***BASKETBALL INTELLIGENCE EXCLUSIVE***
MIL: Should the Bucks burn their boats?
Louis Zatzman, Basketball Intelligence
China’s Ming Dynasty controlled the largest navy in the world in the mid-1400s. Commanded by Zheng He and called the Treasure Fleet, some of the boats were significantly larger than the European vessels that would later stumble upon North America -- crewed by more than 1,000 sailors. But for a variety of possible reasons, the Yongle Emperor ordered the fleet burned. Oceangoing voyages were banned, and by the mid-1500s the Treasure Fleet had rotted or been destroyed.
It was a watershed moment in world history whose ripple effects remain enormous in the world even today.
The Milwaukee Bucks are facing a comparable situation this offseason.
76ERS-CELTICS
Sixers vs. Celtics Game 7 takeaways: Sixers lack toughness, fight, and answers
Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer
The 76ers fell apart quickly, and the fall probably isn't over yet
Yaron Weitzman, Fox Sports
There was Embiid falling asleep while ball-watching and a backdoor finish. And Harden tossing up junk from the midrange because he was more focused on grifting fouls than attacking the hoop. And Embiid grabbing just four rebounds in the game's first three quarters. And Harden only trying four shots from inside the paint. And Embiid getting the ball under the rim and, instead of slamming it home, kicking it out to the perimeter. And Harden calling off a pick from Embiid and then airballing an ugly step-back 3. And Embiid looking like he'd never before seen a double-team. And Harden turning a wide open lay-up into a flagrant foul for Celitcs, which sounds like the premise of an unsolvable riddle.
For 76ers, who had title hopes, another early playoff exit leads to more uncertainty
Rich Hofmann, The Athletic
3 takeaways from the Sixers’ devastating Game 7 loss to the Celtics
Jackson Frank, Liberty Ballers
Jayson Tatum’s record Game 7 shows growth as player and person: ‘It’s only up from here’
Jared Weiss, The Athletic
Buckley: Joe Mazzulla stays in the moment, passes love to his players
Steve Buckley, The Athletic
Jayson Tatum Scores 51 as Celtics Rout Sixers in Game 7
Scott Cacciola, The New York Times
Processed: Al Horford shuts down the MVP in Game 7
Bill Sy, Celtics Blog
Jayson Tatum has forced me to believe in the Boston Celtics
Oliver Fox, Hardwood Houdini
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LEAGUEWIDE STORIES
The 2023 NBA Mid-playoffs Survey
Staff, The Ringer
The NBA coaching carousel reaches terminal speed
Tom Ziller, Good Morning It’s Basketball
NBA Game Notes (May 14, 2023)
Justin Kubatko, Statitudes
The Playoff All-Surprise Team
Mike Shearer, NBA University Blog
A Few Good Plays Vol. 7
Greg Brueck-Cassoli, High Off The Glass
NBA playoffs 2023: 3 best bench players in postseason so far.
Adam Taylor, Sportskeeda
Have a good summer: Knicks, Warriors, 76ers
Jared Dubin, Last Night, In Basketball
CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEWS
East: Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
Series preview: Celtics, Heat clash again for Eastern Conference title
Steve Aschburner, NBA.com
It’s Heat-Celtics in East finals for third time in four seasons. An early look at the matchup
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
Same as it ever was in Heat-Celtics? Not exactly, as what’s old also is new again
Ira Winderman, Sun-Sentinel
Time off prior to start of the East finals comes at a good time for the Heat’s leading duo
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald
Rested, recharged and rejuvenated, Heat’s Kyle Lowry enters conference finals in a better place
Ira Winderman, Sun-Sentinel
West: Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets
Why the Denver Nuggets are a better team than what the Lakers faced in the NBA bubble
Mark Medina, Sportsnaut
Lakers vs. Nuggets: What scouts expect in Western Conference finals
Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times
“But AD has given them issues and if the Lakers are starting AD at the center does that mean the Nuggets try to let Jokic be the rover? Do they put Jokic on AD directly? I think that’s kind of the big question.
AD has not had the same success guarding Jokic.” (Note: When guarded by Davis on 119 possessions during the regular season, Jokic made 16 of his 25 shots — including 15 of his 18 inside the three-point arc — with only three turnovers.)
Denver Nuggets Defense
Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops
Denver Nuggets Offense
Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops
Nuggets-Lakers is the Western Conference finals matchup we deserve: 4 observations
Tony Jones, The Athletic
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
HOU: Why the Rockets are dreaming of Victor Wembanyama (like every other team in the NBA draft lottery)
Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle
IND: How numerous 2021-22 Indiana Pacers players held up in the G League or overseas
Tony East, All Pacers
NYK: Postseason Postmortum
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School
NYK: The Knicks 2022-23 season by the numbers: Where did it go wrong or right?
Eric Samulski, amNY
NYK: Breaking down the futures of every Knicks player ahead of pivotal offseason
Zach Braziller, New York Post
OKC: 2023 NBA Offseason Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder
Luke Adams, HoopsRumors
ORL: Chuma Okeke gets lost in the shuffle in third year with the Magic
Khobi Price, Orlando Sentinel
NBA DRAFT
Everybody Wants Victor Wembanyama. He Wants to Rule the N.B.A.
Tania Ganguli, New York Times
NBA Draft Profile: Amen Thompson
Steve Dewald, Blazer’s Edge
2023 NBA G-League Elite Camp Stock Up, Down, Or Neutral
Nathan Grubel, No Ceilings
Don't Shed A Tier: Pre-Lottery Night Update
Adam Spinella, The Box And One
NBA Draft Analysis: Jarace Walker
Caitlin Cooper, Basketball, She Wrote