THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado is becoming an NBA playoff folk hero … Thaddeus Young’s value to the Raptors will outlive his tenure … Moses Wright lands on All-G League first team … End of season evaluation of Derrick Favors … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
PLAYOFF PICTURE – Jose Alvarado and the No. 8 seed New Orleans Pelicans trail 3-2 to the top-seeded Phoenix Suns with game 6 set for Friday night in New Orleans … The Pelicans split the first two games in Phoenix and two games in New Orleans … Josh Okogie and the No. 7-seed Minnesota Timberwolves likewise trail 3-2 to the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, with game 6 on tap Saturday night … Thaddeus Young and the No. 5-seed Toronto Raptors fell behind 0-2 to the No. 4-seed Philadelphia 76ers but have battled back to trail 3-2 as game 6 looms Friday night.
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ALVARADO BECOMING NBA PLAYOFF FOLK HERO
Nearly one year ago, Jose Alvarado did not get selected in the NBA Draft. Now, in the Pelicans’ first-round series against the Suns, the Brooklyn native is showing that he’s worth every penny of his new four-year, $6.5 million contract.
The 24-year-old has been aiding the shorthanded Pelicans, who are currently tied at two with the top-seeded Suns, and cementing himself as a New Orleans folk hero every step of the way.
During Sunday’s 118-103 win over Phoenix, Alvarado recorded five points, two rebounds, one assist and two steals in 18 minutes. However, it wasn’t the stats that made the Georgia Tech product stand out, but rather two instrumental plays that helped the Pelicans clinch the win.
Who is Jose Alvarado? Meet the Pelicans rookie point guard viral for backcourt steals – The Sporting News
Incredible @iamjamiefoxx @AlvaradoJose15 pic.twitter.com/fyTRfPm92O
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 25, 2022
Presenting: Alvarado
By: @IsaacKLee and myself pic.twitter.com/3tk9qBZ4sE
— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) April 21, 2022
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ALVARADO’S PAINFUL PLAYOFF MOMENT
Did Suns point guard Chris Paul deliver a low blow to Pelicans rookie Jose Alvarado in Tuesday’s 112-97 Game 5 win over the Pelicans?
Paul appeared to kick Alvarado in the groin when he pulled up for a jumper near the free-throw line with 4:36 left before halftime.
Alvarado was hounding Paul on defense during the play when the Suns led 46-35 in the second quarter.
In videos on social media, Paul appears to jerk his leg up in the air, making contact with Alvarado, who immediately bends over while grabbing his midsection.
There was no call on the play, but social media critics are questioning if it was an intentional move by Paul.
Pretty clear nutkick by CP3 on Alvarado here. Wonder if the league office will have something to say about it tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/yYjc2RecQS
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) April 27, 2022
Jose Alvarado forces ANOTHER 8-second Violation on CP3 😱 pic.twitter.com/SUWuVUBs35
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 27, 2022
“JOSE, JOSE, JOSE” 🗣
Pels fans showing love to Jose Alvarado after his clutch defensive performance in Game 4 🙌
(via @PelicansNBA)pic.twitter.com/QOnBOBTueb
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2022
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YOUNG’S VALUE TO RAPTORS WILL LIVE ON
First things first: [Thaddeus] Young contributed more than Barnes, and more than maybe anyone outside of Pascal Siakam, in extending the Raptors’ series to Game 5 with a win on Saturday. Young was a game-high plus-14 in nearly 30 minutes, more playing time than he had in the first three games of the series combined. He contributed in several ways, from knocking in a 3 to grabbing a quartet of offensive rebounds — only two fewer than the Sixers had as a team — to providing credible defence on Joel Embiid when both Khem Birch and Precious Achiuwa were on the bench.
His intelligence within the offence was most obvious. He had five assists, tying him with Siakam for the team lead, and a lot of that came against the zone defence. The Raptors scored just 0.924 points per possession against zones during the regular season, but it’s up to nearly 1.24 points per possession this series. Young was essential in that on Saturday, the player who was most frequently able to get into the defence’s heart and make the proper reads. Whether it was against zone, man defence or in transition, Young has an advanced feel for the game.
THE FIND 👀 : @yungsmoove21
THE FINISH 😤 : @chrisboucher pic.twitter.com/QhErYmzRPt— x – Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 23, 2022
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YOUNG SAYS RAPTORS ARE FEEDING OFF DEFENSIVE ENERGY
Following a massive Game 5 win over the Sixers, the Raptors veteran forward Thaddeus Young credited his team’s game-planning, pace, ball distribution, and defensive execution, among other things, for pulling Toronto back into the series:
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YOUNG PROVIDES STEADYING HAND FOR YOUNG RAPTORS
Thaddeus Young, who has 55 post-season games with four different teams under his belt, was asked before the post-season tipped off about momentum shifts in series.
There was a palpable shift in the fourth quarter on Saturday. The Sixers unravelled and Joel Embiid lost his cool with the Raptors in his face all night.
“You can definitely feel when teams are starting to break down and starting to crack. And that’s when guys step up and start telling them like, ‘OK, this is our time, this is when we have to take advantage of it, we’ve got to put our foot down on their neck,”‘ Young said. “And when you feel that, that’s when you know you got `em, and you know you have to take advantage of it.”
Those cracks can last more than a game, Young said.
“I’ve been a part of those types of series, and I understand when you’re cracking, that’s the worst feeling in the world. But when you’re on top, and you feel like you have the other team on the ropes, that’s the best feeling in the world,” he said.
Thaddeus Young put Embiid on skates 😅
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/2q8Y1fbgvB
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 23, 2022
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MOSES WRIGHT NAMED TO ALL-NBA G LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
Texas Legends forward Justin Jackson, guard Carlik Jones, and two-way forward/center Moses Wright have all earned All-NBA G League honors as announced today by the league. Wright was named to the All-NBA G League First Team while Jackson and Jones each earned Third Team. Jones was also named to the All-Rookie Team, the first to earn such honor in franchise history.
Wright (6-8, 226, Georgia Tech) played 30 games with the Agua Caliente Clippers prior to signing a two-way with the Dallas Mavericks. In 12 games with Texas, Wright posted eight double-doubles and averaged 22.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks leading the team in both scoring and rebounds.
The Legends finished with an overall record of 28-22 and made their way to the Western Conference Semi-Finals, earning the franchise’s first-ever playoff victory.
Your 2021-22 All-NBA G League First Team
🏆 Justin Anderson, @TheMadAnts
🏆 Justin Tillman, @CPSkyhawks
🏆 Moses Wright, @TexasLegends
🏆 Trevelin Queen, @RGVVipers
🏆 Mason Jones, @SouthBayLakers pic.twitter.com/CBgPOc3RBq— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 18, 2022
Love us some Moses Wright highlights, congrats on getting first team🥳🎊🎉 https://t.co/04k4uvhkzJ
— G League Spotlight (@SpotliteGLeague) April 18, 2022
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END-OF-YEAR-REPORT-CARD – DERRICK FAVORS
Following the 2021 NBA Draft, it looked as though the trade waters had officially simmered. Sam Presti had a different say on that. In the morning hours post-Draft, Presti had one extra trick up his sleeve, obtaining Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick for little-to-no cost. Initially, the 30-year-old Favors was viewed as an immediate buyout or salary-filler candidate. Instead, he yielded some production.
As Oklahoma City’s second-eldest man on the roster, the former No. 3 pick shared his wisdom, playing a pivotal role as an interior presence and leader for a young Thunder frontcourt.
Favors finished the regular season with 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes. Though derailed by injury, the big man logged 39 games, 18 of which as a starter.
#Thunder report card: Derrick Favors #thunderup https://t.co/c0hmta5aPt
— SI THUNDER (@OKCThunderSI) April 26, 2022
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