Basketball Intelligence for 5/8/2023

Covering an absolutely wild day of basketball!

May 8, 2023

BOS 115, PHI 116

Couldn’t close it: 10 Takeaways from Celtics-76ers Game 4
Keith P Smith, Celtics Blog

How Celtics fell a second short against 76ers: Two crucial decisions cost them
Jared Weiss, The Athletic

Embiid backed Tatum down to the middle of the paint as Horford and Derrick White decided not to double. The Celtics were playing it conservatively, making sure they didn’t foul or give up a 3.
Then just as Embiid was starting to spin back toward the corner where James Harden was lurking, Jaylen Brown left Harden to surprise Embiid with the double. They almost had him, but Embiid leapt in the air to throw a side-arm pass that barely got to Harden, who buried the brilliant shot anyway.
“Just a bad read,” Brown said. “It’s a gamble at the wrong time. Big shot by James Harden, but that’s my fault. I take full accountability. Just a bad read.”

Boston Celtics lose overtime thriller to Philadelphia 76ers, 116-115
Daniel Poarch, Celtics Blog

A puzzling decision led to key Jaylen Brown gaffe in Celtics Game 4 loss
Brian Robb, MassLive

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Celtics squander victory, express optimism, but what exactly did they learn?
Steve Buckley, The Athletic

Trust between Joel Embiid, James Harden saved the 76ers' season
Brian Windhorst, ESPN

James Harden Finds His Old Groove and Gets the Sixers Back on Track
Scott Cacciola, The New York Times

James Harden bounce-back rescues 76ers in Game 4 to tie series
Tim Bontemps, ESPN

3 takeaways from another James Harden masterclass in Game 4 win
Paul Hudrick, Liberty Ballers

James Harden and Joel Embiid figured it out together when it mattered most for the 76ers
David Aldridge, The Athletic

DEN 124, PHX 129

Devin Booker, Kevin Durant lead Suns past Nuggets: How Phoenix captured a classic Game 4
Doug Haller/Tony Jones, The Athletic

Landry Shamet shines as Phoenix Suns cruise past Denver Nuggets in Game 4
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic

5 biggest reasons Suns managed to dig out of 0-2 hole and tie series vs. Nuggets
Trevor Booth, ClutchPoints

Game 4 belonged to Devin Booker, and so do these playoffs
John Hollinger, The Athletic

Booker’s shooting fireworks haven’t been limited to the last two games; they’ve been ongoing throughout the postseason, where he’s put up video-game stats: 31.1 points per 36 minutes, a 61-51-87 shooting line for a this-can’t-be-real 71.1 true shooting mark, and a league-best postseason 31.1 PER.

Suns-Nuggets: Devin Booker, Kevin Durant are carrying Phoenix at historic level, but how long can it continue?
Brad Botkin, CBS Sports

Devin Booker’s All-Time Scoring Run Is Keeping The Phoenix Suns Alive
Shane Young, Forbes

5 takeaways from Suns' offensive explosion in Game 4
Michael C. Wright, NBA.com

Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Suns survive Nikola Jokic’s 53-point masterpiece, level series at 2-2
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post [UPDATED]

'He's ridiculous': Kevin Durant marvels at Nuggets star Nikola Jokic's 54-point effort in Suns' Game 4 win as Denver hopes two-time MVP can avoid ban for shoving Phoenix owner Mat Ishbia
Alex Raskin, Daily Mail

Are Nuggets in trouble after losing two straight to Suns? Not yet, but they need some fixes
Tony Jones, The Athletic

Nuggets notebook: Denver Nuggets must get Michael Porter Jr. more involved to outlast hot-shooting Phoenix Suns
Paul Klee, Denver Gazette

Nikola Jokic and Suns owner tussle. A suspension is in order. Mat Ishbia should be sat in a corner until he learns how to behave at playoff game.
Mark Kiszla, Denver Post

OTHER PLAYOFF SERIES

MIA-NYK

Knicks need Julius Randle to right his ship, and fast!
Barbara Barker, Newsday

Working As Intended: The HEAT Are Beating The Knicks At The Identity Game, Tom Thibodeau Sends Two At Jimmy Butler And Max Strus Goes Long
Couper Moorhead, NBA.com

Kyle Lowry’s ‘Hall of Fame’ mindset off Heat bench reversing Knicks’ advantage
Brian Lewis, New York Post

Bam Adebayo’s Game 3 dominance flew under the radar, says Heat coach
Brian Lewis, New York Post

Adebayo guarded the Knicks’ downhill perimeter players, and had his way with the centers. Hartenstein and starter Mitchell Robinson combined for just two points and eight boards, with Robinson logging just 14:13. And once he got pulled for a small-ball lineup, Adebayo was just as effective slowing Julius Randle to 4 of 15 shooting.