Basketball Intelligence For 1/3/22

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

Jan 3, 2022

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TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES

- ATL: Reddish Has An Opportunity For His Showcase (from Chris Kirschner, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3041848/2022/01/03/with-hawks-battered-by-illness-cam-reddish-has-an-opportunity-for-his-showcase/

- CHI: The Bulls Are The Talk Of The East (from Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3046612/2022/01/02/with-demar-derozans-back-to-back-buzzer-beaters-and-chris-flemings-acting-head-coach-stint-the-bulls-are-the-talk-of-the-east

- CLE: Twin Towers Mobley & Allen Are Changing The Game In Cleveland (from Gilbert McGregor, Sporting News): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/evan-mobley-jarrett-allen-cavaliers-era/uxqceyujlpvb1fzi5vpcvwoe0

- CLE: Mobley More Aggressive On Offense After Returning From Protocols (from Kelsey Russo, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3048161/2022/01/03/evan-mobley-more-aggressive-on-offense-after-returning-from-protocols-mobley-mondays/

- DEN: Inside Campazzo's Resurgence (from Harrison Wind, The DNVR): https://thednvr.com/wind-chimes-inside-facu-campazzos-resurgence/

- DET: Opportunity Knocks For Pistons' G Leaguers - And Casey Coaches 'Em Up (from Keith Langlois, pistons.com): https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/opportunity-knocks-for-pistons-g-leaguers-and-casey-coaches-em-up

- GSW: How The Dubs Avoided And Attacked Gobert (from Charlie Cummings):

Charlie Cummings @klaytheist11

TW: Saying nice things about Rudy Gobert. Gobert put in a 20pt/19reb performance against the Dubs yesterday, but for the first time this year, had no stocks as the Warriors worked around him. I wanted to highlight how Gobert was both avoided and attacked in different ways below:

- HOU: Pondering Wood & Porter's Future With The Rockets (from Jeff Balke, Houston Press): https://www.houstonpress.com/news/rockets-porter-wood-face-different-future-after-outbursts-12624540

From Adrian Wojnarowski/Tim MacMahon, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32986193/houston-rockets-suspend-kevin-porter-christian-wood-poor-behavior-sources-say

- LAC: With Bledsoe As Last Man Standing, The Clips Survived 5-In-7 Stretch To Beat The Nets (from Law Murray, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3046537/2022/01/02/eric-bledsoe-as-the-last-man-standing-and-how-the-clippers-survived-this-5-in-7-to-beat-the-nets/

- LAC: Less Is More Approach Spurred Upset In Brooklyn (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register): https://www.ocregister.com/2022/01/02/clippers-less-is-more-approach-spurred-upset-in-brooklyn/

- LAC: Jackson, Bledsoe Have Found Roles In Shaky Clips' Lineup (from Andrew Greif, LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2022-01-02/reggie-jackson-eric-bledsoe-have-found-roles-in-shaky-clippers-lineup

- LAL: State Of The Lakers Thru 37 Games (from Jovan Buha, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3028323/2022/01/01/state-of-the-lakers-lebron-james-scoring-tear-small-ball-austin-reaves-and-other-storylines-through-37-games/

- MEM: The Emergence Of Desmond Bane (from Parker Fleming, Grizzly Bear Blues): https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2022/1/3/22862605/desmond-bane-and-the-new-conversation-around-consolidation-memphis-grizzlies-nba

- MIA: Chris Silva Relishing Heat Reunion (from Ira Winderman, SunSentinel): https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-main-monday-20220103-peu5wslkcva2fi3sdr7w3xas5y-story.html

- MIL: Bucks' Recent Run Fueled By Special Performances From Jrue & Giannis (from Eric Nehm, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3043886/2022/01/03/bucks-are-benefitting-from-jrue-holidays-best-basketball-and-giannis-antetokounmpo-in-the-fourth-quarter/

- ORL: Franz Wagner's ROY Candidacy (from Bryan Kalbrosky, Hoops Hype): https://hoopshype.com/lists/orlando-magic-franz-wagner-onlyfranz-evan-mobley-scottie-barnes-nba/

- PHI: What Worked Well In Wins Over Dubs & Nets? (from Jackson Frank, Liberty Ballers): https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/1/3/22864116/sixers-analysis-wins-over-nets-warriors-joel-embiid

- PHO: Cameron Johnson Emerging As Another Consistent Weapon For Suns (from Evan Sidery, Forbes): https://www.forbes.com/sites/evansidery/2021/12/31/cameron-johnson-emerging-as-another-consistent-weapon-for-phoenix-suns/?sh=ffac8cf51afd

- SAC: Make A Move Because The Roster Isn’t Good Enough (from James Ham, The Kings Beat): https://kings-beat.beehiiv.com/p/sunday-musings-2022-cant-bring

- TOR: Here Come The Raptors That Ujiri & Nurse Imagined (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3047237/2022/01/02/here-come-the-raptors-that-masai-ujiri-and-nick-nurse-imagined/

- UTA: Takeaways From Loss To Dubs (from Tony Jones, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3046329/2022/01/02/a-jazz-loss-at-home-to-the-warriors-offers-a-few-takeaways-entering-an-important-january-stretch/

- WAS: Beal Thrived In First PG Start (from Chase Hughes, NBC Sports): https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/bradley-beal-thrived-his-first-career-start-point-guard-wizards

LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES

- 7 Observations (from Kevin O' Connor, The Ringer): https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/1/3/22864567/the-jazz-dont-have-a-rudy-gobert-problem-but-they-do-have-a-problem

- Power Rankings, Week 12 (from ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32979419/nba-power-rankings-week-12-where-first-place-chicago-bulls-other-streaking-teams-stand

From Zach Harper, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3036848/2022/01/03/nba-power-rankings-the-bulls-are-contenders-plus-new-years-resolutions-for-all-30-teams/

From John Schuhmann, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/news/power-rankings-2021-22-week-12

- 2022 Draft: Catching Up On Ignite, OTE & International Prospects (from Nathan Grubel, No Ceilings):