Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 9/14/18

-5 ROY Favorites (from Trevor Magnotti, The Step Back):

Read it here:  https://fansided.com/2018/09/14/nba-season-preview-2018-19-rookie-favorites/

- Dissecting Doncic's D (from Max Levefvre, Cleaning The Glass):

Read it here:  https://cleaningtheglass.com/dissecting-doncics-d/

-5 EC Players Poised For Breakout Seasons (from Shlomo Sprung, Forbes):

Read it here:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/shlomosprung/2018/09/13/og-anunoby-jarrett-allen-eastern-conference-breakout-2018-2019-season/#7abc8df2237f

- Ben Simmons Doesn't Need The Three-Pointer (from Trevor Magnotti):

Read and watch it here: https://fansided.com/2018/09/14/25-25-ben-simmons-doesnt-need-3-pointer/

- Grading The Pistons' Roster (from NBA Math):

Read it here:   https://nbamath.com/crystalbasketball-ranking-the-detroit-pistons-for-2018-19/

- Grading The Warriors' Roster (from NBA Math):

Read it here:  https://nbamath.com/crystalbasketball-ranking-the-golden-state-warriors-for-2018-19/

- Hayward: "Basically 100 Percent" (from Chris Forsberg, ESPN):

Read it here:  http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/24664658/boston-celtics-gordon-hayward-says-basically-100-percent

From Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe:  https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2018/09/13/gordon-hayward-would-say-basically-percent/Hx64AiQczIMcYunwB8v3YM/story.html

- The Best Passing Centers In NBA History  (from NBA.com):

Read it here:  https://ca.nba.com/news/best-passing-center-nba-history-nikola-jokic-vlade-divac-wilt-chamberlain-arvydas-sabonis/1qzl1yyx9sjk21rqt98xvlkrmo

- Thibodeau On Acquiring Deng (from Steve Aschburner, NBA.com):

Read it here:  http://www.nba.com/article/2018/09/13/minnesota-timberwolves-tom-thibodeau-luol-deng

- Q & A: Kevin Pritchard (from Scott Agness, The  Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/522637/2018/09/14/qa-with-pacers-president-kevin-pritchard-on-free-agency-seeking-continuity-and-maintaining-calm-waters/

- Q & A: NBA Head Of Referee Ops Michelle Johnson (from Michael Scotto, The Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/522002/2018/09/14/qa-nba-vp-and-head-of-referee-ops-michelle-johnson-on-the-relationship-between-players-and-refs-last-two-minute-reports-and-female-officials/

- The Difficulty In Understanding The Importance Of Rebounding (from CharlieOCharles, Pounding The Rock):

Read and watch it here:  https://www.poundingtherock.com/2018/9/13/17813602/san-antonio-difficulty-understanding-importance-rebounding

- This Proposed Rule Change Will Lead To "The Fast Break Reborn" (from Xiane, The Dream Shake):

Read it here:  https://www.thedreamshake.com/2018/9/13/17858436/nba-fix-1-the-fast-break-reborn

- Orlando Magic Film Room: Bigs Already Terrific Defensively (from Josh Cohen, magic.com):

Read and watch it here:  https://www.nba.com/magic/news/film-room-magic-forwards-already-terrific-defensive-tandem-20180913

- What Is It Like To Try Out For A G-League Team? (from Jovan Buha, The Athletic):

Read it here:  https://theathletic.com/518993/2018/09/12/buha-what-is-it-like-to-try-out-for-a-g-league-team-let-me-tell-you/

- Today's BI Is Dedicated To The Memory Of Coach Don Newman:

https://statehornet.com/2018/09/former-sac-state-basketball-head-coach-loses-battle-to-cancer-at-age-60/

https://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/hometown-report/article218335720.html

QOTD (from Ti Windisch on player ranking lists):  "...those kinds of lists are always going to be limited in how useful they can be. Any list of simply the “best” player is devoid of context. It takes place in a weird vacuum universe where it’s impossible to weigh the surrounding pieces."