Basketball Intelligence For 12/24/21

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

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TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES

- ATL: Malcolm Hill Finally Gets To The NBA (from Alex Squadron, Post-Dispatch):  https://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/focus-determination-finally-pay-off-for-hill-who-gets-his-nba-shot/article_e4eb2fd4-2157-5c61-b23a-8b0a0761db27.html

- BOS: Rick Weitzman's Life In Basketball Chronicled In New Book (from Gary Larrabee, Salem News):  https://www.salemnews.com/sports/weitzmans-life-in-basketball-chronicled-in-new-book-by-long-time-peabody-resident/article_179074ec-508b-11ec-ac8e-5b2c185d3c36.html

- DET: Cade Cunningham Diary (from Cade Cunningham/Marc J Spears, The Undefeated):  https://theundefeated.com/features/cade-cunningham-diary-i-was-kind-of-pressing-too-hard-trying-to-get-acclimated/

- GSW: Q & A: Draymond Green (from Steve Aschburner, NBA.com):  https://www.nba.com/news/q-a-draymond-green-dec-2021

- HOU: How Tate's Time In Australia Is Paying Off For Rockets (from Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle):  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Jae-Sean-Tate-Houston-Rockets-Sydney-Kings-16727565.php

- LAL: IT's Return Is A Christmas Miracle (from Seerat Sohi, The Ringer):  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/12/24/22851603/isaiah-thomas-los-angeles-lakers-christmas-day

- MEM: 3 Grizzlies Truths At Christmas (from Joe Mullinax, Grizzly Bear Blues):  https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/12/24/22852654/three-memphis-grizzlies-truths-at-christmas-nba-ja-morant-taylor-jenkins-jaren-jackson-jr

- MIL: How DMC Is Filling In For Giannis (from Eric Nehm, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3034213/2021/12/24/how-demarcus-cousins-has-become-khris-middletons-fill-in-giannis-while-the-bucks-superstar-is-away/

- MIN: What Is KAT's Ceiling? (from Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer): 

- MIN: Jaylen Nowell's Patience & Perspective Were Born In His Darkest Days (from Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3030268/2021/12/23/jaylen-nowells-patience-and-perspective-were-born-in-his-darkest-days/

- NOP: When Will Jaxson Hates Blossom, If Ever?  (from Scott Kushner, The Advocate): https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_f3b2ed24-6431-11ec-8b97-d33875b0fb1d.html

- NYK: Time For Knicks To Prove They Can Win Without DRose (from Fred Katz, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3033193/2021/12/23/time-for-knicks-to-prove-they-can-win-without-derrick-rose/

- OKC: SGA's Impact On Winning (from Nick Crain, Forbes):  https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholascrain/2021/12/23/okc-thunder-shai-gilgeous-alexanders-insane-impact-on-winning/?sh=432c53f025df

- ORL: Frank Wagner's ROY Candidacy (from Sam DiGiovanni, Clutch Points):  https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-franz-wagner-stat-boosts-rookie-of-the-year-case/

- PHO: How Mikal Bridges Has Become A Modern-Day Stopper (from Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3030600/2021/12/24/stalker-of-legends-how-the-suns-mikal-bridges-has-become-a-modern-day-stopper/

- PHO: The Suns Have Hardened Themselves Amid Sarver Probe, Finals Heartbreak & Ayton Contract Issues (from Vincent Goodwill, Yahoo Sports):  https://sports.yahoo.com/the-suns-have-hardened-themselves-amid-robert-sarver-probe-finals-heartbreak-and-deandre-aytons-contract-issues-010008752.html

- PHO: Suns View McGee As Missing Piece To Championship Puzzle (from Mark Medina, NBA.com):  https://www.nba.com/news/suns-view-javale-mcgee-as-missing-piece-to-championship-puzzle

- SAC: Why Haliburton Should Be The Kings' PG Of The Future (from Diego Vergel de DiosClutch Points):  https://clutchpoints.com/kings-3-reasons-why-tyrese-haliburton-not-deaaron-fox-is-pg-of-the-future/

- SAS: After Cursed Start To NBA Career, Landale Getting On With The Job (from Jeff McDonald, Express News):  https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/After-cursed-start-to-his-NBA-career-Spurs-16726368.php

From Emiliano Naiaretti, Roll Call Sports: https://rollcallsportsnet.com/jock-landale-adaptability-shooting-aussie-grit/?s=09

- SAS: Visually Representing The Spurs 1st 30 Games (from Jesse Pittsley, Pounding The Rock): https://www.poundingtherock.com/2021/12/23/22847492/visually-representing-the-spurs-first-30-games

- UTA: The Jazz Are Riding An Historic Offense Back Into Title Contention (from Joseph Casciaro, The Score):  https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2223770

- WAS: How Can The Wizards Make Beal And Dinwiddie Productive Together?  (from Josh Robbins, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3034215/2021/12/24/wizards-spencer-dinwiddie-played-his-best-game-in-weeks-and-its-no-coincidence-bradley-beal-did-not-play/

LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES

- Does Aggressive Ballscreen Defense Work In The NBA?  (from Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops): 

Does aggressive ballscreen defense work in the NBA?

- NBA Head Coaches On Game-Planning During COVID (from Ric Bucher, Fox Sports): https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-head-coaches-open-up-on-game-planning-with-covid

- Zach Lowe's 10 Things (from ESPN):  https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/32930435/lowe-10-things-melo-hilarious-yells-baffling-celtics-glorious-return-warriors

- Updated Power Rankings (from Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee):  https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256808037.html

From Colin Ward-Heninnger, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-power-rankings-suns-reclaim-top-spot-from-jazz-lakers-drop-drastically-bulls-move-into-top-three/

- 2022 NBA Draft Shorts (from Adam Spinella, The Box And One):  https://www.youtube.com/playlist