Only a few years ago, during what I call the “E’Twaun Moore Era” of Pelicans Basketball, E’Twaun Moore was playing so well that I felt compelled to name a whole era after him. His PPGs weren’t eye-popping, but he was one of the most efficient players in the league during the 2017-18 season, starting 80 games and putting up tons of 20-burgers on over 70 percent shooting. The era continued a bit into the next season, but injuries took their toll, and now we have exited the era. It was great while it lasted. I think it’s been replaced by the “Zion Williamson Era” of Pelicans basketball, which is happening even though Williamson hasn’t actually played yet. Even on the bench with his knees held together by duct tape and prayers he’s the biggest story in New Orleans, NBA-wise.
Anyway, Moore has done a really good job of turning himself into an extremely fringy scrub into a legit NBA player. He’s already 30 years old, so his best days are almost certainly behind him, but looking at what he was in Boston to what he is now, that’s great. He’s had enough solid years that there’s a small chance that people will still think about him for up to a few months after he retires.
I would say that his performance tonight qualifies as “vintage” E’Twaun Moore. It really reminded me of all those sick games he had in the past two seasons where he would just go out and get buckets like it’s no big deal. Normally I despite floaters, but Moore is one of the very few players who have turned the floater into an art form. He doesn’t bust it out as much as he used to, but when he comes screaming into the paint off a curl, you know what’s going to happen, and it’s going to be better than anything Tony Parker ever did.