Wesley Matthews has steadily improved his game over the last few seasons for the Blazers, especially from behind the arc, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Matthews leads the league with 96 three-pointers made on the season, and he’s compiled a 59.5% effective field goal percentage. With three-point shooting being such a valuable commodity, the soon to be free agent could be in line for a hefty raise over his current $7.25MM salary, although that is just my speculation.
Here’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Newly acquired guard Troy Daniels has fit in well with the Wolves, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. “He shoots the basketball,” coach Flip Saunders said. “I probably should have found a way to put him in sooner. As I told our guys, when you utilize your minutes on the floor, you either gain trust from your teammates and coaches or not. So he did a good job and gained some trust.” Daniels was acquired from Houston in a trade for Corey Brewer earlier in the month.
- The Thunder offered Jamaal Tinsley an opportunity to join the team last offseason, as the former first-round pick tells David Pick of Eurobasket.com. “OKC offered but I elected not to indulge because it wasn’t a guaranteed deal and I’m too far along in my career for non-guarantees,” Tinsley said. The 36-year-old guard is currently entertaining offers to play overseas.
- If the Thunder are going to make the playoff this season, Serge Ibaka has to become more involved in the offense, particularly in the fourth quarter, argues Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman. Mayberry points out that Ibaka is averaging only 3.4 points on just 2.6 attempts per game in the fourth quarter. The Thunder sit three games out of the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 15-17.
Not sure about that 59.5% number for Wes…looks like you may be referring to his eFG%.
Good eye! You are correct. We’ve made that change.
–Chuck