MORE FROM Sean Deveney

Lin at MSG

Times have changed for Jeremy Lin — no longer a rock star in New York, no longer a starter in Houston.

Lin at MSG

Times have changed for Jeremy Lin — no longer a rock star in New York, no longer a starter in Houston. Lin's OK with the first part, and he's adjusting to the second, as he showed again at the Garden, writes SN's Sean Deveney.

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Lin returns to NYC

Jeremy Lin is coming off a 34-point night for the Rockets, but is hoping to maintain a low profile vs. the Knicks.

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Rockets rotation juggle

Coach Kevin McHale gave the pairing of Omer Asik and Dwight Howard a trial run, and it failed. Now he is rightly making changes.

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Big Baby Motel Tantrum

Glen "Big Baby" Davis, who has been out all season recovering from foot surgery, threw a tantrum at a Florida motel on Friday

Crawford passes

A 10-assist game on Monday night highlights the progress of Jordan Crawford, who is balancing playing point guard against his shoot-first mentality.

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Obscene gesture?

The NBA fined Caron Butler for his 'big cojones' celebration, but he told Sporting News it's 'just expressing yourself' and not an obscene gesture.

The Baseline

Lionel Hollins and George Karl are examples that winning doesn't guarantee that you'll keep your job. So it's not surprising, then, that some coaches are fearing the worst. SN's Sean Deveney examines why that is.

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NBA transition

Brad Stevens had a tough sell, but he convinced Purdue fan Gordon Hayward to attend Butler. The relationship is more beneficial than either could imagine, as is evident in their new reality, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

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Sanders' struggles

Larry Sanders has stumbled out of the blocks this season in the first year of a big contract. The Bucks' developing center badly needs a restart, says SN's Sean Deveney.

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Bucks project

Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't imagine himself in the position he now sits, earning NBA minutes at 18 years old. But he is.

Bucks project

Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't imagine himself in the position he now sits, earning NBA minutes at 18 years old. The product of Greece's second division hardly plays with a happy-to-be-here approach, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

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There was zero incentive for Eric Bledsoe and the Suns to sign a contract extension this week, but that could all change in a year.

Clippers preview

Doc Rivers is in town, and the pieces are stronger around Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. Will that equal greatness for L.A.'s other team? SN's Sean Deveney examines the Clippers' fortunes.

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Heat preview

Miami isn't worried about history as it tries to go back-to-back-to-back. LeBron's still there, and he's still a beast. The big issue is the playoff grind; a fellow No. 1 overall pick could help in that area, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

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Why did Eric Bledsoe and the Suns not come to a contract extension this week? There was zero incentive to do it now, Sean Deveney writes. But that could all change in a year, and here's why.

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Pacers preview

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Nets preview

Rockets preview

The Rockets were a middling team. Then, GM Daryl Morey focused his energy toward building through free agency. That netted Dwight Howard, James Harden and title hopes, SN's Sean Deveney writes in his preview.

Pacers preview

The Pacers pushed into the East Conference elite last season. With an improved bench, they can only get better. That said, their fate truly rests with Paul George, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

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Nets outlook

The Nets were not a hit on opening night. Their injury concerns and lack of cohesion were exposed in a 98-94 loss to the Cavaliers. From here, it's hard to tell which superteam road the Nets will take, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

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Nets preview

Spurs preview

San Antonio didn't make a splashy offseason move this summer, but still has the solid trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. There's no reason to count out the Spurs, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

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The Golden State Warriors are in a space where every step is critical, as they look to move from upstart to contender in the West. Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala will play the largest role in that transition, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

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Rose return

Derrick Rose's debut underwhelmed, but the point guard and the Bulls have time to return to status among the league's elite.

Rose return

Derrick Rose's debut underwhelmed, as his Bulls lost to the Heat. But Tuesday will not determine the Bulls' fate. They have plenty of time to atone for missteps and become an elite team, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

Bulls preview

The Bulls welcome Derrick Rose back to the court tonight. It has now been 18 months since he went out with a knee injury, but Rose appears better than ever and Chicago expects to challenge the Heat, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

Grizzlies preview

Pistons preview

NBA predictions

For months now, SN's Sean Deveney has maintained that the new-look Nets are best suited to challenge the Heat in the East — they have size, experience and toughness. That's one of several bold takes in SN's NBA predictions.

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Thunder preview

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The Knicks made the second round of the playoffs on Carmelo Anthony's back last season. Because of the salary cap, they had few options in the offseason. That could spell their doom, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our preview.

Thunder preview

The Thunder must endure a short test, playing without Russell Westbrook to start the season. This means Kevin Durant will assume more responsibility, which can't be a bad thing, SN's Sean Deveney writes in out preview.

Pistons preview

The Pistons are all set to come out of the funk put in place by Joe Dumars' bad decision-making. The additions of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings should accomplish that, Sean Deveney writes in our preview.

Grizzlies preview

The Grizzlies are one of few teams in the West who haven't taken steps forward. The big change was at coach, but Memphis is still anchored by Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

'14 free agency

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Wizards preview

The Wizards have two great things going in the backcourt with John Wall and Bradley Beal, but what type of production they'll get up front is the big question. SN's Sean Deveney breaks down what's in store for Washington.

Nuggets preview

The Denver Nuggets have a talented roster, but a rough preseason has led to questions about whether new coach Brian Shaw is truly the right guy. Can anybody explain where they're going? SN's Sean Deveney gives it a shot.

'14 free agency

The 2014 summer has been looked to as the best for free agency since 2010, the last time all of Miami's Big Three was available. Once it gets past the Heat trio, though, there appears to be plenty smoke and little fire, one NBA GM says.

Cavs preview

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Cavs preview

Blazers preview

The Blazers enter what could be a breakthrough season, something heard in Portland before. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldrige have promise, but Portland should proceed with caution, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

Cavs preview

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Rondo/Stevens

It’s early in the Celtics’ rebuild, but one promising development thus far has been the working relationship between rehabbing point guard Rajon Rondo and new coach Brad Stevens, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

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The NBA's Competition Committee felt strongly that a consistent format should be used for each round of the playoffs.

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Mavs preview

The Mavericks have made curious additions, moves that could affect Dirk Nowitzki's ability to win in his final years. In our season preview, SN's Sean Deveney evaluates where Dallas stands after missing on big free agents.

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Celtics preview

The Celtics are taking on the unenviable task of rebuilding without falling in the standings. Brad Stevens and Rajon Rondo will be counted on in what figures to be a struggle, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

Lakers preview

The Lakers are one of the NBA's more unpredictable teams. There is a history of success established, but there's also the strong possibility their stars have seen their best days, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

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Pelicans preview

Kings preview

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Pelicans preview

The Pelicans made the decision to push to win now rather than suffer another year. New Orleans could still land in the lottery, but its new talent could lead them to a .500 record, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

Lakers offense

The Lakers' problems last season included an inability to score in transition and from 3-point land, staples of Mike D'Antoni's offense. Are big changes ahead? Don't count on it, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

Magic preview

Jazz preview

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Kings preview

DeMarcus Cousins' talent in undeniable, yet his career has been marked by run-ins. Still, the Kings have committed to him and will enter the Cousins era, for better or worse, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

Jazz preview

The Jazz started their current path by trading Deron Williams. That move netted Derrick Favors and led to the pick used on Enes Kanter. Now, their youth movement is in full swing, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

Magic preview

The Magic can't escape Dwight Howard, or the mess he left for them to dig out. Orlando did land a solid haul of young talent. This year will be judged by how that talent develops, SN's Sean Deveney writes in our season preview.

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76ers preview

The 76ers are guaranteed to finish near the bottom of the East. In doing so, their young players will undergo a trial by fire. None will take on as much as Michael Carter-Williams, SN's Sean Deveney says in our season preview.

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OKC endured the losses of James Harden and Kevin Martin, but another player must step up with Russell Westbrook out.

Thunder roles

The OKC Thunder endured through the losses of James Harden and Kevin Martin. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook held the fort, but another player must step up with Westbrook out. SN's Sean Deveney points out candidates.

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No young player in the league has Blake Griffin's combination of raw power and technique, brains and athleticism.

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Andrew Bogut is a former No.1 pick who was once the center of an offense in Milwaukee. Since being traded to Golden State, though, he has taken on a different role. His true mark will come on defense, SN's Sean Deveney writes.

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The Lakers star will be a free agent next summer, and he must decide if he'll help the franchise rebuild by taking a pay cut.

Kobe's contract

Kobe Bryant becomes a free agent next summer, and there won't be any escaping that topic this season. Will he try to squeeze every dollar he can out of the Lakers or take a cut for the team's sake? Read Sean Deveney's take.

Bucks' No. 1 pick

At 18 years old, Giannis Adetokunbo is far from a finished product, but the Milwaukee Bucks are fine letting him find his way on the club's roster. The reasons? Fulfilling a promise and trying to get the Greek phenom to fulfill his.