Basketball Intelligence For two/15/26
DAL: How did Cooper Flagg, Mavericks grade out in first half of 2025-26 NBA season?
Mike Curtis, Morning Information
LAC: Kawhi Leonard reminding the NBA he’s not performed being elite
Janis Carr, OC Register
MEM: Daydream 2026 NBA Draft Outcomes for Grizzlies
Ryan Kaminski, Sports activities Illustrated
NYK: That is the deepest Knicks group of the century
Kristian Winfield, Each day Information
NYK: Mitchell Robinson Completely Enhances KAT
Jayesh Pagar, Sports activities Illustrated
OKC: Jared McCain bids farewell to Philly and embraces the following chapter in OKC
Christopher Kline, Fansided
OKC: The Thunder turned picks into monopoly energy
Rafal Fabianowicz
BI word: The (solely?) answer – clone Sam Presti – will not be possible (but)
POR: Scoot Henderson is showcasing his upside
Eamon Cassels, Fansided
POR: Damian Lillard Received All-Star Weekend
Sean Highkin, Rose Backyard Report
SAS: The Spurs on the All-Star Break
Paul Garcia, The Spot Up Shot
SAS: Why the Spurs would ‘run by way of partitions’ for Mitch Johnson
Tom Orsborn, Specific Information
SAS: Rebuilds within the NBA all the time include unlucky casualties: why Jeremy Sochan needed to turn out to be considered one of them
Matthew Tynan, Company Data
Sleeper Prospects of the Week
Stephen Gillaspie, No Ceilings
Scouting Report: Michigan Ahead Yaxel Lendeborg
Derek Parker, Sports activities Illustrated
Bennett Stirtz Recreation has Transitioned Seamlessly to the Large 10 and Cemented his First Spherical Standing
Bryce Simon, Recreation Idea
Daydream 2026 NBA Draft Outcomes for Grizzlies
Ryan Kaminski, Sports activities Illustrated
Midterms: Checking in On Preseason Title Favorites
Jacob Sutton, JSutt Hoops
Tanks A Lot: An Evaluation of NBA Season’s Race to The Backside
Jacob Sutton, JSutt Hoops
To quantify which groups are trying the tankiest this season, I’ve put collectively what I name the Balanced Tank Index, or BTI for brief. It takes into consideration how typically and the way strongly a group performs suspicious rotations, showcases game-flow patterns, and “rests” gamers, whereas additionally making certain that groups aren’t penalized for merely being rife with accidents or dangerous luck.
Earlier than we discuss some other group, we have to speak in regards to the Kings. The Kings have a BTI of two.657, which isn’t solely the worst this season, nevertheless it out-tanks the 76ers’ 12 months from final season.
…in opposition to the Clippers on February sixth, Sacramento led by 3 initially of the fourth, solely to go and lose the sport. Crucially,(DeRozan, Lavine, Westbrook and Achiuwa had main) core minute drops.
And in DeRozan and Westbrook’s instances, they have been simply taken out of the sport completely for the fourth quarter, ensuing within the 3-point lead going away immediately. Oh, and Dylan Cardwell (who I believe has turn out to be a very good position participant however is actually not a full-time starter but) performed your entire 4th quarter with Nique Clifford. That, my mates, is a tank.
Different video games have labored equally. They often don’t pull all gamers, however they’ll pull an important one at an inopportune time, comparable to Domantas Sabonis or the surprisingly profitable rookie Maxime Raynaud.
Mix that with the already-bad document this group has, and also you get a tanky group.
The NBA is making an attempt one thing new for the All-Star Recreation … once more. Right here’s the way it all works
Ian Levy, Fansided
Adam Silver: ‘Each attainable treatment’ on desk to cease tanking
Joe Vardon, The Athletic
NBA’s marquee occasion now all in regards to the league’s points
Kelly Iko, Yahoo Sports activities
NBPA elects David Kelly as union’s subsequent govt director
Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic
Adam Silver particulars NBA Europe launch plan with attainable $1 billion enlargement charges
Michael Duarte, NY Submit
An empty NBA All-Star Saturday exhibits what occurs when sporting occasions turn out to be too company
Jason Jones, The Athletic
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