Grizzlies star Ja Morant expressed confidence that he’s a top-five point guard in the league, he told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Morant listed Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook as the best point guards beside himself.
The 22-year-old also conveyed a belief that his Grizzlies can take another step forward after earning a playoff spot in last season’s play-in tournament.
“I feel like we can compete with the top teams in this league,” he explained. “We all have that mindset, and this chip on our shoulder we go out and play with each and every night.
“Now, it’s continuing to buy in and keep gelling as a team and getting better with chemistry. Having more guys step up and talk who’ve been in the game for a while to help the young guys come along. Our goal this year is to continue to be better in all areas and better than we were last year.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division tonight:
- Kelly Iko and Danny Leroux of The Athletic discuss a number of topics related to the Rockets, including the ongoing John Wall situation. Wall and Houston mutually agreed to find the 31-year-old a trade earlier this month, though it’ll be a difficult task due to his $44.3MM salary and $47.4MM player option for 2022/23.
- Dwain Price of Mavs.com previews the Mavericks‘ training camp, which is set to start on Tuesday. Led by Luka Doncic, Dallas is viewed by league observers as quietly one of the most dangerous teams entering the season. “I think we’re going to be a team that’s going to play hard, that’s going to be unselfish, and I think everyone will be accountable and I think it’ll be fun,” head coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s a Jason Kidd-coached team is a team that’s going to be accountable, will have fun out there and will play hard and be unselfish.”
- In his latest mailbag for The Athletic, William Guillory examined several Pelicans-related subjects, including potential rotations, the idea of trading Josh Hart, and more. New Orleans is coming off a season where it went just 31-41.
If we’re counting Luka as a point then Ja ain’t top 5
Both Luka Doncic and Kyrie should be above Westbrook for top 5 PG’s.
You can’t put Kyrie over Westbrook if Kyrie misses every home game, both road games against the Knicks and 1 road game against the Warriors.
OK, so instead of Kyrie then Harden will be in the top 5 PG’s.
This and Harden and Kyrie agreed that Harden’s the point guard. Regardless though I’d rank Curry, Lillard, Paul, Harden, Luka, Westbrook, Young, Holiday, Conley, Lowry, Van Vleet and Jamal Murray above Morant. Morant’s got a bright future though.
Morant needs to stay healthy. His injury set him back las t year.
Enough Wall related news. Garbage clickbait. Enough said
he missed all of 9 games. not exactly injury prone.
There’s not nearly as much Wall related news as there is multiple articles every single day about Ben Simmons. And despite the popular belief amongst most people, the Sixers aren’t getting substantially more for him than the Rockets will end up getting for Wall, who can still contribute.
Sixers can get everything the wolves have to offer besides towns and Edwards from twolves for Simmons, all their first ! There’s no team that’s giving rockets any young talent or first rd picks for wall !
Simmons can contribute more. Sorry, Sixers are not going to bail out Rockets from their obligations.
Personally
PG:
Curry Lillard CP3 Russ Kyrie Young Fox Simmons Morant Brogdan
SG
Harden PG13 Mitchell Beal Booker LaVine Holiday Klay SGA McCollum
So you left the best guard in the league out of your list, aka Luka… now that was clever, mate!
Sorry Luka second at SH and MCCollum drops out
I suppose that explains all those MVP’s that Luka has won. Or does it?
Kyries not the PG
Kyrie been the point 95% of his career and Harden been a SG.
Just cause LeBron and Giannis played point guard for a season I would rank them at that spot
Kidd sounding intelligent as ever
HR writer Shaw relayed the phrasing and re-phrasing of Kidd’s top four points but not the introduction of the “four criteria”, including the “first day of school” metaphor. Kidd is not wrong, though his interview skills are rusty.
And then Shaw made up “Dallas is viewed by league observers as quietly one of the most dangerous teams entering the season.” Not even the local writer went that far!
Well there are many who would agree with Shaw’s takes. I think the roster is too ad-hoc and Doncic will have to carry it again and the wheels will come off. If Kidd can prevent that, he wins. I doubt DAL gets far though.