Basketball Intelligence For 1/7/25

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

*FEATURE OF THE DAY*

Steph Curry and the NBA's most confounding paradox
Tim Keown, ESPN

TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES

ATL: "I can do stuff out there that’s unique.": Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu on his defense, why winning the Bob Lanier award matters
Mark Medina, Sportskeeda

BKN: Depleted Nets Sure Could Use The Old Claxton
Steve Lichtenstein

BOS: 3 Keys vs. Nuggets
Adam Taylor, The Celtics Chronicle

CHI: Takeaways from win over Spurs
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune

CHI: How Nikola Vučević is blocking out the trade noise to sustain his career-best shooting season
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune

CHI: Billy Donovan opens up about direction of franchise
Joe Cowley, SunTimes

CLE: Evan Mobley suffers from how national media judge individual improvement
Corey Walsh, Fear The Sword

CLE: Cavs aren’t impressed with regular season success: ‘We all know what it’s like to win regular games’
Jackson Flickinger, Fear The Sword

DAL: Naji Marshall returns as the Mavericks’ injuries keep piling up in loss vs. the Grizzlies
Mike Curtis, Morning News

DEN: Michael Malone: Nuggets expect Celtics to attempt 50 3-pointers, “no matter what you do”
Bennett Durando, Denver Post

DET: Pistons make their big shots late in 118-115 win over Blazers
Omari Sankofa, Free Press

GSW: Steph Curry and the NBA's most confounding paradox
Tim Keown, ESPN

GSW: Ahead of NBA trade deadline, Steph Curry is calling out Warriors’ flaws
Evan Webeck, Mercury News

LAL: Lakers seek toughness ahead of game with depleted Mavericks
Khobi Price, OC Register

LAL: Lakers’ athleticism gap on display in loss to younger, more physical Rockets
Jovan Buha, The Athletic

MEM: With no Morant or Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. bolsters All-Star case vs Mavs
Damichael Cole, Commercial Appeal

MEM: How Cam Spencer is adjusting to rookie season with Grizzlies
David Yapkowitz, Clutch Points

The rest of today’s Team-Specific stories as well as the Leaguewide ones follow for paid subscribers