THE PLAYOFFS, ROUND TWO
- Takeaways From Game 1s (from Stephen Noh, Sporting News): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nohs-notebook-Horford-Giannis-Warriors-Grizzlies-game-1s/zp23z1bgrbwkejhu7u8zvtfs
From ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33844062/nba-playoffs-2022-next-conference-semifinal-showdown
From David Thorpe, True Hoop:
- Daily Results (from Zach Harper, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3288396/2022/05/03/nba-playoffs-daily-results-heat-suns-game-1s/
- MIA 106, PHI 92:
From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3290558/2022/05/03/deandre-jordan-center-rotation-sixers-game-1-heat/
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2022/5/3/23054904/sixers-heat-joel-embiid-injury
From Ramona Shelburne, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33846275/philadelphia-76ers-need-james-harden-carry-he
From Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/05/02/miami-heat-take-advantage-joel-embiid-absence-game-1-win/9624318002/
From John Schuhmann, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/news/5-takeaways-from-heats-game-1-eastern-conference-semifinal-victory-vs-76ers
From Naveen Ganglani, Hot Hot Hoops: https://www.hothothoops.com/2022/5/3/23054949/nba-playoffs-future-leads-the-present-with-miami-heat-dynamic-duo-bam-adebayo-tyler-herro
From Tim Bontemps, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33846770/miami-heat-get-physical-game-1-handle-joel-embiid-less-philadelphia-76ers
From Michael Pina, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2022/05/03/heat-routs-76ers-game
From Ira Winderman, SunSentinel: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-main-monday-20220502-dxgszjjhvfdlvcthcbo26rvuim-story.html
From Brad Botkin, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-james-hardens-shortcomings-on-display-as-76ers-lose-game-1-vs-heat-without-joel-embiid/
From Reuben Frank, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/10-ugly-stats-76ers-game-1-loss-heat
From Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article261001157.html and https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article260951882.html
From Wes Goldberg, The Wes Side:
From Derek Bodner, The Daily Six: https://www.dailysix.com/morning-sixers-heat-vs-sixers-game-1-recap/
From Gina Mizell, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sports/sixers-heat-game-1-toronto-raptors-20220503.html
From Kyle Neubeck, Philly Voice: https://www.phillyvoice.com/instant-observations-sixers-heat-game-1-james-harden-jimmy-butler-tyrese-maxey/
From Noah Levick, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/sixers-vs-heat-game-1-james-harden-tobias-harris-deandre-jordan-paul-reed-doc-rivers-nba-playoffs-2022
From Austin Krell, The Painted Lines: https://thepaintedlines.com/wasted-opportunities-leave-sixers-down-1-0-vs-heat-likes-and-dislikes/
From Adam Aaronson, Rights To Ricky Sanchez: https://www.rightstorickysanchez.com/normal-column/050222
From Ian Levy, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2022/05/03/philadelphia-76ers-small-ball-answer/
From Christopher Kline, The Sixer Sense: https://thesixersense.com/2022/05/03/sixers-3-takeaways-game-1-loss-heat/
From Couper Moorhead, HEAT.com: https://www.nba.com/heat/news/coup-takeaways-pj-tucker-brings-the-energy-tyler-herro-brings-the-scoring-asheat-take-game-1-with-second-half-run
From Jackson Frank, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/5/2/23054555/sixers-playoff-bell-ringer-tobias-harris-25-points-game-1-loss-tyrese-maxey-james-harden-miami-heat
From Matt Gregan, Sports Talk Philly: https://www.sportstalkphilly.com/2022/05/3-observations-heat-outlast-sixers-pull-away-in-second-half-to-take-game-1.html
From Mo Dakhil, Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10034791
- PHO 121, DAL 114:
From Doug Haller, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3290759/2022/05/03/five-observations-suns-get-back-to-regular-season-form-in-game-1-win-over-mavericks-for-the-most-part/
From Tim Cato, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3290561/2022/05/03/mavericks-suns-game1/
From Sam Amick, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3290818/2022/05/03/suns-mavs-second-round-favorites/
From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/2022/05/02/phoenix-suns-continue-dominance-over-dallas-mavericks-take-game-1/9624856002/
From Rohan Nadkarni, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2022/05/03/suns-mavericks-chris-paul-devin-booker-mikal-bridges-nba-playoffs-game-1
From Iztok Frank/Mike Pielucci, D Magazine: https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2022/05/what-we-saw-what-it-felt-like-mavs-suns-game-1/
From Tyler Watts, The Smoking Cuban: https://thesmokingcuban.com/posts/dallas-mavericks-takeaways-2022-playoffs-game-1-suns
From Brad Townsend, Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/05/03/in-game-1-defeat-mavericks-three-headed-point-guard-dragon-was-missing-two-heads/
From Callie Caplan, Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/05/02/luka-doncics-highest-scoring-game-this-playoffs-not-enough-as-suns-bully-mavs-in-game-1/
From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/3128128/phoenix-suns-deliver-strong-1st-punch-to-mavericks-take-game-1/
From Dwain Price, Mavs.com: https://www.mavs.com/mavs-sunstakeaways/
From Tim MacMahon, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33847069/jason-kidd-says-dallas-mavericks-need-join-party-dropping-game-1-phoenix-suns-luka-doncic-45
From Jackson Frank, DIME: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/deandre-ayton-suns-pelicans-star-playoffs-video-breakdown/
We will publish a special edition previewing tonight’s matchups later today. Stay tuned!
TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES
- CHI: Bulls' Pivotal Offseason Storylines (from Rob Schaefer): https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/5-bulls-storylines-watch-pivotal-2022-nba-offseason
- HOU: Does The Celtics' Rebuild Provide A Roadmap For The Rockets? (from James Piercey, The Dream Shake): https://www.thedreamshake.com/2022/5/3/23054937/does-boston-celtics-rebuild-provide-a-road-map-for-houston-rockets-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-nba
- ORL: Suggs Will Need To Slow Things Down Again (from Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily: https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2022/05/03/jalen-suggs-orlando-magic-will-need-slow-things
- PHO: Booker Has 'No Shot' As Future NBA Coach (from Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic): https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2022/05/02/phoenix-suns-devin-booker-future-nba-head-coach-no-patience-for-job/9622820002
- TOR: Nick Nurse's Media Conference (from Eric Nehm, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3289998/2022/05/03/nick-nurse-lakers-rumours-raptors
From Michael Grange, Sportsnet: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/despite-over-achieving-this-season-nick-nurse-is-ready-for-raptors-to-go-further/
From Doug Smith, Toronto Star: https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2022/05/02/raptors-coach-nick-nurse-laments-lack-of-bench-depth-theyve-got-to-be-players.html
- TOR: Raptors Need More Positional Balance (from Josh Lewenberg, TSN): https://www.tsn.ca/josh-lewenberg-nick-nurse-made-position-less-experiment-work-but-raptors-need-more-roster-balance-1.1794340
- UTA: Donovan Mitchell Is Heading Into His Most Important Offseason (from Tony Jones, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3290531/2022/05/03/donovan-mitchell-offseason-utah-jazz/
LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES
- Hubie Brown Hasn't Stopped Coaching (from Jason Gay, Wall Street Journal): https://www.wsj.com/articles/hubie-brown-nba-coaching-11651585886
- G League Ignite, OTE & The Future Of Alternative Pathways (from Maxwell Baumbach, N0 Ceilings):
- Each Remaining Playoff Team's Biggest Concern (from Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955866-the-biggest-concern-for-every-2022-nba-playoff-team-still-standing
- Under-The-Radar FA Bargains (from Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2955757-7-under-the-radar-2022-nba-free-agency-bargains
- Trayce Jackson-Davis' Draft Decision: NBA Vs. NIL (from Zach Osterman, Indy Star): https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2022/05/03/iu-basketball-nba-draft-nil-money-affect-trayce-jackson-davis/7390789001/
- 2022 Draft Big Board 4.0 (from Sam Vecenie, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/3277809/2022/05/02/2022-nba-draft-big-board-jabari-smith-chet-holmgren/
- 2022 Draft: Who Should HOU,ORL & DET Pick? (from Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz, ESPN): https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/33845648/what-houston-rockets-orlando-magic-detroit-pistons-do-no-1-pick-2022-nba-draft
- Ousmane Dieng Could Be The Steal Of The 2022 Draft (from Nick Crain, Sports Illustrated): https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/draft-coverage/hidden-gems-ousmane-dieng-could-be-steal-of-2022-nba-draft
- 2022 Draft Prospect: Jabari Smith, Jr (from Josh Cohen, magic.com): https://www.nba.com/magic/news/2022-nba-draft-jabari-smith-jr-strengths-and-weaknesses-20220503
From JD Tailor, Welcome To Loud City: https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/2022/5/3/23051894/nba-draft-scouting-jabari-smith-jr
- 2022 Draft Prospects: Good Options For Teams Drafting 5 Thru 7 (from Krysten Peek, Yahoo Sports): https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nba-draft-after-the-top-4-these-players-should-get-a-lottery-look-174259162.html
FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives: http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/05/03/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-5318/