Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 5/7/19

Playoff Series Updates:

- GSW-HOU:

From Charles Curtis, USA Today: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/05/rockets-warriors-hamptons-south-beach

From Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/3-pointers-Takeaways-from-Rockets-Game-4-win-13824401.php

From Ethan Strauss, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/965827/2019/05/07/how-do-the-warriors-rejuvenate-klay-thompsons-game

From Marc J. Spears, The Undefeated: https://theundefeated.com/features/houston-rockets-pj-tucker-im-living-my-dream-right-now-guarding-kevin-durant/

From Kristian Winfield, SBNation: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2019/5/6/18527271/draymond-green-highlights-lob-passes-warriors

From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/965444/2019/05/07/five-observations-from-the-warriors-112-108-game-4-loss-to-the-rockets

From Shaun Powell, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/07/rockets-physicality-evens-series-warriors

From Tim McMahon, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26689195/rockets-need-better-win

From Tim Kawakami, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/965734/2019/05/07/kawakami-draymond-greens-one-man-rally-cant-save-game-4-but-did-it-set-up-the-warriors-for-game-5

From Brian Windhorst, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26688597/after-four-games-rockets-warriors-series-classic-making   and  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26681903/extra-minutes-taking-toll-warriors

From Michael Pina, SBNation: https://www.sbnation.com/2019/5/6/18531390/eric-gordon-houston-rockets-stats-quotes-nba-playoffs-2019

From Hunter Atkins, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/How-Rockets-beating-Warriors-Death-Lineup-13824931.php

From Neil Greenberg, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/05/07/key-houston-rockets-eliminating-golden-state-warriors-pj-tucker/?utm_term=.a19fba5f9fd4

- MIL-BOS:

From Zach Lowe, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/zachlowe26688005/giannis-bucks-reclaimed-juggernaut-status

From John Karalis, Mass Live: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/05/playing-soft-confusing-decisions-and-10-things-we-learned-from-boston-celtics-vs-milwaukee-bucks-game-4.html

From Adam McGee, Behind The Buck Pass: https://behindthebuckpass.com/2019/05/06/milwaukee-bucks-brook-lopez-still-evolving-postseason/

From Malika Andrews, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26688656/bucks-lean-bench-en-route-3-1-series-lead

From Matt Velazquez, jsonline.com: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2019/05/06/milwaukee-bucks-and-boston-celtics-game-4/1115951001/

From Steve Aschburner, nba.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/07/bucks-stars-sit-down-supporting-cast-steps

From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2019/05/06/you-got-have-heart-and-celtics-are-not-showing-any/2r3DWExMfIgLsrKzCpmjSO/story.html

- TOR-PHI:

From James Tillman III, Hoops Habit:  https://hoopshabit.com/2019/05/06/philadelphia-76ers-3-takeaways-game-4-loss-vs-raptors/

From Jonathan Turco, Hoops Habit: https://hoopshabit.com/2019/05/06/toronto-raptors-3-takeaways-from-big-game-4-win-vs-76ers/

From Sarah Todd, philly.com: https://www.philly.com/sixers/raptors-two-center-lineup-marc-gasol-serge-ibaka-sixers-nba-playoffs-20190507.html

From John Schuhmann, NBA.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/07/raptors-sixers-going-distance-three-things

From Andrew Favakeh, Liberty Ballers: https://www.libertyballers.com/2019/5/7/18534853/joel-embiid-means-everything-to-the-sixers-defense-philadelphia-nba-playoffs

From Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26682825/what-drives-kyle-lowry-unexplainable-basketball-genius

From Bryan Kalbrosky, Hoops Hype: https://hoopshype.com/2019/05/06/toronto-raptors-marc-gasol-serge-ibaka-playoffs-analysis/

From Bryan Toporek, The Basketball Writers: https://bballwriters.com/profiles/the-sixers-need-more-from-ben-simmons/

- Why The Sixers' Traveling Training Room Is On The Court (from Dave McMenamin, ESPN):

Read it here:  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26640759/philadelphia-76ers-take-their-pregame-training-methods-court-road-games

- POR-DEN:

From Pat Graham, Associated Press: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wizards/big-man-on-court-nikola-jokic-showing-off-all-his-skills/2019/05/06/a109bbbc-7045-11e9-9331-30bc5836f48e_story.html

From Sekou Smith, nba.com: https://www.nba.com/article/2019/05/06/qa-paul-millsap

From Eric Spyropolous, nuggets.com: https://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/millsap-providing-presence-2019-playoffs-050619

From Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune: https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/12-sports/427598-333748-tight-series-shifts-to-denver

From Zach Lowe, ESPN: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/zachlowe26687405/twenty-three-reasons-enjoy-wild-blazers-nuggets-series

From Jeff Siegel, The Basketball Writers: https://bballwriters.com/analysis/when-will-denver-nuggets-or-portland-trail-blazers-go-small/

---

- Kawhi & KD Are Transcendent (from Paolo Uggetti, The Ringer):

Read and watch it here: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/5/6/18532101/nba-postseason-belt-kevin-durant-kawhi-leonard-second-round

- Late-Added Role Players Playing Dividends In Playoffs (from Adam Spinella, The Basketball Writers):

Read and watch  it here: https://bballwriters.com/analysis/late-added-role-players-paying-dividends-in-nba-playoffs/

- What Do We Know About Coaching In The Playoffs?  (from John Gonzalez, The Ringer):

Read it here:  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/5/7/18534620/nba-playoffs-coaching-hot-seat-brett-brown-steve-kerr

---

- PHO: Will Sarver Really Take A Step Back?  (from Evan Sidery, Bright Side Of The Sun):

Read it here: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2019/5/6/18528667/james-jones-seems-to-be-the-first-phoenix-suns-gm-to-gain-the-full-trust-of-robert-sarver

- PHO: James Jones: "We Need To Add Guys In Their Prime" (from Dan Feldman, NBC Sports):

Read it here:  https://nba.nbcsports.com/2019/05/06/suns-gm-james-jones-we-need-to-add-guys-in-their-prime/

- WAS: Job One: Establishing Accountability (from Candace Buckner, Washington Post):

Read it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/05/06/first-priority-wizards-new-gm-establishing-culture-accountability/

Note: I've recovered fully from a recent health issue, so I'm once again available to appear on podcasts.  If you would like me to guest on your pod, please email me at judco12000@yahoo.com so we can arrange details.  Thanks!