Basketball Intelligence For 2/20/25
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
BULLETIN: Spurs shut down Victor Wembanyama for remainder of seasonover blood clot in shoulder
Tim MacMahon, ESPN
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: 3 things the Hawks need to do to start post-ASG play strong against the Magic
Bradley Rowland, Fansided
ATL: Final 27 games of regular season give Hawks chance to make playoff push
Lauren Williams, AJC
CHA: LaMelo Ball close to setting new mark, but something more noteworthy is happening
Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer
DEN: Christian Braun should be getting more love for the Most Improved Player award
Ben Handler, Nugg Love
DEN: Michael Malone on Nuggets starting lineup: “I’m really fortunate to have a tough decision”
Christian Braun went into the All-Star break averaging 20 points and eight rebounds in the Nuggets’ last seven games. “All I’ll say is that it’s great to have options,” Michael Malone said
GSW: Jonathan Kuminga’s fit with Jimmy Butler and other key issues for Warriors’ final push
Sam Gordon, SF Chronicle
LAL: Luka Doncic struggles as lackluster Lakers lose to Charlotte
Dan Woike, LA Times
LAL: Inside Luka Dončić's Lakers Adjustment After NBA All-Star Break
Grant Afseth, The Hoops Journal
MIA: As All-Star break comes to an end, Heat has some questions to answer
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
MIL: Bobby Portis Jr. suspended 25 games for violating NBA’s anti-drug policy
Jenna West/Eric Nehm, The Athletic
His agent, Mark Bartelstein, said in a statement that Portis accidentally took tramadol, thinking it was the painkiller Toradol, which the NBA approves. Tramadol is a painkiller and an opioid, according to the Mayo Clinic, and is on the NBA’s list of banned substances.
Bartelstein said Portis’ assistant gave him a tramadol pill and mistakenly said it was Toradol due to the similar names of the medications. Portis was taking Toradol while dealing with an elbow injury, Bartelstein said.
The agent said there is a “valid prescription” for the tramadol, but did not specify whether the prescription belonged to Portis or the assistant.
“I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved,” Portis said in a statement. “I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body. From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans
NOP: Q & A: Yves Missi
Sam Yip, Hoops Hype
NYK: Knicks finally look whole at practice as Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby injury returns loom
Peter Botte, NY Post
ORL: Every game is a Playoff game for the rest of the Magic's season
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared
PHI: Quentin Grimes is on the cusp of earning starting role with 76ers
Sam DiGiovanni, Clutch Points
PHX: Kevin Durant and the 15 pregame minutes that’ve helped shape his game and career
Doug Haller, The Athletic
PHX: 3 tweaks for Suns to salvage season after All-Star break
Gerald Burguet, Go PHNX
POR: Toumani Camara: The 52nd pick who guards Jokic AND Dame
Ben Taylor, Thinking Basketball
POR: Toumani Camara Is The Best Defender You Haven’t Heard Of
Mikai Bruce, Forbes
POR: The Blazers are still eyeing a play-in berth
Aaron Fentress, Oregon Live
SAS: Film Study: How De'Aaron Fox Boosts the Offense
Noah Magaro-George, Vic And Roll
SAS: De'Aaron Fox on the importance of winning the possession game
Paul Garcia, The Spot Up Shot
“If you win the possession game, you give yourself a great chance to win the game. I feel like in my first couple of games, we started turning teams over. Just with the length and athleticism on this team, I feel like being able to fly around defensively, and obviously having someone like Vic (Victor Wembanyama) behind you, who could protect the rim, that gives you a sense of comfort knowing that at times, you can gamble for steals, and if you don’t get it, you’ll have another line of defense. I think we’ve done a better job in that than they have previously throughout the season, but, I think that’s kind of that next step. Being able to constantly win a possession game.”
SAS: The Spurs’ small-ball units are not only performing terribly but also potentially hindering the development and contributions of Jeremy Souchan
JeJe Gomez, Pounding The Rock
TOR: Immanuel Quickley’s ‘old-school mentality’ braced him for new chapter with Raptors
Eric Koreen, The Athletic
UTA: Will Hardy dishes on NBA routines, handshakes and attention to detail
Sarah Todd, Deseret News
Leaguewide, Draft & Fantasy stories follow for paid subscribers