Pure Hoops Media

All Basketball

Pure Hoops Media Banner

Articles

A Deep Dive into the Most Underrated Player in the NBA

by

  What if I told you there is a player in the league that was in the same company as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Jordan, but only received 19 minutes a game? And what if I told you there is a player in the league that has made an overwhelmingly positive impact for his team, but only a few have seemed to notice? Here are the only players this season averaging … [Read more...] about A Deep Dive into the Most Underrated Player in the NBA

2021 NBA All-Star Reserves: Who Makes the Cut?

by

  Each year, it seems as if the question of “Who should be selected for the All-Star game?” gets tougher and tougher. 2021 is no exception, as the league has become absolutely loaded with talent, and unfortunately, some incredibly talented players won’t make the cut. Without further ado, here are my selections for the All-Star Reserves in each conference: Eastern … [Read more...] about 2021 NBA All-Star Reserves: Who Makes the Cut?

All-Star? The Case for Mike Conley

by

The words “Mike Conley” and “All-Star” have seemed destined to never appear in the same sentence. That should change this year. With All-Star voting closing in one week, attention on who will be selected is ramping up. As always, there is intense competition in the backcourt of the Western Conference, but the ever-underrated Mike Conley is more than holding his own this … [Read more...] about All-Star? The Case for Mike Conley

Rookie Quarterly Report Cards: Who’s Impressed Most So Far?

by

We are roughly a quarter of the way through the NBA season.  In the first six weeks, teams and players are beginning to separate themselves, including the rookies. Some have fared better than others, but I believe most would be impressed with the class as a whole thus far, considering the players had very little time to adjust to the NBA competition and lifestyle. With that … [Read more...] about Rookie Quarterly Report Cards: Who’s Impressed Most So Far?

Film Study: Just How Good Can Brooklyn’s Offense Be?

by

After months of delaying the inevitable, the Houston Rockets finally moved off of James Harden in a blockbuster trade, sending the former MVP to the Brooklyn Nets. Harden’s debut came Saturday against the Orlando Magic, where the defending scoring champion put up a monster triple-double (32-12-14), including 4 steals and a block. Superstar teammate Kevin Durant scored 42 on … [Read more...] about Film Study: Just How Good Can Brooklyn’s Offense Be?

Should the NBA Really Consider Expansion?

by

Expansion was never truly on the table for the NBA. That is, until a pandemic wiped away billions of dollars in revenue. In an effort to make some of that money back, Adam Silver has publicly stated the league is looking into the possibility of adding two teams. However, the biggest question remains: Should they do it? First, why add two teams instead of just one? The … [Read more...] about Should the NBA Really Consider Expansion?

Early Season Takeaways: Denver’s Defense, Atlanta’s Offense, and Blowouts

by

With the NBA roughly two weeks into the new season, it’s just enough of a sample size to start making some observations about the play we’re seeing so far. However, 6 or 7 games for each team is also enough to warrant a disclaimer that all the statistics I cite in this article are from a very small sample size and can change quickly. With that said, we can only go off the … [Read more...] about Early Season Takeaways: Denver’s Defense, Atlanta’s Offense, and Blowouts

Overreaction Monday: What Matters and What Doesn’t from the NBA’s First Week

by

The 2020-21 NBA season has been in action for almost a week, and mind-boggling results have already taken place. The Clippers started out dominant with wins over the Lakers and Nuggets, only to be down by 50 (!) at half against the Mavericks. The Brooklyn Nets look like an offensive juggernaut, only then to be slowed down by the Hornets. That same Charlotte team lost to the … [Read more...] about Overreaction Monday: What Matters and What Doesn’t from the NBA’s First Week

The Question Each Contender Must Answer

by

2020 has been a year full of uncertainty, and the NBA is no different. Unlike recent seasons, there is no single prohibitive favorite. There isn’t anyone merely playing for 2nd place, like in the Kevin Durant-era Warriors years. It is my belief that you could talk yourself into 8 teams potentially winning it all in 2020-21. However, no team is without its flaws, and below is … [Read more...] about The Question Each Contender Must Answer