People who love the game are asking: Is Adam Silver up for this?
Henry Abbott, True Hoop
Grading Every NBA Team’s Starting Lineup So Far
Grant Hughes, Bleacher Report
NBA rookie rankings: Which new faces have impressed early this season?
Zach Kram. ESPN
Wednesday Night’s Games
Dustin Brewer, Hoops
The Kings are struggling and have now lost four straight games after a massive 33pt beatdown vs. the Hawks at home in front of a very upset and vocal fanbase. Sacramento has been outscored a staggering 398-326 during this four-game slide.
“I was embarrassed. I wish I could’ve put on the jersey. At 55 I coulda showed you better than that. At least imma use all 6 fouls, and I can’t move, but imma foul the sh#t outta somebody” – Kings’ coach Doug Christie following the team’s 133-100 loss vs. Atlanta
The real story though is this Hawks team that continues to look like a completely different team in the absence of Trae Young. Propelled by Jalen Johnson (24pts/10r/8a) and Onyeka Okongwu (21pts in 21 minutes) the Hawks had 42 assists on 49 made baskets, with the ball constantly popping around and finding open shooters. As a result, the Hawks never trailed in this game and at one point led by as many as 44pts ensuring that no one on the roster played more than 27 minutes.
Since Trae went out on 10/29, the team has gone 6-2 and is scoring 117 points per game compared to 113 in the four games Trae has played full minutes in before injury. One of the biggest issues this team has always had has been maintaining scoring with the second unit during non-Trae minutes but now with him out, the result has been an extremely balanced, versatile offense along with no real spot in the starting lineup that opposing teams can attack defensively. With Trae and the Hawks unable to reach an agreement on an extension before the season, all of this makes me wonder if the team might explore a pivot, trading Trae for a bounty of picks and pieces to fit alongside this clearly talented lineup. It’s possible I’m just blinded by what I’ve seen lately since Trae hasn’t played since October and the hope of course would be he comes back and this team looks that much more dangerous but the level Quinn Snyder has these guys playing is making it something to consider.
Stephen Curry and Victor Wembanyama’s epic duel
Jack Maloney, CBS Sports
Is it time for the Warriors, Clippers and other Western Conference teams to panic?
John Hollinger, The Athletic
Memories of Michael Ray
Jake Carapella, The Shooter’s Bounce
ATL: Hawks pick up third straight win with dominant outing against Kings
Lauren Williams, AJC
BKN: Egor Demin showing he ‘belongs’ — but he faces his next NBA challenge
Bridget Reilly, NY Post
BOS: The Celtics mauled the Grizzlies
Adam Taylor, Celtics Chronicle
CHA: The Hornets FINALLY get physical and get a win over the Giannis-less Bucks
Doug Branson, Every Hornets Boxscore
CLE: In Lonzo Ball, Cavs have found a steady fifth option. Will it be enough in the East?
Fred Katz, The Athletic
CLE: Game Night Observations: A Gritty Win, Craig Porter Jr.’s Heroic Night, Rest and Darius Garland’s Toe
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot
Craig Porter Jr. had one of his most impactful games to date on Wednesday night. He was the best player on the floor throughout the evening. His final box score numbers are impressive, finishing with 19 points, four rebounds, nine assists, four blocks and three steals and a team-best plus-21, but it was how well he did the little things that mattered most.
“We had one heroic performance,” Atkinson said. “Craig Porter Jr. That’s, I mean, incredible. And not, you know, not the scoring, just the whole thing, the defense. You won’t see it on the stats, he had 11 deflections, too, [four] blocks, [three] steals. I mean, he was, like I said, it was a heroic, heroic performance. We needed it.”
The performance by Porter Jr. is a positive sign of his growth as a basketball player. He was challenged this offseason by the organization to find ways to improve after not being very impactful last season, and Wednesday night in Miami was a big step for him in that direction.
CLE: Inside Craig Porter Jr.’s ‘heroic’ night against Miami
Chris Fedor, cleveland.com
DAL: Behind the scenes of the Mavericks’ turbulent Nico Harrison era
Joe Vardon/Christian Clark/Sam Amick, The Athletic
DAL: What’s next after the firing of Nico Harrison
Marc Stein, The Stein Line
DEN: Jokić scores 52 points through three quarters in win over Clippers
Law Murray/Jenna West, The Athletic
DEN: Nikola Jokic was already the NBA’s best player. Now he’s even better
Ricky O’Donnell, SBNation
DET: Pistons’ eight straight wins show ‘what’s brewing in that locker room is special’
Hunter Patterson, The Athletic
Draft-related stories and the rest of today’s team-specifics follow for paid subscribers
