NBA Daily Links: 12.14.15

December 14, 2015 by Pete Newmann

PHILOSOPHICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.”

-E.E. Cummings

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NBA:

Why the NBA will eventually overtake the NFL in popularity and why it matters

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogergroves/2015/12/12/why-the-nba-will-eventually-overtake-the-nfl-in-popularity-and-why-it-matters/

Rookie of the Year so far?

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/head-to-head-rookie-of-the-year-so-far/

Ranking the top 5 backcourts by the numbers

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2015/12/13/stephen-curry-klay-thompson-john-wall-bradley-beal-damian-lillard-cj-mccollum-kyle-lowry-demar-derozan-brandon-knight-eric-bledsoe-best-backcourt-ranking/77156298/

NBA veteran Charles Davis visits residents at assisted living community

http://www.brentwoodhomepage.com/nba-veteran-davis-visits-residents-and-ravenwood-volunteers-at-morning-pointe-cms-24273#.Vm5LiISSXzI

NBA DRAFT:

The NBA’s 2015 draft class could be one of the best ever

http://www.sltrib.com/home/3297486-155/tony-jones-the-nbas-2015-draft

76ERS:

Noel injured in Sixers loss

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20151214_Sixers_can_t_keep_up_with_first-place_Raptors.html

Sixers say D’Antoni talk unrelated to Colangelo hire

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20151214_Sixers_say_D_Antoni_talk_unrelated_to_Colangelo_hire.html

D’Antoni reports are true, Brett Brown says

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/sixers/DAntoni-reports-are-true-says-Brett-Brown.html

Stauskas’ game a work in progress

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/12/13/76ers-stauskas-game-a-work-in-progress

BUCKS:

Bucks look to build on victory vs Warriors

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/bucks/bucks-look-to-build-on-victory-vs-warriors-b99631667z1-361746481.html

Green credits Bucks ‘swarming all over the place’

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/361724011.html

BULLS:

Joakim Noah reminds Bulls of his value

http://chicago.suntimes.com/basketball/7/71/1177798/joakim-noah-reminds-bulls-value

Bulls bench figuring out new offense

http://chicago.suntimes.com/basketball/7/71/1177656/bulls-bench-figuring-new-offense

Hoiberg shows Bulls difference in energy, pace in film session

http://www.csnchicago.com/bulls/hoiberg-shows-bulls-difference-energy-pace-film-session

CAVALIERS:

Irving won’t play Tuesday vs Boston

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/12/cleveland_cavaliers_guard_kyri_12.html#incart_social_feature

Kyrie Irving ready to play, yet team staying cautious with his return

http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-cavaliers/post/_/id/1661/source-kyrie-irving-ready-to-play-yet-team-still-staying-cautious-with-his-return

LeBron is tired of hearing about how many minutes he’s playing

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/12/lebron_james_tired_of_hearing.html#incart_river_index

JR Smith on Golden State: I wanted them to go undefeated until they played us

http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-cavaliers/post/_/id/1666/j-r-smith-on-golden-state-i-wanted-them-to-go-undefeated-until-they-played-us

CELTICS:

Celtics discover identity, gain confidence

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4721346/celtics-have-discovered-identity-gained-newfound-confidence

It seems like James Young’s time has come

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/14/seems-like-james-young-time-has-come/4dy1HtxrU03ObwA5PCujyN/story.html

Thomas adding offensive punch to starting lineup

http://www.csnne.com/boston-celtics/thomas-adding-offensive-punch-starting-lineup

CLIPPERS:

As DeAndre Jordan re-energizes, so do Clippers

http://www.latimes.com/sports/clippers/la-sp-clippers-20151214-story.html

How far will Clippers go?

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-sunday-how-far-will-the-clippers-go/

GRIZZLIES:

Griz change lineup, lose to Heat

http://www.commercialappeal.com/sports/grizzlies/griz-change-lineup-lose-100-97-to-heat-26cfc16a-6997-2baf-e053-0100007f7c24-361741611.html

HEAT:

Heat steal win from Grizzlies

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article49612200.html

Heat say knee injury for McRoberts dates to Nov. 10

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-josh-mcroberts-s121315-story.html

JAZZ:

OKC rallies to beat Jazz in OT

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3299760-155/utah-jazz-okc-rallies-to-win

Hayward bulks up for defensive duties

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/3301041-155/jazz-notes-hayward-bulks-up-for

Favors, Burke, Snyder proving instrumental in Jazz success

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865643615/Favors-Burke-Snyder-proving-instrumental-in-Jazz-success.html

KINGS:

Kings will have their hands full on Tuesday with the greatest beard in sports

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/andy-furillo/article49600735.html

Great practice preps Kings for Rondo-less night

http://www.csnbayarea.com/kings/notes-great-practice-preps-kings-rondo-less-night

KNICKS:

Has Porzingis hit the rookie wall?

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/knicks-kristaps-porzinigis-hit-rookie-wall-article-1.2464743

LAKERS:

Lakers teammates enjoying Kobe’s farewell ride

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14354110/nba-kobe-bryant-teammates-rivals-embracing-wild-farewell-tour

D’Angelo Russell’s ascension is just a matter of time

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14340971/los-angeles-lakers-point-guard-dangelo-russell-not-come-just-yet

Randle’s production has tailed off since demotion

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-sp-lakers-20151214-story.html

Kobe leaving will help Lakers rebuild

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2015/12/13/kobe-bryant-leaving-will-help-lakers-rebuild/12NLmHZ43g27MpImbP3BLI/story.html

MAGIC:

Skiles weighs another lineup change

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-starting-lineup-1214-20151213-story.html

Magic ready to move past embarrassing loss

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-orlando-magic-news-1214-20151213-story.html

Improving 3-point shooting key for Magic

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/improving-3-point-shooting-key-magic

MAVERICKS:

You can attribute Mavs struggles to myriad of reasons, but this player isn’t one of them

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericksheadlines/2015/12/13/sefko-can-attribute-mavs-struggles-myriad-reasons-player-one?f=r

Mavs home woes can be traced to slow starts

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article49606900.html

NUGGETS:

Mudiay to miss first game as a pro

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_29246565/mudiay-miss-first-game-pro

PACERS:

Ian Mahinmi shows his improvement, impact as a starter

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nba/pacers/2015/12/13/ian-mahinmi-shows-his-improvement-impact-starter/77254516/

PELICANS:

Pelicans’ biggest problem continues to be inability to win on the road

http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2015/12/new_orleans_pelicans_biggest_p.html#incart_river_index

PISTONS:

Pistons shuttle Dinwiddie, Hilliard to Grand Rapids

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2015/12/13/detroit-pistons-spencer-dinwiddie-darrun-hilliard/77248522/

RAPTORS:

DeRozan leads Raptors over 76ers

http://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/2015/12/13/derozan-leads-raptors-over-visiting-76ers.html

ROCKETS:

Scouting report vs Nuggets

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2015/12/scouting-report-rockets-vs-nuggets/

SPURS:

Thanks, Warriors: Spurs content to keep winning in peace

http://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/Thanks-Warriors-Spurs-content-to-keep-winning-6695935.php

Spurs evolving consistency

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25412253/still-the-same-four-perspectives-on-the-evolving-but-consistent-spurs

SUNS:

Suns grind out victory over visiting Wolves

http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2015/12/13/suns-grind-out-victory-over-visiting-timberwolves/77003550/

TIMBERWOLVES:

Knight’s hot hand shoots Suns past Wolves

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_29246185/timberwolves-brandon-knights-hot-hand-shoots-suns-win

WARRIORS:

Recapping Golden State’s wild run

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post/_/id/4148/a-frenzied-ride-with-the-golden-state-warriors

For Warriors, the surreal ends and the season begins

http://espn.go.com/blog/golden-state-warriors/post/_/id/1056/the-surreal-ends-and-the-season-begins

Back to business for Warriors

http://www.nba.com/2015/news/features/steve_aschburner/12/13/bucks-end-warriors-win-streak-aschburner-121215/index.html

Warriors ready for a streak of normalcy after 1^st loss

http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/article/Warriors-ready-for-a-streak-of-normalcy-after-1st-6696241.php

Streak over, but history still in play

http://www.si.com/nba/2015/12/12/warriors-win-streak-ends-stephen-curry-michael-jordan-1996-bulls

With streak over, Warriors now face toughest opponent – themselves

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2598544-with-historic-start-over-warriors-now-face-their-toughest-opponentthemselves

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.