Basketball Intelligence For 12/13/21
- BKN: Nets Thoughts From The Road (from Alex Schiffer, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3012742/2021/12/13/nets-thoughts-from-the-road-the-durant-harden-dynamic-patty-mills-and-defense/
- BOS: A Statistical Look At The Celtics' 1st 27 Games (from Adam Spinella, Celtics Blog)): https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/12/13/22831177/statistical-look-at-boston-celtics-first-27-games-ime-udoka-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-brad-stevens
- BOS: What Comes Next After Disappointing Road Trip? (from Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe): https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/11/sports/what-comes-next-celtics-after-disappointing-1-4-road-trip/
- CLE: Keys To Cavs' Resurgence (from Tony Pesta, Hoops Habit): https://hoopshabit.com/2021/12/13/reasons-cleveland-cavaliers-resurgence/
From Michael Arace, Columbus Dispatch: https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/nba/2021/12/13/young-cleveland-cavaliers-one-biggest-surprises-nba-season/6480216001/
- DEN: The Nuggets Have To Rely On Jokic (from Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs): https://www.denverstiffs.com/2021/12/13/22831830/nikola-jokic-has-earned-the-right-to-be-selfish
From Kyle Irving, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nikola-jokic-case-to-repeat-nba-mvp/4hmcj202q32410i9tr89wraze
- DEN: Hyland Is Winning Over Fans (from Alex Kennedy, Basketball News): https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nuggets-bones-hyland-winning-over-fans-youre-gonna-fall-in-love
- DET: NBA Stars, Coaches Weigh In On Cade Cunningham (from James Edwards III, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3010773/2021/12/13/hes-going-to-be-a-problem-nba-stars-coaches-weigh-in-on-cade-cunningham/
- DET: Saben Lee Shows Potential (from Omari Sankofa II, Free Press): https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/12/13/detroit-pistons-saben-lee-g-league-brooklyn-nets/6490082001/
- GSW: Q & A: Scott Howard-Cooper, Author Of 'Steve Kerr: A Life' (from Ed Odeven, Nothing But Nylon): https://nothingbutnylon.com/a-conversation-with-scott-howard-cooper/
- HOU: Rockets Hoping To Grow After Following Skid With Streak (from Kristie Rieken, AP): https://www.basketballnews.com/breakingnews/rockets-hoping-to-grow-after-following-skid-with-streak
- LAC: Going Gets Tougher Against Suns, Jazz (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Reister): https://www.ocregister.com/2021/12/12/for-clippers-going-gets-tougher-against-phoenix-suns-utah-jazz/
- LAL: Reaves Has Earned A Spot In The Rotation (from Cooper Halpern, Silver Screen And Roll): https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/12/12/22829590/austin-reaves-earned-spot-lakers-rotation-frank-vogel-minutes-stats-thunder
- MEM: Helping Kyle Anderson Get His Groove Back (from Parker Fleming, Grizzly Bear Blues): https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/12/13/22831025/helping-kyle-anderson-get-his-groove-back-returning-to-the-starting-lineup-memphis-grizzlies-nba
- MEM: Tenacious Tyus Jones (from Shawn Coleman, Grizzly Bear Blues): https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/12/13/22824924/the-tenacious-tyus-jones-memphis-grizzlies-nba
- MIN: Edwards' Decreased Efficiency No Cause For Alarm (from Chris Hine, Star Tribune): https://www.startribune.com/anthony-edwards-decreased-efficiency-no-cause-for-alarm-to-timberwolves/600126484
- NOP: Pels' Guard Play: As Inconsistent As Ever (from William Guillory, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3013043/2021/12/13/the-pelicans-remade-their-backcourt-last-summer-but-their-guard-play-this-season-has-been-as-inconsistent-as-ever/
- NYK: Knicks' Weekend Recap/Reality Check (from Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School):
- PHI: Thybulle's Defensive Prowess (from Keith Pompey, The Inquirer): https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/matisse-thybulle-defense-sixers-steph-curry-sixers-warriors-20211212.html
- SAS: Brothers Pushed Tre Jones Into Becoming 'Ultimate Competitor' (from Tom Orsborn, Express News): https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Brothers-pushed-Spurs-Tre-Jones-into-becoming-16696741.php
- TOR: It Has Been A Big Week For Justin Champagnie (from Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun): https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/ganter-it-has-been-a-big-week-for-raptors-justin-champagnie
From Doug Smith, Toronto Star: https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2021/12/12/the-raptors-are-having-their-champagnie-moments-and-more-often-than-expected.html
- UTA: The Jazz Aced Their Road Trip (from Sarah Todd, Deseret News): https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/12/22828869/the-utah-jazzs-four-game-trip-was-going-to-be-a-tough-test-and-they-aced-it-seven-straight-wins
- UTA: Gobert Is Among League Leaders In Avoiding Injury (from Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune): https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/13/utah-jazz-center-rudy/
LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES:
- The Top ROY Candidates (from Ian Levy, The Step Back): https://fansided.com/2021/12/13/power-ranking-nba-best-rookies
- Each Team's Best Offseason Addition (from The Score): https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2242112
- 7 Observations (from Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer): https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/12/13/22831783/nba-trade-deadline-utah-jazz-boston-celtics
- What Net Ratings Say About Each Team (from Zach Harper, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3003205/2021/12/13/nba-power-rankings-suns-stay-on-top-bucks-are-now-contenders-and-what-net-ratings-say-about-all-30-teams/
- Oral History: CP3 To The Clippers, Not The Lakers (from Andrew Greif, LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-12-13/chris-paul-trade-anniversary-lakers-nba-vetoed-clippers-david-stern
- Video Breakdown: Top 10 2022 Draft Prospects (from Adam Spinella, The Box And One):
- 2022 Draft Prospects: Weekend Update (from Adam Spinella, The Box And One):
-2022 Draft Prospect Kennedy Chandler (from Jake Rosen, The Stepien): https://www.thestepien.com/2021/12/12/the-door-is-open-for-kennedy-chandler/
TAKEAWAYS FROM YESTERDAY'S GAMES
- BKN 116, DET 104:
From Keith Langlois, pistons.com: https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/pistons-begin-life-without-grant-fade-in-fourth
From Omari Sankofa II, Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/12/12/detroit-pistons-game-recap-brooklyn-nets-kevin-durant-51/6488374001/
From Rod Beard, Detroit News: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/12/12/nets-kevin-durant-overpower-undermanned-pistons/6485233001/
From Lauren Williams, MLive: https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2021/12/pistons-adjustments-light-offensive-spark-but-fizzles-with-fourth-quarter-miscues.html
From Kristian Winfield, NY Daily News: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/kevin-durant-scores-51-in-win-vs-pistons-but-the-nets-need-another-backup-point-guard/ar-AARKjzU
From Chris Milholen, Nets Daily: https://www.netsdaily.com/2021/12/12/22831229/kevin-durant-scores-nba-season-high-51-as-nets-take-down-pistons-116-104
- DAL 103, OKC 84:
From Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2021/12/12/thunder-vs-mavericks-score-nba-game-recap-takeaways/6487973001/
From Callie Caplan, Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/12/12/halle-no-luka-mavericks-win-first-game-without-superstar-doncic-in-four-tries/
- LAL 106, ORL 94:
From Bill Oram, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3012988/2021/12/13/lebron-james-finding-joy-through-hustle-as-lakers-learn-what-it-means-to-play-hard/
From Dan Woike, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-12-13/lebron-james-goes-nuclear-five-takeaways-from-lakers-win-over-magic and https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-12-12/lebron-james-fuels-lakers-third-quarter-orlando-magic-nba
From Garrett Townsend, SBNation: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lakers-106-magic-94-road-trip-ends-with-a-thud-as-the-magic-get-dumped-in-los-angeles/ar-AARKuFm
From Kyle Goon, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/12/12/lebron-james-stars-with-two-way-effort-as-lakers-knock-out-magic/
From Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily): https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2021/12/13/orlando-magic-struggle-find-pace-pressure/
- MIL 112, NYK 97:
From Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/bucks-112-knicks-97-a-hot-hand-from-khris-middleton-and-balanced-scoring-are-key/ar-AARJR8a
From Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2021/12/13/takeaways-milwaukee-bucks-double-digit-win-new-york-knicks/
From Stefan Bondy, NY Daily News: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/knicks-get-whooped-by-bucks-kemba-walker-not-part-of-forced-lineup-shakeup/ar-AARK9aA
From Marc Berman, NY Post: https://nypost.com/2021/12/12/knicks-kemba-walker-catastrophe-keeps-looking-worse
- MIN 116, POR 111:
From Chris Hine, Star Tribune: https://www.startribune.com/dangelo-russells-return-helps-wolves-top-portland-116-111-end-losing-streak-at-five/600126515 and https://www.startribune.com/timberwolves-defense-karl-anthony-towns-anthony-edwards/600126544
From Casey Holdahl, Blazers.com: https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/trail-blazers-lose-it-fourth-versus-timberwolves
From Aaron Fentress, oregon Live: https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/12/damian-lillard-returns-but-portland-trail-blazers-fall-to-minnesota-for-5th-loss-in-a-row.html
- SAS 112, NOP 97:
From Jesus Gomez, Pounding The Rock: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/12/12/22831393/spurs-bounce-back-with-no-frills-win-against-the-pelicans
From Christian Clark, The Advocate: https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_aa0e2adc-5ba6-11ec-98f6-1317de3ea2d5.html
From Jeff McDonald, Express News: https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/The-triple-take-Spurs-112-Pelicans-97-16696950.php
THREE YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives:
http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/12/13/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-121318/