NBA Nickname Lore, NBA Refs, Jazz/Clippers Ascending & The Greatest Season of All Time?

Welcome to the NBA Librarian Weekly, where we curate and summarize the best NBA content of the week.

In Today's Edition:

1. The Last of Great NBA Monikers: A Journey through …

2. What's going on with NBA officiating?

3. Three Point Shooting & Transition Scoring

4. The 1988 Season, The Greatest Ever?

5. How the Los Angeles Clippers Saved Their Season

6. Jazz coach Will Hardy: 'Grit and character' have b …

7. NBA Apps Database

8. Duop Reath’s story to the NBA

Also, please take a look at the Basketball Intelligence newsletter. It's a fantastic source of inspiration for the articles and content I choose to include in mine:

The Last of Great NBA Monikers: A Journey through NBA Nickname Lore

I'm engaging in a bit of self-promotion here by sharing an article I wrote about NBA monikers and nicknames. My goal with this piece is to trace the origins of these nicknames, chart their rise to mainstream popularity in the 1990s, and discuss their peak in the early to mid-2000s, followed by a noticeable decline in popularity among the league’s top players. In an effort to revive this trend, I've assigned some new nicknames to today's rising stars in the NBA.

I've also included charts to make it easier for readers to understand the origins and evolution of some of the most iconic nicknames in NBA history. See below:

What's going on with NBA officiating?

In a recent in-depth article, the world of NBA officiating comes under scrutiny, particularly focusing on recent controversial decisions that have ignited strong reactions from players and coaches alike. High-profile incidents, such as a contentious call in a Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers game, have not only provoked responses from stars like LeBron James and Jayson Tatum but also led to widespread criticism across the league, including a notable rant from Toronto Raptors' coach Darko Rajaković. This article was even before Mike Brown’s epic laptop post game rant after his ejection on the referees.

The NBA's response, through a last two-minute report acknowledging a missed call as incidental, has only added to the debate.

Former NBA referee Steve Javie, now an analyst for ESPN and ABC, offers a unique perspective on the challenges faced by officials. He outlines the rigorous evaluation process that referees undergo, with every call being scrutinized for accountability.

The article delves into various aspects of NBA officiating

1. The mixed perceptions among coaches and executives about the quality of refereeing and the specific challenges faced by younger referees, such as a lack of interpersonal skills and difficulty in game management.

2. Javie himself discusses the learning curve associated with officiating, sharing personal anecdotes about his own struggles with maintaining concentration and handling technical fouls.

3. The piece even touches on the NBA's crackdown on technical fouls for actions like hanging on the rim. Javie emphasizes the importance of referees not resorting to guesswork, especially in game-critical moments, highlighting the intense pressure and responsibility that come with the role.

Really great insightful read. So much more, including quotes from coaches are included behind this paywall article.

Check out ‘Vetted Sports’ - the best business sports newsletter out there and a sponsor of our newsletter as well.

Three Point Shooting & Transition Scoring

Todd Whitehead is a staple in this newsletter. As long as he continues to produce cool graphics with interesting information, he will always have a spot here each week.

The graph on the left highlights the frequency and efficiency of teams' three-point attempts (catch and shoot vs. off the dribble). My biggest takeaways are:

1. OKC compensates for their “lack” of off-the-dribble three-point shooting with absolutely elite spot-up three-point shooting.

2. The Magic really need to improve their three-point shooting.

The graph on the right highlights transition scoring opportunities generated and points produced from these types of plays. My biggest takeaway is the Warriors are showing their age – no graphic illustrates this better.

The 1988 Season, The Greatest Ever?

In his compelling new book, "When the Game Was War: The NBA’s Greatest Season," Rich Cohen transports us back to the 1987-88 NBA season, a time he argues was the pinnacle of basketball. This era was defined by legendary teams like the Lakers, Pistons, Bulls, and Celtics, and their iconic players, from Magic Johnson to Michael Jordan. Cohen vividly recounts the intense drama of the 1988 NBA finals, where a controversial foul call against the Pistons' Bill Laimbeer in Game 6 shifted the momentum in favor of the Lakers, leading to their dramatic championship victory. The book delves into the fierce rivalries and friendships among the era's stars, like the close bond between Johnson and Pistons' Isiah Thomas, which faced trials both on and off the court.

Cohen's narrative isn't just about the glories on the hardwood; it also explores the darker side of the game, including personal controversies and the physical, often brutal, playing style that defined the era. For fans of NBA history and those intrigued by the sport's golden years, this book could be a great pickup.

How the Los Angeles Clippers Saved Their Season

There are a ton of articles right now on how much a contender the Clippers are — by all metrics, including the eye test, the Clippers look like the biggest contender to the Denver Nuggets in the West right now.

What stands out in Seerhat's analysis is the exploration of how the Clippers are skillfully maximizing each player's strengths and mitigating their weaknesses. While their strategy bears similarities to previous Harden-led teams — characterized by a low passing frequency, slow pace, and reliance on high isolation scoring — there's a distinct difference this time around. The return of Kawhi Leonard, reestablishing himself as a top-5 player, has infused the Clippers with a much greater offensive diversity.

Lot more good gems in there, go check her article out!

Jazz coach Will Hardy: 'Grit and character' have been keys to success

In a surprise twist to this NBA season, the Utah Jazz, guided by Coach Will Hardy, have staged remarkable turnaround by winning 14 of their last 18 games which has propelled them from the depths of the Western Conference to a promising ninth spot, bringing them into Play-In and postseason contention.

This resurgence is credited to the team's grit and character, fostering confidence and cohesive game strategies. Overcoming roster challenges, including inexperience and potential internal conflicts due to expiring contracts, the Jazz have shown exceptional team harmony and cultural integration, notably in the interactions between diverse players like Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. Hardy's strategic mastery, including key player position shifts and pace adjustments, has been pivotal.

Tony Jones argues for these reasons (and more) make the Jazz run more sustainable than it jus being a hot streak.

NBA Apps Database

Just like Todd Whitehead, Sravan on Twitter/X also holds a permanent spot in this newsletter. His contributions range from the apps he develops himself to the directory of advanced NBA data and visualization apps he has compiled. I've always believed there's a need for a community more focused on NBA fans who seek deeper analysis beyond what mainstream media offers, and these initiatives are crucial steps toward establishing that niche.

I've already experimented with a couple of these apps myself and have made it a point to explore more as time permits!

Duop Reath’s story to the NBA

First time highlighting a Reddit thread here, but it’s definitely a thread I’m glad to have read so I wanted to share as well.

Duop Reath's journey to the NBA is a remarkable tale of resilience and triumph over adversity. Growing up as the eldest of seven children in a hut during the Second Sudanese Civil War, Reath experienced extreme hardships, including living in a home with no bed or shoes. At the age of 9, his family moved to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, escaping one of the most brutal and long-standing conflicts in modern history. Eventually, they relocated to Australia, where Reath discovered basketball in high school. Click into the thread to read more details about his long and incredible journey to the NBA.

Slam dunk your week with the NBA Librarian Weekly newsletter, your curated guide through the hoops world, landing in your inbox every week!