Basketball Intelligence For 12/31/24, PART ONE
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
PODCAST: Grizzlies-Kings preview with Damichael Cole
Ray LeBov/Nick Agar-Johnson, Kings Weekly Podcast
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
BOS: 10 takeaways from the Celtics’ defensive breakdown against the Pacers
Azad Rosay, Celtics Blog
CHI: ‘I just want to play.’ Lonzo Ball is ready to enter his next chapter of recovery with the Chicago Bulls.
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune
CHI: Bulls beat the Hornets in overtime — the teams again combine for 75 3-point misses
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune
CLE: Cavs beat Warriors at their own (old) game
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLE: Game Night Observations: The Cavaliers Are Inevitable
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
The Cavs racked up another blowout win, moving to 28-4 on the season.
DAL: Mavs Game Observations: Game 33
Iztok Franko, digginbasketball
The problems continue to mount for the depleted Dallas Mavericks, who suffered their third loss in four games with a 110-100 defeat in Sacramento.
Already without Luka Dončić, Naji Marshall, and Dereck Lively II, the Mavericks saw Kyrie Irving (right shoulder soreness) and Klay Thompson (illness) added late to the injury report, further depleting their lineup.
It’s hard to be too disappointed—or draw too many conclusions—from a game where Dallas was missing four starters and a key reserve, especially against a struggling Kings team desperate to end their losing streak.
This game was less about the result and more about the signals, with bench players stepping into larger roles—often too large—and their readiness to contribute at the highest level.
DAL: P.J. Washington makes emphatic return from surprising suspension
Mike Curtis, Morning News
GSW: Warriors veterans have devolved into a debilitating team-wide shooting slump
Anthony Slater, The Athletic
GSW: TJD's newfound fury offers Warriors much needed optimism
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
GSW: Warriors' offense goes AWOL in blowout loss to NBA-best Cavaliers
Sam Gordon, SF Chronicle
GSW: Steph, Kerr express faith as Warriors' plans look deficient
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
GSW: What Waters III represents to NBA in first season with Warriors
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
As difficult as it is for an athlete to reach the NBA, that in many ways is light work if that athlete knows he’s carrying the dreams of a nation.
Or, really, several nations.
As a member of the Golden State Warriors, Lindy Waters III spends many waking hours preparing for or playing in NBA games. Talent has taken the 6-foot-6 guard to the highest level of international basketball, and he represents the team every time he steps onto the floor.
For each of the 168 hours that comprise a week, Waters represents the nations of the Kiowa (KAI-uh-wuh) and Cherokee. He is one of three indigenous NBA players, along with Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and Milwaukee Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp. They have different tribes of origin, but there is unity in carrying the flag of their forefathers and the aggrieved history of displacement.
“It fuels me every single day knowing that these times now are so much easier than what they had to go through,” Waters said on NBC Sports Bay Area’s ‘Dubs Talk’ podcast. “I’m not going to let any little adversity that comes into my life effect anything. I’m going to keep pushing. I’m going to keep pressing on. And I’m going to keep fighting.
LAC: Powell haymakers Pelicans for 35
Justin Russo
LAL: Dorian Finney-Smith on joining Lakers: ‘I’m back to playing some meaningful basketball’
Khobi Price, OC Register
LAL: Dorian Finney-Smith excited to try to win with LeBron instead of guarding him
Dan Woike, LA Times
MIL: The Bucks are feeling the NBA Cup hangover: ‘Just gotta keep moving’
Eric Nehm, The Athletic
The rest of the team-specific stories as well as today’s leaguewide and draft-related stories follow for paid subscribers