Basketball Intelligence For 10/12/21, Part One

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis, Part One

- BOS: What Does Marcus Smart At PG Look Like? (from Ethan Fuller, Basketball News):  https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/all-signs-pointing-to-marcus-smart-as-the-celtics-swing-player

- BOS: Celtics Still Have A Lot To Figure Out (from Gary Washburn, Boston Globe):  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/10/11/sports/celtics-critical-juncture-with-season-right-around-corner-still-much-work-figure-out/?camp=bg:brief:rss:MSN&rss_id=MSN_rss_brief

- CHI: Alize Johnson: Looking To  Pattern His Game After Rodman (from Mike McGraw, Daily Herald):  https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20211011/bulls-forward-johnson-looking-to-pattern-game-after-rodman

- CLE Is Rubio The League's Best Backup PG? (from Josh Cornelissen, King James Gospel):  https://kingjamesgospel.com/2021/10/12/cavs-ricky-rubio-leagues-best-backup-point-guard/

- DAL: Q & A: Frank Ntilikina (from Marc Stein, The Stein Line):  

One-on-one to 7 with Frank Ntilikina

- DEN: Nuggets' Offseason Review (from Luke Adams, Hoops Rumors):  https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/10/2021-nba-offseason-in-review-denver-nuggets.html

- DET: Takeaways From Loss To Grizzlies (from Keith Langlois, pistons.com):  https://www.nba.com/pistons/features/sluggish-start-sends-pistons-tailspin-they-fall-memphis

- DET: How Pickett Went From Caterpillar To Butterfly To Pistons (from Omari Sankofa II, Free Press):  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/10/11/detroit-pistons-jamorko-pickett-georgetown-emmanuel-kakulu/6071057001/

- GSW: Can The Dubs Develop Kuminga While Playing For A Title? (from Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer):  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/10/12/22715128/golden-state-warriors-jonathan-kuminga-james-wiseman

- GSW: Kerr Tell Draymond: 'If You're Open, Let It Fly' (from Rusty Simmons, SF Chronicle):   https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/warriors/article/Warriors-head-coach-Steve-Kerr-tells-Draymond-16525696.php

- HOU: Rockets Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2879985/2021/10/12/hollingers-2021-22-houston-rockets-preview-lineup-roster-prediction-is-this-the-core-to-build-around/

- LAC: Winslow Getting Acclimated To Wide-Ranging Role (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register):  https://www.dailynews.com/2021/10/11/clippres-justise-winslow-getting-acclimated-to-wide-ranging-role/

- LAL: Lakers A Target For Scrutiny After Superstar Moves (from Kyle Goon, OC Register):  https://www.dailynews.com/2021/10/11/lakers-are-a-target-for-scrutiny-after-superstar-moves-this-summer/

- MIA: Takeaways From Win Over Hornets (from Ira Winderman, SunSentinel):  https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-charlotte-hornets-20211012-3svdk4kkobhf5k2ydfap53eix4-story.html

From Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald:  https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article254906942.html

From Jack Simone, All U Can Heat:  https://allucanheat.com/2021/10/12/miami-heat-takeaways-hornets-preseason/

- MIL: Nwora's Case For Consistent Rotational Minutes (from Jake Weinbach, Hoops Habit):  https://hoopshabit.com/2021/10/11/milwaukee-bucks-jordan-nwora/

- MIN: Takeaways From Win Over Clippers (from Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press):  https://news.yahoo.com/takeaways-timberwolves-preseason-thumping-clippers-084100529.html

- NOP: Pelicans Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2879946/2021/10/12/hollingers-2021-22-new-orleans-pelicans-preview-lineup-roster-prediction-can-zion-and-company-fix-the-defense/

- NYK: The Knicks' New Offense (from Kento Kato, Posting And Toasting):  https://www.postingandtoasting.com/2021/10/11/22715132/taking-a-closer-look-at-the-new-knicks-offense

- NYK: Season Preview: Mitchell Robinson (from Tyrese London, The Strick.land):  https://www.thestrick.land/strick/2021-22-knicks-season-preview-mitchell-robinson

- OKC: Presti Urges Team-Building Patience (from Cliff Brunt, AP):  https://www.theolympian.com/sports/article254941862.html

- OKC: Thunder Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2879935/2021/10/12/hollingers-2021-22-oklahoma-city-thunder-preview-lineup-roster-prediction-how-long-will-this-build-take/

- PHI:  Takeaways From Win Over Nets (from Kyle Neubeck, Philly Voice):  https://www.phillyvoice.com/instant-observations-sixers-nets-joel-embiid-doc-rivers-kevin-durant/

From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2883933/2021/10/12/short-handed-sixers-beat-nets-react-to-ben-simmons-surprise-return

- PHI: Sixers Praise Isaiah Joe For Performance Vs Nets (from Ky Carlin, USA Today):  https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2021/10/11/multiple-sixers-praise-isaiah-joe-for-performance-after-win-over-nets/

    Ben:

     From Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN:  https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/32380934/philadelphia-76ers-making-progress-talks-ben-simmons-return-sources-say

     From Kyle Neubeck, Philly Voice: https://www.phillyvoice.com/ben-simmons-return-sixers-players-joel-embiid-locker-room-trade-rumors-doc-rivers

     From Keith Pompey, The Inquirer:  https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/ben-simmons-return-philadelphia-sixers-covid-20211011.html

     From Sam Amick, The Athletic:  https://theathletic.com/2882744/2021/10/11/amick-ben-simmons-heel-turn-or-high-road-on-his-looming-return-to-philly-and-why-his-next-move-matters/

- POR: Takeaways From Loss To Kings (from Jack Winter, Clutch Points):  https://clutchpoints.com/3-observations-from-short-handed-blazers-preseason-loss-to-kings/

From Dave Deckard, Blazer's Edge:  https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/10/11/22721892/portland-trail-blazers-sacramento-kings-preseason-2021-game-2-final-score-boxscore

- SAC: Takeaways From Win Over Blazers (from Marina Drab, Sactown Royalty):  https://www.sactownroyalty.com/2021/10/11/22721848/kings-vs-blazers-final-score-game-recap-davion-mitchell-highlights

- TOR: Takeaways From Win Over Rockets (from Kane Pitman, NBA.com):  https://ca.nba.com/news/raptors-make-defensive-statement-in-big-win-over-houston-rockets/mxglv9n6rbem1vrf1od9fvba0

- UTA: Takeaways From Win Over Pels (from Tony Jones, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/2883808/2021/10/12/jazz-rounding-into-form-after-impressive-win-as-regular-season-looms

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- NBA Final Roster Spot Analysis (from Keith Smith, Spotrac):  https://www.spotrac.com/research/nba/nba-final-roster-spot-analysis-1313/

- Predicting The Season's Best Defender At Each Position (from Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report):  https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2949259-predicting-the-nbas-best-defender-at-every-position-ahead-of-2021-22

- The Longest- And Shortest- Range NBA Shooters (from Ethan Fuller, Basketball News):  https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/stats-notebook-the-longestrange-and-shortestrange-nba-shooters

-2022 Draft Stock Watch (from Jonathan Givony/Mike Schmitz, ESPN):  https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/32375218/2022-nba-draft-top-100-stock-watch-moved-pro-days

- League Pass Rankings For 2021-22, 30-11 (from Zach Lowe, ESPN):  https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32383249/lowe-league-pass-rankings-breaking-nba-teams-30-11-fun-style-unintended-comedy

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THREE YEARS AGO TODAY:  from the BI archives:

http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/10/12/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-101218/