Basketball Intelligence For 12/12/21

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis

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TEAM-SPECIFIC STORIES

- ATL: Takeaways From Loss To Nets (from Glen Willis, Peachtree Hoops):  https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2021/12/11/22829445/atlanta-hawks-brooklyn-nets-analysis-video-film-stats-highlights-box-score-durant-young

- BKN: Nets Using Claxton's Defensive Presence To Their Advantage (from Greg Logan, Newsday):  https://www.newsday.com/sports/basketball/nets/nets-lamarcus-aldridge-nic-claxton-1.50448973

- BKN: Cam Thomas Is Earning Teammates' Trust (from Zach Braziller, NY Post):  https://nypost.com/2021/12/11/rookie-cam-thomas-earning-trust-of-nets-teammates/?utm_source=flipboard_sports&utm_medium=syndicated&utm_campaign=partnerfeed

- CHI: Vucevic Has Never Been Through A Slump Like This (from Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3010945/2021/12/12/nikola-vucevic-runs-out-of-answers-ive-never-been-through-a-slump-like-this/

From KC Johnson, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/bulls-nikola-vucevics-offensive-struggles-deepen-worst-time

- DET: It's Too Soon To Panic (from Omari  Sankofa II, Free Press):  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/12/12/detroit-pistons-rebuild-record-dwane-casey-troy-weaver/6479519001/

- GSW: Steph Curry Changed The Game Long Before His 3-Point Milestone (from Shaun Powell, NBA.com):  https://www.nba.com/news/stephen-curry-changed-game-long-before-3-point-milestone

- GSW: The Dubs' Lack Of Height Is An Asset, Not A Problem (from Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News):  https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/12/12/kurtenbach-the-warriors-lack-of-height-isnt-a-problem-its-an-asset/

- IND: Takeaways From Win Over Mavs (from James Boyd, Indy Star):  https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2021/12/10/pacers-mavericks-score-caris-levert-luka-doncic-dallas-mavs/8876224002/

- LAL: The Value Of Little Things (from Alex Regla, Silver Screen And Roll):  https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/12/11/22829033/lakers-analysis-little-things-extra-pass-lebron-james-frank-vogel

- LAL: Jordan Reflects On His Path To 10,000 Rebounds (from Dan Woike, LA Times):  https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-12-11/deandre-jordan-10000-rebounds-nba-career-lakers

- MIA: Coup's Notebook, Vol. 6 (from Couper Moorhead, Heat.com):  https://www.nba.com/heat/notebook-6-giannis-tucker-yurtseven-martin

- MIL: How Will Returning DiVencenzo Fit In?  (from Brian Sampson, Forbes):  https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2021/12/12/start-or-bench-how-will-donte-divincenzo-fit-in-with-bucks/?sh=777cd7fb6ee1

- NOP: Zion Won't Save The 2021-22 Pels. It's Time To Prepare For What's Next (from William Guillory, The Athletic):  https://theathletic.com/3010762/2021/12/11/guillory-zion-williamson-wont-save-the-2021-22-pelicans-its-time-to-prepare-for-whats-next/

- PHI: How Thybulle Made Life Difficult For Steph (from Michael Kaskey-Blomain, CBS Sports):  https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/how-matisse-thybulle-made-life-difficult-for-stephen-curry-in-the-76ers-most-impressive-win-of-the-season/

From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3011180/2021/12/12/matisse-thybulles-impressive-defensive-effort-on-stephen-curry-helps-sixers-to-big-win-over-warriors/

  From Benyam Kidane, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/matisse-thybulle-defensive-clinic-stephen-currys-3-point-record/y2uqcar9x9jm1uyyuim1o6lhh

- PHI: The Sixers Need A Consistent 2nd Option (from Keith Pompey, The Inquirer):  https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/even-after-a-thrilling-win-over-golden-state-the-sixers-wont-go-far-without-a-true-second-option-behind-joel-embiid/ar-AARJhLQ

- PHO: Film Study: Analyzing Jalen Smith's Minutes (from John Voita, Bright Side Of The Sun):  https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/12/12/22829466/stix-watch-analyzing-friday-nights-jalen-smith-minutes-phoenix-suns

- PHO: McGee Provides Championship Experience (from Evan Sidery, Basketball News):  https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/javale-mcgee-provides-muchneeded-championship-production-for-suns

From Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic:  https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2021/12/11/javale-mcgee-looking-like-missing-piece-suns-needed-nba-finals/6475819001/

-SAS: Amid Rebuilding Season, Spurs’ Culture Club Holds Steady (from Jeff McDonald, Express news): https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Amid-rebuilding-season-Spurs-culture-club-16694767.php

- TOR: It Takes Whole Team To Raise Future All-Star Like Barnes (from Mike Ganter, Toronto Sun):  https://canoe.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/ganter-it-takes-a-whole-team-to-raise-a-future-all-star-like-raptors-barnes/wcm/cd64fca7-5a6d-4136-811f-008bdbc11c68

- TOR: Takeaways From Win Over Knicks (from William Lou, Sportsnet):  https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/10-things-scottie-barnes-versatility-shines-raptors-gritty-win-vs-knicks/

- UTA: Win Streak Has Jazz Searching For An Even Higher Level (from Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune):  https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/11/how-bout-this-jazz/

LEAGUE-WIDE STORIES

- Sunday Notes (form Gary Washburn, Boston Globe):  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/12/11/sports/its-case-nba-having-covid-19-problem

TAKEAWAYS FROM YESTERDAY'S GAMES

- CLE 117, SAC 103:

  From Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee:  https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article256522321.html

- DEN 127, SAS 112:  

  From Mike Singer, Denver Post:  https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/11/nikola-jokic-dominates-spurs-road-trip-finale/

From Tom Orsborn, Express News: https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/The-triple-take-Nuggets-127-Spurs-112-16694668.php

  From Eric Spyropoulos, nuggets.com:  https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/nuggets-spurs-121121

- LAC 106, ORL 104:

  From Murray Law, The Athletic:  https://theathletic.com/3010820/2021/12/12/clippers-magic-notes-reggie-jacksons-big-night-luke-kennards-career-best-and-justise-winslow-is-freed/

  From Sabreena Merchant, Clips Nation: https://www.clipsnation.com/2021/12/11/22829735/la-clippers-news-justise-winslow-next-man-up-defense-grab-and-go

  From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/12/11/clippers-justise-winslow-earns-playing-time-impresses-on-court/  and  https://www.pasadenastarnews.com/2021/12/11/reggie-jackson-delivers-as-clippers-beat-magic/

  From Helene Elliott, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-12-11/clippers-reggie-jackson-game-winner-shot-orlando-magic

- MEM 113, HOU 106:

  From Danielle Lerner: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Togetherness-and-improvement-Takeaways-from-16694739.php

  From Evan Barnes, Commercial Appeal: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/nba/grizzlies/2021/12/12/memphis-grizzlies-vs-houston-rockets-live-updates-score/8859510002

- MIA 118, CHI 92:

  From Sam Smith, bulls.com: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/best-and-worst-from-sixers-warriors-joel-embiid-s-dominant-second-half-matisse-thybulle-s-stellar-d-and-more

  From Rob Shaefer, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/10-observations-vucevics-struggles-persist-heat-rout-bulls

-PHI 102, GSW 93:

  From Michael Kaskey-Blomain:  https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/how-matisse-thybulle-made-life-difficult-for-stephen-curry-in-the-76ers-most-impressive-win-of-the-season/

  From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3010804/2021/12/12/five-observations-what-went-wrong-for-the-warriors-offense-in-loss-to-the-sixers/

  From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/3011180/2021/12/12/matisse-thybulles-impressive-defensive-effort-on-stephen-curry-helps-sixers-to-big-win-over-warriors/

  From Benyam Kidane, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/matisse-thybulle-defensive-clinic-stephen-currys-3-point-record/y2uqcar9x9jm1uyyuim1o6lhh

  From Keith Pompey, The Inquirer: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/best-and-worst-from-sixers-warriors-joel-embiid-s-dominant-second-half-matisse-thybulle-s-stellar-d-and-more/ar-AARJsQW?ocid=BingNews

  From Noah Levick, NBC Sports: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/sixers-vs-warriors-matisse-thybulle-keeps-stephen-curry-in-check-sixers-come-back-to-win/ar-AARIVS5

- UTA 123, WAS 98:

  From Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/12/11/triple-team-jazz-are/

  From Sarah Todd, Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/2021/12/11/22828681/instant-analysis-utah-jazz-beat-wizards-sweep-four-game-road-trip

  From Ryan Kostecka, Jazz.com:  https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/huge-second-half-powers-utah-past-washington  and https://www.nba.com/jazz/news/5-things-undefeated-road-trip

  From Ava Wallace, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/12/11/wizards-provide-minimal-resistance-get-run-off-their-home-floor-second-half-against-jazz/

  From Chase Hughes, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/jazz-blitz-wizards-second-half-claim-lone-matchup-dc

THREE YEARS AGO TODAY: from the BI archives:

 http://basketballintelligence.net/2018/12/12/todays-best-nba-reporting-analysis-121218/