Basketball Intelligence for 3/7/24
The Day's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
LEAGUE STORIES
Kram Session: Odds Machine Takeaways and the NBA’s Great Isolation Artists
Zach Kram, The Ringer
Almost all of that improvement has come in the past two months. Through his first 38 games this season, Dosunmu averaged eight points and two assists per game while making 35 percent of his 3-point attempts. In 22 games since, while playing more minutes, he’s doubled his averages to 16 points and four assists per game while shooting 45 percent from distance.
A good rule of thumb in NBA analysis is to never get too excited about a shooter’s hot streak (or, conversely, too dispirited by a slump). Dosunmu might soon crash back to earth. But White hasn’t, and he and Dosunmu look like a fun, young, exciting backcourt tandem of the future. Imagine—fun and youth and excitement in Chicago! The Bulls need the spark that Ayo provides.
Predictions! 13 Writers on a Boston vs. Denver NBA Finals
TEAM STORIES
ATL: Hawks clamp down on defense in fourth quarter to beat Cavaliers
Lauren Williams, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BOS: Celtics’ habit of playing too slow in big moments could cost them in the playoffs
Jay King, The Athletic
Maybe it’s good the Celtics botched late-game time management again before the playoffs. They know they still need to work on it. Now, they should be reminded of its significance. They have another lesson to use, another prime example of what not to do. Having all but wrapped up the top seed in the Eastern Conference already, they should use the last month of the regular season to focus on all the minutiae that could become major playoff factors.
BOS: A clash of (potential) champions
Adam Taylor,
BOS: The Celtics are cruising to the NBA's best record -- and toward a postseason of questions
Tim Bontemps, ESPN
CHA: Did Charlotte Make The Right Call Drafting Brandon Miller?
Mat Issa, Forbes