Is this the year Caris LeVert breaks out and lives up to his heretofore unearned “Baby Durant” nickname? Based on this one-game sample size, the answer is a resounding “yes”. Except, you know, he didn’t really hit any perimeter jumpers which is something that a baby version of Kevin Durant would do all the time. Maybe “Baby Warren”, after T.J. Warren, would be a more appropriate nickname?
In any case, 27 is definitely an amount of points that Durant/Warren is capable of scoring regularly, so LeVert needs to show that this isn’t a case of him blowing his entire load on opening night. He needs to show that some of his hopefully copious load has been retained for use during games 2-90.
Yes, I just implied that the Nets are gonna make the playoffs. Before you become indignant, take a look at the teams in the East. Yeah. Can you say “home court advantage”?
LeVert really showcased his driving ability in this one, combined with his floater ability. Normally I decry floaters as the domain of ineffectual whitoids, but since LeVert is not one of those, I’m gonna let it slide. He obviously thought that was the best way for him to dominate the game, so who am I to judge? I’m not the one who just scored a career-high.