Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 6/23/21
Today's Top Story:
- Durant's Jaw-Dropping Playoffs (from Zach Lowe, ESPN):
- ATL-MIL:
From Tim Bontemps/Andrew Lopez/Kirk Goldsberry, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31687577/nba-playoffs-2021-keys-milwaukee-bucks-vs-atlanta-hawks-eastern-conference-finals
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2021/6/23/22545175/bucks-hawks-preview-trae-young
From Eric Nehm/Chris Kirschner, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2668043/2021/06/23/bucks-hawks-eastern-conference-finals-preview-will-trae-young-create-can-giannis-dominate-plus-predictions/
From Chris Kirschner, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2666094/2021/06/22/how-trae-youngs-fearlessness-developed-and-how-the-hawks-have-taken-on-his-identity/
From Zach Harper, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2667592/2021/06/23/breaking-down-trae-youngs-passing-prowess-which-has-hawks-competing-for-spot-in-nba-finals/
From Michael Cunningham, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/mike-check-blog/how-the-hawks-match-up-with-the-bucks-plus-my-series-prediction/7DD6HQ3OVBHNFGCFE7LPUF5644/
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/next-challenge-for-the-hawks-limiting-giannis-and-defending-the-paint/OUDLO6Q22BDJLMMPWXFVZEHGLE/
From Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2021/06/23/milwaukee-bucks-matchups-versus-atlanta-hawks/ and https://behindthebuckpass.com/2021/06/23/milwaukee-bucks-keys-victory-atlanta-hawks/
- LAC-PHO:
From Gerald Bourguet, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2021/06/23/suns-valley-oop-culmination-monty-williams-impact-deandre-ayton-growth/
From Royce Young, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31689747/nba-playoffs-2021-why-deandre-ayton-was-right-no-1-pick-phoenix-suns
From Dave McMenamin/Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31691108/phoenix-suns-call-deandre-ayton-winning-alley-oop-game-2-team-effort
From Rohan Nadkarni, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/23/nba-playoffs-suns-clippers-game-2-deandre-ayton-game-winner
From Mark Medina, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/columnist/mark-medina/2021/06/23/deandre-ayton-game-winner-captures-dominance-suns-team-mindset/5315686001/
From Sam Amick, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2668553/2021/06/23/suns-clippers-game-2-was-nuts-deandre-ayton-didnt-know-the-rule-on-the-valley-oop-and-more-takeaways/
From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2667990/2021/06/23/dissecting-deandre-aytons-game-winning-lob-and-the-2017-suns-play-that-inspired-it/
From Law Murray, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2668440/2021/06/23/clippers-latest-2-0-hole-vs-suns-will-be-the-most-challenging-yet-to-climb-out-of/
From Andrew Greif, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-06-22/clippers-suns-game-2-last-second-loss-bloody-mess
From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/06/22/suns-edge-clippers-on-deandre-aytons-last-second-alley-oop-for-2-0-series-lead/
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2021/6/23/22546811/suns-clippers-nba-playoffs-deandre-ayton
From Melissa Rohlin, Fox Sports: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/terance-mann-mother-kawhi-leonard-la-clippers-western-conference-finals
From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/06/22/jae-crowder-deandre-ayton-lob-final-second-lifts-phoenix-suns-dramatic-game-3-win/5315106001/
From David Kevin, The Four Point Play: https://thefourpointplay.substack.com/p/vol2-iss19-deandre-ayton-has-arrived
From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/2700995/seen-that-movie-before-suns-miracle-lob-steals-game-2-from-clippers/
From Tim Reynolds, AP: https://www.local10.com/sports/2021/06/23/explainer-why-was-deandre-aytons-dunk-a-legal-nba-play/
From Brendon Kleen, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/6/22/22546316/recap-phoenix-suns-take-series-lead-miraculous-deandre-ayton-game-winner-clippers
- The Shots That Will Decide Who Wins The Title (from Ben Cohen, Wall Street Journal):
Read it here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/giannis-free-throws-trae-young-suns-clippers-11624426817?mod=e2tws
- BKN: Durant's Jaw-Dropping Playoffs (from Zach Lowe, ESPN):
- BOS: Horford's Rest In OKC Replaced By Active Celtics Role (from Mark Murphy, Bostn Herald):
Read it here: https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/06/22/0622-bh-s-celtics/
From Bill Sy, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/6/22/22532807/al-horford-could-be-boston-celtics-version-of-chris-paul-phoenix-suns-brad-stevens-kemba-walker
- DET: Winning Cunningham Sweepstakes & How Quickly Things Change (from Duncan Smith, Hoops Habit):
Read it here: https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/22/pistons-winning-cade-cunningham/ and here: https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/22/detroit-pistons-win-nba-draft-lottery/
From Corey Rausch, Hoops Habit: https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/22/detroit-pistons-cade-cunningham/
From Brandon Anderson, Action Network: https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/detroit-pistons-top-pick-cade-cunningham-analysis-nba-draft-2021
From Rod Beard, Detroit News: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/06/22/jackpot-detroit-pistons-land-first-pick-nba-draft-lottery/5303957001/
From Omari Sankofa II, Free Press: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/06/22/detroit-pistons-nba-draft-lottery-2021-cade-cunningham/5305465001/
From Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2021/6/23/22546865/should-the-pistons-ignore-fit-and-take-cade-cunningham
From Ben Golliver, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/06/22/pistons-win-draft-lottery-cade-cunningham/
- GSW: The Dubs Have 2 Lottery Picks (from Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic):
Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2668233/2021/06/23/warriors-nba-draft-lottery-bob-myers/
- NYK: How The Playoffs & The Lottery Impact The Knicks' Future (from Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic)
Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2667724/2021/06/23/how-the-nba-playoffs-and-nba-lottery-impact-the-knicks-future-8-takeaways/
- PHI: Morey's Season-Ending Press Conference (from Kevin Kinkead, Crossing Broad):
Read it here: https://www.crossingbroad.com/2021/06/notes-and-quotes-from-daryl-moreys-season-ending-press-conference.html
- PHI: Sixers Look Ahead To Offseason Of Work (from Tom West, Liberty Ballers):
From Marc Narducci, The Inquirer: https://www.libertyballers.com/2021/6/22/22544303/sixers-disappointed-by-loss-to-atlanta-hawks-look-ahead-offseason-work-nba-playoffs-ben-simmons
- The Lottery:
From Tim Bontemps, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31689250/detroit-pistons-win-top-pick-2021-nba-draft-lottery-houston-rockets-get-no-2
From Sam Vecenie, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2662367/2021/06/22/2021-nba-mock-draft-with-lottery-set-cade-cunningham-to-pistons-at-no-1-evan-mobley-jalen-green-follow/
From Jonathan Givony, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31639869/2021-nba-mock-draft-projections-all-60-picks-lottery
From John Hollinger, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2668326/2021/06/23/nba-mock-draft-2021-picks-for-every-lottery-team-including-jalen-suggs-to-magic-and-evan-mobley-to-cavaliers/
From Ricky O'Donnell, SBNation: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/6/22/22539039/nba-mock-draft-2021-instant-first-round-picks-detroit-pistons
From Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/platform/amp/nba/2021/2/24/22298351/jalen-suggs-nba-draft-scouting-report-gonzaga
From Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2944822-2021-nba-mock-draft-post-draft-lottery-edition
From Joseph Casciaro, The Score: https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2178169
From Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2021/06/23/nba-mock-draft-post-lottery-projections-pistons-cade-cunningham
From Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2944882-biggest-winners-and-losers-from-2021-nba-draft-lottery
From Ian Levy, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2021/06/23/nba-mock-draft-2021-detroit-pistons-cade-cunningham/
From Bryan Kalbrosky, USA Today: https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nba-draft-order-cade-cunningham-detroit-pistons-houston-rockets-evan-mobley
- Each Team's Offseason Focus (from Bobby Marks, ESPN):
Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31661647/biggest-2021-nba-free-agency-trade-decisions-all-30-teams
- Observations From The G League Elite Camp (from Brandon Simberg, Busting Brackets ):
Read it here: https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/06/23/nba-draft-2021-5-observations-g-league-elite-camp