Basketball Intelligence For 11/26/24
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: The NBA’s premier pickpocket: Inside Dyson Daniels' ridiculous stats as the Hawks' stopper
Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports
ATL: Irving’s dominant fourth quarter leads Mavericks past Hawks
Lauren Williams, AJC
BKN: Tank-Defying Nets Blossoming Into A Remarkable Early-Season Story
Steve Lichtenstein
BOS: The Celtics have become masters at creating one of basketball’s most efficient shots: the catch-and-shoot 3
Bill Sy, Celtics Blog
BOS: Watch out, NBA. The Celtics are back at full power.
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
BOS: Celtics roll past Clippers with Kristaps Porziņģis back in the fold
Jay King, The Athletic
BOS: Celtics cruise past Clippers 126-94 in Kristaps Porzingis’ return
Trevor Hass, Celtics Blog
CHA: LaMelo Ball joins rare company, but reoccurring theme haunts Hornets in loss to Orlando
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer
DAL: Kyrie Irving provides extra lift as Mavs power past illness, injury and Hawks in Atlanta
Mike Curtis, Morning News
DAL: Game Observations: Game 18: An ode to Kyrie Irving (with a side of praise for Jason Kidd)
Iztok Franko, Diggin Basketball
DEN: Nuggets ’embarrassed’ by Knicks at home
Tony Jones, The Athletic
DEN: Michael Malone calls out Nuggets’ effort after Knicks score 145 points
Bennett Durando, Denver Post
GSW: 3 signs Andrew Wiggins is all the way back
Luke Norris, Fansided
GSW: What we learned as Warriors' late-game woes continue in loss to Nets
Dalton Johnson, NBC Sports
HOU: Ime Udoka on What’s Fueling Houston’s Surprising Start
Michael Pina, The Ringer
The Rockets are winning with a dominant defense that merges old-school toughness with cutting-edge principles
IND: Pascal Siakam changed his step without losing one
Samson Folk, Basketball She Wrote
LAL: Lakers look to ramp up defense with return to physical play
Dan Woike, LA Times
LAL: Is Dalton Knecht Too Old to Have Major Upside?
Zach Kram, The Ringer
LAL: Redick has turned Anthony Davis into the MVP candidate we've been waiting for
Stephen Noh, Sporting News
LAL: 1 Laker who needs more playing time, 2 who need less
Terrence Jordan, Fansided
LAL: Lakers looking to up their physicality in NBA Cup matchup against Suns
Khobi Price, OC Register
MIA: How the Mavericks Looked To Take away the Rim & How the Heat Countered
John Jablonka, Simply Ballin
MIA: Heat’s defense surging after slow start to the season
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
MIN: Why are Timberwolves sitting at .500? ‘We just don’t play hard’
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic
NOP: Difficult Decisions Down In New Orleans
Keith Smith, Spotrac
NOP: Elfrid Payton's career night spoiled as Pelicans come up short in crunch time vs. Pacers
Christian Clark, The Advocate
NOP: Elfrid Payton racks up NBA season-high 21 assists in third game back after two-year absence
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
NYK: The Knicks’ offense is scary good and might just be getting started
James Edwards III, The Athletic
NYK: The Knicks, led by a forward with a real All-Star case, dominated in Denver
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School
NYK: Jalen Brunson’s career-high in assists leads Knicks to tying franchise mark
Peter Botte, NY Post
OKC: SGA drops bold take on Isaiah Hartenstein after win over Kings
Mark Nilon, Thunderous Intentions
OKC: SGA scores 37 points, leads OKC Thunder past Kings
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman
OKC: How is Dillon Jones handling his rookie education? Curiosity helps
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman
ORL: Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter Jr.’s special friendship sets tone for Orlando Magic
Jason Quick, The Athletic
ORL: Magic kept the faith in themselves for "gutsy" win
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
The Magic's offense and shooting was abysmal for three quarters. But they kept themselves in the game and finally burst through in the fourth quarter
ORL: How Magic leaned on defense to win at Hornets
Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel
PHI: What If the Sixers’ Nightmare Is Just Beginning?
Danny Chau, The Ringer
PHI: Jared McCain, taking inspiration from Stephen Curry, is thriving for the Sixers
Tony Jones, The Athletic
PHX: 3 specific areas Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant return will provide boost for Suns
Gerald Bourguet, Go PHNX
PHX: The Suns will be just fine
Brandon Duenas, Bright Side Of The Sun
POR: The winning magic of efficient 3 and D: Why I won’t shut up about Toumani Camara
Henry Abbott, True Hoop
SAC: Malik Monk returns but Sacramento’s slide continues
Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee
SAS: How Stephon Castle is turning into the perfect Wembanyama sidekick
Mike Shearer, Basketball Poetry
Everything the Spurs have done in the last 18-ish months has revolved around maximizing Victor Wembanyama’s prime. How to maximize that prime, however, isn’t always as clear-cut.
What skills would you desire next to someone like Wembanyama?
You’d want a perimeter defensive menace, someone who can funnel ballhandlers into Wemby’s waiting arms. Someone who can play on or off the ball, because sometimes Wembanyama needs to be fed, and sometimes he needs to do the feeding. Someone who can take some late-game pressure off of the big man. Versatility, particularly on offense, is critical. If you don’t know what kind of monster Wembanyama ultimately becomes, you need someone who can grow right along with him, who can adapt to his evolution.
Well, give the Spurs front office some credit. It hasn’t taken long for rookie Stephon Castle to check almost all those boxes and become the second-most-important player strolling the River Walk.
SAS: How Harrison Barnes positively impacts Spurs’ growth
Hector Ledesma, Clutch Points
SAS: Spurs Playbook: Clutch Calls from Coach Mitch Johnson
Noah Magaro-George, Vic And Roll
TOR: Raptors' lack of finish exposed once again in loss to Pistons
Michael Grange, Sportsnet
Today’s BI is dedicated to the memory of Coach Steve Finamore
Note: Coach Finamore was a close personal friend who was a strong, loyal supporter of BI. He was instrumental as part of the focus group that helped us launch our newsletter over a decade ago. He was a constant advocate of “playing the right way” or as he abbreviated it PTRW. Rest in peace, coach. You will be missed.
Popular Lansing area basketball coach Steve Finamore remembered for impact, passion for game
Brian Calloway, Lansing State Journal
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