Basketball Intelligence For 3/21/22
Basketball Intelligence For 3/21/22
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
- BKN: Cam Thomas' Rookie Education (from Alex Schiffer, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3196861/2022/03/21/cam-thomas-and-his-rookie-education-with-the-nets-i-think-he-seeks-those-moments/
- BOS: Factors Behind The Celtics' Turnaround (from Rob Greene, Hoops Habit): https://hoopshabit.com/2022/03/20/factors-boston-celtics-turnaround/
- BOS: The Celtics Have Put The Rest Of The NBA On Notice (from Chris Forsberg, NBC Sports): https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/the-red-hot-celtics-are-putting-the-rest-on-the-nba-on-notice
- BOS: Celtics' Defense Has Them In Title Picture (from ES Baraheni):
- CLE: Inside Garland's Meteoric Rise (from Chris Fedor, cleveland.com): https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2022/03/welcome-to-stardom-inside-darius-garlands-meteoric-rise-that-traces-back-to-team-usa-training-camp.html
- CLE: Mobley Lets His Stellar Play Do The Talking (from Andrew Greif, LA Times): https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-03-21/evan-mobley-cavaliers-rookie-of-the-year-impact
****Thanks to everyone who has already registered for a paid subscription. Today’s newsletter is complimentary to everyone as part of our Free Monday program. To have access to the full BI newsletter every day for just $5/month or $50/annually, subscribe here: Basketball Intelligence Newsletter
- DAL: Why The Mavs Need Bullock Back (from Tyler Watts, The Smoking Cuban): https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/dallas-mavericks-need-reggie-bullock-back-lineup
- DAL: Kleber's Defensive Impact Is Undeniable; He Wants His Offense To Pick Up (from Callie Caplan, Morning News): https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/03/21/maxi-kleber-and-the-mavericks-face-an-offensive-conundrum-beyond-being-mistaken-for-luka-doncic/
- DEN: Nuggets Need More From Gordon & Barton (from Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs): https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/3/21/22988697/the-nuggets-need-more-from-aaron-gordon-and-will-barton-down-the-stretch
- GSW: The Wiggins Conundrum (from Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News): https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/03/21/kurtenbach-the-andrew-wiggins-conundrum-will-define-the-warriors-season
- GSW: Poole Has Proven He's Built For The Brightest Spotlight (from Monte Poole, NBC Sports): https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/warriors-jordan-poole-has-proven-hes-built-brightest-spotlight
- IND: Q & A: Tyrese Haliburton (from Tyler Tynes, GQ): https://www.gq.com/story/tyrese-haliburton-interview-indiana-pacers-trade
- MEM: Shocking The System With Cycles (from Parker Fleming, Grizzly Bear Blues): https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2022/3/17/22980521/shocking-the-system-with-cycles-in-memphis-grizzlies-nba-ja-morant-all-star-taylor-jenkins
- MIA: Caleb Martin, Swiss Army Knife (from Ira Winderman, SunSentinel): https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-main-monday-20220321-qip7nwv2l5g2vn26hwhwa2q7jm-story.html
- MIL: Q & A: Giannis (from Sam Amick, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3198930/2022/03/21/giannis-antetokounmpo-unplugged-on-the-mvp-award-his-near-injury-disaster-in-the-nba-finals-and-the-bucks-title/
- MIL: How Connaughton's Return Impacts Bucks' Rotation (from Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass): https://behindthebuckpass.com/2022/03/21/pat-connaughtons-return-impacts-milwaukee-bucks-rotation
- NOP: Alvarado Has Talent For Coming Out Of Nowhere (from Christian Clark, The Advocate): https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_689a122e-a8bc-11ec-b372-47ff4ce94ab6.html
- PHI: Q & A: Paul Millsap (from Ky Carlin, USA Today): https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/lists/paul-millsap-opens-up-on-mentoring-sixers-joel-embiid-vs-nikola-jokic/
- SAS: Keldon Johnson's 3-Point Success Caught Popovich By Surprise (from Tom Orsborn, Express News): https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Keldon-Johnson-3-point-success-caught-Popovich-17015355.php
- TOR: 3 Genius Adjustments That Saved Raptors Season (from Mike Luciano, Raptors Rapture): https://raptorsrapture.com/2022/03/21/3-genius-adjustments-nick-nurse-saved-raptors-season
****Thanks to everyone who has already registered for a paid subscription. Today’s newsletter is complimentary to everyone as part of our Free Monday program. To have access to the full BI newsletter every day for just $5/month or $50/annually, subscribe here: Basketball Intelligence Newsletter
LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES
- This Season's Biggest Injury Impacts (from Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2954462-nba-teams-with-the-biggest-injury-gripes-in-2021-22
- Each Team's Preferred Shot Locations (from JP Hwang):
- Power Rankings, Week 23 (from ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33557212/nba-power-rankings-week-23-lebron-james-adds-another-milestone-lakers-continue-falter
- 2022 Draft: 5 Big Questions From March Madness So Far (from Chad Ford/Rafael Barlowe, NBA Big Board):
From Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/33546525/2022-nba-mock-draft-how-top-prospects-fared-ncaa-men-basketball-tournament
From Kurt Helin, NBC Sports: https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/03/21/three-things-to-know-how-did-top-nba-prospects-fare-in-first-weekend-of-ncaa-tournament/
- 2022 Draft Scouting Report: Julian Champagnie (from Adam Spinella, The Box And One):
- Why Holmgren Is Going To Thrive In The Pros (from Bryan Kalbrosky, Hoops Hype): https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-mock-draft-march-madness-chet-holmgren-gonzaga-scouting-report/
YESTERDAY'S GAMES
- BOS 124, DEN 104:
From Jared Weiss, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3199338/2022/03/21/nikola-jokic-the-latest-star-taken-down-by-celtics-traveling-defensive-circus/
From Justin Leger, NBC Sports : https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-vs-nuggets-takeaways-jaylen-brown-finding-his-groove-cs-stay-dominant
From Tommy Knowlton, Denver Stiffs: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/3/20/22988270/denver-nuggets-boston-celtics-nikola-jokic-nba-mvp-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-aaron-gordon
From Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/20/sports/celtics-top-their-game-they-crush-nuggets-denver/
From Bobby Manning, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/3/20/22988328/celtics-and-their-fans-infiltrate-denver-and-blow-out-nuggets-124-104-boston-nba-jayson-tatum-brown
From Keith Smith, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/3/21/22988961/another-road-blowout-10-takeaways-from-boston-celtics-denver-nuggets
From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/03/20/nuggets-humbling-loss-celtics-uncomfortable-questions/
From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/03/20/celtics-roll-over-nuggets-124-104/
- MEM 122, HOU 98:
From Jonathan Feigin, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/A-bad-loss-to-a-very-good-team-Takeaways-from-17016355.php
From Joe Mullinax, Grizzly Bear Blues: https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2022/3/21/22988304/report-card-memphis-gets-revenge-in-houston-grizzlies-rockets-nba-bane-game-recap
From Damichael Cole, Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2022/03/20/live-updates-and-score-memphis-grizzlies-vs-houston-rockets/7013898001/
- NOP 117, ATL 112:
From Chris Kirschner, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3199338/2022/03/21/nikola-jokic-the-latest-star-taken-down-by-celtics-traveling-defensive-circus/
From Graham Chapple, Peachtree Hoops: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2022/3/21/22988735/atlanta-hawks-new-orleans-pelicans-score-stats-analysis-offense-defense-breakdown-gallinari
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-fall-back-under-500-after-haywire-first-quarter-loss-to-pelicans/TBQZVMUFSRAH3FAFHG44V4FD6Y/
- ORL 90, OKC 85:
From Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman: https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2022/03/20/thunder-vs-magic-score-nba-game-recap-wendell-carter-jr-orlando-beat-okc/7113745001/
From Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily: https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2022/03/21/wendell-carter-puts-stamp-orlando-magic-win
From Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-magic-thunder-sunday-20220321-kkakpzysfng2hj2f2bd722phry-story.html
- SAS 110, GSW 108:
From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3198871/2022/03/21/can-the-warriors-hold-on-to-the-third-seed-without-steph-curry-in-final-weeks/
From CJ Holmes, SF Chronicle: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/Warriors-loss-to-Spurs-an-inauspicious-start-17017006.php
From Jesus Gomez, Pounding The Rock: https://www.poundingtherock.com/2022/3/20/22988336/keldon-johnsons-game-winner-propels-spurs-past-warriors
From Tom Orsborn, Express News: https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/The-triple-take-Spurs-110-Warriors-108-17016965.php
- TOR 93, PHI 88:
From Eric Koreen, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3199215/2022/03/21/pascal-siakams-all-nba-chances-come-down-to-how-voters-tackle-positional-norms
From Ky Carlin, USA Today: https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/lists/player-grades-pascal-siakam-leads-raptors-to-comeback-win-over-sixers/
From Josh Kern, Raptors HQ: https://www.raptorshq.com/2022/3/21/22988361/recap-toronto-raptors-beat-philadelphia-76ers-93-88-pascal-siakam-james-harden-joel-embiid
From Derek Bodner, Daily Six: https://www.dailysix.com/morning-sixers-20220321/
From Gina Mizell, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-raptors-loss-james-harden-pascal-siakam-20220320.html
From Kyle Neubeck, Philly Voice: https://www.phillyvoice.com/instant-observations-sixers-raptors-joel-embiid-james-harden-doc-rivers/
From Noah Levick, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/sixers-vs-raptors-joel-embiid-james-harden-tyrese-maxey-matisse-thybulle-doc-rivers
From Adam Aaronson, Rights To Ricky Sanchez: https://www.rightstorickysanchez.com/normal-column/032022
From Kevin Kinkead, Crossing Broad: https://www.crossingbroad.com/2022/03/bad-loss-observations-from-raptors-93-sixers-88.html
From Samson Folk, Raptors Republic: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2022/03/21/precious-achiuwa-joins-pascal-siakams-rotating-cast-of-stars/
From Jackson Frank, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/3/20/22988535/sixers-bell-ringer-dismal-offensive-showing-philaldelphia-loses-raptors-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey
From Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun: https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/boucher-finishes-off-gutsy-win-over-sixers-by-raptors
- PHO 127, SAC 124 (OT):
From Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee: https://www.modbee.com/sports/article259595364.html
From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/3078097/suns-rally-back-from-slow-start-multiple-absences-to-beat-kings-in-ot/
From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2022/03/20/5-takeaways-phoenix-suns-pulling-out-overtime-win-sacramento-kings/7117777001/
From James Ham:
- UTA 108, NYK 93:
From Tony Jones, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3199159/2022/03/21/utahs-donovan-mitchell-isnt-just-playing-point-guard-hes-controlling-basketball-games/
From Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School:
From Sarah Todd, Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/2022/3/20/22986761/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-beat-ny-knicks-as-donovan-mitchell-and-jordan-clarkson-combine-for-59
From Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/03/20/utah-jazz-get-their/
FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: From the BI Archives: Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 3/21/18