Basketball Intelligence For 12/17/21
Starting this weekend, Basketball Intelligence will become a paid subscription newsletter.
I still want as many people as possible to have full access to BI so I am keeping the subscription price as low as possible.
The price will be five dollars a month or fifty dollars a year.
For more details and to subscribe, please click here
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
- BKN: Nash is Concerned With KD's Minutes (from Tim Bontemps, ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32884769/brooklyn-nets-coach-steve-nash-concerned-kevin-durant-minutes-not-safe-sustainable
- CLE :Garland Has Become A 3-Level Scoring Threat (from Ian Levy, The Step Back): https://fansided.com/2021/12/16/darius-garland-3-level-scoring-threat/
- DEN: Jokic Is Even Better This Season (from Kevin O'Connor/Ben Taylor, The Ringer/Thinking Basketball): https://www.theringer.com/video/2021/12/16/22838704/nikola-jokic-is-even-better-than-in-his-mvp-season
- GSW: How Bjelica Found His NBA Home With The Dubs (from Connor Letourneau, SF Chronicle): https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/How-Nemanja-Bjelica-found-his-NBA-home-with-16708598.php
- GSW: Explain One Play (from Eric Apricot, Dub Nation HQ):
- GSW: Warriors Stat Analysis (from Tim Kawakami, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3007515/2021/12/16/kawakami-steph-currys-outer-limits-jonathan-kumingas-role-and-more-warriors-stat-analysis
- HOU: Sengun's Rookie Season Is Catching Fire (from Kelly Iko, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3019404/2021/12/16/alperen-senguns-rookie-season-with-the-rockets-is-catching-fire-quickly-hes-someone-that-the-game-comes-easy-to/?source=emp_shared_article
From Rahat Huq, Chron.com: https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Houston-Rockets-rookie-Alperen-Sengun-big-week-16709379.php
- HOU: Inside The Detailed Mind Of Stephen Silas (from Zach Allen, The Dream Shake): https://www.thedreamshake.com/2021/12/17/22841050/inside-the-detailed-mind-of-head-coach-stephen-silas-houston-rockets
- LAC: How Ty Lue Has Built Trust With His Players (fromAndrew Greif, LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-12-17/clippers-tyronn-lue-serge-ibaka-trust-players-nba
- LAC: Terance Mann: Capitalizing On The Perfect Role (from Will Bjarnar, Clips Nation): https://www.clipsnation.com/2021/12/16/22838816/terance-mann-los-angeles-clippers-swingman-development-capitalizing-on-the-perfect-role
- LAL: Perhaps Moving LBJ To The 5 Will Change The Lakers' Fortunes (from Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer): https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/12/17/22840398/lebron-james-center-los-angeles-lakers-struggles
- LAL: Reaves' Career Of Defying The Odds (from Jovan Buha, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3019246/2021/12/16/austin-reaves-game-winning-3-continues-his-career-of-defying-the-odds-its-basically-been-the-story-of-my-life/
From Trevor Lane, Lakers Nation:
- MEM: Desmond Bane's MIP Candidacy (from Evan Barnes, Commercial Appeal): https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2021/12/17/memphis-grizzlies-desmond-bane-creating-strong-case-most-improved-player/6470476001/
From Adam Spinella, The Box And One:
- MEM: Takeaways From Win Over Blazers (from Joe Mullinax, Grizzly Bear Blues): https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/12/16/22839351/report-card-grizzlies-snuff-out-the-blazers-memphis-portland-nba
- MIA: Weekly Heat Report (from Wes Goldberg, The Wes Side):
From Couper Moorhead, HEAT.com: https://www.nba.com/heat/news/notebook-vol-7-spo-zone-variance-cuts
- MIA: Dedmon Just Fixes Things (from BradyHawk, Five reasons Sports): https://www.fivereasonssports.com/news/dewayne-dedmon-is-indeed-the-mechanic-he-just-fixes-things/
- MIA: Everybody Loves PJ Tucker (from Couper Moorhead, HEAT.com): https://www.nba.com/heat/everybody-loves-pj-tucker
- MIL: Jrue Holiday Takes Charge In Win Over Pacers (from Eric Nehm, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3019607/2021/12/16/the-jrue-holiday-show-point-guard-takes-charge-as-bucks-push-past-pacers/
- MIL: What We've Learned When The Bucks' Big 3 Are Out (from Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel): https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/12/16/milwaukee-bucks-could-better-when-giannis-middleton-holiday-sit/8922208002/
- MIN: The Wolves May Have Something Here (from Rob Mahoney, The Ringer): https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/12/17/22841112/minnesota-timberwolves-karl-anthony-towns
- MIN: KAT & AE: Conversations That Spur A Partnership (from Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3006124/2021/12/16/karl-anthony-towns-anthony-edwards-and-the-conversations-that-spur-a-partnership/
From Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press: https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/pro/neither-anthony-edwards-nor-karl-anthony-towns-can-do-it-alone-for-the-timberwolves
- NYK: McBride's Emergence (from Ian Begley, SNY): https://www.sny.tv/articles/miles-mcbride-emergence-knicks-rotation-plans
From Dave Clark, Cincinnati Enquirer: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2021/12/17/miles-deuce-mcbride-breakout-performance-new-york-knicks-win-houston-rockets-moeller-high-school/8935578002/
- OKC: Dort's MIP Candidacy (from Ross Lovelace, Inside The Thunder): https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/lu-dort-looking-to-be-okcs-most-improved-player-this-season/ar-AARTHJV
- ORL: Franz Wagner, Star In The Making (from Garrett Townsend, Orlando Pinstriped Post): https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2021/12/14/22833316/orlando-magic-franz-wagner
- ORL: Mo Wagner's Valuable Energy & Team Mentality (from Philip Rossman-Reich,Orlando Magic Daily): https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2021/12/17/moritz-wagner-is-all-about-the-team-and-ready-to-play/
- PHI: The Making Of Matisse Thybulle (from Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer): https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/12/16/22839458/matisse-thybulle-philadelphia-76ers
- PHI: Give Danny Green His Due Credit (from Christopher Kline, The Sixer Sense): https://thesixersense.com/2021/12/17/sixers-give-danny-green-due-credit
- PHO: McGee Is One Of The NBA's Best Value Contracts (from Gerald Bourguet, PHNX): https://gophnx.com/2021/12/17/javale-mcgee-per-36-minutes-god-suns-nba-value-contract/
- POR What's Wrong With The Blazers (from Jason Quick, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3021090/2021/12/16/what-in-the-world-is-wrong-with-the-trail-blazers-an-attempt-to-unravel-some-of-the-mess-in-portland/
- SAS: Thad Young Wants To Play For A Contender (from Chris Haynes, Yahoo Sports): https://sports.yahoo.com/thaddeus-young-says-he-wants-to-play-for-a-contender-amid-usage-drop-with-spurs-181853804.html
- TOR: Raptors Report (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3020995/2021/12/16/raptors-report-fred-vanvleet-and-late-game-offence-steph-currys-greatness-and-returning-to-the-old-new-normal/
From Michael Grange, Sportsnet: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-forced-adjust-covid-causes-detour-familiar-road/
- TOR: Champagnie's Moment (from Raptors.com): https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/champagnies-moment
- UTA: Takeaways From Win Over Clippers (from Tony Jones, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3019682/2021/12/16/three-jazz-notes-on-the-win-over-the-clippers-is-donovan-mitchell-an-mvp-candidate/
- UTA: The Jazz Are Playing Dominant Basketball (from Taylor Griffin, SLC Dunk): https://www.slcdunk.com/the-downbeat-latest-jazz-news/2021/12/16/22839391/utah-jazz-hitting-stride-nba-dominating-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert
LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES
- Zach Lowe's 10 Things (from ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/32885019/lowe-10-things-gladiatorial-defense-embiid-pleas-vooch-kat-secret-skill-steph
- What Good Teams Look For In Trade Season (from David Thorpe, True Hoop):
- Power Rankings Notebook, Week 9 (from John Schuhmann, NBA.com): https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-notebook-2021-22-week-9
From Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee: https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256672112.html
- 'Nobodies' Who Are Becoming 'Somebodies': (from Joseph Casciaro, The Score): https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2249817
- 2022 Draft: Updated Big Board (from Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated): https://www.si.com/nba/2021/12/16/nba-draft-big-board-jabari-smith-paolo-banchero-chet-holmgren
- Top H.S. Ballers Have More Options Than Ever (from Adam Zagoria, NJ.com): https://www.nj.com/sports/2021/12/top-high-school-ballers-have-more-options-than-ever-but-what-are-the-costs.html
- Stanford Study Breaks Down Impact Of ACL Injuries On NBA Players (from Haley Jordan, Sports Illustrated): https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/injuries/acl-injury-stanford-study-nba-players-return-to-game
TAKEAWAYS FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAMES
- BKN 114, PHI 105:
From Keith Pompey, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/philadelphia-76ers-lose-brooklyn-nets-kevin-durant-joel-embiid-20211216.html
From Tim Bontemps, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32886673/doc-rivers-questions-officials-no-calls-made-nets-fourth-quarter-brooklyn-win-reeling-76ers
From Jackson Frank, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2021/12/16/22840774/sixers-bell-ringer-big-games-joel-embiid-seth-curry-loss-nets
From Peter Botte, NY Post: https://nypost.com/2021/12/16/kevin-durant-carries-makeshift-nets-to-win-over-76ers
From Kristian Winfield, Daily News: https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-kevin-durant-76ers-covid-shorthanded-20211217-2ld6arzshngizfof73chtvr6a4-story.html
From MMiranda, Posting And Toasting: https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2021/12/17/22840719/knicks-116-rockets-103-give-the-keys-to-deuce
- IND 122, DET 113:
From Keith Langlois, pistons.com: https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/bey-breaks-out-but-pistons-earn-loss-by-a-thousand-cuts and https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/not-enough-stops-as-pistons-lost-to-pacers
From James Boyd, Indy Star: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/5-reasons-pacers-handed-pistons-their-13th-straight-loss-including-caris-levert-s-31-points/ar-AARTMUu
- NYK 116, HOU 103:
From Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-run-out-of-gas-in-loss-to-Knicks-16708899.php and https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Daniel-Theis-steps-up-Takeaways-from-Rockets-16709063.php
From Ben DuBose, USA Today: https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/lists/reaction-daniel-theis-breaks-out-but-weary-rockets-outgunned-by-immanuel-quickley-knicks/
- PHO 118, WAS 98:
From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/12/17/5-takeaways-suns-20-point-win-over-wizards/8934832002
From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/2937977/suns-duo-of-chris-paul-deandre-ayton-dominates-again-in-win-vs-wizards/
From Ava Wallace, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/16/wizards-suns-bradley-beal/
FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives: