Southeast Notes: Sarr, Porzinigs, Hornets Stars, Wizards Vets

Alex Sarr has shown massive growth this season, but until the Wizards‘ game against the Hawks on Tuesday, those steps were mainly displayed during losses, writes Varun Shankar for the Washington Post.

Shankar writes that Sarr has made the most substantial improvement when it comes to scoring around the rim. Meanwhile, the rim protection and passing that he displayed as a rookie have continued to grow in his sophomore season.

Most importantly, he has been a positive presence for the team, as evidenced by the fact that the Wizards are almost 13 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the court.

While the 2.0 blocks per game stand out, head coach Brian Keefe says that the most impressive part of his rim protection isn’t captured by the box score, but rather in the moments when Sarr deters opponents from going up for the shot to begin with.

“I wish it happened more,” Sarr said.

Sarr was rewarded for his improved play with “MVP” chants from the Wizards’ faithful in a rare win for the team.

We have more from around the Southeast Division:

• Kristaps Porzingis is out for the Hawks‘ game against the Sixers on Sunday, tweets Lauren J. Williams of the AJC. He will miss the game with the same illness that held him out of Friday’s contest against the Cavs. Porzingis has played in 12 of the team’s 20 games this season and is averaging 18.7 points and a career-high 3.3 assists per game, though he has struggled to find consistency with his outside shot.
• LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller took a big step forward for the Hornets on Saturday as they played the second half of a back-to-back, a rarity for the team this year. “Definitely another positive step for those two guys being able to play in a back-to-back,” coach Charles Lee said. “With that, though, comes me still being mindful of not pushing it too far as we enter that next tier of their return-to-play programs. I’m excited for them, I know they’ve been working really hard.” Those limitations reared their head as the team went to overtime and the star backcourt was collectively unavailable, as the two had hit their minutes limits. Lee says that determining Ball’s minute load is a constant dialogue and exercise in communication. “Credit Melo, credit Pat Chasse, our director of performance, and his whole staff for putting together a really comprehensive plan,” Lee said. “Lamar, from the coaching staff too. And those conversations are had beforehand so we’re not in the game with emotions and everything going on.”
• Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum‘s impact for the Wizards might not show up in the win column, but it’s been a valuable addition for a young team learning the NBA ropes, writes Candace Buckner for the Washington Post. The leadership comes through in little ways, like McCollum taking the blame for a foul committed by second-year wing Kyshawn George. “I was just telling him: ‘That’s on me. I’m running out; I could’ve just stayed for you. So next time, I’ll stay, but we got to communicate collectively a little bit better,'” McCollum said. “There’s just little stuff like that, where it’s like, that’s his foul in the box score, but that was a mistake on my part that I could have corrected and prevented the whole situation.” Middleton spoke more about how he can help when the games end. “I try to see what’s needed. I feel out the room, seeing guys’ reactions, emotions or whatever it may be and try to flip that,” Middleton said. “If it’s a negative thought, make it positive… It’s hard in this league, especially when you lose so many games in a row before you win a game, and then [next game] you lay an egg. That’s not what you want to see. That’s not how you get better as a group, so come in tomorrow, and we get to look at this film, and we get to look at ourselves.”