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 (132)

The truth about Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero’s strong postseason debut

Key Highlights:  Paolo Banchero’s postseason numbers aren’t as impressive (or sustainable) as they seem Banchero has a postseason effective field goal percentage of 50.9% after posting a regular season effective field goal percentage of 43.7% It is important to look at the bigger picture when evaluating players in order to be more honest and fair […]

Mat Issa  •  01 May 2024
The Pascal Siakam trade is paying dividends for the Indiana Pacers this postseason

Key Highlights: Pascal Siakam is the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1967 to start out the postseason with back-to-back 35/10 games Siakam is too fast for Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis and too big for any of the Milwaukee Bucks other defenders Siakam’s combination of size and skill is the key to the Indiana […]

Mat Issa  •  25 Apr 2024
Could this be the way to stop the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Key Highlights: Despite losing, the Sacramento Kings may have stumbled upon a lineup configuration that could cause the Oklahoma City Thunder some issues Chet Holmgren’s unique skillset creates a lot of problems for most NBA teams Small-ball isn’t completely dead. In fact, when done properly, could be a way to neutralize Holmgren’s impact On the […]

Mat Issa  •  10 Apr 2024
Everything you need to know about defending a pick and roll in basketball

The pick and roll is an integral part of the game of basketball. That’s why knowing how to properly run it is so important. But do you know what may be just as important? Knowing how to defend the pick and roll. That’s why, in this article, we discuss everything you need to know about […]

Mat Issa  •  05 Apr 2024
NBA Study: What is the right way to analyze rookies?

Key Highlights: Since young players are inherently inconsistent, the best way to analyze their rookie seasons is to look at their flashes According to Game Score, Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Brandon Miller, Keyonte George, and GG Jackson have had the top 5 best flashes among rookies this year The best way to use this study […]

Mat Issa  •  27 Mar 2024
The Phoenix Suns made a huge mistake trading away Toumani Camara

Key Highlights: Toumani Camara is already an All-League caliber defender Camara’s skillset is one that the current version of the Phoenix Suns is desperately lacking Camara’s age (almost 24) makes it hard to imagine that he improves much more as a player from his current level I remember it like it was yesterday, which isn’t […]

Mat Issa  •  25 Mar 2024
NBA Study: Has Victor Wembanyama’s rookie year lived up to the hype?

Key Highlights: It is extremely difficult to compare players from different eras. The best way of doing so (without hundreds of hours of research) is to look at one-number metrics Wembanyama’s rookie EPM, BPM, and DPM is right up there with almost any rookie season we looked at Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Tim Duncan, Chris […]

Mat Issa  •  20 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