Basketball Intelligence For 12/4/24
The Magic disappears in New York, Raptors outpace Indiana, Franz das good, and more...
TEAM NEWS
BOS: Fleeting thoughts from Celtics win v/ Miami
Adam Taylor, The Celtics Chronicle
BOS: Cavs have learned from loss to Celtics to become their biggest threat in the East
Bobby Manning, Celtics Blog
BOS: 10 takeaways as Celtics cruise past Heat in balanced effort
Trevor Hass, Celtics Blog
BOS: Load management might be a widespread problem, but not for Celtics: ‘These games matter’
Jay King, The Athletic
“It’s hard for teams to be great,” Brown said, “if some of their best players never play back-to-back.”
That message could read like a shot at some of the better players around the league. The belief here is that Brown intended simply to share his personal position. The Celtics see the season as a journey. They judge games not necessarily by wins or losses, but by whether they take another step toward reaching their potential. Not everyone will remember that they beat the Heat 108-89 in a sloppy Monday game, but Brown viewed the second leg of a back-to-back as another chance for his team to grow.
CHA: Mark Williams returns in Charlotte’s loss to 76ers. ‘It felt good to be out there’
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer
CLE: How the Cavs offense is tearing up the NBA, even if it doesn’t make sense
Jared Weiss, The Athletic
CLE: Cavs beat Wizards, but lose Darius Garland to injury in second half of 118-87 rout
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com
CLE: Cavs beat Wizards, but lose Darius Garland to injury in second half of 118-87 rout
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com
DAL: Mavs Game Observations: Game 22 vs Grizzlies [Game of the Week]
Iztok Franco, Diggin Basketball
DAL: Luka Doncic looked like an MVP candidate in pivotal NBA Cup win over streaking Grizzlies
Dallas News, Mike Curtis
DAL: 3 observations after the Mavericks come all the way back on the Memphis Grizzlies for a 121-116 win
Matt Martine, Mavs Moneyball
If his first two games back from his wrist injury are any indication, Dončić’s game is headed back into the stratosphere, where it belongs. He had some bigger statistical games before the wrist injury, but that easy rhythm, that sense that he’s playing Star Trek 3-D chess while the other nine on the floor are reading the Tiddly-Winks instruction manual, was back in a big way against the Grizzlies.
DEN: Nikola Jokic breaks all the rules
Tom Haberstroh, The Finder With Tom Haberstroh
DET: Pistons’ NBA Cup experience was a ‘great opportunity’ despite losing to the Bucks
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
DET: For Detroit Pistons, NBA Cup loss to Milwaukee feels like a missed opportunity
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
GSW: Steve Kerr rips Brandin Podziemski after late mistakes doom Warriors in Denver
Anthony Slater, The Athletic
GSW: Warriors rediscover fire but fall short without Curry to Thunder
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News
GSW: Explain: Fixing the Warriors defense, Part 1. "Trapping the Box"
Eric Apricot, Dub Nation HQ
IND: Tyrese Haliburton calls out Pacers’ ‘embarrassing’ play and his own leadership
Eric Koreen, The Athletic
IND: Pacers second half rally not enough to catch Raptors
Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows with Tom Lewis
LAC: Jordan Miller on earning trust of Clippers coach Tyronn Lue
Justin Russo, Russo Writes, a Substack publication
LAC: 3 takeaways as Spurs fall to Suns in NBA Cup clincher
Janis Carr, The Orange County Register
LAC: Clippers’ Kris Dunn familiar with overcoming obstacles
Janis Carr, The Orange County Register
LAL: Sky isn't falling: Why panic over recent struggles of LeBron James, Lakers is overblown
Addam Goldman, Yadrbarker
MEM: Jaylen Wells continues to build Rookie of the Year case
Sai Mohan, Yardbarker
MEM: Why Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies can learn from loss to Luka Doncic, Mavs
Damichael Cole, Memphis Commercial Appeal
MIL: Giannis, Damian Lillard lock in as Bucks breeze past Pistons and into NBA Cup knockout rounds
Eric Nehm, The Athletic
MIL: Utah Jazz cough up 29 turnovers in blowout loss to OKC Thunder – Deseret News
Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
MIN: Will Donte DiVincenzo’s breakout game fuel optimism for Timberwolves?
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic
Over the last few days, his words were tinged with the saltiness of a player searching for a rhythm. His 3-point shooting percentage is way down and his turnovers are way up, two of many reasons why the Timberwolves have been one of the more disappointing teams to start this season.
NYK: Knicks running smooth at tourney time, making NBA Cup knockout round
Barbara Barker, Newsday
OKC: 4 Unsung heroes from NBA Cup advancing Thunder win over Jazz
Mark Nilon, Thunderous Intentions
OKC: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder cruise past Jazz, advance to NBA Cup quarterfinals
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman
OKC: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is sneakily becoming an all-time NBA scorer
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic
ORL: Orlando Magic weren't ready for the national stage again
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
ORL: Dieser Kerl ist wirklich gut (This guy is really good)
Aaron Bollwinkel, Live. Breathe. Ball.
At 6’10” and 230 pounds of very ambulatory solid muscle, Franz is a force when he gets downhill. His 15.2 drives per game since the beginning of November are third in the league for forwards (min. 10 games), and while his field goal percentage on those drives is just 40.8%, he is generating 9.1 points per game, good for ninth in the entire league—positional caveats be damned.
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