THE FLATS – Josh Okogie lifting up the Suns with his strong play … Thaddeus Young addresses Raptors’ early-season struggles … Jose Alvarado tangles with CP3 again … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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OKOGIE’S RECENT PLAY BRIGHT SPOT FOR SUNS
The losing streak is staunchly not over, but I have found someone whose praises I’d like to sing, and that’s one of the newer Phoenix Suns, wing Josh Okogie.
After averaging just 6.2 minutes per game over his first 18 games as a Sun, Okogie has played 20+ minutes in four of his last six without registering a net negative in the plus/minus column over that six-game stretch (+55 combined). The Suns, however, are 1-5 over the stretch.
And really quickly before I get into what’s made his play stand out so much, I’d first like to pose a question to head coach Monty Williams. Okogie averaged 16.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 25.7 minutes over the first three games of this recent stretch (including +13 in the 27-point loss to Boston).
Why, then, should his minutes be chopped immediately after during the two-game series in New Orleans, where he played just 18.5 minutes combined?
The point I was pondering deeply, even ahead of this story, is that Okogie is the perfect type of player to rise up to meet the challenge of a team like New Orleans. He’s someone ready to meet the level of physicality and not back down.
So where were Okogie’s minutes? He’s absolutely earned them.
More from Bright Side of the Sun
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YOUNG ADDRESSES RAPTORS EARLY SEASON STRUGGLES
As the longest tenured NBA pro on the team, Thad Young has been in this position before, and the 34-year-old’s presence is a steadying one.
On Wednesday, Young discussed the team’s recent struggles and how they intend to course correct in an interview on The Raptors Show with Will Lou.
“One of the biggest things is that we always have to approach every game with a sense of urgency,” said Young. “When we don’t … and try to kind of cruise into it, games like the Magic happen.
“At any point in the season, you’re going to have to fight through some adversity … we just have to get back to being the resilient team that we were last year.”
After a loss against the Brooklyn Nets in early December, the Raptors held a players-only meeting, but Young suggests it’s no reason to sound any alarms.
“We’re always talking about how we can approach games and how we can do things better as a team, what we need to give to the team individually,” said Young. “That’s every single day.”
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NEW ANGLE ON PAUL ELBOW TO ALVARADO GOES VIRAL
Tempers flared once again in their Friday matchup as Zion Williamson threw down a dunk contest-worthy 360 windmill just as the clock was expiring. That ignited a fracas with CP3 and Jose Alvarado right at the center of it all.
What’s gone viral after the contest is Chris Paul’s attempted elbow at Alvarado, which was clearly in frustration after Zion’s dunk and with malice to hurt Alvarado.
Alvarado was a fitting adversary during their 1-8 matchup in the playoffs last season, with the Pelicans the clear underdogs against the top-seeded Suns. But so far this season, the Pels have been on par with their former tormentors and have since surpassed them after going 2-0 in their quick 2-game series.
This unseen angle from Chris Paul and Jose Alvarado on Friday 👀
(h/t: @WorldWideWob) pic.twitter.com/bkIlMcWldV
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 11, 2022
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