AthlonSports.com - No Easy Buckets

NBA Power Rankings

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:44:00 -0600

After a disappointing 0-2 start to the season, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers top our rankings this week due in large part to back-to-back road victories over the Magic and Heat.

No Easy Buckets: Looking toward next season

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0500

The Lakers won the 2008-09 NBA championship, but they are far from a lock to take home the 2009-10 title as well. Michael Bradley wraps up this season and looks toward the fall in the No Easy Buckets season finale.

No Easy Buckets: Magic teetering on the edge

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:30:00 -0500

It may be too easy to say that once Courtney Lee’s alley-oop layup slid off the rim Sunday night, Orlando was finished, but after watching the opening act of the ’09 Finals, it sure seems that way. Michael Bradley says the Magic better get their act together.

No Easy Buckets: Bryant needs this title

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:00:00 -0500

Can Kobe win a title as the Lakers’ Main Man? That's what everyone wants to know as the Lakers and Magic prepare for their seven-game series to decide the NBA's 2008-09 champion.

No Easy Buckets: Magic proving experts wrong

Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Thanks to some stifling defense and offensive contributions from multiple sources, Orlando has looked like the far superior team in its Conference Finals series against Cleveland.

No Easy Buckets: Conference finals previews

Tue, 19 May 2009 09:00:00 -0500

The NBA took another step toward its dream Kobe-LeBron Finals series Sunday when the Lakers knocked off the Rockets. Will that dream scenario occur? Michael Bradley previews the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.

No Easy Buckets: Lakers must toughen up

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:00:00 -0500

Even if we dismiss Sunday’s beat-down in Houston as a complete aberration and the confluence of a highly motivated Rockets team’s meeting an overconfident bunch of Lakers, there is still reason for concern among L.A. fans.

No Easy Buckets: Hawks deserve some credit

Tue, 05 May 2009 11:00:00 -0500

With the first game of the Cavaliers-Hawks series scheduled to tip off Tuesday evening, it’s probably a good idea to regard Atlanta and its first playoff series victory in a decade — before things get to out of hand with LeBron James and his cronies.

No Easy Buckets: Mavs' role players turn series

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:45:00 -0500

The NBA markets its games as clashes between its most recognizable players, but in the Mavericks-Spurs series, it's been Dallas' role players that have turned the series in favor of Big D.

No Easy Buckets: Allen steps up for Celtics

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:30:00 -0500

Ray Allen hit a 25-footer with two seconds remaining Monday to lift the Celtics over the Bulls 118-115, evening the series at 1-1. Some may believe the Celtics are in trouble, but Michael Bradley says they don't need to worry about style points with Kevin Garnett on the bench.

No Easy Buckets: And the winners are...

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 -0500

As 16 NBA teams prepare for the playoffs, many of their players are looking for some postseason hardware. Michael Bradley weighs in on the deserving players.

No Easy Buckets: Blazers return to playoffs

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0500

Now clear of the bad actors who helped create the “Jail Blazers” image, Portland is young, talented and playoff bound. Further, the Blazers have brought excitement back to the area and given fans legitimate hopes for future title contention.

No Easy Buckets: Cavs putting on a show

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:30:00 -0500

Some might be put off by the pregame theatrics from LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but it’s good to see so much life in Cleveland. It may be all designed for the cameras, but it’s also evidence of growing confidence for the team that looks like it will have homecourt advantage throughout the postseason.

No Easy Buckets: Bobcats on the right path

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0500

Even if the Bobcats fail to reach the playoffs this year, they should feel pretty good about the season. Yes, momentum doesn’t carry over from year-to-year in the NBA. But with Larry Brown aboard, Charlotte has a plan to move forward, and that is huge.

No Easy Buckets: Wade on MVP short list

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:30:00 -0500

As Dwyane Wade has engaged in a scoring binge that has included six 40-plus point outbursts since Feb. 22, analysts and commentators have gushed that he has inserted himself into the MVP discussion. But Michael Bradley says Wade has been on that short list all season.