Basketball Intelligence For 11/21/25

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Basketball Intelligence

Nov 21, 2025

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The State of the Grizzlies w/ Parker Fleming

Aaron Bollwinkel and Parker Fleming

6:53 PM

The State of the Grizzlies w/ Parker Fleming

Parker Fleming, author of the Subtsakalidis newsletter, joins Aaron Bollwinkel to talk about the Grizzlies’ new offensive system under Head Coach Tuomas Iisalo, what the return of Zach Edey means, the struggles of Jaren Jackson Jr. in the new scheme, the superb play of rookie Cedric Coward, and getting a gauge on where the Ja Morant situation stands.

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*FEATURES OF THE DAY*

Why Full-Court Defense Is on the Rise in the NBA
Logan Murdock, The Ringer

Wembanyama, Morant Suffer Calf Strains. Why Injury Rate Is Up In NBA
Bruce Y Lee, MD, Forbes

Is “giving a damn about every single possession” easy, though?
Poor Man’s Commish, Let’s Go Warriors

The NBA Gave the Sacramento Kings a Schedule Tank
Above The Break

LEAGUEWIDE

Why Full-Court Defense Is on the Rise in the NBA
Logan Murdock, The Ringer

… the rise of full-court pressure has been one of the most pervasive trends of the NBA season’s first month. Leaguewide, full-court pressure has increased substantially. Two-thirds of the NBA’s teams are pressing more than they did last year, per Synergy, with the Portland Trail Blazers leading the way. “If you’re playing defensively full court, you’re speeding the game up and getting a team to play faster than they like,” says Rick Carlisle, whose Pacers harassed guards like Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt during their improbable 2025 playoff run. “That can be uncomfortable, and there can be turnovers.”

The press is also inextricable from the transformation of basketball over the last two decades, in which the abolition of hand checking, the explosion of pace, and the proliferation of long-range shooting have given ball handlers the upper hand. Can full-court pressure help defenses get back on level ground?

Early NBA concerns: one for each team
The Athletic NBA Staff

Wembanyama, Morant Suffer Calf Strains. Why Injury Rate Is Up In NBA
Bruce Y Lee, MD, Forbes

Why Are So Many NBA Stars Injured?
Thomas Golianopolis, Complex

What to make of Eastern Conference surprises
Eric Koreen/Joel Lorenzi/Hunter Patterson, The Athletic

T.J. Ford on Today’s Point Guards
Nam Tran, The Old Man Game

“So, when I look at the way the game is played now, point guard-wise, I think point guard-wise, you just automatically gave it to the smallest guy and said you have to lead. Today’s game, now, point guard has nothing to do with your height, size —it has to do with your ability to connect, your ability to make guys better, and the ability to do whatever the game calls for you to do. Doesn’t matter your height.”
He added that he embraces modern playmaking because various positions can take that role. He also added that many times, there will be multiple players on the floor who can direct the offence.

Maxey’s 54 helps Philly survive the Bucks in OT, San Antonio keeps winning, and more from last night
Dustin Brewer, Hoops

In the NBA Cup, teams are running it up. The rules say it’s a good idea to do so
Tim Reynolds, AP

Lauri Markkanen’s movement, Mitchell Robinson’s passing and more NBA trends
Fred Katz, The Athletic