Basketball Intelligence For 1/20/25
Scoot is making moves, the Clippers are at the helm in Los Angeles, from process to regress in Philly, and more...
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
NBA on MLK Day preview: Storylines and matchups to watch, including Ja Morant vs. Anthony Edwards
Steven Louis Goldberg, The Athletic
TEAM NEWS
BOS: 10 takeaways as the Celtics unravel late against the Hawks
Trevor Hass, Celtics Blog
CHI: Chicago Bulls extend their 5-game losing streak. 4 takeaways from 113-102 loss to Portland Trail Blazers.
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune
CHI: Bulls' losing streak hits five, but Zach LaVine remains a must-watch
Joe Cowley, Chicago Sun-Times
LaVine is playing his best basketball in years, and coach Billy Donovan reiterated that he’s also possibly in the best frame of mind of his career.
“I’ve had a conversation with him, and he can’t lose it,” Donovan said of LaVine’s upbeat attitude. “Whatever it is, he can’t lose it. We obviously had a discussion with him about what it is, but, like I said, everybody goes through different things in their life or different reflection points, and I think the one thing I’ve always admired about him is that most of our conversations are generally centered around basketball, and he always talked about things he wants to do better, things he felt he didn’t do well enough the year before, and he’s always trying to make strides toward that.
CHI: What to do with Patrick Williams
Will Gottlieb, All CHGO
DAL: P.J. Washington, back in his hometown, ‘wants to win on both ends’ for the Mavericks
Christian Clark, The Athletic
DEN: Jamal Murray is embracing scrutiny that accompanies his max contract: “I literally signed up for it”
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post
DEN: Michael Malone may have accidentally stumbled into key to success for the Nuggets
Ben Handler, Nugg Love
DET: The NBA's Biggest Surprise: How the Worst Team Became a Playoff Contender
Jeremias Engelmann, 5x5
GSW: Why the Warriors still believe they can get back to their championship ways
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN
LAC: Kawhi Leonard closer to being the game-changer he once was for Clippers
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times
LAC: Ivica Zubac, Clippers bully Lakers to win fourth straight game
Justin Russo, Russo Writes, A Substack Publication
LAL: LeBron says Lakers must play near-perfect to win: 'That's the way our team is constructed'
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times
LAL: Clippers show Lakers all the things they aren't in first Intuit Dome rivalry game
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times
MIA: Miami Heat's surprise lineup change fuels much-needed win over Spurs
Wes Goldberg, All U Can Heat
MIA: Heat unveils Adebayo-Ware frontcourt, snapping skid in blowout win over Spurs. Takeaways
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
In Butler’s second game back from his seven-game unpaid team suspension, he finished Sunday’s win with eight points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, 0-of-1 shooting on threes and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line, three rebounds and seven assists in 28 minutes.
Butler started fast, scoring six of the Heat’s first 10 points. He scored two points the rest of the way.
While Butler is now back with the Heat after a drama-filled few weeks that included a trade request and suspension, Butler’s thinking hasn’t changed. Butler still wants the Heat to trade him and the Heat will still try to trade him, according to league sources, but there has been little progress in trade talks so far.
MIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 32, Damian Lillard takes over fourth quarter as Bucks beat 76ers 123-109
Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
NOP: Jose Alvarado, rest of role players carrying share of load during Pelicans' 3-game win streak
Rod Walker, Nola.com
NYK: Knicks at the NBA trade deadline: What could a trade involving Mitchell Robinson look like?
James L. Edwards III, The Athletic
NYK: What’s Luck Got To Do With It?
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School
OKC: Cason Wallace is Turning the Corner For OKC Thunder
Ross Lovelace, SI.com
ORL: Magic are completely debunking long-held draft theory with surprising rookie
Elaine Blum, Orlando Magic Daily
ORL: Orlando Magic's struggles are death by a thousand cuts
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared
PHI: 3 observations after Sixers' defeat to Bucks wraps up winless weekend
Noah Levick, NBC Sports Philadelphia
PHI: Sixers Bell Ringer: Maxey and the Blue Coats fight well until Dame Time puts them to bed
Seth Gupwell, Liberty Ballers
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