Jan 26, 2015
Five thoughts on Jennings, Mayo, Pondexter and more
TSN's Jack Armstrong starts the week with five quick thoughts on the injury to the season-ending injury to the Pistons' Brandon Jennings, the maturation of OJ Mayo of the Bucks, Iman Shumpert's potential with the Cavs, Quincy Pondexter's new role with the Grizzlies and the emergence of the T-Wolves' Gorgui Dieng.
TSN's Jack Armstrong starts the week with five quick thoughts on the injury to the season-ending injury to the Pistons' Brandon Jennings, the maturation of OJ Mayo of the Bucks, Iman Shumpert's potential with the Cavs, Quincy Pondexter's new role with the Grizzlies and the emergence of the T-Wolves' Gorgui Dieng.
FIVE QUICK NBA THOUGHTS:
1. BRANDON JENNINGS (Pistons): I'm bummed out for the young man. He's been awesome for the past four or five weeks and now, playing the best ball of his career, a freak accident leads to him tearing his Achilles. In my opinion, the Pistons would have ended up as the eighth seed in the East if he stayed healthy. Now, that's doubtful. There's going to be lots of pressure now on DJ Augustin to produce nightly. He's a good player, but it's a lot to ask in filling in for Jennings, a guy so pivotal to their success. It's a real shame.
2. OJ MAYO (Bucks): Mayo's numbers are respectable (11.3 PPG and 2.9 APG), yet I look beyond them and like even more of what I see. He's playing with energy, really competing defensively and slowing down and trying to be a better teammate. Coach Jason Kidd is getting him to mature and buy in. I like his game right now.
3. IMAN SHUMPERT (Cavs): His offence might be a bit inconsistent, but his athleticism and perimeter defensive ability grade high in my books. If Shumpert stays within himself on the offensive end and concentrates on being a defensive stopper, he'll be an impact defender for the Cavs. And you gotta have those guys. Ask Memphis with Tony Allen - they can really help you in a perimeter-dominated league. I love the three pick-ups (Shumpert, JR Smith and Timofey Mozgov) by general manager David Griffin.
4. QUINCY PONDEXTER (Pelicans): He had 14 and five last night in a big win over the Mavs. Pondexter is a sold pick-up from the Grizzlies and New Orleans might be a nice spot for him. He'll get the minutes he needs to get comfortable and he's a solid two-way player. It was a subtle move to acquire him, yet I like how he might fit here.
5. GORGUI DIENG (Timberwolves): I loved him in college at Rick Pitino's Louisville. This guy gets after it and takes no prisoners. Dieng's having a solid year averaging 9.9 PPG and 8.3 RPG. He's a very good shot-blocker and team defender. He and Andrew Wiggins are the young, bright spots for the T-Wolves and Dieng is certainly a keeper.