Basketball Intelligence For 1/17/22

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

This is a re-send to correct errors from earlier today.

TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES

- BKN: What KD's Injury Means For The Nets (from Alex Schiffer, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3073352/2022/01/16/what-kevin-durants-mcl-sprain-means-for-the-nets-the-big-three-and-their-season/

From Gilbert McGregor, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/kevin-durant-nets-injury-effect/9xtqqi83pd5l1mokcy0lntoqs

From Chris Milholen, Nets Daily: https://www.netsdaily.com/2022/1/16/22887192/nets-resilience-has-reached-its-toughest-test-we-just-got-to-keep-going-keep-pushing

- BKN: The Kids Are Alright...Now They Will Have To Be More Than That (from Net Income, Nets Daily):  https://www.netsdaily.com/2022/1/16/22886620/the-kids-are-alright-and-now-theyll-have-to-be-more-than-that

From Greg Joyce, NY Post:  https://nypost.com/2022/01/16/nets-kessler-edwards-starting-to-excel-in-new-role/

- BOS: What's The Path Forward For The Confounding Celtics? (from Chris Forsberg, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcboston.com/news/sports/nbcsports/whats-the-path-forward-for-these-confounding-2021-22-celtics/2614304/

- BOS: Celtics Need Horford To Revitalize His Shooting Game (from Gary Washburn, Boston Globe):  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/16/sports/celtics-need-al-horford-revitalize-his-shooting-game/

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- CLE: The Cavs Close A Successful Road Trip (from Kelsey Russo, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3072681/2022/01/16/the-cavs-are-re-establishing-an-identity-and-learning-from-experiences-to-close-a-successful-road-trip/

- DAL: Why Marquese Chriss Is An Ideal Fit For Mavs (from Brad Townsend, Morning News):  https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2022/01/16/why-marquese-chriss-who-once-skirmished-with-luka-doncic-was-an-ideal-fit-for-the-mavericks/

- DEN: Grading The Nuggets At Midseason (from TJ McBride, Mile High Sports):  https://milehighsports.com/mid-season-assessment-grading-the-denver-nuggets-at-the-seasons-halfway-point/

- DEN: Jokic Has Never Been Better (from Antonio Evans, The Step Back):  https://fansided.com/2022/01/17/nikola-jokic-denver-nuggets-mvp-career-best/

- GSW: Klay Understands The Importance Of Patience (from Monte Poole, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/warriors-klay-thompson-realizes-practicing-patience-necessary

- GSW: Bumpy Road Ahead (from Viggy, Mercury News):  https://blogs.mercurynews.com/warriors/2022/01/16/bumpy-road-ahead-warriors-99-wolves-119/

- GSW: Dubs' Midseason Review (from Evan Webeck, Mercury News):  https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/17/warriors-midseason-review-grades-awards-for-one-of-nbas-top-first-half-surprises/

- GSW: Kuminga's Potential Continues To Show (from Daniel Hardee, Dub Nation HQ):

Warriors lose to Timberwolves, but Kuminga's potential continues to show

• - GSW: Is Turbulence Ahead For The Dubs Without Draymond?  (from Anthony Slater, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3073997/2022/01/17/is-turbulence-ahead-for-the-warriors-without-draymond-green/

  - GSW: Fix To Steph's Slump Is Keeping The Ball In His Hands (from Jannelle Moore, Mercury News:  https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/15/warriors-analysis-fix-to-currys-slump-is-keeping-the-ball-in-his-hands

  - LAC: Clippers' Midseason Grades (from Law Murray, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3073252/2022/01/17/grading-the-clippers-at-the-seasons-midpoint-isaiah-hartenstein-amir-coffey-earn-high-marks/

  - MIA: The Heat's Week That Was (from Wes Goldberg, The Wes Side):

One Week Later: Bam Adebayo's Impact and More Miami Heat Observations

• - MIA: Yurtseven Continues To Impress (from Shandel Richardson, Sports Illustrated):  https://www.si.com/nba/heat/miami-news/miami-heat-omer-yurtseven-improvement

  - NOP: Q & A: Garrett Temple (from Christian Clark, The Advocate):  https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_7017a2d6-765e-11ec-8a1e-13a48ba74f56.html

  - NYK: Takeaways From Win Over Hawks (from Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School): 

Leading Men

• - NYK: Reddish Believes He Can Be A Star With Knicks (from Marc Berman, NY Post):  https://nypost.com/2022/01/16/knicks-cam-reddish-feels-like-he-can-be-a-legit-star-in-ny

  - PHI: Hot-Streak Shouldn't Affect Sixers' Simmons Strategy (from Bryan Toporek, Forbes):  https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2022/01/17/hot-streak-shouldnt-affect-sixers-ben-simmons-strategy-at-nba-trade-deadline/?sh=77cb165c2ec2

  - PHI: Overview Of The Sixers' Week (from Derek Bodner, The Daily Six):  https://www.dailysix.com/sixers-week-in-review-20220117/

  - PHI: How The Blue Coats Became A G League Champion & A Hot-Bed For NBA Call-Ups (from GIna Mizell, The INquirer):  https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-delaware-blue-coats-success-charlie-brown-20220116.html

  - PHI: Another Career Year From Embiid (from Jackson Frank, Basketball News):  https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/another-career-year-from-joel-embiid-has-him-back-in-the-mvp-race

  - POR: How Friendship Between Powell & Elleby Morphed Into A Mentorship (from Jason Quick, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3069818/2022/01/14/how-a-friendship-between-norman-powell-and-cj-elleby-morphed-into-a-mentorship/

  - POR: Simons Continues To Soar (from Aaron Fentress, Oregon Live):  https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/trail-blazers-anfernee-simons-continues-to-soar-with-homecoming-next-he-s-just-growing-up-in-front-of-our-eyes/ar-AASPGpq

  - SAC: Time For A Massive Roster Makeover (from Joe Davidson, Sacramento Bee):  https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article257394287.html

  - TOR: The Tension Between Raptors' Experimental Promise & Ideal Current Form (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3072505/2022/01/15/at-midseason-tension-exists-between-the-raptors-experimental-promise-and-their-ideal-current-form/

  - TOR: Takeaways From Win Over Bucks (from William Lou, Sportsnet):  https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/10-things-siakam-silencing-critics-star-level-play-raptors-continues/

  - TOR: Raptors Hitting Stride At Season's Halfway Point (from Josh Lewenberg, TSN):  https://www.tsn.ca/raptors-hitting-stride-as-they-reach-halfway-point-of-season-1.1746564

  - TOR: Siakam Has Returned To Form (from torjmackenzie, raptors.com):  https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/matter-of-time

  - UTA: Elijah Hughes Staying Ready For Opportunity (from David Yapkowitz, Basketball Insiders):  https://www.basketballinsiders.com/news/elijah-hughes-ready-for-opportunity/

  - WAS: The Wizards At Midseason (from David Aldridge/Josh Robbins, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3073695/2022/01/17/wizards-at-midseason-whats-changed-since-their-10-3-start-what-trades-should-they-make-whats-their-future-with-bradley-beal/

  - WAS How Wizards Are Experimenting With New Lineups (from Chase Hughes, NBC Sports):  https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/wizards-trying-different-lineups-thomas-bryant-rui-hachimura-back

  LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES

  - As NBA Prepares To Celebrate Dr. King, Oscar Robertson Also Remembers (from Tim Reynolds, AP): https://apnews.com/article/nba-sports-lifestyle-tennessee-basketball-1b8aa2d286e2c0784dfa81d9d2a12ef9

  From Michael Lee, Washington Post:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/01/17/oscar-robertson-nba-player-protests/

  From Martenzie Johnson, The Undefeated: https://theundefeated.com/features/i-dont-know-why-i-kept-going-oscar-robertson-on-mlks-legacy/

  - Untold Stories Of Ben Wallace (from James Edwards III, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3038024/2022/01/17/dirty-work-free-laptops-and-headband-rebellion-untold-stories-of-ben-wallace/

  - Draft Prospects: Weekend Update (from Adam Spinella, The Box And One): 

Weekend Update with Coach Spins: Jan 17, 2022

• - 2022 Draft Prospect TyTy Washington (from Nathan Grubel, No Ceilings): 

TyTy Washington: Best PG in the 2022 NBA Draft? | The Morning Dunk

• - Power Rankings, Week 14 (from ESPN):  https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33079340/nba-power-rankings-week-14-ja-morant-memphis-grizzlies-keep-rising

  TAKEAWAYS FROM YESTERDAY'S GAMES

• - HOU 118, SAC 112:

    From Michael Wagaman, AP:  https://www.sacbee.com/sports/article257393197.html

    From Mirann Tsumura, Kings Herald:  https://kingsherald.com/articles/rockets-118-kings-112-kings-lose-without-their-backcourt/

    From Danielle Lerner, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Rockets-get-revenge-against-Kings-16781599.php  and  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Better-communication-better-result-Takeaways-16781915.php

  - MIN 119, GSW 99:

    From Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune:  https://www.dailysix.com/sixers-week-in-review-20220117/

    From Evan Webeck, Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/01/16/warriors-miss-draymond-green-in-double-digit-loss-to-timberwolves/

    From Jace Frederick, Pioneer Press: https://www.twincities.com/2022/01/16/bench-erupts-in-second-half-as-timberwolves-down-short-handed-warriors/

  - PHO 135, DET 108:

    From Omari Sankofa II, Free Press:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2022/01/16/detroit-pistons-game-cade-cunningham-ejection-devin-booker-phoenix-suns/6549606001/

    From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports:  https://arizonasports.com/story/2972228/phoenix-suns-roll-through-pistons-for-convincing-road-win-detroit/

    From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic: https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2022/01/16/5-takeaways-suns-convincing-win-over-pistons-booker-scores-30/6549874001/

    From Rod Beard, Detroit News: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2022/01/16/detroit-pistons-overcome-phoenix-suns-home-win-streak-snapped-4/6548913001/

    From Lauren Williams, MLive: https://www.mlive.com/pistons/2022/01/hot-handed-suns-hand-pistons-135-108-loss.html

  -UTAH 125, DEN 102:

    From Tony Jones, The Athletic:  https://theathletic.com/3074192/2022/01/17/jazz-seem-to-take-rudy-goberts-comments-to-heart-in-win-over-nuggets/

    From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2022/01/16/jazz-beat-nuggets-nikola-jokic/

    From Sarah Todd, Deseret News:  https://www.deseret.com/2022/1/16/22886704/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-end-skid-with-win-over-denver-nuggets-despite-nikola-jokic-triple-double

    From Tommy Knowlton, Denver Stiffs: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2022/1/16/22887256/denver-nuggets-utah-jazz-nba-nikola-jokic-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-aaron-gordon

    From Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/01/16/utah-jazzs-skid-busting/

    From Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2022/01/16/triple-team-both-rudy/

    From Eric Spyropoulos, Nuggets.com: https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-jazz-011622

• FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives:

  http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/01/17/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-11718/