Sai Mohan

Tennessee

Sports Reporter at Wrestling Inc

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Articles

Top 10 storylines entering the 2025 NBA playoffs

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

It's that time of the year when basketball games feel extra meaningful, but this postseason may be the most anticipated in years. The regular season produced the most 50-win teams since 2014-15 and the most 60-win teams since 2008-09 — markers of legitimate parity. Every fan base has a reason to be excited, even those of younger teams that aren't expected to contend just yet. Here, we rank the 10 biggest storylines to monitor.
It's disrespectful to label Rockets underdogs against Warriors

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

The Warriors are 15-18 when outrebounded this season. Steve Kerr's undersized unit has been outrebounded in five of its last seven games. The Rockets rank first in overall rebounds (48.5), first in offensive rebounds (14.6) and first in rebounding percentage (53.3). You don't have to be a math major to combine two and two and determine why the Rockets pose serious issues for the Warriors in their first-round playoff series, which gets underway Sunday.
Exactly a year later, Klay Thompson enjoys sweet redemption

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

The Mavericks will next face the Grizzlies in the final play-in game on Friday. The winner will set up a clash with the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. Entering the game, the Mavericks' senior statesman, Thompson, has urged his teammates to enjoy the moment and not think far ahead. "We can hopefully continue our season," Thompson said. "We want to give the city of Dallas something to be proud of, especially with our energy and effort.
Nico Harrison pours salt into Mavericks fan base's wounds

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

The Mavericks fan base is still reeling from the nightmare it endured on Feb. 2 when the franchise traded away Luka Doncic. The wounds grew more pronounced when a teary-eyed Doncic returned to Dallas and scored 45 points against his former team. As Mavericks fans try to pick up the pieces, Nico Harrison is intent on adding to their misery.
Heat failed Jimmy Butler, who just needed a 'Batman'

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

Butler's game has always been more suited to being the No. 2 option. Not a prolific scorer by any means, he's at his best when contributing as a playmaker, defender and secondary offensive weapon. One wonders if the Heat failed Butler by not landing him a "Batman" during his stint. They reportedly tried to land Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant but didn't show urgency in upgrading the roster around Butler.
Where do NBA play-in stats and records go?

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

Except they did not. The NBA does not recognize individual play-in stats or team wins/losses as part of the regular-season or playoff record books. In other words, Golden State's win on Tuesday disappeared into the ether, as did Butler and Curry's heroic performances. NBA.com has a separate category for the play-in, and even Basketball Reference acknowledges the games took place. However, neither entity counts the player's or team's cumulative stats tangibly.
LaMelo Ball's honeymoon period with Hornets is over

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

It's hard to believe that LaMelo Ball has already completed five years as an NBA pro. During his stint, Ball hasn't been criticized for failing to guide the Hornets to the playoffs — at least not as much as other top-three picks. The excuses have ranged from the Hornets' developmental situation to Ball's injuries. The latter excuse stems from Ball missing 169 of his team's 400 games across five years due to various injuries.
LaMelo Ball's honeymoon period is finally over

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

It's hard to believe that LaMelo Ball has already completed five years as an NBA pro. During his stint, Ball hasn't been criticized for failing to guide the Hornets to the playoffs — at least not as much as other top-three picks. The excuses have ranged from the Hornets' developmental situation to Ball's injuries. The latter excuse stems from Ball missing 169 of his team's 400 games across five years due to various injuries.
Luka Doncic is obvious answer to 'face of the NBA' question

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

The talk of the next "face of the NBA" ended on Feb. 2when news broke of the Lakers acquiring Luka Doncic from the Mavericks. Doncic, 26, checks every box the league needs in its next top star: He's marketable, plays for a legacy franchise, has an electrifying playing style, is controversial and has yet to enter his prime as an athlete. He also has the "bad boy" persona to which many are drawn.
Directionless Suns set to pay four coaches at same time

1 week ago | yardbarker.com | Sai Mohan

Mat Ishbia can't get out of his way, and the Suns' fan base is paying a hefty price for his impatience and ambition. By dismissing Mike Budenholzer on Monday, Ishbia essentially committed to paying four coaches simultaneously. Entering the 2025-26 season, the Suns will continue to pay Monty Williams, Frank Vogel and Budenholzer — the trio of coaches they fired over the last two years —besides the fourth coach who takes up the unenviable job.