Basketball Intelligence for 4/24/2023
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LEAGUEWIDE STORIES
How NBA stars such as Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks take player-referee relationships to new levels
Tim MacMahon, ESPN
"Sometimes before the games, I try to put stuff in [the referee's] mind," Brooks told ESPN late in the regular season. "Like, 'I'm going to play physical a little bit.'
"Some of them, I won't even say nothing. Because sometimes I think [a referee believes], 'Oh, OK, I can give him a little call here. He won't get mad.' It's all a game. The same way you study the other team, you got to know your refs."
Explaining the biggest changes in NBA's new collective bargaining agreement
Tim Bontemps/Kevin Pelton, ESPN+
Clippers, Warriors biggest foes aren’t on court, it’s the new CBA: Hollinger
John Hollinger, The Athletic
YESTERDAY’S GAMES
CLE 93, NYK 102
NBA playoffs: Knicks lean into key adjustments to move closer to first postseason series win in 9 years
Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports
Knicks vs. Cavaliers score, takeaways: Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart shine as New York takes 3-1 series lead
Jack Maloney, CBS Sports
Knicks’ Julius Randle benched entire fourth quarter after another quiet performance
Peter Botte, New York Post
One Away
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School
Knicks have changed by finding new gears offensively and defensively vs. Cavs
Fred Katz, The Athletic
‘I didn’t show up’: Donovan Mitchell fails to meet star standard in Cavs’ Game 4 loss
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com
Donovan Mitchell shoulders blame for Cavaliers’ Game 4 loss: ‘I played like s—‘
Kesley Russo, The Athletic
Takeaways from Cleveland Cavaliers’ 102-93 Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks
Tony Pesta, Fear The Sword
Cavs’ weak spots once again made obvious in Game 4 loss to the Knicks
Ashley Bastock, Cleveland.com
SAC 125, GSW 126
How Draymond Green's suspension might've saved Warriors' season
Ramona Shelburne, ESPN
The Warriors refused to lose Game 4, no matter how hard they tried
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic
Dubs' huge third quarter swings Game 4, maybe series vs. Kings
Monte Poole, NBC Sports
Breaking down Draymond Green’s exceptional impact in Game 4
Joe Viray, Golden State of Mind
Warriors hang on for nail-biter Game 4 win, even series vs. Kings
Shayna Rubin, The Mercury News
Kings vs. Warriors score, takeaways: Stephen Curry leads Golden State to thrilling Game 4 win over Sacramento
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
A Decade After Sacramento Showed Up for the Kings, the Kings Return the Favor
Kurt Streeter, The New York Times
‘Great look’: Kings confident in their ability to bounce back in Game 5 against Warriors
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee
De’Aaron Fox has ‘arrived’ with high-level play against defending champion Warriors
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
BOS 129, ATL 121
Schultz: Hawks failed to punch back against Celtics when it mattered the most
Jeff Schultz, The Athletic
Hawks ‘couldn’t make a play’ and drop Game 4, face elimination
Lauren Williams, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Coaching Presence in the Boston-Atlanta Series Nobody is Talking About
Sherrod Blakely, Full Court Press Newsletter
The Boston Celtics' mantra to get back to the NBA Finals: 'Just do whatever it takes'
Israel Gutierrez, ESPN
Parquet Plays: inverted screens for Tatum
Adam Taylor, Celtics Blog
Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown embrace challenge of delivering the Celtics a win when needed most
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
Jaylen Brown unmasks a scoring explosion as Celtics push Hawks to brink: ‘It’s go time’
Jared Weiss, The Athletic
8 takeaways as Jayson Tatum, maskless Jaylen Brown help Celtics take control vs. Hawks in Game 4 win
Tom Westerholm, Boston.com
DEN 108, MIN 114
Wolves survive dramatic overtime to beat Nuggets in Game 4, extend series back to Denver
Mike Singer, Denver Post
Christian Braun, Nuggets’ bench unit “outstanding” so far this postseason
Mike Singer, Denver Post
Denver Nuggets fall to Minnesota Timberwolves in OT of Game 4, miss golden opportunity to clinch series
Ryan Blackburn, Mile High Sports
The magnetism of Anthony Edwards wills the Timberwolves to a face-saving victory
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic
Player Ratings: Playoffs Game Four | Denver Nuggets
Jake Paynting, Howls and Growls
Anthony Edwards helps Timberwolves avoid sweep by Nuggets
Andrew Lopez, ESPN
OTHER PLAYOFFS
MIA-MIL
Jimmy Butler dominates, starting lineup change and more observations from the Heat’s Game 3 win over the Bucks
Wes Goldberg, All U Can Heat
The Driver's Seat: The HEAT Are Taking And Making (Almost All) Of The Shots The Bucks Are Giving Them, But In Game 3 They Also Dug In With Greater Physicality
Couper Moorhead, NBA.com
LAL-MEM
Lakers’ path past Grizzlies? Anthony Davis as No. 1 option
Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times
Are the Memphis Grizzlies better off without Dillon Brooks in Lakers series and beyond?
Damichael Cole/Mark Giannotto, Memphis Commercial Appeal
LAC-PHO
Devin Booker's evolution a as playmaker gives Phoenix Suns different look in NBA Playoffs
Duane Rankin, Arizona Central
TEAM STORIES
BKN: What’s Next for the Brooklyn Nets? Relief and Uncertainty
Matt Moore, Action Network
BKN: Nets offseason primer: Trade possibilities, Cam Johnson free agency, and more
Yossi Gozlan, HoopsHype
OKC: OKC Thunder GM Sam Presti still won't take shortcuts, despite ticking clock
Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman
ORL: 2023 Orlando Magic Season Review What Went Right: Jamahl Mosley has the big picture
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily
PHI: Reed takes all the heat, channels a bit of Rodman in spot playoff start
Noah Levick, NBC Sports
TOR: Anger over young players benched. A rift on coaching staff. Behind the scenes on a season that went off the rails
Doug Smith, Toronto Star
BI says: some interesting anecdotes highlighting the dysfunction in the Raptors this season.
WAS: In hiring a general manager, the Wizards should think smaller
Ava Wallace, The Washington Post
NBA DRAFT
Edey Does It: Projecting Zach Edey as an NBA Prospect
Stephen Gillaspie, No Ceilings