PHILOSOPHICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”
-Charles Chaplin
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NBA:
Duncan, Dirk prove NBA isn’t just young man’s game
Klay Thompson-Kobe Bryant, in the eyes of TNT’s Grant Hill
With post play on the decline, NBA’s big men can feast on second units
Play that man! NBA reserves who deserve more time during early 2015-16 season
5 NBA teams that need to sound the early-season alarm
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2592394-5-nba-teams-that-need-to-sound-the-early-season-alarm
France’s love affair with basketball — on and off court
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/11/24/sport/france-basketball-nba-parker/
Why is traveling so integral to the NBA?
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/yahoo-sportsdash/why-is-traveling-so-crucial-to-nba-223037090.html
Playing stock-up, stock-down with top 2016 NBA draft prospects
John Calipari doesn’t need NBA to be a king
REFEREE UNION:
Coaches have harsh words to referee union for Budenholzer incident
Rick Carlisle: Refs’ union made ‘reckless verbal attacks’
Rick Carlisle fires back at NBA referees union for ‘cheap’ attempt at ‘short-term Twitter fame’
76ERS:
Sixers’ struggles beginning to take their toll
Winless Sixers lack finishing touch
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20151125_Memo_to_Sixers_brass__Show_us_you_care.html
Memo to Sixers brass: Show us you care
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20151125_Memo_to_Sixers_brass__Show_us_you_care.html
Stauskas listed day-to-day with knee contusion
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/Stauskas-listed-day-to-day-with-knee-contusion.html
BULLS:
Bulls hold off Trail Blazers’ late flurry for 93-88 victory
Bulls’ Derrick Rose scores 17 points in return against Trail Blazers
Butler wants ‘Mister Dukie’ Mason Plumlee to pay his upcoming fine, and he’s ‘not playing’
Bulls continue looking for an identity and Jimmy Butler would like to find one quick
CAVALIERS:
LeBron James on the Eastern Conference’s rise
Kyrie Irving announces birth of his daughter
CELTICS:
Hawks coast to 121-97 win over Celtics
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/hawks-coast-121-97-win-over-celtics
C’s ‘have to reconnect as a group’
http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/stars-studs-and-duds-cs-have-reconnect-group
Brad Stevens rips Celtics after lackluster loss
Kyle Korver impressed with Celtics rookie R.J. Hunter
Turner points praise at Mutombo
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics/2015/11/celtics_notebook_turner_points_praise_at_mutombo
CLIPPERS:
Clippers end losing streak with win over Denver Nuggets, 111-94
http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-nuggets-20151125-story.html
Wesley Johnson provides spark for Clippers as a starter
http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-report-20151125-story.html
GRIZZLIES:
Grizzlies tame Mavericks, 110-96
http://www.nba.com/grizzlies/news/postgame-mavericks-151124
Balanced Grizzlies send Mavs to second straight loss
Is this the beginning of the end for the Grizzlies?
http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2015/11/24/is-this-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-the-memphis-grizzlies/
HAWKS:
Offense rocks as Hawks roll
http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/offense-rocks-as-hawks-roll/npWQ6/
5 observations from the Hawks’ 121-97 win over the Celtics
http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/hawks-break-out-of-doldrums-roll-past-celtics/npWPR/
Bud spoke (preached), Hawks listened
http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/bud-spoke-preached-hawks-listened/npWRL/
HEAT:
Heat is again learning how to gain from sacrifice
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/ethan-j-skolnick/article46355665.html
Defense becoming staple for Heat’s Justise Winslow
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-miami-heat-main-1125-20151124-story.html
Has Winslow already emerged as Heat’s best perimeter defender?
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-askira-story.html
Heat hit road after successful homestand
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/fl-miami-heat-notes-1125-20151124-story.html
JAZZ:
Want to win in the NBA? Get a rim protector
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3221600-155/utah-jazz-want-to-win-in
First-half breakdowns are dooming Jazz
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865642407/First-half-breakdowns-are-dooming-Utah-Jazz.html
KINGS:
Kings have several holes to plug on woeful defense
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article46354375.html
Kings game plan at Bucks
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article46348185.html
DeMarcus Cousins doubtful for Wednesday at Bucks
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article46352525.html
Rajon Rondo’s resurgence in Sacramento
Sacramento Kings pursue overseas investors for development near new arena
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/city-arena/article46294775.html
KNICKS:
Kristaps Porzingis on his sudden popularity, expectations and his ‘quiet place’
Knicks’ other top pick has already hit the rookie wall
http://nypost.com/2015/11/24/knicks-other-top-pick-has-already-hit-the-rookie-wall/
Porzingis stuffs stat sheet thanks to Fisher’s odd decision
http://nypost.com/2015/11/23/porzingis-rises-to-boshs-challenge-by-filling-up-stat-sheet-again/
Kristaps Porzingis busting stereotype of soft European player
Knicks bench struggling to provide offensive spark
LAKERS:
Lakers are routed as Warriors set record with 16th win in a row to start a season
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-warriors-20151125-story.html
Kobe on Lakers: ‘I could’ve scored 80 … wouldn’t have made a damn difference’
The defiance that made Kobe Bryant great is now destroying him
http://www.sbnation.com/2015/11/24/9790736/kobe-bryant-legacy-la-lakers-angry
A look at 2015-16 NBA salaries
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-am-a-look-at-2015-16-nba-salaries/
Byron Scott gives an edge to his ’80s Lakers over current Warriors
http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-report-20151125-story.html
MAGIC:
Magic’s Skiles could shake things up
Skiles searching for best lineups and rotations
http://www.nba.com/magic/news/skiles-searching-best-lineups-and-rotations
Porzingis was on Magic’s radar
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-orlando-magic-news-1125-20151124-story.html
MAVERICKS:
Sloppy Mavericks suffer ugly loss at Memphis
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article46375415.html
How Memphis’ Jeff Green helped put distance between Grizzlies and Mavs
Why the Mavericks’ 9-4 start now seems like a distant memory
Mavs not playing well on this road trip
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/full-court-press-blog/article46375695.html
Nowitzki bullish on Mavericks’ potential, but a couple losses sting
http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article46355735.html
NETS:
Nets on road again and seeing stars in OKC and Cleveland
NUGGETS:
Nuggets losing streak at four games with loss to Clippers
http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_29162951/nuggets-losing-streak-at-four-games-loss-clippers
Nikola Jokic could grow into a star for Nuggets
http://www.denverpost.com/kiszla/ci_29163099/jokic-could-grow-into-star
Nuggets lack of bodies takes toll on practices
http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_29162937/nuggets-lack-bodies-takes-toll-practices
PACERS:
Paul George scores 40 and Pacers hit 19 3s in win over Wizards
‘East Coast Splash Brothers’: George, Miles lead Pacers’ 3-point barrage
Score, defend, rebound. Paul George willing to do it all for Pacers
PELICANS:
Pelicans forward Alonzo Gee making his impact defending instead of scoring
Tyreke Evans experiencing minor pain in right knee, listed as doubtful vs. Suns
RAPTORS:
James, Cavaliers will test Raptors’ off-season rebuild
Raptors’ Carroll won’t roll out the red carpet for King James
Toronto assigns guard Delon Wright to D-League’s Raptors 905
ROCKETS:
After a “mini training camp,” Rockets say they’ve changed
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/11/after-a-mini-training-camp-rockets-say-theyve-changed/
Rockets get a lesson in teamwork from a Navy Seal
http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/11/rockets-get-a-lesson-in-teamwork-from-a-navy-seal/
SPURS:
Spurs players talk turkey
http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Spurs-players-talk-turkey-6654762.php
Green still humbled by long road to NBA
http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-pm-green-still-humbled-by-long-road-to-nba/
SUNS:
Suns’ Devin Booker quickly adapts to NBA
Suns’ rash of turnovers mostly self-induced
THUNDER:
Consistent defensive improvement paramount for the Thunder’s long-term title hopes
Summer trash talkers Serge Ibaka, Ronde Hollis-Jefferson finally do battle
Billy Donovan expands on Morrow’s and Singler’s minutes
http://newsok.com/billy-donovan-expands-on-morrows-and-singlers-minutes/article/5462591
TRAIL BLAZERS:
Cold shooting dooms Trail Blazers in loss to Bulls
Blazers’ McCollum improved his ballhandling thanks to father’s advice, his pregame routine
WARRIORS:
Warriors dominate in historic 16th straight win
Warriors’ record start by the numbers
http://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/Warriors-record-start-by-the-numbers-6656072.php
Kerr preps Warriors for history with moving speech
Warriors ‘still looking big picture’ after short celebration
http://www.csnbayarea.com/warriors/warriors-still-looking-big-picture-after-short-celebration
Warriors now only playing against bar they keep raising
http://www.csnbayarea.com/warriors/warriors-now-only-playing-against-bar-they-keep-raising
Who would win, 2015-16 Warriors or 1995-96 Bulls?
The artistry of Stephen Curry
WIZARDS:
Paul George torches Wizards again with 40 points in Pacers’ win
Wizards defense rests — and Pacers take full advantage in 123-106 rout
The Wizards’ schedule is about to get really busy
Peter Newmann is an analyst and writer who spent 10 years at ESPN, 8 as the NBA senior researcher working 24/7 on the league. He wrote game notes for crews, articles for ESPN.com, analysis for studio shows, and regularly assisted reporters and writers. Follow him on Twitter, and check out his Web site, www.peternewmann.com.