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Basketball Poetry

@basketballpoetry.com
1.3K followers 735 following 1.1K posts

Mike Shearer www.BasketballPoetry.com. Bylines at Locked On Podcast Network, HoopsHype, @celticsblog.bsky.social, many more Curator at www.BasketballIntelligence.net. @bballispoetry on Twitter. #NBASky

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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 29/09/2026
This article is rated SO for sickos only! Here are 9 NBA players with a surprising skill: Jerami Grant’s no-dip threes Justin Champagnie, the putback king Kris Dunn’s screening And Alperen Sengun’s place in a baffling historical anomaly All that and much, much more below:
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 27/09/2026
Little ironic but sure
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 25/09/2026
Predicting next season’s top defenses is a fool’s errand, which is why I’m the perfect guy for the job. San Antonio, sure. Oklahoma City, of course. How high can Toronto rise? Does Memphis make an appearance?? (Spoilers: they do.) www.basketballpoetry.com/p/predicting...
basketballpoetry.com
Predicting the NBA’s Top 10 Defenses for 2026-27
A few days ago, we projected next season’s Top 10 Offenses. It got a little kooky. This week, we’re using our cubic zirconia ball to survey the other end of the court.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 22/09/2026
The third and final part of my annual offseason project outlining something exciting about every NBA team! The Celtics' pecking order, super sophomores, and the deepest guard room in the league: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/something-...
basketballpoetry.com
Something positive about every NBA team, Pt. III
Vibes, super sophomores, and the deepest guard room in the league
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 18/09/2026
I picked the NBA’s top-10 offenses for 2027. It got weird. Raps were top-10 in halfcourt and just added an on/off deity. Boston: top-decile last year w/ JT and w/o JB; they were 87th percentile w/o either. Who leaps from bottom-10 to top-10? More below: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/picking-th...
basketballpoetry.com
Picking the NBA’s top-10 offenses for 2026-27
The Spurs, the Nuggets... the Jazz?! The Raptors?!?!
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 15/09/2026
Skeets got this up before I could even post to socials! You all go read too, please
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/09/2026
Training camp is just weeks away! Here are five weird lineups that probably wouldn’t work I’d love to see. Orlando getting weird, Portland putting on a defensive clinic, broken 2K sliders in Charlotte, and more: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/5-weird-li...
basketballpoetry.com
5 weird lineups I can’t wait to see
A 2K lineup, a max-security prison, half-court salvation, and more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 09/09/2026
The second in my three-part series highlighting something positive about every NBA team. Pelle Larsson, inner peace, a few notable injury returns, and far more: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/something-...
basketballpoetry.com
Something positive about every NBA team, Pt. II
Pelle Larsson, inner peace, a few notable injury returns, and far more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 03/09/2026
The hubris of LAC is astounding. The NBA would've been thrilled if Clips had said "hey, we admit no purposeful wrongdoing, but understand we made a mistake. Let's settle by forfeiting two firsts." Instead, they thumbed their nose and dared Adam Silver to do something. And Adam Silver did.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 03/09/2026
"The NBA’s official report is explosive. I don’t know the legal definition of a 'smoking gun,' but there sure are a lot of red-eyed pistols listening to Grateful Dead albums on repeat around here." More Kawhi/Ballmer/Clippers/Silver thoughts here: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/silver-bri...
basketballpoetry.com
Silver brings down the hammer (and the axe, and the knife, and...)
Kawhi Leonard as Ahsoka, the Clippers, and the Grateful Dead
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Reposted by Basketball Poetry
Jared Dubin @jadubin5.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Emergency Double Dribble pod with @modakhilnba.bsky.social on Clippers/Kawhi/Aspiration. Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2eXW... YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=pyPf...
youtube.com
BREAKING: Clippers fined FIVE first-round picks in Aspiration Investigation | Double Dribble
YouTube video by RealGM Radio
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 03/09/2026
The punishment was needed, but this all sucks for Clippers fans and I’m sorry for them
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 02/09/2026
Shams said FOUR companies? Aspiration, Daktronics… and who am I missing?
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 01/09/2026
All-you-can-listen on a top-5 League Pass team next year!
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 01/09/2026
My fifth annual “Something Positive” series, from Wizards to Thunder (with the rest coming soon). The Eye of Aldhani, Toronto’s disgusting defensive potential, the Spurs addressing a weakness, a Jusuf Nurkic GIF to assuage my guilt, and more: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/something-...
basketballpoetry.com
Something positive about every NBA team, Pt. 1
The Eye of Aldhani, Toronto’s disgusting defensive frontcourt, the Spurs fixing a weakness, and much more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 01/09/2026
Bam Adebayo shot more three-pointers than Desmond Bane last year, per game and per 100. Crazy for lots of reasons!
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 28/08/2026
The hidden benefit of Jonathan Kuminga’s defense How LaMelo Ball can fix the Wolves’ spacing issues single-handedly And why the Wolves will be my top League Pass team yet again: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/kuminga-an...
basketballpoetry.com
Kuminga and Ball, basketball epinephrine
How Jonathan Kuminga and LaMelo Ball bring welcome questions to Minnesota
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 25/08/2026
Looking at salaries and estimated wins by player age bands: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/examining-...
basketballpoetry.com
Examining wins and salaries by player age bands
Russell Westbrook’s retirement brought about a whole slew of eulogies and tributes (here’s mine!), but somewhat lost in the shuffle was an interesting comment by his agent, Jeff Schwartz:
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 20/08/2026
(*Puts on newsboy cap, clears throat*) Peyton Watson traded to the Cavaliers! Peyton Watson traded to the Cavaliers! Read all about it (with some trade grades)! www.basketballpoetry.com/p/peyton-wat...
basketballpoetry.com
Peyton Watson/Max Strus Trade Grades
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, and LA Clippers, adjudicated
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 18/08/2026
On Russell Westbrook’s retirement: Jujutsu Kaisen, the “Russel Westbrook Fan Club” [sic], an endless succession of trees, and more. www.basketballpoetry.com/p/another-ru...
basketballpoetry.com
Another Russell Westbrook tribute
On Jujutsu Kaisen, the "Russel Westbrook Fan Club" [sic], and more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/08/2026
Kawhi, Trae Young, Jaylen Brown, slot-machine centers, and the other riskiest moves of the NBA offseason so far: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/the-7-risk...
basketballpoetry.com
The 7 riskiest moves of the offseason
Kawhi Leonard, Trae Young, guaranteed money for slot-machine centers, and much more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 07/08/2026
Breakout players! Talkin’ Collin Murray-Boyles, Donovan Clingan, Jordan Miller, and (one) more: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/four-break...
basketballpoetry.com
Four Breakout Players
Collin Murray-Boyles, Donovan Clingan, and more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 06/08/2026
We touch on 20+ players who could have a breakout year, so yeah, a lotta ground covered!
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Reposted by Basketball Poetry
dan favale @danfavale.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
me getting to talk with @basketballpoetry.com about dylan cardwell and reed sheppard and multiple wizards and many others
Ray liotta in field of dreams saying: Hey is this heaven?
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 04/08/2026
Here at Basketball Poetry, accountability matters. That’s why I go back and grade all my preseason unlikely-but-plausible predictions with a red pen, from the good (Keegan Murray’s contract) to the bad (Charlotte has the worst defense in the league). www.basketballpoetry.com/p/grading-my...
basketballpoetry.com
Grading my 2025-26 unlikely-but-plausible predictions
Accountability matters
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 28/07/2026
Aspiration, roster crunches, restricted free agents, NBA Europe, and the rest of the NBA’s most intriguing summer storylines: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/the-2026-n...
basketballpoetry.com
The 2026 NBA offseason's most interesting remaining storylines
LeBron, Kawhi, holey teams, RFAs, and more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 24/07/2026
LeBron’s landed in Philly! I still can’t picture him in those sexy 76ers duds, even staring right at the Photoshop. There's potential here, but also issues to address. Can LeBron still guard the Tatum/Giannis/KATs of the world? How will the spacing work? www.basketballpoetry.com/p/lebron-jam...
basketballpoetry.com
LeBron James lands in Philadelphia
How will James fit in the City of Brotherly Love?
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 21/07/2026
Lu Dort, Zaccharie Risacher, and Dallas’ puzzling buy-low move: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/sensible-a...
basketballpoetry.com
Sensible and sad: Lu Dort trade grades
Adjudicating the Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, and Oklahoma City Thunder
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 17/07/2026
I’ve never seen a head on a stick for any player on any Summer League team before. I didn’t expect my first to be Norchad Omier. More on Caleb Wilson, Egor Demin, Yang Hansen, craps, and CeraVe from my Summer League Diaries: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/summer-lea...
basketballpoetry.com
Summer League Diaries, 2026 edition
Caleb Wilson, Egor Demin, Hansen Yang, heads on sticks, craps, and CeraVe
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 14/07/2026
Can’t shake this intrusive thought. Isn’t Wembanyama’s contract salary cap circumvention, too? And why should we care? Plus, some thoughts on the Bam/Herro donnybrook: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/isnt-wemby...
basketballpoetry.com
Isn't Wemby's contract salary cap circumvention, too?
And why should we care? Plus, the Bam/Herro brouhaha
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/07/2026
Caleb Wilson: 35 points, 7-11 from three, 0 assists, 6 turnovers. What a wild game.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 10/07/2026
AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson delivered, but they were far from the only highlights in a fun Day 1 of Summer League: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/come-for-d...
basketballpoetry.com
Come for Dybantsa vs. Peterson, stay for McNeeley vs. Penda
Some Day 1 Summer League thoughts
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 10/07/2026
Clippers brought The Wall with them ha
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 10/07/2026
Liam McNeeley and Noah Penda have been BALLING tonight.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 06/07/2026
I’m back from a 10-day trip overseas. Did I miss much? (*Checks phone, bruises jaw on floor*) After imbibing all the craziness of the last couple of weeks like so much sake, here are some thoughts on Kawhi, Ja, Marcus Smart, Josh Okogie, and more: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/my-favorit...
basketballpoetry.com
My favorite (and least favorite) moves from a wild week
Kawhi Leonard, Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Josh Okogie, and much more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 26/06/2026
LaMelo Ball trade grades and (unrelated, I swear) the NBA’s biggest disappointments, fresh off the presses from Japan! www.basketballpoetry.com/p/lamelo-bal...
basketballpoetry.com
LaMelo Ball trade grades! Plus, the 2025-26 NBA season's biggest disappointments
Breaking down the surprising Wolves-Hornets swap and a whole lot more
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 23/06/2026
🚨TRADE GRADES🚨 It finally happened! Giannis is now a Heat, and Milwaukee got quite a haul. Plus, Randle got dumped! 2,500 words about Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tyler Herro, and Julius Randle written after midnight. Please give it a read! t.co/ZdUftI7Ofr
t.co
https://www.basketballpoetry.com/p/giannis-antetokounmpo-and-julius
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 19/06/2026
I hit #10 on the Sports Rising Bestsellers list on Substack the other day! Hop on board for the best NBA coverage around. I promise you that nobody goes harder in the summer, either: www.BasketballPoetry.com
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 19/06/2026
Every year, there are a handful of players who come in and wildly surpass or completely underperform my expectations. Here's my All Proved-Me-Wrong team, highlighted by Michael Porter Jr., Scottie Barnes, Devin Vassell, and more: www.basketballpoetry.com/p/the-proved...
basketballpoetry.com
The Proved-Me-Wrong Team
A handful of players who, for better or worse, did what the title says
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 16/06/2026
I rank the Finals’ 14 most important Knicks (or, at least, Knicks-adjacent people). From Wu-Tang to Jalen Brunson, let’s look at the village it took to break down 53 years of failure. www.basketballpoetry.com/p/the-finals...
basketballpoetry.com
The Finals' 14 most important Knicks
Well, Knicks-adjacent people, anyway
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 14/06/2026
After dominating all playoffs long, the New York Knicks are still looking for a challenge. They’ll need to wait until next season’s New Game+ to find it. Congratulations to the 2026 NBA Champions! www.basketballpoetry.com/p/the-knicks...
basketballpoetry.com
The Knicks are still looking for a challenge
For the first time in (checks notes, “Wait…”) six months, the New York Knicks have won a championship.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 14/06/2026
@danfavale.bsky.social Congratulations!
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 14/06/2026
Donte DiVincenzo:
static.klipy.com
NPC Meme Man Looking Out Window in Rain
ALT: NPC Meme Man Looking Out Window in Rain
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 14/06/2026
Congratulations to the Knicks! And congrats to the league for not needing to manufacture a reason not to suspend Wemby in Game 6
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 14/06/2026
What are these fox minutes AGAIN
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 12/06/2026
New York is shooting just 62.6% at the rim, lower than any regular-season team. But the Spurs are shooting just 59.6%! More fun stats explaining the NBA Finals, including stuff on OG Anunoby, Jose Alvarado + Jalen Brunson, and the odd distribution of winning minutes, here: 👇
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/06/2026
I can't believe the Spurs have had a lead under 2:00 in all four games and are 1-3
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/06/2026
Our fourth straight game with the Spurs winning at 2:00. Let's see if they go down 3-1 or 2-2.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/06/2026
Our fourth straight game with the Spurs winning at 2:00. Let's see if they go down 3-1 or 2-2.
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Basketball Poetry @basketballpoetry.com · 11/06/2026
This Finals has been so epic
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