The Trail Blazers faced some criticism last winter for not receiving more in return when they traded CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. to New Orleans, but they certainly haven’t been disappointed by what they’ve gotten from Josh Hart, one of the key pieces in that deal.
A full-time starter this season for the 7-3 Blazers, Hart is attempting just 6.8 shots per 36 minutes in the early part of this season, by far a career low. But he’s filling up the box score by averaging 8.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, all of which are career bests, and is earning praise from his teammates, as Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian details.
“His last name is the perfect last name for him,” Damian Lillard said. “He rebounds like he is seven feet, he’s always in the passing lanes, he’s physical, playing hard, passionate, cares about winning. He doesn’t care about shots.”
While Hart admits that he wouldn’t mind a greater role on offense, he said he’s OK with taking a back seat to Lillard, Jerami Grant, and other teammates if that’s what’s best for the club.
“When you want to win, you’ve got to sacrifice,” Hart said, per Fentress. “I would love to be out there shooting 10, 12, 13 shots per game, and doing stuff like that. But at the end of the day, if you want to win, guys are going to have to sacrifice. Guys have to play different roles to help the team.”
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- It’s officially time to start worrying about the Timberwolves, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The Wolves, who lost on Wednesday to a Suns squad missing Chris Paul and Cameron Johnson, have shown “no energy, no drive, and no heart” this season, Krawczynski writes, pointing out that the team has trailed by at least 18 points in six of its seven losses. “It’s just the sign of a team that’s lacking a little bit of confidence and purpose right now,” head coach Chris Finch said.
- Acquired in an offseason trade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been an ideal fit as a three-and-D piece for the Nuggets, according to Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports, who says head coach Michael Malone has given Caldwell-Pope the freedom to deviate from the team’s defensive game plan when he sees fit.
- Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who is thriving in his new home in Utah, sat down with Shams Charania of Stadium (Twitter video link) to discuss his trade from Cleveland, his goal of making an All-Star team, and why things didn’t work out with the Bulls, among other topics.
- The presence of veteran point guard Mike Conley has been one important reason why so many of the Jazz‘s newly acquired players are fitting in seamlessly this season, writes Sarah Todd of The Deseret News. “I’ve played with some good point guards, but nothing like Mike,” Markkanen said on Wednesday. “He’s a really smart player and knows not just when to pass ball, but he delivers on target.”
Hart & when Payton II returns, are going to propel the Blazers well beyond expectations this season. (If healthy)
I wanted the Raptors to trade for Hart so bad last year before he was included in that deal. I am not surprised to see him having this impact.
Yes, the Twolves are dysfunctional. Mainly their starting 5. Ant took 12 shots last night. That will always be a losing gameplan. Ant should be taking 12 shots per half. If they want to win, of course.
Plot twist, the Wolves tank so bad they get Wemby and play three centers next season.
To start the tank, they trade D’Angelo Russell to Chicago for Vucevic & Pat Williams…
How is that a tank? That sounds like an upgrade to me.
No, trading Russell would only help them win more games.
With Ant’s effectivity maybe he should take like 6 a game & leave the scoring to the ones who are good at it, like KAT!!!
Timberwolves win??? LOL!! Never have never will. The more things change the more they stay the same.
If Markannen had put in half the effort that the guy the Bulls got in that trade ( Derrick Jones Jr) does, he would have been an All Star in Chicago. But all he did was make excuses and try to avoid contact.
He has talent, maybe he just needs a change of scenery, but he talks about Chicago as if he was not supported – they gave him every chance to succeed, often to the detriment of the teams competitiveness.
Donovan is great, but I fear the executive level in Chicago is deeply flawed, and ultimately the reason LM was traded to the Cavs for basically nothing. Where he had a breakout season, making his contract a bargain, and LM a valuable trade chip for the Cavs in the Mitchell deal. My Hope is Donovan has more control than I think, because the execs job performance in Chicago has been underwhelming
He wasn’t allowed to.
Nothing Lauri Markkanen does nowadays is surprising to those who know him since his college days at Arizona.
Markkanen represented the by far most talented player that storied college basketball program had ever seen, especially on the offensive end. But he was also an elite defender, who, as a seven-footer, displayed capabilities to defend positions from 2 to 5. The same as we see him do now in the NBA.
His problem then was the same as he later encountered in Chicago: complete and utter incompetence on behalf of the coaching staff.
Disgraced former Arizona coach Sean Miller used to buy victories by paying top recruits under the table, something his top recruiter Emanuel “Book” Richardson eventually went to jail for. But Miller was a lousy coach, who never got anything close out of the talent he had accumulated. He certainly didn’t know how to use Markkanen’s offensive capabilities by ordering him to camp at the perimeter as a long three-point threat, just as Chicago did.
However, back then Markkanen occasionally took over the game by his own accord, dazzling the fans with his incredible finesse, athleticism and high basketball IQ.
Chicago completely mishandled Markkanen’s further development by ordering him to bulk up, which naturally turned him into a heavy stiff. Subsequently they positioned him at the perimeter, where the Bulls’ atrocious PG play rarely got him any touches. And even the few passes Markkanen received often consisted of balls thrown away by his teammates in order to avoid shot clock violations. How many times did he cut to the basket, only to be ignored by chuckers Zach LaVine and Coby White.
Markkanen has always been an elite level talent. Those who claim that the fresh Utah mountain air suddenly made him discover his true basketball skills are merely trying to cover up their own ignorance and incompetence.
The time to start worrying about the Timberpuppies was when they traded for Gobert
Aside from when they came into the league in 1989.