Basketball Intelligence For 3/12/25

The Cavaliers on another 15-game winning streak, the Joker may be better than ever, Moody's play putting the Warriors in good spirits, and more...

*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
Junior Bridgeman, Louisville basketball great and Bucks minority owner, dies at 71
Eric Nehm/Zach Powell, The Athletic

The BI Network

TEAM NEWS

ATL: How close is Dyson Daniels to setting an NBA record for steals?
Bradley Rowland, Fansided

BI: Daniels has been great, but this won’t be the season anyone touches Alvin Robertson’s record of 301 steals in 1985-86. For context, Daniels is leading the NBA in steals per game at 3.0, while Robertson, that season, swiped 3.7 per contest.

BKN: D'Angelo Russell: 'I’ve been on so many different teams where the team’s not a priority'
Michael Sotto, Hoops Hype

BKN: 3 Takeaways from Brooklyn Nets near upset of Cleveland Cavaliers
Collin Helwig, Nets Daily

BOS: ‘A fun challenge:’ Celtics face Thunder in yet another NBA Finals preview — and the last real test of the regular season
Gary Washburn, The Boston Globe

BOS: Road To The Finals: Boston Celtics
Hardwood Paroxysm

CLE: Game Night Observations: Darius Garland's Big Fourth Quarter, Jarrett Allen's Role and Finding A Way
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot

CLE: ‘Didn’t know what I was doing': How Kenny Atkinson’s old coaching mistakes led the Cavs to new heights
Jimmy Watkins, Cleveland.com

CLE: Can the Cavaliers win 70 games? Cleveland quietly pursuing NBA history as they extend winning streak to 15
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports

CLE: Cavs won’t be denied the Central Division title, wrap up comeback win over the Nets, 109-104
Ethan Sands, Cleveland.com

CLE: Red-hot Cavaliers have won 15 in a row (again), but a difficult stretch looms
Joe Vardon, The Athletic

DEN: Nuggets' Russell Westbrook playoff decision is obvious no matter what stats say
Ben Handler, Nugg Love

DEN: Nikola Jokić thinks he's playing 'the best basketball of my life' — and he may be right
Dan Devine, Yahoo! Sports

DEN: Peyton Watson showcases maturity, shot making in Denver Nuggets win in Oklahoma City
Vinny Benedetto, The Denver Gazette

DEN: Nuggets' Christian Braun, one of NBA's most efficient scorers, has entered MIP discussion with breakout season
Jasmyn Wimbish, CBS Sports

Braun is obviously not the focal point of the offense like many of those guys named, so his usage rate is significantly lower. But it's the perfect example of starring in your role. And the fact that he's been so efficient while having the heaviest workload of his career is nothing to scoff at.

DET: 1 Rising star has the NBA's Most Improved Player award already wrapped up
Webb Constable, Sir Charles In Charge

DET: The Whiteboard: Can the Detroit Pistons really win a playoff series?
Wes Goldberg, Fansided

GSW: The special ways through which Moses Moody and Quinten Post have become valuable specialists
Joe Viray, Golden State Of Mind

GSW: Warriors expecting Jonathan Kuminga to return Thursday vs. Kings
Danny Emerman, San Jose Mercury News

GSW: Preview: the final piece falls into place
Punk Basketball, Dub Nation HQ

BI: This game will actually take place on Thursday

IND: The Pacers used a football play for NBA’s best game-winner this season
Ricky O’Donnell, SB Nation

IND: Tyrese Haliburton’s 4-point play helps Pacers edge Bucks in thriller
Eric Nehm, The Athletic

BI: The Pacers and the Bucks now sit even in the standings at 36-28, and the victory gave the Pacers a chance to even the season series, which now stands at 2-1 in Milwaukee’s advantage.

MEM: The NBA’s shortest player is a 5-foot-8 rising star from Japan. Meet Yuki Kawamura
Hanko Mongomery/Chris Lau/Minori Konishi/Fred He, CNN

MIA: Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets Game #64 Notes
John Jablonka, Simply Ballin

MIL: Pacers' domination of Bucks in 1 stat offers déjà vu of last season's demise
Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass

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