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Pelicans

Despite their recent playoffs ousting <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/chris-pauls-masterclass-game-6-performance-the-latest-moment-of-greatness" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at the hands of Chris Paul</a>, the future for the New Orleans Pelicans feels much brighter than most projected at the turn of the year. Three rookies combined to play 32% of Willie Green's rotational minutes, including lineups that contained all three. It's not often that a singular rookie plays positive minutes in a competitive playoff series, and it's near unheard of to have a trio doing the same.
Trey Murphy III, the 17th overall pick in last year's draft, and Jose Alvarado, the undrafted free agent signing who steadily garnered a cult following this year, had huge moments in this series.&nbsp;
Herbert Jones stood above the rest.
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Still thinking about this from Herb <a href="https://t.co/4SVi3fLkM0">pic.twitter.com/4SVi3fLkM0</a>
&mdash; Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1520109239884292096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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If you follow me and my work, your timeline has been absolutely littered with clips and musings about the southpaw forward dating back to Summer League.
His defensive play has stood out since he was at Alabama, where he was the 2020-21 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and 2x SEC All-Defense, and that's what allowed him to make his mark for the Pelicans this season. How good was his defense? We had him on our Second Team All-Defense during our <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/defensive-awards-and-a-celebration-of-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defensive awards roundtable</a> with myself, Jackson Frank, and Nekias Duncan.
Jones is not just awesome for a rookie; he's awesome period and has legitimately staked his claim as one of the best defenders in basketball.
His help instincts are fantastic. He makes rotations and defensive slides with a consistent intensity that few can match. Jones is a stonewall at the point of attack and already might be the best screen navigator in the league. He's adept at utilizing his hands and feet simultaneously to keep the ball in front. What makes him special to me as a defender is his body control. Considering how much time he spends defending primary options, it's remarkable that he didn't have a higher foul rate: 4.1% was in the 25th percentile this year per Cleaning the Glass, but that doesn't take into account defensive responsibility.
Jones finished 6th in BBall Index's matchup difficulty ranking, which gauges the players guarded and adjusts their defensive metrics accordingly. Jones had the fourth-lowest foul rate out of the top six defenders in matchup difficulty. He ended behind Dorian Finney-Smith, De'Andre Hunter, and Luguentz Dort but just ahead of Dillon Brooks and Matisse Thybulle.
Defense is the foundation of Jones' game, but we've seen numerous defense-first prospects come into the league and struggle to establish a larger role on their respective roster. Jones became a full-time starter at the end of November, averaging 31.3 minutes per game from November 24th to the end of the regular season. He closed games for the Pelicans. He took on more ball-handling duties both in bringing the ball up the court and some secondary offensive actions.
How did we get here? How did Herb Jones go from, "He could be a useful rotation player," to viable NBA starter?
Oddly enough, Jones has shown a greater level of touch in the NBA than he ever did in four years at Alabama, which is a wild thing to ponder.
Let's pull back the covers here.
According to Instat Scouting, Jones shot 35.6% on drives as a senior at Alabama (104 attempts) and 34.5% for his career. As a rookie in the NBA, Jones shot 46% on drives according to Second Spectrum tracking data (137 attempts). That is an astounding growth!&nbsp;
For reference, if Herb had shot 35.6% in the league, that would've made him the fourth least efficient finisher of drives in the league (1.5 FGA on drives per game, at least 40 games played). While 46% is still a bit below average, it can't be undersold what an upgrade that is.
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As a driver at Alabama, Jones really struggled with decceleration. He was fantastic at getting to the rim, but he was equally adept at smothering himself once he got there. There was fairly minimal pacing to his delivery. There were a ton of awkward footing jumps. So many of his attempts at the rim just felt off before they even left his hand. The handle is quite solid for his size, but the exchange from the floor to the rim felt clunky.
In the NBA, Jones gets to attack off the catch more and benefit from stepping into downhill attacks, yet he's better even with the ball in his hands.
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He's thrown in more hesitation and stutters. He's using the rim more to protect some of his drives and attempts rather than trying to force up a tough touch shot after barreling into the paint. The footwork is a good deal more crisp than last season, and he seems better at getting skinny through tight spaces in traffic.
He still has some really rough misses. Late help or an eager low man can clean up his shots. He doesn't have a ton of counters right now. He was 3-for-21 on floaters this year on drives according to InStat, which is about where he was at Alabama. He still has some "Woah, what was that?" type misses, but it's hard to deny both in watching and via data that he has better touch. It's been one of the weirdest things to follow this year, and finally pulling the numbers was startling.
Let's peel back another layer.
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 154px;" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 44px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">Season</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">3 Point Percentage</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">3 Point Attempts</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">Free Throw Percentage</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; text-align: center; height: 44px;">Free Throw Attempts</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2017-18 (Freshman)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">26.9%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">7/26</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">50%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">24/48</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2018-19 (Sophomore)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">28.6%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">6/21</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">49.5%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">52/105</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2019-20 (Junior)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">7.1%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">1/14</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">62.5%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">65/104</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2020-21 (Senior)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">35.1%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">20/57</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">71.3%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">92/129</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 22px;">
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">2021-22 (NBA)</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">33.7%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">57/169</td>
<td style="width: 18.1217%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">84%</td>
<td style="width: 18.1267%; height: 22px; text-align: center;">137/163</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Data courtesy of Basketball Reference and College Reference
Again, astounding development.&nbsp;
I'm not comfortable in saying what level of shooter he could be in time, but to go from where he was two years ago to now is an insane growth curve.
He was ignored as a shooter at Alabama last year, and while he eventually was in the playoffs most of the time this year, the growth in confidence was immense. His shot was a bit up and down, but Pels shooting coach Fred Vinson, along with Jones' work ethic, has seemingly been a Dragon Ball-Z esque fusion dance combination.
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At Alabama, he brings the ball across his face from right to left on the release, and while he's squared up, his feet are pretty close together with a notable valgus collapse (reverse "V" shape with knees).
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In the NBA, the ball isn't coming all the way across his body anymore. There's still the valgus collapse, but it's not as pronounced, giving him a much cleaner shot overall that's easier to replicate.
He has a very good feel for the game and excellent court vision, which he put on display throughout much of his amateur career, but his improved efficacy as a driver allows him to showcase more live dribble playmaking rather than strictly connecting plays. Drawing closeouts as a shooter and having the ability to run actions or spark plays as a secondary initiator allows him to flex those playmaking chops.
The gains he's made this season have arguably made him the most viable he's ever been as an offensive creator. He already has the basis to be a starter on a playoff team, because he was one this year. While every player has some sort of ceiling due to physical limitations or other limitations in their game, it's hard to put a cap on what his ceiling might be.
If you'd asked me last year whether or not I thought Herb Jones could be a starter in the NBA, I probably would've said it was unlikely barring some sizable growth. Well, that sizable growth has happened.
The level of defender that Jones is, along with an already solid baseline of offensive plays, will allow him something that many prospects struggle to get: playing time. Because he can already do impactful things on the court, he'll continue to get incredibly valuable in-game reps. The G-League is great, but getting to craft your game at the highest level is an entirely different developmental scenario.
Could Jones be an All-Star someday? I can't rule it out. He's already blown me away with his growth. I wouldn't bet on it happening, but I certainly wouldn't bet against it either.
Can he take more steps as a ball-handler or find some extra bend as a driver? I wouldn't call him a stiff driver, but he doesn't generate crazy power with his first step. If there's some added flexibility in his legs, maybe he gets an extra oomph of burst.
Can he find more with his touch outside of just his jump-shot from three? Herb took 53 jumpers inside the arc and hit 35.8% of them according to InStat. Is there some pull-up viability in time? Can he factor in more pacing and craft out of ball-screens? Can all these things compound into him becoming capable of carrying a larger creation burden?
Again, I'm not sure, but the point remains that higher pathways are within reach as he continues to develop. Herb Jones is already a star in his role, and there might be more there than meets the eye or that can be ascertained on paper when taking his full developmental journey into context.

After a remarkable rookie season from Herbert Jones, what can we take away from his play and project about his future?

Reassessing Herb Jones' upside

Throughout Wednesday&rsquo;s contest between the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans, the Smoothie King Center&rsquo;s atmosphere swelled to unconscionable decibels. Pelicans fans, overwhelmingly clad in red T-shirts, roared in support of their team, one that controlled much of the contest and dispatched the Spurs, 113-103.&nbsp;
They had many reasons to cheer, all of which draw back to the Pelicans&rsquo; remarkable turnaround without superstar Zion Williamson the entire way. After opening the year 14th in the West with a record of 3-16, New Orleans is now 37-46 and stands just 48 minutes away from a first-round series with the Phoenix Suns.&nbsp;
Since this 34-30 run commenced, the Pelicans have been a true joy to watch. The beauty of this club is that its frenzied, impassioned fans could&rsquo;ve been delighted for any number of reasons Wednesday. There is not one singular storyline to embrace. The splendor rings up and down the roster. It&rsquo;s like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, and every endpoint is a feel-good tale.&nbsp;
Wednesday&rsquo;s stars were abundant and a matter of a perspective, the resolute theme of this five-month resurgence.&nbsp;
CJ McCollum slithered, shot and boogied to 27 first-half points and finished with 32 on the day. Before being traded from Portland, McCollum would sometimes dissolve in the shadows of Damian Lillard, always a year behind the experience of his backcourt mate and outmatched for individual honors. In New Orleans, McCollum is the elder statesman. Only Garrett Temple is older, and nobody touts more playoff game appearances.&nbsp;
This is his opportunity to be the veteran star, and he&rsquo;s seized it, averaging 24 points, 6 assists, 4&nbsp; rebounds and a steal on 58.0% True Shooting in 26 regular-season games as a Pelican.&nbsp;
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CJ MCCOLLUM LIGHTING THE SPURS UP ⚡️ <a href="https://t.co/JQxecBRX2g">pic.twitter.com/JQxecBRX2g</a>
&mdash; SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1514435528359219203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

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His 32-7-6-1 (63.5% TS) performance against San Antonio, punctuated by deft dribbling sequences into drives and silky pull-up jumpers, along with a 7-of-7, 19-point second frame, summarized everything he&rsquo;s brought the last two months. By night&rsquo;s end, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8iu88pq9Rk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he made it clear, he&rsquo;s &ldquo;at home,&rdquo;</a> and he illuminated that comfort during the biggest game of the season.&nbsp;
McCollum&rsquo;s shot-making partner, Brandon Ingram, glimmered Wednesday to the tune of 27-5-5 on ~62% TS. Over the past few months, Ingram has evolved his game, growing as a decision-maker, facilitator and off-ball defender. He&rsquo;s established himself as a bona fide star and one whose impact stretches well beyond scoring, while continuing to pour in buckets at a reliable rate.
After the Spurs jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first quarter, Ingram played the role of stabilizer, tallying 11 points and two dimes over a seven-minute span and fueling an 18-8 run. To open the second half, he displayed his defensive maturation and helped stymie numerous possessions as a helper.&nbsp;
When San Antonio trimmed the deficit to six with just under five minutes remaining, Ingram snapped a five-minute drought by scoring 6 of New Orleans&rsquo; next 8 points and pushing the lead back to double-digits. For stretches, the Spurs doubled him off of screens, and he seamlessly played the role of a waiter by finding teammates for quality shots.&nbsp;
Ingram's full complement of skills was evident, some of which he rapidly incorporated and were integral to the Pelicans&rsquo; renaissance. He thrived amid his first swim in the waters of postseason basketball.&nbsp;
If McCollum and Ingram were the offensive standouts, Herbert Jones is the unabashed, brilliant defensive standout of the night. Wiggling around screens and applying his 7-foot wingspan to disrupt shots, <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrank_jjf/status/1514462137208356873?s=20&amp;t=exiOaJHeGESmdkeCybEMEQ">he hounded All-Star Dejounte Murray</a> en route to a 5-of-19 shooting game.&nbsp;
When opportunities arose offensively, he snagged them, knocking down a pair of triples and disappearing behind the defense as a cutter. Once a second-round rookie who played just three minutes in his NBA debut, Jones has, six months later, proven to be a legitimate All-Defensive Team candidate. He finished this game with 12 points, 5 boards, 3 dimes, 2 steals and 2 blocks. An All-Rookie nod awaits him and might come while he&rsquo;s starring defensively in a first-round series, justifiably playing heavy minutes for a team on the rise.&nbsp;
The tone-setters alongside Jones&rsquo; All-Defense exploits were stalwart big Jonas Valanciunas and undrafted rookie Jose Alvarado, who definitively declared that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLBPHnGviVI">yes, he can shoot</a>, in the grandest game of his life.
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With Jones discarding screens like second nature, Valanciunas&rsquo; astute positioning and strength as a drop defender further frustrated Murray in pick-and-rolls. He wielded active hands to disrupt the point guard&rsquo;s rhythm and when the contexts ventured outside of pick-and-rolls, Valanciunas influenced shots around the rim.
As the tension inside eased for him offensively, Valanciunas scored 12 of his 22 points in the third quarter and exited the period with New Orleans leading by 21. He was the Pelicans&rsquo; bedrock this season, playing 2,240 minutes (second-most on the team) and routinely buoying them on both sides of the ball.&nbsp;
When Ingram was sidelined, Valanciunas&rsquo; efficiency as a face-up and post hub carried the offense. If defenses loaded up against him, he sprayed passes to cutters and shooters. He molded his game to fill the shape of whatever holes existed on the roster, something he&rsquo;s done for years. Only a handful of NBA centers are better than Valanciunas. New Orleans does not reach this point without his steady, multifaceted contributions.&nbsp;
The Pelicans didn&rsquo;t just close Wednesday with one rookie in the lineup. They closed with two, as Alvarado usurped Jaxson Hayes for the final spot. He scored 12 points, splashed in three triples, blended in well off the ball offensively and snagged a steal, which led to perhaps the most dynamite portion of the first half.
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Electric sequence from the Pelicans. This team is a joy <a href="https://t.co/bqOCB4YJ1l">pic.twitter.com/bqOCB4YJ1l</a>
&mdash; Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrank_jjf/status/1514434151897726977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Formerly a two-way player who didn&rsquo;t crack the rotation until January, Alvarado signed a four-year contract last month (with team options for the last three seasons, unfortunately). His point-of-attack chops defensively and downhill zeal offensively have ignited the Pelicans&rsquo; rotation.&nbsp;
He&rsquo;s emerged as their most important reserve guard. Advanced metrics adore him, and rightfully so. Head coach Willie Green&rsquo;s decision to roll with him down the stretch was a culmination of his play the past three months. Jose Alvarado won&rsquo;t just stick in the closing lineup Wednesday. He&rsquo;ll stick around the NBA for a while.
Collectively, Wednesday&rsquo;s game should be a celebration of the Pelicans' players and coaching staff. A 3-16 start with a remade roster and new coaching staff could bury a team. But everyone involved practiced fortitude. Whatever message Green preached to his players and staff resonated.&nbsp;
They climbed out of the 14th spot, in part because a first-year coach had the moxie and belief to tab two rookies as vital parts of the rotation. Not every coach would embrace that decision, especially one whose imprint is yet to solidify.&nbsp;
Regardless of how Friday&rsquo;s duel with the Los Angeles Clippers concludes, the Pelicans&rsquo; season is a success. Wednesday encapsulated the wide-ranging factors for that success. Everywhere you look, a different fan probably had a different reason to jubilantly clap their hands and voice their approval. It&rsquo;s why this New Orleans team is an absolute charm.&nbsp;
Basketball should be fun in a multitude of ways. That&rsquo;s exactly what these Pelicans are.&nbsp;
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The New Orleans Pelicans did not start the season looking like a playoff team, which is why their success is something to celebrate.

Wednesday was a celebration of how far the Pelicans have come

In a dynamite defensive performance, the New Orleans Pelicans stifled the San Antonio Spurs, 113-103, advancing to the second round of the Play-In Tournament toward a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. The final score indicates a close game, and while there were moments down the stretch after a Devin Vassell heater, the Pelicans largely controlled the game.
<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/explain-one-play-how-the-pelicans-are-blending-their-big-three-together" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The trio of</a> Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum and Jonas Valanciunas combined for 81 of New Orleans' points, all putting forth stellar performances.
Yet, if there was one takeaway (for me) from last night's game, it was that Herb Jones is HERE.
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HERB JONES <a href="https://t.co/JDJuaQLCDT">pic.twitter.com/JDJuaQLCDT</a>
&mdash; Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) <a href="https://twitter.com/MG_Schindler/status/1514421185051779074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 14, 2022</a></blockquote>

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If you've followed the NBA season and come across the Pels for even a modicum of time while perusing NBA League Pass, you probably know about Jones, as he's done this all year. But he dominated in primetime, and Mark Jones' silky voice peppered the broadcast with varying intonations of "HERB JONES" as many different points of the night.
There are moments and games where it becomes recognized that a player is a star. Last night, Jones put his stamp on the national stage, emphatically punching his ticket as a defensive star. That's such a wild statement. A defensive star. It's not easy to cement yourself as a bucket-getter or primetime scorer, and it's that much harder to play defense with the ferocity, efficacy and splendor required to captivate an audience. Jones fits the bill and then some, and as a rookie, that's absurd.
(Nekias Duncan, Jackson Frank and I unanimously voted Herb Jones to <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/defensive-awards-and-a-celebration-of-defense" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the All-Defensive Second Team</a> about a month ago.)
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Jones took first time All-Star guard Dejounte Murray as his main assignment, and man, he had him in purgatory. Murray finished 5 of 19 from the field Wednesday night. Jones' hands were everywhere and on everything, reminiscent of a <a href="https://youtu.be/voTxE2U8aYc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Naruto montage</a>.
The opening possession of the game was indicative of what the night would be for Murray. It was akin to watching a world title fight open up, and the challenger unloads the first jab and immediately it's like "Oh, this is way different than I thought." And as the viewer, you quickly find out that this isn't a tune-up fight.
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This is one of my favorite things about Herb, and a part of what makes him a special defender. He uses his hands and his feet in tandem with regularity. It sounds minute, but it's a sizable difference. So much of defense is about consistency, and Jones embodies that.
His hands never come off of Murray; just enough to bother, but also possessing the deftness to not foul. Even with a pretty solid screen from Jakob Poeltl, Murray can't shake free. The Pels maintain their shell, and it's a turnover.
The Pels run a great deal of ICE coverage, forcing ball-handlers to the sidelines to prevent middle penetration. Valanciunas is a quality defender, but he has some limitations with his mobility. Plays like this allow New Orleans to stay solid and maintain a strong base. (I'm super interested to see how this plays out against a more dynamic offensive team in the Clippers, because it's much harder to play ICE against a team that can thrive on five-out lineups).
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Jaxson Hayes comes up with the double drags to ICE along with Jones, calls out the coverage and Murray catches him going downhill. While this isn't a perfect defensive possession from Herb, it's a reflection of the tools that allow him to supersede technique at times (he's an incredible technique defender, don't get it twisted). Even if he does take a wrong step, he has impeccable recovery skills and the ability to still contest what would otherwise be an easy finish at the rim against most defenders.
Run Jones through the ringer of screens and try to grease the context for an off-ball scorer? Not on Herb.
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Try to initiate the offense with a kick-ahead to one of the best downhill drivers in the game in Keldon Johnson? Not so fast. I am not a fan of the charge, but man, Jones makes me want to be. This is just a clean standing of ground, and I love it. It would be so easy to let that be a quick lay-in with a decent enough contest, but again, this is what separates Jones from the rest.
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Jones also emphatically closed the half, shutting down a sideline out-of-bounds play leading to a Johnson three-point attempt.
The block, the staredown. YES.
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Even in moments when Jones did get overly physical and was called for fouls, those are plays you live with. I'm not a huge believer in tone-setting; it can be cliche and attributed to non-basketball plays that really don't do much but stop the clock. (Although, what do I know? Glue Girl <a href="https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1514075112059727874?s=20&amp;t=su-bpBBT0mwo3mSQsH7Y-A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was a game-changer</a>.)
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That rotation to block Vassell is fantastic; the communication and vision stands out. That reconnection on Murray after the screen is all you can ask for, even if ideally a foul is not attached. Jones constantly made multiple Spurs players feel him.
Then, there are the "crown jewel" plays &mdash; the pinnacle defensive highlights that you watch in amusement and giggle because those things just shouldn't be able to happen on the court.
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Incredible performance.
There aren't enough words to describe what a fun and enjoyable defensive player and prospect Jones is. This isn't just a "rookie defenders" shouldn't be able to that type beat. This man is legitimately already one of the best defenders on planet earth regardless of age.
While the Pelicans still need to win against the Clippers on Friday night to secure another week or two of guaranteed basketball, Herb Jones' play should be cemented in your cerebrum moving forward.
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The Pelicans secured a matchup with the Clippers after beating the Spurs, and it was sparked by Herb Jones' defense.

Not on Herb: Pelicans rookie Jones punches ticket as defensive star

Marcus Morris Sr. scored 22 points, Ivica Zubac got his 22nd double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers prevented the New Orleans Pelicans from clinching a spot in the play-in tournament with a 119-100 victory Sunday night.
While the Pelicans are still fighting for their play-in spot, the Clippers (39-40) wrapped up the eighth seed with the win.
&ldquo;I thought we addressed what we needed to. We took care of business,&rdquo; said Paul George, who had 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds in his third game back for the Clippers. &ldquo;I challenged the team first game back to shape into more of a playoff team. Overall, we&rsquo;re starting to."
Morris made four 3-pointers for the Clippers, who were 21 of 44 from beyond the arc. It is the first time in franchise history they have made at least 20 in back-to-back games. Los Angeles made 23 3s and set a franchise record for points in a 153-119 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night.
Eight players made a 3-pointer for the Clippers. George led the way with five while Luke Kennard Jr. also had four.
The Clippers, winners of three of their last four games, made all eight of their shots from the perimeter in the first quarter. According to Sportradar, it is the first time since at least 1996 Los Angeles has had a perfect quarter with seven or more attempts.
&ldquo;When we&rsquo;re touching the paint and guys are attacking the basket, we&rsquo;re going to get open 3s and shots if guys make the right play. We did that all night long,&rdquo; coach Tyronn Lue said.
CJ McCollum had 19 points and Brandon Ingram added 15 for the Pelicans, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. New Orleans could have wrapped up a play-in tournament berth with a win after Denver defeated the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the day.
The Pelicans, who began the season 3-16, can secure a play-in spot with a win over Sacramento on Tuesday.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m happy this was tonight so we can have urgency in the next three or four games,&rdquo; Ingram said.
The Clippers trailed 25-21 before going on a 32-8 run over a nine-minute span to take control. The spurt included six 3-pointers.
&ldquo;We just didn&rsquo;t make the game as tough as we needed to,&rdquo; Pelicans coach Willie Green said. "You can tell that they were prepared and they came in and they had maybe half a step faster than we were in terms of the force they played with.&rdquo;
RAMPING UP
George had 12 points and four assists in the first quarter, but was mostly quiet the rest of the game. He played only 29 minutes in a game that was largely over by halftime.
The Clippers have three regular-season games remaining until the play-in tournament. Lue said trying to get George back into rhythm is a key focus for the upcoming week after he missed 43 games due to an elbow injury.
&ldquo;Put the ball in his hands so he can make plays. It&rsquo;s going to be important that he does this for us down the stretch," Lue said. "Tonight, I thought he looked a little tired. It&rsquo;s the first time I&rsquo;ve seen it that he looked a little fatigued to me. Just continue to make plays. I think he had seven assists in the first half. Just try to build his minutes up slowly.&rdquo;
TIP INS
Pelicans: Jaxson Hayes had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. ... Herbert Jones had 13 points, while Larry Nance Jr. and Trey Murphy III had 10 apiece. ... Jonas Valanciunas grabbed nine rebounds.
Clippers: Terance Mann also had 15 points. .... Luke Kennard added 14 points. ... Isaiah Hartenstein had 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter. ... Reggie Jackson had 11 points and 10 assists. Zubac reached 300 career blocks late in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Conclude their four-game road trip against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
Clippers: Host the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. The Suns have won two of the three meetings.

Marcus Morris Sr. scored 22 points and Ivica Zubac got his 22nd double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Clippers prevent Pelicans from clinching Play-In spot

LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; CJ McCollum scored 32 points, Brandon Ingram added 29 against his former team and the New Orleans Pelicans spoiled Anthony Davis' return from injury with another fourth-quarter rally in a 114-111 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the ninth-place Pelicans, who won for the sixth time in eight games while dealing the second major blow in five days to the Lakers' hopes of squeaking into the play-in tournament.
New Orleans beat Los Angeles 116-108 at home last weekend after rallying from a 23-point deficit, and the Pelicans swept the season series with this comeback on the road.
&ldquo;It was big-time,&rdquo; Pelicans coach Willie Green said. &ldquo;They threw the kitchen sink at us. LeBron (scored) 38 points. Getting Davis back sparked their team a little bit. We just hung in there, and the game was back and forth. We have to win games like that. Been talking about it all season, and it will pay dividends down the stretch.&rdquo;
LeBron James missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer and scored just two of his 38 in the fourth quarter for the Lakers (31-46), who have lost five straight and 15 of 19 to fall one game behind 10th-place San Antonio (32-45), which holds the tiebreaker.
&ldquo;The big picture is that it was pretty much a must-win for us, and we didn&rsquo;t get the job done,&rdquo; James said.
Davis had 23 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in his return from a six-week injury absence since Feb. 16, but the eight-time All-Star's presence wasn't enough to beat his former team. The Lakers now face long odds just to get past the Spurs for a one-game shot at the Pelicans, since four of LA's final five games are against playoff-bound opponents.
&ldquo;It's going to be tough to catch (New Orleans) now, with the lead they have and the tiebreaker,&rdquo; Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. &ldquo;But we have plenty of time to win as many games as we can down the stretch and see what happens with San Antonio.&rdquo;
New Orleans trailed for most of the fourth quarter, but Valanciunas hit a tying 3-pointer with 2:52 to play. After Davis missed a floater, Ingram put the Pelicans ahead 110-108 on a fadeaway jumper.
&ldquo;We had some poise late in that game,&rdquo; Ingram said. &ldquo;Down the stretch, we had some good execution. Everybody was locked in on the defensive end, and we seemed confident."
Avery Bradley's 3-pointer with 15.8 seconds left trimmed New Orleans' lead to 112-111. McCollum hit two free throws, and James' triple-clutch 3-point attempt amid double coverage didn't go in at the horn.
&ldquo;It was a tough environment with AD coming back, and we just fought,&rdquo; said Herbert Jones, who harassed James along with Larry Nance Jr. on the last play. &ldquo;Once LeBron came across the court and I got screened, I knew Larry was over there. I just wanted to be there as well. Just force him to shoot it. I feel like we did a great job of making it tough on him to make the shot.&rdquo;
Davis missed the previous 18 games with a sprained foot during his second lengthy injury absence of the year. Davis had been hurt for 39 games and healthy for 37 this season, his second straight with major injury problems.
Los Angeles went 4-14 in Davis&rsquo; most recent absence, its disappointing season turning into a potentially humiliating one. James also missed three of the previous four games with a swollen ankle, but he elected to play through the pain Friday with Davis&rsquo; return.
That meant Davis, James and Russell Westbrook played together for only the 21st time in the Lakers&rsquo; 77 games this season &mdash; and just the sixth time since Dec. 17. Injuries have been the leading &mdash; but hardly the only &mdash; factor in Los Angeles&rsquo; descent from a likely championship contender to a borderline playoff team.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Green said his team also was motivated when the lights weren't turned on for their morning shootaround, forcing them to work out in the dark. ... Jaxson Hayes dunked with 36 seconds left in the first half, but the points were taken off the board following video review after the halftime buzzer because Hayes didn't beat the shot clock.
Lakers: Davis crossed the court to say something to a fan in the second row early in the fourth quarter after New Orleans called a timeout when LA took a six-point lead. The fan, who wore a Kobe jersey, was escorted away from his seat by security. ... Carmelo Anthony was unavailable due to a non-COVID illness.
OH YEAH REAL FUNNY
James got into the spirit of the holiday Thursday morning with <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames/status/1509941094712184834">a straight-faced tweet</a>: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m out for the season officially. See y&rsquo;all in the fall.&rdquo;
James and the Lakers didn't acknowledge the joke, but at least James apparently warned Vogel when he sent out the tweet. The coach declined to say whether he thought it was funny.
&ldquo;I would have guessed it was an April Fool's even if I hadn't known it was an April Fool's,&rdquo; Vogel said.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Clippers on Sunday.
Lakers: Host Nuggets on Sunday.
&nbsp;

CJ McCollum scored 32 points and the Pelicans spoiled Anthony Davis' return in a 114-111 victory over the Lakers.

Pelicans rally past Lakers 114-111 despite Davis' return

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and 12 rebounds, CJ McCollum added 25 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-112 on Sunday night.
The Pelicans, who moved into ninth place in the Western Conference, have won their last two and three of four and were without leading scorer Brandon Ingram and fourth-leading scorer Devonte&rsquo; Graham. Both missed the game with injuries.
Danilo Gallinari scored 25 points for Atlanta, which had its seven-game home winning streak snapped. The Hawks, who had won 15 of 17 at State Farm Arena, stayed alone in 10th place in the East despite the loss.
New Orleans, the only team to rank among the top five in offensive and defensive rebounds, topped Atlanta 54-40 on the boards. All three of the Pelicans&rsquo; big men &mdash; Valanciunas, Jaxson Hayes and Willie Hernangomez &mdash; finished with a double-double.
Hawks star guard Trae Young, listed as questionable before the game with a left quadriceps contusion, finished with 21 points and 10 assists. He has career 90 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, most in the NBA over the last four seasons. Young has 35 double-doubles this season.
Atlanta couldn&rsquo;t close the gap in the third as Valanciunas&rsquo; three-point play made it a 15-point lead in the final minute of the period. The Hawks trailed 48-28 in points in the paint through the first three quarters.
But Atlanta got hot in the fourth and tied it at 108-all on Young&rsquo;s with a 30-footer at the 2:08 mark. After a lay-in by Clint Capela made it 110-all, Jose Alvarado hit a layup to make it 114-110 with 48.5 seconds remaining.
It was a two-point game after Young hit a pair of free throws with 34.2 seconds to go, but that was as close as Atlanta would get.
New Orleans led by a game-high 19 early in the second before the Hawks got hot and trimmed the lead to four on Capela&rsquo;s tip-in at the 4:18 mark. The Pelicans, who were up 60-50 at intermission despite shooting just 41.2%, outscored Atlanta 14-0 on fastbreak points in the first half. New Orleans began the game ranked second in average transition points with 16.8.
McCollum scored 13 points in the first half. Gallinari had 18.
The Pelicans took a 23-11 lead in the first after going on a 13-2 run that ended with Herbert Jones&rsquo; basket and a Hawks timeout. New Orleans, which had nine steals for 12 points in the first, led 35-18 entering the second.
The Pelicans ended a six-game losing streak in the series.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Graham was questionable with right hip soreness and was ruled out. Coach Willie Green said the team hopes he can play Monday in Charlotte. ... New Orleans improved to 24-4 when leading after three. ... Ingram (right hamstring soreness), G Kira Lewis Jr. (right knee sprain), F Larry Nance Jr. (right knee arthroscopy) and F Zion Williamson (right foot fracture) were out. ... Green said Ingram, who missed his seventh straight game, is progressing but the coach won&rsquo;t know more until the team reconvenes in New Orleans on Tuesday. Ingram is the only NBA player to average at least 22 points, 5.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and three or less turnovers.
Hawks: F John Collins (right ring finger sprain and right foot strain) missed his fifth straight game. Since getting drafted 19th overall in 2017, Collins leads his classmates with 53 games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Collins is Atlanta&rsquo;s second-leading scorer. ... Bogdanovic was coming off a season-high 30 points Friday against Memphis. ... The Hawks have at least 25 assists in seven straight games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Charlotte on Monday.
Hawks: At New York on Tuesday.

Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points, CJ McCollum added 25 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-112.

Valanciunas, McCollum power Pelicans past Hawks, 117-112

ATLANTA (AP) &mdash; Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and 12 rebounds, CJ McCollum added 25 points, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-112 on Sunday night.
The Pelicans, who moved into ninth place in the Western Conference, have won their last two and three of four and were without leading scorer Brandon Ingram and fourth-leading scorer Devonte&rsquo; Graham. Both missed the game with injuries.
Danilo Gallinari scored 25 points for Atlanta, which had its seven-game home winning streak snapped. The Hawks, who had won 15 of 17 at State Farm Arena, stayed alone in 10th place in the East despite the loss.
New Orleans, the only team to rank among the top five in offensive and defensive rebounds, topped Atlanta 54-40 on the boards. All three of the Pelicans&rsquo; big men &mdash; Valanciunas, Jaxson Hayes and Willie Hernangomez &mdash; finished with a double-double.
Hawks star guard Trae Young, listed as questionable before the game with a left quadriceps contusion, finished with 21 points and 10 assists. He has career 90 games with at least 20 points and 10 assists, most in the NBA over the last four seasons. Young has 35 double-doubles this season.
Atlanta couldn&rsquo;t close the gap in the third as Valanciunas&rsquo; three-point play made it a 15-point lead in the final minute of the period. The Hawks trailed 48-28 in points in the paint through the first three quarters.
But Atlanta got hot in the fourth and tied it at 108-all on Young&rsquo;s with a 30-footer at the 2:08 mark. After a lay-in by Clint Capela made it 110-all, Jose Alvarado hit a layup to make it 114-110 with 48.5 seconds remaining.
It was a two-point game after Young hit a pair of free throws with 34.2 seconds to go, but that was as close as Atlanta would get.
New Orleans led by a game-high 19 early in the second before the Hawks got hot and trimmed the lead to four on Capela&rsquo;s tip-in at the 4:18 mark. The Pelicans, who were up 60-50 at intermission despite shooting just 41.2%, outscored Atlanta 14-0 on fastbreak points in the first half. New Orleans began the game ranked second in average transition points with 16.8.
McCollum scored 13 points in the first half. Gallinari had 18.
The Pelicans took a 23-11 lead in the first after going on a 13-2 run that ended with Herbert Jones&rsquo; basket and a Hawks timeout. New Orleans, which had nine steals for 12 points in the first, led 35-18 entering the second.
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The Pelicans ended a six-game losing streak in the series.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Graham was questionable with right hip soreness and was ruled out. Coach Willie Green said the team hopes he can play Monday in Charlotte. ... New Orleans improved to 24-4 when leading after three. ... Ingram (right hamstring soreness), G Kira Lewis Jr. (right knee sprain), F Larry Nance Jr. (right knee arthroscopy) and F Zion Williamson (right foot fracture) were out. ... Green said Ingram, who missed his seventh straight game, is progressing but the coach won&rsquo;t know more until the team reconvenes in New Orleans on Tuesday. Ingram is the only NBA player to average at least 22 points, 5.2 assists, 5.5 rebounds and three or less turnovers.
Hawks: F John Collins (right ring finger sprain and right foot strain) missed his fifth straight game. Since getting drafted 19th overall in 2017, Collins leads his classmates with 53 games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Collins is Atlanta&rsquo;s second-leading scorer. ... Bogdanovic was coming off a season-high 30 points Friday against Memphis. ... The Hawks have at least 25 assists in seven straight games, the longest active streak in the NBA.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Charlotte on Monday.
Hawks: At New York on Tuesday.

Jonas Valanciunas had 26 points and 12 rebounds, CJ McCollum added 25 points, and the Pelicans beat the Hawks 117-112.

Mark Schindler teams up with Nekias Duncan and Jackson Frank to create a consensus All-Defensive Team ballot and choose a DPOY.

Celebrating defense: Selecting the 2022 NBA DPOY, All-Defensive Teams

Nikola Jokic scored 30 of his 46 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and the Denver Nuggets rallied after squandering an early 21-point lead to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 138-130 on Sunday night.
Jokic hit two free throws to tie it with 3.2 second remaining in regulation and then sealed it in OT with a 3-pointer with 1:30 left. His big night led to an improbable win in which coach Michael Malone was ejected late in the third quarter, the team completely unraveling and then regrouping down the stretch.
Jokic, the reigning NBA MVP also had 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his league-leading 17th triple-double of the season.
Brandon Ingram had 38 points for New Orleans. The Pelicans had won four in a row.
Denver nearly won it in regulation on a steal by Jokic, but Jeff Green&rsquo;s last-second shot was just off the mark. In overtime, Jokic had seven points, while Monte Morris came up clutch with a 3-pointer.
To think, the Nuggets led 34-13 with 1:27 left in the opening quarter. The Pelicans methodically worked their way back into the game, climbing to within five at halftime courtesy of a half-court buzzer-beater from Ingram. The Pelicans took their first lead midway through the third on a dunk from Herbert Jones.&nbsp;
Denver lost its cool late in the third when Malone was issued a technical in a game slipping away and erupted to earn another. The team also was called for a delay technical. That, coupled with a Devonte&rsquo; Graham 3-pointer, turned a four-point New Orleans lead into a double-digit cushion.
It wouldn&rsquo;t hold up.
The emotions got the better of the Nuggets, who picked up four individual technical fouls &mdash; DeMarcus Cousins and Bryn Forbes also had one &mdash; along with the delay &ldquo;T.&rdquo;
Aaron Gordon had 28 points for Denver.
Ingram had the shot of the night. He grabbed a loose ball on his side of midcourt with two Nuggets surrounding him. He calmly lobbed the 45-footer toward the basket just before the halftime buzzer sounded and drained it to cut the deficit to five. His teammates raced off the bench to celebrate. Green watched the replay on the big screen with his hands on his hips.
The Pelicans had won their last four games by an average of 26.8 points, which certainly got the attention of Malone. He made sure his team was well aware of the teams the Pelicans beat and by the margin &mdash; at Phoenix, 117-102; at Los Angeles Lakers, 123-95; Sacramento, 125-95; and Utah, 124-90.
&ldquo;Their defense is outstanding,&rdquo; Malone said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re getting a lot of offense from their defense.&rdquo;
CONTAINING JONES
Jones was averaging 9.4 points this season. But in the first three games against the Nuggets, he&rsquo;s averaging 21 points, including 25 in a 113-105 in Denver on Feb. 4.
&ldquo;That was just the Herbert Jones highlight show in transition,&rdquo; Malone said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve got to try to slow him up.&rdquo;
Jones had seven Sunday.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: G CJ McCollum drew a technical in the first quarter. He appeared upset moments earlier after a non-goaltending call on the other end. McCollum finished with 24.
Nuggets: Morris had 18 points. ... After shooting 70% in the first quarter, the Nuggets finished at 54%. They were 10 of 33 from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
Pelicans: At Memphis on Tuesday night.
Nuggets: Host Golden State on Monday night.

Nikola Jokic scored 30 of his 46 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and the Nuggets to beat the Pelicans.

Jokic records 46-point triple double in Nuggets' OT win over Pelicans

Which top rookie in the class of 2021 will end up being the best long-term? Mat Issa breaks down the case for each young stud.

Why they are all special: A guide to the top-five NBA rookies

League sources say that the Pelicans, no matter how the next few days play out for them, are trying to fortify their Zion Williamson/Brandon Ingram/Jonas Valančiūnas/Herbert Jones core. Translation: Valančiūnas and the emerging rookie defensive ace Jones are indeed off limits. That also means Josh Hart, who has had an outstanding season but who possesses a very tradeable contract, could indeed move this week.
Source: <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-weekends-best-trade-chatter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marc Stein/Substack</a>
ANALYSIS:&nbsp;Valančiūnas has entrenched himself as the team's center, averaging 18.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game this season while also making 40.5% of his threes on low volume. Jones, meanwhile, is emerging as one of the steals of the 2021 NBA Draft. The rookie wing is averaging 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as a starter for the Pelicans, who have surged into the Play-In tier of the Western Conference.

Josh Hart, however, was listed as a possible candidate to be moved.

Jonas Valanciunas, Herb Jones considered 'off limits' in Pelicans trades

The NBA announced the Clorox Rising Stars challenge rosters after undergoing a four-team draft, coached and headlined by captains and NBA legends - Jon Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy.
Here is the official release from the NBA:
"The 2022 Clorox Rising Stars rosters have been announced following a player pool draft conducted by 75th Anniversary Team members and Rising Stars coaches Jon Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy. The 2022 All-Star Weekend event will be highlighted by some of the league&rsquo;s best young talent, including leading Kia Rookie of the Year candidates Evan Mobley and Cade Cunningham and sophomore stars LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards.
In a new format, 28 players &mdash; comprising 12 rookies, 12 sophomores and four members of the NBA G League Ignite developmental squad; see roster below &mdash; were drafted onto four teams to compete in three games on Friday, Feb. 18 (9 p.m. ET, TNT).
Each game will be played to a Final Target Score, ending with a made basket or free throw instead of with the clock running out. It will be a &ldquo;Race to 75&rdquo; to celebrate the league&rsquo;s 75th anniversary season &mdash; Games 1 and 2 will be played until a team reaches 50 points; Game 3 will be played until a team reaches 25 points."
Clorox Rising Stars Rosters:
 TEAM BARRY
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons Dyson Daniels, G League Ignite Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets Jae&rsquo;Sean Tate, Houston Rockets Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
 TEAM ISIAH
Precious Achiuwa, Toronto Raptors Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies Saddiq Bey, Detroit Pistons Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves Tyrese Haliburton, Sacramento Kings Jaden Hardy, G League Ignite Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons
 TEAM PAYTON
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers Scoot Henderson, G League Ignite Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings
 TEAM WORTHY
Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic MarJon Beauchamp, G League Ignite Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder Jalen Green, Houston Rockets Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic
 Tournament Bracket
&nbsp; &nbsp; Game 1: Team A vs. Team B &nbsp; &nbsp; Game 2: Team C vs. Team D &nbsp; &nbsp; Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2
"In addition, a timed shooting competition called the Clorox Clutch Challenge will take place between Games 2 and 3 of Clorox Rising Stars. A total of eight NBA and NBA G League Ignite players will be divided into four teams of two and compete to make shots from five locations on the court tied to iconic shots made in the NBA Playoffs.
&bull; Teams will break down as follows:
&mdash; Desmond Bane/Tyrese Haliburton &mdash; Scottie Barnes/Chris Duarte &mdash; Josh Giddey/Evan Mobley &mdash; Michael Foster Jr./Fanbo Zeng (G League Ignite)
&bull; Each team will compete with one shared ball and its players must alternate shots so no player shoots two times consecutively. Team 1 is given 1 minute and 30 seconds (1:30 counting down) to make a shot from each of the five locations in any order. Team 1&rsquo;s time is then the marker for Team 2. If Team 1&rsquo;s time is 1:15, then Team 2 will have a 1:15 countdown clock to complete the competition. Each team that establishes a new standard sets the clock for the next team competing, and the fastest finisher will win the Clorox Clutch Challenge."

The Clorox Rising Stars challenge has been set after the conclusion of a 4-team draft.

Clorox Rising Stars rosters set after 4-team draft

The versatile do-it-all rookie guards in Josh Giddey and Cade Cunningham found their footing in January, winning Rookie of the Month.
Cade Cunningham averaged 17.3 points, 5.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game in the month, solidifying himself as an elite building block for the Pistons. Against the Nuggets on January 25th, he did everything with 34 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 blocks and 2 steals.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Cade Cunningham step back on Jokic. 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/gX5SyWBH9Z">pic.twitter.com/gX5SyWBH9Z</a>
&mdash; Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1486140517402304515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Giddey kept up his stellar rookie play with 13.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. On January 21st against the Hornets, he scored a career-high 21 points along with recording 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
goated? with the sauce?<a href="https://twitter.com/joshgiddey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joshgiddey</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThunderUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThunderUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/4kRzpSCosa">pic.twitter.com/4kRzpSCosa</a>
&mdash; OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) <a href="https://twitter.com/okcthunder/status/1488347083019018240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Other nominees:&nbsp;
West: Jalen Green (HOU) and Herbert Jones (NOP)
East: Chris Duarte (IND), Evan Mobley (CLE) and Franz Wagner (ORL)

Giddey, Cunningham take home Rookie of the Month for January

NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Durant missed the second half of Brooklyn's game against New Orleans on Saturday night after spraining his left knee in a collision.
The NBA's scoring leader left with 5:38 remaining in the second quarter and the Nets announced at halftime that he wouldn't return. He had 12 points in 12 minutes.
Durant was hurt when teammate Bruce Brown bumped into a driving Herbert Jones and <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1482527473749266432?s=20">fell backward into him</a>. Durant grabbed at his knee, tried to walk it off and then asked to be removed from the game. 
Durant was back in the lineup after sitting out a loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday night to rest on the second night of a back-to-back. It was the Nets' fourth game in five nights.
With Kyrie Irving ineligible to play in home games, Durant has had to play heavy minutes in his second season in Brooklyn after sitting out a year following Achilles tendon surgery.

Kevin Durant missed the second half of Brooklyn's game against New Orleans after spraining his left knee in a collision.

Kevin Durant leaves Nets' game with sprained left knee

The New Orleans Pelicans spent the first third of their season languishing at the bottom of the NBA ladder. They opened the schedule 1-13, and hit Thanksgiving at 4-17 with some of the worst leaguewide efficiency ratings on both ends of the floor.
Then, a switch flipped. The Pelicans are 11-9 since Nov. 24 before the mini-break and have grinded out victories against some of the NBA's top teams without their top player in Zion Williamson. It's no coincidence that in those 20 games, they reinserted one Herb Jones into the starting lineup.
Jones has been nothing short of a revelation as a rookie second-round pick. He'd be a lock for All-Rookie First Team honors if this 2021 class wasn't so dang stacked. Let's move beyond rookie talk though. The 23-year-old has already cemented himself as New Orleans' go-to defender, and three months into his pro career, he's been one of the better wing-stoppers in the entire NBA.
In this 20-game stretch, Jones is tied for fourth in the league (min. 10 games played) with 1.8 steals per game and fifth with 3.3 deflections per game. He has a seven-foot wingspan that he uses to its full potential, jumping passing lanes with his head on a swivel.&nbsp;
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It isn't just about his length; plenty of today's NBA players have that. Jones also possesses a relentless motor and quick processing of the opposing offense. Watch this one play in particular, where he sees a Rockets play designed for Garrison Mathews. Jones recognizes it and can switch from his own assignment in time to get the steal:
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Per Cleaning the Glass, Jones is one of six players with steal and block rates of at least 2.0% in at least 500 minutes of action. The others are: Draymond Green, Robert Covington, Matisse Thybulle, Andre Drummond and fellow rookie Alperen Sengun. He's also averaging 3.1 fouls per game, which is a completely reasonable number for such an active and valuable defender.
He gets those blocks partially from being a fantastic help defender. Jones has a quick first step on defense and can jump in front of a driver or shooter, but also has the body control to contest without fouling. If he gets beat or pinned on a screen, Jones can use his length and long strides to make some amazing recoveries. Look at these blocks:
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Perhaps the biggest sign of his importance, though, comes with his on-ball matchups. Jones is asked to guard some of the best scorers on the planet &mdash; on any given night, across all positions. He's recently been the primary defender for Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Donovan Mitchell and Andrew Wiggins, while switching onto both guards and bigs.&nbsp;
It's been mostly great. Jones can mirror the opponent's movements well and force them into a tough look. If we're nitpicking, maybe he could improve his lateral movement; Mitchell was able to shake-and-bake him for a couple of buckets recently. But if we're nitpicking a 23-year-old, No. 35 overall pick for not locking down an All-World scorer? That's a great sign.
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The BBall Index has created <a href="https://www.bball-index.com/glossary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metrics to track defenders' positional versatility and matchup difficulty</a>. Among players who have logged at least 500 minutes, Jones is one of 27 players in the 90th percentile of both categories. He is third among those players in the site's defensive impact estimator, D-LEBRON.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
We're back on that Herb Jones propaganda train. Here's him getting good positioning and a steal on two of the toughest matchups in the NBA: <a href="https://t.co/nHhSxEN2Gw">pic.twitter.com/nHhSxEN2Gw</a>
&mdash; Ethan Fuller (@ethman43) <a href="https://twitter.com/ethman43/status/1478751641562226688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2022</a></blockquote>

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By all accounts, the rookie's defensive impact is undeniable. He's also improving in his small, specialized role on offense as a spot-up shooter, cutter and ball-mover. Since Nov. 24, Jones is making a solid 65% of his at-rim attempts and 35% of his three-pointers, per Cleaning the Glass. He's a complementary option who is still ironing out the long-range shot (though it has come a long way since college at Alabama), but Jones is a tough finisher and a trustworthy offensive piece.
On the season, New Orleans is 11.4 points per 100 possessions better with Jones on the floor, which ranks in the 90th percentile at his position. He's a notable net positive on both offense and defense.&nbsp;
If I had a vote, I'd stick Jones on an All-Defensive team right now. He's been that good and that impactful for the Pelicans. Either way, New Orleans has found a gem in the second round and an ideal long-term fit next to Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.
Get Herb Jones on your radar now before he make your favorite scorer's life a living nightmare.

Herb Jones has not only emerged as a rookie standout this season, but also has taken on some tough defensive matchups.

Herb Jones is already one of the NBA's elite wing defenders

Josh Giddey and Franz Wagner took home NBA Rookie of the Month honors for December.
Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/nbapr/status/1478441201955180544?s=21">NBA Communications</a>
Josh Giddey shined in a breakout month with 11.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. The 19 year-old helped the Thunder upset the Grizzlies with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists in a battle against Ja Morant on December 20th.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
This is a stupidly good sequence from Josh Giddey <a href="https://t.co/GMEz0qvOKx">pic.twitter.com/GMEz0qvOKx</a>
&mdash; Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) <a href="https://twitter.com/jackfrank_jjf/status/1478124706750361600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Franz Wagner made the most of an increased role in December, averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assist per game. Wagner erupted for 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on December 28th.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
You can see Franz Wagner's confidence growing in real time. Every game he busts out something new. Awesome to see <a href="https://t.co/i4O9tqYWsM">pic.twitter.com/i4O9tqYWsM</a>
&mdash; Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftDummies/status/1476729591939010561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Other nominees:&nbsp;
<div class="css-1dbjc4n">
<div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1s2bzr4">
<div id="id__t2327g3ij58" class="css-901oao r-1fmj7o5 r-37j5jr r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" lang="en">West: Herbert Jones (NOP), Davion Mitchell (SAC) and Alperen Sengun (HOU) </div>
<div class="css-901oao r-1fmj7o5 r-37j5jr r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" lang="en">&nbsp;</div>
<div class="css-901oao r-1fmj7o5 r-37j5jr r-1blvdjr r-16dba41 r-vrz42v r-bcqeeo r-bnwqim r-qvutc0" dir="auto" lang="en">East: Scottie Barnes (TOR), Cade Cunningham (DET), Chris Duarte (IND), Evan Mobley (CLE) and &Ouml;mer Yurtseven (MIA)</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="css-1dbjc4n">
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<div id="id__4rf3aktah78" class="css-1dbjc4n"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

It was the versatile rookie forwards in Josh Giddey and Franz Wagner taking home Rookie of the Month for December.

Josh Giddey, Franz Wagner named Rookies of the Month for December

Most people know the general philosophy of analytics-driven NBA basketball by now: shoot threes and layups, and don't give up threes and layups.&nbsp;
That's a lot easier said than done in a league with rapidly-evolving offensive and defensive schemes. One could argue that today's NBA is filled with the most versatile rosters of long-range bigs, switchable guards and do-it-all wings ever. The three-and-dunk approach looks simple enough on paper, but executing it with regularity against an opponent who knows the endgame is a whole different task.
So which teams are better at getting the most efficient shots, and which teams are best at holding opponents to the dreaded long two-pointer? And how much is that even affecting their overall success? That's the subject of this week's Stats Notebook, and we'll start on defense with a great graphic from Nylon Calculus contributor Tom Bassine.
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Opponent shot distributions, through games played on Dec. 1. The Wizards, Jazz, Pacers, and Warriors are tending to give up the right types of shots. <a href="https://t.co/7XEMalWLSH">pic.twitter.com/7XEMalWLSH</a>
&mdash; Tom Bassine (@tvbassine) <a href="https://twitter.com/tvbassine/status/1466404382799380489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Bassine has this table arranged in descending order by what teams give up a high frequency of two-point shots away from the rim &mdash; that's the sweet spot for defenses, since they go in at a low percentage with a lower value compared to a three-pointer. The Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics all force over 40% of their opponents' shots to that range. Washington, Utah, Indiana and Dallas in particular have done a great job of keeping opponents off the three-point line.&nbsp;
Now, here are those squads' defensive ratings, from best to worst, per Cleaning the Glass: Golden State (1st in the NBA), Boston (4th), Utah (6th), Washington (11th), Indiana (13th), Dallas (22nd). Five of the six teams have an overall defense in the top half of the league, and while there are obviously many more factors involved in defensive success, opponent shot types seem to play a major role.&nbsp;
What about the Mavericks? Well, teams simply have made their shots. Opponents are shooting 66.9% in the restricted area against the Mavs (fifth-highest in the NBA) and 43.7% on corner threes (fourth-highest). It's unclear if this is merely an unlucky hot streak against Dallas, or a more worrisome flaw that teams have been capitalizing on.
Let's shift to the offensive side of the ball, where the numbers get extremely interesting.
Cleaning the Glass tracks team shot frequency in different zones. I'm going to focus on the "long mid-range" zone, which is theoretically the least efficient zone on the court. The teams leading in long mid-range frequency are: the Chicago Bulls (16.5% of their shots come here), Los Angeles Lakers (16.0%), Brooklyn Nets (14.6%), Phoenix Suns (14.4%), and L.A. Clippers (13.1%). These are small slices of the pie compared to other zones, but every possession can matter in the NBA.
How do those teams stack up in offensive rating? Phoenix, Brooklyn and Chicago are the sixth, seventh and eighth-best, respectively. But the Lakers are 23rd and the Clippers are 25th. How is there such a chasm?
The answers is pretty plain: Personnel. Kevin Durant is one of the greatest scorers in the game's history, and is on an absolute heater in the mid-range. About 60% of his shot attempts are mid-range looks, and he's making them at an absurd 56% clip. In fact, Durant's 4.8 three-point attempts per game are his fewest since 2012-13. But his shot diet won't be a problem if he's this automatic.
The Bulls and Suns have two similar mid-range maestros in DeMar DeRozan and Chris Paul. They're each taking over 60% of their shots from that area, and both are shooting at least 48% from the zone. All three teams are in the top-seven for overall mid-range field goal percentage.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the Clippers and Lakers struggle because they simply don't have those types of players on the roster. Russell Westbrook and Paul George, for example, both take a ton of mid-range shots. But they hit them at around league-average. The Clippers are 15th in mid-range field goal percentage, while the Lakers are 22nd. In these cases, the shot selection is dragging down the offenses.
So, the conclusion is: Maximize your strengths. Relying on less "efficient" shot zones might be a bit riskier, but trying to force players out of their hotspots is a greater gamble during the season. Defensively, the objective is always to limit the opposition's possible points &mdash; but there's a lot more involved than herding shooters into mid-range looks.
THE OUTLIERS (a.k.a. other random interesting numbers I find in the void):
<ul>
<li>Herbert Jones led all rookies with 3.0 deflections per game in the month of November, and is averaging 2.8 steals per game over his last five contests. He recently moved into the Pelicans' starting lineup, and I'm intrigued.</li>
<li>The Milwaukee Bucks are back in their groove with most of the roster healthy. They have the best defensive rating and third-best offensive rating over the past two weeks, in which they've won seven straight games as part of their current eight-game winning streak.</li>
<li>Tyrese Haliburton led the league with 2.2 steals per game in November. He also shot 40.7% from beyond the arc and dished out 5 assists per game. Then, he started December with a 12-point, 11-assist performance Wednesday night.</li>
</ul>

Ethan Fuller takes a look at what shots teams are taking and allowing, and examines how that affects success.

Stats Notebook: What can shot distribution tell us about team success?

LOS ANGELES (AP) &mdash; Jonas Valančiūnas scored 29 of his career-high 39 points in a spectacular first half, and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Clippers for the second time this month, 123-104 on Monday night.
New Orleans rolled to a 21-point lead in the first half with a phenomenal effort from Valančiūnas, the 10-year Lithuanian veteran in his first season with the Pelicans. The 6-foot-11 Valančiūnas hit seven 3-pointers without a miss in the first half to the increasing delight of his teammates and even himself.
&ldquo;The guys were calling him Dirk Valančiūnas,&rdquo; New Orleans coach Willie Green said with a grin.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-theme="dark">
Jonas Valanciunas is up to a career-high 7 threes...at halftime. 🤯 He hasn't missed. Watch on NBA League Pass: <a href="https://t.co/w2ntIgyLjw">https://t.co/w2ntIgyLjw</a> <a href="https://t.co/uKTYhu6Ays">pic.twitter.com/uKTYhu6Ays</a>
&mdash; NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1465540392384970752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Valančiūnas isn&rsquo;t quite ready to call himself the next Dirk Nowitzki, even if he resembled the Dallas great at times.
&ldquo;Everybody wants to be him,&rdquo; Valančiūnas said. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s one of the greatest big guys in the game, but I&rsquo;ve still got to work a lot to be like him.&rdquo;
Valančiūnas, who surpassed his career high for 3s in the first half alone, had dropped 26 points and 13 rebounds on Los Angeles 10 days earlier in the Pelicans&rsquo; 94-81 win in New Orleans. He added 15 rebounds to his prolific scoring in the rematch.
&ldquo;He changed the game for us tonight,&rdquo; said Brandon Ingram, who scored 27 points for New Orleans. &ldquo;He came out with a lot of energy and looked like he played loose. He was the head of the snake of everything we did.&rdquo;
Green and the Pelicans&rsquo; coaching staff are constantly encouraging more long-range shooting from Valančiūnas, who didn&rsquo;t make a single 3-pointer in the first five years of his NBA career in Toronto. Valančiūnas added the shot to his arsenal through years of hard work, yet he is still reluctant to unleash his jumper even though he knows it improves the Pelicans&rsquo; spacing and ball movement.
A night like this is a boon for his confidence.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m comfortable when I see them going in,&rdquo; Valančiūnas said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not comfortable when they&rsquo;re not going in. It was just a team effort. Working with the guys, getting me open, running the plays for that is five guys&rsquo; effort on the court.&rdquo;
Paul George scored 27 points and Reggie Jackson had 19 for the Clippers, who have lost three of four and six of nine after a seven-game winning streak.
&ldquo;We just couldn&rsquo;t stop them tonight,&rdquo; Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. &ldquo;We were due for a bad defensive game ... but they got anything they wanted, and we couldn&rsquo;t get in any rhythm offensively.&rdquo;
George closed the margin to eight midway through the fourth, but Ingram scored eight points in the quarter and led a 17-8 run to put it away for New Orleans. George lamented the Pelicans&rsquo; 47-35 rebounding advantage.
&ldquo;Every team, they&rsquo;re going to crash (the boards) against us,&rdquo; George said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s honestly our kryptonite. Every team goes toward that, sending guys to the glass. They just think they can do that and there&rsquo;s no penalty to it because we haven&rsquo;t been a great transition team once we get rebounds. We&rsquo;re just going to see that every night.&rdquo;
Herbert Jones added 16 points for the Pelicans, who rebounded from their second-worst loss of the season at Utah last Saturday to finish their three-game road trip with two victories.
The Pelicans have won three of four, doubling their season win total in the past six days after a 3-16 start without injured Zion Williamson. Their star forward has been cleared for a full return to basketball activities, further boosting New Orleans&rsquo; hopes of turning around its season.
The Clippers (11-10) still won&rsquo;t have Kawhi Leonard anytime soon, and they&rsquo;re struggling to keep pace in the competitive Western Conference.
TIP-INS
Pelicans: Josh Hart had 12 rebounds and nine assists, but only four points on 1-for-9 shooting. ... New Orleans committed just eight turnovers.
Clippers: Marcus Morris got a rest after playing Sunday. Amir Coffey had nine points while starting in the veteran&rsquo;s place. ... Nicolas Batum missed his fifth straight game. He is in the NBA&rsquo;s health and safety protocol.
B.I. IN L.A.
Ingram spent his first three seasons with the Lakers before he went to New Orleans in the blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis, and he still knows plenty of Staples Center employees.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always fun being back here,&rdquo; Ingram said. &ldquo;I definitely felt it tonight with the Clippers fans. I heard my name a lot tonight, and it felt good.&rdquo;
UP NEXT
Pelicans: Host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Clippers: Host the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

Jonas Valančiūnas scored 29 of his career-high 39 points in a spectacular first half, and the Pelicans beat the Clippers for the second time this month.

Jonas Valanciunas has career-high 39, Pelicans beat Clips again

After evaluating all of the 2021 NBA Draft prospects before their transition to the pros, Senior NBA Draft Analyst Matt Babcock will continue to keep track of the first-year players as they start their NBA careers. 
Just under a month into the 2021-22 NBA season, here is Babcock's first edition of NBA Rookie Rankings:
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_16915453_lg.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="325" />
Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers (9-6) 
14.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.6 BPG, 1.0 SPG, 49.4 FG%, 30.8 3PT%, 77.1 FT%, 33.6 MPG
After being selected No. 3 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Evan Mobley is looking like a steal for the Cleveland Cavaliers thus far. At 7-feet tall, Mobley has shown that he's capable of being a defensive anchor for the Cavaliers by utilizing his length and mobility, and he has significant potential to become an offensive cornerstone for them as well. Perhaps the best part of Mobley&rsquo;s early success is that his individual production has not only led to him gaining recognition, but the Cavs are winning too. They are currently 9-6 after posting a subpar 27-45 record throughout the 2020-21 season. The Cavs announced recently that Mobley will be out for two-to-four weeks with an elbow injury; however, he remains the early front-runner for the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, nonetheless.
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Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors (7-8) 
16.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 51.2 FG%, 18.2 3PT%, 79.1 FT%, 35.5 MPG
Although Evan Mobley has a slight edge in regards to being the early favorite for Rookie of the Year, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes is certainly not far behind. In Barnes&rsquo; lone freshman season at Florida State, he regularly showed flashes of potential greatness, but he did not have a dominant year by any means; he only averaged 10 points per game over the season, and those numbers aren't what you'd typically expect to see from a high lottery pick. However, early in Barnes&rsquo; rookie campaign, he has already proven to be an extremely effective do-it-all forward, as he is averaging over 16 points and 8 rebounds per game while helping lead the Raptors to a near .500 record. Expect Barnes to be a mainstay and fan favorite in Toronto for years to come.
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Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic (3-10)
13.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 44.5 FG%, 37.1 3PT%, 76.0 FT%, 32.2 MPG
After a terrific sophomore season at Michigan, Franz Wagner has made a seamless transition into the NBA. At 6-foot-10, Wagner is big and versatile. He&rsquo;s not overly flashy, but he does a little bit of everything. This young Magic team is not winning games at a high rate just yet, but Orlando is drawing quite a bit of positive attention for the first time in a while, and Wagner has been a big part of that. I&rsquo;ve questioned Wagner&rsquo;s fluidity and consistency as an outside shooter in the past, but he&rsquo;s currently shooting an acceptable 37.1% from three-point range (23-of-62). If he&rsquo;s able to continue to develop in that area, his ceiling on the offensive end would be even higher than I originally thought. Regardless, I&rsquo;m expecting Wagner to become a good starter in the NBA and a player who will help a franchise win games, at the very least.
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Chris Duarte, Indiana Pacers (6-9) 
14.3 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 43.1 FG%, 40.3 3PT%, 76.5 FT%, 32.1 MPG
While at Oregon last season, Chris Duarte was a prospect who I put my stamp of approval on early, so naturally I&rsquo;m happy to see him doing so well early in his career with the Indiana Pacers. At 6-foot-5, Duarte displays a lot of the qualities that one would want from the shooting guard position &mdash; most importantly, his ability to shoot and score the ball. Through 14 games, Duarte is averaging 14.3 points while shooting 40.3% from three-point range. After being selected No. 13 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Duarte is looking like one of the better picks from this class so far.
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://cdn.basketballnews.com/images/story/body/usatsi_17168637_lg.jpg" alt="" width="464" height="325" />
Josh Giddey, Oklahoma City Thunder (5-8)
9.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 37.1 FG%, 25.6 3PT%, 61.5 FT%, 28.8 MPG
Although he just turned 19 years old, Josh Giddey is already doing some really good things in his rookie season for the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite room for growth with his shooting efficiency &mdash; he&rsquo;s only shooting 37.1% from the field and 25.6% from three-point range &mdash; Giddey is just simply fun to watch as he makes crafty moves and slings dart-like passes all over the floor with both hands. It is going to be interesting to see him mature and grow as a player. After snagging Giddey with the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, it looks as if Sam Presti has struck gold once again.
Jalen Green, Houston Rockets (1-13) 
13.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 36.0 FG%, 27.4 3PT%, 78.6 FT%, 31.9 MPG
Jalen Green may be sixth on this list, but I don&rsquo;t think anyone is questioning him long-term... I&rsquo;m certainly not. The Rockets are in rebuild mode; they have a 1-13 record and, well, they&rsquo;re just not very good. They&rsquo;re going through some growing pains, and so is Green. Although he has been inconsistent, he has shown flashes as to why many believe he&rsquo;ll become a prolific scorer in the NBA &mdash; myself included. He possesses high-level explosiveness and has an uncanny ability to score the ball. Similar to Anthony Edwards last season, I think it&rsquo;s just a matter of time before he finds his footing and takes off.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (3-10) 
13.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 34.8 FG%, 27.6 3PT%, 92.9 FT%, 30.0 MPG
After missing the first handful of games to start the season due to a minor injury, Cade Cunningham, the top pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, has had a very slow start to his career with the Detroit Pistons. However, I don&rsquo;t think some of the harsh criticism he's received is all that fair. Recently, Cunningham has started playing much better, including an outstanding performance on Monday night, when he scored 25 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 8 assists in a loss to the Sacramento Kings. Despite the underwhelming start, I still think Cunningham will end up being one of the best players from the 2021 class. Similar to Jalen Green, I don&rsquo;t expect him to be ranked this far down this list for very long.
Davion Mitchell, Sacramento Kings (6-8)
9.6 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.4 RPG, 0.7 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 40.1 FG%, 29.8 3PT%, 63.6 FT%, 26.3 MPG
I was a bit surprised when the Kings selected Davion Mitchell with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. However, it was not because of his lack of talent, but more so that the Kings seemed to have a bit of a logjam at guard with De&rsquo;Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton. Despite the crowded backcourt, Mitchell has stepped in and contributed right away, playing 26.3 minutes per game. Perhaps my favorite part of Mitchell&rsquo;s game is that he&rsquo;s willing and able to pick up defensively full-court. Once he starts knocking down outside shots at a higher clip, as he did at Baylor, I believe his productivity and effectiveness will increase even to even higher levels.
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets (1-13) 
9.4 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 48.2 FG%, 37.5 3PT%, 66.7 FT%, 19.3 MPG
Though he falls into the category of being a throwback, traditional big, Alperen Sengun is doing a lot of the same things that he did in Turkey last season &mdash; he just produces. I think playing for a rebuilding Houston Rockets team is a great situation for him in regards to his development, as they have the luxury of playing him solid minutes in his rookie season. After being selected No. 16 overall, Sengun is looking like a terrific pick for Houston.
Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans (2-13) 
7.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 50.0 FG%, 38.5 3PT%, 78.6 FT%, 24.8 MPG
Selected with the No. 35 overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft, Herbert Jones has carved out a solid role for himself with the New Orleans Pelicans, providing versatility on both ends of the floor. This past weekend, Jones had a career-night, scoring 17 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies. It sure is looking like Jones is in the NBA to stay.
Others worth mentioning:
Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic Bones Hyland, Denver Nuggets Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Oklahoma City Thunder Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers Dalano Banton, Toronto Raptors

One month into the 2021-22 NBA season, Matt Babcock's unveils the first edition of his NBA Rookie Rankings.