Nissan #ProJackets Basketball Report

May 4, 2017

By Wiley Ballard –

Seeking their first postseason series victory in seven seasons, Derrick Favors lifted the Utah Jazz over the hump on Sunday … Iman Shumpert and the Cleveland Cavaliers continue to roll improving to 6-0 this postseason in last night’s rout of Toronto … Following Indiana’s elimination, Thaddeus Young gives back to his hometown of Memphis … All of that and more can be found in this week’s Nissan #ProJackets Report.

Derrick Favors and the Utah Jazz seized their first postseason series victory since 2010 with a 104-91 road win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday afternoon. Favors delivered a double-double off the bench (17 points, 11 rebounds) in perhaps the most impactful performance of his seven-year career. Following the win, Utah starter Joe Ingles declared “We don’t win tonight without [Derrick Favors].” Ten of Favors’ points and nine of his rebounds came in the first half when starting center Rudy Gobert sat with foul trouble. Head coach Quin Snyder praised the 25-year-old saying, “You have to respect who he’s been as a professional this year because he hasn’t been healthy… he’s battled.” Unfortunately for Favors, his sore back resurfaced in Monday’s practice before Utah’s conference semifinal showdown against Golden State. Listed as questionable prior to Game 1, Favors logged only 12 minutes in Utah’s 106-94 loss Tuesday night. Game 2 tips this evening at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN live from Oracle Arena.

Anthony Morrow and the Chicago Bulls lost their fourth consecutive game to the Boston Celtics last Friday night, dropping the series four games to two. Over the six games Morrow hit 5-of-9 shots from the floor in roughly 30 minutes of action. In his nine games as a Bull, the 31-year-old shot 41.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. Morrow will weigh his options as an unrestricted free agent this summer. In his nine NBA seasons, the veteran from Charlotte, N.C. has amassed over 5,000 points while shooting above 40.0 percent from three-point land in 564 games. 

Six games into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ postseason journey, Iman Shumpert has been lauded for his defensive prowess. But in Wednesday night’s Game 2 triumph against Toronto, Shumpert added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including this thunderous dunk. In addition to this view from courtside, ESPN’s The Undefeated dissected Shumpert’s jam rating its difficulty, authority and swag. Aside from Shumpert’s highlight hammer, the guard, who turns 27 next month, has been assigned a critical role for the defending champs by head coach Tyronn Lue: “To guard the best players. It’s what we have him for.” In six postseason wins, Shumpert has impeded both Paul George and DeMar Derozan. Leading 2-0 in the series, the Cavaliers travel north of the border for Game 3 Friday night against Toronto. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Thaddeus Young’s season may be over, but he’s hardly resting. Earlier this week, The Commercial Appeal reported that Young is “shooting for a partnership with the city [of Memphis] that will let him invest $500,000 in a new youth program in South Memphis.” Young’s plan is to assume responsibility for the Head Start and Health Loop buildings next to his alma mater, Mitchell High School. The proposal will be examined further next month.

Last night we defended home floor. pic.twitter.com/Vp2A1wcqtX

— Iman Shumpert I (@imanshumpert) May 4, 2017

.@imanshumpert with authority! 💪 #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ZC9NOBva0M

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 1, 2017

Anthony Morrow & Steph Curry | 2010 pic.twitter.com/SFoNmR50Kr

— NBA Throwbacks (@ThrowbacksNBA) April 30, 2017

@MrAnthonyMorrow 6 maybe 7 years ago hahahah pic.twitter.com/3yIAttNci1

— Joe Corcoran (@joePRO18) April 30, 2017