Basketball Intelligence For 11/29/21

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

- BKN: Harden Seeking Balanced Role In Irving's Absence (from Brian Lewis, NY Post):  https://nypost.com/2021/11/28/nets-pg-james-harden-still-seeks-balance-without-kyrie-irving/

- BKN: How Aldridge Went From Retired To Nets' X-Factor (from Alex Schiffer, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2982101/2021/11/29/he-looks-amazing-how-lamarcus-aldridge-went-from-retired-to-nets-x-factor/

- BOS: Shooting Slump Forces Tatum To Embrace Necessary Next Step (from Chris Forsberg, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcboston.com/news/sports/nbcsports/shooting-slump-forces-jayson-tatum-to-embrace-necessary-next-step/2576988/?osource=sm_npd_nbc_bos_twt_mn

From Jared Weiss, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2984492/2021/11/28/ice-cold-jayson-tatum-becomes-celtics-playmaker-with-ime-udokas-creative-offensive-adjustments/

- BOS: Stars Getting Tough Talk From Udoka (from Sean Deveney, Forbes):  https://www.forbes.com/sites/seandeveney/2021/11/28/boston-celtics-stars-getting-something-new-tough-talk-from-ime-udoka/?sh=6c6d4c433ad1

- CHI: How Can The Bulls Beat Zone Defenses? (from Stephen Noh, Noh's Notebook): 

How can the Bulls beat these zone defenses?

- CHI: Ball & Caruso Dominate On Defense (from Ben Taylor, Thinking Basketball): 

- CHI: Takeaways From Loss To Heat (from Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune):  https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-cb-chicago-bulls-takeaways-miami-heat-20211128-fs5bdwiq7fgsvcynyg6yy33jay-story.html

From Elias Schuster, Bleacher Nation: https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2021/11/28/a-close-battle-way-too-many-turnovers-getting-used-to-the-zone-and-other-bulls-bullets/

- CHI: What's Behind The Bulls' 51-Win Pace? (from KC Johnson, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/3-reasons-why-bulls-are-51-win-pace-quarter-mark-season

- CLE: How The Cavs' Lengthy Lineup Helps Them Stay Competitive (from Kelsey Russo, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/2972970/2021/11/28/the-return-of-the-bigs-cavaliers-big-lineup-helps-them-stay-competitive/

- DAL: Mavs' Lineups Likely Will Remain Fluid (from Brad Townsend, Morning News):  https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/11/28/though-fans-clamor-for-moses-brown-at-center-mavs-coach-jason-kidd-has-to-play-the-field/

- DET: Pistons Believe Growth Is Coming For Killian Hayes (from Omari Sankofa II, Free Press):  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/11/29/killian-hayes-thumb-injury-detroit-pistons-nba/8791516002/

- GSW: How The Dubs Got 'Back Up' (from Jannelle Moore, Mercury News):  https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/11/29/how-the-warriors-got-back-up-to-dynasty-form/

 From Ben Golliver, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/11/29/stephen-curry-warriors-traveling-circus/

- HOU: John Wall Wants To Play Again (from Kelly Iko/John Hollinger, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2983900/2021/11/29/john-walls-return-to-the-court-how-can-it-benefit-the-rockets-will-there-be-significant-change-in-roster-rotation/

- MIA: 5 Questions Facing The Heat At The 20-Game Point (from Wes Goldberg, The Wes Side): 

Five Questions Facing the Miami Heat At the 20-Game Point of the Season

- MIL: Giannis' Continuing Basketball Evolution (from Eric Nehm, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2980356/2021/11/29/giannis-antetokounmpo-and-his-continuing-basketball-evolution-what-he-tells-us-about-his-growth-as-a-player/

- MIL What Will Cousins Bring To The Bucks? (from Eric Nehm, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2983652/2021/11/29/what-will-demarcus-cousins-bring-to-the-bucks/

- NOP: Herb Jones Has Become One Of The Top Up-And-Coming Defenders (from William Guillory, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2985223/2021/11/29/not-on-herb-how-pelicans-rookie-herb-jones-has-become-one-of-the-nbas-top-up-and-coming-defenders/

- OKC: How Giddey Is Already Becoming One Of The NBA's Passers (from Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman): https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/2021/11/28/josh-giddey-okc-thunder-rookie-best-passers-nba-australia/8770606002/

- ORL: Franz Wagner Has A Chance To Be A Great Point Forward (from Josh Cohen, Magic.com):  https://www.nba.com/magic/news/franz-wagner-has-chance-be-great-point-forward-20211128

- POR: The Blazers After 20 Games (from Aaron Fentress, Oregon Live):  https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/11/trail-blazers-after-20-games-progress-in-key-areas-has-been-made-but-much-work-remains.html

- SAC: Can Gentry Rebuild Bagley?  (from Sean Deveney, Forbes):  https://www.forbes.com/sites/seandeveney/2021/11/28/sacramento-kings-alvin-gentry-has-the-reputation-to-rebuild-marvin-bagley/?sh=797f667c67b8

- TOR: Testing The Limits Of VanVleet's Durability (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/2984199/2021/11/29/raptors-nick-nurse-testing-the-limits-of-fred-vanvleets-durability/

- TOR: What To Make Of Achiuwa? (from Louis Zatzman, Raptors Republic):  https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2021/11/29/what-should-we-make-of-precious-achiuwa/

- WAS: What To Make Of Wizards' 1st 20 Games (from Josh Robbins, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/2985276/2021/11/29/the-washington-wizards-have-outperformed-nearly-every-expectation-so-far-what-should-we-make-of-their-first-20-games/

---

- 7 Observations (from Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer):  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/11/29/22807223/seven-observations-stephen-curry-kristap-porzingis-julius-randle

- The Week That Was (from John Hollinger, The Athletic): https://theathletic.com/2983939/2021/11/29/its-warriors-suns-and-everybody-else-scouting-dukes-paolo-banchero-hollingers-week-that-was/

- Each Team's Most Polarizing Player (from Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2950774-every-nba-teams-most-polarizing-player

-Amid Cancer Fight, Ref Tony Brown Is Returning To Work (from Tim Reynolds, AP):  https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-health-cancer-pancreatic-cancer-1d905b63663062548018ea5e093f1745

---

- BOS 109, TOR 97:

  From Lori Ewing, cbc.ca:  https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors-boston-celtics-nba-recap-nov-28-1.6266142

  From Keith Smith, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/11/29/22807643/role-players-carry-boston-to-victory-10-takeaways-from-boston-celtics-toronto-raptors

  From Bill Sy, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/11/29/22807058/the-fit-josh-richardson-has-another-role-defining-game-in-win-over-toronto-raptors-boston-celtics

  From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/11/28/celtics-close-out-toronto-109-97/

  From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/11/28/sports/celtics-finish-job-road-win-vs-raptors/

  From Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun: https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/celtics-outlast-raptors-in-physical-slugfest

  From Brian Robb, Mass Live: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2021/11/jayson-tatum-helps-celtics-overcome-fourth-quarter-woes-with-stellar-playmaking-against-raptors.html

  From Justin Leger, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-vs-raptors-takeaways-josh-richardson-grant-williams-step-cs-win

  From Steven Loung, Sportsnet: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-lack-of-manpower-exemplified-in-latest-loss-to-celtics/

- GSW 105, LAC 90:

  From Anthony Slater, The Athletic:  https://theathletic.com/2983517/2021/11/28/five-observations-steph-curry-ignites-after-no-call-roasts-clippers-in-another-warriors-win/

  From Sam Amick, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2984672/2021/11/29/amick-steph-curry-draymond-green-and-the-warriors-have-the-juice-again/

  From Law Murray, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2984289/2021/11/28/clippers-turnovers-continue-to-spoil-what-could-be-a-special-defense/

  From Evan Webeck, Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/11/29/steph-curry-unleashes-his-angry-side-and-the-warriors-love-it-you-saw-the-flurry-coming/

  From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/11/28/clippers-turn-it-over-often-in-loss-to-golden-state/

  From Andrew Greif, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-11-29/clippers-warriors-takeaways-stephen-curry-paul-george-nba

  From Helene Elliott, LA Times:  https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-11-28/steph-curry-mad-warriors-beat-clippers-nba-western-conference

  From Monte Poole, NBC Sports:  https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/otto-porter-jr-latest-warriors-bench-weapon-strike-win-vs-clippers

  From Joe Viray, Golden State Of Mind:  https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2021/11/29/22807329/warriors-clippers-stephen-curry-film-breakdown

  From Eric Apricot, Dub Nation HQ: 

Explain One Play: Stephen Curry gets mad, makes Clippers sad with stagger screens

- LAL 110, DET 106:

  From Keith Langlois, pistons.com:  https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/four-lousy-minutes-keep-pistons-from-upset-of-lakers

  From Kyle Goon, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/11/28/lebron-james-lakers-scrape-by-pistons/

  From Dan Woike, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-11-29/lakers-pistons-takeaways   and  https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-11-28/lakers-lebron-james-russell-westbrook-detroit-pistons-nba

  From Sean Corp, Detroit Bad Boys: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2021/11/29/22807265/detroit-pistons-vs-los-angeles-lakers-final-score-lebron-james-cade-cunningham-jerami-grant

  From Omari Sankofa II, Free Press:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/11/29/detroit-pistons-game-recap-los-angeles-lakers-lebron-james/8790255002/

- MEM 128, SAC 101:

  From Joe Mullinax, Grizzly Bear Blues: https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/11/29/22806944/report-card-grizzlies-roar-over-the-kings-nba-memphis-sacramento-recap-game-morant-injury-bane

  From Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee:  https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256162957.html

From Evan Barnes, Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2021/11/28/memphis-grizzlies-vs-sacramento-kings-live-updates-score/8690487002/

- MIL 118, IND 100:

  From Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2021/11/29/takeaways-milwaukee-bucks-dominant-indiana-pacers

  From James Boyd, Indy Star:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/3-reasons-why-the-reigning-champion-bucks-dominated-the-pacers

FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives:

http://basketballintelligence.net/2017/11/29/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-112917/