Ujiri is under contract through the …

Ujiri is under contract through the 2021 season and the Raptors ownership group will do anything and everything to keep him. However, Ujiri is an ambitious guy with powerful friends in high places, and we’re not just talking about Barack Obama. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is a close friend who remains forever frustrated with the train wreck in his own backyard that is the Knicks. Ujiri’s possible arrival in New York could potentially put the Knicks in play for Giannis Antetokounmpo as well. Ujiri is well connected to some of today’s top stars. Mills claimed to be but couldn’t even get a sit down with Irving and/or Durant. That’s another plan he sold to Dolan that fell flat.

Jerry West: So at the end of the day, …

Jerry West: So at the end of the day, we gave up three of our draft picks and a terrific young player in Shai, who I think we all feel horrible about. And Gallo (Gallinari), who is a very good player himself. Those are the difficult things, letting players go who you really like. I think Shai is going to be an All-Star player in this league for a long time, and he’ll keep getting better. But we have two finished products right in the prime of their careers (in Leonard and George) – or just getting in the prime of their careers. Two of them who have the same DNA – great offensive players, but more importantly really great defensive players. And I’m not talking about good defensive players, I’m talking about great defensive players. Those players decide games on both ends of the floor.

Everything looks pretty smooth so far. …

Everything looks pretty smooth so far. Westbrook is generating 17.1 potential assists (fourth in the league) and Harden is at 16.0 (sixth). And out of the 79 players with at least 50 assist opportunities this season, Harden’s passes are generating the second-best shot quality with a 61.9 expected eFG%. Westbrook ranks No. 19, according to Second Spectrum data. That’s encouraging stuff. So, both are still creating a bunch of looks for their teammates, but Westbrook has become the leading shot creator. In a vacuum, this is a stunning development. But it also serves as a reminder that those seeking to reduce Westbrook’s entire game to high-usage, low-efficiency chucking are doing it wrong. The passing numbers don’t lie; he’s a great catalyst.

In each of the three previous seasons, …

In each of the three previous seasons, the team paired a great offense with a decent defense and ended up in the top five of net rating. So far this season, the defense is poor enough that Houston is struggling to outscore opponents. Therefore Westbrook optimists must lean on the hope that this team will get better with time, and to be fair, that’s distinctly possible. Just look at last year’s team for precedent. In 2018-19, the Rockets ranked 25th in defensive efficiency before the All-Star break. Then they flipped the switch, ranking second in that category after the break. This year’s group has the talent and the time to make the defensive improvements necessary to become legitimate contenders. But will they?

Through nine games, the Spurs are 29th …

Through nine games, the Spurs are 29th in the portion of their shots that come from beyond the 3-point line, with just 28.8 percent of them being 3s compared to the league rate of 37.3 percent. Conversely, they’re first in the portion that comes from between 10 feet and the 3-point line, and takes these shots nearly twice as often as the average team. Whereas Houston takes more than seven 3-pointers for every long 2, the Spurs are the league’s only team that prefers long 2s to 3s. (see chart below)

What is this LA scene like for you to …

What is this LA scene like for you to see? You’re always going to be a founding father of hoops out here, and we’ve never seen a landscape where the Clippers and Lakers were both this good at the same time. With you and your history here, what is it like now that it’s real? Jerry West: I think LeBron James said it best: It’s the best for basketball fans in Southern California right now. …I’m sure Christmas Day (between the Lakers and Clippers) is going to be a huge day for basketball watching in Southern California, and we should – barring any injuries – we should be at full health and hopefully they’ll be at full health. But it’s a great time to be a basketball fan in Los Angeles, because who are you going to root for?

Jerry West: You’re playing on the same …

Jerry West: You’re playing on the same court, with better shoes. It might have been even easier (back) then if we would’ve had all those things. But as I say, the pressure and strain that you put on your body – some bodies react differently. And we’re talking about these 6-(foot)-10 guys who weigh 250, 260 pounds… You think about the enormous amount of torque you put on your body when you’re that big. I marvel at LeBron James. My gosh, you just watch him out there and how he gets around the court and, more importantly, all the time that he puts in conditioning and I marvel that, at this age, he’s still able to perform. It’s amazing. He pays attention, and he’s dedicated. That’s why he’s lasted so long, and I think, more importantly, why he’s still one of the great players that the game has ever seen.

Suns’ Cameron Johnson scored a career-high 15 points in win vs. Nets

Cameron Johnson topped his previous season-high of 12 set on Oct. 30 against the Warriors with 10 of his points coming in the second half.

Phoenix Suns first-round pick Cameron Johnson recorded a career-high 15 points Sunday night in a 138-112 win over the Brooklyn Nets to improve to 6-3 this season.

Johnson topped his previous season-high of 12 set on Oct. 30 against the Golden State Warriors with 10 of his points coming in the second half. The 11th overall pick finished by shooting 6-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

Johnson helped give the Suns a solid offensive boost off of the bench with his ability to shoot. He often spotted up in the corner, giving the Suns’ guards a good kick out option after converting on 2-of-3 of his corner 3-pointers. He also added six rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

The Nets never seriously threatened in the game after the Suns led 37-30 after the first quarter, converting on 46.2% (6-of-13) of their 3-point looks in the opening frame. They battered the Nets in the pick-and-roll and used a number of back screens to get easy buckets throughout the night.

The Suns have been one of the feel-good stories in the NBA so far this season. They have picked up a number of impressive wins and have many curious to see if they can continue their strong start under head coach Monty Williams. If the Suns can keep it up, Johnson could find himself playing meaningful minutes for a playoff contender in his rookie year.

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