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NBA Week 10 Rewind: West elite emerging above all others

By Tom West

Dec 13, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) react after a play against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) react after a play against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) reacts after scoring during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea (5) reacts after scoring during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Under-the-radar Players to Watch Next Week

J.J. Barea thinks he’s Steph Curry right now. Over the last few games, not only have his Mavericks handed the Warriors their second loss of the season, but he’s also been playing far better and has been far more productive than the start of the year.

Until a couple of weaker shooting displays in the Mavericks’ last two losses after a four-game win streak, Barea had been stringing together several big performances. On December 23, he recorded a season-high 32 points and 11 assists against the Brooklyn Nets, and proceeded to average 22.3 points a night and 69.2 percent three point shooting (with 4.5 makes) over the next week.

Along with Deron Williams’ unexpected resurgence, Barea has helped make up for the Mavs’ troubled point guard situation following the Rajon Rondo disaster. Along with Dirk Nowitzki’s constant shooting and Zaza Pachulia stepping in as a surprising double double machine, Barea has been vital as of late in helping Dallas keep the 5th seed in the West.

Omri Casspi is easily having his best season yet, and has even been one of the top few shooters in the NBA this season. With a career-best 47.7 three point percentage, he ranks 3rd in the league. Combine that with his 65.5 percent finishing in three feet and general catch-and-shoot ability over the floor, and it results in him ranking 5th in true shooting percentage (62.4).

He recently got into a thrilling shootout with Stephen Curry, as they traded buckets back and forth while burying quick threes early in the shot clock as they caught fire on December 28. Casspi made 9-of-12 threes to score a career-high 36 points, and looked like the kind of heat-check scorer that can give the Kings some serious firepower besides the interior presence of DeMarcus Cousins.

Over the last week, Casspi averaged 18.3 points on 56.8 percent shooting while going 59.3 percent from three. As if that wasn’t enough for a skilled player that no one talks about, he also tallied 8.5 rebounds a night, too.

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