Basketball Intelligence for 12/05/2022

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Dec 5, 2022

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League-Wide Stories

What's behind the NBA's new focus on traveling, and how players and teams are adjusting
Tim Bontemps, ESPN

McCutchen says the free-flowing nature and spacing of the modern NBA has provided an opportunity for referees to focus on players shifting their pivot foot when attacking defenses, adding that the league has studied data that shows missing such calls leads to additional defensive fouls because it creates an advantage for offensive players to exploit.

Team-Specific Stories

ATL: Tensions rise between Hawks star Trae Young and coach Nate McMillan in Atlanta: Sources
Shams Charania/Sam Amick, The Athletic

Since the face of the Hawks’ franchise was deciding not to take part in shootaround, McMillan ultimately presented him with two options for that night’s game, sources said: Play off the bench — or do not show up to the arena. Young responded by saying he would not be playing against the Nuggets, and the team ruled him out while citing right shoulder soreness.

CHA: Do the Charlotte Hornets have time to turn their season around? Here’s what they think
Roderick Boone, The Charlotte Observer

CHI: Bulls have to balance development of young players with winning games
Joe Cowley, Chicago Sun-Times

CHI: Rookie Dalen Terry sits and waits while Bulls struggle with consistency
Joe Cowley, Chicago Sun-Times

CHI: Bulls Files: Poor Attention To Detail On Defense Shows Up On Chicago’s Road Trip
Michael Walton II, Chicago Bulls Confidential

CHI: LaVine, DeRozan vow to rally Bulls as losses pile up
K.C. Johnson, NBC Sports

CLE: Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell has ‘filled a void’ during his career-best start
Kelsey Russo, The Athletic

CLE: Cleveland Cavaliers struggling to find ‘juice’ on the road, as away-game issues crystallize in New York
Chris Fedor, Cleveland.com

In 11 homes games -- with 10 of those being wins -- the Cavs are averaging 115.6 points on 49.3% from the field and 39.9% from 3-point range while outscoring opponents by an average of 12.3 points. On the road, they’re averaging just 107.7 points on 46% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc.

DET: Inside Pistons’ Jalen Duren’s goofy shot-contests: ‘It’s hustle’
James L. Edwards III, The Athletic

The only other person who regularly has a variation of this type of shot distraction is Boston’s Luke Kornet, who has garnered some publicity with his standstill jumps as a player launches a jump shot. The biggest difference between the contests of Duren and Kornet, though, is that Duren will make an effort to close the gap on the shooter before stopping in his tracks, while Kornet just jumps from inside the paint to confuse shooters.

GSW: Thompson: Jordan Poole’s new test — life as a known commodity in the NBA
Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic

IND: Insider: Pacers struggling on defense, missing shots on rough road trip
Dustin Dopirak, Indianapolis Star

MEM: 'She’s got this ultimate care factor': How Niele Ivey made an imprint with the Grizzlies
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press

MIA: Heat’s Haywood Highsmith making gains in a season when little was guaranteed
Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

MIA: The temptation and tease of Victor Oladipo may soon provide a Heat payoff
Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

MIL: Milwaukee Bucks Notebook: Dictionary, Middleton’s Return, and Blocks
Brian Sampson, Dairyland Express

NOP: Jose Alvarado has improbably become 'X-factor' for streaking New Orleans Pelicans
Christian Clark, Nola.com

OKC: Thunder Journal: The JDub Break Out
Brandon Rahbar, Daily Thunder

PHI: Sixers quarter-season report cards: Every player’s grade
Christopher Kline, The Sixer Sense

PHI: How James Harden's return from foot injury impacts Joel Embiid, 76ers
Kyle Irving, The Sporting News

POR: Embattled but bruised, Blazers barrel toward preseason expectations
Austin White, Portland Tribune

POR: Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard makes strong return, helps get season back on track: ‘He was pretty crisp’
Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian

SAC: Sacramento Kings off to their best start since 2004-05 after ‘ugly’ win over Chicago Bulls
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee

SAC: Kings win 3rd in a row
Ray LeBov, Basketball Intelligence

TOR: O.G. Anunoby is your favorite player's worst nightmare: The stats driving the Raptors forward's early Defensive Player of the Year case
Scott Rafferty, The Sporting News

Jimmy Butler, who has earned five All-Defensive selections in his career, and Patrick Beverley, who has three All-Defensive selections, are the only other players [besides Anunoby] in the top 20 in both matchup difficulty rating and versatility rating.

WAS: Gafford leaned on support system to overcome slow start
Chase Hughes, NBC Sports

WAS: Wizards face a defining stretch: ‘We’re not going to let go of the season’
Josh Robbins, The Athletic