Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 12/29/18

- BKN: The Emergence Of Rodions Kurucs (from Chris Von Achen, Hashtag Basketball):

Read and watch it here:  https://hashtagbasketball.com/brooklyn-nets/content/emergence-rodions-kurucs

From Erik Slater, Nothin' But Nets:  https://nothinbutnets.com/2018/12/28/brooklyn-nets-rodions-kurucs-defensive-flexibility/

- BKN: Marks & Atkinson Have Used Minimal Resources To Build Nets For Long-Term Success (from Jeff Feld, Forbes):

Read it here:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefffeld/2018/12/28/sean-marks-and-kenny-atkinson-have-used-minimal-resources-to-build-the-nets-for-longterm-success/#71533137699d

From Frank Isola, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/737537/2018/12/28/the-culture-has-changed-kenny-atkinson-on-the-nets-showing-signs-of-life-they-havent-in-4-years/

- BOS: Indispensable Irving Gives The Celtics Time To Figure Things Out (from Ben Ladner, The STep Back):

Read and watch it here:  https://fansided.com/2018/12/29/kyrie-irving-indispensable-boston-celtics/

- BOS: Video: Marcus Smart's Defense On Harden (from Matt Esposito):

Read and watch it here:  https://twitter.com/MattEsposito_/status/1078751456658886657

- CHA: How Long Can Tony Parker Keep Doing This? (from Brendan Marks, Charlotte Observer):

Read it here:  https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article223708125.html

- DAL: Barnes Is Changing His Game Next To Luka (from Vladislav Shufinskiy ,The Smoking Cuban):

Read it here:  https://thesmokingcuban.com/2018/12/28/dallas-mavericks-2018-harrison-barnes-changes-luka-doncic/

- DET: Bruce Brown Makes The Grade In Defensive Tests (from Rod Beard, Detroit News):

Read it here:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2018/12/28/pistons-bruce-brown-makes-grade-defensive-tests/2430984002/

- GSW: What Are The Dubs' Options With McCaw?  (from Danny Leroux, The Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/737988/2018/12/28/leroux-what-are-the-warriors-options-now-that-patrick-mccaw-has-agreed-to-an-offer-sheet-with-cleveland/?source=weeklyemail

- HOU: Harden Is Amazing But We're Getting Worried About His Minutes (from Kristian Winfield, SB Nation):

Read it here:  https://www.sbnation.com/2018/12/28/18158550/james-harden-highlights-minutes-rockets-vs-celtics

- HOU: What Rivers Brings To The Rockets (from Alykhan Bijani, The Athletic):

Read and watch it here:  https://theathletic.com/738849/2018/12/29/houston-rockets-austin-rivers-signed-chris-paul-injury-nba-statistics/

- LAL: Q & A: Ivica Zubac (from Mike Trudell, lakers.com):

Read it here:  https://www.nba.com/lakers/news/181228-zubac-flashes-talent-upside-in-starts

- MIA: Winslow Flashes Potential As Starting PG (from Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald):

Read it here:  https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article223663575.html

- MIL: Brook Lopez Is Making Opponents Pay For Hard Closeouts Along The Arc (from Matt Velazquez, jsonline.com):

Read and watch it here:  https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2018/12/28/brook-lopez-making-opponents-pay-hard-closeouts-along-arc/2424073002/

- MIN: What's Left Of Wiggins' Potential? (from James Grieco. Hoops Habit):

Read and watch it here:  https://hoopshabit.com/2018/12/29/minnesota-timberwolves-andrew-wiggins-potential/

From Jon Krawcynski, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/738323/2018/12/29/andrew-wiggins-gives-his-many-critics-some-red-meat-in-ugly-loss-to-hawks/

- MIN: Thibodeau Through The Eyes Of His TimberBulls (from Michael Scotto, The Athletic):

Read and watch it here:  https://theathletic.com/737479/2018/12/28/tom-thibodeau-through-the-eyes-of-his-timberbulls-derrick-rose-taj-gibson-and-luol-deng/?source=weeklyemail

- PHO: Recapping The Suns' Road Trip (from Yusuf Saleem, Bball Index):

Read and watch it here:  http://www.bball-index.com/recapping-the-suns-road-trip/

- PHO: TJ Warren's Historic Three-Point Percentage Increase (from Bryan Kalbrosky, Hoops Hype):

Read it here:  https://hoopshype.com/2018/12/28/phoenix-suns-tj-warren-most-improved-player-candidate/

- SAC: Buddy Hield: Stellar Start To His 3rd Year (from Nick Agar-Johnson, Hashtag Basketball):

Read it here:  https://hashtagbasketball.com/sacramento-kings/content/buddy-hield-flying-under-radar

- SAS: Bertans Is Becoming An Elite Role Player (from Jared Johnson, Bball Index):

Read and watch it here:  http://www.bball-index.com/davis-bertans-elite-role-player/

- UTA: Rudy Gobert Is Still Evolving As A Defender (from Ryan Miller, KSL):

Read it here:  https://www.ksl.com/article/46457127/rudy-gobert-is-still-evolving-as-a-defender

- UTA: The 2nd-Half Surge Is Coming For The Jazz (from John Keeffer, The JNotes):

Read it here:  https://thejnotes.com/2018/12/28/utah-jazz-second-half-surge-coming/

The Basketball Writers

- How Scheduling Can Tell The NBA's Subtlest Lies (from Kelly Scaletta, The Basketball Writers):

Read it here:  https://bballwriters.com/analytics/how-scheduling-can-tell-nbas-subtlest-lies/

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