While Dallas is celebrating the memory of the greatest icon of the franchise, in San Francisco the Splash Brothers finally return to share the same parquet. Let’s try to put order. Corner Three, three top moments and as many flops from the last seven days.
Top
Welcome back, Klay!
More than two and a half years, 31 months and 941 days. This is the time elapsed between the NBA’s last game Klay Thompson and his seasonal debut on Sunday night. An exhausting wait, especially for the fans of Golden State Warriors. The # 11 has fully recovered from a double injury in series: cruciate ligament of the knee first, then Achilles tendon.
Yet nothing really seems to have changed: his performance immediately sets the record straight: 17 points in less than 20 minutes with 3 triple a referto. An electric atmosphere accompanied each of his dribbles, each of his shots, as if the entire Chase Center had been on the parquet with him.
After all this time, Klay picked up exactly where he left off. And the NBA world embraces him very happy.
KLAY IS BACK ???? pic.twitter.com/Y6RH4BkKgC
– SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 10, 2022
Afernee Simons
Few if not very few things can be saved from the Trail Blazers season. Damian Lillard at length it seemed like the memory of the All-Star who brought Portland to the Conference Finals in 2019, also thanks to several injuries. Similar speech for yours partner in crime CJ McCollum, who is still recovering from a lung problem. The rest of the roster looks badly assembled and the merciless 10th place in the West (16-24) it is the mirror of a vintage that in Oregon they would like to end as soon as possible.
But there is one thing to smile about. In my fourth year as a professional, Afernee Simons seems to have finally found his place in the league after finishing a really super week: 29.0 points and 6.8 assists per game in the four games played, sublimated by the incredible performance on Monday night against Atlanta. His 43 points (9-16 of three) break down the resistance of the Hawks and the fifty put on the scoresheet by Bring young, which can do nothing against a truly inspired Simons.
To support him in this truly unexpected exploit was the memory of his grandfather, who left on the eve of the match against Atlanta and his greatest supporter. The interview at the end of the race goes straight to the podium in the seasonal compilation.
Anfernee Simons lost his grandfather to cancer the night before the game.
He finished with 43 points and 7 assists in the win against the Hawks. Speechless ???? pic.twitter.com/12o9TxVSOP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 4, 2022
Immenso Dirk
The night of the Epiphany was full of emotions and memories for Dallas. All ‘American Airlines Center in fact, the time has come for the ‘definitive’ celebration of Dirk Nowitzki, the greatest player in franchise history, whose iconic No. 41 has been retired.
A celebration for which the German thanked, with affection, all the fundamental elements for his incredible career, recognizing Dallas as the best place for his maturation, from Europe to the top of the NBA. A great Mavericks party, attended by some great protagonists of the historic ride that in the 2010/11 season ended with the NBA title, the first for the Texan franchise. A unique event of its kind, to pay homage to an equally special player. Thank you Dirk!
Flop
Danny Green, From Zero to Hero
24 minutes to do (almost) nothing. Mid-NBA game in which you weren’t able to put your signature on any play. It seems impossible, yet that’s exactly what happened to Danny Green, Sixers guard, in Wednesday night’s match against Orlando Magic. A series of pitiless zero rounds in the points boxes, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks that earned him for a few hours the entry into a truly unenviable elite. In retrospect, however, the NBA attributed a stolen ball to Green, ‘staining’ the masterpiece in reverse. The attempt remains laudable but we are sure Green is relieved by the review carried out. Either way, he would be in good company.
ALL-NBA CARDIO TEAM
(Most minutes by a player with a 0/0/0/0/0/0 game since 1985)
Tony Snell (28 minutes)
Danny Green (24 minutes)
Glen Rice (24 minutes)
Andre Roberson (22 minutes)
Hollis Thompson (25 minutes) pic.twitter.com/1oJy0qX5n7— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 6, 2022
At least try it, LeBron!
Following the trend of recent duo balls, we would like to point out one that has as its protagonist The Chosen One.
In the absence of a role center in the quintet of Los angeles lakers, it was just a LeBron James occupy the center of the field to try to win the jumpball at the start of the game. To tell the truth, try out is perhaps not the right word.
Lmao come on, LeBron ????pic.twitter.com/j6IJrYREMC
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) January 5, 2022
Ayo Dosunmu, without mercy
Nice curtain the one staged between the Bulls rookie and Bradley Beal, star of the Wizards. During an offensive possession between Chicago and Washington, the young guard was whistled for an infraction of steps as he headed for the basket. An error that, according to when reported by Dosumnu himself at the end of the match, Bradley Beal would have tried to correct him with some advice.
Now, let’s not say that young people today no longer listen: a few minutes later, in a play identical to the one that caused the turnover, Dosumnu literally put into practice the advice received against Beal himself, his scorer in that circumstance. Result? A lightning-fast start from the sideline of the field and a pull-up jumper that only moved the retina. Despite the joke, Bradley Beal is an excellent teacher.
Bradley Beal gave Ayo Dosunmu advice during the game and it backfired ???? pic.twitter.com/fz9qMPgrn8
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) January 8, 2022
