HomeNBABasketball Intelligence For 4/21/24

Basketball Intelligence For 4/21/24



BOS-MIA

Kristaps Porzingis vs. Bam Adebayo will headline Celtics-Heat
Jack Simone, Celtics Blog

Everything Heat said of Celtics matchup in NBA Playoffs
Souichi Terada, Mass Live

Heat embracing heavy underdog role in playoff series
Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald

Is trust the only issue the Celtics have entering the playoffs?
Gary Washburn, Boston Globe

CLE-ORL

How Cavs’ Evan Mobley wrecked Orlando’s defensive game plan in playoff series opener
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com

Cavs respond to Magic with newfound intensity and physicality
Ethan Sands, cleveland.com

No offense, but Magic won’t ‘overreact to anything’ in Game 1 loss to Cavaliers
Josh Robbins, The Athletic

The Cavs’ Two (Too) Big Advantage
Jacob Sutton, JSutt Hoops

Cavaliers grind out victory over Magic in Game 1
Nate Ulrich, Beacon Journal

Georges Niang’s confusing box score shows value of J.B. Bickerstaff’s new playoff chess piece
Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com

The Playoffs are already exposing the Orlando Magic’s weaknesses
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily

DAL-LAC

By the position: big man battle is the chess match of the series in Mavericks vs Clippers
Jordan Brodess, Mavs Moneyball

Clippers vs. Mavericks: First-round scouting report, prediction
Janis Carr, OC Register

Jason Kidd adapted and the Mavericks responded: Has he earned a contract extension?
Brad Townsend, Morning News

Kyrie Irving is the playoff partner Luka Dončić has been craving
Tim Cato, The Athletic

Clippers, with or without Kawhi Leonard, focused on Dallas and Luka Doncic
Janis Carr, OC Register

Doncic, Irving Embrace Being Ready to ‘Empty Their Clip’
Grant Afseth, Sports Illustrated

DEN-LAL

Lakers’ promising start turns into same depressing story vs. Nuggets
Jovan Buha, The Athletic

Nuggets vs. Lakers: 3 takeaways from Denver’s Game 1 win
Vinny Benedetto

Nuggets’ Game 1 win over Lakers shows it will take perfection to beat Denver
Tony Jones, The Athletic

Lakers start strong but still can’t solve Nuggets in series opener
Khobi Price, OC Register

Jamal Murray issues warning after Nuggets storm past Lakers in Game 1: “We’ll all shoot better next game”
Bennett Durando, Denver Post

Lakers takeaways: Why Anthony Davis and LeBron James weren’t good enough in Game 1
Dan Woike, LA Times

IND-MIL

Pascal Siakam is the key to the Indiana Pacers playoff success both on and off the court
Tony East, Sports Illustrated

Opportunity, experience, disruptors face Pacers
Tom Lewis, Indy Cornrows

First Round Playoff Preview – Bucks vs Pacers
Ti Windisch, ESPN

Indiana Pacers young players hoping inexperience isn’t a factor in the playoffs: ‘I haven’t felt much pressure’
Tony East, Sports Illustrated

Pacers Playoff Primer: Haliburton refreshed, learning on the fly, and Carlisle sets new standard
Scott Agness, Fieldhouse Files

3 Biggest X-factors for Milwaukee Bucks
Dalton Sell, Behind The Buck Pass

If Bucks want to slow down Pacers, better transition defense is a must
Eric Nehm, The Athletic

How Doc Rivers’ ‘dangerous’ conversations have led to buy-in from the Milwaukee Bucks
Jim Owczarski, Journal Sentinel

MIN-PHX

Anthony Edwards And The Timberwolves Torched The Suns In Game 1
Robby Kalland, Dime

Nickeil Alexander-Walker erases Suns’ lead, advantage with big performance
Star Tribune

Devin Booker needs to star for the Suns to advance, and he didn’t do it in Game 1
Doug Haller, The Athletic

Anthony Edwards leads the way as Timberwolves dismantle Suns in Game 1
Chris Hine, Star Tribune

Mike Conley’s call to arms spurs Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves to Game 1 win vs. Suns
Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic

Timberwolves use reworked defensive assignments, tighter focus to beat Suns in Game 1
Jerry Zgoda, Star Tribune

Takeaways from Suns Game 1 loss
Duane Rankin, Arizona Republic

NOP-OKC

Thunder-Pelicans preview: How New Orleans can slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC
Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports

Top-seeded Thunder say their maturity matters more than youth heading into playoffs vs. Pelicans
Associated Press

Thunder enter NBA playoffs respectful of everyone but fearful of no one
Darnell Mayberry, The Athletic

How the Thunder and Pelicans match up in NBA playoffs
Joel Lorenzi, The Oklahoman

NYK-PHI

Knicks’ bench trio thrives in huge Game 1 playoff win over 76ers
Peter Botte, NY Post

All for One & One for All…
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School

Josh Hart has new approach to Knicks’ playoff run: Think less
Fred Katz, The Athletic

Knicks must take advantage of Joel Embiid
Kristian Winfield, NY Daily News

Sixers’ fate rests on the shoulders — and knee — of Joel Embiid
Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic

In the 28 minutes Deuce McBride was on the floor in Game 1, the Knicks outscored the Sixers by 37 points
Tommy Beer, What’s On Tap

The Knicks didn’t win pretty, but they’re comfortable in the muck
Jonathan Macri, Knicks Film School

Sixers-Knicks takeaways
Keith Pompey, The Inquirer

3 reasons the New York Knicks were able to beat the Sixers in a dogfight
Jonathan Lurensky, Fansided

Josh Hart thriving as Tom Thibodeau’s do-it-all weapon
Peter Botte, NY Post

The Sixers left Josh Hart open from three-point range. The former Villanova star made them pay
Gina Mizell, The Inquirer

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