first-things-first – Page 17

Nick Wright explains how Chris Paul knows not only is this his best chance to make the NBA finals, it may be his last chance.

After the Phoenix Suns failed to close out the LA Clippers in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, the pressure scale is all the way up on Phoenix.

Chris Broussard thinks we wrote the Clippers off too soon: ‘They’ve outplayed Suns this series’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Los Angeles Clippers avoided elimination after winning Game 5 against the Phoenix Suns. Chris Broussard admits that he may have written Paul George and the Clippers off too soon, and while he’s still picking Chris Paul’s Suns to win in 7, hear why he still believes the Clippers have a legitimate chance of winning this series.

Nick Wright: Paul George played the best playoff game of his career last night | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Last night the Los Angeles Clippers staved off elimination, winning Game 5 and bringing the series to 3-2 with the Phoenix Suns still ahead. Paul George was electric, putting up 41 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists. During a interview, PG13 said it’s a fact that he is picked on more than other players. Chris Broussard joins First Things First to decide if that’s true, and Nick Wright lays out why this is the best playoff performance of Paul George’s career.

Chris Broussard: ‘Paul George is exactly who we thought, a #2 star at best’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Los Angeles Clippers have fallen behind 3-1 in their series against the Phoenix Suns after losing Game 4, and Chris Broussard isn’t sure they have enough in the tank to win 3 consecutive games against the Suns to win the series. Broussard decides whether this Game 4 loss is on Paul George now that he’s had to lead the team with Kahwi Leonard sidelined.

Nick Wright: Bucks’ Giannis & Middleton look like the 2000 Lakers’ Shaq & Kobe | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Milwaukee Bucks have pulled ahead in the series 2-1 after winning Game 3 against the Atlanta Hawks. Chris Broussard and Nick Wright discuss whether the bigger story is the Bucks back-to-back wins or Trae Young’s ankle injury. Plus, hear why Nick compares the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Chris Middleton duo to Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant of the 2000 Los Angeles Lakers.

Nick Wright reveals which NBA player he would trade Ben Simmons for if he were 76ers | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Nick Wright decides how Philadelphia should handle a Ben Simmons trade. Thought Nick makes the points that the 76ers should hold out on moving off of Simmons while his value is at its lowest, but if they develop his shot and make him a more appealing player, Nick has the perfect trade scenario that would benefit both the Sixers and the prospective NBA team.

Nick Wright agrees with Scottie Pippen: ‘Inexperienced coaching wore Kevin Durant down’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Nick Wright and Chris Broussard talk Scottie Pippen after his comments comparing Kevin Durant to LeBron James sparked a twitter beef. Broussard points out where he agrees with Scottie about KD needing to prove he can lead a team to a Title win, but it goes too far to blame him for the Game 7 loss. Plus Nick agrees that Steve Nash’s inexperience in coaching had a lot to do with why Durant was gassed out by the end of the playoffs.

Chris Broussard on Clippers’ GM 3 win: ‘It’s absolutely foolish to write them off’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Chris Broussard isn’t surprised the Los Angeles Clippers found their way out of the 0-2 deficit to win Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns, despite the return of Chris Paul and the absence of their star Kawhi Leonard. Broussard lays out why he thinks it’s a bad idea to count out Paul George and the Clippers, and why he believes we’re looking at a 7 game series.

Chris Broussard: ‘What Trae Young is doing is unprecedented, but it’s too soon to call him a superstar’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Trae Young has been phenomenal in the playoffs, most recently leading his team to a Game 1 win against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, with 48 points and 11 assists. Chris Broussard says he’s been astonished by what Young has been able to accomplish, but despite what Broussard calls an unprecedented run, he isn’t ready to call Young a superstar yet. Hear him lay out what he needs to see from the Hawks’ player before he can name him a superstar.

Nick Wright makes a decision: Who’s the best remaining player in the NBA playoffs? | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Antoine Walker joins First Things First to decide who’s the best player remaining in the NBA Playoffs this season. Antoine makes a case for Devin Booker after he lead the Phoenix Suns to a Game 2 win against the Los Angeles Clippers without Chris Paul, but it’s the 2 time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo that gets Nick Wright’s vote. Hear him break down the reasoning behind his choice.

Nick Wright: I don’t know if Clippers have enough gas to defeat Suns with Chris Paul’s return | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Chris Paul is ‘probable’ to return in time for Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. The Phoenix Suns have made it to 2-0 against the Los Angeles Clippers without CP3, and with Kawhi Leonard still out with a knee injury, Nick Wright wonders if Paul’s return will finally be the nail in the Clippers coffin. Hear why he thinks Paul George and the Clippers might be out of gas going into Game 3.

Chris Broussard decides if the Clippers can once again come back from 0-2 deficit | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Once again the Los Angeles Clippers find themselves in an 0-2 deficit after losing Game 2 to the Phoenix Suns. Chris Broussard decides whether he believes Paul George can lead the Clippers out of from behind as he did against the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz.

Nick Wright agrees with Scottie Pippen: ‘KD hasn’t surpassed LeBron as NBA’s best, but he’s close’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Despite an impressive showing in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, Scottie Pippen says Kevin Durant hasn’t surpassed LeBron James as NBA’s best. The NBA legend believes KD “still has some learning to do”. Nick Wright breaks down why he agrees with Pippen, but still thinks Durant is closer than he’s ever been to surpassing LeBron as greatest in the league.

Nick Wright shares his biggest takeaway from Suns’ GM 2 win over Clippers | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Phoenix Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers in an edge-of-your-seat Game 2, taking the 2-0 series lead. Deandre Ayton scored 24 points, including a alley-oop dunk with .7 seconds remaining. Chris Broussard joins First Things First to praise Paul George and the Clippers for a hard-played game despite the loss, but Nick Wright has a different takeaway. Hear why he believes the instant replay system needs to be burned to the ground.

Nick Wright & Chris Broussard decide who has most to gain from a NBA Title | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Who has the most to gain from an NBA title this season? Nick Wright updates his list after the 2nd round of the playoffs has ended and it’s down to 4 teams. Hear Chris Broussard’s response to Nick’s updated list.

Stephen Jackson: Nets are still dangerous, don’t count BKN out next year | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Brooklyn Nets’ season ended in Game 7 in an overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, but despite the loss, head coach Steve Nash says: “Everyone here is fired up to get back to work”. Stephen Jackson joins the First Things First crew to decide if the Nets should be favorites to win it all next year no matter what happens the rest of the postseason.

Nick Wright: I wouldn’t write Clippers off, but Game 2 is a ‘need to win’ game | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Phoenix Suns currently lead in the Western Conference Finals 1-0 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Nick Wright talks what losing Game 2 could mean for Paul George and the Clippers, who’ve fought their way out of deficits twice before against the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks. Though Nick won’t write LA off, he admits that Devin Booker and the Suns are a different animal, and a win tonight would be very important.

Nick Wright on 76ers’ Game 7 loss: ‘Ben Simmons regressed to the worst version of himself’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers over the weekend to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Joel Embiid scored an admirable 31 points, made 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to keep Trae Young from leading his team to a Game 7 win. Chris Broussard joins Nick Wright and the First Things First crew decide if Young’s emergence was a bigger deal, or was the Sixers’ second-round exit and Ben Simmons’ performance a bigger story.

Chris Broussard reveals his pick for Clippers & Suns’ Western Conference Finals | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Los Angeles Clippers advanced to the Western Conference Finals after defeating the Utah Jazz 131-119 on Friday. They went on to fall to the Phoenix Suns in Game 1, 120-114,. With neither Kawhi Leonard or Chris Paul present in Game 1, Chris Broussard decides what the Clippers chances are as the series continues, and reveals his official pick for the Western Conference Finals.

Nick Wright reveals the biggest reason Nets lost Game 7 to Bucks | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Brooklyn Nets over the weekend in overtime of Game 7, effectively ending he Nets’ season and moving on the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite a strong performance from Kevin Durant, who scored 48 points and had 9 rebounds and 6 assists, Giannis Antetokounmpo had an answer for him with 40 points of his own ant 13 rebounds. Nick Wright and Chris Broussard discuss the Nets’ playoff run, and Nick names one bug reason why the Nets were unsuccessful in putting away the Bucks.

Nick Wright breaks down what the Kemba Walker trade mean for the Celtics | THE HERD

Nick Wright reacts to breaking news that the Boston Celtics are sending Kemba Walker and a 1st round pick to Oklahoma City Thunder for Al Horford in a blockbuster deal. Nick talks what this trade means for Jayon Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart.

Chris Broussard: ‘Bucks showed up in Game 6, Middleton looked like a poor man’s KD’ | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Khris Middleton shined for the Milwaukee Bucks last night, reminding Chris Broussard of a ‘poor man’s Kevin Durant’, in the best way. Hear Broussard break down where the Brooklyn Nets went wrong in Game 6 and why Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks were able to pull out a win and force a Game 7.

Nick Wright & Antoine Walker decide if James Harden helping or hurting the Nets | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Antoine Walker joins First Things First after the Brooklyn Nets suffered a Game 6 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. James Harden is still fresh off of his hamstring injury, and Nick Wright and Antoine decide wether his return is helping or hurting Kevin Durant and the Nets, and what they hope to see from him in Game 7.

Nick Wright: Brooklyn Nets were on ‘dead legs’ in Game 6 loss | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Milwaukee Bucks force a Game 7 after a feeble showing from the Brooklyn Nets in last night’s matchup. Khris Middleton lead the Bucks with 38 points, while Giannis ANtetokounmpo closely followed with 30 points of his own and 17 rebounds. Nick Wright decides if last night was a break through night for the Bucks, or if this was just Kevin Durant being out of gas after a historic performance in Game 5.

Nick Wright and Chris Broussard decide who’s to blame for 76ers’ GM 5 loss | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Atlanta Hawks have taken the lead in their series against the Philadelphia 76ers after staging a comeback in Game 5. Chris Broussard joins Nick Wright and the First Things First crew to decide who gets the blame for the Sixers’ collapse. Is it Joel Embiid’s inability to carry the 76ers? Is it Ben Simmons’ inability to make consistent free-throws? Nick and Broussard decide.

Chris Broussard: Kevin Durant has to go crazy again to close this series out | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Chris Broussard joins First Things First to decide whether the Brooklyn Nets need another stellar night from Kevin Durant in order to close this series out early against the Milwaukee Bucks. With Kyrie Irving still injured and James Harden not yet at 100%, Broussard lays out what he needs to see from Durant in Game 6 in order to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks from a comeback.

Chris Broussard : 'Bucks' Game 5 loss to Nets was a bad look for Giannis' | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Milwaukee Bucks looked like they were running away with Game 5 against the Brooklyn Nets until Kevin Durant drops a historic 49 points to save the Nets in the 4th quarter. But Chris Broussard tells the First Things First crew why last night’s game taught him more about Giannis Antetokounmpo than it did about KD. Hear why Broussard believed this loss was a bad look for Giannis.

Nick Wright on Nets' Game 5 win: 'This was the greatest game of KD's career' | FIRST THINGS FIRST

Kevin Durant had a historic performance in last night’s Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks, carrying a floundering Brooklyn Nets team to a win with 40 points. Nick Wright praises KD, claiming this is not only the best game of the player’s career, but one of the best performances in playoff history. Hear why Nick believes Durant now ranks above Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant & Larry Bird in best playoff games any wing has ever played.

Chris Broussard: Kawhi missing Game 5 due to injury is ‘devastating’ for Clippers | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The First Things First crew react to breaking news that Kawhi Leonard is expected to sit out Game 5 against the Utah Jazz after suffering an injury to his knee. Chris Broussard breaks down why he believes the Los Angeles Clippers are losing not only Game 5, but this entire series if Kawhi won’t be on the court.

Chris Broussard: Embiid’s health & stamina are a concern for me in this series | FIRST THINGS FIRST

The Atlanta Hawks rally from an 18 point deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, evening the series 2-2. Trae Young was on fire, with 25 points and 18 assists, while Joel Embiid made 17 points, and missed a crucial lay up that may have cost the Sixers the game. Chris Broussard joins the show to answer whether ast night make him question whether the 76ers can rely on Embiid.