Basketball Intelligence for 11/7/2022

Today's Best NBA Reporting and Analysis

Nov 7, 2022

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League-Wide Stories

NBA Monday Musings — Pascal Siakam, Golden State, John Collins, and more
Kyle Grondin, HoopSocial

In pick-and-rolls as the roll man, Collins is scoring 1.53 points per possession this season, the seventh-best mark in basketball. He’s at a career-low 24 percent from beyond the arc and scoring just 0.71 points per possession on spot-up jump shots. Despite excelling in pick-and-roll and struggling as a jump shooter, Collins is only being used as a screener in about 15 percent of his possessions, compared to 28 percent spotting up.

Meet NBA Launchpad, the league’s tech incubator that hopes to change the game
Bill Shea, The Athletic

NBA Power Rankings: Warriors plummet; transition-game breakdowns for all 30 teams
Zach Harper, The Athletic

The Whiteboard: Power ranking the most exciting 6 seconds in the NBA
Staff, FanSided

[Gilgeous-Alexander is] shooting an absolutely absurd 61.6 percent on shots that have come after a touch time of at least six seconds, the highest in the league among the 20 players who average at least six such shots per game. To put his efficiency in further context, only five of the other 19 players in that group have even managed to break 50 percent.

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Team-Specific Stories

ATL: Hawks’ Dejounte Murray reveals secret to strong start
Joshua Buckhalter, Soaring Down South

ATL: Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are making an unlikely pairing work for the Hawks
Andrew Lopez, ESPN

BKN: From our greatest basketball export to US sporting pariah: Can Simmons bounce back?
Konrad Marshall, The Sydney Morning Herald

Consider for a moment what that’s like, just to be him. Somewhere behind the lopsided labels slapped on his persona – overrated, underrated, pathetic, persecuted – there’s a person trying to reconcile the difference between how much he’s worth and how much he’s paid, where he’s come from and where he’s going – all in full public view. This is the warped and dehumanising business of being Ben Simmons.

BKN: Nets’ Cam Thomas proving value while filling in for Kyrie Irving
Brian Lewis, New York Post

In the past two games, Thomas had 38 points (second on the team to Durant) and shot 3-for-6 from 3-point range and 13-for-14 from the free-throw line. More impressive is how clean and under control he was while still making plays. Thomas had 10 assists and just a single turnover, and was a +49 in 61 combined minutes.

BKN: Brooklyn Nets Are Pleased With Jacque Vaughn After Reports Of Good Locker Room Culture
Ishaan Bhattacharya, Fadeaway World

BKN: NBA executives poll: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and the debates surrounding the Nets’ future (again)
Sam Amick, The Athletic

BOS: Sam Hauser and the Celtics: a truly perfect fit
Trevor Hass, Celtics Blog

CHI: Bulls must find identity when DeRozan draws doubles
K.C. Johnson, NBC Sports Chicago

CHI: How DeRozan, Calderón developed strong bond in Toronto
K.C. Johnson, NBC Sports Chicago

CHI: Terry makes most of first entry into Bulls' rotation
K.C. Johnson, NBC Sports Chicago

DAL: Film Breakdown: How Luka Doncic Broke the Raptors' Many Defensive Schemes
Grant Afseth, Dallas Basketball

DET: Improved health means Detroit Pistons will soon get back to two-big lineups
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press

IND: 'I know how to hoop': Rookie Andrew Nembhard guides Pacers with his steady, confident game
Wilson Moore, Indianapolis Star

GSW: Why Kerr believes Jerome has been 'godsend' for Warriors
Jarrod Castillo, NBC Sports

GSW: Winless road trip a wake-up call for struggling Warriors
Madeline Kenney, East Bay Times

GSW: Why Steve Kerr is pushing for more Jonathan Kuminga, sticking with James Wiseman amid Warriors' early struggles
Jordan Greer, The Sporting News

LAL: Matt Ryan: sparked by USA national team in the Windows and now clutch for the Lakers
FIBA.com

LAL: ‘Our spirit seemed to have left the building’: What they’re saying after Cavaliers win vs. Lakers
Tim Bielik, Cleveland.com

MEM: Steven Adams is proving why he's a Memphis Grizzlies anchor this season
Damichael Cole, Memphis Commercial Appeal

MIL: 'That's my rook!': MarJon Beauchamp breaks out as Bucks stay undefeated
Cody Taylor, USA Today

MIL: How the Milwaukee Bucks can maintain their hot start
Thomas J. Brown, Hoops Habit

MIN: How good is the Wolves' defense and do they play faster without Gobert?
Derek James, By Derek James

NOP: Ten Reasons the Pelicans Are the NBA’s Biggest Wild Card
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer

The Pelicans prefer to switch screens when defending the pick-and-roll. And when they do, they’re one of the best at getting stops. Second Spectrum says they allow the second-fewest points per switch.

NYK: Knicks struggling on defense as challenges set to grow harder
Zach Braziller, New York Post

NYK: Bombs Away
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School

NYK: Screen time: Knicks have a problem on defense
Fred Katz, The Athletic

ORL: Magic gained another lesson the hard way in heartbreaking loss to Kings
Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel

PHI: Sixers mismanaged James Harden’s early-season workload — they’ll get another chance in a month or so
Dave Early, Liberty Ballers

PHI: Sixers are happy to welcome Joel Embiid back from the flu, especially with James Harden’s absence
Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer

POR: Portland Trail Blazers’ Trendon Watford happy to be back in action: ‘I missed it a lot’
Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian

SAS: Spurs taking aim from 3-point line behind Vassell, Johnson
Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News

TOR: Jumbo-sized Toronto Raptors are a problem for the rest of the NBA
Dylan Carter, Hoops Habit

UTA: How much of the Jazz’s early season run is sustainable?
Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune

WAS: The Wizards might have something in Jordan Goodwin
Chase Hughes, NBC Sports