Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

Jan. 7, 2016

By Wiley Ballard

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Jarrett Jack’s season came to a heartbreaking conclusion on Saturday afternoon. Charging to the rim on a fast break, Jack suddenly crumpled to the floor. The diagnosis was a torn ACL and a premature finish to the 2015-16 season. On a lighter note, Chris Bosh is slowly building an outside-the-box MVP case while Iman Shumpert is keying one of the league’s hottest defenses.  All of that and more can be found in this week’s basketball edition of #ProJackets.

Chris Bosh – The Heat may have lost last night, but that didn’t stop Chris Bosh from having a highlight reel moment at the expense of rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis. Bosh poured in 28 points in the loss after scoring a season-high 31 points on Monday night. In the power forward’s last 10 games, he is averaging 24.7 points and 7.6 rebounds. With those numbers, Bosh, a.k.a. Mr. Clutch and his understated brilliance have been the subject of the national media over the past week. Miami faces off against Phoenix Friday night at 9:30 p.m.

Derrick Favors – Derrick Favors has missed seven straight games with back spasms and has not played since Dec. 23. Over that stretch, Utah is 3-4, having lost their last two games to Houston and San Antonio. Coach Quin Snyder has assured the media that there is nothing “structurally wrong” with Favors’ back. So far in 26 games, the sixth-year veteran is averaging 16.8 points per game and is widely considered one of the most efficient big men in the NBA. Favors’ timetable for his return is uncertain, but the Jazz will travel to Houston Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Jarrett Jack – Jarrett Jack’s eleventh season in the NBA began with great promise. The Brooklyn Nets named Jack their starting point guard and handed him the keys to the offense. Unfortunately Jack’s season came to an abrupt halt in Boston on Saturday when his knee gave way on a fast break. Jack was helped off the floor and later diagnosed with a torn ACL in his right knee. In just 32 games, Jack averaged 12.8 points and a career-high 7.4 assists.

Anthony Morrow – The New Year has brought new opportunity for Oklahoma City’s Anthony Morrow. Since the calendar switch Morrow has averaged 15.3 points and shot 62.5 percent from the floor including 9-of-16 from three-point range. The sharpshooter delivered his best performance of the season on Monday night stepping in for an injured Kevin Durant. Morrow added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting with three treys in a loss to Sacramento. The Thunder visit the Lakers Friday night at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Iman Shumpert – Chris Bosh wasn’t the only one throwing down rim-shaking dunks this week. Iman Shumpert added this jam to his highlight reel on Monday. Since Iman Shumpert’s return to the court four weeks ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 10-2 and have won five in a row. Obviously that success cannot be solely attributed to Shumpert, but Ohio.com argues that the small forward has transformed the Cavalier defense into the league’s stingiest unit. Next the Cavaliers battle the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET.

Thaddeus Young – There’s no easy way to say it, but the Brooklyn Nets are in a free fall. Having lost eight straight home games and their starting point guard for the season, the silver linings may be few in number, but they are thick. Power forward Thaddeus Young is averaging 16.0 points and 9.3 boards while his front court partner, Brook Lopez, is just a hair under 20 points per game. Fansided profiled Young’s success yesterday in spite of the lopsided win-loss record. Brooklyn returns to action Friday night at 7:30 p.m. as they host the Orlando Magic.