Author image

Mat Issa

Sports Editor

About

Mat Issa is based in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Yes, he spells his name with one "t." He's obsessed with NBA history, so much so that he's dedicated nearly two years of research to his two mini-series', "Blazing the Trail" and "The Quest for the Best." Right now, Mat goes to law school and writes about the NBA for The Analyst, Forbes, and of course, Basketball Insiders. His work has also been featured in ESPN, SB Nation, FanSided, Basketball News, ONE37pm, and Raptors Republic. Also, he's a lifelong Spartans fan. Go Green!

Articles by Mat Issa (135)

What is a Pick and Roll in Basketball? How To Run a Pick and Roll

The pick and roll is one of the oldest basketball plays in the books. It’s seen at all levels — middle school, high school, college, and the pros. Heck, you will even see it spammed at pickup games at your local LA Fitness. But how does it work? What are the different variations of the […]

Mat Issa  •  13 Mar 2024
Why you can’t forget about Gradey Dick

Key Highlights: After a slow start to his rookie year, Gradey Dick has really picked up the pace in his last 21 games – averaging 9.2 PPG on 62.3% true shooting Dick is more than just a shooter – he’s good at making quick decisions and attacking closeouts Dick has the chance to develop into […]

Mat Issa  •  08 Mar 2024
The Other Unicorn: Just how good can Chet Holmgren be?

Key Highlights: Chet Holmgren may not be Victor Wembanyama but he’s still a very special player in his own right The concerns about Holmgren’s frailer frame are a bit overblown (although they are still present in certain facets of the game) According to Cerebro Sports’ Global Search tool, Holmgren has been playing at a borderline […]

Mat Issa  •  04 Mar 2024
Can Brandin Podziemski extend the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty?

Key Highlights: As a rookie, Brandin Podziemski’s combination of IQ, physicality, and effort already makes him a solid starting player in the NBA Podziemski’s biggest questions right now involve his spacing, size, and on-ball usage Given his similarities to Jalen Brunson, there is a pathway for Podziemski to develop into an All-Star caliber player. Although, […]

Mat Issa  •  01 Mar 2024
NBA Study: Which NBA Coach Is The Best At Calling Plays?

Key Highlights: Since teams only really run set plays after timeouts, the best way to evaluate a coach’s play-calling acumen is to analyze how their team performs in after timeout possessions. Coaches with better offensive personnel have an advantage when it comes to raw ATO data. So, we need to adjust for that in order […]

Mat Issa  •  27 Feb 2024
Two-time Slam Dunk Champion Mac McClung works a “shift” at Raising Cane’s

Who remembers the iconic clip/commercial of then New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees saying that he was going to Disney World after winning Super Bowl XLIV? Anyone? No? Oh well. Anyway, now two-time Slam Dunk Contest Champion Mac McClung didn’t follow in Brees’ footsteps after securing his second dunk contest victory this weekend. But he did have some post-dub plans of […]

Mat Issa  •  21 Feb 2024
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo redeems promotion code for free Wingstop

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP. He’s earned roughly 234.5 million dollars throughout the course of his career (it’ll be 459.1 million once his extension is completed). His net worth is estimated to be worth between 60 and 70 million dollars. And he’s created a media company with Jay Williams. Simply […]

Mat Issa  •  20 Feb 2024
Damian Lillard leaves teammate Giannis off his dream starting five

Despite the game itself rapidly declining in terms of ratings, All-Star weekend does produce a lot of great content. And, of course, the game’s best rapper, Damian Lillard (aka Dame D.O.L.L.A), had to contribute to the social sound bite. Unfortunately, what he said could be a little bit concerning for fans of the Milwaukee Bucks. Dame’s Dream Starting Five […]

Mat Issa  •  20 Feb 2024
What is the most watched All-Star Game of the all-time?

Many NBA fans (casuals and diehards) have a bone to pick with All-Star weekend. When you ask them, they say a big reason for their distaste for the midseason classic is that the All-Star Game (the main event) has lost its luster. A common complaint about the game is that none of the players take […]

Mat Issa  •  18 Feb 2024
Advanced stats don’t like Micah Parsons’ 37-point celebrity game performance

The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us. That means many things. No regular season games for a while (unfortunately), the All-Star game (duh), and cool events like the 3-Point and Slam Dunk Competition. Among those cool events is a fan favorite: the All-Star Celebrity Game. This event is fun because it gives us the […]

Mat Issa  •  17 Feb 2024