- 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

IMPORTANT NOTE: It seems that BI may be a victim of its own success. We have grown to the point of being too big to be a one-person operation. So it is time to explore expansion and change. No worries; we remain committed to our main curation function and will continue to link to the best NBA reporting and analysis every day. We would like to hear from anyone with an interest in joining BI in any role: investor, sponsor, original content provider, tech specialist, marketer, curation assistant, social media assistant, intern are just a few examples. For anyone interested in exploring possibilities, please email us at judco12000@yahoo.com to start a conversation. Please include your phone number. Thank you!

Basketball Intelligence Newsletter

Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis, PART…