Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 7/31/20

- BOS: Walker's Knee & Projected Minutes Ramp Up (from Tom Westerholm, Mass Live):

Read it here: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2020/07/boston-celtics-kemba-walkers-knee-is-maybe-even-a-little-ahead-of-schedule-but-minutes-will-be-restricted-during-seeding-games.html

From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/07/31/0730-bh-s-walker/

- BOS: Important Questions About The Bench (from Tom Westerholm, Mass Live):

Read it here: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2020/07/can-boston-celtics-bench-pitch-in-enough-to-boost-the-starters-3-questions-as-nba-season-restarts.html

- DAL: Film Study: KP & The Fadeaway? (from Ryan Mainville, Mavs Moneyball):

Read and watch it here: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2020/7/31/21347294/film-study-kristaps-porzingis-dallas-mavericks-fade-away

- DAL: Luka Needs To Start Hitting 3s (from Josh Bowe, Mavs Moneyball):

Read and watch it here: https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2020/7/31/21348405/its-time-to-talk-about-luka-doncics-three-point-shooting-dallas-mavericks-nba-restart

- DAL: Boban's Great Day (from Ben Cohen, Wall Street Journal):

Read it here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/boban-marjanovic-mavericks-nba-bubble-11596179709

- IND: Turner's Increased Importance Without Sabonis (from J. Michael, Indy Star):

Read it here: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2020/07/31/pacers-myles-turner-more-important-than-ever-domantas-sabonis-out/5537380002/

- LAL: Caruso Is More Than A Meme (from Luca De Angelis, Lake Show Life):

Read it here: https://lakeshowlife.com/2020/07/30/los-angeles-lakers-alex-caruso-meme/

- LAL: LBJ's Defense Made The Difference (from Joe Wolfond, The Score):

Read it here: https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/1964083

- LAL: Waiters Was Everything Rondo Hasn't Been This Season (from Sam Quinn, CBS Sports):

Read it here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/dion-waiters-proves-his-value-to-lakers-in-debut-becomes-hero-in-win-over-clippers-by-not-trying-to-be-one/

- MIA: The Work Okpala Puts In Behind The Scenes (from Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald):

Read it here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article244573577.html

- MIA: Spoelstra's Most Difficult Personnel Decision (from Barry Jackson, Miami Herald):

Read it here: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article243962232.html

- MIL: How To Beat The Bucks (from Kirk Goldsberry, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbareturn29564375/how-beat-bucks-three-ways-topple-juggernaut

-  NYK: Thibodeau's Knicks Rebuild Begins Now (from Marc Berman, NY Post):

Read it here: https://nypost.com/2020/07/30/tom-thibodeaus-knicks-rebuild-starts-now-a-dream-come-true/

- ORL: Is Defense A Magic Strength? (from Garrett Townsend, Orlando Pinstriped Post):

Read it here: https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/2020/7/30/21348346/orlando-magic-nba-restart-disney-markelle-fultz-aaron-gordon-jonathan-isaac-nikola-vucevic

- PHO: Bridges Stands To Gain As Much As Anyone In The Restart (from Brendon Kleen, Forbes):

Read it here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brendonkleen/2020/07/31/phoenix-suns-mikal-bridges-nba-restart/#71799b20f3d4

- PHO: The Suns' Strengths & Weaknesses (from Dave King, Bright Side Of The Sun):

Read it here: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2020/7/30/21346464/strengths-weaknesses-phoenix-suns-bubble-games-begin

- POR: What Nurkic Gained From Losing A Year To Injury (from Ramona Shelburne, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/id/29562198/what-jusuf-nurkic-gained-losing-year-injury

- TOR: What A Nick Nurse Team Is Like (from Kevin Yeung, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2020/07/31/raptors-head-coach-nick-nurse-heat-check-season/

- TOR: The Simple Beauty Of A Lowry-Ibaka Pick-And-Roll (from Joseph Casciaro, The Score):

Read and watch it here: https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/1991999/what-were-looking-forward-to-the-simple-beauty-of-a-lowry-ibaka-pick-and-roll

- UTA: Jazz Win But Show A Lack Of Depth (from Ian Levy, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2020/07/31/jazz-serious-depth-problem/

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- Each EC Bubble Team's "One Thing To Watch" (from Tom Haberstroh, NBC Sports):

Read it here: https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/nba-insider-tom-haberstroh/jimmy-butler-ben-simmons-look-spoil-bucks-reign-over-east

- EC Role Players To Watch (from Ben Ladner, The Step Back):

Read and watch it here: https://fansided.com/2020/07/31/five-nba-role-players-watch-eastern-conference/

- Takeaways From Re-Opening Day (from Gerald Bourguet, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2020/07/31/whiteboard-5-biggest-takeaways-nba-re-opening-day/

From Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports:  https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/lebron-james-two-way-heroics-zion-williamsons-explosive-bursts-among-best-moments-from-nba-re-opening-night/

From ESPN: https://www.espn.co.uk/nba/story/_/page/nbareturn29564338/inside-first-night-nba-bold-bubble-experiment

From Paolo Uggetti, Rob Mahoney, Justin Verrier, The Ringer:  https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/7/30/21348562/nba-restart-tracker

- Who Are The Playoff  "Sleeper" Teams? (from NBA.com):

Read it here: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/07/28/blogtable-sleepers-east-west-restart

- Players' & Coaches' Social Justice Activism Commitment (from Michael C. Wright/Khari Arnold, NBA.com):

Read it here: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/07/29/nba-social-justice-timeline-2012-2020

- Late Draft Decisions Create Awkward Situations As College Teams Begin Early Workouts (from David Cobb, CBS Sports):

Read it here: https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2020/07/boston-celtics-kemba-walkers-knee-is-maybe-even-a-little-ahead-of-schedule-but-minutes-will-be-restricted-during-seeding-games.html