Basketball Intelligence for 10/9/24
"Ask Dean Oliver," unlikely-but-plausible predictions, preseason takeaways, and more
For paid subscribers, an AMA with analytics godfather (and author of the forthcoming Basketball Beyond Paper) Dean Oliver! Send questions you would like Dean to answer to us at info@basketballintelligence.net.
LEAGUE STORIES
19 unlikely-but-plausible predictions for the 2024-25 NBA Season
Mike Shearer,
Part of the Blazers’ extremely modest success was a reliance upon unusual defenses: they ranked third in zone frequency and first in full-court presses, which sort of worked? The Blazers have the personnel to play havoc in passing lanes and apply tremendous ball pressure. Matisse Thybulle led the league in deflections last year, and rising second-year player Toumani Camara is a bear trap with a 7’1” wingspan who pressed more often by himself than several teams did as a whole.
Key storylines: Is the LeBron-Curry-Durant era nearing its sunset?
Shaun Powell, NBA.com
2024-25 NBA.com GM Survey: 50 questions ahead of new season
John Schuhmann, NBA.com
Eastern Conference Win Totals
Marc Campbell,
Predicting 11 NBA breakout players for the 2024-25 season
Jeremy Woo, ESPN
Does Preseason Matter? That Depends On Your Belief In Chance.
Jacob Sutton,
NBA offseason grades: Eastern Conference
Staff, theScore
A fragile thread of human reciprocation
Katie Heindl,
TEAM STORIES
ATL: 5 hot takes following Hawks' win over Pacers in preseason opener
Joshua Buckhalter, Soaring Down South
ATL: 2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player preview: Kobe Bufkin
Malik Brown, Peachtree Hoops
BOS: Drew Peterson is staking a claim to make the Boston Celtics roster
Adam Taylor,
BOS: The semi-realistic path for Payton Pritchard to win Sixth Man of the Year
Mike Shearer, CelticsBlog
CHA: Recap/Analysis: Tidjane Salaün scores 15 in win over Heat
Jon DeLong, At the Hive
If the growth we saw between summer league and preseason is suggestive of his career arc, the Hornets got themselves a player in Tidjane Salaün. He’s far from a finished product, but the development in just a couple of months is noticeable. His handle is tighter, he plays more under control, and the 3-point shots are going in. He hit four triples, including two in which he created space for himself by using his shoulder to nudge away his defender and pulling up without the need for a dribble. He added eight rebounds and three assists as well
CHI: Game notes: Matas Buzelis shines in Bulls preseason opener
Will Gottlieb, CHGO