Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News wonders if Spurs shooting guard Bryn Forbes can retain the deft stroke he employed in the team’s recent 135-133 double overtime defeat of the Rockets. Forbes racked up 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, including a sparkling five-of-six from deep.
If Forbes can shoot well enough, he should remain entrenched as the Spurs’ starting two guard, McDonald writes. Forbes himself expressed confidence that he could: “I’ve put in a lot of work, and I don’t do it to miss shots.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavericks‘ 7’3″ sharp-shooting, shot-blocking “Unicorn,” has adapted his game since being traded from the Knicks. The explosive offensive fire power of his triple-doubling teammate Luka Doncic has impacted how KP can best help in Dallas. The Athletic’s Shams Charania unpacks how the 24 year-old has adapted his shot profile and playmaking in Dallas, upon signing a five-year, $158MM extension in July. “Some nights I get more opportunities and some nights I don’t get as many opportunities,” Porzingis told Charania. “But most nights, we give Luka the ball and let him f***ing go.”
- Ahead of what would become a 115-109 Rockets victory last night, guard Austin Rivers had high praise for current Suns coach Monty Williams. Williams served as Rivers’ first head coach when both were with the Pelicans (then the Hornets). “I’ll tell you, in terms of on-the-ball defense, I think I’m as good as anybody,” Rivers said, per The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen. “I really do give credit to Monty. He was so on me about defense, it’s all I thought about.” Rivers re-signed with the Rockets this summer on a two-year,$4.5MM veteran’s minimum contract.
- Much-ballyhooed Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson, the 2019 No. 1 pick, has started partaking in light on-court team work recently, but he had yet to begin on-court work as of December 4. Williamson will not make the original six-to-eight-week knee surgery recovery window projected by Pelicans brass. William Guillory of The Athletic opines that New Orleans’ cardinal sin, though, is a lack of defensive effort or hustle, and Zion won’t be able to solve that issue on his own.
typo. I don’t think you want McDonald shooting for the Spurs.
”ncic has been who brings all the fire for KP. They’d better keep him in Dallas. This duo isn’t going away despite the rumors. Cuban & the Mavs have real steal on their hands in these players. Probably the Luka/Porzingod/Cuban factor never goes away.
A very good job this season, I see the Mavs WCF or even better. ”ncic is a better feeling, guy’s have got to get way down to the basics, what they want, what they play for. Remember that when Porzingod went to Mavs it was a very even trade. NYK got a fire player in De’Andre Jordan.
The season standings have been nuts but the NBA journalism has been very concise.
Porzingis if it hasn’t already been said here is one player who has natural adept to the floor and everyone remembers this, too, that before he went down with an injury was a masterpiece. These new gods in Dallas gonna rock the house
Not so much tonight against the Kings though.
Probably the Hield factor was strong but that’s just one game. Sac is a down tight team, so no regrets. Dallas = Sacramento is a good game & up to anyone fanwise
Knicks got squat. It was a salary dump, all for nothing but short deals with mid-level players as it turns out. Failed gambit by the Knicks unless Zinger is injury-prone.
Few people outside Texas called it even.
Not a bad write though… Does the *”ncic* have a reason?
”ncic has been who brings all the fire for KP. They’d better keep him in Dallas. This duo isn’t going away despite the rumors. Cuban & the Mavs have real steal on their hands in these players. Probably the Luka/Porzingod/Cuban factor never goes away.
A very good job this season, I see the Mavs WCF or even better. ”ncic is a better feeling, guy’s have got to get way down to the basics, what they want, what they play for. Remember that when Porzingod went to Mavs it was a very even trade. NYK got a fire player in De’Andre Jordan.
The season standings have been nuts but the NBA journalism has been very concise.
Porzingis if it hasn’t already been said here is one player who has natural adept to the floor and everyone remembers this, too, that before he went down with an injury was a masterpiece. These new gods in Dallas gonna rock the house
Jeff McDonald is on a non-guaranteed deal and has to make shots in order for his deal to become fully guaranteed in early January. Expect Forbes to continue his production. McDonald… not so much.
But is McDonald going to bring some impact from across the bench? I don’t really see him bringing another big trade off of the board. Impact’s not his feature
Carlisle needs to start using KP more intelligently.
He gets no plays called for him and the last couple of games was just camped out at the three pt line guarded by guards. What is the point in a stretch 4/5 if he’s not bringing shotblockers away from the rim?!
If he’s being guarded by these players it should be BBQd Chicken. Work him into the block, give him the ball and let him go to work.
As much as Luka is a phenomenal player those step back threes in last night’s comeback crunch time were frustrating. They had time for a quick two.
True.
Yes run more plays for KP! Carlise needs to dig up old footage of him in NY and run those type of plays for him…
I do think KP also needs to pass more… it seems like he shoots the ball 80% of the time when he gets it… but i feel like he shoots it all the time is because he doesnt touch it enough
KP shines more when he doesn’t need to be the primary rebounder. I wouldn’t change Dallas’ starting lineup, but when Doncic sits, I’d like to see Marjanovic out there with KP. I think a non-Doncic squad of Marjanovic, KP, Finney-Smith, Hardaway, and Brunson (or Wright) would be extremely successful. Carlisle is a great great coach.
16 mins Marjanovic, KP, Finney-Smith, Hardaway, Brunson
16 Mins Powell, Kleber, Doncic, Wright, Curry
16 mins KP, Doncic, Finney-Smith, Hardaway, and Powell or Kleber