Basketball Intelligence for 5/15/24

Knicks and Nuggets on the cusp, Draft Combine notes, and more

PLAYOFFS

NBA Playoff check-in: What’s changed from the regular season?
N.B. Lindberg, Fansided

One of the most notable differences between the regular season and the playoffs has been the drop in pace. An average regular season NBA game was played at a pace of 98.5 possessions per 48 minutes, but that figure has slowed to 92.9 in the playoffs. A drop of 5.6 possessions per game equates to a 5.69 percent drop and is a big reason why scoring is down 8.9 points per game compared to the regular season.

Every team has played at a slower pace in the playoffs than they did during the regular season, and each possession type has seen a slight drop off in pace.

MIN-DEN

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: 3 takeaways from Denver's go-ahead win in Game 5
Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette

Timberwolves can't stop Nikola Jokic as Denver Nuggets gain control of series with 112-97 Game 5 victory
Chris Hine, Star Tribune

NBA Playoffs: Nikola Jokić tortures Timberwolves as Nuggets win pivotal Game 5
Jack Baer, Yahoo Sports

2024 NBA playoffs: How Nickeil Alexander-Walker became an X-factor for the Timberwolves
Andrew Lopez, ESPN

How Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves defense got shredded by Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic

Inside the Nuggets team dinner — minus one uninvited player — that might save their season
Sam Amick, The Athletic