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tkmedia · 3 years ago

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert among notable international NBA players at Summer Games

Getty Images The opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is set for Friday, and soon after it will be time to begin the men's basketball tournament. Always one of the most anticipated events of the summer Olympics, this year's edition will begin on Saturday, July 24 with the opening group stage game between Iran and the Czech Republic. Much of the focus, both here in the United States and around the globe, will be on Team USA. They are going for a fourth straight gold medal but could be in for a real challenge this time around. During their pre-Olympics exhibition schedule, they often looked disjointed and lost to both Nigeria and Australia. They finished those exhibition games with a 2-2 record. Bradley Beal (health and safety) and Kevin Love (calf) are no longer on the team and have been replaced by Keldon Johnson and JaVale McGee. Adding to questions about the roster, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Devin Booker will be arriving late and exhausted after their Finals appearances. Internal issues aren't the only reason that Team USA could be denied gold for the first time since 2004, however. While basketball has always been a global game, there's more elite talent around the world now than ever before. Just take Nigeria, for example. When they played Team USA in the 2012 Olympics, they lost, 156-73. Earlier this month, when the two teams met in an exhibition game, Nigeria beat Team USA, 90-87. Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error processing your subscription. As we head into the tournament, here's a look at all of the international NBA players who will be representing their countries in Tokyo.

Argentina

Bolmaro hasn't played in the NBA yet, but we'll include him because he was the No. 23 overall pick in last year's draft, and could arrive in the league as soon as next season. If you're unfamiliar, he's a 6-foot-6 guard with a lot of flair to his game and has a chance to be one of the breakout stars of this summer. The veteran guard finally made his way to the NBA last season after starring overseas with Real Madrid. One of the most competitive and hard-working players around, Campazzo was inserted into the starting lineup during the playoffs after the Nuggets suffered a number of injuries and helped the team reach the second round. If you were like most people and gave up on the Thunder last season when they started intentionally trying to lose every night, you might have missed Deck's arrival. He signed in April and ended up playing in 10 games, averaging 8.4 points, four rebounds and 2.4 assists. - Luis Scola -- N/AOK, cheating a bit again here because Scola doesn't play in the NBA anymore, but we have to show him some love. After a decade in the league, the now 41-year old forward is still going strong, and just a few years ago led Argentina to the gold medal at the Pan American Games.

Australia

Baynes won a championship with the Spurs -- and fellow Australian Patty Mills -- in just his second season in the league, and has since built himself a nice career as a tough, reliable big man. Coming off a disappointing season with the Raptors, he should have extra motivation for this tournament. The former No. 5 overall pick was once an extremely promising prospect, but it just hasn't worked out for him because of injuries. He only played six games this season due to a calf injury, and since entering the league in 2014, he's played 245 of a possible 574 games. Ingles has emerged in recent seasons as one of the most versatile forwards in the NBA, and a truly elite 3-point shooter. He's shot at least 39.1 percent from downtown for five straight seasons, and his career-high 45.1 percent mark this season was good for fifth in the league. Green was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but he didn't get much of an opportunity in his rookie season, which isn't all that surprising given former head coach Rick Carlisle's style. Green ended up playing 39 games and averaged 2.6 points and two rebounds. - Patty Mills -- San Antonio SpursThe longtime Spurs guard has built a reputation as one of the most steady backup guards in the league. But when he puts on his country's jersey, he seems to reach a new level. Already one of the best Australian players ever, he'll try to add to his legacy this summer when he leads the Boomers in search of their first Olympic medal. Thybulle was born in Arizona, and has actually spent most of his life in America, but lived in Australia for many years as a child and has dual citizenship. Despite having played just two seasons in the NBA, he's already made his name as a terrific perimeter defender and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team this season.

Czech Republic

A former second-round pick, Satoransky has become a pretty solid player with the Wizards and now the Bulls. Currently the only player from the Czech Republic in the NBA, he's led the country to their first Olympic appearance since becoming independent in 1993 and will be a flag bearer at the opening ceremony.

France

It wasn't long ago that Batum's career seemed to be winding down. Injuries limited him to 22 games in 2019-20, and he eventually came to terms on a buyout with the Hornets. When he signed with the Clippers prior to this season, expectations weren't very high. But he surprised everyone by becoming a key part of their run to the Western Conference finals. After spending the last six-plus seasons with the Magic, Fournier was traded to the Celtics at the deadline. Unfortunately, he got COVID-19 shortly after arriving and never really made much of an impact. As he prepares for free agency, the Olympics will give him a chance to show teams just how much he's worth. The first few conversations in the French locker room between Batum and Gobert might have been a bit awkward after the Clippers came back from a 2-0 deficit against the Jazz in the playoffs. While the big man faces his fair share of criticism, he's one of the best defensive players in the league and a walking double-double. Since being drafted late in the first round in 2016, Luwawu-Cabarrot has already played for four different teams, and at one point found himself out of the league. He kept working, however, and eventually earned a spot on the Nets. While their playoff run came up short, he proved he belongs in the NBA. Knicks fans had high hopes for the former No. 8 overall pick, but things haven't gone to plan. While he's shown promise as a perimeter defender, his offensive game hasn't been good enough. On the international level, however, he was instrumental in France's bronze medal finish at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, where they beat Team USA in the quarterfinals.

Germany

A former second-round pick, Bonga showed some flashes when he was first traded to the Wizards, but saw his playing time reduced this season as they made a run to the playoffs. He's set to be a restricted free agent this summer, and it will be interesting to see what his NBA future holds. A good showing in Tokyo could help him get a new contract. - Mo Wagner -- Orlando MagicInterestingly enough, Wagner was traded to the Wizards from the Lakers along with Bonga. Now, they'll team up again for Germany. Like his former and current teammate, Wagner is facing an uncertain future in the league. When the number of teams you've played for (four) is higher than the number of seasons you've played (three) that's usually a bad sign.

Iran

There are currently no Iranians in the NBA.

Italy

The veteran forward signed up with the Hawks last summer in free agency, and it turned out to be a brilliant move for both team and player. Gallo got one last big payday, and the Hawks got an important player for what ended up being a surprise run to the Eastern Conference finals. Now, Gallinari will lead Italy in their first Olympic appearance since 2004. Mannion has spent most of his life in the United States, but he was born in Italy when his father was playing there professionally and has represented the country since his U-16 days. As for his NBA career, it hasn't been too noteworthy so far. He made the Warriors as a second-round pick but played limited minutes in just 30 games. - Nico Melli -- Dallas MavericksAfter a successful career in Europe, Melli finally made his way to the NBA in 2019 when he signed with the Pelicans. Though ostensibly a floor-spacing big, he's struggled to shoot it from deep in his first two seasons and was traded to the Mavericks at the deadline. He's another player who could use a good showing in Tokyo ahead of restricted free agency.

Japan

Though still only 23 years old, Hachimura is already one of the best Japanese players of all time. The No. 9 overall pick in 2019, he was the first Japanese player ever drafted in the first round, and is also the only Japanese player to ever play in the playoffs. While he's struggled with injuries so far, he's also shown plenty of promise with the Wizards. Watanabe is probably best known for being the brave defender on Anthony Edwards' unbelievable dunk last season, but he should be known for being a trailblazer. When he made his NBA debut with the Grizzlies back in 2018, he became just the second Japanese player to ever play in the league.

Nigeria

The only NBA player on this team who actually grew up in Nigeria, Achiuwa moved to the United States as a teenager and quickly became a high-level prospect. Last year, he went No. 20 overall in the draft to the Heat, and earned a spot in the rotation thanks in large part to his hustle and energy off the bench. A second-round pick back in 2018, Metu made his start in the league with the Spurs. However, he never really found a consistent role there and spent time in the G League before eventually getting waived. That wasn't the end of the road for him, though, as he eventually linked up with the Kings and closed the season with a number of encouraging performances. Some players spend their whole career searching for a ring; Nwora got his after just one season. While he only saw limited playing time as a rookie, Nwora and the Bucks took down the Suns in the NBA Finals earlier this week. Now, he's on his way to Tokyo to check off another milestone early in his career by representing his country in the Olympics. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Okafor was one of the early faces of "The Process" in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, his rookie season with the Sixers turned out to be his best, and he's bounced around with the Nets, Pelicans and Pistons in recent years. One of four Timberwolves players heading to Tokyo, Okogie was the No. 20 overall pick in 2018. He's impressed as a perimeter defender through the first three seasons of his career, but saw his playing time decrease this season in large part because of his struggles on the offensive end. Okpala was a second-round pick back in 2019, but since making the Heat roster he hasn't really done much of note. So far he's struggled to find any consistent playing time in a crowded frontcourt, and has bounced up and down from the G League. In 42 games he's scored 99 points. After a storied collegiate career, Oni was the No. 58 pick in the 2019 draft. As a result, he became the first Ivy League played drafted since 1995, and the first player from Yale drafted since 1987. He appeared in a career-high 54 games this season for the Jazz as they earned the best record in the Western Conference. After going undrafted, Vincent went the G League route and worked hard to improve his game. The effort paid off, as he was named G League Most Improved Player in 2020 and earned a call-up to the Heat. This season he broke into the rotation and averaged 4.8 points over 50 games.

Spain

The younger Gasol joined the Lakers last offseason in search of another ring, but things didn't quite work out for him or the team. He'll have another chance next season, however, as they'll be one of the favorites if they can stay healthy. On the international level, Gasol is back at the Olympics after missing the games in 2016. - Pau Gasol -- N/AThe elder Gasol brother no longer plays in the NBA, but we have to give him a shoutout as he continues to lead the Spanish national team. This will be the fifth straight Olympics for Gasol, as he looks to add a fourth medal to his already extensive resume. The younger Hernangomez was the No. 15 overall pick back in 2016, and spent the first three-plus seasons of his career with the Nuggets before being traded to the Timberwolves. While he's shown flashes here and there, he hasn't really fulfilled the promise that led to him being a first-round pick. The elder Hernangomez made the All-Rookie First Team with the Knicks back in 2017, but so far has not been able to build on that initial success. He's since spent time with the Hornets and the Pelicans, never playing more than 58 games in a season. It will be interesting to see what happens next for him as he hits unrestricted free agency this summer. Once one of the most exciting prospects in Spanish history, Rubio has been playing with the national team since he was a teenager, and made his Olympics debut back in 2008. While he's never become a star, he's had a long and solid career in the NBA with the Timberwolves, Jazz and Suns.

Slovenia

Cancar was originally drafted by the Nuggets in the second round in 2017 but didn't come over to the NBA until 2019. Since then, he's bounced between the Nuggets and the G League and has been unable to earn any consistent playing time. In two seasons he's appeared in 55 games. The young phenom is not only the best player in Slovenian history but is already one of the best players in the NBA after just three seasons with the Mavericks. At this rate, he's well on his way to being an all-time great. This summer, he'll lead Slovenia to their first Olympics since they became an independent country in 1991. Read the full article

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your-dietician · 3 years ago

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The NBA Play-in: The moments the young Memphis Grizzlies grew up

New Post has been published on https://tattlepress.com/nba/the-nba-play-in-the-moments-the-young-memphis-grizzlies-grew-up/

The NBA Play-in: The moments the young Memphis Grizzlies grew up

The play-in games were a resounding success for the National Basketball Association. Obviously, single elimination games have this fascinating mystique around them. With it added into the NBA, and with fans entering the arenas again, it made these situations that much sweeter.

The play-in games were a resounding success for the Memphis Grizzlies as well. They had great tests in both games against teams with riches of playoff experience compared to this young squad. San Antonio had Gregg Popovich — arguably the most successful NBA coach of the 21st century — and a good blend of battle-tested veterans (DeMar DeRozan, Rudy Gay, Patty Mills, to name a few). After a strong win there, they had to enter the Chase Center to battle Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the rest of the Warriors on the road.

It was no small task ahead, but the Memphis Grizzlies prevailed and grew immensely from it.

Now after a month since the play-in tournament was played, let’s take a look at the different themes from these two games that illustrated growth for the Grizzlies.

In both play-in games, the Memphis Grizzlies got off to such strong starts. It wasn’t uncharacteristic for them to do so, as they were 11th in first-quarter net rating (+2.6) and 5th in first-period defensive rating (108). Granted, rating rankings have a slim separation statistically. Nonetheless though, it suggests they’re a pretty good first quarter team.

However, for most young teams those first 12 minutes of playoff-intensity games can be nerve racking and could start slow starts. The Grizzlies’ strong starts demonstrated great poise for a young team, as they outscored their two opponents 68-48 in those minutes. They also amassed incredible runs in those stretches as well — including a 19-2 run against the Spurs, and a 14-3 one against the Warriors.

Starting with the home game, the Grizzlies utilized the meaning of home-court advantage — a beauty that we actually got to experience in this COVID-ravaged season.

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Ja Morant pulled the offense out of the 4-on-4 fast break. Jonas Valanciunas runs the floor since DeMar DeRozan oddly enough didn’t already beat him down the floor. Since Jakob Poetl — the primary rim protector — was playing the potential screen from Jaren Jackson Jr., there was an opening for Valanciunas to rumble down the lane for a thunderous jam. That’s always something that’ll get the crowd going.

Then, there was the resounding fast-break jam from Dillon Brooks that was probably the staple of the Grizzlies 1st-quarter run.

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It was the classic “turning defense into offense” — a sweet way to get the momentum rolling on your end and away from the opposition. Brooks corrals the steal, audaciously looks off Morant, and throws down a vicious tomahawk slam right over Dejounte Murray.

In that same quarter, we saw the flashes from Jaren Jackson Jr. that make him such a tantalizing offensive prospect.

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This sequence illustrates the duo potential of Morant and Jackson. Morant is going to garner attention off of the drive, like most good finishers. Poetl tags Morant, while Lonnie Walker — his original man — goes over to help. Since Keldon Johnson has to play help to prevent the Valanciunas bucket, Jackson relocates to a window Ja could whip a pass through for the in-rhythm 3.

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This recognition from Jackson was ridiculous. He curls so far out that he’s not even in the frame here. It has to be 30 feet out! Johnson is caught ball-watching here, while probably waiting for Anderson to make the pass over to Valanciunas in order to make a deflection.

Though that 1st quarter lead vanished and didn’t seem as impactful in the process, it helped the Grizzlies establish a tone to energize the crowd, while also get its other franchise cornerstone going early.

The Grizzlies continued their excellent 1st quarter starts on the road against Golden State. That one was extremely imperative, as road games against the Warriors can still be dangerous for slumps. They possess the greatest scorer of all time in Steph Curry, and it seems like an avalanche whenever he’s humming.

However, the Grizzlies did an excellent job staying composed, setting the tone, and establishing an aggressive mindset. When it comes to those 3 things, this play pops to mind:

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Dillon Brooks sent a message here that the Grizzlies were going to swarm defensively, and they were going to win every 50-50 ball. Again, turning defense into offense is a great way to find your footing early in high-stakes games.

With that in mind, this is probably the sequence most Grizzlies fans would appreciate the most:

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Limited sample size, but Jaren Jackson Jr. nearly doubled his offensive rebound percentage from last season to this one (3.6 to 6.9). Though caught near the perimeter, Jackson chases the long rebound — probably gets away with a little bit of an “over the back” call — and gets reward with a trip to the line following an aggressive take to the basket.

Moving over to the offensive end, Ja Morant got going from deep en route to a career night from downtown.

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Curry or Kevon Looney did not pay a single bit of respect to Morant on this jumper. Curry decided to go under the Valanciunas screen, while Looney stayed in drop coverage to play the roll. It allowed Morant to step into a 3 in rhythm to knock down his 2nd triple of the game, instilling more confidence in his outside game.

Young squads could get rattled early in playoff situations, especially when it’s unfamiliar to them. We even saw it a bit from the Grizzlies in the Utah series. Their composure and poise in the play-in games demonstrated maturity and growth from the young Memphis team.

Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

How the Grizzlies defended their opponent’s go-to scorer was one of the defining moments of the play-in games.

It served as the prelude to Dillon Brooks’ 2021 postseason breakout. He was tasked with defending DeRozan and Curry, and he lived up to his role as “defensive stopper.” He held DeRozan to 2-10 shooting as the primary defender, and Curry was 5-12 against him as well. The Curry numbers may not be as glorious as his other strong matchup data points (see: Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard or Luka Doncic), but he made it difficult for him to get shots off with a vigorous face-guard.

He surely does get more individual praise for his defensive performance against DeRozan, and rightfully so. He forced him into tough, uncomfortable shot attempts, while not falling for too many fakes.

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While Brooks is fighting through the screen here, Valanciunas hedges the screen a bit until Brooks is over the Poetl pick. Once he’s free, he flies into DeRozan’s shot to force him into a rough miss.

There was another good hedge moment here between Valanciunas and Brooks late in the game. Off the high screen, Valanciunas does a great job of moving his feet until Brooks could recover. As the big man returns to drop coverage, DeRozan is forced into a tough sideline floater with a defender flying through to contest the shot.

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Brooks’ physicality remained a strong trait in another resumé-building performance as a defensive stopper — the good (tough contests like this), and the bad (5 fouls).

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This defensive epitomizes Brooks’ performance on DeRozan. Here, he bodies up DeRozan just enough to bother him, but not too much to create the foul call. Once he gets to that step-back, Brooks makes sure to get in a spot where he’s in his airspace without being completely in his landing spot — which would’ve given him a foul.

It wasn’t just Brooks tasked with stopping DeRozan. The Grizzlies put together an awesome scheme centered to stop him, leading to an uncharacteristic 5-21 night for the veteran star. It really ended with Jonas Valanciunas here. He’s often criticized on that end for his inability to guard out on the perimeter, but he was able to use drop coverage to a strength more against the mid-range maestro.

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This sequence triggered evergreen memories of my basketball coach growing up screaming at our team to cut off the baseline. Jonas Valanciunas demonstrates one of the potential pluses in doing so. He has to hedge off the Dieng screen before Desmond Bane could recover. In the process, he forces DeRozan baseline which sends him to “no man’s land” and generates a turnover.

Again, Valanciunas showcases fantastic verticality here:

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He helps off the DeRozan drive, and he maintains good rim protection instincts. He stays in control as the driver decelerates looking for contact, and he goes up with textbook verticality to swat the shot.

Switching over to Steph Curry, it was a bit of the opposite. Instead of a tough shooting night (still 13-28), the Grizzlies did a great job of blitzing him, forcing the Warriors into making quick decisions, and putting the supporting cast in positions to make plays without its star. Curry finished with 7 turnovers, the 6th time this season turning the ball over 7 or more times.

Before getting into Curry’s parade of turnovers, I want to showcase the defensive versatility of Jaren Jackson Jr.:

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Jackson switches onto Curry off the screen and stays with him the entire drive. He forced him into the paint, where Xavier Tillman was ready to help. Both big men went straight up to swallow Curry’s shot and send it out of bounds to a Grizzlies’ possession.

Carrying on.

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Ja Morant does a great job of stepping up into the switch, and Brooks tags the roller well too. Kent Bazemore is not the roller Curry is used to — story of the 2020-21 Warriors, right. Curry instinctually slips the short-roll pass to…nobody…leading to a turnover.

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Xavier Tillman takes on the switch here and is really good at staying attached to his hip and in a spot where he could strongly contest the shot. The Grizzlies add extra pressure with Brooks stunting and Morant providing help. Curry is then forced to a mid-air decision, and the closest person near him is Juan Toscano-Anderson, and Morant is there for the steal.

The Grizzlies continued to swarm Curry and force him into quick, mid-air decisions that are either going to result in a wild shot, pass, or a travel.

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Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson — the team’s two best perimeter defenders — blitz Curry out of the dribble hand-off. What is Anderson’s alternative? A Draymond Green 3? Though he splits between the two defenders momentarily, Anderson recovers to offer a strong enough contest — coupled with Valanciunas’ presence as well — to get him to pass cross-court out of his shot.

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This play could’ve gone badly. Brooks probably should’ve played Andrew Wiggins’ roll, while Grayson Allen should’ve returned over to Steph Curry. Ja Morant saved the day here defensively though. Curry sees a sliver to whip a pass to Wiggins — and it’s a smart call, because an easy 2 for an athletic 6’9” wing is good offense. He was a bit too loose with the pass, and that — along with the pressure off Ja’s help defense — forces Wiggins to bobble the ball and turn it over.

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In one of the largest possessions of the game, the Grizzlies come up with a massive turnover off of great defensive tactics. Tillman hedges the screen and forces him to the sideline, while Brooks recovers. It leaves Curry in a rough spot.

Let’s marvel at the defensive placement here:

Grizz defense -> curry turnover

Tillman and Brooks are trapping. Morant is in the corner, taking away further drives or a pass to the corner. Anderson is playing the roller and taking anything away in the middle. Grayson Allen is playing a free safety role — ready for anything baseline or crosscourt. It leads to an errant, crosscourt pass that goes over Green’s head for the turnover.

This was just a wonderful display of defensive strategy that forced their opponent into tough decisions the whole night.

Defending veteran stars like Steph Curry and DeMar DeRozan helped the Grizzlies grow in multiple ways. It illustrated the importance of locking in to create turnovers and to help your teammate tasked with stopping that player. It helped Dillon Brooks grow as a primary stopper in playoff situations. It was also a growing opportunity for Taylor Jenkins to learn, adjust, and get crafty with defensive schemes.

Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

The biggest area of growth for the Memphis Grizzlies during the play-in games was in late-game execution. It was definitely a nervous spot, as the Grizzlies had close games with playoff contenders over the course of the season, and lack of experience typically led to losses. Those regular-season moments served as learning opportunities to set them up for success when it mattered most.

The late-game execution, for the most part, was really good — aside from that non-challenge on the Jordan Poole 3 that would’ve sent all areas of Memphis Grizzlies coverage into a frenzy if they lost.

One thing we learned in these moments is, it always pays to have floor spacing around Ja Morant. He’s the driving force of the offense, and one that savors the opportunity to make big moments. If you give him space to operate, he will do so. Others, too, have the chance to shine and contribute whenever the defense collapses on Morant.

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In both plays, there are at least 3-4 defenders that are geared towards what Morant is doing at the rim. Rightfully so. Morant’s vision and poise are assets here, as he’ll dish out passes you don’t think he’ll make. In both dimes, he rises up and contorts his body in a way to sling a pass over to the lone corner man for an easy 3.

Something else to highlight with this young team is the amount of winning plays made late in the game from the role players. Xavier Tillman and Grayson Allen both made an impact down the stretch, whether it was big 3’s or hustle plays. One I want to particular point out is this put-back from Desmond Bane.

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Bane tracks the ball as soon as it leaves Morant’s hands, leading to an easy put-back. No groundbreaking analysis with basketball terminology there. However, it was a momentum-swinger that ultimately changed the trajectory of the game. With that put-back, the game goes from becoming a 2-possession game to 3. When there are only 90 seconds left, that’s massive.

Another cool aspect from the Warriors game, especially in crunch-time, was the Grizzlies’ willingness to let the other guys beat them. They were not going to let Curry be the one that put the dagger in. That was evident with hilariously bad missed bunnies from both Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green. They were going to make this supporting cast create for themselves and win them the game.

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Both Brooks and Anderson played the dribble handoff extremely well, preventing any sort of look for Curry. Green is forced to turn to Poole, who dribbles it off his foot in a massive possession. Against top-heavy teams, there are two cases defensively: 1) let the star cook and worry about the other guys, or 2) stop the star and let the supporting cast beat you. Though Curry toughly got off his shots, the Grizzlies did an excellent job of forcing the ball out of his hands when it mattered most.

All of these particular executions wouldn’t be possible without a pure go-to closer. Every team has them. There are stars who face the moments head-on and live with either rising or falling in the process. Ja Morant got his first crack at the clutch, go-to moment on the road in a playoff environment.

It’s safe to say he rose above the moment.

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Ja Morant got the switch he wanted, credit to the screeners for helping him do so. He was in a spot where he could hit the move that’s most comfortable for him: that hesi-dribble into the drive towards the left, then the right-handed floater. It’s absolutely money.

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With a chance to ice the game, Morant didn’t falter under pressure. He sizes up Toscano-Anderson and gets back to that sweet spot where he wants his floater. Off to Cancun the Warriors go.

Yes, there were some inexperienced blunders. However, it didn’t break the Grizzlies this time. The Memphis Grizzlies grew from regular-season heartbreak to execute in the clutch when it mattered most. Role players saw the dividends from making the simple play. Coach Jenkins found the right combinations to ensure good half-court offense, while coming up with great defensive schemes. Then, its franchise point guard Ja Morant had his first moment to be a go-to scorer down the stretch in a playoff atmosphere.

These clutch moments are what expedites the growth process for a young team.

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

All season long, Taylor Jenkins preached the importance of growth opportunities. Whether it was a losing in the clutch to a contender, dropping a game against an inferior opponent, or a big-time win over a bonafide playoff team — the vision of sustainable success was preached repeatedly throughout the year.

Those close losses to Milwaukee and Denver back in March prepared them to perform in the clutch in a “do or die” situation.

Dillon Brooks’ battles against the league’s elite prepared him to do so in games where the best players are expected to unload the clip.

All season, the players and coaches preached locking in for all 48 minutes, and that was backed up with strong 4th quarter play and staying active with the defensive gameplay.

For a season full of growth opportunities, the play-in tournament was a growing experience you cannot beat. The young Memphis Grizzlies grew up a lot in those two games — as well as the Utah series — and they’re more ready for whatever lies ahead.

For more Grizzlies talk, subscribe to the Grizzly Bear Blues podcast network on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and IHeart. Follow Grizzly Bear Blues on Twitter and Instagram.

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sportsv · 4 years ago

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為何現在兜售Aldridge 馬刺下一步該怎麼走？

文/ Hung Ku

馬刺總教練Gregg Popovich在今天對戰小牛前的賽前訪問爆出震撼消息，球隊老將LaMarcus Aldridge已經和球隊達成協議，接下來將不再為馬刺出戰，同時Popovich也表示Aldridge健康無虞，球隊會努力為他尋找需要他的球隊。

事實上，Aldridge與馬刺分道揚鑣是必然的，在年歲逐漸老去，速度和機動性跟不上現在的馬刺後，Aldridge的出賽時間本來就在逐年減少，看的出來和馬刺漸行漸遠，只是，為什麼是這個時機點呢？而馬刺賣掉Aldridge之後，球隊的下一步又是什麼？

🔥更多最新 NBA 精選好文：

三年過去老鷹在選秀會上的交易案是成是敗？

交易大限將至黃蜂會是市場上的熱門買家嗎

全方位鎖匠 Ben Simmons有機會贏得今年的最佳防守球員嗎？

年歲已高加上到期約

今年剛好是Aldridge合約的最後一年，到期約是馬刺選擇在這個時機點賣掉Aldridge的第一個原因。Aldridge今年24M的薪資，其實相較其他交易市場的標的如Andre Drummond來說，是比較好匹配的，因為合約只剩半年也可以讓買家比較方便操作薪資空間，增加交易的可能性。

另外，35歲的他明顯已經跟不上現在馬刺的球風。今年雖然沒有大商，但臀傷、膝蓋痠痛等問題一直困擾著他，讓他沒辦法跟上現在球隊的節奏。儘管近幾年努力減重，加上增加射程到三分線，還是沒辦法和新世代的聖安東尼奧配合。在這樣的情況下，已經35歲卻沒拿過冠軍的Aldridge自然會想離開球隊，去為自己的生涯再添最後的輝煌。

球隊狀態

馬刺在Bubble複賽的時候，在沒有Aldridge的情況下繳出5勝3敗的成績，證明了他們想嘗試的新球風是可��的。本季更是大刀闊斧的重用年輕小將，Lonnie Walker IV、Keldon Johnson和Dejounte Murray都獲得大量的上場時間，繳出的成績也相當不俗，上半季18勝14敗暫居西區第七。種種都證明了球隊在沒有Aldridge的情況下，也能打出很好的成績。現在Aldridge已經不像過往是球隊要角，重心已經逐漸世代交替到年輕人身上，上半季的戰績也證明新世代準備好接棒了。

同時，馬刺近年來的Pace正在上升。在聯盟Pace的排名上，馬刺從前年的22名，到去年的14名，今年則是來到新高的13，馬刺陣容正在年輕化，速度越打越快，這些都是Aldridge所無法適應的。

最後，就陣容配置上來看，馬刺也已經準備好接班人選。季前續約的Trey Lyles只要能上場就能繳出不俗表現，擁有穩定外線和良好體能的他明顯更適合現在的馬刺，同時，馬刺重點培養的新人Luka Samanic也在上半季尾段的比賽裡證明自己夠格在NBA獲得更多表現機會，主打延伸四號的他顯然會卡到Aldridge的位置。更不要忘了板凳還有備受Popovich肯定的年輕人Drew Eubanks和已經能扛小球中鋒的Rudy Gay，再不濟都有Keita Bates-Diop等著待命。

現在的馬刺已經準備好和Aldridge揮手說再見，比起上一季，今年馬刺有充足的人手填上Aldridge的位置。

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Aldridge已經在攻防兩端傷害球隊

其實從數據上來看，現在的Aldridge對馬刺來說是負資產，不是說他個人表現不好或是沒有努力轉型，而是不適合現在的馬刺。

當Aldridge上場時，球隊的ORtg是110.3，當他下場後，則會微幅上升到111.2，從進攻端來看，Aldridge的影響裡早已不如過往，甚至影響到球隊的進攻狀態。至於防守端，那便是完全的傷害球隊了，當他在場上時對手的ORtg高達116.8，下場後則會回歸107.4，也就是說當Aldridge上場時對手的ORtg會巨量上升9.5，非常恐怖。

從On/Off Court的統計數據來看，Aldridge在攻防兩端都不再適合馬刺了。

馬刺宣布消息後的狀態

根據記者Adrian Wojnarowski的消息，馬刺有一定程度的信心找到Aldridge的下家，最快甚至下週就能完成交易，目前沒有買斷合約的打算。

從這個消息我們可以推敲出來，馬刺理論上很接近完成交易了，畢竟Aldridge離隊的新聞是馬刺官方自己報的，加上Woj的消息可信度很高，綜合兩者來看Aldridge應該已經有潛在下家了。所以想從買斷市場盤來Aldridge，應該是不太可能了。

在Aldridge確定離隊後，可以預期Gay的上場時間一定會增加，Lyles和Samanic可以競爭剩餘的上場時間，也許Devin Vessell會有更多的機會表現。筆者認為Aldridge的離隊並不會影響戰績太多，雖然會少了五號位的得分能量，但空間拉的更開的情況下馬刺可以徹底執行現在他們想要且適合的風格，尤其現在馬刺其實也算有自己的鋒線海了。

馬刺迷該感謝Aldridge近幾年的貢獻，但雙方都是時候向前看了。

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#LaMarcus Aldridge #運動視界 #NBA #聖安東尼奧馬刺 #Yahoo

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jrueships · 3 years ago

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" all the beauty that this sport brings, for example, keldon from kentucky" - luka Šamanić, 2021

#rewatching spurs growing ground vids for extra pain.#is there more episodes??? than like? 4?#criminal how so many luka keldon moments have gone unfilmed #WHEN WILL THE SPURS IGNORANCE BE STOPPED?!?!?!?#tim duncan needs to slap some sense into these broadcasters and demand screentime for his great grandkids #anyways i do be thinkin bout them often #keldons cupcake esque spurs shorts LMAO #he cannot wear goth colors for long he needs por vida #thirdwheeling with keldon and luka: the episode #the amount of times they have probably accidentally brushed hands together because they are always so damn close...#i would Like To See It.#will send more screenshot i do not care if only one person likes it this is MY content 4 ME #u all are just some strange little insects that cling to my teeth for some reason #i lov u all tho 😇 just never expected fans #i say like im some major celeb who isnt talking about the same like 4 people that like my posts #keldon and luka probably shoved each other like 50 times this second #luka is ALWAYS pushing keldon hes obsessed #they mess with each other so much (nonsus #...🤨unle #keldon/luka

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lakelandg · 5 years ago

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AUSTIN SPURS CAPTURE 97-71 WIN OVER LAKELAND MAGIC

The Austin Spurs (4-4), presented by SWBC, defeated the Lakeland Magic (5-3) by a final score of 97-71 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Monday night.

San Antonio Spurs assignee Luka Šamanić led the Spurs in scoring with 18 points (6-12 FG, 4-6 3FG, 1-1 FT) and 7 rebounds in 32 minutes. Spurs assignee Keldon Johnson finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds in 33 minutes, while Drew Eubanks also…

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goalhofer · 5 years ago

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2019-20 San Antonio Spurs Roster

Forwards

#3 Keldon Johnson (South Hill, Virginia)

#7 Chimezie Metu (Lawndale, California)

#12 LaMarcus Aldridge (Dallas, Texas)

#19 Luka Samanic (Zagreb, Croatia)

#22 Rudy Gay; Jr. (Baltimore, Maryland)

#41 Trey Lyles (Indianapolis, Indiana)

#77 DeMarre Carroll (Birmingham, Alabama)

Centers

#25 Jakob Poltl (Vienna, Austria)

Guards

#1 Lonnie Walker IV (Reading, Pennsylvania)

#4 Derrick White (Parker, Colorado)

#5 Dejounte Murray (Seattle, Washington)

#8 Patty Mills (Canberra, Australia)

#10 DeMar DeRozan (Compton, California)

#11 Bryn Forbes (Lansing, Michigan)

#15 Quinndary Weatherspoon (Camden, Mississippi)

#18 Marco Belinelli (San Giovanni In Perciseto, Italy)

#Sports #Basketball #NBA #San Antonio Spurs #Celebrities #Texas #Italy #Alabama #Michigan #Maryland #Virginia #Indiana #Australia #Washington #Austria #Croatia #Pennsylvania #Mississippi #Colorado

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christianworldf · 5 years ago

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New Post has been published on Christian Worldview Institute

New Post has been published on https://christianworldviewinstitute.com/bible-prophecies/end-time-events/book-of-daniel/2019-nba-draft-results/

2019 NBA DRAFT RESULTS

The 2019 NBA draft was be held on June 20, 2019. It was take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Here are 2019’s NBA draft results: ROUND 1:

1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, F (Duke) 2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, G (Murray State) 3. New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett, F (Duke) 4. Atlanta Hawks (from Lakers via Pelicans): De’Andre Hunter, F (Virginia) 5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland, G (Vanderbilt) 6. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Suns): Jarrett Culver, G (Texas Tech) 7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White, G (UNC) 8. New Orleans Pelicans (from Hawks): Jaxson Hayes, C (Texas) 9. Washington Wizards: Rui Hachimura, F (Gonzaga) 10. Atlanta Hawks (from Mavericks): Cam Reddish, F (Duke) 11. Phoenix Suns (from Timberwolves): Cameron Johnson, F (UNC) 12. Charlotte Hornets: PJ Washington, F (Kentucky) 13. Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, G (Kentucky) 14. Boston Celtics (from Kings): Romeo Langford, G/F (Indiana) 15. Detroit Pistons: Sekou Doumbouya, F (Guinea) 16. Orlando Magic: Chuma Okeke, F (Auburn) 17. New Orleans Pelicans (from Nets via Hawks): Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G (Virginia Tech) 18. Indiana Pacers: Goga Bitadze, C (Georgia) 19. San Antonio Spurs: Luka Samanic, F (Croatia) 20. Philadelphia 76ers (from Clippers via Celtics): Matisse Thybulle, F (Washington) 21. Memphis Grizzlies (from Thunder): Brandon Clarke, F (Gonzaga) 22. Boston Celtics: Grant Williams, F (Tennessee) 23. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Jazz via Grizzlies): Darius Bazley, F (Princeton HS (OH)) 24. Phoenix Suns (from Sixers via Celtics): Ty Jerome, G (Virginia) 25. Portland Trail Blazers: Nassir Little, F (UNC) 26. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Rockets): Dylan Windler, F (Belmont) 27. Los Angeles Clippers (from Nuggets via Nets): Mfiondu Kabengele, C (Florida State) 28. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Poole, G (Michigan) 29. San Antonio Spurs (from Raptors): Keldon Johnson, F (Kentucky) 30. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Bucks via Pistons): Kevin Porter Jr., G (USC) _________________________________

ROUND 2:

31. Brooklyn Nets (from Knicks): Nicolas Claxton, C (University of Georgia) 32. Miami Heat (from Suns via Pacers): KZ Okpala, F (Stanford) 33. Boston Celtics (from Cavaliers via Sixers): Carsen Edwards, G (Purdue) 34. Atlanta Hawks (from Bulls via Sixers): Bruno Fernando, C (Maryland) 35. New Orleans Pelicans (from Hawks): Marcos Louzada Silva, G/F (Brazil) 36. Charlotte Hornets (from Wizards): Cody Martin, F (Nevada) 37. Detroit Pistons (from Mavericks): Deividas Sirvydis, G/F (Lithuania) 38. Chicago Bulls (from Grizzlies): Daniel Gafford, C (Arkansas) 39. Golden State Warriors (from Pelicans): Alen Smailagic, F/C (Serbia) 40. Sacramento Kings (from Timberwolves): Justin James, G (Wyoming) 41. Golden State Warriors (from Lakers via Hawks): Eric Paschall, F (Villanova) 42. Washington Wizards (from Kings via Sixers): Admiral Schofield, F (Tennessee) 43. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Heat): Jaylen Nowell, G (Washington) 44. Denver Nuggets (from Hornets via Hawks and Heat): Bol Bol, C (Oregon) 45. Dallas Mavericks (from Pistons): Isaiah Roby, F (Nebraska) 46. Los Angeles Lakers (from Nets via Magic): Talen Horton-Tucker, F (Iowa State) 47. New York Knicks (from Magic via Kings): Ignas Brazdeikis, F (Michigan) 48. Los Angeles Clippers: Terance Mann, F (Florida State) 49. San Antonio Spurs: Quinndary Weatherspoon, G (Mississippi State) 50. Utah Jazz (from Pacers): Jarrell Brantley, F (Charleston) 51. Boston Celtics: Tremont Waters, G (LSU) 52. Charlotte Hornets (from Thunder): Jalen McDaniels, F (San Diego State) 53. Utah Jazz: Justin Wright-Foreman, G (Hofstra) 54. Philadelphia 76ers: Marial Shayok, G/F (Iowa State) 55. Sacramento Kings (from Rockets via Knicks): Kyle Guy, G (Virginia) 56. Brooklyn Nets (from Trail Blazers via Clippers): Jaylen Hands, G (UCLA) 57. Detroit Pistons (from Nuggets via Pelicans and Hawks and Sixers): Jordan Bone, G (Tennessee) 58. Utah Jazz (from Warriors): Miye Oni, G (Yale) 59. Toronto Raptors: Dewan Hernandez, F/C (Miami) 60. Sacramento Kings (from Bucks): Vanja Marinkovic, G (Serbia) __________________________________

#NBA #NBADraft #Results #highlights

2019 NBA Draft: Duke Dominates Top 10 NBA Draft 2019 Live Results & Pick-by-Pick Analysis Hot Pick #1 to #60 2019 NBA Draft – 1st round (picks 19-30) 2019 NBA Draft highlights Resultados del Draft de la NBA Draft NBA 2019, en vivo: todos los picks y rondas en directo source

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swethatym · 5 years ago

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Talen Horton-Tucker, Keldon Johnson and Admiral Schofield are trending today on Google.

ICYMI: Talen Horton-Tucker, Keldon Johnson and Admiral Schofield are trending today on Google.United States⋅Friday, 21 June 2019 KIMT 3 Talen Horton-Tucker20,000+ searchesPeterson: Who's the next Iowa State NBA draftee? That depends on when Tyrese Haliburton becomes available. DesMoinesRegister.comThe NBA drafted four Big 12 players Thursday night. Half of them were second-rounders who played for Iowa State — Talen Horton-Tucker to the Lakers and Marial Shayok to Philly — but here's something that's even more impressive: Since the Big 12 ... mySanAntonio.com Keldon Johnson20,000+ searchesYouth movement taking hold with Spurs mySanAntonio.comThe Spurs selected a pair of 19-year-old forwards Thursday night in first-round picks Luka Samanic of Croatia and Kentucky-ex Keldon Johnson. That gives them several players 26 years old or younger, including Lonnie Walker IV (20), Dejounte Murray (22), ... 247Sports Admiral Schofield20,000+ searchesWizards coach breaks down pick of Vols star Admiral Schofield 247SportsTennessee star Admiral Schofield has a chance to be a steal for the Washington Wizards with the 42nd overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Wizards traded with Philadelphia to get the pick, and locked in on one of the top players in the SEC from last season. TV Series Finale Reef Break20,000+ searchesReef Break: Season One Ratings TV Series FinaleAlthough most of the ABC summer schedule is filled with unscripted fare, the network does run some scripted summer series for the year-round drama audience. The latest entry in that category is the Reef Break TV show. Does the first season of this new ... See more Daily Search Trends You've subscribed to email notifications from Google Trends.Unsubscribe|View all your subscriptions© 2019 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043. http://dlvr.it/R75FQ9

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sportsv · 4 years ago

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Keldon Johnson：馬刺在Bubble裡發現的珍寶

文／ Hung Ku

Keldon Johnson，一個現在還沒成名但未來極有可能成大器的名字。

大部分球迷應該對Johnson這個名字並不熟悉。畢竟他是一名新秀，而且今年球季大部分時間都在G league打球，比起Zion Williamson或是Ja Morant這種大物新人，身處馬刺隊的Johnson並沒有獲得太多鎂光燈。不過他未來，極有可能跟這群頂尖球星並肩而行，在缺乏絕對性未來天賦的馬刺隊中，他很可能是那個扛下聖安東尼奧下一世代招牌的球員。

雖然進入聯盟後並不出名，但Johnson在高中可是鼎鼎有名的明星，被媒體評價成五星高中生的傢伙。不過，因為大學始終沒有把持球技術練起來，本人個性又是苦幹實幹類型的球員，並不會積極地��隊友爭取進攻機會。因此到了選秀時，Johnson從一個王牌潛力股變成純3D球員，順位滑到29也就不意外了。

從夏季聯盟的比賽中也能看出Johnson的持球有多生澀，時常運一運就收球，沒有下球進攻的想法。不過這邊要提的是，Johnson並非消極打球的球員，相反的他非常積極，時常看到他在外圍死命的黏防亦或是爭搶進攻籃板，他的狀況比較像是以團隊為重，犧牲自己進攻欲望的那種類型，這在籃球場上其實不太常見，尤其是英雄主義的美式籃球。好在馬刺似乎有意特別培養Johnson的持球能力，在G league的比賽裡可以看到他慢慢重拾進攻欲望，扛起球隊得分主力的角色。在一點一點修好自己的缺陷後，進入Bubble的Johnson終於讓人看到他真正的潛力，那個當年曾經和RJ Barrett齊名的天才回來了。

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進入Bubble後的馬刺，因為Aldridge的報銷，選擇打起一大四小的陣容，轉型成更現代化的球隊，這個決定幾乎造福了所有馬刺新世代的潛力股。Derrick White、Lonnie Walker、Dejounte Murray數據都有全面性的提升，但我想影響最多的，無疑是Johnson。

youtube

在Bubble裡Johnson打出非常漂亮的比賽內容，場均14.1分5.0籃板1.1助攻，投籃命中率和三分命中率是強到誇張的63.8％和64.7％。Johnson在一大四小的體系中徹底發揮他的專長，因為禁區空間拉開，擁有出色爆發力的他能不用複雜的動作就切入取分，三分投射姿勢本來就相當穩定的他也能在外線完美執行射手的工作。場均得分是馬刺全隊第四高，上場時間也來到26.1分鐘，要知道整個球季扣掉復賽他只打了9場而已，在馬刺體系下新人第一年就獲得這麼��上場時間著實不易，看得出來他的表現深受高層信賴。

我想，如果馬刺持續這樣的體系，Johnson未來得分極有可能上看20大關。他的得分方式相當符合現代籃球風潮，集中於三分和籃下這兩個較高效率的位置，6呎5吋、220磅的身材也契合現代側翼所需要的身材。身為新秀，Johnson擁有很棒的基本功，投籃姿勢固定，對抗性也足夠（他跟Harden一樣重），比賽中也可以看到他並不畏懼碰撞，比起夏季聯盟切入更流暢，現在左右手都能切入，雖然沒有華麗的腳步但靠著身體素質仍能穩健地把球放進籃框。說真的，攤開馬刺現在的年輕後衛海，或許Johnson是天賦和實力兩項綜合起來後最值得栽培的。

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再次上位 Tyronn Lue能帶領快艇乘風破浪嗎？

另外，Johnson對馬刺團隊的貢獻超乎想像的好。當他在場上時，球隊ORtg高達117.8，而下場後則會下降至112.2；防守端的話，當他在場上時，對手ORtg僅有107.1，下場後則會上升至114.6。不論進攻還是防守，Johnson在場上帶給球隊的影響都是正面的，只要他在場上，馬刺攻防兩端都表現得較佳。

當然，Johnson並非沒有缺點。如果以頂級球星的架式來說，他自主進攻能力仍然缺乏，但他天賦上限是很高的。Johnson目前空手跑位意識優異、籃板拚搶積極、防守態度良好，但這些都僅僅是一個好的二當家所該做的是，如果馬刺希望將他培養成下個時代的招牌球星，那個人持球進攻技巧還有很多需要精進的。所幸Johnson的協調性是不錯的，目前也能看出一點單打的雛形，待在馬刺的體系中好好保護應該是能穩定成長。

筆者個人認為，如果馬刺明年持續往現代化的球風邁進，Johnson上場時間和表現很可能再進一步提升。當然不可能期待他整季都維持6成左右的命中率，但15分5籃板左右應該是個可預期的數據。不論Johnson未來能否逐步成為明星等級的球員，至少他已經是個好的先發拼圖，優秀的3D球員。

擁有曾經五星高中生的天賦，來到馬刺後剛好進入球隊世代交替期，獲得了重新兌現期待的機會。Keldon Johnson，頂著21歲的年紀，是否有可能創造另一個醜小鴨變天鵝的故事，值得期待。

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#NBA #Yahoo #運動視界 #Keldon Johnson #聖安東尼奧馬刺

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