*The NBA offseason is cooling down, but the takes at OTG aren't. This month, we are hitting you with the Hot Take Marathon. Check back every day for a spicy NBA take!* The Celtics are the best team in the East. At full health three of their starting five (Hayward, Irving, Horford) are walk up All-Stars. With the rapid growth of Tatum and Brown you could make an argument their best starting five could all represent the Eastern Conference this February in Charlotte. If the Celt

After fracturing his tibia and dislocating his ankle on opening night, Boston Celtics wing Gordon Hayward was ruled out for the rest of the 2017-18 season. Hayward's injury has, and will continue to, send ripple effects throughout the entire Eastern Conference — but is it enough to shake up the structure of power at the very top? Coming into the season, a revamped Boston with Kyrie Irving and Hayward was perceived to be the heir to LeBron James’s Eastern throne. And then one

The basketball world was wondering how the Cleveland Cavaliers would come out after an eight day lay-off. Mystery solved. The Cavaliers beat the Toronto Raptors in convincing fashion 116-105 as they take a 1-0 lead. The Raptors worst nightmare came to fruition, as the Cavs looked the best they have in a long time. LeBron James and co. came out of the gates with tremendous energy and put up 30 points in the first quarter. The offense had great synergy, as the Cavs clearly show

Last week, TNT revealed the starters for the 2016-2017 NBA All-Star game. There were some disappointments for obvious reasons. But quite frankly, it happens almost every year. I guess I can understand why some would vote for Steph Curry over Russell Westbrook. Curry is the more popular player. Chef Curry shoots long 3-pointers, with a pretty release and when it goes in, it looks awesome. He’s on a great team, with a better record. It just doesn’t justify the season that Russe

LeBron James has been the hallmark for consistent excellence in the NBA. In the past 12 years, he has eclipsed 25 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds every single season. There have only been a measly thirty-six individual seasons by players that have surpassed the 25/6/6 plateau in all of NBA history, and LeBron has a third of them. Not only does he dominate on the court, but he rarely steps off it; he has appeared in an unbelievable 94% of his team’s regular season games du

Atlantic Division: *Photo via ESPN Hot: Toronto Raptors (11-7) last ten games (6-4) - The Raptors in a stronger Eastern Conference, have the easiest division by far with two of the league’s five worst teams (Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers). The Raptors haven't been at full strength due to Jonas Valanciunas’ hand injury, which is likely to keep him out for another five or six weeks. However, they’ve managed to keep on rolling prior to the loss against the Phoenix Suns.