Basketball Intelligence For 12/16/25
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
NOTE: Today’s edition is abbreviated due to illness. If we recover sufficiently, we will publish a Part Two later today. Otherwise we’ll play “catch-up” tomorrow.
TEAM-SPECIFIC
BKN: Nets’ Holiday Spirit Could Dampen With Tougher Upcoming Slate
Steve Lichtenstein
BOS: Jaylen Brown takes blame for Celtics’ home loss to East-leading Pistons
Jay King, The Athletic
GSW: It’s time for Jimmy Butler to be more aggressive
Nick Friedell, The Athletic
GSW: Steph Masterclass Can’t Overcome Roster Flaws, Blazers Beat Warriors Yet Again
Duncan/Daniel Hardee, Dub Nation HQ
GSW: Warriors have big problems: A lack of continuity is high on the list
Nick Friedell, The Athletic
IND: Energy lacking as Indiana stumbles in weekend pair of games
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files
LAC: Clippers’ miserable season rolls on with another blowout loss
Justin Russo
MIL: Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks lose another winnable game, fall to 11-16
Eric Nehm, The Athletic
MIN: Why aren’t the Timberwolves giving young players big minutes? Chris Finch has answers
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic
OKC: How OKC trusted the draft, ignored the NBA’s shortcuts and turned fan patience into a payoff.
Maxwell Ogden, Fansided
PHI: Sixers’ Paul George is reassembling his game
Tony Jones, The Athletic
SAS: Spurs Pulled Off the Upset Against the Thunder
Paul Garcia, The Spot Up Shot
Devin Vassell from three, Wemby the X-Factor off the bench, the Spurs’ defensive containment vs OKC, and Castle attacking inside
SAS: Victor Wembanyama and the ‘ethical’ Spurs are ready to think big
Jared Weiss, The Athletic
SAS: The Wemby Effect is real
Tom Haberstroh, The Finder
LEAGUEWIDE
Wemby vs. Brunson: The NBA Cup’s First Great Final
Michael Pina, The Ringer
Spurs-Knicks looks like a shockingly compelling title game. Will the return of Victor Wembanyama tilt the balance?
Recapping Monday’s five games and previewing Tuesday’s NBA Cup Final matchup
Dustin Brewer, HOOPS
Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun Had a Battle for the Ages
The Ten Most Intriguing Trade Candidates
The Ringer
NBA Sophomore Rankings
Nathan Grubel, No Ceilings
NBA Power Rankings
Law Murray, The Athletic