This is just the third game this season where Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shot above 50% from the field. If that sounds like I’m hating, maybe I am. Just a little bit. I’ve never really cared for shooting guards who shoot sub-40% from the field even if they play great defense and can hit the corner three consistently and were a vital component of an eighth-seeded playoff team. The preceding sentence totally sounds like I’m talking about Corey Brewer, doesn’t it? Another strike against KCP in DTB’s Big Book of Strikes.
The good thing we can take away from this game is that KCP put up a high-scoring, efficient point total while also defending James Harden for large chunks of game time. If he can be that energetic and useful on both ends for the full 82 games, that’s pretty much the perfect role-player.