoffs and the still new Play-In Tournament. With teams like the 76ers shutting down stars for the season and young squads gearing up to make an impact in the postseason let’s jump into this week’s thoughts from around the league.
Dub Nation Standing Up:
At the trade deadline, we all got punched in the face by the Lakers and Mavs trade and it was the talk of the town in all of sports not just the NBA. Well before Luka took over the airwaves the drama in Miami between the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler was all the rage. And in what seemed like a blip on our X feeds Jimmy Buckets was sent to Golden State to join Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and company. Well don’t look now but the Warriors are handling business. They are sitting as the 4th seed and a possible dream matchup with the Lakers.
They look like an entirely new team because that’s what they are. Butler has helped take some of the load off of an aging Curry as well as opened things up for young guys like Brandon Podziemski to grow and shine. No one is asking Butler to put up 30-plus points a game, nope just rebound, make the smart basketball play, and pick his spots to attack. Boasting a 20-5 record with Butler on the team they are HOT and enter the final week of the season as the team no one wants to play. Improved defense led by the soon-to-be defensive player of the year Draymond Green (yeah I said it). Juicy storylines all around us when this rebranded squad faces the mighty Lakers.
Is Houston Ready For Lift-Off?
For the first time since 2019, the Houston Rockets will play postseason basketball. They also boast 50 wins this season and have shown what many in hoop circles knew already Ime Udoka is a good basketball coach, this roster is talented and has figured it out.
More from Jalen Green as the #Rockets clinch their 1st playoff berth since the 2019-20 season
“He (Ime Udoka) was the head of the snake with just coming in and bringing the dog out of us. Bringing that culture to us and getting guys to play hard.”@HoustonRockets I #LiftOff pic.twitter.com/HO1FXIReDP
— Space City Home Network (@SpaceCityHN) April 3, 2025
The second seed in the west and looks like they will face either the Clippers or Timberwolves in the first round. A long way from being a group of players with no clear leader, plan, or direction. How sweet would a matchup with the Clippers and old friend James Harden be? Of course, people will talk about the lack of playoff experience but with a tested head coach and some players with playoff wounds, they will be just fine. I am excited for fans to watch them play and see what this team is all about.
Next week I name my NBA award winners for the season. MVP is it Jokic or SGA? And how well do YOU know this years rookie class? Just a few of the awards I plan on sharing, I want to thank everyone who took time to red even one of my weekly hoops column it has been fun enteracting with fellow hoop heads, and having good basketball conversations. Until take time.
