I think I'd rather be down 20-0 than 20-1. The 1 would just remind me too much of the pain.

Kon Knueppel is earning immediate respect. Jordan Clarkson is learning new tricks. And a tanker is innovating. This week's around-the-NBA notebook: www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Love doing this series every year. If you're interested in NBA defense, this takes a very deep dive into it.

With All-Defense no longer including positions, it tends to fill up with centers. But the wings and guards still deserve their shine, so let's give it to them. The second annual All-Perimeter-Defense Teams are here. Today we run through the Second Team: www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Jarrett Allen has worn one sneaker every game for 9 years — and he needs your help finding it again. Cade & Giddey wear close to 60 in a szn. Josh Hart likes his shoes TIGHT. My league-wide feature on the quirky bond between NBA players & their shoes: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Full breakdown of the NBA award ballots that are causing @fredkatz.bsky.social the most stress as a voter ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

The fact that Kevin Durant at this stage of his career has played the second-most minutes in the NBA this season is the most impressive part of his year. Wild he can still be at this level while doing it this often.

A look at some of the NBA award races in stressing over most: www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot, talking Knicks-Thunder and toenails with @andrewschlecht.bsky.social. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/154327...

Josh Hart is now 15 for his last 19 from 3. Crazy.

Got to talk to one of my favorites on my pod, his pod, and then an hour on the phone after. Fred knows ball

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot, talking Knicks-Hornets and possible Knicks playoff matchups with @davedufour.bsky.social. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

Luka Doncic is stepping back. Darius Garland is stepping forward. And the Hawks are stepping in the right direction. This week's around-the-NBA notebook: www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

One of my favorite columns to write. Check it out:

Here is a FREE PREVIEW of the latest episode of Katz and Shoot in which @jledwardsiii.bsky.social and I discuss Jordan Clarkson's resurgence. If you've been on the fence about subscribing to the pod, make sure to give this a listen: www.patreon.com/posts/free-p...

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot, where @jledwardsiii.bsky.social and I go over three things we've learned during the Knicks' seven-game winning streak. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

My second annual All-Surprise teams are official. Story detailing Jalen Duren, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the eight other members who have made massive leaps this season: www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Josh Hart is now officially shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range on the season. He's hit nine straight 3s.

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot with @jonathanmacri.bsky.social, drafting the things the Knicks need most to win the East. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

Before the Pistons played in DC on Thursday, Cade Cunningham hopped a car service back to Detroit. He couldn't fly, not with a collapsed lung. And the Pistons won't be the same as long as he's out. Story on an irreplaceable player: www.nytimes.com/athletic/713...

The Suns have been in seventh place since Nov. 29!

I'm not sure if there's a way to track this, but I'm pretty confident the Suns have spent more consecutive time in seventh place than any other team has spent in their current spot in the standings (other than the first-place ones). That's my take and I'm sticking w it.

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot with Eric Nehm, breaking down the awards races we think are the most on the fence. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/episod...

Fun @fredkatz.bsky.social exclusive on how Miami Heat's official scorer documented Bam Adebayo's big night ➡️ bit.ly/4rVwlYZ

March basketball:

On a night Bam Adebayo went for 83, one person in the building scored even more points. Story on Jamie Carrig, the man who had to draw 43 circles: www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

The WBC is so so so great.

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot, discussing the Knicks’ starting lineup with @jledwardsiii.bsky.social. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/153175...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is doing the impossible. The Magic are ascending. And bums are rising. This week's around-the-NBA notebook: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

"I’m pretty sure if I had 81 and Kobe was on his way (to breaking it), he would not be like, ‘You know what? I’m gonna check myself out with nine minutes left when I got 70.’" Bam Adebayo responds to criticism of his 83-point performance: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Bam on hoops ethics: "If you're mad, I don’t care, bc a lot of people, they’re upset because if they did play, they never had a chance to get that close to chasing greatness. And if you get that close to chasing greatness, that’s the point of chasing it, so you can surpass it."

"I would do it 10 times out of 10 again for Bam." Erik Spoelstra is "apologizing to nobody" amid criticism of Bam Adebayo's 83-point night. Story from Miami on Spoelstra's impassioned defense of the Heat's captain: www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

When it comes to Bam, I'm gonna paraphrase Russell Westbrook, who once declared, "If people could get 20 rebounds every night, they would." Well, if people could score 83 points any night, they would. I'm not into minimizing incredible accomplishments. 83 points is incredible.

The Magic are sneakily catching a little groove. Defense has been better for the past month or so & up 13 on the Cavs right now, which would be their fifth straight win.

Come read the story one editor called “stunningly lucid” and another said “sort of makes sense.”

Last night @fredkatz.bsky.social took a sleeping pill and hallucinated that Bam Adebayo scored 83 points:

I took a sleeping pill last night and hallucinated that Bam Adebayo scored 83 points. Story on the delirious night I thought I witnessed: www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

Bam Adebayo has tied Kobe Bryant for the second-highest scoring game in NBA history with 81 points. Unbelievable.

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot, breaking down the X’s and O’s behind the Knicks’ LA losses and Denver win with @djacenba.bsky.social. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/152700...

Jayson Tatum looking like Jayson Tatum is a horrifying development for the rest of the East.

Kenny Atkinson just said before Celtics-Cavs he thinks Derrick White is a top-five player in the NBA.

Watch Anunoby from the start here, and you can see it's much more than just a drive to the hoop. He fakes as if he’s gonna curl around a screen from Hart, then pushes CJ into him, dekes the other way, forces an emergency switch, then can attack Jokic. Purposeful with each step.

Hukporti is up 40.

Anunoby's aggression goes far beyond just attacking the paint. He's opening himself w creative cuts. On the bucket from 2 mins ago, he acted like he'd run around a pindown, rejected the screen & cut middle, which forced a mismatch by itself. Then he could attack Jokic from there

An outrageous half of basketball from OG Anunoby. The motor, the decision making, the extra passes, the aggression with his jumper and attacking the hoop, the physicality on defense — all off the charts.

NEW EPISODE of Katz and Shoot, breaking down the Knicks’ defensive hot streak, all things Mohamed Diawara and more with @vincegoodwill.bsky.social. Listen/Subscribe: www.patreon.com/posts/152318...

Anthony Edwards is stealing from the enemy. OG Anunoby is on a streak of terror. And the Thunder are pulling dribblers out of their hat. This week’s around-the-NBA notebook: www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

Brunson vs. SGA crunch-time shot making is beautiful to watch.

Knicks had a couple of ill-timed injuries mess up the rotation, so I'm sure that's why this is happening, but couldn't tell you the last time they started the fourth quarter with all five starters on the court.

Landry Shamet. Making an impact every night.