Basketball Intelligence For 3/5/25

LBJ is the founding member of the 50k club, NYK needs to guard the three, DAL is the stuff of Greek tragedies, and more....

Mar 05, 2025

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*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander forged his own path to the NBA MVP conversation
Fred Katz, The Athletic

“It’s about being able to block out the noise,” Queta told them. “You know how many people watch the game, how many people enjoy watching the NBA or the Celtics, whatever it is? So you know you’re not gonna please everybody, you’re not perfect, so at the end of the day, you just gotta be able to embrace yourself and live with what you’re doing ... people are always gonna try and say anything about you, so find happiness ... for example, your family, the hobbies that you like to do. So I lean into what makes me happy more than anything.”

BOS: In order for the Celtics to repeat, Jrue Holiday will need to have his fingers all over it
Chad Finn, The Boston Globe

BI: Holiday is suffering from a condition known as "mallet finger" on his right pinky.

BKN: Second-Guessing Nets Summer Trades Misses The Marks
Steve Lichtenstein, Steve’s Newsletter

BI: With the combination of solid coaching from first-year man Jordi Fernandez and spirited efforts from an assemblage of lesser-known players, the Nets have outperformed both expectations and fan desires.

CHI: Undermanned Bulls go toe-to-toe with Cavaliers until winning time
Joe Cowley, Chicago Sun-Times

CLE: Cavs rally from behind for third straight game, overwhelm Bulls in fourth quarter with 139-117 win
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com

CLE: Will the Cavs be able to keep Ty Jerome? — Hey, Chris!
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com

CLE: Game Night Observations: Cavalanche in Chicago, Jarrett Allen's Big Night and Javonte Green's Real Debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot

DAL: The Other Disastrous Mavs Trade
Yossi Gozlan, Third Apron

DAL: The Dallas Mavericks Are Now a Full-Blown Disaster Movie
Danny Chau, The Ringer

DAL: The Dallas Mavericks are dead, and Nico Harrison killed them
Ricky O’Donell, SB Nation

GSW: Warriors' path to favorable playoff seed wide open over last 20 games
Monte Poole, NBC Sports

GSW: DNHQ After Dark: Happy Birthday to Draymond Green
Daniel Hardee, Dub Nation HQ

GSW: Warriors shut down Knicks late to win at Madison Square Garden
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News

LAC: Lue livid as Clippers blow 23-point lead, sink to new low in fading season
Justin Russo, Russo Writes, a Substack publication

LAC: Ivica Zubac deserves honor as Clippers continue to surprise
Iliyan Lakhani, Clipperholics

LAL: How Luka Dončić-LeBron James pairing has proved me (and Charles Barkley) wrong
Sam Amick., The Athletic

LAL: LeBron James sinks 3 to surpass 50K combined career points: Remembering his previous milestones
Jovan Buha, The Athletic

LAL: Luka Dončić’s Groove Is Back
Iztok Franco, Diggin Basketball

LAL: Luka Doncic, LeBron James are dominant as Lakers extend win streak to seven
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times

BI: The Lakers are now 7-2 since the trade for Luka

MEM: Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. week to week with ankle sprain: Why it’s a brutal loss for Memphis
Jenna West/William Guillory, The Athletic

BI: While Evan Mobley is the current odds-on favorite, Jackson Jr. was making a very strong case to win his second Defensive Player of the Year award this season.

MIA: Heat rookie Pelle Larsson flashes hidden talent in team's recent win
Wes Godlberg, All U Can Heat

MIL: Kyle Kuzma flexes game-changing attribute in Bucks' clutch win over Atlanta
Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass

If Kuzma can consistently put up an efficient stat line like this while also playing versatile defense and attacking the glass with this much ferocity, he might be the ultimate game-changer. The forward has already helped spark a major defensive shift, and efficiency like this could see him to do the same for their offense. A young two-way threat like this is the perfect complement to Milwaukee's stars.

MIN: Timberwolves cruise against 76ers, as expected and therefore not as usual
Jerry Zgoda, The Minnesota Star Tribune

NOP: The thing about Zion Williamson only diehard Pelicans fans appreciate
Andy Quach, Pelican Debrief

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Basketball Intelligence For 3/5/25

LBJ is the founding member of the 50k club, NYK needs to guard the three, DAL is the stuff of Greek tragedies, and more....

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