Which teams have the advantage these 2019 NBA playoffs?

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As of this writing, the 2019 NBA playoffs have just begun, and it’s promising to be a wild ride on the way to the Finals with sixteen hungry teams duking it out. But while defending champ Golden State is still the hands-down favorite this year, there are several formidable teams on both conferences that should give the Warriors a run for their money. Aspiring sports writer Michael Volitich lists down these top contenders.

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Houston Rockets

Arguably the second-best team in the West, the Rockets already took the Warriors to a Game 7 in last year’s conference finals. And there’s no reason to think they can’t beat Golden State if they meet again, especially with Chris Paul healthy and James Harden again posting MVP-like numbers. Center Clint Capela has also been a revelation in the post.

Boston Celtics

Despite the team’s inconsistency throughout the regular season, the Celtics still boasts of the most talented roster in the Eastern Conference. If Kyrie Irving manages to finally gel with other stars Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward, Boston should be on its way to another conference finals appearance.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks held the best league record during the regular season and are thus guaranteed homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. While it doesn’t have the star power of certain other teams, Milwaukee is the most cohesive and most committed to defense in the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo is unstoppable this year, too, and is likely to be crowned MVP.

Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs

Two wildcard teams that might just upset higher-seeded franchises are the Nets and the Spurs, adds Michael Volitich. Brooklyn barely managed to squeeze into the postseason but has already gotten an away-win over the Sixers, thanks to the stellar game of D’Angelo Russell. The Spurs have also beaten the second-seeded Nuggets in Denver, largely due to its teamplay and the talent of coach Popovich.

Michael Volitich is a Creative Writing student at the University of Florida. He likes to blog about books, sports movies, sports teams, and the lives of the greatest athletes. For more sports-related reads, go to this page.

Is the reign of the Golden State Warriors nearing its end?

Whether Golden State wins a third championship or not this season is not so much the dominant conversation surrounding the team as of late. For many, the Warriors are likely to three-peat, given its deep pool of talent. Instead, most thoughts are focused on whether the team will still continue its NBA dominance once the 2018-19 season is done, says sports buff Michael Volitich.


A lot of player contracts are in the air at the end of the season. Damian Jones and Shaun Livingston are destined for free agency if management decides it can do away with them after this year and lower its huge luxury-tax expenses. Former Finals MVP Andre Iguodala may just be on the same predicament, even with a guarantee to play until next season.

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But the bigger free agency issue come July has to do with most of Golden State’s key stars. Aside from its supporting cast of Jordan Bell, Kevon Looney, Jonas Jerebko, and Quinn Cook, also hitting free agency come July are Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kevin Durant.

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Cousins re-signing is highly unlikely even if the Warriors do win another title, given enforced salary cap restrictions. But it’s in keeping Thompson and Durant that the future of the franchise lies. Simply put, the Warriors cannot rely solely on long-term-signed Steph Curry to carry the offensive load should the two other superstars leave.

Moreover, even if they do choose to stay, Curry, Thompson, and Durant are already nearing or at their 30s. Draymond Green will also begin to slow down in just several more years, as all four goes past their prime. But optimistically speaking, the best team in modern NBA do have several more years to go. Surely fans would be deeply disappointed if they do break up at this point, adds Michael Volitich. Warriors management should give keeping them together the top priority, with or without graffiti falling on the Bay Area this postseason.

Michael Volitich is a University of Florida Creative Writing student focusing on sports writing. He likes to write about various sports teams and popular players. Visit this blog for related posts.

Team LeBron or Team Giannis: Which won the All-Star Game draft?

The revamped All-Star Game drafting is made televised this year for the first time, and NBA fans watched as LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo made their picks. James and the Greek Freak became the team captains of the respective squads because they topped the votes from media, fans, and coaches. But which composition turned out better? NBA fan and analyst Michael Volitich offers his two cents below.

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 James took Kevin Durant first for his Feb 17 team in the All-Star Game in Charlotte. Antetokounmpo took Stephen Curry. Both picks are members of the Golden Warriors. It was the second consecutive year LeBron took Durant as first pick. Alongside James and Durant, other players comprising Team LeBron’s starters are Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and James Harden.

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Giannis picked Curry, Joel Embiid, Paul George, and hometown player Kemba Walker. In the second round, he took Bucks teammate Khris Middleton, Ben Simmons, Blake Griffin, D’Angelo Russell, Nicola Vucevic, and Kyle Lowry. LeBron picked Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Bradley Beal. Finally, James took friend Dwyane Wade while Antetokounmpo picked Dirk Nowitzki in the special third round of the pick to honor the two retiring players.

But which team is better? Obviously, James managed to get the better selection, despite trading Simmons for Westbrook in this first All-Star trade. Team LeBron’s starters are made up of four NBA champs and three league MVPs. Giannis’ team is significantly weaker and slower, despite being the taller five outside Curry. LeBron’s team is simply more explosive and is the hands-down winner, says Michael Volitich.

Creative Writing student Michael Volitich is finishing his degree at the University of Florida. He likes reading sports biographies and autobiographies as well as watching films that feature the intensity of athletic events. For more NBA-related reads, go to this page.

What Jimmy Butler brings to the Sixers

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Finally, the drama surrounding Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves is over, with the Wolves trading Butler recently to the Sixers in exchange for Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and a future draft pick. While this allows Minnesota to now focus on developing Anthony-Towns and Wiggins, it’s the Sixers that will immediately benefit more.


For one, Butler’s feisty attitude and gutsy play suit the tandem of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. He can likewise provide a consistent third option on offense, as well as clutch shooting and sound late-game decisions. Everyone in the NBA knows that Simmons’ weakness is his lack of an outside shot; Butler addresses this need, allowing better spacing for the Aussie star to drive the lane and pass to open shooters like Redick.


Butler’s first game in a Philly uniform was not bad, but it was on the road, and the team gave up a sizable lead in the fourth on its way to losing against Orlando. In the succeeding game, now in Philly, he netted 28 points on an impressive 12-of-15 shooting clip and led the Sixers to a close victory over the Jazz.


What’s promising about how this game turned out was that Butler didn’t seem to impede the play of the team’s other two stars, with Embiid getting 23 points and Simmons almost recording a triple-double. Yes, it’s still too early to say exactly how much of an impact Butler will have, as the team has yet to play top-seeded teams in both conferences with him around. But it’s plain to see that “the process” seems more realized with him around.


Hello, Michael Volitich here, a University of Florida creative writing student and a huge lover of literature, films, sports, and travel. Check out this blog for similar reads.

The Best Gators Currently In The Nba

The Florida Gators are presently well-represented in the NBA. There is a handful of elite basketball players who call the University of Florida their alma mater, such as those discussed below.

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Joakin Noah

Joakim Noah, a pivotal player during the Gators’ two-year championship run in 2006 and 2007 and 2014 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, would have been included in this list. However, his time in the professional league is currently in limbo as injuries, and off-court issues have derailed his once-promising career.

Al Horford

Noah’s partner in the paint during his time in Florida was Al Horford, the third overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. His statistical production may not show it, but the Dominican native has been one of the best big men for much of the past decade. He was one of the major reasons Atlanta Hawks were at the top of the Eastern Conference during the first half of 2010. Currently, he is playing for the championship-contending Boston Celtics.

Bradley Beal

Beal played just one year in college, but even during his brief time in Florida, he won the hearts of many Gators fans because of his scoring prowess. He has had no problem translating his offensive skills to the professional level, where he has joined forces with John Wall to form a dreaded backcourt combo for the Washington Wizards.

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Michael Volitich here, a University of Florida creative writing student and a huge fan of the Gators teams. Read more about them by subscribing to my blog.