In our new weekly section, we will briefly present to you the main events of the last seven days on the NBA planet. At the top in just 24 hours, De’Aaron Fox is the man of the week, while Houston responds well and has no problems.
Team of the week
Be careful, the Houston Rockets are a serious team. Enough, in any case, to provisionally climb onto the podium in the West. Making your way in such a tough conference demonstrates ambitions displayed at the start of the season, but sometimes ignored due to said competition. Except that with a series of 5 wins in a row and a record of 10-4, we will have to take the Texans seriously.
Having a starting five unchanged from one season to the next is a definite advantage. And yet we still have the impression that Jalen Green did not move up a gear, that Fred VanVleet is voluntarily withdrawn, and thatAlperen Sengun could go for much higher stats to get closer to the one to whom he is most often compared, Nikola Jokic.
Despite everything, they have only lost two of their last 11 games, and only against the two teams ahead of them in the West (Warriors and Thunder). The little oneMaking Udokabut above all a team which is already starting to reach the end of its reconstruction, with quite incredible bench depth and draft choices, each more profitable than the other. Better, the next two weeks are rather affordable, and the Rockets could therefore end the month on the podium. A hell of a message in view of the playoffs: we will have to go get them.
Bad students of the week
Washington no longer responds. Certainly, the team is rebuilding, certainly, the hunt for Cooper Flagg is on, but we hardly understand how this team is doing. The progression of Bilal Coulibalyinterview at the start of the year, was completely slowed down by the return of Kyle Kuzmawho takes 17 shots per game – and not all good ones. We imagine that his culling is due to the desire to finally transfer him to the franchise, but still.
Despite the presence ofAlexandre Sarr and of Jonas Valanciunasthe team is second to last in rebounding. She is also at the bottom of the table in passing, logical since the ball is in the hands of Kuzma or Jordan Poole most of the time and that they are primarily creators for themselves. Reconstruction okay, but with a game plan please. 29th offensive rating30e defensive ratingwe haven’t stopped seeing boxes in the capital.
You can add a small layer for Mavericks, who straightened out the situation but let slip away a raw victory in Utah in a final apocalyptic action during which Luka Doncic was pointed out. Individual or collective problem, everyone will have their own opinion, but it is anything but glorious.
Player of the week
No debate: there is only one and it’s called De’Aaron Fox. If the Kings are still stuck in the soft underbelly of the Western Conference and are still looking for their best form, their leader found it during 24 hours during which he wrote a piece of history.
During the night from Friday to Saturday, he left his mark for good within the Sacramento Kingssimply breaking the franchise record. 60 points in an overtime defeat against the Wolves, at 22/35 shooting, obviously his personal best as well, and a real impression of ease for a player who is so pleasant to watch.
And the next evening, do it again. This time, he sent 49 points against the Jazz, with less shooting success, but still this inimitable style of play which makes him one of the fastest players in the league. A dragster who also offered one of the most surprising highlights of the week.
It’s very simple: in 24 hours, De’Aaron Fox scored 109 points. Back-to-back, over the last 50 years, only one player has done better: Kobe Bryant in 2007. A page of history bigger than the Sacramento franchise, since it concerns the entire NBA. Enough to finally shed light on a frankly underrated player.
Action of the week
What’s better than a good old buzzer beater ? Moreover in a match between contenders? Plus for a revenge of a playoff series during which the Wolves crushed the Suns last April. Minnesota, despite the 44 points of Devin Bookerended up winning again, thanks to Julius Randle.
2.7 seconds on the clock, the ball is expected to go into Anthony Edwards’ hands. No, it’s the former Knickerbocker who will take responsibility for the shoot, sending it flying Josh Okogie before the swish. The best way to get permanently adopted by Minnesota, he who was sent here in the transfer of Karl-Anthony Townslocal idol that he is responsible for replacing. This is an important first step in this direction.
Story of the week
It was a moment awaited since the publication of the calendar. After 13 years in the colors of the Warriors, 4 rings and several hundred three points, Klay Thompson left for Dallas, and returned for the first time on the floor of the Chase Center under the colors of another team. Emotion always guaranteed in this case.
Everyone’s sailor cap in hand to greet the “Captain”, no doubt, we are in the NBA. Guild Klay even delivered a good match, but wanted to allow himself a little disappointment, which awakened a certain Steph Curryclutch as always for a victory for the Warriors. Everyone fell into arms at the end, but this defeat still makes sense…
