Basketball Intelligence For 12/17/23
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: Hawks fall behind early, lose to Cavs in road trip finale
Lauren Williams, AJC
BOS: Why Jaylen Brown is paying close attention to Andre Iguodala’s ascension within the Players’ Association
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
BOS: When the opportunity came to help Celtics, Oshae Brissett was ready
Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe
CHI: Examining the Bulls late game errors
Will Gottlieb, All CHGO
CHI: DeRozan embraces balance as a playmaker to fuel improved Chicago Bulls offense
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune
CHI: 10 observations: Bulls lose to Heat on Jimmy Butler's buzzer beater
KC Johnson, NBC Sports
CLE: Jarrett Allen answers the challenge, steps up in absence of star players
Ethan Sands, cleveland.com
CLE: Short-handed Cavs show new blueprint in 127-119 win over Atlanta Hawks
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLE: Inside the Cavs’ crushing 30-hour stretch and their plan to overcome the losses of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
DAL: Doncic, Mavs find an even higher gear after Dereck Lively II goes down vs. Blazers
Brad Townsend, Morning News
Despite their short-handedness, the Mavericks’ offense hasn’t slowed a bit
DAL: How Luka Doncic & LeBron James Are 'Very Similar'
Grant Afseth, Sports Illustrated
I just think their ability to control what’s happening, their vision, the attention that they draw from opposing defenses, and the way they’re able to manipulate those opposing defenses (is a plus),” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “It’s probably not any type of scheme or defensive coverage that hasn’t been tried on them.
“Their size, their ability to dictate with the ball in their hands, draw attention without the ball in their hands, account for how and where they are.”
With how both Doncic and James process the game, they are strategic about how they will create an advantage before a play develops or remember tendencies to exploit on future plays.
“Having coached against both of them — fortunately now being able to coach LeBron — I just think their mastery from a mental standpoint also, how they think the game seeing stuff three or four steps ahead (is unique),” Ham said. “Just their IQs — both of them are off the charts.”
GSW: Steph Curry switches up pregame routine, escapes the noise, torches the Nets
Anthony Slater, The Athletic
GSW: Curry was the offense down the stretch to help the Warriors break a three-game losing streak
Joe Viray, Golden State Of Mind
GSW: 'Incredible' Curry flips 'switch,' propels Warriors late against Nets
Kendra Andrews, ESPN
GSW: Warriors avoid epic collapse in win over Nets
Danny Emerman, Mercury News
GSW: GP2's NBA journey is picture of perseverance
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
IND: Wolves throttle Pacers: 4 Observations
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star
IND: 12 days, 6 games, 4 losses, 3 time zones, 7th place: Evaluating Pacers’ ‘epic’ road trip
Dustin Dopirak, Indy Star
Links to Team-Specific stories from Clippers thru Jazz as well as Leaguewide and Draft-related stories follow for paid subscribers