Basketball Intelligence For 3/30/24
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
TEAM-SPECIFIC
BKN: Nets use 3-point barrage to claim comeback win over Bulls
Brian Lewis, NY Post
CHI: 10 observations: Nets sweep season series from Bulls
KC Johnson, NBC Sports
CLE: Amid shooting struggles, Garland leads Cavs with lock down defense in win over 76ers
Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com
CLE: Donovan Mitchell returns with action, not words to help contract-hopeful Cavs win
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
DAL: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving combine for 56 as Mavericks escape Sacramento with a pivotal win
Brad Townsend, Morning News
DAL: MAVERICKS TOPPLE KINGS ON EXUM’S LATE THREE-POINTER
Eddie Sefko, Mavs.com
DEN: Why the Nuggets should prioritize health and rest over chasing the #1 seed
Ben Handler, Nugg Love
DEN: Jamal Murray-less Nuggets struggle against Timberwolves’ defense in blowout loss
Ryan McFadden, Denver Post
DET: Cade Cunningham & Jalen Duren stuff stat sheet, Detroit Pistons beat Wizards to snap skid
Omari Sankofa II, Free Press
GSW: Film Breakdown: Warriors exploit the Hornets’ weak-side help on their way to third straight win
Joe Viray, Golden State Of Mind
GSW: Warriors coast by Hornets for third straight win
Danny Emerman, Mercury News
GSW: Warriors turn up defensive volume after Draymond's latest nudge
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
HOU: Rockets extend streak with a different kind of win
Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle
IND: On the ongoing extremes of the Pacers’ defense
Caitlin Cooper, Basketball She Wrote
Not unlike the unpredictable weather in Indiana, which saw snow accumulation during NBA All-Star weekend only for the NFL Combine to be greeted by 70-degree temperatures, if you don't like the defense played by the Pacers, wait a few days -- it'll change. After all, less than a week ago, the Los Angeles Lakers scored 150 points against the Pacers, marking the highest point total for the Purple & Gold since 1987. Five days later, in a reverse effect to the sudden warm up that hit Indy, the Blue & Gold cooled down the Lakers, holding the very same team to a season low of just 90 points. Granted, the lack of hot hands for the Lakers clearly had a hand in the turnaround, as did the reduction in (perception of?) handsy coverage, but there were also some noticeable improvement areas from the Pacers, both in scheme and execution, that account for why there was such a massive swing from one extreme to the other.
IND: Pacers contain Lakers to clinch first winning record in four years
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files
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