When Alec Burks signed with the Warriors, not many people expected him to play 27.0 minutes per game. Even fewer expected him to be one of the most reliable scorers on the team. However, injuries have opened the door for him to take on a greater role.
“I definitely knew he could score,” Draymond Green said (via Logan Murdock of NBCSports.com). “When he’s been on any team, he comes off the bench and he gets it going. Going downhill, getting to the basket and I think he’s definitely improved his jump shot”
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- The Pelicans have endured a bevy of injuries this season and Kenrich Williams has stepped up when they needed him the most, as Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com relays. “He makes winning plays, and that’s why we have to have him on the court,” said coach Alvin Gentry. “So we inserted him back into the lineup. I never even look at his stat line, because he just helps you win basketball games.”
- Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com details the ever-evolving relationship between Rick Carlisle and Luka Doncic. Some within the league were skeptical that the pairing would work long-term given Carlisle’s propensity to be harsh on point guards, but the Mavericks are confident that the right coach is in place. “When we had people here who didn’t think they needed to learn anything, that’s when we’d run into conflicts,” Owner Mark Cuban said. “Luka is a sponge, on the court and off.”
- Carlisle believes in Doncic, which wasn’t the case for Dennis Smith Jr. and Rajon Rondo were they were on the Mavericks, MacMahon passes along in the same piece. The ESPN scribe hears that Carlisle expressed concern about Rondo’s fit before the Mavs traded for him.
Carlise needs to run more set plays for KP
I think that will come, in time. KP is still working back. I think they’re being cautious with him, both in minutes and not putting too much on his plate too soon. I think Carlisle is doing a lot of the right things, many of which start with the ball in Luka’s hands.
Burks going to get GSW another 1st rounder when they trade him
#lightyears baby
2nd rounder not a first rounder.
No 1st rounder not at his age
I’ve always believed that Carlisle leads the league in job security. But if Luka wants him gone, I gotta think he has the pull to get it done.
An interesting situation for sure.
That’s not how Cuban operates
Not how he operates at all. Not to mention Luka is a professional who knows how to work through his growing pains.
Imagine still having a job after passing on not only Doncic, but Trae as well for lol DeAndre Ayton when your team hasn’t had a point guard since Steve Nash.