Basketball Intelligence For 5/6/2
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
*FEATURE OF THE DAY*
It’ll take more than just defense to save the Suns
John Voita, Bright Side Of The Sun
THE BASKETBALL INTELLIGENCE NETWORK
Someone Tell The New Avengers That Anthony Edwards Is Collecting Infinity Stones
Aaron and Evan start by performing autopsies on the Clippers (2:10) and Rockets (14:31), including a discussion on whether Houston should trade for KD, Giannis, or a very intriguing Door Number 3 (26:00). That’s followed by second-round playoff talk, featuring a take on the Knicks that immediately goes badly (
TEAM-SPECIFIC
BOS: Celtics go cold from long distance as Knicks erase 20-point deficit in second half, win Game 1 in overtime
Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe
BOS: Celtics expected some bumps in their path to a repeat. The Knicks just provided one
Jay King, The Athletic
BOS/NYK: Nothing About Celtics-Knicks Feels Sustainable
Michael Pina, The Ringer
BOS: Joe Mazzulla on Celtics’ three-point shooting in Game 1 loss: ‘for the most part, we fought for good looks’
Bill Sy, Celtics Blog
BOS: Celtics in unfamiliar place following Game 1 loss
Sherrod Blakely, Full Court Press
BOS: How do Celtics plead after losing Game 1 to the Knicks? Guilty of obscene arrogance
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe
CLE: The Best Adjustment the Cavaliers Can Make in Game 2
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
DEN: Nuggets show they won’t go down quietly against the Thunder
Tony Jones, The Athletic
DEN: Nuggets stun top-seeded Thunder: 3 takeaways
Tyler King, Denver Gazette
DEN: Jokic has MVP vibes in Nuggets' Game 1 win over Thunder
Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette
DEN: Aaron Gordon answered the call for the Nuggets in Oklahoma City, just as he’s always done
Bennett Durando, Denver Post
DET: Elimination, Second Stars, and Coaching Questions
Mike Anguilano, Palace Of Pistons
The Pistons were eliminated by the Knicks in the first round of the playoffs, but the future is bright. Very bright.
GSW: Will the Warriors Learn the Right Lessons From the Rockets Series?
Logan Murdock, The Ringer
GSW: Game 7: Buddy Hield busts zones and punishes Rockets traps on Steph and Jimmy
Eric Apricot, Dub Nation HQ
HOU: Amen Thompson Is The Future
Rohit Naimpally, From The Logo
Does Houston need to trade for a Giannis when it already has one?
HOU: What is the Rockets’ best next step on the path to contention?
Michael Pina, The Ringer
HOU: The season is suddenly over for the Rockets ... but the possibilities are just beginning
Jake Fischer, The Stein Line
HOU/ORL: Magic, Rockets have similar promise and similar problems
John Hollinger, The Athletic
HOU/ORL: The young and eliminated
Henry Abbott/David Thorpe, True Hoop
Do the Magic and Rockets need change?
IND: The Pacers deliver sizzling start to series
Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows
LAC: The mystery of James Harden's Game 7s
Tom Haberstroh, The Finder
LAC: Clippers still building around Kawhi Leonard, James Harden
Janis Carr, OC Register
The team with the oldest roster in the NBA plans to stake its future on the the veteran duo after also getting career-best seasons from Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell
NYK: The Knicks deserve respect
James Edwards III, The Athletic
NYK: Game One: Holy S—. Did that really just happen?
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School
NYK: The Knicks had a process of their own in Game 1 — dare the Celtics to shoot
Steve Buckley, The Athletic
NYK: After Game 1 win, Knicks’ blueprint with Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart is clear
Fred Katz, The Athletic
OKC: Thunder squanders Game 1 vs Nuggets
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman
OKC: Do the Thunder need to rethink their late-game fouling strategy after Game 1 loss?
Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic
The remaining team-specific stories as well as the leaguewide & draft-related stories follow for paid subscribers