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

- BKN: Nash Flexible With Rotations, Specifically At The 5 (from Chris Milholen, Nets Daily):

Read it here: https://www.netsdaily.com/2021/5/21/22446487/steve-nash-flexible-with-playoff-rotation-particularly-at-the-5

- BKN: KD, Kyrie & Harden Have Hardly Played Together.  Will That Be A Problem For Nets In The Playoffs? (from Santul Nerkar, FiveThirtyEight):

Read it here: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/has-the-nets-big-three-played-together-enough-to-win-it-all/

- BOS: What Caused The Celtics' Dramatic 3-Point Defense Drop-Off? (from Keith Smith, Celtics Blog):

Read it here: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/5/20/22444773/boston-celtics-dramatic-three-point-defense-drop-off

- DET: How Jerami Grant Plans To Take The Next Step (from Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press):

Read it here: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2021/05/21/detroit-pistons-jerami-grant-all-star/5192644001/

- DET: Tyler Cook Hopes To Stay With Pistons (from Chad Leistikow, Des Moines Register):

Read it here: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/columnists/chad-leistikow/2021/05/21/tyler-cook-nba-detroit-pistons-news-stats-contract-iowa-basketball-g-league-hawkeyes/5164812001/

- GSW: Dubs Must Turn The Page From Loss To Lakers (from Wes Goldberg, Mercury News):

Read it here: https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/20/after-instant-classic-warriors-must-turn-the-page-and-brace-for-biggest-game-of-the-season/   and  https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/21/warriors-grizzlies-keys-to-golden-state-keeping-its-season-alive

- IND: We Wait For Clarity On Nate Bjorkgren (from Bob Kravitz, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2603839/2021/05/21/kravitz-with-pacers-sent-to-summer-vacation-we-wait-for-clarity-on-nate-bjorkgren-its-going-to-get-interesting/

- LAC: Marcus Morris Says He & Luka Share Mutual Respect (from Mirjam Swanson, OC Register):

Read it here: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/20/clippers-marcus-morris-says-he-and-luka-doncic-share-mutual-respect/

- LAC: Clippers Enter The Playoffs As A New Team Ready For The Challenge (from Andrew Greif, LA Times):

Read it here: https://www.sunherald.com/sports/nba/article251579348.html

- LAL: Lessons Learned From Win Over Warriors (from Kyle Goon, OC Register):

Read it here: https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/20/four-lessons-learned-from-the-lakers-win-over-golden-state/

- LAL: The Lakers' Season Depends On AD Playing Center (from Ricky O'Donnell, SBNation):

Read it here: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/5/20/22445505/los-angeles-lakers-anthony-davis-center-andre-drummond-playoffs-2021

- LAL: Caruso Was There When Lakers Need Him Vs. Dubs (from Patrick Redford, Defector):

Read it here: https://defector.com/alex-caruso-was-right-where-the-lakers-needed-him-to-be/

-  LAL: Matthews Made Sure To Stay Ready After Sitting 1st Half Vs. Dubs (from Corey Hansford, Lakers Nation):

Read it here: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-wesley-matthews-made-sure-to-stay-ready-after-sitting-first-half-against-warriors/2021/05/20/

- MIL: Is The Bucks' Defense Ready For The Playoffs? (from Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer):

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8rinRkEAGQ

- MIL: Giannis Thrives On Pressure (from Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel):

Read it here: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2021/05/20/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-thrives-pressure-nba-playoffs/5180239001/

- PHI: Thybulle Is Helping Maxey Learn New Defensive Tricks (from Tom West, Liberty Ballers):

Read and watch it here: https://www.libertyballers.com/2021/5/20/22444670/matisse-thybulle-is-helping-tyrese-maxey-learn-new-defensive-tricks-philadelphia-76ers-nba

- PHO: Mikal Bridges Has Answered The Call For The Suns (from Khaleel Abdullah, Bright Side Of The Sun):

Read it here: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/5/20/22445267/mikal-bridges-has-answered-the-call-for-the-phoenix-suns

- POR: Kanter Can Be The Blazers' X-Factor Vs Nuggets (from Jamie Hudson, NBC Sports):

Read it here: https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/trail-blazers/2021-nba-playoffs-enes-kanter-can-prove-be-blazers-x-factor-vs-nuggets

- POR: The Evolution Of The Blazers' Offense (from Joe Moore/Dave Deckard, Blazer's Edge):

Read it here: https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/5/20/22426285/portland-trail-blazers-offense-statistics-terry-stotts-damian-lillard-three-pointers

- TOR: One Off-Season Priority For Each Core Member Of The Raptors (from Oren Weisfeld, Sportsnet):

Read and watch it here: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/one-off-season-priority-core-member-raptors/

- UTA: Could Clarkson Be The Jazz's X-Factor In The Playoffs? (from Sarah Todd, Deseret News):

Read it here: https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/20/22425374/utah-jazz-playoff-preview-jordan-clarkson-make-or-miss-league-playoffs-nba

- WAS: The Wizards Show That There Is Always Something To Play For (from Rob Mahoney, The Ringer):

Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/21/22447340/wizards-nba-playoffs-sixers-preview

From Ohm Youngmisuk, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31480976/russell-westbrook-delivers-midseason-vow-leads-washington-wizards-playoffs

From Fred Katz, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2603940/2021/05/21/despite-17-32-start-russell-westbrook-and-washington-wizards-going-to-playoffs/

From Barry Svrluga, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/20/wizards-not-afraid-76ers-playoffs/

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- Warriors-Grizzlies Preview (from Anthony Slater, The Athletic):

Read and watch it here: https://theathletic.com/2602617/2021/05/21/warriors-grizzlies-2-0-preview-the-four-biggest-questions-and-possible-adjustments/

From David Thorpe, True Hoop: https://www.truehoop.com/p/david-thorpe-predicts-grizzlies-at

- Lillard Vs. Jokic: Previewing DEN vs. POR (from Tommy Knowloton, Denver Stiffs):

Read and watch it here: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2021/5/19/22443419/nikola-jokic-damian-lillard-denver-nuggets-portland-trailblazers-nba-playoffs-championship-mvp

- What To Watch For In Game One Of Each Playoff Series (from Ian Levy, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2021/05/21/nba-playoffs-game-1-bam-adebayo-heat-defense

- Playoff Preview: MIL Vs. MIA (from Jake Weinbach, Hoops Habit):

Read it here: https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/21/nba-playoffs-storylines-bucks-vs-heat/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

- EC Playoff Preview (from Zach Harper, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2578676/2021/05/21/where-the-eastern-conference-nba-playoff-field-stands-odds-rankings-what-to-like-and-what-to-worry-about/

- 1st Round Playoff Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2601596/2021/05/20/nba-playoffs-early-exit-for-lebron-and-lakers-blazers-over-nuggets-and-more-first-round-picks-from-john-hollinger/

- Rookies To Watch In The Playoffs (from Jasmyn Wimbish, CBS Sports):

Read it here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-rookie-rankings-from-knicks-quickley-to-celtics-pritchard-five-rookies-to-watch-in-the-playoffs/

- Each Playoff Team's X-Factor (from Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports):

Read it here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-from-lakers-alex-caruso-to-nets-blake-griffin-examining-every-teams-biggest-x-factor/

- Interesting Players Of The Playoffs' 1st Round (from Dan Devine, The Ringer):

Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/21/22446753/the-five-most-interesting-players-of-the-nbas-first-round

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- Lessons From The Wildest NBA Season On Record (from Kevin Arnovitz/Brian Windhorst, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/31469221/new-tournaments-roster-shakeups-casual-wear-lessons-wildest-nba-season-record

- The #1 Flaw That Needs Fixing For Each Top Rookie (from Greg Swartz, Bleacher Report):

Read it here: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2943590-1-flaw-every-top-nba-rookie-needs-to-fix-this-offseason

- Where Lottery Teams Stand Heading Into Offseason (from Zach Harper, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2578689/2021/05/20/where-nba-draft-lottery-teams-stand-heading-into-offseason-what-went-wrong-what-to-fix-pick-situations

- Chris Bosh On The Sudden 'Surreal' End Of His NBA Career (from Emily Bobrow, Wall Street Journal):

Read it here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/chris-bosh-on-the-sudden-surreal-end-of-his-nba-career-11621528351

- Q & A: NBPA ED Michele Roberts (from Rohan Nadkarni, Sports Illustrated):

Read it here: https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/21/michele-roberts-nbpa-retirement-nba-season

- 5-Star Recruits Matt & Ryan Bewley To Sign With Overtime Elite (from Sam Marsdale 247 Sports):

Read it here: https://247sports.com/Article/Matt-Bewley-Ryan-Bewley-brothers-sign-Overtime-Elite-professional-league-college-basketball-recruiting-165621212/

From Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31482947/matt-ryan-bewley-first-high-school-juniors-join-elite-league-sources-say