Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jamal Murray’s contract extension plus other Nuggets notes

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The Denver Nuggets extended Jamal Murray’s contract. It’s a hefty four-year, $208 million deal at age 27. While never receiving All-Star honors, he may be the no.1 veteran player in the NBA without it on his résumé because of his Playoff work.

 

He has been one of the most accurate snipers over the past five seasons. Considering Murray’s status as the team’s second-best player and how key pieces have left in the past two summers (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green), the group will need his highest attendance since 2018-19 and the top efficiency of his career. 

 

This deal needed to get done, despite Murray not looking like himself while playing for Team Canada in the Olympics and laboring through a calf injury in the postseason. When he is healthy, the Blue Arrow is one of the top guards in the league because of his elusiveness, post-game, ball protection, strength and deep jumper. 

 

Last season, 66.3% of Murray’s two-pointers were logged without the help of a teammate. The other Nuggets assisted on 60% of his trifectas. This is a premium because it takes pressure off the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokić, from creating something through a handoff or absorbing a double team.

 

Additionally, he spent 63.8% of his time checking guards on defense, holding them 41.8% shooting, per the NBA’s matchup data. 

 

His connection with Jokić makes them the best duo in the league, too. Losing half of that down the line would have been devastating. In Nuggets all-time Playoff history, Murray is fifth in rebounding (318), fourth in steals (72), second in minutes (2,522), second in points (1,571), second in assists (401) and first in 3-point makes (172). Don’t forget the countless big-time moments, either. 

 

Another reason the deal was important: Jokić is at his apex and shouldn’t have to carry the group through another season without a no.2 option. He had to in 2021-22, resulting in his second MVP crown. But the Nuggets tasted champagne in June 2023—strong regular seasons won’t cut it anymore as long as the generational center is on board.

 

Furthermore, the Nuggets need elevated accuracy from Murray at the rim. Only 16.6% of his attempts came there last season, but he made 65.2%, which is slightly below average. 

 

And when Jokić sits, he needs to get more out of his teammates. Twenty-and-a-half of his passes went to the Serbian, but next on the list was Aaron Gordon at 5.8 and Michael Porter Jr. at 4.8 feeds per game. Keep in mind, AG converted 52.6% of his two-pointers on Murray’s passes, and MPJ made 43% of his trays. Yet, these dishes aren’t resulting in enough field goal attempts. The Nuggets’ offense- 11th in total feeds and third in assists- could be a factor, but he needs a secondary go-to partner. 

 

Christian Braun needs a third-year leap:

 

Murray said Braun was his project in April because the vet has high expectations for his teammate who is likely the starting shooting guard. The latter is entering his third season, a pivotal one for himself and the Nuggets.

 

At this point, he is a durable release valve. Braun made 37.7% of his catch-and-shoot triples in 2023-24 and over two-thirds of his twos were assisted. 

 

Adding to his offensive arsenal and emerging as the point-of-attack pest is essential. His accuracy drops significantly on attempts with at least two dribbles or more. This needs to improve because the Nuggets need another dribble threat to get to the rim so Murray and Jokić don’t get burnt out.  

 

On defense, he will likely get put on the other team’s best perimeter player since KCP left for the Orlando Magic. This role will require constant communication plus will use lots of his energy. It’s one of the most consequential jobs on the squad.

 

What can Russell Westbrook bring?:

 

The backup point guard role is locked up by a former MVP (2016-17) with plenty of juice left. He’s not as fast as he used to be, but still quicker than most. He’ll be a transition weapon after grabbing a defensive rebound or when catching a pass from Jokić while running a vertical route. 

 

In 2023-24, Westbrook was still creating separation,  generating 6.9 paint points, which was a higher average than All-Stars (Damian Lillard), Tyrese Haliburton (6.5), Stephen Curry (5.9) and Paul George (5.6).  Also 1.7 of his digits came on the break.

 

Presumably, Westbrook and Murray’s minutes will be staggered since the former’s deep and mid-range jumper is not dependable. Opponents can sag off Westbrook and trap the pass. 

 

Westbrook is capable of playing well on defense but has gambling habits. If they persist, he won’t be a consistent option late in matches. 

 

Yet, his experience, work ethic, and leadership qualities make him a positive influence on the Nuggets’ young, developing players, Peyton Watson and Julian Strawther. 


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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Greg Oden’s sit-down with The OGs

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Former Miami Heat backup center Greg Oden stopped by Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller’s studio for the latest episode of The OGs podcast. It was another bitter-sweet stroll down memory lane.

 

The 2007 Big 10 Freshman of the Year and NBA’s first overall pick is one of the “what-if?” stories. His work at Ohio State distinguished him as the next great big man. Yet injuries and a pit of depression savaged his career.

 

He recorded 88 outings for the Portland Trail Blazers in the regular season and Playoffs in five years. Next, Oden spent three years rehabbing before making his comeback. He had three teams in mind: the Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat. 

 

The word is the Kings offered a three-year deal on the condition that he plays at least 75 games. He said the Mavericks presented a two-season contract with a player option and they didn’t want him to play the first campaign. And the Heat extended the same pact, but when he got to Miami, kept him waiting five days for a deal.

 

He joined the 2013-14 Heat. He remembers feeling nervous because of his time away. Norris Cole and LeBron James made him comfortable, but he says he was “scared as fuck” of Haslem, who was mean-mugging in the locker room. 

 

The big man was still on a minutes restriction with them. “If I practice, I can’t play the next two days,” Oden said. “Or if I played, I can’t practice the next two days.”

 

The Heat were the back-to-back defending champions then. Notably, that squad exchanged Christmas gifts at Tootsies Cabaret, one of Miami’s most famous strip clubs. Haslem said, “We needed that bonding” because the group played on national TV often and was constantly scrutinized. 

 

That year, the Heat went to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals but were demolished in five games by the San Antonio Spurs. This was a rematch of the previous season’s championship series, which ended in seven games with the Heat victorious. 

 

Oden shared that losing at the end hurt, and he had already picked his middle finger to bear his championship ring. 

 

He added, “I was hoping we [were] going to get it, and I never talked about it, but Kawhi [Leonard] got it cause of Game 3.” Leonard erupted for 29 points on 10 of 13 shots. One of his top moments was posterizing Chris Bosh, a sequence that Oden admits left him visibly startled. 

 

The last time he touched the floor as an NBA player was in Game 4 of the 2014 Finals. He recorded 80 seconds in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss. 

 

Incredibly, after the Spurs waxed the Heat in Game 5, he shared that LeBron was practicing in the Heat’s facility early the morning after the flight back with his mother, Gloria, in attendance. Oden was there for a workout and exit meetings. He was amazed at his teammates’ commitment to excellence. 

 

Also, Oden thought he was healthy enough to keep balling, but no opportunities presented themselves.

 

He is currently an assistant coach for the Butler Bulldogs. He transitioned into that role after being the director of basketball operations. 

 

Of note: Oden said Yao Ming was the toughest player he guarded, praising his fadeaway. 

 

Nikola Jokić, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Nikola Vucevic and Brook Lopez are his favorite big men today.

 

He recently graduated from Ohio State University with his master’s degree.

 

Oden introduced Haslem to a potent, mixed and chilled elixir of Patron and Hennessy. It’s called Patrenessy and was developed by former NFL running back Marshall Lynch. Haslem said it ”can start a jet.”

 

LeBron James was a fan of his when both were Heatles. 

 

And Oden still keeps his playbook from his lone season with the Heat. “I take it to a lot of the coaches and show them things from that year.”

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Notes for the Connecticut Sun, Angel Reese, A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Mitchell

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The WNBA is in the final phase of the regular season as teams have seven or eight games left. The MVP race is likely over, courtesy of A’j Wilson’s historical campaign. Rookie of the Year was decided months ago- Caitlin Clark is one of the best in the league and better than any perimeter player on America’s Olympic team.

But there are others who deserve praise, too. Let’s review.

Connecticut Sun peaking 

 

In August, the Sun went 5-2 and registered 15.1 fastbreak points and 21 off turnovers, first in the W in both categories. The record is 24-8 overall.

 

DiJonai Carrington is a game-changing defender. Her work guarding the point of attack slows down the other squad’s offense and generates transition for the Sun.

 

Marina Mabrey supplies shot creation off the bench, taking pressure off Alyssa Thomas to organize everything. Mabrey’s integration has helped the Sun rise from a good to a great team. She was the difference maker in the Sun’s trip to New York on Aug. 24, registering 15 points, six rebounds and four dimes. Mabrey and a 2025 second-round pick were traded by the Chicago Sky to the Connecticut Sun on July 17th for Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, two first-round picks, and one pick swap. 

 

Thomas impacts the game as a playmaker, rebounder and high-impact defender. 

 

DeWanna Bonner is still a top-notch scorer, functional as a pick-and-pop sniper and eats at the rim. 

 

And Brionna Jones is an efficient paint scorer and disruptor at an All-Star level. Last year, Jones played in 13 of 40 games because she tore her right Achilles tendon.

 

On top of that, the Sun get to the line and convert more than any other squad (22.3, 16.8) and are tied with the New York Liberty for the strictest defensive rating (94.9). 

 

The Sun, Lynx and Liberty are the top teams in 2024. 

 

Buy stock on Angel Reese

 

Angel Reese is having a record-setting season and, with some polishing, will become an elite player. 

 

Her screening and rebounding prowess are winning assets. Others want to play with someone that extends or denies possessions and gets them open. Reese’s defense is potent and so is her one-on-one coverage plus helping. And she’s powered by an unrelenting motor.

 

But she’s not a scoring threat. Over three-quarters of her tries come within five feet of the cup, yet she converts  43.6% at close range. 

 

Her offseason focus should be fixing her moves near the basket. She must raise that mark to at least 68%. In time, she and Kamilla Cardoso could be one of the top tandems in the W.

 

As a rookie, she’s set the new standard for rebounding and has 10 outings with at least 15 boards. A’ja Wilson was on pace to break Sylvia Fowles’ rebounding record, but Reese passed her, claiming it herself. 

 

Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman recently gave her thoughts on Reese on the Stephen A. Smith Show.  Lieberman said, “She’s not the biggest player on the court. She’s not the fastest player on the court. She is tenacious.”

 

Wilson’s season for the ages

 

Wilson is a combo of strength and finesse. She’s a post and face-up monster. Without a double team, the opponent doesn’t have a chance. Barring some apocalyptic-level collapse for the Las Vegas Aces, she should secure her third MVP crown.

 

Some of her efficiency has dropped, but it’s from the increased usage (second in the WNBA) and putting the team on her team shoulders. 

 

Most of her attempts come in the paint non-restricted area (37.1), and she’s still taking 7.5 freebies nightly, the most in the league, and making 85.8%. Keep in mind that she takes more mid-range shots than at 0-3 feet, too. Her work at the line is outstanding and leads to wins- when a player gets to the stipe at high volume, they are punishing the opponent with foul trouble. Plus players like Wilson give their team a breather and if the last charity shot goes in, it usually prevents the now retreating squad from getting taken on the break. 

 

While some teammates performed below standard, Wilson took her game to Mt. Olympus. She is recording 4.8 points per contest more than the second-leading scorer in the league, Arike Ogunbowale. She is also tied with Cynthia Cooper for the highest points-per-game average of all time (21). Notably, Wilson’s done it, shooting 3.9% higher for her career. 

 

Kelsey Mitchell’s productive August 

 

Mitchell was the W’s second-leading scorer (25.2) and the Fever’s second-most important player in August as her team went 5-1. She’s one of the top open-court players because of her speed and shot making ability plus is the perfect partner for Caitlin Clark. Mitchell recorded 25 fastbreak digits over that span, 44% of the Fever’s production in that set.  Additionally, she was tied for second in fastbreak points in August with Allisha Gray (Atlanta Dream) and Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury) behind DiJonai Carrington (Connecticut Sun, 34).

 

Furthermore, Mitchell had excellent 3-point accuracy on a  large monthly volume- 43.4% on 8.8 attempts. It was the second-leading mark on the team behind Lexie Hull’s grand sharpshooting- 70.8% on four hoisted deep looks per game. 

 

She is effective because she moves well without the ball and is elusive. When Clark is up top, Mitchell can easily slice up the baseline with a catch-and-score.  She’s a blur in the half-court and tough to track if she runs her opponents through stagger and flare screens.



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Hassan Whiteside’s chat with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller on The OGs podcast and more

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Pat Riley tried to break Hassan Whiteside. His method was having him run up and down the floor, dunking on each hoop until he gave out. Whiteside said he jammed about “127” times and that it was the toughest workout he’s ever had.

 

The session was in 2014 after the Memphis Grizzlies cut him. Riley probably yelled, grinning, “Only your best,” as a callback to his coaching days, when he nearly broke everyone and left plenty shaken. 

 

Soon afterward, Whiteside was signed to the Heat on a two-season, non-guaranteed contract. 

 

In 2015-16, Whiteside was the NBA’s block leader (3.7) and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. He was the rebounding champ in 2016-17, too.

 

In 2016, he signed a four-year, $98 million deal to be the Heat’s franchise player. But that never took off because he wasn’t good enough and had a low-powered motor. 

 

He was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019 as part of a four-team swap that included the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers that brought Jimmy Butler to Miami. 

 

Recently, former Laker Mychal Thompson joked on X,  formerly Twitter, about which task is more difficult- getting through one of Riley’s practices or watching his three-year-old grandson, Roman. “Both things make me feel like I just went [through] Navy Seal training…” Thompson said. 

 

Whiteside’s favorite memories in black were meeting Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, balling out against the Chicago Bulls, and going viral with the “I’m just trying to get my 2K rating up” presser. Whiteside credited Bosh for being a positive influence in his career.

 

His least favorite arena to play in was TD Garden. On a trip to Boston, Whiteside recalled it was “-13° “and the building was in the 40s. He said Erik Spoelstra tried to give one of the uplifting “mano-to-mano” speeches. Haslem, who was still playing then, commented that the team was “shaking like a Chevy.”

 

Furthermore, Whiteside is doing well with his trucking plus real estate ventures. And he’s in great shape in his retirement.

 

It would help the Heat to play faster

 

The Heat have averaged the 28th slowest pace in the Jimmy Butler era. On top of that, the group has ranked 22nd in fast break points and eighth in transition digits per possession. 

 

Never forget, Heat president Pat Riley was once quoted in Scott Ostler and Steve Springer’s Winnin Times: The Magical Journey of the Los Angeles Lakers, “Whether it’s for Showtime, or whether it’s for marketing, or it’s for his [Buss’s] whim, that’s how I like to play,” Riley says of fast-break basketball. “That’s how I was taught. It’s the best way to play basketball, the most fun way and most conducive to the kind of talent that comes off college campuses now. They are very agile, versatile, quick athletes whose instincts are to attack. I will always continue to be big on the wide-open running game.”

 

The open-court attack is one of the Heat’s weaknesses. There aren’t many burners on the team, but the pass is faster than the bounce. It would benefit Bam Adebayo to have more fast break opportunities, considering his superior athleticism to everyone on the team, his size and catch radius. 

 

The tools to upgrade the quick assault are there. Over the last five years, the squad had defended the top of the key well, allowing rivals 34.5% of hoisted shots. Further disruption up top and in the corners leads to long rebounds, which put the recovering unit in a favorable position to take off. Haywood Highsmith is the Heat’s best point-of-attack defender, and he can generate turnovers above.  Adebayo tags the back first but can switch to the front. Remember, they’ve been strong on the defensive glass, ranking among the top eight teams in that department over the last five years.

 

Some of the keys are unleashing Butler, Adebayo and Nikola Jović. Still, they must raise the intensity on the defensive glass and dish the outlet pass sooner.  Everybody who doesn’t get the rebound must run their lanes quickly to create a numbers advantage. 

 

The Heat were in 13 games ended by a differential of three points or fewer. The record was 8-5, averaging 11.8 fastbreak points. The squad isn’t getting enough easy baskets in close games. They must play quicker without sacrificing the defense. 

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Anthony Edwards does the NBA a disservice by disrespecting past labor

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NBA legends and pioneers caught an undeserved stray from Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards when interviewed by the Wall Street Journal:

 

“I didn’t watch it back in the day so I can’t speak on it. They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then. [Michael Jordan] was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe [Bryant], they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill.”

 

It’s a shame he didn’t know better. 

 

Wilt Chamberlain, on top of being the greatest athlete the league ever saw, possibly all sports, erased opponents’ shots and had a mean fadeaway jumper. 

 

Hakeem Olajuwon humiliated his matchups with footwork and finesse. 

 

Larry Bird could score from anywhere and with either hand.

 

Magic Johnson could bend defenses without scoring, flinging bullet passes and outrunning them.

 

I could go on forever.

 

Edwards should get a bit of a pass for being uninformed before he was drafted. Old full-game tapes are hard to find and can be expensive. Additionally, the NBA does a wack job of promoting its old difference-makers. Many in the media don’t care to learn about them, as is evident by all the “post-merger” stats on broadcasts or think pieces that fail to include forgotten titans. 

 

Yet, plenty of good highlights are available for free on YouTube. Now, it’s inexcusable- the league’s footage and licensing department is available and would likely expedite any request for NBA players.

 

His comments were unkind, and the former ballers, who made the league a billion-dollar empire, didn’t deserve it. 

 

If they were scrubs, teams wouldn’t have invested in charters in the ‘80s or the NBA wouldn’t have exploded in popularity during Johnson and Bird’s rivalry, then gone on to new peaks the following decade. Or grown men competing against them wouldn’t have fawned over Team USA in Barcelona in 1992. 

 

The ‘90s weren’t just Jordan. Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Olajuwon were top-shelf ballers, too.

 

Minnesota’s two-time All-Star and All-NBA Second Teamer in 2024 works on his game by studying in the film room. He is already a high-impact defender, but imagine how much more he could be if he stole some tricks from Kevin Garnett, the Wolves’ former big man who could check all positions. Anyone would benefit from KG teaching them moves on guarding up or down.

 

The most irritating aspect of Edwards’ prattle is that an innumerable amount of young fans might believe him. Those that do will only poison any basketball discussion they participate in. 

 

Edwards was also quoted in the WSJ as saying he didn’t know which NBA players won a championship young aside from Kobe Bryant. Well, Magic Johnson was Finals MVP as a rookie at age 20. Dwyane Wade was a champion at 24, his third season—only a year older than Edwards now. Bill Walton led the youngest starting five ever at 24 to a title in 1977. Bill Russell won his first of 11 at 22 as a rookie in 1957. 

 

Someone tell him. 

 

And the NBA should take notice. Eventually, today’s hoopers will move on and their legacies will fade to memories for those who witnessed, and they’ll just be stats for the ones that came too late. If Tiny Archibald, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West can be forgotten this way, the public will forget about LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Edwards next. 

 

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Five objectives for the Miami Heat’s 2024-25 regular season

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The Miami Heat have a path to defy expectations for a strong regular season by hitting five marks. Following an unceremonious first round exit in five games to the eventual champions Boston Celtics, the squad is arguably worse. 

 

The crew lost Caleb Martin to the Philadelphia 76ers and Delon Wright to the Milwaukee Bucks. The material replacements are Alec Burks, who played in 66 games and logged 18.4 minutes nightly last year; Kel’el Ware, the 15th pick in the draft plus Pelle Larsson, the 44th selection, and Keshad Johnson, an unchosen prospect; and Josh Christopher, a G-Leaguer in 2023-24.

 

If there’s any internal optimism, it comes from having Terry Rozier on deck, starting training camp, allowing for more cohesion. 

 

Let’s review five reachable benchmarks that could boost the club. 

 

Seventy games minimum for Jimmy Butler and more shots at close range

 

Butler has only logged at least 70 games twice in 13 seasons. That attendance rate isn’t enough, as the Heat depend on him to create most of the breakdowns on the court. Without him, the group only hits its fourth of sixth gear.

 

He must change the narrative, as Pat Riley talked about with Dwyane Wade years ago. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he has one of his top regular seasons in black because he wants a new contract next summer. 

 

For that to happen, he must raise his shot attempts at 0-3 feet back up to 30%. He scored at a slightly above-average rate in that zone, which was a drop-off from the previous three seasons. In those campaigns, he averaged 70.9% accuracy in the restricted area. Notably, Butler’s potency at close range slightly decreased, but his trips to the line didn’t much- only by .75 tries. 

Getting the old Butler back would make the Heat “dangerous loomers” again.

Robinson builds on last year’s campaign 

 

Tyler Herro is the most probable candidate to start over Robinson. The former is a superior ball handler and inside-the-arc scorer. The latter is a dangerous deep threat and moves better without the ball. It’s unclear which direction coach Erik Spoelstra will lean, but if he starts Herro, Robinson must produce as he did last year. 

 

In 2023-24, he was a lights-out shooter, putting up 14.4 points on 47% accuracy, including 42.1% from deep, with three rebounds, three assists, and 1.4 turnovers with the initial group. As a reserve, he averaged 11.1 digits on 42.4% shooting, with 36.2% from 3-point range, plus two rebounds, 2.3 assists,and 1.4 turnovers per contest.

 

Providing higher than 40% of hoisted trays on over seven tries off the bench is the firepower the Heatles need from Robinson if Herro starts.  

 

Adebayo takes on a bigger role on offense 

 

Adebayo has been the second and 11th best paint scorer in the NBA over the past two seasons. This must continue while he becomes more of a focal point and adds range.

 

In the future, he needs to take more trips to the line. He’s averaged 5.6 feeebies per outing over the last five seasons. The main reason is likely that most of his attempts come in the interior non-restricted area because he has improved significantly as a jump shooter. Thirty-six and a half percent of his tries come from 3-10 feet as opposed to 24.5% at the cup. 

 

To get him to the line more, he would likely need to adjust his shot diet so he gets more rim rolls, slot cuts and baseline attacks. His goal should be taking at least eight freebies per contest plus two trifectas per game in 2024-25.

 

Ware provides good minutes 

 

The Heat’s new rookie, Kel’el Ware, shouldn’t be expected to play in every game, unless he is astonishingly the second coming of Alonzo Mourning. Keep in mind that when Nikola Jović’s back healed, the Heat were selective with their green prospect, shifting him to the G-League early in his second year then elevated his usage with the main group. 

 

Still, Ware will likely get around a dozen minutes per game when he’s used. Eventually, the plan is for him to work in different lineups, ones that include Adebayo. For now, when #13 sits, Ware cannot be someone the opponents hunt down—he needs to be a positive pick-and-roll defender. Additionally, he must be an impactful rebounder and mover without the ball to keep earning time. 

 

Continuous growth for Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jović

 

When next to the starters, Jaquez works well off-ball and can score double-digits without running sets run for him. He was also dependable, being ninth in fourth-quarter minutes (626.7) in 2023-24. Adebayo was sixth (643.2).

 

Next season, his goal should be continuing as the team’s primary bench player by upping his scoring. His post-game is productive and can be used in higher volume to take advantage of one-on-one matchups or to absorb the extra defender, then find the sniper. 

 

Furthermore, his deep shot needs tuning as only 32.2% of his tries were logged and over half came in the corners. NBA defenses always sag off that area to clog the paint. It’s essential that he buries those looks.  

 

Jović showed the Heat a lot in 38 starts last season. He is a strong and tall playmaker on the break and a release valve in the half-court. To follow up, he needs to tighten his handle and improve his finishing at the rim to become a dependable ball handler. 

 

Defensively, there’s a lot of work to do. Most of his time was spent covering forwards (49.1%) in 2023-24, giving up 51.9% of attempts. His length and frame are nice tools, but he must be more disruptive against dribble penetration.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Notes on the Chicago Sky’s Kamilla Cardoso

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The Chicago Sky desperately needs shot creation after trading its second-best offensive option, Marina Mabrey, to the Connecticut Sun for Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson and two first-round picks. The former squad’s first game post-exchange was a disaster the personnel weren’t prepared for. It ended with the Phoenix Mercury cutting open the Sky 85-65. Notably, Chennedy Carter was absent from the hosts with a non-COVID illness.

 

Brittney Griner physically overpowered and schooled her matchup on both sides. Kahleah Copper ate on the break and half-court. And the Sky starters converted 15 of 44 baskets in front of supporters while conceding 56% of attempts to their counterparts.

 

Going forward, the Sky needs more production from Kamilla Cardoso. As is, Reese is depended on for shots (second on the team post-trade) and is no. 2 in minutes. But she needs more help from Cardoso, who can alleviate the burden by becoming a close-range hub.

 

In her 19 outings, Cardoso has averaged 26.1 minutes per game. This should rapidly increase because her screening is an alternative to open avenues for her teammates and herself, turning into a massive wideout on rim rolls. The Sky should give her extra chances to run dribble handoff actions to grow her confidence as a playmaker, too.

 

Currently, one of Cardoso’s weaknesses is ball security, as she’s picked up seven more turnovers than assists. Of her 29 lapses, three were traveling violations, six were offensive fouls, 10 got ripped from her grasp, nine were poor passes and a defensive three second infraction.

 

The two-time NCAA champ (Cardoso) has a size advantage over most of the league and a useful post-game.  This combination allows her to create double teams. Since the Sky is a poor deep-shooting unit, her teammates will have to attack the space created with cuts until long-range accuracy is fixed.

 

Yet, most of her attempts come at the rim and she’s not converting enough (52%) because she lacks a bit of strength.  Although, at 6-foot-7, she can turn the match into a grindhouse affair- she is a top five offensive rebounder and capable of scoring on the second try.

 

Defensively, Cardoso does well covering the back line and can work in a zone as the baseline and corner protector. Her length is difficult for opponents to gauge, as it causes rushed jumpers and low-percentage layups. Her top moment versus the Mercury was denying Copper at the rim while covering pick and roll in drop coverage.

 

But she must stop biting on fakes in her pursuit to deny shots because A- she’s bigger than almost everybody, and B.- no one recovers fast enough when leaving their feet.

 

One of Cardoso’s issues against the Mercury on Thursday was staying grounded against Griner and Copper. Both got past the rook for baskets.

 

With 15 games left in the 2024 season, the Sky are still capable of keeping the eighth seed as the ninth-place Atlanta Dream are two-and-a-half outings behind but, more importantly, folding and on an eight-match freefall. The seventh spot, held by the Indiana Fever, is ahead by a half-game, too.

 

Playing for something meaningful is a bonus for a rookie’s progress. Cardoso has an opportunity to make the last chunk of the year an accelerated course for her development.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat notes on Nikola Jović, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson

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Nikola Jović lived through highs and lows during his sophomore year, but he’s made monumental strides since his first season. He got stronger by bulking up around 20 pounds, preventing opponents from overpowering him as often, and his 3-point percentage has nearly doubled.

 

He’s the likable young person who takes tips from players like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, laughs with them, and works diligently with assistant coach Malik Allen.

 

He logged about 20 minutes of action between Oct.30- Dec. 6 and played in seven G-League games, but now he is the power forward.

 

Jović’s smarts, speed, size and strength make him the club’s top decision-maker in transition. In fact, when he plays power forward, the squad scores 152.9 points per 100 transition plays, good enough for the 86th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass. Furthermore, just 9.6% of his points came on the break in 2023-24, and 29% of his assists are in the open court.

 

But there are nights when coach Erik Spoelstra benches him early and others when he is unleashed. For example, in the Heat’s last game, he played 23 minutes, registering six points on 33% accuracy, with five rebounds and four assists; and in the outing before that, he tallied 23 marks on eight of 12 attempts, with eight boards and a dime in 39 minutes.

 

At age 20, he hasn’t evolved into a dependable half-court scorer, but that’s the next step. Currently, he’s mainly a catch-and-shoot option in this setting. The Heat need him to take extra shots at close range and finish more around the rim. He needs to tighten his handle, too, and he won’t be a dependable late-game option without it.

 

Down the line, he will likely turn into a high-caliber role player. A solid goal would be developing him into an athletic Boris Diaw- the French Magician was a creative passer and an average finisher at close range. The Heat should bring in former All-Star Goran Dragić (as our man at the network, Eternal Bast, suggested) to train with him and monitor his progress. Regarding elusive tricks and scoring, the Dragon is as fine a teacher as any.

 

A third-year leap relative to his improvements from his inaugural campaign until now would not only elevate the Heat, but extend Butler’s All-Star lifespan. On top of that, if Jović plays starter minutes next to Adebayo, the group doesn’t have a size issue in the back line. Jović is a decent rebounder, but the most used Heat lineup gave up an offensive rebound on 21.5% of opponents’ misses. This lineup included Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Butler, Adebayo and Jović.

 

Adebayo bolsters résumé with second Olympic gold medal

 

The Heat’s center is on track for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame following his second gold medal claim. He was the no.2 player for two Finals trips, has been arguably the league’s top defender for the last five years and is a top-shelf athlete. This span has included three All-Star selections plus five on the All-Defensive team.

 

Five more years producing at his rate should buy him a ticket into the honor’s club when he hangs his sneakers on a wire.

 

But who wants to depend on voter-determined accolades? Self-grabbed achievements instead of the elector awards (minus the MVP crown) would give his case extra credibility early. For example, leading the Playoffs in field goal percentage. He’d have to adjust his shot diet, but Jarrett Allen’s marks (67.6) in four games are reachable. Adebayo’s max in that category was 59.4% in 2021-22, but perhaps there will be expected Big Game Bam sightings as there were for Pat Riley’s former player, Big Game James Worthy.

 

His prime is starting and he has a final gear to get to on offense because he is taking more 3-point shots. If Adebayo becomes someone who isn’t just left open but eventually recklessly closed out to, he will have more chances to blow by rivals. Keep in mind, the captain was 11th (900) in paint points last season and second (1,098) the year before.

 

Following Team USA’s victorious run through the Olympics, Adebayo joins Dwyane Wade as the only player in Heat history with two Olympic medals. The former has two in gold and the latter one in gold and bronze.

 

Given his playstyle- an omnipresent defender with great leaping ability and a mid-range jumper- Team USA will probably target him for the 2028 Los Angeles campaign, too. And if Joel Embiid wasn’t pump-faking about competing for Cameroon, Adebayo’s experience and skills will be needed.

 

Last year’s Duncan Robinson (as a starter) is badly needed

 

Duncan Robinson is one of the best on the team at moving without the ball and was one of the league’s top snipers when starting. But he was a regular-shmegular as a reserve. As the former, he put up 14.4 points on 47% accuracy, including 42.1% from deep, with three rebounds, three assists and 1.4 turnovers. He logged 11.1 digits on 42.4% shooting, with 36.2% from 3-point range, plus two rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 turnovers per contest as the latter.

 

Additionally, when Robinson works with Rozier, Butler, Jović and Adebayo, the lineup feasts from the corners, making half its shots.

 

Playing more time with the group’s best players maximizes Robinson, who was one of the NBA’s most improved in 2023-24. He started scoring more inside the arc, upgraded his passing and elevated his defense.

 

He isn’t the on-ball threat Tyler Herro is, yet Robinson has gotten good at connecting with Adebayo when opponents trap the handoff.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Team USA beat France for the gold medal in the Olympic final

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Victor Wembanyama and Guerschon Yabusele carried France as long as possible, but Team USA defeated them in the Olympic final to claim its fifth straight gold medal. Anthony Davis was the top big man of the game, blowing up actions and buying extra possessions. And Stephen Curry lit up the defense with eight long-range strikes and put the match out of reach.

 

Early, France deployed a zone defensively, and Wembanyama uncorked their offense by canning a left-side catch-and-shoot bomb, dunking in transition after losing Joel Embiid at the top of the key on a hesitation move and posting him up for a nice maneuver off the glass.

 

In that span, the Americans reacted with LeBron James’ fastbreak jam, a layup by Devin Booker and Kevin Durant pouring in a triple.

 

Wembanyama sat after five minutes, and Gobert checked in for him. France’s offense stalled until the former came back in at the last two minutes, giving them a twin towers lineup.

 

The first quarter closed with Team USA ahead 20-15.

 

The Americans followed up in the second quarter with a feast in the open court. James had multiple marks, including a spin through the lane past various defenders for an and-one. Davis denied Isaïa Cordinier’s top-of-the-key triple and beat everyone down the court for the basket. Jayson Tatum dunked against none. And Curry connected on a quick corner three as Wemby closed out.

 

But the other side kept it close. Guerschon Yabusele broke down interior defenses- his signature moment was demolishing James, who tried to take a charge on a shattering dunk. Wembanyama slowed down but added a putback, layup and slam. And Cordinier splashed an outrageous, bank-shot triple on the right side.

 

Team USA was up 49-41 at halftime, shooting 50% from the field, including 45% from deep (nine of 20). Booker had 13 points on five of seven looks.

 

France recorded three of 16 3-point attempts but made 64% of two-point shots.

 

Subsequently, Team USA drained three of four 3-pointers and tallied three buckets at close range. But they got sloppy.

 

On the other side, Wembanyama scored on a left-side pick-and-roll set with Cordinier, had a putback and swished a catch-and-release left-wing tray.  Yabusele made a jumper and two freebies. And Nando de Colo added six points, including the fastbreak layup to end the frame.

 

The fourth quarter started with Team USA up 72-66.

 

France kept it within striking distance as De Colo scored on the pick-and-roll set with Wembanyama in crunch time. With a six-point lead and fewer than two minutes left, Curry put the game closed, hitting a catch-and-shoot triple up top.

 

Team USA won 98-87, shooting 53.7% from the field, including 50% from deep. The double-digit scorers were Curry (24), Booker (15), Durant (15) and James (14).

 

Wembanyama (26), Yabusele (20) and De Colo (12) were France’s double-digit scorers.

 

Curry handled the on-court interview. He said, “This was a test [with] France in their home building (Bercy Arena) They threw everything at us…”

 

Further comment:

 

Durant became the first player to win four Olympic gold medals in basketball, further cementing himself as one of the greats of his generation.

 

Davis was a defensive powerhouse, putting up four of the squad’s six blocks. His work guarding opponents throughout the tournament was top-tier, too.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Team USA came back from a large deficit and outlasted Serbia to advance to gold medal game

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Steph Curry’s output and shooting tricks, plus Joel Embiid’s late surge, saved Team USA, preventing humiliation and a trip to the bronze medal game. Team USA has a date on Saturday with France to compete for the gold medal.

 

The first five minutes were an unyielding fireworks display, but the Serbs’ switching defense prevailed first, closing the quarter ahead by eight digits. Then they raced off to a 17-point advantage as six minutes remained at the half. 

 

The cause? Wack 3-point protection, Jokić‘s passing carved up doubles, and the Americans went soft on the glass.

 

Subsequently, the Americans countered with Curry Embiid and James’ deep shooting, slicing the deficit to 43-54 heading into intermission. 

 

At that point, Curry had 20 marks on 70% accuracy. The rest of Team USA logged eight of 21 shots. 

 

The Serbians followed up, converting seven of 16 attempts in the third quarter, finding success running the offense through Jokić on post ups and two-man actions. 

 

Midway through the frame, the Americans cut the score to 59-65 on Jrue Holiday’s 3-pointer set up by Curry. Yet, their counterparts retaliated with a 10-4 run to end the period. 

 

Team USA didn’t step up until the fourth quarter. There, Embiid scored seven straight points via jumpers in transition, plus at mid and close range in the half-court to cut the deficit to two. Next, James tied the match on a transition layup.

 

On the next possession, Jokić connected with Filip Petrušev, cutting on the baseline for a dunk as he was doubled by Kevin Durant and James in the middle.

 

Team USA closed the match with Curry flaring to the top of the key for a rattling trifecta plus scoring on the break. James finished a transition layup. And as Bogdan Bogdanović dribbled up court, Durant guarded him and forced a backcourt violation. 

 

Defensively, Team USA’s defense permitted zero of nine 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as its help defense cranked up. Serbia had made 15 of 30 triples through three quarters.

 

Team USA won 95-91, making 57.4% of field goals, including half from deep. Twenty-eight points were scored in the paint.

 

Additionally, LeBron James had 16 points on six of nine looks, with 12 rebounds and 10 dimes. Curry had 36 marks on 63% accuracy, with eight rebounds and two assists. And Embiid had 19 points on eight of 11 attempts, with four rebounds and two assists.

 

The players celebrated at mid-court and embraced for a postgame huddle led by James. 

 

James handled the on-court interview. When asked about starting the fourth quarter down 13 points, he said, “Gotta get it the hard way…Kudos to Serbia, but we came through. Chef Curry [had] a vintage Chef Curry game. Joel [Embiid] was big-time for us. We needed it.”