Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 4/30/19

Playoff Series Updates:

- PHI-TOR:

From Ian Levy, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2019/04/29/76ers-close-win-raptors-game-2/

From Mike Bossetti, Raptors Rapture: https://raptorsrapture.com/2019/04/30/toronto-raptors-takeaways-defeat-76ers/

From Sarah Todd, philly.com: https://www.philly.com/sixers/james-ennis-greg-monroe-sixers-raptors-nba-playoffs-20190430.html

From Marc Narducci, philly.com: https://www.philly.com/sixers/ben-simmons-kawhi-leonard-defense-sixers-raptors-game-2-20190430.html

From John Schuhmann, nba.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/30/sixers-raptors-old-school-grind

From Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN: http://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/26636931/the-76ers-reset-their-defense-steal-home-court-away-raptors

From Michael Grange, sportsnet.ca: https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/76ers-defensive-gambit-pays-off-raptors-falter-game-2/

From Louis Zatzman, Raptors Republic: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2019/04/30/its-nick-nurses-turn-to-adjust/

From Michael Lee, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/954765/2019/04/30/no-hes-not-james-butler-they-call-that-man-jimmy-buckets-for-a-reason/

- Embiid's Quest For Greatness (from Jackie MacMullan, ESPN):

Read it here: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26620998/takes-joel-embiid-quest-greatness

- DEN-POR:

From John Canzano, Oregon Live: https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2019/04/canzano-no-excuses-trail-blazers-got-beat-by-sloppiness-and-the-joker.html

From Casey Holdahl, blazers.com: https://www.nba.com/blazers/news/blazers-make-too-many-mistakes-game-1-loss-nuggets-denver

From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/30/nuggets-nikola-jokic-must-see-tv-playoffs/  and  https://www.denverpost.com/2019/04/29/nuggets-beat-blazers-game-1-nba-playoffs/

From Ben Golliver, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/04/30/making-long-range-assassin-how-damian-lillard-turned-bad-shots-into-good-ones/

From Dave Deckard, Blazer's Edge: https://www.blazersedge.com/2019/4/29/18523497/blazers-nuggets-game-1-2019-nba-playoffs-jokic-lillard-kanter-hood

From Sekou Smith, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2019/04/30/nuggets-show-maturity-game-1-win-blazers

From Scott Polacek, Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2833799-nikola-jokic-leads-nuggets-to-game-1-win-vs-blazers-despite-damian-lillards-39

From Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune: https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/426951-333896-one-down-in-denver

- BOS-MIL:

From Bill Sy, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2019/4/30/18522148/shot-location-shot-location-shot-location-celtics-take-and-make-what-they-can-get-in-game-1-vs-bucks

From Matt Velazquez, jsonline: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2019/04/29/bucks-downplay-need-adjustments-game-2-vs-celtics/3614152002/

From John Karalis, Mass Live: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/04/boston-celtics-ramp-up-rebounding-and-return-to-the-top-as-nbas-best-defense.html

From Malika Andrews, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26635491/milwaukee-bucks-guard-eric-bledsoe-controlling-emotions-seeking-redemption-vs-boston-celtics

From Jonathan Tjarks, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/4/29/18522381/milwaukee-bucks-golden-state-warriors-budenholzer-kerr

From Tim Bontemps, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26635684/bucks-target-energy-bump-not-game-plan-g2

From Nekias Duncan, The Basketball Writers: https://bballwriters.com/analysis/game-2-adjustments-for-milwaukee-bucks/

From Joe Vardon, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/953723/2019/04/30/kyrie-the-passer-makes-celtics-irving-even-more-lethal-playoff-threat/

- GSW-HOU:

From Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-look-to-get-back-up-to-speed-against-13805490.php

From Mark Medina, Mercury News: https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/22/steve-kerr-explains-why-alfonzo-mckinnie-is-part-of-warriors-playoff-rotation/

From Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/952108/2019/04/29/thompson-klay-thompson-shrugs-off-pain-and-gives-the-warriors-strength-over-adversity

From Danny Leroux, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/952411/2019/04/29/warriors-rockets-game-1-report-card-grading-greens-defensive-impact-and-iguodalas-matchup-with-harden/

- The Roots Of CP3's Insatiable Drive (from Jordan Ritter Conn, The Ringer):

Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/features/2019/4/30/18523318/chris-paul-nba-houston-rockets-golden-state-warriors-game-2

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- Fixing The Impact Of The Three-Point Shot (from Kirk Goldsberry, ESPN):

Read it here: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26633540/the-nba-obsessed-3s-let-fix-thing

From Kevin Quealy/Benjamin Hoffman, NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/30/upshot/harden-rockets-curry-warriors-three-pointers.html

- 8 Important Questions Before The 2019 Draft (from Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated):

Read it here:  https://www.si.com/nba/2019/04/30/2019-nba-draft-combine-lottery-zion-williamson-rj-barrett-ja-morant