THE FLATS – Jose Alvarado still sneaking up on the NBA … Thaddeus Young earning trust with his brain… Josh Okogie denies taller player with big block … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
*****
ALVARADO STILL SNEAKING UP ON THE NBA
“You can’t be small and miss 3s,” Jose Alvarado said to himself. The 6-foot-nothing guard had biffed a couple consecutively in a shooting drill with the Birmingham Squadron, the New Orleans Pelicans‘ G League affiliate, and this was simply unacceptable.
“It’s hilarious,” Squadron coach T.J. Saint said. “But he’s really intense. It’s serious. He’s serious about it.”
Saint, an assistant coach on last year’s staff, recalled Alvarado peppering him and former coach Ryan Pannone with questions during timeouts and coaching up his teammates in huddles. On the court during warmups on the second night of a back-to-back, Alvarado approached Saint, calling himself out for a shaky performance in the previous game.
“I’ll never forget this,” Saint said. “He’s like, ‘Hey, keep it real with me: If I keep playing like that, what do you think next year?'”
Alvarado was on a two-way contract, which is worth half of the NBA rookie minimum salary and limited him to a maximum of 50 games with New Orleans. He suggested that, if he did not sharpen up, the best he could hope for would be an Exhibit 10, a training-camp deal that can be converted to a two-way. Saint told Alvarado that he needed to play better, but there was lots of season left.
A quick thread of Jose Alvarado breaking Kevin Porter Jr’s brain in the fourth quarter of last night’s win over the Rockets:
(Disclaimer: KPJ did score two layups on Jose during this stretch)
— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) November 13, 2022
Jose Alvarado’s defense coming in clutch down the stretch 💪
Pelicans lead the Grizzlies by 11 in Q4 on TNT! pic.twitter.com/RhANzAs2VO
— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2022
*****
ALVARADO VS. JA MORANT A BUDDING RIVALRY
Ja Morant vs. Jose Alvarado just might be the NBA’s best new individual rivalry. As the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans squared off on TNT on Tuesday night, injuries to Zion Williamson and Desmond Bane threatened to derail a fun matchup of two rising young teams in the West. Instead, Morant and Alvarado helped deliver a thrilling, back-and-forth game featuring incredible intensity and oh so much trash talking from the two guards.
Morant is a superstar as a former No. 2 overall pick, and Alvarado is an undrafted free agent who has carved out a bench spot on the Pelicans. On the surface, it might be easy to think these two don’t have much in common, but both play with an enormous chip on their shoulder every time they take the floor. Alvarado is known for his defense, but he got the best of Morant on offense a couple times. After one drive in the second quarter, Alvarado hit Morant with the “too small” taunt following a layup. Morant went at him on the next possession and did his own “too small” taunt after scoring over him for an and-one.
Alvarado hits Morant with the “too small” but Ja gets him right back with the and-1 pic.twitter.com/o5OEwz6rlu
— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) November 16, 2022
*****
YOUNG EARNS TRUST WITH HIS BRAIN
Imman Adan and Asad Alvi discuss the influence of Thaddeus Young on his inexperienced Raptors teammates and why he always makes an impact on the floor. Listen to the full episode on our ‘Raptors Over Everything’ podcast or watch on our YouTube.
“Thaddeus Young who has been one of my favorite players to watch– just point blank, period– over the last few games. Heaven sent, truly. You compared him to Marc Gasol. I often compare him to Kyle Lowry, although he does not get enough charges.
He should be getting way more. It’s a gripe that I have. He had one today that I thought was a charge but it was called a blocking foul, which was absolutely nonsensical. What are your thoughts on Scott– on Thaddeus Young who’s entered the starting lineup with these …”
Young proving to be reliable piece for Raptors to lean on
Thaddeus Young plays his 1,098th game in the NBA today and overtakes Zaza Pachulia in the 79th historical position in the League pic.twitter.com/qKyWZO1dyL
— Top Data NBA… Live! (@TopDataNBA_Live) November 17, 2022
Why didn’t anyone tell me Thaddeus Young was a top 5 player all-time?!?!?!?!?!!! pic.twitter.com/s7Th748ekc
— Ian Essig (@IanLeeEssig) November 16, 2022
*****
OKOGIE DENIES TALLER GREEN WITH BIG BLOCK IN WIN OVER WARRIORS
JaMychal Green is listed as five inches taller than the 6-4 Josh Okogie.
So what.
Okogie denied him at the rim with a big block in Phoenix’s 130-119 victory Wednesday over defending NBA champion Golden State at Footprint Center.
“I had to go get that one,” Okogie said.
On a night the Suns shot 51.2% from the field, set team highs in 3-point makes (21) and 3-point shooting percentage (52.5%) and had three players score 20-plus points, Okogie’s block stood out as one of the biggest plays of the game.
Green had a chance to cut Phoenix’s lead to one with 10:24 left in the first half, but Okogie’s block led to Cameron Payne scoring in transition to put the Suns up, 40-35. Payne scored a career-high 29 points.
With the Suns down three players – Chris Paul (sore right heel), Landry Shamet (concussion protocol) and Cam Johnson (torn right meniscus) – Okogie’s minutes have increased in recent games.
Josh Okogie climbs the ladder for the rejection 🚫
The @Suns lead by 6 halfway through Q2 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/0pMFuGlaa9
— NBA (@NBA) November 17, 2022
*****
