Can the two-time reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, make a deep playoff run with the help of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.?
The Denver Nuggets have made the playoffs four years in a row with Nikola Jokic, getting as far as the Western Conference Finals in 2019-20. Last year’s performance may have been even more impressive than that, however, as Denver reached the postseason with a 48-34 record despite being without the services of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. basically all campaign, and with Aaron Gordon as the team’s second-best player.
Now, with Gordon back to being a No. 3 or No. 4 option on most nights, a healthy Murray and Porter back in the mix and Jokic still performing like Jokic, just how far can the Nuggets go?
HoopsHype previews the 2022-23 Los Angeles Clippers, with the team, under Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, looking primed for a title run.
The most anticipated season in Los Angeles Clippers history is upon us, one that will carry the heavy burden of expectation for a franchise with zero championships and zero Finals appearances in its history. Heck, the team has only made it to the Conference finals twice in its 53-season history.
Finals or bust may be unfair, but with how loaded the Clippers project is, led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who will be surrounded by good-to-great role players, maybe that should be the team’s goal for the upcoming campaign.
Below, we preview the 2022-23 Los Angeles Clippers season.
HoopsHype discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the 2021-22 Raptors, and potential moves they can make plus more in our season preview.
The 2020-21 NBA season was a tumultuous one for the Toronto Raptors, mired by having to play all of its home games in Tampa, Florida due to COVID-19 restrictions in Canada, as well as by missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.
There was also a good amount of turmoil surrounding the Canadian franchise, primarily around Pascal Siakam and head coach Nick Nurse, with the former a consistent source of trade rumors throughout the campaign.
The Raptors will be hoping a return to Toronto and growth from their promising young pieces will be enough to allow them to return to prominence in the Eastern Conference, despite the loss of Kyle Lowry.
Below, check out our preview for the 2021-22 Raptors campaign.
HoopsHype discusses strengths and weaknesses of the 2021-22 Lakers, as well as potential moves they can make and more in our season preview.
The Los Angeles Lakers head into a vital 2021-22 campaign with a ton on the line, though with some stability thanks to LeBron James and Anthony Davis both being signed at least through 2022-23.
Still, with brand names as powerful as “LeBron” and “Lakers” on one team, a ton of expectations come with that, and anything short of another championship run for Los Angeles will be seen as a major disappointment for the purple-and-gold franchise.
Below, check out our preview for the 2021-22 Lakers campaign.
The New Orleans Saints are back on the road in Week 5, and our 2021 opponent preview continues with the Washington Football Team. For fans sorely missing Drew Brees, this game should invoke some good nostalgia; it was against Washington on Monday Night Football where Brees broke Peyton Manning’s record as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards.
The team will face off against longtime NFC South rival head coach Ron Rivera for the first time since joining the organization last season. They’ll have another friendly face under center in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an upset against New Orleans in Week 1 of the 2018 season. Both teams are formidable in the trenches, and this may come down to whichever offensive line can hold up under constant pressure.
The New Orleans Saints are set to open the 2021 NFL season with a highly anticipated Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, with or without Aaron Rodgers. A year ago, this would have been a classic battle of two future Hall of Future quarterbacks in Rodgers versus Drew Brees. The spotlight, however, remains firmly on the question marks under center for both teams in this meeting.
No opening game better allegorizes the defining theme of this offseason: quarterback controversy. Rodgers is still away from Green Bay, putting his backup Jordan Love front and center. And Brees will be replaced by either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill. It remains to be seen who will headline the opener, but the true mystery, no matter the Saints’ Week 1 starter, will be their dueling opponent.
New Orleans will be seeking vindication for their 37-30 loss to Green Bay in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome last season; the crucial tiebreaker cost the Saints a first-round bye that may have been the difference-maker in their playoff run.
The USA TODAY Sports Network previews each of this weekend’s matchups: Bills-Texans, Titans-Patriots, Vikings-Saints and Seahawks-Eagles.
The NFL postseason is finally here, and this weekend’s four wild-card matchups are intriguing — even if your favorite team is sitting out the playoffs this season.
The Minnesota Vikings play at the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon, as Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins prepares to make just his second playoff start. Finally, the Seattle Seahawks travel to play the injury-riddled Philadelphia Eagles on late Sunday afternoon in what might be the weekend’s most competitive game.
Without further ado, here are your NFL playoff game previews for Saturday, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan. 5:
Satellite radio: Bills feed on Sirius 82 (streaming 803), Texans feed on Sirius 83 (streaming 812)
Bills’ keys: Disruptive defensive tackles Ed Oliver, a rookie, and Jordan Phillips have to shut down the run and pressure the quarterback. Houston will be without its speedy No. 2 wide receiver, Will Fuller, which means Buffalo can roll coverage to help CB Tre’Davious White lock down WR DeAndre Hopkins. On offense, Bills QB Josh Allen has to use his dual-threat abilities to beat the defense with his legs and find WRs John Brown and Cole Beasley through the air.
Texans’ keys: Protect QB Deshaun Watson, who was sacked 44 times in the regular season. LT Laremy Tunsilsat out Week 17 and will have to be ready to take the best from the Bills’ pass rush. What also helps keep Watson upright is the production of RB Carlos Hyde, who had his first 1,000-yard season. DE J.J. Wattis expected to return from a torn pectoral injury and needs to bolster the anemic pass rush.
Who wins? Buffalo’s opportunistic defense can shut down the run and suppress the passing game. Bills 19, Texans 13
