Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis, PART ONE 12/18/20

- ATL: Inside The Hawks' L.A. Workouts, Secret Pickup Games (from Chris Kirschner, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2262145/2020/12/18/atlanta-hawks-trae-young-cam-reddish/

- ATL: New-Look Hawks At The Crossroads (from Sekou Smith, NBA.com):

Read it here: https://www.nba.com/news/new-look-hawks-at-the-crossroads-entering-2020-21-season

- CLE: McGee Is Embracing Bickerstaff's Leadership Challenge (from Chris Fedor, cleveland.com):

Read it here: https://www.cleveland.com/cavs/2020/12/javale-mcgee-embracing-jb-bickerstaffs-leadership-challenge-hoping-to-teach-young-players-how-to-win.html

- DET: Pistons Give Glimpse Of Weaver's Plan In Win Over Wizards (from Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press):

Read it here: https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2020/12/18/detroit-pistons-defense-long-athletic-preseason-washington-wizards/3953479001/

From Keith Langlois, Pistons.com: https://www.nba.com/pistons/features/weaver-casey-blueprint-play-defense-then-run-clicks-pistons-roll-washington

From Rod Beard, Detroit News: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2020/12/17/pistons-have-best-preseason-showing-yet-win-over-wizards/3952831001/

- DET: How Grant Can Justify His Contract At Each End (from Joe Truck, Detroit Bad Boys):

Read it here: https://www.detroitbadboys.com/2020/12/18/22154485/detroit-pistons-jerami-grant-offense-defense-contract

- GSW: Wiseman Has Dubs Excited, But Preaching Patience (from Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2266925/2020/12/17/thompson-james-wiseman-already-has-the-warriors-excited-but-preaching-patience

- GSW: Takeaways From The Preseason Games (from Anthony Slater, The Athletic):

Read and watch  it here: https://theathletic.com/2268930/2020/12/18/warriors-kelly-oubre-andrew-wiggins-stephen-curry/

- HOU: Rockets' Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2256792/2020/12/18/hollinger-2020-21-rockets-preview-james-harden-trade-rumors/

- HOU: Takeaways From Win Over Spurs (from Jonathan Feigen, Houston Chronicle):

Read it here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/3-pointers-Takeaways-from-Rockets-preseason-win-15813080.php  and  https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Christian-Wood-shows-why-Rockets-acquired-him-in-15812847.php

- LAL: LBJ's Savvy Strategy To Dominate At This Age (from Kirk Goldsberry, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/30532958/lebron-james-savvy-strategy-dominate-age

- LAL: Q & A: Alex Caruso (from Christian Rivas, Silver Screen And Roll):

Read it here: https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2020/12/17/22187857/lakers-alex-caruso-q-and-a-interview-injury-update-game-6-nba-finals

- MEM: Inside Asst. Coach Sonia Raman's Extraordinary Path To The NBA (from Jared Weiss, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2269228/2020/12/18/sonia-raman-memphis-grizzlies-mit/

- MEM: Figuring Out The Grizzlies' Wing Log-Jam (from Nathan Chester, Grizzly Bear Blues):

Read it here: https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2020/12/17/22176388/figuring-out-the-memphis-grizzlies-wing-log-jam-deanthony-melton-grayson-allen-desmond-bane-konchar

- MEM: Morant Has The Same To-Do List This Year (from Teresa Walker, Associated Press):

Read it here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/article247942805.html

- MIL: Bucks' Season Preview (from John Hollinger, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2245592/2020/12/18/hollinger-2020-21-bucks-preview-giannis-contract-extension/

- MIN: Film Room: The Wolves Are Feeling The Effects Of Roster Turnover & A Long Layoff (from Jake Paynting, Canis Hoopus):

Read and watch it here: https://www.canishoopus.com/2020/12/17/22177990/film-room-turnover-creating-turnovers-timberwolves-preseason

- MIN: Takeaways From Win Over Mavs (from YoLeo, Canis Hoopus):

Read and watch it here: https://www.canishoopus.com/2020/12/17/22179594/wolves-129-mavericks-127-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly

- NYK: Knicks Hoping For An Encore From  "Quickley Quintet" After Thrilling Win (from Marc Berman, NY Post):

Read it here: https://nypost.com/2020/12/17/knicks-hoping-for-encore-from-immanuel-quickley-quintet/

- PHO: Suns' Season Preview (from Seth Partnow/DaveDuFour, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2263057/2020/12/18/suns-season-preview-devin-booker-deandre-ayton/

- PHO: Galloway Is Bench Spark Suns Need (from Justin Morris, Bright Side Of The Sun):

Read and watch it here: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2020/12/17/22177366/langston-galloway-is-the-bench-spark-phoenix-suns-need

- SAS: Giles Has Made A Strong Case For Minutes (from Kyle Garcia, Blazer's Edge):

Read and watch it here: https://www.blazersedge.com/2020/12/17/22179765/trail-blazers-harry-giles-rotation-backup-center-jusuf-nurkic-video-highlights

- WC: The Most Interesting Players (from Jared Dubin, The Step Back):

Read it here: https://fansided.com/2020/12/18/james-wiseman-talen-horton-tucker-interesting-nba-players-west/

- What Does An NBA Road Trip Look Like During A Pandemic? (from Ira Winderman, SunSentinel):

Read it here: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-sp-miami-heat-road-trip-20201218-76ml4lyfera77llb4dsfea5vf4-story.html

- How NBA Players Have Prepped For A Season Like No Other (from Logan Murdock, The Ringer):

Read it here: https://www.theringer.com/2020/12/18/22188305/nba-2020-21-season-steph-curry-rico-hines-draymond-green

- How The NBA Altered The Rookie Transition Program During The Pandemic (from Cody Taylor, USA Today):

Read it here: https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2020/12/17/nba-rookie-transition-program-virtual-coronavirus-pandemic/

- G League Eyeing Reduced Bubble, Shortened Season (from Dave McMenamin, ESPN):

Read it here: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30540803/sources-g-league-pushing-forward-eyeing-reduced-bubble-shortened-season

- How Luke Garza Sees Everything, Thanks To KA-J, Sikma, Olajuwon, McHale (from Brian Hamilton, The Athletic):

Read it here: https://theathletic.com/2266313/

- Recapping Thursday's Games (from Kane Pitman, NBA.com):

Read and watch  it here: https://in.nba.com/news/nba-pre-season-recap-day-7---ja-vs-trae-steph-cooks-and-lamelo--dazzles/1he8a9g48ag6612ieopnei23b3

Today's BI is dedicated to the memory of Bruce O'Neil:

https://www.talkbasket.net/114555-remembering-bruce-oneil-a-basketball-visionary

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