Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

Feb. 16, 2017

By Wiley Ballard –

Iman Shumpert has put together a career shooting year in Cleveland leading the first-place Cavaliers off the bench … Thaddeus Young is stuck on the sideline while his teammates scuffle towards the All-Star break … Marcus Georges-Hunt has yet to hear his name called to make his NBA debut with the Miami Heat … All of that and more can be found in this week’s Nissan #ProJackets Report.

For Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat, mum is still the word of choice. No news broke over the last week relating to Bosh’s future in Miami or basketball as a whole. The latest projection suggests Bosh could be on the move next month according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. In the meantime, Bosh seized the opportunity to reunite with an old teammate and cheer on his old squad last night in South Florida.

Will Bynum enters the NBA D-League’s all-star break averaging 14.1 points and 6.5 assists in 11 games with the Windy City Bulls. In the first half’s final game on Saturday, Bynum added eight points and a game-high nine assists. Two days later, SLAM Magazine interviewed Bynum about his decision to play in the D-League instead of overseas, his role as a mentor, and his joy in playing in his hometown. Windy City doesn’t play again until next Wednesday when they battle the Northern Arizona Suns. Tip is at 8:30 p.m. ET and will stream on Facebook Live.

Derrick Favors and the Utah Jazz capped a disappointing week with an emphatic rout against Portland Wednesday night, 111-88. Despite dropping three of their last four, the first half was an undeniable success for the maturing club. At the all-star break, Utah sits at 35-22 and only a half game out of home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Individually, Favors has averaged 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds despite a recurring knee injury. Utah is off until next Friday when they begin a three-game road trip against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Marcus Georges-Hunt has spent the last week on Miami Heat bench still looking for his first taste of NBA action. As an in-season acquisition geared to deepen Miami’s backcourt following Josh Richardson’s lingering foot injury, Georges-Hunt hasn’t yet taken the court. Since the rookie arrived, Miami has played four games – each decided by single digits – meaning that Coach Erik Spoelstra hasn’t reached deep into his bench. Miami had their 13-game winning streak snapped on Saturday in a loss to Philadelphia but finished the first half on a high note, defeating Houston on the road last night, 117-109. Miami’s next game is in eight days in Atlanta.

Anthony Morrow appeared in each of Oklahoma City’s four games last week averaging 12 minutes of playing time. The 31-year-old drained a three-pointer in each game, adding seven points in last Thursday’s impressive victory over Cleveland. The Thunder sit comfortably in seventh place in the West, leading eighth place Denver by 6.5 games. Oklahoma City begins the second half of play when they host the Lakers next Friday night.

After missing three games with a sprained ankle, Iman Shumpert returned to the floor on Valentine’s Day in Minnesota. The Cleveland guard added nine points on a trio of treys in the win, and then hit two more threes in the first half finale against Indiana last night. Cleveland holds a 2.5-game lead over Boston for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. In 51 games this season, Shumpert is on pace for career shooting marks from the field (42.5 percent) and three-point land (40.3 percent). The six-year veteran may see his role increase with teammate Kevin Love prepared to miss six weeks due to injury. Cleveland aims for win No. 40 a week from tonight when they host the New York Knicks.

Thaddeus Young started each of the first 49 games for the Pacers this season, but has missed seven straight since suffering a sprained left wrist almost two weeks ago. Indiana defeated Detroit and Oklahoma City without Young’s inside presence, but have since dropped a season-worst five straight. In his first season with Indiana, the ten-year NBA veteran has averaged 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 52.2 percent from the field, his best clip since 2012-13. The Pacers have sunk to sixth in the Eastern Conference thanks to their five-game skid. Indiana will try to right the ship tonight against Washington as they close out the first half. Young is not expected to play in tonight’s game. Tip is at 7 p.m. ET.

##GTfamily let's go @GTMBB 🐝 Thanks @chrisbosh for speaking to the team during pregame. Got us 🔥🔥 up! pic.twitter.com/fk1EL2enMC

— Marvin Lewis (@marvinlewis0704) February 16, 2017