Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 4/27/18

- Time To Bench Carmelo?  (from Sean Deveney, Sporting News):

Read it here:  http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-2018-thunder-vs-jazz-carmelo-anthony-stats-bench-russell-westbrook/4mdmbhyubkj21mg6hvxad63m7

From Erik Horne, newsok.com:  http://newsok.com/article/5592621/how-will-billy-donovan-handle-carmelo-anthony-in-game-6

- Valanciunas Is Stepping Up Big (from Blake Murphy, VICE Sports):

Read and watch it here:  https://sports.vice.com/en_ca/article/ywx73x/toronto-raptors-jonas-valanciunas-is-stepping-up-against-the-washington-wizards-in-the-nba-playoffs

- DeRozan & Lowry Are Improving Their Playoff Resumes (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/331237/2018/04/26/quietly-demar-derozan-and-kyle-lowry-are-improving-their-spotty-playoff-resumes-against-the-wizards/

- Ty Lawson Says His Comeback Story Is Just Beginning (from Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN):

Read it here:  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23316550/washington-wizards-guard-ty-lawson-comeback-story-just-beginning

- These Playoffs Could Be The Twilight Of The Maximalist PG (from Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer):

Read it here:  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/4/27/17287212/russell-westbrook-john-wall-playoff-elimination

- Steve Kerr & Alvin Gentry Share Bond That Won't Crack (from Mark Medina, Mercury news):

Read it here:  http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/sports/20180426/warriors-steve-kerr-pelicans-alvin-gentry-share-bond-that-wont-crack

- Darren Erman, Pelicans' Defensive Mastermind (from Connor Letourneau, SFGate):

Read it here:  https://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-prepare-to-face-the-man-behind-their-12868150.php

- Mirotic Is A Key To Pelicans' Upset Hopes (from Justin Willard, Washington Post):

Read and watch it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2018/04/26/nikola-mirotic-not-anthony-davis-is-key-to-pelicans-upset-hopes-vs-warriors/

- How Should Pacers Distribute Center Minutes In Game Six? (from Tony East, 8 Points, 9 Seconds):

Read and watch it here:  https://8points9seconds.com/2018/04/26/pacers-distribute-center-minutes-game-6/

- Can The Pacers Stop LBJ?  (from Brian Windhorst, ESPN):

Read it here:  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23325858/the-indiana-pacers-plan-stop-lebron-james-nba

- Giannis Dominates As Bucks Force Game 7 (from Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports):

Read and watch it here:  https://sports.yahoo.com/giannis-antetokounmpo-dominates-punchless-celtics-bucks-force-winner-take-game-7-041411284.html

- Celtics' Stagnant Offense Helped Bucks Force Game 7 (from Tom Westerholm, Mass Live):

Read it here:  http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2018/04/boston_celtics_vs_milwaukee_bu_17.html

- Bucks/Celtics Takeaways (from Adam Fromal, Bleacher Report):

Rae it here:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2772820-giannis-antetokounmpos-legend-keeps-growing-and-thursday-nba-playoff-takeaways

- Sixers: Veterans Letting Emerging Stars Lead (from Brian Seltzer, Sixers.com):

Read it here:  http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/spotlight-veterans-letting-emerging-stars-lead

- Important Numbers From Sixers Series Vs. The Heat (from Kevin F. Love, Liberty Ballers):

Read it here:  https://www.libertyballers.com/2018/4/26/17285022/5-important-numbers-from-the-sixers-playoff-series-vs-the-heat

- How Do You Solve A Problem Like Hassan Whiteside (from Ben Falk, Cleaning The Glass):

Read it here:  https://cleaningtheglass.com/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-hassan-whiteside/

- Jazz' 3rd Quarter Meltdown Stemmed Mlargely From Gobert's Foul Trouble (from Eric Woodyard, Deseret News):

Read it here:  https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865697935/Jazz7s-third-quarter-meltdown-in-OKC-stems-largely-from-Gobert7s-foul-trouble.html

- The Effortless Artistry Of James Harden (from Micah Wimmer, The Step Back):

Read it here:  https://fansided.com/2018/04/27/effortless-artistry-james-harden/

- Rockets: Takeaways From Game 5 (from Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle):

Read it here:  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/3-pointers-Takeaways-from-the-Rockets-Game-5-win-12865652.php

- Three DeMatha Teammates Are In The Playoffs (from Samantha Pell, Washington Post):

Read it here:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/recruiting-insider/wp/2018/04/26/three-dematha-teammates-are-in-nba-playoffs-a-point-of-pride-for-a-dominant-team/

- A Day In The Life Of An NBA Officiating Crew (from Ben Dowsett, The Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/328193/2018/04/26/its-a-gray-game-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-nba-officiating-crew/

- Ask Sam Smith (from bulls.com):

Read it here: http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/ask-sam-mailbag-042718

- 2018 Draft: International Prospects Scouting Reports (from Connor Harr, Hoops Habit):

Read it here:  https://hoopshabit.com/2018/04/26/2018-nba-draft-international-prospect-scouting-reports/

- One Man's Plan To Eliminate Intentional Fouling (from Tim Hackett, Sports Illustrated):

Read it here:  https://www.si.com/nba/2018/04/26/tbt-basketball-nick-elam-jon-mugar-earl-boykins

- Is PHO The Best Available Head Coaching Job? (from Lucas Johnson, Valley Of The Suns):

Read it here:  https://valleyofthesuns.com/2018/04/27/phoenix-suns-best-head-coaching-job-available/

- Towns, Wolves Prepared To Take Next Step (from Spencer Davies, Basketball Insiders):

Read it here:  http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-daily-towns-wolves-prepared-to-take-next-step/

From Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/timberwolves-got-a-peek-into-the-second-season/481015291/

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