THE FLATS – The NBA is set to return to action with 22 teams at the end of July, concluding a regular season that ended abruptly on March 12 in late July and then conducting playoffs, all at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. Derrick Favors is the only one of the former Yellow Jackets in the NBA who will be a part of this restart, as his New Orleans Pelicans team is one of the 22 teams gathering at Disney.
This week’s #ProJackets Report compiles more of the latest news, stories and social media posts on former Jackets and their activities of the past week.
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FAVORS READY TO CONTINUE TO HELP LEAD PELICANS’ DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND
Beginning with New Orleans’ first preseason game in his home city of Atlanta, Pelicans center Derrick Favors was accustomed to seeing his young children in the stands, cheering for Dad. When Favors decided to join his teammates in the upcoming bubble in Orlando, he knew it meant sacrificing not being there for two special occasions in the Favors family – July 22 and Aug. 14 are both birthdates for his kids. READ MORE
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FAVORS USED TIME OFF TO GET RIGHT MENTALLY AFTER LOSS OF MOTHER
Derrick Favors’ mother, Deandra, died unexpectedly a few days before Thanksgiving. She was 55. The Pelicans were roughly one-quarter of the way through the season then. Favors took two weeks off, which he said wasn’t enough time for him to truly process what had happened. He said the time off has allowed him to heal. On Wednesday, the Pelicans leave Louisiana for Florida. They are one of 22 teams that will finish the season at Walt Disney World. Favors said he feels great “physically and mentally” as he prepares to leave home for the next five weeks at minimum. READ MORE
WATCH LIVE: Derrick Favors speaks with the media https://t.co/3DIlL0NTRn
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) July 7, 2020
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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FAVORS AND THE PELICANS
From CBSSports.com: The Pelicans treaded enough water (before the shutdown and in the absence of Derrick Favors and Zion Williamson because of injuries) to head into Orlando with an opportunity to crack the postseason. When play resumes, they’ll sit three games back of No. 8 Memphis with the easiest remaining schedule of any team at Disney. That’s the good news. The bad news is the Kings and Spurs are within three games as well, and the Blazers, though four games back in the loss column, are actually in better position with a slightly higher winning percentage that would give them the tiebreaker. New Orleans will play the first game back, against Utah, at 6:30 p.m. ET. READ MORE
From Pelicans.com: The planned starting five of Ball, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson and Derrick Favors did not play together until Game 45 on Jan. 22, but from that point forward, the group dominated. READ MORE
From Nola.com: The Pelicans’ roster in Florida will not look much different than it did before the pandemic. So far, they haven’t brought in any supporting pieces in anticipation of the resumption of the season. They are expected to have Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday in the back court, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson at forward and Derrick Favors at center. JJ Redick, Josh Hart and Nicolo Melli will be key bench pieces. That was what the rotation looked like in March, and what it should look like later this month. READ MORE
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BOSH TALKS BIG 3 ON 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECISION
From Isaiah Smalls of the Miami Herald: Rewatch the 2011 NBA Finals and you will notice something a bit off about Chris Bosh’s game. It wasn’t his defense. It certainly wasn’t his scoring either. No, what’s ultimately absent from Bosh’s game is the very thing that later brought Miami back-to-back titles: his ability to space the floor.
“For me, that’s one of the things I wish I would’ve done and I think we could’ve been more effective earlier if I would have figured out how to… really be a three-point threat early on,” Bosh told ESPN’s Zach Lowe. READ MORE
More from ESPN: Three Days in July, The High-Stakes Maneuvers that assembled LeBron, Wade and Bosh
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BOSH STILL HAS PAT RILEY’S 2006 NBA CHAMPIONSHIP RING
This story has made the rounds on several news site in the last week: Heat president Pat Riley famously put his championship rings on the table to recruit LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the summer of 2010. Riley apparently even let Bosh keep Miami’s 2006 championship ring with a challenge: Come here, win your own then return it. In 2014, Bosh revealed he still had it. READ MORE
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DESPITE CAREER CUT SHORT, BOSH NEEDS CREDIT AS ONE OF BEST BIG MEN
Garrett Burke of Sportscasting.com writes that Chris Bosh should get credit for being one of the best big men of his generation, despite a career cut short by health problems.
“Just as Chris Bosh was about to receive the credit he deserved, a heart problem meant he played his final NBA game at the age of 32. He tried to ignore the severity of his ailments to stay on the court. But the potentially deadly consequences convinced Bosh that a comeback was impossible. The choice pained the center, but ball is not, in fact, life. Even with a truncated career, Bosh deserves to receive honors as one of the best big men of his generation. READ MORE
#PROJACKETS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
⚡️ ICYMI: NBA Restart begins July 30th with daily and nightly games on ESPN, TNT, ABC, NBA TV and NBA League Pass!
Recap everything you need to know here. #WholeNewGamehttps://t.co/NUvIXrdP7V
— NBA (@NBA) July 8, 2020
It’s a lot of Uncertainly going on in the world right now. Best thing you can do is protect yourself and your family🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) July 7, 2020
We caught up with #AAUAlumni Thad Young (@yungsmoove21) of the @chicagobulls and put him #OnTheClock – Check out his answers and let us know some your answers below. #AAUBasketball pic.twitter.com/uUIfuss5Xv
— AAU Basketball (@AAU_Basketball) July 7, 2020
The is as close to the fireworks as we can get this year. @yungsmoove21 pic.twitter.com/sp54YsLzOc
— Shekinah Young (@Mrs___Young21) July 5, 2020
Lord, I pray this second half of 2020 brings us joy, health, and celebration!
— Josh Okogie (@CallMe_NonStop) July 2, 2020
🚨 SEASON FINALE 🚨 Appreciate everyone following along with OOLF (Out of Left Field) over the past couple months. Had a blast w/ @maxfrost and the rest of the crew 🙏🏿 Hope ya’ll enjoy the last episode. Leave a comment about what Season 2 should be about! https://t.co/twas5KSjv7
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) July 7, 2020
I got a rebound and made a pass. https://t.co/vY90vUfh9n
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) July 8, 2020
.@ZachLowe_NBA talks to @chrisbosh about his playoff runs with the @MiamiHEAT, his early days in Toronto, his new newsletter “The Last Chip,” guarding Tim Duncan, much more.
It’s a must listen! 🏀⬇️🔊 #TheLowePost https://t.co/hyB46UIHJ7
— ESPN Podcasts (@espnpodcasts) July 7, 2020
#PROJACKETS IN THE NBA/G LEAGUE IN 2023-24
| PLAYER | DATA | NUMBERS | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
 | JOSE ALVARADO Team: New Orleans Pelicans Number: 15 NBA Experience: 3rd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. Status: Active | 6-0, 179 lbs 2023-24 Stats 7.1 ppg 2.3 rpg 2.1 apg 41.2% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 7th place, -8.0 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 5-5 |
 | JAMES BANKS III Team: Maine Celtics Number: 5 G League Experience: 3rd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-20 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active | 6-10, 250 lbs 2023-24 Stats 5.3 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.5 bpg 54.2% FG | Record: 21-13 Standing: 2nd place, -1.0 GB Streak: W1 Last 10: 8-2 |
 | MICHAEL DEVOE Team: Memphis Hustle Number: 10 G League Experience: 2nd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Orlando, Fla. Status: Active | 6-4, 183 lbs 2023-24 Stats 13.9 ppg 3.9 rpg 3.1 apg 47.4% FG | Record: 15-19 Standing: 12th, -9.0 GB Streak: W1 Last 10: 3-7 |
 | DERRICK FAVORS Team: Windy City Bulls (G League) Number: 14 NBA Experience: 12 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2009-10 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active | 6-9, 265 lbs 2023-24 Stats 6.2 ppg 4.7 rpg 0.7 bpg 66.7% FG | Record: 15-19 Standing: 13th place, -7.0 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 4-6 |
 | JOSH OKOGIE Team: Phoenix Suns Number: 2 NBA Experience: 5 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-18 Hometown: Snellville, Ga. Status: Active | 6-4, 213 lbs 2023-24 Stats 4.6 ppg 2.6 rpg 1.1 apg 41.7% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB Streak: W3 Last 10: 7-3 |
 | THADDEUS YOUNG Team: free agent Number: 30 NBA Experience: 16 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-07 Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. Status: Active | 6-8, 235 lbs 2023-24 Stats 4.2 ppg 3.0 rpg 1.7 apg 60.2% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB Streak: W3 Last 10: 7-3 |
