Basketball Intelligence For 4/29/25
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
*Feature of the Day*
Nuggets-Clippers is playoff basketball at its best
Danny Chau, The Ringer
LEAGUEWIDE
Nuggets-Clippers is playoff basketball at its best
Danny Chau, The Ringer
In a matchup like this, there’s a sense that the best of this first-round series is about to happen. The best playoff series are generative. They can create a sense of optimism within an arc of struggle. The procession of games presents a problem-solving back-and-forth that elevates the state of play into a collaborative art form. There is a beauty to that notion that the series’ tentpole stars aren’t shying away from. “If you’re a basketball fan,” Jokic said after Game 4, “I think this is the best basketball you can watch.” This is what players play for; this is why we tune in
Nuggets vs. Clippers: debating favorite game, exhausted starters and more in NBA playoffs' best series
Jack Maloney/Sam Quinn/James Herbert, CBS Sports
The CBA’s Chokehold On Great Teams
Matt Moore, Hardwood Paroxysm
Hawk-Eye technology changed 2 huge calls in playoffs for the better
Ricky O’Connell, SBNation
Anthony Edwards over Luka Dončić? Wolves will take it; plus NBA playoffs observations
Sam Amick, The Athletic
The matchups deciding each first-round series
Chris Herring, ESPN
An underrated NBA defensive move popularized by a Pistons great: Pulling the chair
Jason Jones, The Athletic
Four stars from Monday's NBA playoffs
Sean Keane, Yardbarker
Tensions continue to mount between the Warriors and Rockets, Cleveland destroys Miami to move onto round two, and more
Dustin Brewer, Hoops Daily
Playoff Rundown Part II
Matt Moore, Hardwood Paroxysm
Who Are the Unsung Heroes of the 2025 NBA Playoffs (So Far)?
Neil Paine
Teams' Cap Utilization Rates, Free Agent EPVs, GM Exit Interviews
Nick Thoreson, The Waive And Stretch
U.S. vs. World? NBA considering All-Star tweak
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
BI: USA vs International straight-up would be great, as we have been saying for several seasons. Can’t think of anyone we know who wouldn’t watch with interest.
It’s the only Olympic basketball event the U.S. hasn’t won. Can Jimmer Fredette fix that?
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
The rise of the self alley-oop
Ben Dowsett, ESPN
TEAM-SPECIFIC
BOS: This One Celtics Adjustment Put Orlando on the Back Foot
Adam Taylor, Celtics Chronicle
CLE: Cavs show no mercy, sweep Heat with historic Game 4 rout
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
CLE: Cavaliers cap off historic sweep with 55-point win over Heat
Brian Windhorst, ESPN
CLE: Cavaliers win NBA’s most lopsided playoff series ever
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
DEN: Too many minutes for Nikola Jokic and starters? Clippers’ zone defense? Why Nuggets nearly coughed up Game 4
Bennett Durando, Denver Post
GSW: Warriors praise ailing Butler's 'humongous' effort in Game 4 win
Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN
GSW: Hobbled Jimmy Butler is ‘back in a big way’ as Warriors send Rockets to the brink
Anthony Slater, The Athletic
GSW: Draymond Green one key to Warriors’ 3-1 lead over Rockets
Evan Webeck, Mercury News
GSW: Draymond Green turned around his Game 4 performance and the Warriors-Rockets series
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News
GSW: Jimmy Butler Effect in real time as Warriors get key win and Heat get NBA playoffs exit
Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today
GSW: Draymond Green puts on a defensive masterclass after narrowly escaping ejection
Brad Botkin, CBS Sports
GSW: 5 takeaways from Game 4 thriller
Shaun Powell, NBA.com
HOU: Rockets need Jalen Green to get going to stave off elimination by the Warriors
Kelly Iko, The Athletic
HOU: Miscues cost Rockets in Game 4 loss
Michael C. Wright, ESPN
HOU: Aggressive Alperen Şengün carries Houston Rockets in Game 4 loss, but says 'there's a lot to learn'
Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle
HOU: How Golden State held off Houston for 3-1 series lead
Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle
IND: Pacers, led by ‘a lot of heroes,’ take 3-1 series lead over Bucks
Shakeia Taylor, The Athletic
LAC: Clippers dig in for crucial Game 5 in Denver
Janis Carr, OC Register
LAC: Jeff Van Gundy has been Clippers’ not-so-secret weapon on defense all year long
Law Murray, The Athletic
LAL: The Lakers Desperately Need a Hail Mary
Robert O’Connell, Wall Street Journal
LAL: Lakers look to overcome 4th-quarter woes with season on the line
Khobi Price, OC Register
MEM: What's next for Grizzlies in 2025 offseason?
Parker Fleming, Subtsakalidis
MEM: From No. 2 seed to swept in 1st round: A pivotal Memphis Grizzlies offseason, tough decisions await
Damichael Cole, Commercial Appeal
MIA: Heat’s season goes down in flames, but they enjoyed the journey to mediocrity
Jared Weiss, The Athletic
MIA: Heat’s season ends with first-round sweep to Cavs in historically bad loss
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
MIA: Heat learns just how far it is from contending for title in season-ending loss
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
MIA: Jaime Jaquez Jr. on ‘frustrating’ second NBA season: ‘You take it as a learning experience’
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
MIL: Damian Lillard tears Achilles, ending his season with Bucks: Where does Milwaukee go from here?
Eric Nehm/Sam Amick, The Athletic
MIL: Here’s why the Pacers have the Bucks’ number
Lori Nickel, Journal Sentinel
OKC: Q & A: Alex Caruso
Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic
ORL: Three Takeaways: The Magic went toe to toe with the Celtics. But the Celtics pulled away to win Game 4
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared
ORL: Magic need one more game again to save their season
Philip Rossman-Reich, World R Squared
POR: Damian Lillard’s torn Achilles sends a wave of sadness through Portland
Jason Quick, The Athletic
SAC: Kings hiring interim head coach Doug Christie with multiyear contract
Jasmyn Wimbish, CBS Sports
THE DRAFT
Yanic Konan Niederhauser | A Giant Sleeper in Happy Valley
Jamaill Hines, No Ceilings
Jeremiah Fears Breakdown
Glen Willis
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