Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

April 21, 2016

By Wiley Ballard –

Iman Shumpert and the Cleveland Cavaliers roll to a 2-0 series lead against the Detroit Pistons in Round 1… Anthony Morrow makes his NBA playoff debut after over 500 regular season games … Chris Bosh leads Miami from the bench … All of that and more can be found in this week’s playoff edition of #ProJackets.

Chris Bosh – The Miami Heat seized a 2-0 lead in their first round series against the Charlotte Hornets last night, 115-103, behind a 72-point first half. As for Chris Bosh, his seat on the bench will likely be the closest he gets to the action this postseason given his most recent blood clot scare. Bosh, who has not played since mid-February, gave an emotional address to his teammates prior to the series opener on Sunday. In 89 career playoff games the forward has shot 47.3 percent from the field and averaged over 15 points per game.

Although Bosh won’t make headlines for his impact in this year’s postseason, the 32 year-old shared “an incredible story” about his time with the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and Kobe Bryant.

Derrick Favors – Utah finished just one game shy of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Jazz can only imagine the impact a fully healthy Derrick Favors might have made in place of another disappointing season. The forward battled back spasms and knee soreness throughout the year and missed 20 games. In 62 games, the 24-year-old started 59 games, averaged a career-best 16.4 points and played more than 32 minutes per night. The low post also shot over 50 percent for the third straight season.

Jarrett Jack – Jarrett Jack underwent season-ending knee surgery in Manhattan this past January. Officially diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, the point guard anticipates a full recovery and plans to return for the 2016-17 season. Jack’s season averages in 32 games as the Brooklyn Nets starting point guard were 12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg and a team-high 7.4 apg.

Anthony Morrow – After 515 career games in eight seasons, Anthony Morrow finally made his playoff debut on Saturday night against the Dallas Mavericks. It was his first taste of postseason basketball since Georgia Tech’s loss to UNLV in the 2007 NCAA Tournament (Morrow led Tech that day with 11 points).

For Oklahoma City, Morrow added six points draining one of three shots (all from long distance) and burying three free throws in Oklahoma City’s Game 1 win. Things didn’t go as smoothly in Game 2 on Tuesday night in which Dallas pulled off the upset, 85-84. Morrow contributed seven points in the loss. The series, tied 1-1, continues tonight in Dallas at 7 p.m. on TNT.

Iman Shumpert – Iman Shumpert has scored just four points in Cleveland’s two wins over Detroit so far this postseason, but the guard has found other ways to chip in. The 25 year-old has snagged 10 boards trailing only Kevin Love and LeBron James through two games. On the floor, Shumpert has added two assists and a steal. After last night’s 107-90 win, the Cavaliers face the Pistons Friday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN live from the Palace at Auburn Hills.

Thaddeus Young – The Brooklyn Nets were never considered serious playoff contenders at any point in 2015-16. The Nets fired head coach, Lionel Hollins, in mid-January and named Tony Brown the interim for the final three months of the season. Now with a 21-61 regular season finally over, the Nets can begin searching for the sixth head coach since 2012. In 73 games, Thaddeus Young offered one of the few bright spots in an otherwise hopeless season averaging 15.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and netting 28 double-doubles.

Go to https://t.co/8xKXV6hR1u to Read up on my @kobebryant stories. Can't believe he's retired! #kobe #nba pic.twitter.com/NWTlYlQKqp

— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) April 19, 2016