Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

Jan. 21, 2016

By Wiley Ballard

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Things have gotten tough for the NBA #ProJackets with the arrival of January. Chris Bosh and the injury-riddled Miami Heat began a brutal road stretch with eight of their next nine away from home. Utah’s Derrick Favors has missed 15 straight games due to back spasms while the Jazz cling to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Thaddeus Young and the Brooklyn Nets have changed coaches, general managers and point guards in a span of three weeks. All of that and more can be found in this week’s basketball edition of the Nissan #ProJackets Report.

Chris Bosh – Chris Bosh continues to receive national praise for his compelling comeback story. Bosh missed the second half of last season because of a severe blood clot scare only to return in 2015-16 as one of the league’s most impressive players. Bosh is averaging 18.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Yet lately Miami has hit a rough patch dropping six of their last seven. Even more discouraging than the losses are the injuries. Following last night’s loss to the Wizards in which seven Heat players were unavailable, Bosh admitted “I’m not sure who we are even going to have in Toronto.”  Assuming that the Heat can scrounge together a starting lineup, Miami will face Toronto Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Derrick Favors – Derrick Favors missed his 15^th straight game last night as Utah lost to New York 118-111 in overtime. Over the Favors-less stretch the Jazz are 6-9 with their two most recent wins coming over the lowly Los Angeles Lakers. Favors and his back spasms have been the leading headline in Jazz coverage over the past couple weeks as his absence “has become more and more detrimental to team’s success.” So far in 26 games, the sixth year veteran has averaged a career-best 16.8 points per game and is widely considered one of the most efficient big men in the NBA. The Jazz and Nets tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Brooklyn Friday night.

Jarrett Jack – Jarrett Jack underwent season-ending knee surgery last week in Manhattan. 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 points, 4.3 rebounds and a team-high 7.4 assists per game.  

Anthony Morrow – Anthony Morrow has fallen out of favor again amidst Oklahoma City’s plethora of scoring threats. Over the past week Kyle Singler has replaced Anthony Morrow in the Thunder’s rotation with success although head coach Billy Donovan assures that Morrow’s time will come again. In the meantime Oklahoma City takes the court next in Dallas Friday night at 8:30 p.m.

Iman Shumpert – After playing the NBA’s top two teams last week, the Cavaliers still have work to do. Cleveland turned in a valiant road effort against San Antonio, but fell 99-95 at the AT&T Center where the Spurs are 24-0. Shumpert and the Cavaliers suffered a far greater setback on Monday night getting pummeled by the class of the NBA, Golden State, 132-98 at home. Individually Shumpert made a modest contribution of 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting before fouling out. Cleveland hosts the Los Angeles Clippers tonight on TNT at 8 p.m.

Thaddeus Young – The firing of head coach Lionel Hollins and demotion of general manager Billy King have turned the Brooklyn Nets upside down. The Wall Street Journal examined the Brooklyn Blowup earlier this week by debating which players the franchise should retain. In the short term the Nets have lost four in a row despite Thaddeus Young adding an average of 13.5 points and shooting 50 percent from the field. Brooklyn hosts Utah Friday night at 7:30 p.m.