Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 1/8/20

- BOS: Kanter's Improved Defense is Shining Through (from A. Sherrod Blakely, NBC Sports):

Read it here: https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/enes-kanters-defense-yes-his-defense-shining-through-celtics

- CLE: Love Regrets Recent Outbursts (from Associated Press):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28440805/cavaliers-kevin-love-regrets-recent-childish-outbursts-games

- DEN: How The Nuggets Used Jokic's Gap Year To Set The Foundation For  His Precipitous Rise (from Nick Kosmider, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/1511064/2020/01/08/be-an-nba-player-over-there-how-the-nuggets-used-nikola-jokics-gap-year-to-set-foundation-for-his-precipitous-rise/

- GSW: Q & A: Marquese Chriss (from Logan Murdock, NBC Sports):

Read it here: https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/marquese-chriss-opens-about-emotional-warriors-release-nba-future

- GSW: The Dubs Waived Chriss So They Could Keep Lee (from Douglas Farmer, Basketball Insiders):

Read it here: http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-daily-waiving-chriss-an-inevitable-warriors-reality/

- IND: Warren Reviving Lost Art Of Midrange Game (from Mark Montieth, pacers.com):

Read it here: https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/warren-reviving-lost-art-midrange-rame

- LAL: LBJ Is Putting On A Passing Clinic (from Ben Pickman, Sports Illustrated):

Read it here: https://www.si.com/nba/2020/01/08/lebron-james-lakers-elite-passing-ability

- MIA: Dragic's Comeback From Knee Injury: So Far, So Good (from Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald):

Read it here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article239019498.html

- MIL: 4 Things That Are Different About The Bucks' Juggernaut (from Krik Goldsberry, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28440941/four-things-different-bucks-juggernaut

- MIL: The Brook Lopez Conundrum (from Brian Sampson, Forbes):

Read and watch it here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/briansampson/2020/01/08/brook-lopez-slump-is-offensive/#4f6da6ef6b6b

- NOP: Lonzo On Zion: "Our Games Complement Each Other" (from Christian Clark, NOLA.com):

Read and watch it here: https://www.nola.com/sports/pelicans/article_573429c6-3194-11ea-a7c2-df7cbc2cf634.html

- OKC: Thunder Have Won 10 Of Past 12 As CP3 Continues To Dazzle (from Brad Botkin, CBS Sports):

Read it here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/chris-paul-continues-to-dazzle-and-red-hot-thunder-continue-to-look-like-potential-buyers-at-the-deadline/

- ORL: Magic's PGs  Pace The Team, Giving Attacking Balance (from Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily):

Read it here: https://orlandomagicdaily.com/2020/01/07/orlando-magic-point-guards-pace-team-give-attacking-balance/

- PHI: Sixers Need To Unlock Simmons As A Roll Man (from Tom West, Liberty Ballers):

Read and watch it here: https://www.libertyballers.com/2020/1/8/21050489/philadelphia-76ers-nba-sixers-need-to-unlock-ben-simmons-as-a-screener-and-roller

- SAC: Giles, Dedmon Step Up For Injured Holmes In Win Over Suns (from James Ham, NBC Sports):

Read it here: https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings/kings-harry-giles-dewayne-dedmon-step-injured-richaun-holmes-win

From Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee: https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article239060873.html

- UTA: From Struggling Start To Hottest Team (from Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune):

Read it here: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2020/01/07/jazz-were-struggling/

- WAS: Ish Smith Channels His Inner Steve Nash For Wizards (from Chris Crouse, Hoops Rumors):

Read it here: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/01/ish-smith-channels-his-inner-steve-nash-for-the-wizards.html

-  NBA Offseason Spending Power Tiers, Part Two: Teams That Will Probably Pay Luxury Tax (from Danny Leroux, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/1516155/2020/01/08/nba-offseason-spending-power-tiers-teams-that-will-probably-pay-luxury-tax/

- It's Trade "Rumors" Time (from Joel Cordes, The Basketball Writers):

Read it here: https://bballwriters.com/opinion/10-nba-questions-trade-rumors-time/

- 2020 Draft: The Weirdest In Years (from Jonathan Givony, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/28440940/this-weirdest-nba-draft-years

- 2020 Draft: Hidden Gems (from Bryan Kalbrosky, Hoops Hype):

Read it here: https://hoopshype.com/2020/01/08/2020-nba-mock-draft-big-board-sleepers/

- 2020 Draft: Boom-Or-Bust Prospects (from Jonathan Wasserman, Bleacher Report):

Read it here: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2869572-2020-nba-draft-boom-or-bust-prospects-to-watch-at-every-position#slide1

- 2020 Draft: Can Okoro Become A Viable Offensive Player? (from Trevor Magnotti, The Step Back):

Read and watch it here: https://fansided.com/2020/01/07/2020-nba-draft-isaac-okoro-viable-offensive-player/

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From The Basketball Writers:

- It's Trade "Rumors" Time (from Joel Cordes):

https://bballwriters.com/opinion/10-nba-questions-trade-rumors-time/