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Basketball Intelligence For 12/24/21
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Basketball Intelligence For 12/24/21

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

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Basketball Intelligence
Dec 24, 2021
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Basketball Intelligence Newsletter
Basketball Intelligence For 12/24/21
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On Sunday, Basketball Intelligence became a paid newsletter.

We have published BI for free for seven years with the intention of remaining in that status.  Unfortunately, rising costs have made that goal impossible.  The ability to continue publication has become dependent on the conversion to paid status.

We are proud of our reputation of being the adult in the room regarding dissemination of the best NBA reporting and analysis.

Early returns are quite good but we still need more paid subscribers to be able to continue. Your consideration and paid registration will be most appreciated. Please also consider gifting BI to the NBA fans among your associates, colleagues and friends.

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For more details and to subscribe, please click here.

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This new status is intended to raise funding that will enable us continue to provide subscribers with access to the best NBA-related journalism on a daily basis.  In addition, we will be adding new features, including a community forum, available only to paid subscribers. If you have already subscribed you can provide a major assist by spreading the word to other NBA-interested folks.

The currently available subscription prices will be available until the end of 2021. If you subscribe before then, you will have the advantage of a lifetime annual renewal price-lock, even after the anticipated 2022 price takes effect.

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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): 

Half Court Hoops - Coach's Cut
Does aggressive ballscreen defense work in the NBA?
When Chauncey Billups took over the PortlandTrailblazers this season he made a change in their defensive philosophy to go away from the drop coverage with Nurkic and play a more aggressive style of ballscreen defense. NBA offenses in 2021 are designed around the ballscreen (unless you are the Golden State Warriors), so the primary focus of any elite NBA defense has to start with how they are going to defend the ballscreen attacks of the other team. As NBA offenses have evolved to center around the 3 point shot, the aggressive defense has slowly decreased as the most popular way to defend as teams went to take away the 3 point shot and layups and forced the opponents into tough 2 point jump shots…
Read more
3 years ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Half Court Hoops

- 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

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