PJ Dozier just made a business decision getting out of the way of a Zion full steam ahead drive to the bucket. Not going to find many players who are going to be willing to draw a charge on Zion.
View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1220904135815507969?s=20Zion just blocked Malik Beasley’s shot into the third row. The roof came off. Another one for the highlight reel.
I mean, he has made All-NBA 8x in this era. He really just needs to not shoot threes. He is shooting 50 percent on two-point attempts this year and his free throw percentage is back up to a respectable 77 percent after last year's sudden collapse. Over his last 17 games he is averaging 29-8-7 and shooting 49 percent from the field. I've heard some pundits poo-poohing his all-star candidacy, but are we really going to pretend that Jamal Murray is better than him?In non-Zion news, some guy named Russell Westbrook scored 45 points on 16-27 shooting (no and I repeat zero 3PA) and dished out 10 assists while grabbing six boards en route to the Rocktets 131-124 win over the TWolves on their home court. Like many of his "big" peers, it really feels like Westbrook was born 20 years too late - dude would have been all world back in the 80s and 90s, even with the handchecking and grabbing. He and Reggie Miller should really figure out how to do a Freaky Friday thing.
I mean, most likely they’d be in that 7/8 seed. He’s the opposite of bad.Zion was +16 last night and no other starter was better than +4. (Best on the bench was +7.) They lost by 7. If I'm a Pelicans fan this has got to get me excited, and make me wonder about what kind of season this could have been if he hadn't had the knee injury right out of the gate.
The difference is last night he wasn’t shooting 3s. He played the way that will make him a dominant force. That was super exciting. His going 4-4 from 3 the other night was just a hot shooting night from outside.His line would look a lot worse if he didn’t hit all these shots though.
It's utterly shocking to me that the (very intelligent) members of this board can't get this simple distinction. But I'm willing to drop it now and just enjoy Zion (except on Sunday).The difference is last night he wasn’t shooting 3s. He played the way that will make him a dominant force. That was super exciting. His going 4-4 from 3 the other night was just a hot shooting night from outside.
As much as I wouldn't get overly excited by going 4-4 from 3, I wouldn't get overly concerned by 3 for 8 on FTs.Right.
One concern I have is free throw shooting. 3-8 so far. He needs to shoot at least 60% or it's going to be hack a Zion out there.
His first game was on ESPN and he scored 17 points in 3 minutes. His 2nd game was on a regional sports network and his scoring was spread out.It's pretty funny that NBA Twitter is no longer OMGZZZ ZION even though he played way better last night and flashed a lot more of what will make him a serious problem, health permitting.
The people demand POINTZ!
(Seriously though, his ability to explode and finish in traffic is impressive as hell.)
Interesting. He always turns into the lane. Think teams will be happy right now that Giannis is taking fadeaways but it's unguardable.This is legitimately terrifying from Giannis (way more so than his slow windup 3s with shitty form). It looks repeatable and something he can improve and work into his game and get off at will as a counter to how he's defended in the lane.
View: https://twitter.com/jgauthier_23/status/1220938186001653760?s=20
Yeah, it's unguardable, and with his footwork, he'll soon mix in an up-and-under as a counter. It's not there yet, but that's the type of addition to his bag that would fix his playoff vulnerabilities. He doesn't need to be able to shoot 3s at all if he can hit that shot (Simmons needs to add it as well to be perennial All-NBA).Interesting. He always turns into the lane. Think teams will be happy right now that Giannis is taking fadeaways but it's unguardable.
What if he could actually hit the 3 at a good clip too, though? Scary thought.The difference is last night he wasn’t shooting 3s. He played the way that will make him a dominant force. That was super exciting. His going 4-4 from 3 the other night was just a hot shooting night from outside.
I lol'd.Yeah, if there's one thing Kawhi has been guilty of throughout his career it's not being able to pace himself properly during the regular season.
Over his last 10 games: 31.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.5 spg, .8 bpg on 48% shooting.
That block was insane. He was on help defense, for crying out loud, and elevated out of nowhere. That's a Robert Williams-type move.that ridiculous block he spiked from the paint to five rows behind the bench
Getting beat by Luka Doncic isn't a stain on anyone. Did you read Gobert's line? Its pretty impressive but then again, I don't expect athletes to do everything perfectly.Gobert got roasted by Finney-Smith and Doncic several times late in the 4th and fucked up a rotation that led to a 3 to give the Mavs the lead, but cool he made that one play I guess.
Were you around for Derrick Coleman's career?Watching KAT play basketball is painful. I've never seen somebody half ass it as much at his age.
Gobert had an awesome line and made a great play with the game on the line, but too bad he had a few bad plays over the course of a game I guessGobert got roasted by Finney-Smith and Doncic several times late in the 4th and fucked up a rotation that led to a 3 to give the Mavs the lead, but cool he made that one play I guess.
Yes. But i just watched this bum not jump for 4 quarters and get outrebounded by Shabazz NapierWere you around for Derrick Coleman's career?
Nine steals combined for Matisse and that one-slash-five guy you have there. I know that Alex Caruso is up for a peace prize, defensive player of the century and even the whole EGOT but Thybulle may have out Caruso'd him tonight.What a great defensive effort by Philly tonight. Length and athleticism.
Lakers winding down a long road trip. I give them a pass.
My sentiments exactly while watching this. Happy the C’s smoked them by even more.This Lakers/Sixers game has me torn. On one hand it'd be good for the Celtics if Philly loses. On the other hand, it is hilarious to see the Lakers struggle with another second tier EC playoff team, especially sans Embiid. If Simmons was a league average shooter from the three and the line he'd be a top 10 guy with MVP potential. Oh well.
Port Cellar default settings: El Uno hates everyone in the league, DeJesus loves everyone in the league, and everyone else is somewhere on that spectrum. ;-PWatching KAT play basketball is painful. I've never seen somebody half ass it as much at his age.