NBA Playoffs

LeBron James Admits Poor Game 5 Performance

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LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers looked lost in Game 5 with the Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers had built a ton of confidence after winning three straight in the series. However, the Grizzlies finally answered the bell in their 116-99 victory on Wednesday night. Not a lot went right for the seventh-seeded Lakers. According to James, he is one of the biggest reasons the team failed to wrap up the series. After the game, James discussed with the media how he has to perform better.

James was blunt and honest with his Game 5 performance. “Tonight I was sh*t. And I’ll be better in Game 6.” James finished the game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. However, James went 5 of 17 from the field. Numbers like that are not going to help the Lakers end the Grizzlies season. James understands this and vows to be better for Game 6 in Los Angeles. The series between the Lakers and Grizzlies has seemed like theater at certain points.

LeBron Vows To Be Better In Game 6

The series began with a Lakers victory. However, the fireworks didn’t begin until the post-game press conference. Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks fired the first shots. Brooks called James old and that he wouldn’t respect him until he scored 40. While James has yet to score 40 in the series. However, he did score 20 and grab 20 rebounds in the Lakers Game 4 win. If you were to ask Shaq, he would tell you that 20 + 20 would equal 40. It seemed like the Lakers were destined to finish the series on Wednesday night. But the Grizzlies had other plans.

However, the Grizzlies proved how they earned the two seed in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies have also had to deal with injuries during this series. Star guard Ja Morant suffered a severe hand injury during Game 2. However, Morant has fought through the pain and helped lead his team in Game 5. This series is far from over. Do you think LeBron James can finish the series in Game 6? Let us know how you think this series will shake out in our comment section. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here with HNHH.

Jimmy Butler Takes One Last Shot At Bucks On Instagram

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Jimmy Butler’s 2023 playoff performances have been the actions of a legend. After a 56-point performance in Game 4, Butler helped finish off the Bucks on Wednesday night with another memorable game. In the Game 5 matchup, Butler finished with 42 points. The back-to-back performances by Butler have caused the legend of “Playoff Jimmy” only to grow. The Heat victory sent the number one seed in the Eastern Conference home early. However, it appears Butler wasn’t finished saying goodbye.

On Thursday, Butler shared his goodbye to the Bucks on his Instagram. Butler shared a photo of himself staring down Bucks guard Jrue Holiday. As well as a picture of teammate Max Straus claiming the Heat would win in five. Right now, Miami and Butler are the talk of the NBA. However, the team will not have long to rest. The Heat already know they will be facing the New York Knicks in the second round. A matchup that is destined to deliver more playoff memories.

Jimmy Butler Solidfies Playoff Legacy

While some players have been accused of talking trash and not backing it up. Butler is doing the exact opposite. The Miami Heat star already has fans ready to build his statue in the city. However, this isn’t the first time Butler has put the franchise on his back during the post-season. The Heat were winners of the Eastern Conference back in 2020. The team that no one expected to be in the Finals gave the would-be champion Lakers everything they wanted and more. The Heat also returned to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Eventually, losing to the Boston Celtics.

The 2023 playoffs have delivered on many different stories. However, the series between the Heat and Bucks gave fans more than they ever expected. Even Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo refused to believe his team’s season was a failure, But a first-round upset for the best team in the conference can’t be considered a success. Can Jimmy Butler bring his magic to the second round against the New York Knicks? Let us know who you think will take the series in our comment section. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here at HNHH.

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Shannon Sharpe On Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Failure Comments

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Shannon Sharpe is just one of many discussing the comments made by Giannis Antetokounmpo on Wednesday night. Giannis was asked if this season has become a failure for his Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks were eliminated by the Miami Heat on Wednesday. The series victory for the Heat is a massive upset. As the Bucks were the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference. However, Giannis doesn’t see this season as a failure at all. But that may not be the case for everyone else.

On Thursday’s edition of Undisputed, Sharpe, and co-host Skip Bayless discussed if Giannis had a point with his comments. While Sharpe let the audience know he doesn’t believe Giannis is a failure. However, the former NFL tight end does believe the team became a failure this season. Sharpe points to how the Bucks lost to a team that barely made the playoffs. It took two play-in games for the Heat to earn the right to a playoff berth. Check out Sharpe’s full comments in the video below.

Shannon Sharpe Calls Bucks Season Failure

Giannis had every reason to be frustrated after last night’s loss. However, saying the season didn’t end in a failure would seem oblivious. A number-one seed losing in the first round of any playoff series is rare. So when it does happen, the one seed that becomes a part of history takes major heat. However, the Bucks did deal with a massive injury during the series. Giannis basically missed two games after being injured during Game One.

The 2022-23 season for the Bucks will go down as a failure. There’s no other way to look at it. However, that doesn’t mean that the players on the team are failures. A point that Sharpe wanted to make during the discussion. Athletes have long claimed that failure is a great learning opportunity. The Bucks should realize that this is a failure. However, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of everything. Do you agree with Shannon Sharpe that the Bucks season is ultimately a failure? Let us know in the comment section. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here with HNHH.

SOURCE SPORTS: Giannis Antetokounmpo Blasts Idea the Bucks Failed After Losing in Round 1

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Blasts Idea the Bucks Failed After Losing in Round 1

Giannis Antentokounmpo is not trying to hear any conversation of failure after the Milwaukee Bucks’ season ended way earlier than expected. The Bucks lost Game 5 128-126 in an overtime thriller to Jimmy Butler and the Miami HEAT.

In the loss, the Bucks became the fourth No. 1 seed to drop a series to a No. 8 seed in a best-of-seven series in NBA history. Speaking to the press after the game, Antentokounmpo blasted the idea that he and the team failed.

“It’s not a failure; it’s steps to success,” Antetokounmpo said. “There’s always steps to it. Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships. The other nine years was a failure? That’s what you’re telling me?

“It’s a wrong question. There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days. Some days you’re able to be successful, some days you’re not. Some days it’s your turn, some days it’s not your turn. And that’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. Sometimes other people win. And this year somebody else is going to win, simple as that.”

Antentokounmpo left it all on the floor, dropping 38 points and 20 rebounds. You can hear him sound off below.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Giannis Antetokounmpo Blasts Idea the Bucks Failed After Losing in Round 1 appeared first on The Source.

Warriors Take Series Lead Versus Kings

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Ten days ago, the Sacramento Kings had the Golden State Warriors on the ropes. The Kings led 2-0 in their first-round playoff series and the stacked Warriors looked lost. And then Draymond Green was suspended. It was arguably a deserved suspension, given the brutal stomp he gave Domantas Sabonis. However, it changed something in the Warriors. The team admitted as much, but the results soon became clear on the court as well.

The Warriors crushed the Kings 114-97 in their Green-less Game 3. Then they managed to hold onto a late lead to take Game 4 126-125. All of a sudden, the series was tied at 2 as things headed back to Sacramento. The Kings had lost just 18 games at home while the Warriors had won just 11 games on the road during the regular season. It was the perfect opportunity for the Kings to right the ship.

Warriors Dominate Game 5 To Set Up Potential Home Clinch

Game 5 was yet another high-scoring affair. The two California teams combined for 116 points by the half. However, the Warriors never let go of the reins and took a seven-point win. Steph Curry led all scorers with 31 points, with Splash Brother Klay Thompson also putting up 25. That said, the pair were cold from three, going a combined 7-21 from beyond the arc. The Warriors also got big performances from Andrew Wiggins (20 points) and Draymond Green (21 points).

The Kings did what they could, but ultimately couldn’t outshoot the Warriors. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 24 points, followed by Sabonis and Malik Monk with 21 apiece. However, outside of Monk, the Kings’ bench contributed just 18 points. Now having lost three in a row, the Kings need to find a solution, and fast. The Warriors have gotten better and better with each playoff game, and now resemble the team we have always expected from them. The win sends the series back to the Chase Center, which is bad news for the Kings. The Warriors lost just eight games at home during the regular season. The Chase Center is well and truly their fortress. Do you think the Warriors win at home? Or will the Kings force Game 7 back in Sacramento?

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Giannis Slams Reporter For Asking If The Season Was A “Failure”

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Two seasons ago, the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship as the three-seed. They won 46 games during the regular season. This season, they won 58 games and entered the playoffs as the one-seed. This was in spite of Giannis Antetokounmpo being the only player to average more than 20 points per game. In fact, Giannis absolutely carried the team as he averaged a double-double of 31.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.

But it all just fell apart in the playoffs. The Miami Heat played relentlessly and consistently looked like the better team. Furthermore, with Giannis injured for most of Game 1, as well as the entirety of Games 2 and 3, the Bucks’ top-heavy vulnerability was on full display. Sealing the 4-1 series victory with a 128-126 overtime win on Wednesday night, the Heat became the fifth eight-seed to down a one-seed. They also became the first to do it since 2011, when the Grizzlies shocked the Spurs. Furthermore, the Heat also became the first team to both upset a one-seed, and be upset as a one-seed.

Giannis Defends Team And Season

Giannis’s post-game press conference will go down in history as a defining moment of these playoffs. The forward grew visibly frustrated when asked by The Athletic‘s Eric Nehm if he considered the season a “failure.” Nehm also asked the same question to head coach Mike Budenholzer later in the press conference. Giannis rubbed his face with his hands while muttering “oh my God” before responding.

You asked me the same question last year. Okay, do you get a promotion every year? In your job? No, right? So your work is a failure – yes or no? No. Every year that you work, you work towards something. Which is to get a promotion, take care of your family, provide a house for them, care take of your parents. It’s not a failure, it’s steps to success…There’s always steps to it. Michael Jordan played 15 years, won 6 championships. So the other 9 years was a failure? Yes or no? [Nehm: No] Exactly so you’re asking me the wrong question. There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days. Some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not. Some days it’s your turn, some days it’s not your turn. That’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. Some other people are going to win. This year, somebody else is going to win, simple as that. Next year we’re going to come back and try and be better and build good habits. Try to play better. Not have a 10 day stretch where we play bad basketball. And hopefully we can win a championship. Those 50 years from 1971 to 2021 where we didn’t win a championship – those were 50 years of failure? No it was not. It was steps to it. And we were able to win one and hopefully we can win another one.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo, April 26

Giannis proceeded to apologize to Nehm for “making it personal” but his overall message has quickly resonated across the sporting world. The comments of Schefter’s tweet are filled with people hailing Giannis as a role model and hero. Furthermore, it was retweeted by notable figures such as JJ Watt. It was also shared by numerous youth basketball programs, who w However, of course, there are a handful of detractors who argued that “but of course there’s failure in sports.” Regardless, Giannis made a powerful statement about he defines success and how he approaches the sport that he loves.

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Charles Barkley Scorches Dillon Brooks: Video

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Charles Barkley is calling out Dillon Brooks for his recent playoff performances. On Wednesday’s pre-game show, Barkley said Brooks has to be one of the guys to step up for the Memphis Grizzlies. The NBA legend believes if you’re going to call another player old, then you better back up your words. Scoring eleven points per game isn’t the ideal answer. However, Barkley isn’t counting out the Grizzlies entirely in their series with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Grizzlies have a chance to regain a win as the team trails the Lakers 3-1 in their opening-round series. Wednesday night could be the final time the Grizzlies take the floor this season. The Lakers have looked like a different team since Brooks’ comments about LeBron James’ age. Since those comments, the Lakers haven’t lost a game in the series. Barkley believes if the Grizzlies stand a chance in the series, players like Brooks will have to take a larger role on the offense.

Charles Barkley Not Counting Out The Grizzlies

Game 5 is currently underway between the Grizzlies and the Lakers. The Grizzlies should be glad to be back in front of their home crowd. However, Brooks has continued making headlines during this post-season. It has been reported and noticed by fans that Brooks has deleted all of his pictures on Instagram. Reports began circulating earlier this week that the Grizzlies have an interest in moving on from Brooks this off-season. Included in the report also was that the team has already tried to move on from Brooks.

Brooks’ time in Memphis could be waning. However, his tenure with the time has been memorable. Brooks has brought a level of trash-talk to the NBA that fans aren’t accustomed to seeing. Even other NBA players, like Kevin Durant, have applauded Brooks’ approach to the game. However, Brooks’ production will need to go up to match his talk. Do you agree with Charles Barkley that Brooks and the rest of the Grizzlies role players need to step up? Let us know what you think in the comment section. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here with HNHH.

NBA Sets Start Times For NBA Finals Games

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The NBA Finals will soon be heating up. But before we get there, the league has made a big announcement. According to Front Office Sports, the league is moving up the start time for each game in the Finals. The league has decided that each game in the series will begin at 8:30 PM ET. A move that hasn’t changed in over 20 years. For the last 20 years, each game in the Finals has started at 9 PM ET. However, that time has regularly made fans of the East Coast groan.

Now it seems the early start time may put a pause on the negative reactions from the East Coast. However, 30 minutes may not be that much of a factor for a game that will still be ending near 11 PM. However, it seems like the move is the right situation when dealing with fans all over the country. Fans like myself have been fighting our eyelids during these late series matchups that include West Coast teams. Including Tuesday night’s pivotal matchup between the Nuggets and Timberwolves.

NBA Finals Gets Earlier Start Time

The time is set. Now, who will be involved in this season’s Finals? There are many contenders who could be involved in the summer classic. The Denver Nuggets punched their ticket to the next round on Tuesday night. However, the Nuggets will have a tough second-round matchup with the Pheonix Suns. Rounding out the rest of the Western Conference, the Lakers and Warriors could once again play a role in the NBA championship. Basically, the Western Conference is completely up for grabs.

Looking at the Eastern Conference, it seems only a few teams have a shot at conference bragging rights. However, the number one seed Milwaukee Bucks, are in deep waters. The team is one more loss from being eliminated from the playoffs. A Heat series win would be only the second time an eight seed has taken down a one seed. So, which two teams will make it to the NBA Finals this summer? Please give us your predictions in the comment section. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here with HNHH.

Anthony Edwards Could Face Legal Action For After Game Incident

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Anthony Edwards couldn’t hide his frustrations on Tuesday after the Minnesota Timberwolves loss. The loss was the final nail in the Timberwolves season. As the Denver Nuggets have officially eliminated Minnesota. However, it seems Edwards’s issues have only gotten worse since the finish of the game. Edwards was seen throwing a chair in frustration while jogging back to the locker room. Now Edwards could be facing legal action for striking law enforcement with the chair.

Denversports.com is reporting that Edwards is now facing third-degree assault for striking two women with the chair. According to the website, “A law enforcement source said Edwards picked up a chair & swung it, striking a security guard…A source confirmed the incident and said both employees were injured & asked to file charges.” The charges were filed recently. However, Edwards nor the Timberwolves have yet to comment on the legal situation. The situation didn’t go any further than Edwards slinging the chair in security’s direction. Check out the incident in the video below.

Anthony Edwards Charged For Striking Women With Chair

Of course, having your season end is never an enjoyable experience. However, Edwards should have known to control himself in that situation. Being a professional athlete is more than performing on the court or field. Athletes must also show awareness in situations like Edwards found himself in on Tuesday night. It is hard to actually see where the chair landed in the video clip above. However, the chair does seem to land in the direction of the two people standing near Edwards. The incident is just an unfortunate situation for all involved.

The Timberwolves season is officially over. However, now the franchise will have plenty to deal with this off-season. Along with the Anthony Edwards situation, the team will also discuss the future of Rudy Gobert. Gobert was suspended at the start of the playoffs for striking teammate Kyle Anderson during a timeout. The Minnesota big man only missed one game before rejoining the team. However, the chemistry with Gobert could be ruined forever after the incident. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here with HNHH.

Hawks Win Forces Janet Jackson Concert Rescheduling

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Sports scheduling is a tricky business. A team knows exactly where and when they will play their home games during the regular season. This allows the stadium owners to make the venue available for other activities when the home team is on the road.

However, the playoffs are a different beast altogether. In the NBA, all playoff series are played in a best-of-seven format. This means there is a minimum of four games and a maximum of seven. This allows both teams to get a minimum of two home games per series. Currently, a playoff series is played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format. This means that after game 4, the teams alternate hosting duties. But because those games aren’t needed, the venue might have been left available on those nights. This uncertainty is now causing some headaches in Atlanta.

Janet Jackson Concert Pushed Back A Night

Janet Jackson was supposed to play at State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, on April 27. However, April 25 saw the Hawks top the Boston Celtics 119-117 in Game 5 of their NBA Playoff series. The Hawks had been 3-1 down and facing elimination. However, the win meant that the series would necessitate a Game 6…hosted by Atlanta. Suddenly double-booked, State Farm Arena announced that Jackson’s concert would be pushed back a day to April 28. Tickets from the original Thursday show would be honored at the rescheduled event. Furthermore, refunds would be issued for anyone who could not attend the new show.

While some fans have cried foul, the decision makes sense (if necessitated by stupidity). As the arena’s official tenants and primary users, the Hawks likely get first-priority use of the arena. However, there is an element of hilarity in the implication that the Hawks didn’t expect to make it as deep as Game 6. If they had, they would have likely booked the arena ahead of time. Regardless, Jackson fans are unhappy with what they see as preferential treatment for the NBA. Furthermore, the rescheduling now puts Jackson in direct conflict with a Taylor Swift concert at the nearby Mercedes-Benz Stadium. However, we here at HotNewHipHop have a different solution. Janet Jackson, starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks.

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