Today's Best NBA Reporting And Analysis 5/24/21
Curated Picks
Ray’s Curated Pick
Coming soon…
Ben's Curated Pick
David Thorpe, True Hoop, A Weekend of NBA Playoffs https://www.truehoop.com/p/lessons-from-a-weekend-of-nba-playoffs
Key Graf
Over the regular season’s last 15 games, the Bucks had the league’s worst perimeter defense. It was horrid on Saturday too. In one example, the Heat ran a simple pin down opposite a pinch post feed and backdoor, and got an open 3 in the corner for Trevor Ariza because Giannis was asleep. It’s akin to a great tennis player hitting a routine ball into the net.
Basketball Intelligence Updates
-ATL-NYK:
From Graham Chapple, Peachtree Hoops: https://www.peachtreehoops.com/2021/5/24/22450889/trae-young-atlanta-hawks-game-1-knicks-winner-nba-playoffs-recap-breakdown-analysis-video-bogdanovic
From The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/news/nba-playoffs-trae-youngs-floater-sends-hawks-past-knicks-in-game-1/fjK56NDq5hPz
From Chris Kirschner, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/news/nba-playoffs-grizzlies-surprise-top-seeded-jazz-in-game-1/HsuurJvJ291R
From Alex Kennedy, Basketball News: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/qa-elfrid-payton-on-knicks-success-his-playoff-debut-criticism-from-fans-more
From Chris Vivlamore, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/when-in-the-lou-zone-you-leave-williams-in-the-game/GD2KSJNFBZE73PD4HMTQPC2UHI/
From Sarah Spencer, AJC: https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/trae-youngs-game-winning-shot-lifts-hawks-past-knicks-in-thrilling-game-1/6MW4CJTWOFFPFH3HETM7JEMNKI/
From Tim Bontemps, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31500472/2021-nba-playoffs-new-york-knicks-rock-madison-square-garden-trae-young-steals-show
From Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School: https://knicksfilmschool.substack.com/p/we-have-begun
From Andrew Lopez, ESPN: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31501947/atlanta-hawks-trae-young-silences-raucous-madison-square-garden-crowd-game-winner
From Jack Maloney, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/hawks-knicks-score-takeaways-trae-young-silences-madison-square-garden-chants-with-clutch-game-1-performance/live/
- BKN-BOS:
From Mark Murphy, Boston Herald: https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/05/24/0523-bh-s-tatum/
From Adam Himmelsbach, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/23/sports/robert-williams-athletic-presence-post-bodes-well-celtics-future/
From Adam Taylor, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/5/23/22449838/boston-celtics-robert-williams-impact-proves-to-be-an-encouraging-x-factor-brooklyn-nets-nba-playoff
From Daniel Lubofsky, Celtics Blog: https://www.celticsblog.com/2021/5/23/22449636/explaining-jayson-tatums-game-1-struggles-boston-celtics-brooklyn-nets-kevin-durant-jeff-green
From Brian Lewis, NY Post: https://nypost.com/2021/05/23/nba-playoffs-robert-williams-iii-poses-unexpected-nets-test/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=syndicated&utm_campaign=partnerfeed
From Sam Quinn, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/celtics-nets-robert-williams-showcases-defensive-player-of-the-year-potential-in-bostons-game-1-loss/
- DAL-LAC:
From Andrew Greif, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/story/2021-05-24/clippers-mavericks-kawhi-leonard-guard-luka-doncic-game-2-nba-playoffs
From Mirjam Swanson, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/05/23/tyronn-lue-wants-clippers-to-mix-it-up-on-offense-against-mavericks/
From Callie Caplan, Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2021/05/23/after-luka-doncic-bullied-patrick-beverley-mavs-are-prepping-for-heavier-dose-of-playoff-rondo-in-game-2/
- DEN-POR:
From Ryan Blackburn, Denver Stiffs: https://www.denverstiffs.com/2021/5/23/22449563/five-takeaways-from-a-nuggets-game-1-loss-versus-the-portland-trail-blazers
From Steve Dewald, Blazer's Edge: https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/5/22/22449521/trail-blazers-nuggets-damian-lillard-nikola-jokic-game-1-victory
From Mike Singer, Denver Post: https://www.denverpost.com/2021/05/23/nuggets-blazers-game-2-playoffs-long-series/
From Adam Mares, The DNVR: https://thednvr.com/the-challenge-of-guarding-damian-lillard-and-the-portland-trail-blazers/
From Dave Deckard, Blazer's Edge: https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/5/22/22449538/blazers-nuggets-game-1-final-score-boxscore-jokic-lillard-recap-2021-nba-playoffs and https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/5/23/22450225/blazers-nuggets-game-2-2021-nba-playoffs-nikola-jokic-michael-porter-jr-terry-stotts-adjustments
From Nick Kosmider, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2607185/2021/05/23/nuggets-game-1-loss-to-the-blazers-puts-spotlight-on-their-slim-margin-for-error/?source=user_shared_article
- LAL-PHO:
From Gerald Bourguet, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2021/05/23/game-1-phoenix-suns-devin-booker-not-scared-playoff-moment/
From Dan Woike, LA Times: https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/story/2021-05-23/lebron-james-anthony-davis-suns-lakers-game-1-nba-playoffs?utm_id=29620&sfmc_id=1361167
From Kyle Goon, OC Register: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/05/23/suns-rise-as-lakers-shrink-in-game-1-loss-in-phoenix/
From Kyle Picknell, Sky Sports: https://www.skysports.com/nba/news/36244/12315366/devin-booker-fuels-the-phoenix-suns-to-game-1-win-over-the-los-angeles-lakers-with-scintillating-playoff-debut
From DJ Siddiqi, Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/djsiddiqi/2021/05/24/los-angeles-lakers-look-like-the-underdogs-following-listless-game-1-loss-to-phoenix-suns/?sh=18098c7f5c8c
From Kellan Olson, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/2663894/message-sent-devin-booker-deandre-ayton-shine-as-suns-down-lakers-la/
From Kevin Zimmerman, Arizona Sports: https://arizonasports.com/story/2664492/deandre-aytons-big-game-1-about-suns-blowing-up-lakers-gameplan/
From Bill Oram, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2608499/2021/05/23/lakers-anthony-davis-takes-blame-for-game-1-loss-to-suns-this-is-on-me
From Anthony Slater, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2608017/2021/05/23/deandre-ayton-devin-booker-and-the-young-suns-make-statement-in-game-1-win-over-lakers
From Sabreena Merchant, Silver Screen And Roll: https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2021/5/23/22450430/nba-playoffs-lakers-vs-suns-final-score-game-1-deandre-ayton-kentavious-caldwell-pope-anthony-davis
From Dave King, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/5/23/22450252/g1-final-score-phoenix-suns-win-99-90-in-smash-mouth-game-los-angeles-lakers
From Trevor Booth, Bright Side Of The Sun: https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2021/5/23/22450523/monty-williams-on-phoenix-suns-rebounding-home-crowd-energy-in-game-1-win-over-lakers
From Ben Golliver, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/23/suns-lakers-game-1/
- MEM-UTA:
From The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/news/nba-playoffs-grizzlies-surprise-top-seeded-jazz-in-game-1/HsuurJvJ291R
From Sarah Todd, Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/2021/5/24/22450850/derrick-favors-was-the-lone-bright-spot-in-the-jazzs-game-1-loss-to-the-grizzlies
From Andy Larsen, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/05/23/triple-team-jazz-look/
From Eric Walden, Salt Lake Tribune: https://www.sltrib.com/sports/jazz/2021/05/23/utah-jazz-lead-memphis/
From Josh Robbins, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2609112/2021/05/24/dillon-brooks-game-1-masterpiece
From Tony Jones, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2608944/2021/05/24/bizarre-afternoon-turns-into-nightmarish-evening-as-jazz-drop-game-1-to-grizzlies
From Jack Maloney, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/grizzlies-vs-jazz-how-ja-morant-memphis-called-utahs-bluff-in-the-pick-and-roll-to-get-crucial-game-1-win/
From Evan Barnes, Commerical Appeal: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2021/05/23/memphis-grizzlies-upset-utah-jazz-game-1/5238174001
From Robby Kalland, Dime Mag: https://uproxx.com/dimemag/grizzlies-jazz-game-1-morant-brooks-video-highlights/
- MIA-MIL:
From Leonard Kreicas, Hot Hot Hoops: https://www.hothothoops.com/2021/5/23/22450023/nba-playoffs-miami-heat-milwaukee-bucks-bam-adebayo-jimmy-butler-goran-dragic-dwight-howard
From Jackson Frank, The Analyst: https://theanalyst.com/na/2021/05/jrue-holiday-and-the-milwaukee-bucks-2021-playoff-hopes/
From Sid Mohapatra, Hot Hot Hoops: https://www.hothothoops.com/2021/5/23/22449456/key-takeaways-and-observations-miami-heat-vs-milwaukee-bucks-game-1-nba-playoffs
From Seerat Sohi, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/5/24/22451120/bam-adebayo-miami-heat-nba-playoffs
- PHI-WAS:
From Marc Narducci, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/newsletters/sixers/sixers-washington-wizards-tunovers-bradley-beal-ben-simmons--20210524.html
From David Murphy, The Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/sixers-wizards-playoffs-game-1-tobias-harris-scoring-joel-embiid-foul-trouble-20210523.html
From Jack McCaffery, Delco Times: https://www.delcotimes.com/sports/sixers-notebook-despite-shooting-struggles-ben-simmons-lends-important-assistance/article_d63a7890-bbdd-11eb-9a6a-2fae0243aaa4.html
From David Aldridge, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2607993/2021/05/23/we-dont-want-to-be-close-the-wizards-get-an-education-from-game-1-in-philly
From Rich Hofmann, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2608253/2021/05/23/with-joel-embiid-in-foul-trouble-tobias-harris-stabilizes-sixers-in-game-1-win
From Fred Katz, The Athletic: https://theathletic.com/2608671/2021/05/23/wizards-have-no-answer-for-tobias-harris-sixers-in-game-1-loss
From Kyle Irving, Sporting News: https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/nba-playoffs-2021-tobias-harris-career-game-leads-philadelphia-76ers-over-washington-wizards-in-game-1/5ayrw94yt67d1tfsicge6hmfe
From Candace Buckner, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/23/washington-wizards-underdogs-game-1-sixers/
- Game 1 Takeaways & What Comes Next:
From Kevin O'Connor, The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/24/22450838/nba-postseason-takeaways-luka-doncic-trae-young-jayson-tatum
From Spencer Davies, Basketball News: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/first-day-of-nba-playoffs-reveals-importance-of-players-starring-in-roles
From Ian Levy, The Step Back: https://fansided.com/2021/05/24/lakers-big-problem-luka-doncic-ja-morant/
From David Thorpe, True Hoop: https://www.truehoop.com/p/lessons-from-a-weekend-of-nba-playoffs
From Colin Ward-Henninger, CBS Sports: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-playoffs-game-1-winners-and-losers-trae-young-silences-knicks-crowd-devin-booker-torches-lakers/
From Dan Favale, Bleacher Report: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2943709-top-takeaway-from-every-nba-teams-2021-playoff-debut
- NOP: Inside The Pels' Development (from Corey Brewer, Basketball news):
Read it here: https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/reflecting-on-my-first-year-as-a-coach-with-the-new-orleans-pelicans