About Taavi Pailk - RotoBaller
"Lot of Signs" Point To Khris Middleton Remaining In Milwaukee
Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton is expected to remain with the team. "When you look at his future in Milwaukee, I think there's a lot of signs that would point to him going back," said NBA insider Shams Charania. Middleton has a $40.4 million player option for next season and must make a decision on... Read More
Matthew Tkachuk Misses Game 5 With A Broken Sternum
Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk wasn't in the lineup for Tuesday's Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals because he suffered a broken sternum in Game 3. He was able to finish the contest and played in Game 4, but the injury limited him to just 16:40 of ice time and Panthers head coach... Read More
Aaron Ekblad Played Through Multiple Injuries In Playoffs
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad battled through multiple injuries in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He reportedly broke his foot in the first-round series against Boston, had two shoulder separations, and also suffered an oblique tear. Despite the health issues, Ekblad missed only one game during the team's run to the Finals and averaged 23:57... Read More
Jack Eichel Wraps Up Finals With Three-Assist Effort
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel posted three assists in Tuesday's Stanley Cup-clincher against Florida. All of Eichel's assists came in even-strength situations as Vegas rocked the Panthers with a 9-3 win. The three-point effort helped Eichel to finish as this year's top scorer in the playoffs. He recorded 26 points across 22 outings, one... Read More
Mark Stone Scores A Hat Trick As Vegas Wins The Cup
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone finished off the Stanley Cup Finals with a bang, scoring a hat trick to help the team close out the series against Florida with a 9-3 victory Tuesday. Stone started the scoring in the contest with a short-handed goal, added another marker in an even-strength situation, and then... Read More
Jonathan Marchessault Named Conn Smythe Trophy Winner
Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Tuesday after the team clinched the championship with a 9-3 victory over Florida. Marchessault was limited to just one assist this time around, but he had 25 points in 22 games overall for... Read More
Caleb Martin Enjoys Strong Finish To Finals
Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin recorded 10 points and five rebounds off the bench with one assist, one steal and one block as the team went down 94-89 to the Nuggets Monday. He finished with 4-for-9 from the field, with most of Martin's misses coming from a 0-for-4 effort from downtown. Martin came out of... Read More
Jimmy Butler Posts 21 Points As Miami Fails To Extend Finals
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler settled for 21 points as the team lost Game 5 and the NBA Finals on Monday against Denver. The Heat leader for anonymous for most of the game but was able to make himself the team's top scorer again with a late surge in the fourth quarter. With Miami down... Read More
Bam Adebayo Posts 11th Playoff Double-Double
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo had his 11th double-double of the 2023 postseason on Monday against Denver, but his efforts weren't enough for the team to extend the season as Miami went down 4-1 in the Finals with a 94-89 defeat. Adebayo scored 20 points on 9-for-20 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds while posting one... Read More
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Fills Stat Sheet In Game 5
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played a very active role in Monday's 94-89 win over Miami, scoring 11 points and posting four rebounds, two assists, two steals and three blocks. The veteran suffered an injury scare in the third quarter when he hurt his right wrist on a hard fall and had to leave for... Read More
Michael Porter Jr. Posts 16-Point, 13-Rebound Double-Double
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. had a nice double-double in Monday's championship-clincher against Miami, contributing 16 points on 7-for-17 shooting and matching his playoff career high with 13 rebounds. He secured his eighth double-double of the postseason and only five players had more of them. Porter Jr., who endured another miserable night from deep... Read More
Jamal Murray Finishes Near Another Triple-Double Monday
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray had another good all-around performance as the team won the NBA championship for the first time in franchise history with a 94-89 victory over Miami Monday night. He finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and one steal. Murray was plus-12 for the contest despite struggling from the field... Read More
Nikola Jokic Voted Finals MVP
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic was unanimously voted the 2023 NBA Finals MVP after the team secured the championship title with a 94-89 victory over Miami Monday. The Joker had 28 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and one block in the final game, shooting an extremely efficient 12-for-16 from the field. He averaged a sensational... Read More
Adin Hill On Historic Run In 2023 Playoffs
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill has been an unexpected hero for the team in this year's playoffs and has made history with his spectacular play. After taking over the crease following Laurent Brossoit's (lower body) injury, Hill has put together a 10-4 record, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to earn 10 wins... Read More
Oilers Have Travis Konecny On Their Radar
Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal has reported that the Edmonton Oilers have their eye on Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny. A "contact with connections to the player" has told Leavins that Edmonton is one of a number of teams that are looking at Konecny, who had an impressive year on a struggling team with... Read More
Flames Getting Calls On Noah Hanifin
Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin could be on the move this offseason, with Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reporting that teams have begun to ask the Flames about their plans with him. Hanifin is set to become an unrestricted free agent next season as he's about to enter the final year of a six-year deal that carries... Read More
Scott Laughton Attracting Lot Of Interest Around The League
Philadelphia Flyers forward Scott Laughton has reportedly become a hot commodity in the NHL. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman has reported that "many teams" talked with Flyers general manager Danny Briere about a potential Laughton deal at Saturday's draft combine. The 29-year-old is a versatile player who has just had a career year offensively with 43 points... Read More
Connor Hellebuyck Not Interested In Extension With Jets
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is set to be traded this offseason, with Murat Ates of The Athletic reporting that he isn't interested in signing an extension with the club. The talented netminder has one season left on a six-year, $37 million deal signed in 2018. "That ship has sailed," writes Ates regarding Hellebuyck's interest... Read More
Jusuf Nurkic's Future In Doubt In Portland
Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic could be out the door this offseason with the team reportedly ready to move on from him. It is believed that Portland will try to move Nurkic in a trade alongside Damian Lillard if the franchise indeed decides to part ways with the superstar. "I would not say it... Read More
Pistons Still See Bojan Bogdanovic As "Core Piece"
Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic is still considered a "core piece" by the team, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto. "I'm told the Pistons still view Bojan Bogdanovic as a core piece going forward into next season," Sotto said on the HoopsHype Podcast. The Croatian was brought in from Utah via a trade ahead of... Read More
Pistons Expected To Pick Up Option On Alec Burks
Detroit Pistons guard/forward Alec Burks is set to remain in Motown for the 2023-24 campaign, with NBA insider Michael Scotto noting that the Pistons are expected to pick up the $10.5 million team option on his contract. Burks' performances were one of the few positives for Detroit during a miserable 17-65 campaign, as the 31-year-old... Read More
Frank Vogel Wants To Take Deandre Ayton Back To All-Star Level
Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton is highly regarded by new head coach Frank Vogel, who looks forward to working with him and helping Ayton to become one of the best big men in the NBA. "There's still areas that he can grow offensively, but I'm intent on really connecting with him and restoring him to... Read More
Raptors To Hire Darko Rajakovic As New Head Coach
The Toronto Raptors are set to name Darko Rajakovic as the team's new head coach. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Rajakovic was offered the job on Saturday and the sides are finalizing a contract that's expected to be completed soon. Rajakovic will be moving to Canada after spending the previous three years as an assistant... Read More
Kyle Lowry Posts 13 Points, Seven Assists In Friday's Loss
Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry made a significant contribution off the bench in Friday's Game 4 loss to Denver, leading the second unit with 13 points and registering seven assists with three rebounds. He was perfect at the line with six attempts and shot 3-for-7 from the field with a 1-for-4 record from outside.... Read More
Bam Adebayo Endures Another Rough Shooting Night
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo continued to struggle to get the basketball through the hoop in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against Denver Friday night. Following a 7-for-21 effort from the field in Game 3, Adebayo went 8-for-19 with his shot attempts, putting up 20 points. He secured his fifth double-double in six games... Read More
Jimmy Butler Improves Efficiency In Game 4 Loss
Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler managed an efficient 25 points in Friday's Game 4 against the Nuggets, but the team still needed more from him as Denver grabbed a 3-1 series lead with a 108-95 victory. Butler had a great opening to the game, scoring nine first-quarter points and capping off the frame with a... Read More
Bruce Brown Comes Up Big In Fourth Quarter Friday
Denver Nuggets guard/forward Bruce Brown played a big role in Friday's Game 4 victory over Miami, providing 21 points in 30 minutes off the bench. He had half of the team's 22 points in the fourth quarter and ended up outscoring all Heat starters not named Jimmy Butler in the game. Brown finished with 8-for-11... Read More
Jamal Murray Continues Spectacular Playmaking In Finals
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray posted a game-high 12 assists in Friday's 108-95 victory over Miami, adding 15 points on 5-for-17 shooting for another double-double. Murray was already the first player in NBA history to register 10-plus assists in each of his first three Finals appearances and he's now the first with four such games.... Read More
Nikola Jokic Battles Through Ankle Sprain And Foul Trouble
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic put together another fabulous line in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against Miami Friday despite hurting his right ankle and missing a large chunk of the fourth quarter with foul trouble. Jokic rolled his ankle in the first quarter when he landed on the foot of Miami's Max Strus... Read More
Aaron Gordon Scores Playoff Career-High 27 Points
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon led all scorers with a playoff career-high 27 points in Friday's Game 4 victory over Miami. He missed only four of his 15 shots through the night and finished 3-for-4 from downtown while collecting seven rebounds, six assists and one steal in 42 minutes. You could say that a big... Read More