Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 5/17/21

-  CHI: Donovan Looks Inward As Bulls Miss Playoffs (from KC Johnson, NBC Sports):

Read it here: https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/billy-donovan-looks-inward-after-bulls-miss-playoffs

- CLE: Did The Cavs Make Progress This Season?  (from Chris Fedor, cleveland.com):

Read it here: https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2021/05/did-cleveland-cavaliers-make-progress-this-season-it-depends-on-how-you-choose-to-define-it.html

- DET: Weaver's Rebuilding Plan Shows Real Promise (from Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News):

Read it here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/article251467358.html

- GSW: The Plays That Propelled The Dubs To A Win Over The Grizzlies & The Eight Seed (from Anthony Slater, The Athletic):

Read and watch it here: https://theathletic.com/2592468/2021/05/16/the-plays-that-propelled-the-warriors-to-a-win-over-the-grizzlies-and-the-eighth-seed

- HOU: Takeaways From Rockets' Season (from Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle):

Read it here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/3-pointers-Takeaways-from-Rockets-loss-to-end-16181668.php

- LAC: Clippers Play It Safe With Heavy Rest In Season Finale (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register):

Read it here: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/16/clippers-play-it-safe-with-heavy-rest-in-regular-season-finale/

- LAL: Q & A: Head Athletic Trainer Nina Hsieh (from Karen Mizoguchi, People.com):

Read it here: https://people.com/sports/lakers-head-athletic-trainer-nina-hsieh-talks-about-making-history-in-nba/

- MEM: Taylor Jenkins Deserves A Lot Of Credit (from Parker Fleming, Grizzly Bear Blues):

Read it here: https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2021/5/17/22432847/basking-in-the-glow-of-taylor-jenkins-green-light-nba-memphis-grizzlies

- MIL: For Jrue Holiday, It Is A Good Game When His Wife Says So (from Marc Stein, NY Times):

Read it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/16/sports/basketball/jrue-holiday-lauren-milwaukee-bucks-playoffs.html

- NOP: Offseason Moves: Building A Contender Around Zion (from Bobby Marks, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31428204/offseason-moves-new-orleans-pelicans-building-contender-zion-williamson

- POR: Lillard Seeks Tips From Title Winners To Realize Goal (from Jason Quick, The Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/2593572/2021/05/17/damian-lillard-and-his-dream-blazers-star-seeks-tips-from-title-winners-to-realize-goal

- SAC:  Why Coach Walton Is Not Concerned Despite Uncertain Future With Kings (from Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee):

https://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article251467263.html

(BI Note:  Since the 2011-12 season, only one coach whose team finished last in the league in defensive rating returned the following season: Luke Walton of the 2016-17 Lakers. Can he defy the odds a second time?)

- TOR: How It All Went Wrong For Raptors In Tampa (from Eric Koreen, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2589937/2021/05/17/what-the-hell-is-this-we-need-to-get-back-to-toronto-how-it-all-went-wrong-for-the-raptors-in-tampa/

From Josh Lewenberg, TSN: https://www.tsn.ca/josh-lewenberg-toronto-raptors-hoping-to-learn-grow-and-bounce-back-from-tumultuous-season-1.1640967

- UTA: Bogdanovic's Late-Season Turnaround (from Ben Dowsett, Jazz Film Room):

Watch it here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bojan-late-51347339

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- Each Play-In Team's Secret Weapon (from Ian Levy, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2021/05/17/play-in-tournament-nba-every-team-secret-weapon

- Play-In Tournament: Favorites For Each Matchup (from Max Mortenson, Nylon Calculus):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2021/05/17/play-in-tournament-nba-odds-favorites/

From Zach Kram, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/4/8/22373059/playoff-lottery-odds-probability-model

From David Thorpe, True Hoop: https://www.truehoop.com/p/david-thorpe-picks-the-play-in-games

-2021 Playoffs: Everything To Know About The 20 Teams In The Mix (from ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31434086/nba-playoffs-2021-everything-need-know-20-teams-mix

- The Key To Playoff Upsets? Beating The Blitz (from Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer):

Read and watch it here: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/5/17/22439801/nba-play-in-playoffs-steph-curry-damian-lillard

- All-NBA, All-Defense & All-Rookie (from Zach Lowe, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31458931/all-nba-all-defense-all-rookie-zach-lowe-names-2021-award-winners

- Notes On The Season That Was (from Tim Reynolds, AP):

Read it here: https://www.whio.com/sports/10-things-know-with/4UBYO46QFXPTBP3QVMX2FID6QY/