Basketball Intelligence For 5/2/25
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
What could a Grizzlies coaching search look like?
Parker Fleming, Substakalidis
TEAM-SPECIFIC
ATL: Zaccharie Risacher enjoyed a strong rookie season, but what's next?
Bradley Rowland, Fansided
CLE: What if Cleveland’s Darius Garland isn’t ready for Game 1?
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
CLE: What makes Cavs star Donovan Mitchell feel desperate?
Terry Pluto, cleveland.com
CLE: Cavs better without Darius Garland? No one’s buying it
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
DAL: Why Lakers’ playoff exit shouldn’t alter how Mavericks’ Luka Doncic trade is perceived
Tim Cowlishaw, Morning News
DEN: James Harden, Kawhi Leonard shine as Clippers push Nuggets to Game 7
Bennett Durando, Denver Post
DEN: Can ‘unorganized’ Nuggets ‘play a full 48 minutes’ in Game 7?
Tony Jones, The Athletic
DEN: Turnover troubles prevent Denver Nuggets from closing out Los Angeles Clippers in Game 6
Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette
DET: Pistons hurt by series loss to Knicks, but they have a lot to look forward to
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
DET: For Pistons, historic regular season doesn't dull pain of 2025 NBA playoff loss
Omari Sankofa II, Free Press
DET: Cade Cunningham, Pistons know future bright even after defeat
Eric Woodyard, ESPN
GSW: Four keys for the Warriors to win Game 6
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News
GSW: The Rockets’ zone defense has the Warriors in the danger zone
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News
LAC: Harden, Clippers top Nuggets to force a Game 7
Janis Carr, OC Register
LAC: James Harden and Kawhi Leonard power Clippers past Nuggets to force Game 7
Broderick Turner, LA Times
LAC: Stars step up to extend season, Clippers force Game 7
Justin Russo
LAC: James Harden responded, but the Clippers need to be better to win Game 7
Law Murray, The Athletic
LAC: Clips spurred by Lue's pregame calls, stop Nuggets to force Game 7
Ramona Shelburne, ESPN
LAC: As Serbia’s two best players clash in NBA playoffs, Bogdan Bogdanovic recalls first time facing Nikola Jokic
Bennett Durando, Denver Post
Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic are friends and star teammates when they suit up for Serbia. They’ve been enemies the last two weeks during their first NBA playoff series against each other.
LAC: When their stars shine, Clippers are as formidable as we imagined
Mirjam Swanson, OC Register
LAL: What’s next for Lakers after first-round exit?
Jovan Buha/Sam Amick, The Athletic
MEM: What could a Grizzlies coaching search look like?
Parker Fleming, Substakalidis
after a defensive slippage within a loss of urgency and an inability to beat the West’s best, the Grizzlies are looking for a new voice to get this team back to its 2021-22 and 2022-23 levels — and higher.
Deciding on who is a decision tree that starts with the interim. Do the Grizzlies retain Tuomas Iisalo? If not, who is on their minds? A veteran head coach, or another fresh voice assistant?
Then, you have to explore what they’re looking for. The intangible elements are easy to identify. The Grizzlies need a no-BS coach that adds a certain level of accountability and grittiness. Within the realm, there has to be a blend of accountability and collaboration, as I believe the best teams are on the same page from the top down. On the floor, they have to restore the feeling defensively, a staple not only of this iteration but also the organization’s ethos. Most importantly, they have to find a way to get the best out of specifically Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. together, while also deploying a system that brings the best out of those around them.
The Grizzlies could do a coaching search and hire externally. They could hire Tuomas Iisalo, with or without a coaching search. The absence of an immediate decision shows that Zach Kleiman is looking to digest the season and explore pathways they could go down.
MEM: Grizzlies’ push to NBA title contention went sideways. Where do they go from here?
John Hollinger, The Athletic