#ProJackets Basketball Update

Nov. 19, 2015

THE FLATS –

Every night in the NBA delivers compelling individual matchups featuring some of the top players in the world. Last Friday night, a pair of Yellow Jackets stole the NBA spotlight going toe-to-toe in the post. The Utah’s Derrick Favors and Miami’s Chris Bosh combined for 50 points and 20 rebounds in a tightly contested 92-91 Heat victory. Meanwhile in Brooklyn, Thaddeus Young and Jarrett Jack continue to deliver in the face of mixed results.

Chris Bosh – Chris Bosh continues to lead the Heat in scoring and appears to have recaptured the rebounding prowess that made him a superstar in Toronto. The power forward is averaging over nine rebounds per game for the first time in his six seasons in Miami and ranks fifth in the NBA on the defensive glass. All of this success comes on the heels of an extremely traumatic blood clot scare that sidelined Bosh only months ago. The Miami Herald put Bosh’s recovery and resurgence into perspective earlier this week. Miami faces Sacramento tonight in south Florida.

Away from the court, Chris and his wife, Adrienne, have stepped up to help the local community as seen on Local 10 News in Miami.

Derrick Favors – In a showdown featuring two the NBA’s top big men (and Georgia Tech basketball alumni), Derrick Favors and Chris Bosh went battled pound-for-pound last Friday night. Derrick Favors, a budding superstar, scored 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting with 12 rebounds against Bosh’s Heat. Bosh matched Favors with 25 points of his own going 9-for-18 and netting eight rebounds. Bosh had the last laugh as Miami edged Utah 92-91.

Despite the close loss to his fellow Yellow Jacket, Favors has received league-wide acclaim through the first 11 games on 2015-16. Favors leads Utah in scoring (16.0 ppg) and steals (2.1) and ranks second in rebounding (9.3) and blocks (1.6). SB Nation proclaims Favors as the NBA’s most underrated player while HoopsHabit.com has documented Favors’ meteoric rise. Utah is back in action tomorrow night in Dallas.

Jarrett Jack – The Brooklyn Nets’ backcourt was labeled as one of the weakest in the NBA at the start of the season. And although the Nets have started 2-10, Jarrett Jack’s play at point guard hasn’t been the problem. The 10-year veteran strung together four dominant performances this past week, averaging 19.5 points, 9.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and just 2.0 turnovers. Jack pegs his physical health as the source of his success according to the New York Post. Brooklyn faces division rival Boston tomorrow night in the TD Garden at 7:30pm.

Anthony Morrow – Anthony Morrow scored just 19 points in his first seven games of 2015-16, not including a DNP-coach’s decision two weeks ago. Since then, Morrow has begun to find some rhythm. The Oklahoma City wing has scored 23 points in his last four contests including a season-high 12 points in a win over Philadelphia. Much of Morrow’s recent production has come in the absence of Kevin Durant who has missed time with a hamstring injury. Oklahoma City hosts the New York Knicks tomorrow night at 8pm.

Iman Shumpert – After suffering a ruptured Extensor Carpi Ulnaris sheath in his right wrist in October, Iman Shumpert is targeting a return nearly two weeks ahead of schedule. Cleveland.com explored Shumpert’s aggressive rehabilitation process earlier this week. Shumpert hopes to return to action in about a month.

Thaddeus Young – Although teammate Jarrett Jack might just be finding his groove, Thaddeus Young has continued to be the Brooklyn Nets’ most reliable man. The versatile forward has scored in double figures in all but one of Brooklyn’s 12 games and has recorded a pair of double-doubles in his last three games. Young’s most recent performance against Charlotte (27 points on 11-for-17 shooting) came just hours after receiving postgame X-rays on his following a hard fall the night before.