Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 5/19/21
- ATL: Are The Hawks Finally A Team Atlanta Can Believe In? (from Chris Herring, Sports Illustrated):
Read it here: https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/19/nba-playoff-preview-2021-atlanta-hawks-trae-young-daily-cover
- BOS: Jason Tatum Won't Go Quietly (from Dan Devine, The Ringer):
Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/19/22443587/jayson-tatum-celtics-wizards-pacers-hornets-play-in
From Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/19/nba-playoffs-celtics-jayson-tatum-50-points
From Keith Smith, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/5/19/22443768/jayson-tatum-propels-boston-back-to-the-playoffs-10-takeaways-from-boston-celtics-washington-wizards
From John Karalis, Boston Sports Journal: https://www.bostonsportsjournal.com/2021/05/19/content_89810
From Tom Westerholm, Boston.com: https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2021/05/18/celtics-wizards-takeaways-jayson-tatum-50-points/
From Gerald Bourguet, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2021/05/18/3-takeaways-jayson-tatum-50-points-celtics-wizards-play-in-game
From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/19/sports/with-this-performance-theres-no-debate-that-jayson-tatum-has-risen-realm-nba-stardom
From Mark Murphy, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/05/18/tatums-50-leads-celtics-to-118-100-play-in-win-over-washington/
- CHA: Offseason Moves For The Hornets: How To Build On A Solid Base (from Bobby Marks, ESPN):
Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31466090/offseason-moves-charlotte-hornets-how-build-solid-base
- CHA: This Hasn't Been A Lost Season For The Hornets (from Brendan Marks, The Athletic):
Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2598403/2021/05/18/hornets-season-ends-with-play-in-thud-but-bigger-picture-cant-be-forgotten/
- DET: Weaver Says Diallo Can Have Bright Future With Pistons (from Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press ):
Read it here: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/05/19/detroit-pistons-hamidou-diallo-bright-future-troy-weaver/5155249001/
- DET: Optimism High For Pistons' Future (from Lauren Williams, MLive):
Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2595764/2021/05/19/lakers-warriors-play-in-preview-x-factor-key-matchup-prediction-and-more/
- GSW: Steph & Draymond Still Make The Dubs Dangerous (from Jared Dubin, FiveThirtyEight):
Read and watch it here: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-warriors-might-not-be-a-superteam-anymore-but-steph-and-draymond-still-make-them-dangerous/
- GSW: The Making Of Steph Curry, Scoring Champion (from Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic):
Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2595725/2021/05/19/this-guy-is-chasing-greatness-the-making-of-stephen-curry-scoring-champ/
- IND: Takeaways From Win Over Hornets (from Nathan S, Indy Cornrows):
From Bob Kravitz, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2598489/2021/05/18/kravitz-next-man-up-nothing-new-for-pacers-as-indy-rolls-to-play-in-win-without-caris-levert/
From Michael Kaskey-Blomain, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/pacers-vs-hornets-score-takeaways-indiana-moves-on-to-face-wizards-for-no-8-in-elimination-play-in-game/live/
From J. Michael, Indy Star: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/05/18/indiana-pacers-hornets-closer-after-ripping-apart-hornets-play-opener/5113448001/
From Michael Marot, Associated Press: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Sabonis-leads-Pacers-past-Hornets-in-play-in-16186873.php
From Gerald Bourguet, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2021/05/18/3-takeaways-pacers-obliteration-hornets-first-nba-play-game/?utm_source=FOX_Sports
- LAC: Lue Doesn't 'Give A Damn' About Criticism Following Losses (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register):
Read it here: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/18/clippers-tyronn-lue-doesnt-give-a-damn-about-criticism-following-losses/
- LAL: Drummond Gets A Chance To Start Over (from Mirin Fader, The Ringer):
Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/5/19/22443221/andre-drummond-los-angeles-lakers
- LAL: Q & A: Sports-Injury Expert Dr. Sutterer On LBJ's Ankle Injury (from Ethan Strauss, The Athletic):
- MEM: Morant Is Showing How Much Better He Can Be (from Scott Cacciola, NY Times):
Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/sports/basketball/ja-morant-grizzlies.html
From Evan Barnes, Commercial Appeal: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2021/05/18/ja-morant-memphis-grizzlies-murray-state-nba-play-in-game-spurs/4993092001/
- MIL: Video: The Bucks' Offensive Playbook (from Gibson Pyper, Half Court Hoops):
Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z19PLISR0zY
- MIL: The Bucks Have Tweaked Their Offense To Be Better Prepared For The Playoffs (from Jackson Frank, Uproxx):
Read and watch it here: https://uproxx.com/sports/giannis-antetokounmpo-milwaukee-bucks-offense-changes-playoffs-analysis-video/
- PHI: How The Sixers Cracked The Code On Embiid & Simmons (from Bryan Toporek, The Step Back):
Read it here: https://fansided.com/2021/05/17/76ers-solved-joel-embiid-ben-simmons-dilemma/
- PHI: Health In The Playoffs Is More Important For Sixers Than For Their Rivals (from Dan Volpone, Liberty Ballers):
- PHI: Fatherhood Inspires Embiid (from Keith Pompey, The Inquirer):
- POR: Powell Helps Spark Blazers' Defensive Improvement (from Aaron Fentress, oregon Live):
From Jamie Hudson, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/trail-blazers/norman-powell-ready-bring-his-championship-defense-mindset-blazers
- SAC: Why Did Monte McNair Keep Luke Walton? (from Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee):
Read it here: https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/article251512383.html
From Jason Jones, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2598189/2021/05/18/luke-walton-has-built-strong-relationships-but-can-the-kings-build-a-playoff-team/
- UTA: Clarkson Discovers Ideal Role As 6th Man (from Dave Matter, Post-Dispatch):
- UTA: Conley, Mitchell Honed Their Coaching Chops While Nursing Injuries (from Sarah Todd, Deseret News):
- WAS: Takeaways From Loss To Celtics (from Ava Wallace, Washington Post):
Read it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/18/wizards-celtics-playin-game/
From Candace Buckner, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/19/davis-bertans-contract-wizards-celtics/
Play-In Previews:
GSW-LAL:
From Jovan Buha, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2595764/2021/05/19/lakers-warriors-play-in-preview-x-factor-key-matchup-prediction-and-more/
From Kyle Goon, OC Register: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/18/lakers-top-ranked-defense-knows-steph-curry-is-stiff-challenge/
From Wes Goldberg, Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/18/warriors-lakers-predicting-who-wins-and-why/
MIL-MIA:
From Ira Winderman, SunSentinel: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-milwaukee-bucks-threes-20210519-ral5se5vpzbdjfy65twxygxkuu-story.html
- "What I'll Miss From Each Of This Year's Lottery Teams" (from Nekias Duncan, Basketball News):
Read and watch it here: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/what-ill-miss-from-this-years-lottery-teams
- 2021 Draft: Boom Or Bust Prospects (from Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report):
Read it here: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2943515-biggest-boom-or-bust-prospects-in-2021-nba-draft