Tag: Jalen Rose

Jalen Rose on why the Pelicans shouldn’t consider playing Zion Williamson in January

Zion Williamson could reportedly return this month, but Jalen Rose is pleading with the Pelicans to keep Zion off the floor.

The arrival of Zion Williamson was supposed to be one of the biggest storylines of the 2019-20 NBA season, but the Pelicans have played 34 games and we have yet to see Williamson make a regular season appearance following his knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Williamson was initially given a recovery timeline of six-to-eight weeks after surgery on October 21st, but his rehab is still ongoing, and he only just participated in his first full practice on Thursday. According to a report from Shams Charania, the Pelicans are hopeful that Williamson will return to the lineup at some point in January.

Some analysts, however, aren’t on board with the Pelicans’ plan for Williamson’s NBA debut. Talking heads have been openly debating the idea of a redshirt year for Williamson for weeks, with some arguing that an ultra-conservative approach is best for a player that has suffered repeated injury problems already in his young career. In a passionate rant, ESPN’s Jalen Rose advised the Pelicans to not even think about putting Zion on the floor, even if Zion is adamant that he’s ready to play.

“You see him running? He runs like me, and I’ll be 47 in a couple of weeks. You know how old he is? He’s 19 years old! He is 19 years old!

Do not, Pelicans, put Zion Williamson out on the floor in January. If he tells you he’s ready to go, you say ‘alright big fella, I appreciate that…. Practice for two more weeks and we’ll figure it out.’

…. I’m not going to just rush him out there like some jock and think that he’s going to win five to 10 games and it’s going to change the dynamics of our season, because it ain’t. It is not! They’re better off getting another lottery pick. This season is over.”

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Jalen Rose praises Brandon Ingram, says Lonzo Ball has ‘plateaued’

Jalen Rose wants Lonzo Ball to make a leap like Brandon Ingram has with the New Orleans Pelicans.

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball to the New Orleans Pelicans in the blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis, it was viewed as an opportunity for the pair of former No. 2 picks to start fresh.

While Ingram is starting to resemble the player scouts thought he’d be at the NBA level, Ball is still struggling to live up to his draft hype, averaging just 10.1 points on 37.4% shooting from the field, 5 rebounds. 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Those averages aren’t too far off from his career numbers, but that’s exactly what has been so disappointing about his junior season — he’s yet to make the leap.

Jalen Rose even went as far as to say that Ball has “plateaued” in his junior season (via “Jalen and Jacoby”):

“[Ingram] got drafted as a lottery pick and they was like, ‘Here go the keys,’ but then they brought in Lonzo. ‘Yo, this is the future. You’re number going to be in the rafters, Zo!’ Now — they get traded — one guy has been able to flourish in Ingram and it seems like Lonzo has plateaued.”

Unfortunately for Ball, it’s hard to argue against the Michigan basketball legend’s point.

Yes, Ball is posting career-highs in 3-point percentage and free-throw percentage, but even those percentages — 33.3% and 50%, respectively — leave a lot to be desired. It’s also worth noting that those are the only major categories he’s having a career year from.

Ball has shown flashes, but it doesn’t seem like he’s on the cusp of anything special. Hopefully good health and the return of Zion Williamson will help Ball start to trend in the right direction.

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Jalen Rose predicts Michigan win over Ohio State in hilarious video

The notable Wolverines basketball alum had fun predicting a maize and blue victory over the Buckeyes in a hilarious video.

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ESPN’s morning show Get Up! certainly has had a maize and blue flavor with the lead in to The Game on Saturday.

On Tuesday morning, host Mike Greenberg emphatically predicted that Michigan would beat Ohio State, so there’s really no way to top that, right?

On Wednesday, Jalen Rose did just that, much to the delight of fellow alumnus Desmond Howard.

In what seemed like a surprise, Rose removed his sweater to reveal a Michigan shirt, while adding another accessory as he proclaimed that the Wolverines would be victorious against the hated Buckeyes in The Big House.

“In a year when people were assassinating the character of one (Jim) Harbaugh — remember that happened earlier in the year,” Rose explained as he revealed his button-down with a Block M. “And then all of a sudden the Wolverines continued to play good football. People sleeping on us then in Ann Arbor. They don’t have Urban Meyer this year. You know what I’m saying?

“This will be the year that the Wolverines get it done! I am booking it! Tell ‘em, Des! You just said it. On Saturday, I’m gonna make me a large pitcher of sangria, I’m gonna make some wings, I’m gonna grill some lobster tails, and I’m gonna be singing the game-winning touchdown as — (singing) ‘Peoples…Peoples-Jones! Peoples-Jones! Peoples-Jones!’ — catches the game-winner. Book it!”

If there’s one thing you cannot say, it’s that Rose does not lack school spirit or enthusiasm.

Watch below:

Jalen Rose predicts 90-point game from James Harden this season

Former NBA player Jalen Rose is predicting a 90-point game by James Harden this season, and there could be a personal reason for that pick.

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Former NBA player and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose believes Houston Rockets star James Harden could score 90 points in a game.

Speaking Tuesday morning on “Get Up,” Rose explained why he believes Harden is the most unique scorer in NBA history — and how that could lead to a historic night later this season. Rose said:

I’ve called him the most unique scorer in the history of the NBA. Here’s what I mean by that.

He’s led the league in total threes made, total free throws made, in assists, and in total points. No other player at any point in their careers would be able to say that. That’s how dynamic James Harden is.

And, he keeps on coming. He’s not always efficient, but he’s aggressive. He’ll take 15 or 20 three-point shots in a game, whether he’s making two or three, or whether he’s making 10. That level of aggression, I’m telling you, he’s going to have a night when he actually gets on fire.

I’ll say this: He’s going to have a 90-point game this year. He is. I know it sounds crazy, but he goes for it every night.

Harden’s career-high in points in one game was 61, set twice last season. This year, he peaked at 59 points on Oct. 30 in Washington.

For the 2019-20 season as a whole, the 30-year-old is averaging 39.2 points and 7.6 assists in 36.6 minutes per game.

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Beyond just getting hot in a given game, there could be a statistical reason to believe Rose’s case. Consider that last year, Harden didn’t reach peak form until his legendary 32-game streak of scoring 30+ points, which began Dec. 13. Prior to that date, Harden averaged 30.0 points per game. From Dec. 13 onward, he averaged 38.7 points.

If Harden continues to improve at a similar rate as the 2019-20 season progresses, there’s no telling what he might be able to do. It should also be noted that the Rockets (11-3) are currently on the league’s longest winning streak at eight consecutive games — and since Harden’s extreme numbers are leading to wins for his team, there’s no reason to expect Harden or the Rockets to dial it back.

As for Rose, there could also be some personal motivation as it related to his prediction. The NBA’s all-time record for points in a single game is held by Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 100 on March 2, 1962.

But number two on the list, and the only game this century in which an NBA player has exceeded 70 points? That belongs to Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, who scored 81 on Jan. 22, 2006. In that game (box score), Bryant was largely defended by Rose, who played nearly 44 minutes.

Rose has taken his share of “81” jokes over the years, and he seems to have developed a sense of humor about it. But he probably wouldn’t mind it if Harden scored at least 82 and set a new modern record.

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