NBA Week 15 Rewind: Celtics are heading for a special future
By Tom West
Weekly Rookie Watch
Devin Booker has fully made the most of being a starter for the Suns in the absence of Brandon Knight. Over his last 12 games as a starter, Booker has maintained a 38.4 three-point percentage despite taking six shots from deep per game, while averaging 18.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Last week on February 2, Booker notched his second highest scoring game of the season with 27 points and six threes against the Raptors. Besides knocking down jumpers with his smooth stroke, he’s showing that he can attack the paint with confidence when he sees an open lane, too. He’s moving well off the ball, coming off screens quickly, and when he receives the ball he doesn’t hesitate to pull the trigger, even if he’s contested inside the arc.
If it wasn’t for such remarkable big men like Karl-Anthony Towns and Kristaps Porzingis, Booker would receive more attention as a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Myles Turner is ready to make his mark in the NBA with the Pacers. He’s healthy now and at 6’11” with skill, length, and intelligence, he’s making a difference at both ends of the floor. The element of his game that’s really surprising at times, though, has been his post game.
His range has been apparent thanks to his 43.7 percent shot from 26-14 feet, but the way he’s starting to utilize that range and soft touch with turnaround jumpers in the post is yet another way he can produce. He put everything into practice last week with averages of 12.8 points, seven rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 30 minutes per game. And if he keeps proving his worth as an offensive threat, the Pacers have far more than just a tough rim protector to develop in the early stages of Turner’s career.
Kristaps Porzingis keeps delivering the kind of well-rounded performances that remind us why he’s a top candidate for Rookie of the Year. Whether it’s three-point bombs, put-back dunks or powerful blocks, he’s put all doubts to rest among Knicks fans that he’s their star of the future.
Except for a five point, four rebound night against the Detroit Pistons, Porzingis had another exciting week. His two best outings came at the end, as his 17 point, 10 rebound, six block night against the Grizzlies perfectly displayed his unique skill set. He even added a few three-pointers for good measure, too, just in case the six rejections weren’t enough to get fans off their seats. To end the week, he tallied 21 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks in another narrow Knicks loss against the Nuggets (101-96).
Perhaps if Derek Fisher organized a few more set plays for Porzingis, he’d be able to utilize his scoring even further.
It’s hard to put anyone ahead of Karl-Anthony Towns right now, as his footwork and range on offense has made him so much more than the top defender we expected him to be. He’s far beyond his years already, although the same can still be said about Porzingis as well. The Latvian prodigy has been a perfect narrative to add to the NBA amidst the Warriors’ golden season.
Next: Under-the-radar Players to Watch Next Week