Basketball Intelligence for 11/21/23
OGs (not O.G.), technical free throws, the Nets' defense, and more!
LEAGUEWIDE STORIES
Long live the OG, the NBA’s unheralded tone-setters
John Hollinger, The Athletic
[Deandre Jordan] has only played one game this year, for a total of 12 minutes, but the Nuggets brought him back in part to be the veteran mentor for the six Denver players in their first or second season.
That formula helped bring Denver to the promised land, which is why the Nuggets have a little-used vet on their roster despite leaning into a future-focused program of restocking this year’s bench and despite a luxury-tax position that makes Jordan’s $2 million cap hit cost the Nuggets an additional $5 million in tax payments … money Denver could avoid paying entirely if it just went with the minimum of 14 players rather than 15.
Knicks seeking over $10 million in damages from Raptors, claim Adam Silver would be compromised as arbiter
Ian Begley, Yahoo Sports
Analysis: The NBA In-Season Tournament is doing what it intended. Now things should heat up more
Tim Reynolds, AP
For win-now teams such as Warriors, Wolves and Clippers, it’s prove-it time
John Hollinger, The Athletic
Is your favorite team maximizing its technical foul free throws?
Jared Dubin, Last Night, In Basketball
TEAM STORIES
ATL: Checking in with the College Park Skyhawks and the developmental players
Wes Morton, Peachtree Hoops
BOS: Celtics-Hornets takeaways: Tatum, C's fall just short in OT thriller
Justin Leger, NBC Sports
BRK: What’s Up With The Nets’ Shoddy Defense And Can It Be Fixed?
Steve Lichtenstein, Steve’s Newsletter
Still, in order to stay relevant over the long haul, the Nets will have to fix their defensive issues. 56.4% of opponent field goal attempts have been what NBA.com deems “open” looks (at least four feet of space from the nearest defender), the highest percentage in the league. That includes 35.1 open three-pointers allowed per game, more than anyone but Charlotte and San Antonio.
CHA: LaMelo Ball continues his scoring tear as Hornets beat Celtics, but is he a winning player?
Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
CHA: What the Charlotte Hornets said after OT win vs. Boston in Miles Bridges’ first start
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer
“This league is not about a great win,” coach Steve Clifford said. “This league is about can we come back and play well Wednesday and win. That is what the league is about. If you want to look at every year, the teams that end up with the worst record beat the teams with the best record. That’s the way the league is. They are all good players. The difference is night-to-night. It’s not one night. It’s can you put games together?”