Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 9/2/20

- BOS-TOR:

  From Keith Smith, Celtics Blog:  https://www.celticsblog.com/2020/9/2/21418162/winning-plays-put-boston-up-2-0-11-takeaways-from-boston-celtics-toronto-raptors-game-2

  From Eric Koreen, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2038184/2020/09/01/conjuring-an-effective-raptors-offence-is-nick-nurses-toughest-job-yet/

  From Ryan Wolstat, Toronto Sun: https://torontosun.com/sports/basketball/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-come-up-short-in-game-2-trail-celtics-2-0-in-series/wcm/85536297-9ea6-41e3-8660-5821296c669c/

  From Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/01/sports/celtics-take-2-0-series-lead-over-raptors/

  From Gary Washburn, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/09/01/sports/marcus-smart-is-one-kind-celtics-know-it/

  From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/09/01/0902-bh-s-celticsnotes/

  From William Lou, Yahoo Sports: https://sports.yahoo.com/10-things-raptors-lose-in-heartbreaking-fashion-to-marcus-smarts-celtics-011635509.html

  From Brad Rowland, Dime Mag: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/marcus-smart-boston-celtics-value-defense-shooting-nba-playoffs-toronto-raptors/

  Form Jared Dubin, Last Night In Basketball:  https://lastnightinbasketball.substack.com/p/strides

  From Louis Zatzman, Raptors Republic: https://www.raptorsrepublic.com/2020/09/01/is-it-time-for-chris-boucher-to-be-in-the-rotation/

  From Matthew Geagan, CBS Sports: https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/09/02/tatum-smart-walker-williams-big-game-2-celtics-raptors-nba-playoffs/

  From Liam McKeone, The Big Lead: https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/marcus-smart-experience-flop-three-point-game-2-highlights-celtics-01eh7hhsrd18

- DEN-UTA:

  From Mike Schmitz, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/29788902/how-jamal-murray-proving-star-leap-nba-playoffs

  From Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs:  https://www.denverstiffs.com/2020/9/1/21417931/seven-takeaways-from-denvers-game-7-victory-to-complete-the-3-1-series-comeback

  From Rohan Nadkarni, Sports Illustrated: https://www.si.com/nba/2020/09/02/nuggets-game-7-win-jazz-takeaways

  From Jody Genessy, Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/9/1/21410329/utah-jazz-game-7-denver-nuggets-nba-playoffs-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-orlando-bubble

  From Sarah Todd, Deseret News:  https://www.deseret.com/sports/2020/9/1/21410326/utah-jazz-denver-nuggets-game-7-nba-playoffs-donovan-mitchell-rudy-gobert-nikola-jokic-jamal-murray

  From Brad Botkin, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/donovan-mitchell-and-jamal-murray-gave-us-a-show-for-the-ages-and-both-of-them-are-just-getting-started/

  From Jordan Greer, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/jazz-nuggets-takeaways-game-7-nikola-jokic/icxdb3l6hn9z1sxhrt75at07j

  From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/09/02/gary-harris-game-7-nuggets-defensive-stop/

  From Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2020/09/02/utah-jazz-denver-nuggets/

  From Kendra Andrews, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2030161/2020/09/01/michael-porter-jr-s-rookie-season-through-the-eyes-of-those-who-taught-him/

  From Seth Partnow, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2039223/2020/09/02/the-analytical-lookaroud-the-what-ifs-facing-the-utah-jazz/

  From Ben Golliver, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/09/02/jamal-murray-nuggets-jazz/

  From Dan Woike, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2020-09-01/jazz-nuggets-game-7-clippers-preview-gary-harris-nba-playoffs

  From Marc J. Spears, The Undefeated: https://theundefeated.com/features/donovan-mitchell-is-leaving-the-nba-bubble-but-his-work-isnt-over/

  From Chris Haynes, Yahoo Sports: https://news.yahoo.com/the-utah-jazz-arent-done-inside-donovan-mitchells-night-of-disappointment-144653183.html

  From Sam Quinn, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/despite-disappointing-first-round-loss-jazz-still-remain-one-of-the-biggest-winners-of-the-nba-bubble/

  From Harrison Wind, The DNVR: https://thednvr.com/no-apology-necessary-its-time-for-the-narrative-around-these-nuggets-to-change

- HOU-OKC:

  From Erik Horne, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2037896/2020/09/01/film-study-three-keys-to-watch-for-the-thunder-in-game-7-vs-the-rockets/

  From Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Everything-s-on-the-line-for-Rockets-15534058.php

  From Alex Saenz, Sir Charles In Charge: https://sircharlesincharge.com/2020/09/02/houston-rockets-little-things-doom/

- MIA-MIL:

  From Jake Weinbach, Hoops Habit: https://hoopshabit.com/2020/09/01/milwaukee-bucks-issues-nba-playoffs/

  From Brian Windhorst, ESPN:  https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29783303/has-there-ever-better-fit-jimmy-butler-miami-heat

  From Andrew Wagner, State Journal: https://madison.com/wsj/sports/basketball/professional/bucks-have-plenty-to-improve-on-following-game-1-loss/article_05613f1b-1bc0-5250-858b-45531dba28f7.html

  From Eric Nehm, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2036880/2020/09/01/bucks-guarding-jimmy-butler-why-not-use-giannis-antetokounmpo/

  From Matt Velazquez, jsonline: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2020/09/01/jimmy-butler-goran-dragic-were-big-problems-bucks-game-1-milwaukee-needs-solve-them-game-2/3454337001/

  From Sam Amick, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2038637/

  From Tom Haberstroh, NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/national/giannis-antetokounmpos-achilles-heel-could-doom-bucks

  From Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald: https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article245400185.html

  From Ramona Shelburne, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29707109/nba-playoffs-miami-heat-duncan-robinson-steps-sunlight

  From James Herbert, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/will-giannis-antetokounmpos-bucks-stop-here-how-heat-other-teams-are-pinching-milwaukees-schemes/

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- Lineup Choices Looming Large In Every Series (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2039346/2020/09/02/hollinger-lineup-choices-looming-large-in-every-series/

- The Storylines That Have Dominated The Playoffs (from Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated):

Read it here: https://www.si.com/nba/2020/09/02/2020-nba-playoffs-biggest-storylines

- Conference Semi-Final Previews (from ESPN Panel):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29739780/nba-playoffs-everything-know-clippers-nuggets-series-conference-semis

- The Analytical Lookaround (from Seth Partnow, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2036113/2020/09/01/the-analytical-lookaround-carrying-the-heavy-minute-load/

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- MEM:  Grizzlies Offseason Preview: https://theathletic.com/2027775/2020/09/01/lerouxs-cap-previews-opportunities-options-and-risks-for-the-grizzlies

- SAS: Small-Ball May Be Part Of The Spurs' Future Strategy (from Dylan Carter, Air Alamo):

Read it here: https://airalamo.com/2020/09/01/small-ball-san-antonio-spurs-strat/