It’s been only 14 games, but Porzingis is shutting up the doubters and dropping the jaws of everyone who has watched the 7-3 Latvian. I really don’t want to talk about anyone other than Kristaps, but I probably should, so let’s move on. “Hopefully we can hoist one or two [championship trophies] before that happens”. What was a nip-and-tuck affair throughout – neither team led by more than seven points – reached a crescendo in the fourth quarter, with the teams trading mini-spurts down to the stretch.
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Instead of jealousy over Porzingis’ sudden fame, Anthony is relishing it, becoming “a big brother” as promised in training camp.
“Couple nights ago the stat sheet looked a little different and they weren’t calling his name”, Fisher said.
– Lance Thomas had another good game! Still, Houston fell to 1-4 without Howard.
The struggling Rockets are 5-9 overall and 1-2 since firing Kevin McHale on Wednesday and replacing him with J.B. Bickerstaff.
The similarities between Lin and Porzingis are quite interesting.
Grounded and basketball-focused, he was unmoved when asked about looking forward to his very first visit to South Beach. “He can put it on the floor”, said Dirk Nowitzki. The Rockets wouldn’t go away quietly though, and while our boys at one point built up a 7 point lead, Houston kept the game close.
Between the two showcase performances, he was rendered nearly invisible by Serge Ibaka, scoring just seven points with six rebounds against the Thunder’s big man Friday.
For the record, beating these teams is increasingly important not only because the Knicks look like they could be good (relative to expectations), but also because without a first-round pick there’s absolutely no incentive to be bad. He’s the first rookie to do so since Tim Duncan in 1998. It was done previously by Lonnie Shelton on November 7, 1976 against Portland. “I’m proud of him”. “He’s so smart and committed”. “I’m right here, though”. He also does not expect Porzingis to fill the box score with pyrotechnics every night. It’s still unclear whether Porzingis will be able to create his own shot whenever he feels like it. I really wasn’t consistent. This is a level higher. They’re 0-4 this season against teams that are two games or more above.500. He’s a big presence in the paint. “(I was) going to the Garden, watching a lot of Knick games growing up”.
“He’s taking over”, Lee said. He got to the line (6/6 on free throws). He takes his time backing down Terrence Jones (which is no easy feat), and when James Harden threatens to double, he doesn’t panic, he merely waits for the threat to pass. Some rookies, especially forwards, would immediately pass out of that situation.
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The analysts nearly uniformly called Porzingis a project who might need to spend several years in the incubator and might never get there at all. He nailed a ridiculous lefty hook, which, what the shit?!
