He sure came up big for the defending champions down the stretch of a 110-99 Game 2 win against Portland in the Western Conference semifinals, scoring eight points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking a shot in almost 13 minutes after not even getting into Game 1. Ezeli picks up the scraps and gets a lot of put-backs. After not playing in the Game 1 victory Sunday, he helped the Warriors shut down Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard in the fourth quarter. Golden State outscored Portland in the paint in the fourth, 16-8.
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Ezeli will look to build off that in Game 3 on Saturday in Portland.
Deveney did note it was unclear if the Warriors would want to keep Ezeli, even though his preference is to stay with Golden State “under the assumption that he would take over as the team’s starter when Andrew Bogut’s contract is up after next season”.
That’s when Ezeli scored the Warriors’ first four baskets of the quarter – starting with a tip in – and grabbed five rebounds, to light up Oracle and push the Warriors to a 91-91 tie midway through the period. He will turn 27 in October, and obviously is ready for a bigger share of playing time sooner rather than later. Boston has a chance at signing someone to a max-deal and another player to a near max-deal, could Ezeli be someone who pushes them over the top? With the influx of new television money hitting National Basketball Association salary caps this summer, the market will favor players, especially given the fact that there are not all that many top-level free agents available.
“The Lakers, a source said, will have an interest in Ezeli, seeing his size and rim-protecting defense as an ideal complement to forward Julius Randle”.
Ezeli is a talented young center but he’s had injury issues and has never played extended minutes on a consistent basis.
The pairing would make sense given that Ezeli enjoyed one of the best stretches of his career – averaging nearly nine points and six rebounds from November to December – while Walton was serving as interim coach of the reigning National Basketball Association champions. “That effort is what it’s going to take to beat this team”. “We have one goal and we’ve had it since we got back in training camp”.
Festus Ezeli has continued to improve every year but his price tag will be the deciding factor. I found out I was injured and I had to have surgery again on another knee. While he figures to get a sizable deal up front, it won’t be a long commitment.
The Los Angeles Lakers are poised to have a league-leading .3 million in cap space this summer and a big whole on their roster at center.
The 26-year-old center says he wants to remain with the Warriors, but new Lakers head coach Luke Walton will make a strong pitch to Ezeli.
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The Golden State Warriors mounted a remarkable comeback without Stephen Curry. Things certainly are looking good for Ezeli.
