Basketball Intelligence For 12/30/24
Josh is giddy about defense, the Celts continue to swoon, DFS to LAL, and more...
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
Jimmy Carter and Basketball
Royce Webb, 5x5
TEAM NEWS
BKN: First Glance Look At Nets Trade Is A Lateral Move
Steve Lichtenstein, Steve’s Newsletter
Russell, for all his warts that might clash with Fernandez’s style and his questionable on-court fit with Thomas, is an experienced master with the ball in his hands. He developed into an All-Star during his first go-round in Brooklyn, only to be sent every which way following his inclusion in the 2019 Kevin Durant sign-and-trade.
BOS: Jaylen Brown Sounds Off on Inconsistent Defense in Loss to Pacers
Bobby Manning, CLNS
BOS: Celtics unable to keep up with Pacers, settle for split of weekend set as December difficulties return
Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe
BOS: Once their strength, the Celtics' poor execution on defense is at the heart of their slump
Gary Washburne, The Boston Globe
CHI: Bulls guard Josh Giddey says he’s locked in defensively: ‘I flipped that switch’
Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic
CLE: What we learned about the Cavs this week: Sam Merrill looks like his old self again
Jackson Flickinger, Fear The Sword
GSW: If Jonathan Kuminga is ‘turning the corner,’ it’s just how Kerr and the Warriors envisioned
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News
If this is the breakthrough the Warriors and Kuminga have been waiting for, it’ll be because they finally figured out how to blend his skills with the Warriors’ system instead of permitting him to be an accessory.
Everyone knows what Kuminga can do when he gets downhill. It’s no secret that he’s a terror in transition. He likes to get into his midrange bag. But the dirty work — the backdoor cuts, the off-ball screens, sprinting the floor without the ball, rebounding in traffic? That’s been the difference over the past two games.
GSW: Explain One Play: new Warrior Dennis Schröder and Kuminga save Steph Curry, beat Suns with Head Tap; plus 2024 Top 20 Warriors Celebration Audits
Eric Apricot, Dub Nation HQ
HOU: Amen Thompson throws Tyler Herro to court, leading to brawl, ejections in Heat-Rockets
Kelly Iko/Alex Andrejev, The Athletic
IND: Tyrese Haliburton scores 31 points to lead Pacers over Boston after blowout loss
Dustin Dopirak, Indianpolis Star
LAL: Lakers acquire Dorian Finney-Smith by trading D’Angelo Russell to the Nets
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times
LAL: D’Angelo Russell trade grades: How do Lakers, Nets rosters shape up with new additions?
Zach Harper, The Athletic
LAL: Rui Hachimura reveals key advantage in Lakers' small-ball lineups
David Yapkowitz, Clutch Points
LAL: Did the Lakers Make an Actual Good Trade?
Jeremias Engelmann, 5x5
MIN: Timberwolves win third straight game, again in dramatic fashion
Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press
MIN: Timberwolves 112, Spurs 110: The Donte DiVincenzo Extravaganza
Andrew Carlson, Canis Hoopus
MIN: Sharing Similar Fate, Rudy Gobert Helped ‘Frustrated’ ex-Knicks Star Tackle Mental Struggles of Timberwolves Trade
Shahul Hameed, Essentially Sports
Similarly, Donte DiVincenzo didn’t seem to have left the Knicks’ franchise on a good note. The French man hinted at it by saying, “From what I felt, I think, he was still hanging on to some frustration from, you know, what happened,” during the post-game presser. Notably, during the initial part of the season, there was an instance where DiVincenzo had an ugly back-and-forth with the Knicks bench. It ultimately affected his performance, as the number dropped drastically.
MIN: Timberwolves’ Donte DiVincenzo finally embraces new home by letting go of New York
Jon Krawcysznski, The Athletic
NYK: The Wizard of Oz
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School
OKC: Stiles Points: Ajay Mitchell Helps Elevate OKC Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Ryan Stiles, SI.com
OKC: Mark Daigneault drops exciting statement on Ajay Mitchell after first Thunder start
Mark Nilon, Thunderous Intentions
Remaining Team and League News, as well as NBA Draft coverage, are available for paid subscribers. Please consider subscribing for the low cost of $5 a month to gain full access to all of the day’s best basketball stories.