Basketball Intelligence for 7/13/21
Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis
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Most Read Story from Yesterday’s Basketball Intelligence Newsletter
https://www.si.com/nba/2021/07/12/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-suns-nba-finals-legacy
The 103 points Antetokounmpo has scored in his first three Finals games? Only Rick Barry, Allen Iverson and Willis Reed scored more. The 40-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in consecutive Finals games? Shaquille O’Neal is the only other to have done it.
Today’s Curated Story
“Play Random” by Henry Abbot on True Hoop ($)
Key graf:
It’s tougher than it has ever been. Giannis can make easy passes, and then either cut or set a screen. If he does that, the ball will be moving and the Bucks can do the most beautiful thing in basketball: play jazz. Random play can lead to random stars. Connaughton, Holiday, or Lopez might have career nights. If they do and the Bucks win, no one will call coach Bud’s offense vanilla anymore.
NBA FINALS
From Logan Murdock, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2021/7/13/22574957/chris-paul-phoenix-suns-nba-finals
From Shams Charania, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2696207/2021/07/12/bobby-portis-unplugged-how-a-text-to-giannis-led-him-to-the-bucks-what-hes-learned-from-previous-teams-and-more/
From Trevor Booth, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/7/13/22574608/devin-booker-phoenix-suns-film-review-nba-finals-game-3-milwaukee-bucks-monty-williams-chris-paul
From Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/news/5-things-we-learned-from-game-3-of-the-2021-nba-finals
From Mark Medina, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2021/07/12/suns-overcame-adversity-lakers-clippers-can-they-do-again/7939608002/
From Dan Devine, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2021/7/12/22573699/giannis-antetokounmpo-bucks-suns-nba-finals
From Jesse Cinquini, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/7/12/22573110/boston-connections-finals-celtics-jae-crowder-pat-connaughton-abdel-nader-jeff-teague-etwaun-moore
From Nekias Duncan, Basketball News: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/pressure-points-how-the-bucks-torched-the-suns-in-game-3
From Spencer Davies, Basketball News: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/milwaukee-bucks-outhustle-outmuscle-phoenix-suns-behind-strength-and-length-of-giannis-antetokounmpo-in-game-3-nba-finals
From Brian Lewis, NY Post: https://nypost.com/2021/07/12/how-former-knick-bobby-portis-made-most-of-nba-finals-chance
From Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media: https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/reflective-suns-shift-focus-eye-rebound-in-game-4
From Rod Argent, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/7/12/22572607/center-of-the-sun-part-1-phoenix-suns-shined-brightly-at-home-but-dimmed-in-game-3-on-the-road-nba
From Alex Zietlow, The Herald: https://www.heraldonline.com/sports/high-school/article252676413.html
From Agence France Presse: https://www.barrons.com/news/bahamas-big-man-ayton-powers-suns-into-nba-title-hunt-01626126009?tesla=y
From Brian Mahoney, AP: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/07/12/nba-finals-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-making-his-mark
From Jerry Brewer, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/07/12/giannis-bucks-milwaukee-finals/
From JR Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/07/12/nine-stats-illustrate-greatness-giannis-nba-finals/7937568002/
From Lori Nickel, Journal Sentinel: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/07/12/nickel-giannis-antetokounmpos-history-making-nba-finals-game-3/7917668002/
From James Herbert, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-finals-deandre-aytons-foul-trouble-burned-the-suns-but-game-3-loss-to-bucks-went-beyond-that/
From Melissa Rohlin, Fox Sports: https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/cameron-payne-phoenix-suns-nba-finals-chris-paul-melissa-rohlin
PRE-OLYMPIC EXHIBITIONS
From Tom Ziller, GMIB: https://ziller.substack.com/p/6-reasons-to-be-worried-about-team
From Brian Windhorst, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/31808700/team-usa-falls-0-2-olympic-exhibitions-loss-australia
From Ricky O'Donnell, SBNation: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/7/13/22575151/team-usa-mens-basketball-tokyo-roster-trae-young-zion-williamson
From Ben Cohen, Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/usa-basketball-australia-nigeria-olympics-11626182716?mod=e2tws
From Marlowe Ferguson, Jr, Blazer's Edge: https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/7/12/22574763/team-usa-basketball-2021-australia-olympics-damian-lillard-portland-trail-blazers
From Sabreena Merchant, Sactown Royalty: https://www.sactownroyalty.com/2021/7/12/22574709/chimezie-metu-sacramento-kings-international-basksetball-nigeria-tokyo-olympics
From Spencer Davies, Basketball News: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/what-is-going-on-with-the-usa-mens-national-team-in-exhibition-play
From Chris Sheridan, Basketball News: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/for-team-usa-losses-in-las-vegas-do-not-matter-2020-tokyo-olympics-exhibition-play
From Kareem Copeland, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/07/12/team-usa-mens-basketball-upset-australia/
From Dan Wolken, USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/dan-wolken/2021/07/12/team-usa-mens-basketball-struggling-tokyo-olympics-tune-up-games/7947272002/
From Chris Haynes, Yahoo Sports: https://sports.yahoo.com/olympics-there-is-cause-for-concern-but-not-panic-time-for-team-usa-mens-basketball-152138538.html
NEWS AND NOTES
- CLE: The State Of The Cavs' SG Position (form Josh Cornelissen, King James Gosepl):
Read it here: https://kingjamesgospel.com/2021/07/13/cleveland-cavaliers-evaluating-state-shooting-guard-position/
- DEN: Nuggets Offseason Revolves Around Will Barton (from Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs):
Read it here: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2021/7/13/22574556/the-denver-nuggets-offseason-revolves-around-will-barton
- ORL/POR: Mosley, Billups Took Different Paths To HC Positions (from Neill Woelk, CUBuffs.com):
- PHI: A Pulse-Take On Simmons' Status (from Marc Stein, Substack):
Read it here: https://marcstein.substack.com/p/finals-tomorrow-trade-talk-today
- POR: Offseason Preview (from Luke Adams, Hoops Rumors):
Read it here: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/07/2021-nba-offseason-preview-portland-trail-blazers.html
From Aaron Fentress, Oregon Live: https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/07/harry-giles-iii-remains-an-intriguing-talent-trail-blazers-season-review-look-ahead.html
- TOR: Drafting A Guard Should Not Preclude Trying To Keep Lowry (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic):
- WAS: Q & A: Bradley Beal (from Sabreena Merchant, SBNation):
Read it here: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/7/12/22570454/bradley-beal-interview-team-usa-olympics-pressure-shooting-threes
2021 DRAFT
- Best Team Fits For Six Polarizing First Round Prospects (from Mike Schmitz, ESPN):
Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31805689/best-team-fits-2021-nba-draft-most-polarizing-first-round-prospects
- 2021 Prospect Sharife Cooper (from Alder Almo, Empire Sports Media):
- Interview: Jalen Green's Prolific Prep Coach Joey Fuca (from Zach Allen, The Dream Shake):
- Profile: 2021 Prospect Josh Giddey (from Lachlan Everett, Hoops Habit):
Read it here: https://hoopshabit.com/2021/07/13/2021-nba-draft-profile-josh-giddey/
From Nick Crain, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/thunder/draft-coverage/nba-draft-board-australias-josh-giddey
FREE AGENCY
- Big Wings Who Defend, Shoot Are In Short Supply (from Dan Clayton, Salt City Hoops):
Read it here: https://saltcityhoops.com/big-wings-who-defend-shoot-are-in-short-supply/
WNBA
- Bri Jones: 3rd Rockstar From The Sun (from Myles Ehrlich, Winsidr):
Read it here: Bri Jones: Third Rockstar from the Sun » Winsidr
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