Basketball Intelligence for 9/25/23

The Day's Best Basketball Reporting And Analysis

PODCAST

Life in the G, with author Alex Squadron
Ray LeBov/Mike Shearer, Basketball Intelligence

LEAGUEWIDE STORIES

The 1 Skill Every Top NBA Rookie Needs to Hone in Training Camp
Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report

Predicting four NBA teams likely to improve and three to decline during the 2023-24 season
Kevin Pelton, ESPN+

INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL

Delly on fire, Next Stars shine: 10 observations from the 2023 NBL Blitz
Olgun Uluc, ESPN

Five talking points from the 2023 NBL Blitz
Jordan McCallum, The Pick and Roll

TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES

ATL: Hawks Need To Figure Out Okongwu Future, And Soon
Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes

Defensively, he isn't much of a downgrade from Capela, although he gives up a little size - Capela is 6'10 and plays even bigger. Where Capela is more reactive, and relies on his great instincts, Okongwu is a thinker. He prioritizes positioning, surveys angles, and maps out the floor more due to the fact that he's undersized.

You wouldn't know it by looking at his numbers. Adjusted to Per36, Okongwu produces 15.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, while converting on almost 64% of his shots, and over 78% from the foul line. He also rarely turns the ball over, and he's gotten better at fouling less every single year of his career.

BOS: 3 reasons why Lamar Stevens is the right fit for Boston Celtics roster
Caden Charpentier, Hardwood Houdini