Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

Feb. 2, 2017

By Wiley Ballard –

Will Bynum demonstrates leadership in an impressionable D-League locker room … Thaddeus Young and the red-hot Pacers climb the Eastern Conference standlings before the All-Star break … Derrick Favors suffers a setback in his recovery from a bruised knee … All of that and more can be found in this week’s Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report.

With the one-year anniversary of Chris Bosh’s last NBA game a week away – also known as the first day that Miami could waive Bosh without debilitating salary cap penalties – the sea of rumors has calmed. The key for Miami is finding an independent doctor to declare “his condition is career-ending, or puts his life at risk if he continues playing.” However, if after departing the Heat, Bosh played 25 games or more with another franchise including playoffs, the Heat would become retroactively responsible for the salary they’d previously waived. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reiterates that “Bosh has not been working toward a comeback this season.”

Will Bynum hasn’t played in an NBA game since the Washington Wizards battled the Atlanta Hawks in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, but that hasn’t slowed down the 34-year-old firecracker. Capable of lighting up a scoreboard on any night, the Chicago-native has returned home to the Windy City, quite literally. Beginning his second month with the NBA D-League’s Windy City Bulls, Bynum has already displayed his spontaneously combustible skillset. The guard is averaging 18 points per night, boosted by a 43-point eruption against Delaware in last month’s NBA D-League Showcase. The eight-year NBA veteran supplied a detailed perspective to Chicago’s Daily Herald on his role as a leader among his young and eager teammates. For Bynum, a self-proclaimed “100-percent basketball guy,” playing for the D-League Bulls was an easy decision given its proximity to home and family, including two young daughters and a newborn boy. Windy City visits the Westchester Knicks tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET on Facebook Live.

After 22 minutes against the Lakers last Thursday, Utah’s Derrick Favors hasn’t returned to the court. The 25-year-old missed his second straight game last night, a 104-88 win over Milwaukee. Before sitting out Saturday’s loss to Memphis, the forward had played in 19 straight games and 22 of 23 since returning from a troublesome knee injury. ESPN’s Tim McMahon presented an interesting dilemma for Utah’s front office calling Favors’ health concerns “a dual issue” given his “impact ability to win now and trade value.” There’s still roughly three weeks until the NBA’s trade deadline, but the rumors may begin to swirl around the talented, but bruised big man. Utah’s next game is Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET against the Charlotte Hornets.

Marcus Georges-Hunt contributed 27 points in the Maine Red Claws’ win over Greensboro last Saturday. The rookie forward cracked the 20-point barrier for the 12^th time in his first 30 professional games while adding eight assists and five rebounds. In Maine’s two games last week, Georges-Hunt combined to shoot 56 percent from the field including 5-of-7 from deep. He also continues to lead the Red Claws in games and playing time, logging over 37 minutes per night. Maine hosts the Delaware 87ers tonight at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on Facebook Live.

Anthony Morrow appeared in two consecutive games for Oklahoma City after not seeing any action in the previous four. Both contests were losses for the Thunder, but the Charlotte-native netted a combined 54 minutes of playing time while adding 18 points. Most of Morrow’s appearances have come in blowout losses – the last time he saw the court in a win was on New Year’s Eve against the Clippers. The Memphis Grizzlies pose Oklahoma City’s next challenge on Friday night. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET.

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t had trouble producing headlines over the past week given seven losses in their last 12 games and a Barkley-LeBron back and forth. Meanwhile, Iman Shumpert continues to start for the defending NBA Champions despite their turmoil. Over the course of Cleveland’s 3-1 week, Shumpert averaged 9.8 points while hitting nine threes, including five against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. In his 10th consecutive start last night, the Chicago-native added nine points and seven rebounds in a rout of Minnesota, 125-97. Putting the 28-point wallop aside, the Cavaliers have reached a boiling point and changes in personnel may follow. According to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports , the Cavaliers may be shopping Shumpert to acquire a more experienced point guard, namely Deron Williams of Dallas. Amick writes, “it’s worth noting that Dallas has shown interest in the Cavs’ Iman Shumpert previously when he was a free agent.” Time will tell if Shumpert’s days in Cleveland are numbered, but in the meantime, the Cavaliers travels to Madison Square Garden in pursuit of win No. 34. Saturday’s tip off against the Knicks is at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Thaddeus Young and the Indiana Pacers bounced back with great resolve this week, flipping a three-game slide into a four-game surge. In the last week, Indiana captured a road win in Minnesota, home wins against Sacramento and Houston, and Wednesday night’s 98-88 win in Orlando. Over the winning streak, Young is averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals while shooting 46.1 percent from the floor. Indiana seems to be finding its stride, having won 11 of its last 15 and to improve to sixth place at 26-22, only three games out of third in the East. The Pacers look to match their season-high five-game winning streak against Young’s old team in Brooklyn Friday night. Tip is at 7:30 p.m. ET.

My son said he needed to ice after his soccer practice! lol 😂 Guess he's paying attention to me more than I realize. #BoshFamily pic.twitter.com/YtA3yalLfY

— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) January 20, 2017

Keeping the SHUMPMAN locked in and hyped up! 🎶 🏀💂🏾@imanshumpert appreciates ya!
Happy Birthday.#ThisIsWhyWePlay | #CavsThunder pic.twitter.com/myuI2chG6F

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 29, 2017