KeithSmithNBA

It's been a while since I created the original version of this, so I updated it for 2026-27. Note: these are the current projections for the Cap, Tax, Aprons and Exceptions. Hope this helps people understand the various spending levels and restrictions with each. Send feedback!

I think I’d like to get off the NBA injury roller coaster. This is not a fun ride. Every day this week it’s another star player down. And it’s only Wednesday!

Kings fans who have followed for a while know that I don't want to ever pile on. That said, in here I ask why there are no minutes for Nique Clifford. What are we doing here?

New NBA Game Notes are up on The Basketball Bulletin! Notes from: 🏀Celtics-Nets 🏀Lakers-Blazers 🏀Knicks-Pistons 🏀Spurs-Kings (yeah, I watched some of it) If you like what you see, please consider subscribing! basketballbulletin.substack.com/p/nba-game-n...

I went to bed, so I'm just watching Trail Blazers-Lakers now. If you like offense and hate defense, this is the game for you!

I hate the 11 PM ET start time so much. I understand why it happens. I get that it makes sense. But much like fouling up three, I get the strategy is smart and I hate it.

27 and 20 for KAT. Eight offensive rebounds. Looking forward to dialing in on this one in the morning.

Flip the rebounds and assists. 5 rebounds 8 assists

On a night when it seemed like neither the Celtics nor the Nets were going to take the win, Jayson Tatum snatched it at the buzzer. He was awesome tonight and played really physical all game long. Didn't settle for more than a couple of jumpers. Big-time game for JT.

JAYSON TATUM!!! BUZZER-BEATER FOR THE WIN!!!

Oh no Mikel Brown Jr... Why did you shoot it? Just hold it, get fouled and go make your free throws. Definition of rookie mistake there.

Rookie giveth, rookie taketh away. Mikel Brown Jr. got the Nets to overtime with some huge shots, including a buzzer-beating three. In overtime, he's missed a couple of open jumpers and just missed an open layup.

Julius Randle just fouled out. That's huge because he's been the one setting everything up for Brooklyn in the fourth quarter and overtime. Not necessarily scoring every time, but he was setting the table.

New career-highs for Jayson Tatum with 18 made free throws and 22 free throw attempts.

Foul trouble for Celtics-Nets heading into overtime: Boston Queta - fouled out Brooklyn Randle - 5 Johnson - 5 Clowney - 4

Celtics had this one, but a couple of unfortunate moments for the big men helped Nets get it to overtime. Neemias Queta committed a foul with Boston up four. Then Mitchell Robinson missed two free throws. Killer shot by Mikel Brown Jr, who has been terrific late, sends it to OT.

No time added back for the Celtics. Can't catch and shoot here. Have to tip it in or it's overtime.

Monster shot by Mikel Brown Jr. to tie the game. Caught it in a spot where Celtics couldn't foul him and drained it.

Mitchell Robinson to the line to try to ice the victory for the Celtics. First really big free throws for Robinson in the green and white. He went 0-for-2. Nets timeout down three. Brooklyn will get a look to tie, unless Boston fouls first.

This review in Celtics-Nets took WAY too long. Especially to confirm a call. There has to be a clock on how long reviews can take.

I'll watch in full later tonight or tomorrow morning, but feels like the Pistons got caught up in trying to be super physical with the Knicks. And the Knicks just played through it to take control of the game.

Jayson Tatum equaled his career-high with 20 free throw attempts. One off his career-high with 16 made free throws.

Celtics fans were giving Derrick White "MVP" chants. And White smiled said, "Me?", shook his head and laughed. Derrick Do Right is the best.

Great defense by Jayson Tatum against Julius Randle on the post-up. Would have been a turnover, but Derrick White was face-guarding Michael Porter Jr and didn't see the ball. Boston got the stop anyway.

While we're in the timeout...Nets have gone with Mikel Brown Jr. down the stretch here and he's been really good! Made a couple of threes, had a tough finish on a change-of-pace drive. Defense needs work for Brown, and it'll get there, but he's going to be a player for sure.

Perfect read by Derrick White to slip the screen and an awesome pass by Jayson Tatum to get White the and-1 dunk. Really pretty basketball there by Boston.

Boston is going to have to play up to touch against the DHOs involving MPJ. He's stepping right into the shot without a dribble as he gets the handoff. Boston also might want to double him hard and force him to give the ball up.

Jayson Tatum is 15-for-18 on free throws tonight. That's two off his career-highs of both free throws made and attempted.

PG probably just needs to take the layup there. That's an example of perfect being the enemy of good.

You can't go under on MPJ, but you can't really lock and trail him either. His size and lift allows him to get his shot off against all but the tightest of defense. And sometimes he still gets the shot off! Main thing is to try to disrupt his dribble as much as possible.

Joe Mazzulla was LIVID going into that timeout. Celtics lost Michael Porter Jr. in transition and he got an easy look at a three. He's the only one scoring right now for the Nets, so Boston has to lock in on him. Having no idea where MPJ was forced an angry timeout from Mazzulla.

Well, Spurs-Kings is off the watch list for the morning.

Two flopping technical fouls called in Celtics-Nets and both were good calls. Julius Randle flopped early and then Baylor Scheierman flopped late in the third quarter. The NBA has been handing out a lot of postgame flopping fines too. Glad to see them working on removing/penalizing flopping.

The Nets effort on defense has been pretty good tonight. They're flying around. Busting back in transition. They've done a pretty good job of scramming Michael Porter Jr. out of bad matchups too.

I didn't feel this way last year about them, but the Knicks feel small this season. That sounds weird, but they feel like they're getting pushed around a lot on both ends of the floor. And it's not just Mitchell Robinson being gone either. It's across the starting five.

Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell are letting it rip from deep. Combined 9-for-11 from three with more than seven minutes to play in the first half. Champagnie: 6-for-7 Vassell: 3-for-4

Nets first-half shot chart has a lot of shots in the paint and some threes. And a lot of the threes came off drive-and-kick plays where the ball hit the paint.

Nets up five on the Celtics at the half. Boston can't make a three and had 10 turnovers in the first half. Defense was also bad, as Brooklyn got into the paint repeatedly.

Four first-half fouls on Neemias Queta. Last one was a tough one. Looked like Chaney Johnson tripped on his own.

Celtics are going with no-point-guard lineups a lot in this first half. Offense is running through Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Baylor Scheierman. Derrick White is nursing a seemingly minor knee injury, so that could be a factor.

I've been writing about this in the first week of the season: Keep an eye on Chaney Johnson as an eventual conversion to a standard deal. He's a good defender, rebounder and his shot is much improved. Good player and should outplay his two-way deal.

Celtics defense has left a lot to be desired to open this game. Nets are getting into the paint with ease. Nolan Traore got better as last year went along. Now, his speed is really showing up on a regular basis. Got the start tonight and he's done well to open the game.

New @frontofficeshow.bsky.social is up. @trevorlanenba.bsky.social and I talked a lot of injuries: J-Dub, Wallace, Kawhi, JJJ, Markkanen, Murray and more. (Note: This was recorded before the Ant injury news dropped.) Watch, like and subscribe: youtu.be/hKO_Fo6K-4s?...

The awful thing is that I ran out of characters before I ran out of players. And this doesn't include players who are hopefully only out for a week or two.

WTF is with all of these injuries. Completely wrecking what was starting out to be an awesome season.

New NBA Game Notes are up on The Basketball Bulletin! Quick Thunder thoughts to lead off, then notes from: 🏀Cavs-Wolves 🏀Mavs-Heat 🏀Hornets-Wizards 🏀Bucks-Pacers 🏀Grizzlies-Jazz If you like what you see, please consider subscribing! basketballbulletin.substack.com/p/nba-game-n...

Shaping up to be a pretty great night for Milwaukee sports fans!