Basketball Intelligence For 4/17/22
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
FIRST ROUND SERIES
- Each Playoff Team's Biggest X-Factor (from Dan Favale, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955393-the-biggest-x-factor-for-every-2022-nba-playoff-team
GAME ONE RESULTS
From Zach Harper, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254663/2022/04/17/nba-playoffs-scores-april-16/
- GSW 123, DEN 107:
From Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254390/2022/04/17/thompson-draymond-green-warriors-nuggets-nikola-jokic/
From Steve Kerr's Postgame Media Conference: https://asaptext.com/orgs/gswarriors/1034/browse_file.php?browse_file_name=transcripts%2F119667.html
From Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/04/17/kurtenbach-the-warriors-game-1-win-was-a-warning-to-the-nba/
From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/04/16/warriors-beat-nuggets-game-1-nba-playoffs/
From Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254305/2022/04/17/a-free-throw-disparity-nikola-jokics-odd-night-and-a-2nd-quarter-surge-why-nuggets-lost-game-1-to-warriors/
From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254155/2022/04/17/five-observations-breaking-down-the-warriors-game-1-win-over-the-nuggets/
From Tim Kawakami, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254215/2022/04/17/kawakami-warriors-lineup-nickname-pending/
From Harrison Wind, The DNVR: https://thednvr.com/to-beat-the-warriors-aaron-gordon-has-to-be-the-best-version-of-himself/
From Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/warriors-vs-nuggets-golden-states-unique-successful-blend-of-old-and-new-on-full-display-in-game-1-win/
From Joe Viray, Golden State Of Mind: https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2022/4/16/23028695/warriors-nuggets-game-1-nikola-jokic-draymond-green-jordan-poole-film-breakdown
From Kendra Andrews, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33754570/golden-state-warriors-give-scary-glimpse-new-death-lineup-game-1-win
- MIN 130, MEM 117:
From Fred Katz, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254205/2022/04/16/minnesota-timberwolves-upset-memphis-grizzlies/
From Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3253856/2022/04/17/anthony-edwards-kat-timberwolves/
From Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/news/5-takeaways-from-timberwolves-series-opening-victory-over-grizzlies
From Mark Giannotto, Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/columnists/mark-giannotto/2022/04/16/minnesota-timberwolves-memphis-grizzlies-game-1-analysis-karl-anthony-towns/7338276001/
From Damichael Cole, Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2022/04/16/memphis-grizzlies-minnesota-timberwolves-live-score-updates-nba-playoffs-game-1/9514946002/
From Jake Paynting, Howls And Growls:
From Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press: https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/16/anthony-edwards-shines-again-as-timberwolves-steal-game-1-in-memphis/ and https://www.twincities.com/2022/04/16/timberwolves-jaden-mcdaniels-playoff-debut-was-impressive-too/
From Chris Hine, Star Tribune: https://www.startribune.com/anthony-edwards-karl-anthony-towns-minnesota-timberwolves-game-1-win-memphis-grizzlies-ja-morant/600165545/
From Parker Fleming, Grizzly Bear Blues: https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2022/4/16/23028275/recap-grizzlies-drop-game-1-at-home-against-timberwolves-memphis-minnesota-nba-playoffs
- PHI 131, TOR 111:
From Eric Koreen, The Athlletic: https://theathletic.com/3254249/2022/04/16/scottie-barnes-injury-raptors-sixers/
From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3254317/2022/04/17/sixers-playoffs-game-1-raptors/
From Kyle Neubeck, Philly Voice: https://www.phillyvoice.com/game-1-sixers-answers-raptors-issues-doc-rivers-joel-embiid-tyrese-maxey-james-harden-strategy-analysis/
From Rohan Nadkarni, Sports Illsutrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2022/04/17/76ers-raptors-game-1-takeaways
From Paul Hudrick, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/4/17/23029083/tyrese-maxey-sixers-raptors-nba-playoffs-doc-rivers-james-harden
From Noah Levick, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers-raptors-game-1-nba-playoffs-2022-sixers-practice-tyrese-maxey-tobias-harris-joel-embiid
From Louis Zatzman, Raptors Republic: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2022/04/17/the-autopsy-report-what-went-wrong-for-the-toronto-raptors/
From Canadian Press: https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors-philadelphia-76ers-recap-april-16-1.6421651
From David Murphy, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sports/sixers-raptors-game-one-tyrese-maxey-20220417.html
From Keith Pompey, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-76ers-toronto-raptors-recap-best-worst-awareds-tyrese-maxey-20220417.html and https://www.inquirer.com/sports/sixers-76ers-raptors-recap-score-nba-playoffs-tyrese-maxey-joel-embiid-james-harden-tobias-harris-pascal-siakam-fred-vanvleet-20220416.html
From Gina Mizell, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-raptor-rebounding-transition-defense-20220417.html
From Marcus Hayes, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sports/philadelphia-76ers-nba-playoffs-james-harden-tyrese-maxey-joel-embiid-raptors-20220417.html
From Josh Lewenberg, TSN: https://www.tsn.ca/josh-lewenberg-toronto-raptors-drop-game-1-but-barnes-injury-was-more-costly-loss-1.1786607
From Tania Ganguli, NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/17/sports/basketball/sixers-raptors-harden-maxey.html
From Michael Grange, Sportsnet: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-struggle-to-put-any-sustained-pressure-on-well-prepared-76ers/
From Oren Weisfeld, Yahoo Sports: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-playoffs-76ers-beat-raptors-at-their-own-game-in-series-opening-blowout-031947859.html
From Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun: https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-blown-out-by-sixers-rookie-barnes-injured-as-everything-goes-wrong-in-opener
- UTA 99, DAL 93:
From Tim Cato, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3253877/2022/04/16/dallas-mavericks-playoffs-luka-doncic/
From Tony Jones, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3253904/2022/04/16/jazz-mavericks-game-1/
From Jazz.com: https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/big-time-mitchell-and-bogdanovic-dominate-playoff-opener
From Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/04/16/utah-jazz-hold-clutch/
From Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/04/16/triple-team-gobert/
From Ryan Kostecka, Jazz.com: https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/we-continued-attack-utah-overpower-dallas-postseason-opener
From Josh Bowe, Mavs Moneyball: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2022/4/16/23028360/jalen-brunson-spencer-dinwiddie-have-be-better-for-shorthanded-mavericks-to-beat-the-jazz-playoffs
From Callie Caplan, Morning News: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Comeback-bid-falls-flat-for-Luka-Doncic-less-17086169.php
SERIES PREVIEWS
- ATL-MIA:
From Peter Dewey, Heat Nation: https://heatnation.com/editorials/5-keys-to-the-miami-heat-taking-care-of-business-against-the-atlanta-hawks/
From Matt Hanifan, Hot Hot Hoops: https://www.hothothoops.com/2022/4/17/23023286/miami-heat-atlanta-hawks-series-preview-six-matchups-to-watch-out-for-2022-nba-playoffs
From Couper Moorhead, HEAT.com: https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat-vs-hawks-series-preview-young-adebayo
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2022/4/16/23027912/trae-young-hawks-playoffs
From Michael Cunningham, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/mike-check-blog/how-hawks-and-heat-match-up-plus-my-series-prediction/GOQ3FFTGKJG4RD22KX3I2S4COE/
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/the-believe-hawks-are-back-in-the-playoffs-how-far-can-they-get-this-time/AHSC6PGVXJAQ7DN4DHHNRZKRCU/
- BOS-BKN:
From Hunter Felt, Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hunterfelt/2022/04/17/jayson-tatum-will-be-key-if-the-boston-celtics-want-to-beat-the-brooklyn-nets/?sh=74c0cbc55efd
From Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/4/17/23025202/brooklyn-nets-boston-celtics-nba-playoffs-series-predictions-celticsblog-staff-roundtable
From Brian Lewis, NY Post: https://nypost.com/2022/04/17/nba-playoffs-2022-breaking-down-nets-celtics-matchups/
From Steve Popper, Newsday: https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/nets/nets-celtics-nba-playoffs-matchups-storylines-jwnj2qfo
From Adam Taylor, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/4/16/23027878/boston-celtics-brooklyn-nets-strengths-and-weaknesses-jayson-tatum-kevin-durant-jaylen-brown
From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/04/17/0413-bh-s-celticsnets/ and https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/04/17/0415-bh-s-tatumhorford/
From Michael Ivanoskos, Hardwood Houdini: https://hardwoodhoudini.com/2022/04/17/boston-celtics-grades-centers/
From Chris Milholen, Nets Daily: https://www.netsdaily.com/2022/4/15/23027006/nets-know-first-round-success-against-celtics-starts-with-slowing-jayson-tatum-down