NBA Swing: Nass’ Trip Around the Association Volume 2 Page 2

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Gregg Popovich’s next disciple?

When the door closed as DeMar DeRozan was on his way out of San Antonio, the torches were finally handed to the likes of DeJounte Murray and Keldon Johnson. Back in 2017 Dejounte, who in just his second year in the league made an All-NBA Defense second team that also featured 76ers center Joel Embiid, Dubs point forward Draymond Green, and Heat guard Jimmy Butler. Since then, Murray and his extensive 6’10 wingspan have been clogging up passing lanes and making life difficult for opposing ball handlers, especially around screens. A real raw product out of Washington, Murray, who never got the same projected hype, possessed similar athletic and physical gifts at the point guard position as players like Magic Johnson and Ben Simmons. An uber-athletic floor general that can utilize his unique combination of height and length on both sides of the court that isn’t common at the position. On the year, Murray is one of three players this season to average 18 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists a night (L. Doncic & R. Westbrook). Murray is posting a career-high in both steals (2.0) and blocks (0.5) per game and is currently second in the NBA in total deflections and fifth in deflections per contest. Murray has made strides as a playmaker and scorer since coming into the league as an 18-year old. Amongst all players that average at least 7 assists only DeJounte Murray and Chris Paul are doing so while averaging less than 2.5 turnovers a game. With an expected increase of volume on the perimeter following DeRozan’s departure not only has his playmaking taken a leap but so has his scoring.

According to Synergy on nba.com, there are only six players that average at least three field goals made a game as a ball-handler in pick and roll situations: Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Ja Morant, De’Aaron Fox, and DeJounte Murray. As well as the self-evident elite pick and roll playmakers across the association; LeBron, CP3, Westbrook, Harden, and Jokic, that’s pretty much the cream of the crop as far as that department goes. Murray is fifth in the league in potential assists a game (15.1) behind five of the guys listed above; CP3, Harden, Luka, Trae, and Westbrook. Murray has spent the early portion of his career to this point taking notes from NBA champions, Tony Parker and Patty Mills. Two Spurs guards that have been enshrined in Spurs history for their contributions especially Parker who won a Finals MVP in 2009 to go along with his three championships. All three talented guards make up for their weaknesses by minimizing unforced errors, always playing in control guided by the mastermind Gregg Popovich. Popovich, who hasn’t coached a playoff series since 2019, has been in search of the next transcendent talent to take the steering wheel of the franchise since the divorcing of Kawhi Leonard. DeJounte Murray, who just turned 25 in September, is showing the whole league he’s exceeded expectations as a lottery pick and that he’s here to stay. The real question is can the Spurs build around him in pursuit of a championship before their time with Popovich expires?

When Keldon Johnson came out of Kentucky as a freshman in 2019, the Spurs were getting a strong wing that did a lot of his damage around the rim but had the ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions. Just like his teammate Murray, Keldon had a solid 2020-21 season. After showing flashes in the Orlando bubble, the season prior, Keldon scored 13 points and six rebounds a night in 67 started games. His impressive showing earned him a late addition to the USA national team to fill the void of Kevin Love. Even with minimal playing time, the experience overall of having the privilege to compete against and with the best players in the world, especially as you’re trying to round out the edges of your pre-mature game, is beyond rewarding. During a recent sit down with Stadium’s NBA writer Shams Charnia, Johnson elaborated about his time with team USA and having former Spurs players as resources all this time. “It was kind of like a dream come true, it didn’t feel real at first because everything I needed to go right went right. It was like walking on cloud nine”. “Any questions I have Manu is right there, he’s almost there at every practice and Tim still comes by. Having that resource there, anytime I have a question or anytime I might not understand what Pop is saying and don’t want to ask Pop. Just having that resource there is huge”.

After leading Team USA to a Gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and Dwayne Wade all finished top three in MVP voting the following 2008-09 campaign. Regardless of what talent you have or where you rank amongst the elite in the NBA, international play is as valuable and pure as the sport can get. You mature as a professional at the end of the day whether it’s through your ability or even your approach to the game mentally. It’s safe to say Keldon has benefited exceptionally from his Team USA experience and it’s showing in his play this season. Through 20 games he’s bumped his scoring average to 15 points and shooting career-high 41% from deep. The Spurs are 9-15 right now, near the bottom of the Western Conference. Though we still have a marathon season ahead of us, two of the Spurs’ youngest stars have very bright futures ahead.

Stressed Sacramento

The Sacramento Kings are currently sitting 11-15 in the Western Conference, at the 11th spot. In a tough loss against the Charlotte Hornets last night De’Aaron Fox missed a pair of free throws that would’ve ultimately won the Kings the game had he sunk both. On a night he poured in at least 30 points for a second consecutive game and went eight for eight from the charity stripe up until that list visit while the Hornets were down regulars LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, the loss was quite unfortunate. But that’s been the two tales of Kings’ basketball as of recent. More downs than ups to start this season if we’re all being honest but overall just mediocracy is the best way to sum it all up.

The Kings spent their first-round pick on talented two-way guard Davion Mitchell out of Baylor. A team that already has an established pecking order at the guard position with De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Tyrese Haliburton. Not just on offense (14 points, 5.5 assists, 51 FG% / 44 3P% as a Redshirt Junior) Mitchell brings a different dynamic to the franchise with his outstanding perimeter defense. Last year, the franchise pillar De’Aaron Fox averaged 25 points and seven assists last year on 47% shooting from the field. Only LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic can say the same. Fox, who should’ve at least replaced Devin Booker in last year’s All-Star Game, has had an underwhelming season statistically especially following his star showing last year. Some of Fox’s glaring early-season blues definitely are mostly on his performance and he’d be the first to tell you. On the other hand though, with the emergence of both Haliburton and Mitchell as offensive threats and ball handlers, they’ve definitely hindered Fox’s dynamic scoring and playmaking ability that he showcased in seasons previous. Fox has also been developing as a first-option and how to be effective off the ball. The Sacramento Kings are definitely trying to evolve into a well-balanced team-first-oriented organization. With a superstar talent like De’Aaron Fox though, you can only unleash him and deal with the good and the bad until you figure out the right roster personnel to surround him with similar to what the Atlanta Hawks did with Trae Young.

Tyrese Haliburton is a perfect fit next to Fox because of his ability to distribute, defend, stretch the floor and do all the little things that’ll alleviate Fox from having to deal with. Davion Mitchell has a solid skillset at his size and will take off running once he’s acclimated mentally and physically with the tempo of the NBA on both sides of the court. It’s just difficult to pair two ball-dominant guards next to the franchise star ball-dominant guard and expect the cohesiveness to be an easy transition. Even sharpshooter Buddy Hield, that the Kings inked to a four-year contract extension worth $86 million back in October of 2019, is posting career lows in FG% and 3P%. Fox, Davion, and Haliburton are natural point guards no matter how many minutes they play at the two. Very similar to the early 2010 Phoenix Suns that at one point were rotating back-court combos of Isiah Thomas, Goran Dragic, and Eric Bledsoe. Fox’s three-point numbers have taken a dip, some of that may have to do with that he’s standing along the perimeter more so now with an additional playmaker on the floor and the Kings reliance on him to be their primary star scorer on a nightly basis doesn’t make it that easier either. Fox’s usage rate has expectedly dipped from last season’s 30.4 (12th in the NBA) to 27.4 (outside the top 20). Imagine asking Stephon Marbury, Russell Westbrook, or Steve Francis in their prime to play beside two other young ball-dominant guards and still maintain that production. They just wouldn’t be as effective as their ceiling projects them to be if the ball isn’t in their hands. They flat out need to be the primary decision-maker, scorer, volume go-to guy for now until the organization figures out how to optimize the rest of the roster. Maximizing Fox, who’s put on around 30 pounds since he weighed in around 170 at the pre-draft combine as a rookie should be the Kings’ main priority.

Some of Fox’s struggles may also stem from Luke Walton who was fired back in late November and Vlad Divac’s incompetence to surround their young star assets with suitable role players over the past couple of years. Despite all the changes, Fox has still been aggressive when the ball is in his hands. The former Kentucky stand-out is still amongst the NBA’s most productive when he’s attacking the rim. Fox is one of seven players that convert at least four field goals a game on drives to the rack (J. Morant, B. Beal, S. Gilegous-Alexander, D. Mitchell, T. Young, L. Doncic). And of that group, Fox averages the second-fewest drives per game (17.5) and is second to only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, another standout guard from the Calipari era in free throws made (2.7) and free throws attempted (3.7) in such situations. To go along with his career-high FT% this season Fox has still sustained the progress he’s made as a perimeter shooter, becoming very confident shooting the ball from anywhere intermediate with his array of quick, subtle, change of pace fade-away/step-back jumpers. Of all players that have taken at least 85 shots from anywhere mid-range this season, Fox is currently shooting 47% on such shots, marks higher than Luka Doncic, CJ McCollum, and at the same clip as DeMar Derozan and Zach LaVine. Right now interim head coach Alvin Gentry is doing his best to figure out the best lineups to put on the floor especially with the resurgence of shooting guard Terrence Davis who’s averaged 17 points in 22 minutes per thus far in December. Rishaun Holmes has been one of the NBA’s most effective paint-scoring big men the past two years and has shown vast rapport with both Fox and Haliburton on pick and rolls. To maximize the potential of the Kings and at least De’Aaron Fox for that matter at times it may mean to give Fox the keys and tell everyone to get out of the way. If that’s the most ideal way for this team to start stringing home some Ws, then so be it.

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The MVP an Easy Money pick?

You would think the regular season is a couple of weeks away from closing the way the MVP talks have already begun to heat up. Kevin Durant has been the best basketball player in the NBA since the 2019 NBA Finals. A lot has been said of LeBron James’ uptick in minutes played per game (turns 37 this month). Slim Reaper is playing his most minutes since the 2013-2014 season. He’s currently leading the league in points per game, putting up 28.4 points per game to go with seven boards and four assists while bolstering the Nets to the best record in the Eastern Conference. The scoring and never-before-seen god-like efficiency has been something that’s become the norm for Slim but this year has been just a tad bit different. He’s shown the apex version of himself impacting all facets of the game.

“I heard people were concerned about my minutes .. Might just play 48 minutes tomorrow just cause, give y’all something to talk about”. No Kai. Iffy Harden. Those have been KD’s hurdles thus far this year and he’s been nothing short of sensational. With just 2:30 left in the game last night against the Atlanta Hawks, Durant smacked Trae Young’s lay-up attempt in transition off the backboard and then hustled to tip the ball to James Johnson to secure the Nets defensive rebound. When Johnson returned the rock to KD, KD streaked down the court in a matter of a couple of seconds to one of his favorite mid-range spots; the elbow, and drained a pull-up jumper. KD would go on to hit four free-throws and help close out the Hawks in Atlanta 113-105. These types of masterful performances that KD’s been making look so easy since he came in as the scoring machine phenom out of Texas is one of the many reasons that he should without a doubt be the frontrunner for the MVP award this season. Durant is fourth in the NBA in PER at 25.7. Still, the most versatile offensive scorer to ever play, Durant still leaves opponents at his mercy in isolation. Of those who take at least three shots per game in isolation settings, Durant remains the most efficient with a 49% shooting percentage. “I like that he wants the ball and wants that moment to relieve pressure off of me [Durant] and James [Harden]. I love playing with Cam [Thomas] and being around him every single day. It’s good to be around that energy”. For a guy that hasn’t gotten much rest since returning from a torn Achilles, it’s quite impressive how Durant has shouldered the load especially after carrying the Nets to a near NBA Finals appearance, leading Team USA to Gold, to now playing the best basketball of his career. If Kevin Durant keeps this up while Harden continues to work back to his superstar dominant self, Cam Thomas’ game/confidence continues to grow, and the Nets can somehow get healthier and remain a juggernaut amongst the NBA’s elite, we might have to re-examine the best NBA player in the world crown and also KD’s ranking all time.