Latest news with #Haberstroh
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA playoffs: Predictions for every first-round series
The first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs begins Saturday. Who will advance to the conference semis? Here are our staff predictions for every series. (Also check out our boldest predictions and NBA Finals picks.) EAST WEST EASTERN CONFERENCE (1) Cavaliers vs. (8) Heat Dan Devine: Cavs in 5 Vincent Goodwill: Cavs in 5 Tom Haberstroh: Cavs in 4 Morten Stig Jensen: Cavs in 5 Kevin O'Connor: Cavs in 4 Ben Rohrbach: Cavs in 4 Dan Titus: Cavs in 4 The Heat have done commendable work to pull out of their post-Jimmy-trade tailspin and win two play-in games on the road to make the postseason proper. When it comes to lining them up against this Cavs team, though, all that commendable work will buy them is a gentleman's sweep. — Devine Cleveland, OKC and Boston all sweep. We haven't seen three sweeps in Round 1 since 2020, but I have a feeling we'll see it outside the Bubble for the first time in almost a decade. They're that much better than their first-round opponents. — Haberstroh Cavaliers-Heat series preview, key matchups and schedule (2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic Devine: Celtics in 4 Goodwill: Celtics in 5 Haberstroh: Celtics in 4 Jensen: Celtics in 4 O'Connor: Celtics in 4 Rohrbach: Celtics in 4 Titus: Celtics in 5 The Celtics have too much firepower. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, even at 80%, are better than Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner at this point. And then there is Boston's depth. How are the Magic going to score with them? — Rohrbach Who's gonna challenge the Boston Celtics? They've toyed with the Knicks this year, their assumed second-round appointment unless Detroit crashes the party. So clearly the biggest challenge is the team that's led the East from end-to-end, those Cleveland Cavaliers. — Goodwill Celtics-Magic series preview, key matchups and schedule (3) Knicks vs. (6) Pistons Devine: Knicks in 7 Goodwill: Knicks in 7 Haberstroh: Knicks in 6 Jensen: Knicks in 7 O'Connor: Knicks in 7 Rohrbach: Knicks in 7 Titus: Pistons in 7 BetMGM has the Knicks as heavy favorites (-425, 81% probability to win), but Detroit's Cade Cunningham has been a problem for New York all year. The Pistons are well-coached with a balanced roster that can knock down 3s, bang in the post and lock down defensively. It's Detroit vs. Everybody on the road to claim its first postseason series win since 2008. — Titus The Pistons have been every bit as good as the Knicks for four solid months now — better over the past couple! — and are playing like a group with a defined identity that knows exactly who they are, what they need to do, and how they need to do it. ... That said: New York does have the talent advantage at the higher end — especially if Karl-Anthony Towns can replicate the kinds of postseason performances he turned in for the Timberwolves in last spring's opening rounds. — Devine Knicks-Pistons series preview, key matchups and schedule (4) Pacers vs. (5) Bucks Devine: Pacers in 6 Goodwill: Pacers in 7 Haberstroh: Pacers in 6 Jensen: Pacers in 6 O'Connor: Bucks in 7 Rohrbach: Bucks in 7 Titus: Bucks in 6 Giannis Antetokounmpo reminds us that it is unwise to pick against him in the playoffs, averaging around 40 points per game in a seven-game victory against the Pacers, which would count as an upset, according to BetMGM. Will a first-round victory be enough to convince Antetokounmpo that Milwaukee is still a long-term home for him? That I don't know. — Rohrbach Consecutive first-round losses to Indiana could prompt questions about Milwaukee's and Giannis' future. The Bucks can't waste another MVP-like campaign from Giannis, especially after beating the Pacers by an average margin of nine points in their three regular-season wins. — Titus Bucks-Pacers series preview, key matchups and schedule WESTERN CONFERENCE (1) Thunder vs. (8) Grizzlies Devine: Thunder in 5 Goodwill: Thunder in 5 Haberstroh: Thunder in 4 Jensen: Thunder in 5 O'Connor: Thunder in 4 Rohrbach: Thunder in 5 Titus: Thunder in 5 Can anyone take advantage of Oklahoma City's playoff inexperience? It matters whether you have been there before. Just look at the history of the league. But it may not matter for the Thunder. Led by a 26-year-old Shai Gilgeous-Alexaner, they could be too talented, too deep and too rabid to let anyone, even all-time greats, stand in their way of a title. — Rohrbach Give the Grizzlies a game, just to be nice. But OKC is more concerned with the more serious teams it will face down the road in the West than it is with a Memphis team that cannot seem to get its act together. — Rohrbach Thunder-Grizzlies series preview, key matchups and schedule (2) Rockets vs. (7) Warriors Devine: Warriors in 6 Goodwill: Warriors in 6 Haberstroh: Warriors in 7 Jensen: Warriors in 6 O'Connor: Rockets in 6 Rohrbach: Warriors in 7 Titus: Rockets in 6 Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. But I've yet to see this Rockets core win a seven-game series, and I've seen Steph and Draymond get a game on the road and eventually break a more athletic team, I've seen Jimmy tilt matchups against favorites, and I've seen both of those things a lot. Houston suffers the same fate as countless postseason debutantes across NBA history, and Golden State keeps rolling. — Devine Are we sleeping on the Rockets? The Warriors, the second seventh-seeded team favored in a first-round series since 1988, bring unmatched experience and a championship pedigree. Then they added Jimmy Butler. However, Houston's top-five defense thrives on physicality, wearing opponents down. With a frontcourt edge and defensive grit, the Rockets could disrupt Curry's rhythm — something we've seen Houston do to Steph before. — Titus Rockets-Warriors series preview, key matchups and schedule (3) Lakers vs. (6) Timberwolves Devine: Lakers in 6 Goodwill: Lakers in 6 Haberstroh: Lakers in 7 Jensen: Lakers in 6 O'Connor: Lakers in 6 Rohrbach: Lakers in 7 Titus: Wolves in 7 Luka Dončić owned the Timberwolves as a member of the Mavericks in last season's Western Conference finals, and now he has LeBron James at his side. Together they can solve Minnesota's defense. Barely. — Rohrbach I don't know what to expect from JJ Redick, Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves in their first foray together. Same goes for Jimmy Buckets and the pressure cooker of playing in San Francisco with Draymond Green and Curry. All bets are off. — Haberstroh Lakers-Wolves series preview, key matchups and schedule (4) Nuggets vs. (5) Clippers Devine: Nuggets in 7 Goodwill: Nuggets in 7 Haberstroh: Clippers in 6 Jensen: Nuggets in 7 O'Connor: Clippers in 7 Rohrbach: Nuggets in 7 Titus: Clippers in 6 This version of the Clippers absolutely can win this series, but this version of Nikola Jokić isn't outgunned against anybody. That, plus home court, tilts me slightly in Denver's favor. — Devine Nikola Jokić and Kawhi Leonard engage the world in a battle of non-emotional chess and treat us to one of the most compelling first-round matchups we've seen in years. — Goodwill Nuggets-Clippers series preview, key matchups and schedule
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Is Steph Curry a top-5 MVP candidate?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) In the most recent episode of "The Kevin O'Connor Show," there was a detailed discussion about Steph Curry's recent performances and his standing in the MVP race as the NBA season nears its conclusion. Advertisement O'Connor, along with guest Tom Haberstroh, delved into how Steph has been lighting it up, most notably with 52- and 37-point games. Despite his extraordinary contributions, Steph found himself ranked 12th in the MVP straw poll conducted by ESPN — a fact that both O'Connor and Haberstroh found quite bewildering. Haberstroh emphatically pointed out that Curry's impact on the game remains profound, with his on-court presence creating gravity that opens up the floor for his teammates. This is further exemplified by the impressive offensive rating the Golden State Warriors maintain when he is in the game. Haberstroh, who was one of the few writers to place Steph fifth on his MVP ballot, expressed that such performances should elevate Steph higher in MVP discussions. Kevin added to the conversation by highlighting the ambiguity of the fifth spot on the MVP ballot, which still seems up for grabs. He noted players like Donavan Mitchell are also in contention, but Steph's recent game-winning efforts make a strong case for him to secure that position. The Warriors' ability to appear as the stronger team in crucial matchups, such as against the Lakers on Thursday, underscores Steph's vital role in their potential playoff success. Advertisement Steph's playmaking and leadership have been invaluable, showcasing why he deserves more recognition in the MVP race. To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen Curry is defying Father Time yet again
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) Stephen Curry just can't seem to slow down, echoing the sentiments from Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberstroh on "The Kevin O'Connor Show." Curry's brilliance was front and center after he put up a staggering 56 points against the Orlando Magic. The feat occurred on a night that seemed coded into Curry's DNA. As KOC highlighted, Curry is showing that age is but a number. Each trey was a whisper against the notion of aging, reminiscent of his 54-point performance at Madison Square Garden 12 years ago. Meanwhile, Haberstroh offered a simple yet powerful statement: "We can't normalize this, KOC." Indeed, seeing Steph's stellar performance at such an age leaves us pondering, will we ever see this level of greatness again? Reflecting on the landscape of the NBA, KOC noted how these spectacles of endurance are unprecedented. LeBron James, at 40, continues to dominate the court. Haberstroh chimed in with staggering stats involving Curry, LeBron and Kevin Durant — pointing out that this triad of legends has tallied more 40-point games post-35 than the entire Dream Team. "We're never going to see anything like this," Haberstroh said. It makes one wonder, at what point do we stop and truly appreciate the wizardry? But it wasn't just raw numbers; it was the spotlight on Curry's unique ability to excel despite Father Time knocking. KOC highlighted the Warriors' savvy move in acquiring Jimmy Butler, showcasing their belief in Curry's enduring prowess. Such performances are a reminder of the giants who came before but also fuel for speculation about the future. If today's stars can rewrite the standard of peak performances in the latter stages of their careers, it sets a new benchmark for the incoming ones. If Curry can, why can't others? If Curry, LeBron and Durant can pull this off, who's next? Will Father Time ever get his win? Looking at the way Steph's been shooting, don't count on it. Catch the full discussion on "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
