January 22, 2017 – DownToBuck

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 17 Points/3 Dunks Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

Before I go all out and call Michael Kidd-Gilchrist a bust (one of my absolute most favorite pastimes), let’s clear something up: MKG is a good role player. Maybe even a great role player. The Hornets are significantly better when he is on the court. He might not ever score fifteen points per game, and…

Jason Smith 16 Points Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

Jason Smith is currently leading the league in percentage of shots made from midrange, at 63%. So, three-fifths of the time he makes a shot, it’s a midrange jumper, most likely one that he shoots instantly without looking for an additional pass. Technically, Gary Neal possesses a higher percentage, but he doesn’t count because he’s…

Quincy Acy 14 Points Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

In a move that surely saddened #1 pick fans everywhere, Anthony Bennett was let go from the Nets in order to make room for Quincy “Assy” Acy. On the surface, the two are similar players: they’re both undersized power forward-types, and they’re both rather bulky. But the comparisons end there: Bennett has no motor to…

DTB’s Official NBA Power Rankings (Week 12)

This week’s biggest busts: Bucks -6, Trail Blazers -5, Kings -5 This week’s biggest successes: Hornets +6, Pistons +5, Heat +4 1. Golden State Warriors (37-6, 3-0 this week) (last week: #1 [3-0] +0) 73 wins is still a distinct possibility for this Warriors team which is first in offensive rating, first in defensive rating,…

Marquese Chriss 15 Points Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

This game between the Suns and Knicks at MSG was the perfect setting for some serious beef resolution to happen. Remember, Marquese Chriss and Kristaps Porzingis have been in the midst of a major beef (extra beefy please) ever since Chriss tackled Porzingis and threw him to the ground earlier in the season. They didn’t…

Terry Rozier 15 Points/1 Clutch Shot Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

Terry Rozier was a very clutch dude last night, sinking a three-pointer to tie the game with eight seconds left, a game which eventually went into overtime. The Celtics went on to lose the game, but in the context of Rozier’s performance that doesn’t matter. He was a clutch mofo. The fact that his teammates…

Ersan Ilyasova 21 Points Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

I’ve said it before (or maybe I haven’t, because I say so much stuff in these descriptions that I lose track of all my opinions sometimes), but Ersan “Arsen Ilyasov from Uzbekistan” Ilyasova is the second-best player on the 76ers, and it’s not even close. He would challenge for tops on the team if Joel…

Dejounte Murray 14 Points/6 Assists Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

For the second straight day, I am undermined by the NBA’s lax allocation of assists. At 2:10 in this video, a player who is clearly not Dejounte Murray passes the ball to Kawhi Leonard, who takes a few dribbles and then shoots a three. The merits of even awarding an assist for that play are…

Marcus Morris 25 Points/1 Game-Winner Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

Finally, a game-winner that is legit. Devin Booker supposedly had a “game-winner” with his three that he hit with like 30 seconds left in the game. What the heck? Get that weak stuff outta here. When I hear “game-winner”, I want a shot that wins the game so thoroughly that the team that made it…

Meyers Leonard 17 Points/2 Poster Dunks Full Highlights (1/21/2017)

Meyers Leonard is now the undisputed champion of making dunk-ruining stanky faces. He’s leading the league in the category of “lessening of the impact of his devastating poster dunk by putting on a ridiculous pouty face”, with 2. I don’t think any other player has even 1. He’s basically the MVP of this aspect of…