TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
- ATL: Hawks Need Serious Reflection After Collapse Against Rockets (from Chris Kirschner, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3014828/2021/12/14/hawks-need-serious-reflection-after-collapse-against-rockets-its-the-way-were-losing/
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/weve-got-to-stay-connected-hawks-know-execution-in-fourth-quarter-must-improve/XTEJBXM4VVD6VIQVLWDAP46ECY/
- CLE: Analyzing Mobley's Elevated Play (from Kelsey Russo, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3012910/2021/12/13/like-old-school-bill-russell-analyzing-evan-mobleys-elevated-play-with-cavs-assistant-greg-buckner-mobley-mondays/
- DEN: Nuggets Notebook (from Eric Spyropoulos, nuggets.com): https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-notebook-121321#
-DEN: Markus Howard Seizes Chance (from Mike Singer, Denver Post): Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/12/markus-howard-nuggets-spurs-chance/
- GSW: Inside Steph's Path Toward 3-Point Supremacy (from Kirk Goldsberry, ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/32841526/inside-stephen-curry-path-3-point-supremacy
From James Boyd, Indy Star: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/12/13/stephen-curry-seven-3-pointers-setting-nba-record/6498560001/
- LAC: Ibaka Is Healthy But Playing Time Wanes (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register): https://www.ocregister.com/2021/12/13/clippers-serge-ibaka-is-healthy-but-playing-time-wanes/
- LAL: THT Gaining Confidence Ahead Of Trade Season (from Kyle Goon, OC Register): https://www.ocregister.com/2021/12/13/lakers-talen-horton-tucker-gaining-confidence-ahead-of-crucial-nba-trade-season
- MIA: Q & A: Max Strus (from Spencer Davies, Basketball News): https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/qa-max-strus-on-heats-nextman-up-mentality-building-confidence
- MIN: D'Angelo Has Become Indispensable (from Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3012485/2021/12/13/dangelo-russell-has-become-undeniably-indispensable-for-the-timberwolves/
From Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press: https://www.twincities.com/2021/12/13/dangelo-russell-effect-is-obvious-for-timberwolves/
- NYK: Kemba Was Not The Problem (from Mike Cortez, The Knicks Wall): https://theknickswall.com/knicks-proved-kemba-walker-was-not-problem/
- PHI: Embiid Continues To Improve As 3-Point Shooter (from Keith Pompey, The INquirer): https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-joel-embiid-doc-rivers-three-point-shooting-20211213.html
- POR: How Billups & The Blazers' GM's Lives Have Come Full Circle (from Jason Quick, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3014806/2021/12/14/yo-where-is-joe-cronin-at-how-chauncey-billups-and-the-blazers-gms-lives-have-come-full-circle/
- SAS: Derrick White Is Looking Like Himself Again (from Jesus Gomez, Pounding The Rock): https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/12/13/22828814/derrick-white-is-finally-looking-like-himself-again
- UTAH: The Jazz's Week In Review (from Dan Clayton, Salt City Hoops): https://saltcityhoops.com/sc7121321-rim-wreckers-5on5/
LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES
- How Do NBA Execs Approach Out Of Shape Players? (from Michael Scotto, Hoops Hype): https://hoopshype.com/lists/how-nba-executives-approach-overweight-players/
- The Week That Was (from John Hollinger, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3013146/2021/12/13/cleveland-rocks-and-so-does-potential-no-1-draft-pick-jabari-smith-hollingers-week-that-was/
- What Is Holding Back Each Contender? (from Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951436-whats-holding-back-every-nba-contender
- Analyzing Luka Doncic, Dejounte Murray, Garrison Matthews (from Bryan Kalbrosky, Hoops Hype): https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-news-stats-luka-doncic-dejounte-murray-garrison-mathews/
- Each Team's MIP So Far This Season (from Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2951304-every-nba-teams-most-improved-player-so-far-this-season
- Joe Young Is On A Mission To Get Back Into The NBA (from Alex Squadron, SLAM): https://www.slamonline.com/the-magazine/joe-young-mission-get-back-in-the-nba/
- The 2021-22 All No-Trade Team (from Marc Stein/Keith Smith, The Stein Line):
- Teams To Watch As Trade Season Opens (from Ben Golliver, Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/13/nba-trades-buyers-sellers/
- George Gervin: The Iceman & Eastern Michigan (from Brendan Quinn, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3011533/2021/12/14/the-iceman-and-eastern-michigan-how-one-of-basketballs-greatest-stars-ended-up-at-the-unlikeliest-place/
TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT’S GAMES
- BOS 117, MIL 103:
From Eric Nehm, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3014946/2021/12/14/khris-middleton-injury-lousy-second-quarter-sink-bucks-in-loss-to-celtics-we-werent-at-our-best/
From Bill Sy, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/12/14/22833406/jaylen-brown-plays-big-role-in-big-win-over-milwaukee-bucks-boston-celtics-jayson-tatum-ime-udoka
From Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/14/boston-celtics-mystery-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown
From Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/13/sports/jayson-tatum-drops-42-points-bucks-celtics-snap-three-game-losing-streak-with-117-103-win/
From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/14/sports/celtics-finally-got-physical-refused-back-down-gritty-win/
From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/12/13/tatum-scores-season-high-42-as-celtics-knock-off-bucks/
From Jay King, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3015043/2021/12/14/after-confronting-all-their-issues-from-rough-road-trip-celtics-soar-past-bucks-in-jaylen-browns-return/
From Souichi Terada, Mass Live: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/12/four-takeaways-as-jaylen-brown-returns-celtics-beat-bucks-117-103-to-snap-losing-streak.html
From Brian Robb, Mass Live: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/12/jaylen-browns-return-brings-celtics-biggest-trade-needs-into-focus-after-win-over-bucks-brian-robb.html
From Tom Westerholm, Boston.com: https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/12/13/celtics-bucks-takeaways-jaylen-brown-return/
From Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2021/12/14/takeaways-milwaukee-bucks-gutting-loss-boston-celtics/
From Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/12/14/milwaukee-bucks-road-recap-khris-middleton-injures-knee-three-point-defense-suffers-nba/6504461001/
- CLE 105, MIA 94:
From Ira Winderman, SunSentinel: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-cleveland-cavaliers-20211214-5tf243qpkrgmjcskmkhli57w2y-story.html
- DAL 120, CHA 96:
From Brad Townsend, Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/12/13/fast-start-elite-shooting-help-mavs-snap-home-losing-streak-in-120-96-throttling-of-the-hornets/
- DEN 113, WAS 107:
From Chase Hughes, NBC Sports): https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/futile-wizards-comeback-masks-another-ugly-loss-denver-nuggets
From Andrew Gillis, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-trend-starting-slow-continues-loss-nuggets
From Ava Wallace, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/13/wizards-nuggets-wes-unseld-jr/
From Eric Spyropoulos, nuggets.com: https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-wizards-121321
From Kyle Fredrickson, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/14/nikola-jokic-ejection-nuggets-wizards/
From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/12/markus-howard-nuggets-spurs-chance/
- GSW 102, IND 100:
From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3014628/2021/12/14/five-observations-warriors-win-ugly-in-indianapolis-as-steph-curry-creeps-to-doorstep-of-record/
From James Boyd, Indy Star: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/12/13/pacers-vs-warriors-indiana-loses-curry-falls-just-short-3-point-record/6497417001/
From Joe Viray, Golden State Of Mind: https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2021/12/13/22833571/warriors-pacers-steph-curry-draymond-green-kevon-looney-domantas-sabonis-myles-turner-film-breakdown
From Josh Schrock, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/brilliant-jonathan-kuminga-will-play-vital-warriors-role-down-stretch
- HOU 132, ATL 126:
From Chris Kirschner, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3014828/2021/12/14/hawks-need-serious-reflection-after-collapse-against-rockets-its-the-way-were-losing/
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/weve-got-to-stay-connected-hawks-know-execution-in-fourth-quarter-must-improve/XTEJBXM4VVD6VIQVLWDAP46ECY/
From Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/A-shocking-comeback-with-a-veteran-jolt-16699919.php and https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-pull-off-stunning-comeback-win-over-Hawks-16699805.php
From Graham Capple, Peachtree Hoops: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2021/12/14/22833791/atlanta-hawks-houston-rockets-analysis-video-quotes-breakdown-collapse-loss-blown-lead-trae-young
- LAC 111, PHO 95:
From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/12/13/clippers-beat-suns-in-playoff-rematch-of-short-handed-squads/
From Andrew Greif, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-12-13/clippers-coast-past-suns-in-western-conference-final-rematch
From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/5-takeaways-from-suns-loss-to-clippers-without-devin-booker-and-deandre-ayton/ar-AARMZMh
- MEM 126, PHI 91:
From Keith Pompey, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-76ers-grizzlies-best-worst-awards-20211214.html
- TOR 124, SAC 101:
From Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee: https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256577546.html and https://www.sacbee.com/article256570991.html
From Joshua Howe, Clutch Points: https://clutchpoints.com/raptors-news-scottie-barnes-lives-up-to-monster-defensive-expectations-vs-kings/
From The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/news/kings-hold-players-only-meeting-after-embarrassing-loss-caps-off-winless-road-trip/OqjLNK3LNDPi/
FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI Archives:
http://basketballintelligence.net/2017/12/14/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-121417-part-one/