Michael Pina
SLAM Magazine
New York, United States
Contact Michael
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Past articles by Michael:
FUTURE VVV BRIGHT: Jarrett Allen Is Balling Like a BIG Shot
He might be quiet off the court, but his game is far from it. Brooklyn Nets center Jarrett Allen is the next BIG thing. Believe that. → Read More
Knicks Trade Kristaps Porzingis, Change NBA Forever
The New York Knicks just moved their franchise player for a shot at landing two max players in free agency. It's a gamble that will either explode in their face or alter the entire league's trajectory. → Read More
The Trade That Will Save the Philadelphia 76ers
Sixers ownership would need to agree to absorb nearly $23 million next year for someone who perfectly complements their big three, but hurts their depth and might present some defensive issues in the playoffs. → Read More
The Problem with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid in One Play
Philly is still outscoring opponents when the two are on the floor together, but they've still proved to be an awkward fit. → Read More
The NBA's Man of Many Faces
New York Knicks center Enes Kanter is on a mission to improve (and confuse) the entire world. In so many different ways, he's already succeeded. → Read More
It's Okay to Believe in Blake Griffin
The five-time All-Star is by and large no longer considered one of the NBA's very best players. His new head coach, Dwane Casey, has some different thoughts. → Read More
LeBron James Has Turned His Greatest Weakness into a Devastating Strength
The world's best player isn't known for his mid-range jumper, but throughout this postseason his long twos have been as good as anybody's. → Read More
Rajon Rondo is a Flat Circle
After spending the back half of his prime as a forgotten journeyman, the New Orleans Pelicans point guard is back to defying expectations. Haven't we been here before? → Read More
5 bold predictions for the NBA playoffs' first round.
The NBA postseason is almost here! And with that comes tons of analysis, breaking down each series and figuring out who the X-factors will be. Making predictions is par for the course. Let's look into our crystal ball for the first round. → Read More
My vote for every end-of-season NBA award.
It's awards season! And the Most Valuable Player race in the NBA might be the most competitive in league history. But it's not just about the MVP. There are so many awards to vote on -- here are my picks for each one. → Read More
The Cavs blew a 26-point late lead to the Hawks.
The Cavaliers were on track to have an "all's well that ends well" type of season after spanking the Celtics. Now, they are reeling after losing back-to-back games to the Hawks, including one on Sunday in which they blew a 26-point lead. → Read More
NBA teams that have the most on the line now.
Obviously, every NBA team that makes the playoffs wants to win it all. But the stakes are higher for some teams than others. Here's a look at six teams that'll have stressful summers if they're not as successful in the playoffs as they believe they should be. → Read More
7 things to watch in the NBA season's home stretch.
There isn't much time left in the NBA's regular season. So, with the playoffs right around the corner, here's a look at seven significant variables, trends, storylines and questions around the NBA that may impact the postseason. → Read More
Karl-Anthony Towns Is Transforming into a Superstar Right Before Our Very Eyes
The expectations were always unreasonable. Regardless of how good Karl-Anthony Towns played as a 20-year-old rookie, nobody—not Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal or ... → Read More
Seth Curry isn't just Steph's brother. He can hold his own.
While Steph Curry has struggled from behind the arc lately, his younger brother Seth has excelled at three-point shooting since the All-Star break. He's a useful and efficient guard, and might've already earned himself a nice contract. → Read More
Jaylen Brown Remains Vital to Celtics Despite Inconsistent Rookie Season
Life isn't easy when you're a 20-year-old NBA rookie. Especially one who was drafted by a competitive playoff team with high expectations and little margin for error, like Boston Celtics newbie Jaylen Brown... → Read More
Don't Call Isaiah Thomas Anything Other Than 'Superstar'
In today's star-driven NBA , one question has a seemingly endless number of answers: What defines a superstar? It's subjective, to say the least... → Read More
We're About to Find Out How Valuable Al Horford Will Be for the Celtics
The Boston Celtics signed Al Horford for several obvious reasons that ultimately boil down to these two: (1) he makes them better and (2) he matches up well against the Cleveland Cavaliers ... → Read More
Jae Crowder on the Verge of Becoming Boston Celtics' 3rd Star
The road to an NBA championship is invisible without top-shelf talent. Right now, the Boston Celtics only have two players who’ve played in an All-Star Game... → Read More
Boston Celtics Insider: The Jaylen Brown Train Is About to Leave the Station
Jaylen Brown’s initial “can someone please pinch me?” NBA moment came last Saturday night in an otherwise no-stakes exhibition between the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks ... → Read More