SBNation.com • 22nd October 2024

Why attacking ‘weaker’ NBA defenders on switches may not be a good strategy

At times, Luka Doncic is a liability on the defensive end. When he’s guarding away from the ball, he’s known to lose focus and surrender open shots. He often takes his time getting back on defense, giving away easy transition opportunities.
But when he’s attacked in isolation, he is a completely different defender. In the 2023-24 NBA regular season, he defended the fourth-most isolation possessions in the league and ranked in the 83rd percentile on those possessions, allowing just 33.3% shooting...

Prep Hoops • 21st June 2024

Robbie Hodin, Author at Prep Hoops

Robbie is a graduate of Bates College and Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism where he specialized in sports media. He was captain of his Newton South High school basketball team and played AAU throughout his youth. Robbie also writes for Celtics Blog and has been a basketball commentator, business owner, communications associate, trainer and coach.

Arizona Republic • 9th February 2024

What is the impact on the Phoenix Suns to be the only NBA team with no G League affiliate?

There are 30 NBA franchises, but only 29 affiliate G League teams. The one organization without a minor-league squad? The Phoenix Suns.

“We should (have a G League team),” Suns center Jusuf Nurkic said. “Being the only team to not have (an affiliate) is not good.”

The NBA G League, founded in 2001 as the NBA’s minor-league system, was originally called the National Basketball Development League. It was rebranded to the NBA Development League in 2005 and then the NBA Gatorade League (NBA G Leag

CelticsBlog • 7th March 2023

The not-so-obvious reason why Sam Hauser deserves more minutes

Conventional logic would say that having the five best defenders on the court would result in the best defensive outcome.

When there’s no weak link on the defensive end, the offense doesn’t see any mismatches on the court and is therefore unable to take advantage via switching, which should work out in the defense’s favor.

This is part of what made Boston’s defense so dominant last season. With a plethora of quick and strong perimeter defenders and a front line of versatile big men, the Celtic

USA TODAY • 2nd February 2024

How do you guard Iowa's Caitlin Clark? 'Doesn’t matter what you do – you’re wrong'

How do you guard Iowa's Caitlin Clark? 'Doesn’t matter what you do – you’re wrong'

EVANSTON, Ill. – Caitlin Clark has only been held to single-digit points in one game during her Iowa women's basketball career.

It was one-third of the way through her freshman season, and Clark was held to eight points on 3-12 shooting and 1-for-5 from 3-point range against Northwestern. The Wildcats used a unique “blizzard” defense – a matchup zone in which the guards apply more ball pressure than normal— and

Golfweek • 10th February 2024

'Golf was forced on my right hand:' Why there are so few lefties in pro golf

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When Jake Knapp was just three years old, he picked up his brother’s old golf clubs for the first time and started taking some whacks. But there was one glaring problem: He was hitting the ball with the wrong side of the club.

Knapp, 29, who made the 2024 WM Phoenix Open his eighth start on the PGA Tour, used to play with his brother’s right-handed golf clubs, but felt more comfortable swinging lefty.

“I started taking swings lefty and (my dad) put a right-handed club in my

The Arizona Republic • 9th February 2024

Suns' Grayson Allen sets career high for assists

Without Devin Booker in the lineup for the Phoenix Suns, Grayson Allen was tasked with something he normally isn’t — getting his teammates involved.

“He said he’s never passed that much,” teammate Bradley Beal said. “That’s just unselfish hoops, man.”

Coming into Thursday night’s game against the Utah Jazz, Suns guard Grayson Allen had never dished out more than eight assists in a game.

Then, on an unassuming night in February, the six-year NBA veteran secured 14 assists. His previous career

The Arizona Republic • 10th February 2024

New sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale caters to both hardcore and casual golf fans

New sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale caters to both hardcore and casual golf fans

Why follow around one golfer or stand at one hole at the WM Phoenix Open when you can watch them all on TV at once and stay warm and dry in the process? Why stand on your tiptoes to watch a golfer tee off when you can instead bet on his success from the comforts of a padded seat and with a beer in your hand?

This is the rationale of some fans at the DraftKings Sportsbook at TPC Scottsdale, the only sportsbook on site