Basketball Intelligence For 10/4/21

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

- BKN: Nets' Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2854657/2021/10/04/hollingers-2021-22-brooklyn-nets-preview-lineup-roster-prediction-can-health-equate-to-championship-run

- BKN: Cam Thomas Must Improve As Defender & Playmaker To Crack Rotation (from Kristian Winfield, NY Daily News):  https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/nets/ny-nets-steve-nash-cam-thomas-improve-defense-playmaking-crack-rotation-20211004-fbwmdu4mnbgw5m5egs73ma7v5m-story.html

- BOS: Marcus Smart's Value To The Celtics (from Miguel Flores, NBA.com):  https://nba.smart.com.ph/read/marcus-smart-and-his-value-to-the-celtics

- BOS: After Disappointing Season, Grant Williams Is Looking Lighter & Quicker (from Bill Sy, Celtics Blog): https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/10/3/22705925/grant-the-great-a-slimmed-down-williams-looks-to-bounce-back-in-year-3

- DAL: Things We Learned In Training Camp (from Callie Caplan, Dallas Morning News):  https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/10/03/5-things-we-learned-in-mavs-training-camp-behind-luka-doncic-new-rotation-and-a-dark-horse-emerge/

- DAL: Omoruyi Is Strictly Business (from Dwain Price, mavs.com):  https://www.mavs.com/omoruyiallbusiness/

- DAL: What Does A Kidd-Coached Team Look Like? (from Josh Bowe, Mavs Moneyball):  https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2021/10/4/22672070/the-4-biggest-questions-what-does-a-jason-kidd-coached-mavericks-team-look-like

- DEN: Nuggets' Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2842078/2021/10/04/hollingers-2021-22-denver-nuggets-preview-lineup-roster-prediction-can-their-defense-take-the-next-step/

- DET: Pistons Taking Patient Approach With Cade (from Rod Beard, Detroit News):  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/10/03/pistons-taking-patient-approach-cade-cunninghams-development/5981949001/

- DET: Lineup Decisions Await As Preseason Nears (from Keith Langlois, pistons.com):  https://www.nba.com/pistons/features/starting-five-bench-unit-finishing-group-decisions-await-casey-pistons-preseason-nears

- GSW: Healthy Porter Will Be Boon To Steph, Klay, Dubs (from Monte Poole, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/healthy-otto-porter-jr-will-be-boon-steph-curry-klay-thompson

- HOU: Defense Will Determine How The Rockets Fare This Season (from Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle):  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Why-defense-will-determine-how-Rockets-will-fare-16506316.php

- IND: Justin Holiday Returns With New Perspective (from Akeem Glaspie, Indy Star):  https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/10/04/how-justin-holiday-return-pacers-new-perspective/5980511001/

- LAC: Clippers' Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2857657/2021/10/04/hollingers-2021-22-la-clippers-preview-lineup-roster-prediction-will-they-copy-the-raptors-model

- LAC: Kennard Understands His Assignment (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register):  https://www.ocregister.com/2021/10/03/clippers-luke-kennard-is-serious-about-big-fish-big-shots/

- MEM: Next Gen Griz Taking On Leadership Roles (from Parker Fleming, Grizlly Bear Blues):  https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/10/4/22703182/growing-up-and-leading-the-charge-with-grizz-next-gen-memphis-ja-morant-dillon-brooks-nba

- MIA: Strus, Vincent Preparing For Consistent Roles (from Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald):  https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article254715857.html

- MIN: The Week In Review (from Jake Paynting, Howls And Growls): 

Week In Review, Vol. 10: 'Tis The Season

- MIN: Potential X-Factors On Wolves' Roster (from Ben Beecken, Dunking With Wolves):  https://dunkingwithwolves.com/2021/10/03/minnesota-timberwolves-3-potential-x-factors-wolves-roster

- NOP: Coach Green Says Jaxson Hayes Will Be Huge For Pels This Season (from Christian Clark, The Advocate):  https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_0ab492b2-2485-11ec-9fb0-c38562d6ee23.html

- NYK: Preseason Predicaments (from Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School):  

Preseason Predicaments

- NYK: Now Or Never For Knox (from Marc Berman, NY Post):  https://nypost.com/2021/10/03/its-now-or-never-for-knicks-kevin-knox/

- NYK: McBride Could Fill Defensive Stopper Job Opening (from Steve Popper, Newsday):  https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/knicks/miles-mcbride-knicks-1.50379734

- OKC: Training Camp Takeaways (from Tamberlyn Richardson, Thunderous Intentions):  https://thunderousintentions.com/2021/10/04/okc-thunder-3-camp-takeaways/

- ORL: The Magic's New Defense Is Built On What Came Before (from Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily):  https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2021/10/04/orlando-magics-defense-is-new-but-built-on-what-came-before

- PHI: Points To Ponder As Sixers Look To Replace Simmons (from David Murphy, The Inquirer):  https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/ben-simmons-holdout-sixers-point-guard-depth-chart-tyrese-maxey-20211003.html

- POR: Encouraging Training Camp Takeaways (from Jack Winter, Clutch Points):  https://clutchpoints.com/3-most-encouraging-takeaways-from-blazers-training-camp-and-scrimmage/

- TOR: Raptors Expect More From Watanabe After Olympics Crash Course (from Doug Smith, Toronto Star):  https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/analysis/2021/10/03/the-raptors-expect-more-from-yuta-watanabe-after-an-olympic-crash-course-his-roster-spot-is-on-the-line.html

- UTAH: New Jazz Players Share Early Impressions Of Coach Snyder (from Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune):  https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/10/03/newest-utah-jazz-players/

- WAS: Kispert's Cutting Ability Stands Out (from Chase Hughes, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-corey-kisperts-cutting-ability-stands-out-addition-shooting

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- What It's Like When A Team & A Star Divorce (from Jon Krawczynski/Kelly Iko, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2850579/2021/10/04/as-ben-simmons-and-sixers-square-off-a-look-inside-what-its-like-when-a-star-and-team-divorce/

- A Reintroduction To The NBA Title Race (from Dan Devine, The Ringer):  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/10/4/22704473/nba-championship-nets-lakers-bucks

- Pesic: A Sea Of Players Who Went To The NBA Are Nowhere To Be Found (from Stefan Djordjevic, Eurohoops):  https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1253198/pesic-%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8byoung-players-nba-now-nowhere-to-be-found/

- NBA 5-OUT Offense: Wide (from Gibson Pyper,  Half Court Hoops):  

NBA 5-Out Offense: Wide

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THREE YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI Archives:

http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/10/04/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-10418/