Basketball Intelligence For 4/10/25

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

THE BASKETBALL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK

TEAM-SPECIFIC

ATL: How Dyson Daniels became a defensive gem for Hawks
Shaun Powell, NBA.com

BKN: Nets Fernandez Will Come Out Of Lost-Cause Season With Enhanced Reputation
Steve Lichtenstein

Fernandez may be an NBA rookie, but he had serious credentials. He paid his dues to work up the coaching ladder to become Sacramento’s lead assistant and was the HC for Team Canada during its run to the bronze medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Just speculating here, but Tsai may have pushed Marks in this hire over one of his San Antonio connections like James Borrego.

Well, this time it looks like Marks pulled a straight flush, at least so far. Fernandez has been everything this team needed in the moment, simultaneously encouraging and demanding his young and veteran players to buy into his messaging to play the right way. The Nets’ offense, with so little individual talent at their disposal, is at least well designed to create open three-point looks. The team gets after it on defense, though the size and speed discrepancies often beat them in the end

BOS: Celtics-Knicks Notebook: Jayson Tatum is an all-time clutch player, Kristaps Porzingis reveals why he shoots deep threes, Jaylen Brown limited by knee injury
Noa Dalzell, Celtics Blog

CLE: Darius Garland makes DPOY case for Evan Mobley
Jackson Flickinger, Fear The Sword

DAL: Doncic scores 45 in his 1st game back in Dallas as Lakers clinch playoff spot
Khobi Price, OC Register

DAL: Dončić’s Dallas return reminds us that some things are bigger than titles
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic

DAL: Luka Returns: Lakers-Mavericks Observations
Iztok Franko, digginbasketball

DEN: Inside Nuggets’ ‘cold war’ that led to firing both Michael Malone, Calvin Booth
Sam Amick/Tony Jones, The Athletic

DEN: 3 takeaways from Denver's win in David Adelman's debut
Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette

DEN: Nuggets beat Kings in first game after firing Michael Malone, Calvin Booth
Bennett Durando, Denver Post

DEN: Acting coach David Adelman looks to change “overall vibe” after Michael Malone’s firing, lack of alignment in organization
Bennett Durando, Denver Post

GSW: Harrison Barnes delivers Warriors potentially catastrophic late-season home loss
Anthony Slater, The Athletic

HOU: With Suns eliminated from playoff contention, Rockets gain lottery pick in 2025 NBA draft
Ben DuBose, USA Today

HOU: Amen Thompson Has Become a Shape-Shifting Nightmare
Danny Chau, The Ringer

IND: Nobody said it would be Nembeasy
Caitlin Cooper, Basketball She Wrote

LAC: Zubac's historic night perfect capper on special season
Justin Russo

Since the All-Star break, Zubac has averaged 19.6 points and 12.5 rebounds on 64.9% shooting as the Clippers have gone 17-9 overall during that timeframe. That consistency, coupled with Leonard’s rise back to his all-world form, has allowed the Clippers to make serious headway in the Western Conference.

The 28-year-old has even appeared on ESPN shows to promote his case for Defensive Player of the Year, one that has grown little by little as the season has gone along and the Clippers have made a push up the standings.

It’s been a whirlwind experience for Zubac, but the Clippers have come along for the ride and been a better team as a result, both in the win column and cohesively.

LAC: Clippers top short-handed Rockets for 6th straight win
Janis Carr, OC Register

LAC: Zubac delivers as playoff-focused Clippers beat Rockets
Broderick Turner, LA Times

LAL: Dončić removed all doubt over which team won the trade of the century
Terrence Jordan, Fansided

LAL: Dončić gets emotional, then goes ‘superhuman’ as Lakers top Mavs in his return to Dallas
Joe Vardon, The Athletic

LAL: Doncic scores 45 in emotional, winning return to Dallas
Dan Woike, LA Times

The rest of today’s team-specific stories as well as the leaguewide and draft-related stories follow for paid subscribers