NBA Week 2 Rewind: Pistons, Rockets rise, Warriors dominate
By Tom West
The Best Highlights of Week 2
The NBA is always guaranteed entertainment. Even the ‘old’ Spurs have their moments. So, here’s a collection from Week 2, including Kristaps Porzingis put-backs and beyond half court buzzer beaters.
Morzingis, please.
New York Knicks rookie power forward Kristaps Porzingis was a big-time prospect, and he’s starting to do some big-time things on the court. His powerful put-back dunks are quickly becoming his signature play.
You can’t stop Andre Drummond in the paint.
As mentioned already in the Who’s Heating Up segment, Drummond is having a beastly season with three 20-20 games already. Nights like the following illustrate what he does best.
Festus Ezeli is proving himself as a damn good backup.
The Warriors haven’t had their All-Defensive second team center (Andrew Bogut) since their first game of this season, yet Ezeli is doing such a good job so far it hasn’t even mattered. With averages per 36 minutes of 18.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks, plus rejections like this on an all-time great dunker like Blake Griffin, he’s proving himself as a real difference maker on defense.
Bradley Beal casually drops the game winner.
Beal sent LaMarcus Aldridge the wrong way to get open, and drained a three without blinking an eye to win the game 102-99 for the Washington Wizards.
Dwyane Wade from way downtown.
Luck always comes into a half court shot, but when Wade stripped Ricky Rubio’s pocket and put up a shot from about 55 feet, he made it look far too easy.
Anthony Davis got rejected with emphasis.
Jeremy Evans isn’t a name you’ll see very often in this segment, but his chase-down rejection of an Anthony Davis layup is well worth an appearance.
Jeff Green at his best.
Jeff Green is always fun to watch for dunks like this.
Blake Griffin has serious handles.
No big man can dribble like Blake Griffin. Whether they’re in the post or trying to run a fast break, no big can handle the ball with such quickness. He proved that by going coast to coast and between the legs for a quick slam dunk against the Rockets.
One of the most unstoppable plays in the NBA.
A lob to a running DeAndre Jordan is almost impossible for defenses to stop. Against the Rockets, he elevated far above the rim to throw the ball down with explosive ease.
Nobody dunks like Russell Westbrook.
When it comes to explosiveness for point guards throughout NBA history, Russell Westbrook sets the bar.
Up next: looking at how a few of the top rookies did in their second week in the NBA.
Next: Weekly Rookie Watch