Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 4/19/18
- Inside The Chessmaster Play That Playoff Teams Love To Run (from Zach Lowe, ESPN):
Read and watch it here: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23237633/zach-lowe-celtics-raptors-blazers-chessmaster-play-nba-playoffs
- How The Pels Have Controlled The Series (from Danny Chau, The Ringer): Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/nba-playoffs/2018/4/19/17255232/pelicans-jrue-holiday-playoff-rondo From David Fisher, The Bird Writes: https://www.thebirdwrites.com/2018/4/18/17253754/2018-nba-playoffs-alvin-gentry-conviction-new-orleans-pelicans-control-pace-portland-trail-blazers - The Blazers Shun The Pass (from Scott Cacciola, NY Times): Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/18/sports/trail-blazers-raptors.html
- POR-NOP Game 3 Preview (from Brendon Kleen, The Step Back): Read and watch it here: https://fansided.com/2018/04/19/trail-blazers-adjustments/
- CLE 100, IND 97 (from Nathan Beighle, King James Gospel): Read it here: https://kingjamesgospel.com/2018/04/19/cleveland-cavaliers-kyle-korver-hero/ From Brandon Jefferson, King James Gospel: https://fansided.com/2018/04/18/pacers-cavaliers-game-2-recap-lebron-james-carries-cleveland/ From Paolo Uggetti, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba-playoffs/2018/4/18/17255408/cleveland-cavaliers-indiana-pacers-game-2-takeaways From Tim Cato, SBNation: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2018/4/19/17255204/lebron-james-46-points-game-2-cavaliers-vs-pacers - The Reasons Behind Tristan Thompson's Benching (from Greg Swartz, Bleacher Report): Read it here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2771048-tristan-thompsons-benching-has-more-to-do-with-basketball-than-off-court-drama - Jeff Bzdelik: The Genius Behind The Rockets' Title Push (from Michael Pina, VICE Sports): Read it here: https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/bjpbd8/meet-the-defensive-genius-behind-the-rockets-championship-push
- HOU 102, MIN 82 (from Paolo Uggetti, The Ringer): Read and watch it here: https://www.theringer.com/nba-playoffs/2018/4/19/17255804/houston-rockets-minnesota-timberwolves-game-2-takeaways From Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/wolves-thumped-by-houston-102-82-in-game-2/480204963/#1 From Hunter Atkins, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/After-subpar-opener-Chris-Paul-boosts-Rockets-in-12846702.php
From Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/3-pointers-Takeaways-from-Rockets-Game-2-win-12846680.php
- UTA 102, OKC 95 (from Clint Johnson, Salt City Hoops):
Read it here: http://saltcityhoops.com/several-huge-performances-steal-home-court-for-jazz/
- The Film Sessions That Helped Turn Donovan Mitchell Into UTA's #1 Option (from Tim McMahon, ESPN): Read and watch it here: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23218340/how-did-rookie-donovan-mitchell-turn-utah-jazz-go-scorer-check-tape-nba - Analytics-Driven Sixers Ride The Numbers (from Marcus Hayes, philly.com): Read it here: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/sixers-76ers-philadelphia-analytics-process-numbers-nba-playoffs-miami-heat-brett-brown-bryan-colangelo-20180418.html - How The Heat Elevated Their Defense In Game Two (from Tom West, Liberty Ballers): Read and watch it here: https://www.libertyballers.com/2018/4/18/17246274/how-miami-elevated-their-defense-against-the-sixers-in-game-2 - Why The Sixers Must Not Rush Embiid Back (from Keith Pompey, philly.com): Read it here: http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/joel-embiid-injury-game-three-sixers-76ers-heat-nba-playoffs-orbital-bone-recovery-return-20180418.html - How The Sixers Cracked The Culture Code (from Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN): Read it here: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23216496/nba-how-philadelphia-76ers-formed-culture-built-win - Bucks Get A Failing Grade In Playoff Chemistry (from Gary Washburn, Boston Globe): Read it here: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2018/04/18/bucks-get-failing-grade-playoff-chemistry/vaJAURTg3Owqj4rXci3tpN/story.html
- Bucks May Need A Lineup Tweak (from Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe):
- So, Who Is Terry Rozier? (from Paul Flannery, SBNation): Read it here: https://www.sbnation.com/2018/4/18/17251722/terry-rozier-boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-eric-bledsoe-nba-playoffs From Joshua Bateman, Hardwood Houdini: https://hardwoodhoudini.com/2018/04/18/boston-celtics-terry-rozier-setting-tone-with-ball-protection/
- DeMar DeRozan's Evolution (from Josh Lewenberg, tsn.ca):
Read it here: https://www.tsn.ca/derozan-s-evolution-on-display-early-in-raptors-playoff-series-1.1061116
- Otto Porter's Defensive Versatility (from Blake Murphy, Dime Mag):
Read it here: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/otto-porter-demar-derozan-raptors-wizards-nba-playoffs/
- Raptors: Delon Wright Is Thriving On Playoff Stage (from Jordan Skuse. Raptors Rapture):
Read and watch it here: https://raptorsrapture.com/2018/04/18/raptors-wright-thriving-playoff-stage/
- Ibaka: Punishing The Wizards (from Blake Murphy, Raptors Republic):
Read it here: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2018/04/19/serge-ibaka-tilting-starting-lineup-battle-raptors-way-against-wizards/
- The Wizards' John Wall Dilemma (from Michael Pina, VICE Sports):
Read and watch it here: https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/7xdqxa/john-wall-nba-playoffs-washington-wizards
- Wizards Need To Clean Up Their Defensive Issues (from Marcus Atkinson, Bullets Forever):
Read and watch it here: https://www.bulletsforever.com/2018/4/19/17255584/washington-wizards-defense-toronto-raptors-2018-nba-playoffs-first-round
- GSW 116, SAS 101 (from Anthony Slater, The Athletic):
Read it here: https://theathletic.com/317201/2018/04/17/five-observations-from-the-warriors-116-101-game-2-win-over-the-spurs/
- Pachulia Keeps Benching In Perspective (from Connor Letourneau, SFGate):
Read it here: https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-Zaza-Pachulia-keeps-benching-in-12846305.php
- Using NBA Matchup Data To Define Defensive Roles (from Jared Dubin, Nylon Calculus):
Read it here: https://fansided.com/2018/04/19/nylon-calculus-nba-matchup-data-defensive-roles/
- What's Next For The Clippers? (from Broderick Turner, LA Times):
Read it here: http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-newsletter-20180418-story.html
- NBA's Basketball Operations Associate Program: Helping Players Transition Into Front Offices (from Ian Levy, The Step Back):
Read it here: https://fansided.com/2018/04/19/nba-basketball-operations-associate-program/
- Miami Heat Coaching Staff Clinic Notes (from Zak Boisvert, Pick And Pop):
Read it here: http://pickandpop.net/2018/04/miami-heat-coaching-staff-clinic-notes/
- Pete Carril: Steve Mills Isn't Just Going To Hand David Blatt The Knicks HC Job (from Stefan Bondy, NY Daily News):
Read it here: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/pete-carril-mills-won-hand-david-blatt-knicks-job-article-1.3942509
- Reviewing Dennis Smith, Jr's Rookie Season (from Josh Bowe, Mavs Moneyball):
Read and watch it here: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2018/4/19/17250078/dallas-mavericks-handled-dennis-smith-jr-rookie-season-perfectly
- 2018 Draft: Scouting Jaren Jackson, Jr (from Tyler Metcalf, Hashtag Basketball): Read and watch it here: https://hashtagbasketball.com/general/content/meet-nba-draft-prospects-jaren-jackson-jr - Darius Adams: Around The World In Seven Years (from Ben Nadeau, Basketball Insiders):
Read it here: http://www.basketballinsiders.com/darius-adams-around-the-world-in-seven-years/