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College basketball is wrapped up completely now for both squads at USC, but that has not stopped many former Trojans from having great weeks in the NBA. Bronny James is becoming more and more important in the Lakers' rotation, while young ascending players like Evan Mobley seem to be getting confident at the right time.
Here are my top performers this past week for USC hoopers in the NBA:
The door has opened for Onyeka Okongwu to be the Hawks' #1 big man and their guy at the 5 position. There is no Kristaps Porziņģis, and productive backup big Jock Landale is hurt. This past week, last Monday, Okongwu had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. That was his best showing, but he has been consistent all week long. After that dominant showing, Okongwu had 2 games where he had scored in double figures, had 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The Hawks have caught fire at the right time, and while there are stars that deserve more attention on this squad, Okongwu has been handling his own on a consistent basis.
DeMar DeRozan's legacy got even greater this past week as he passed Oscar Robertson and moved to 16th all-time on the NBA regular-season scoring list. That just goes to show what DeRozan has been in his 17 seasons in the NBA; he is one of the most underrated scorers in the league in recent years. Even with the Kings not sniffing any type of relevancy this season in terms of contending for anything, DeRozan still has had some great moments. This past week, DeRozan, vs his former team, showed out big with 28 points. Just another example that DeRozan still has some juice left.
De'Anthony Melton did not have the best week scoring and still remains banged up as he is dealing with nagging injuries. Every team needs a defensive irritant, and the Warriors can rely on Melton to be that guy on a night-to-night basis. Melton on Thursday only managed to drop 5 points vs Cleveland, but his 3 steals are what end up making the difference and keep games close. Vs Houston on Sunday, it was the same type of offensive production. This time around, he was 2-4 from 3. He is a player whose impact goes way further than the stats; that is why he remains a starter or someone who gets heavy minutes. As Steph Curry is back now, the Warriors will need key play from Melton to get into the playoffs.
With the loss of both Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić, now Bronny James is going to be getting more time in the rotation. Bronny James was the lone bright spot. On Thursday, Bronny had 10 points and shot 2-4 from 3 in 17 minutes in a blowout vs. OKC. It is performances like that where Bronny gives head coach J.J. Reddick confidence he can trust him. At this point, with the Lakers' injuries, he has no choice.
Evan Mobley last Monday posted his most dominant performance recently as he had 34 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He went 15-21 from the field, and being highly efficient shooting-wise has been a consistent theme of Mobley's game recently. That is a great sign for playoff time. He is getting good shots due to James Harden and the attention a scorer like Donovan Mitchell draws. Mobley will need to carry his recent success with Harden and his new upgraded core into the playoffs for the Cavs to have success this time around.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Top USC basketball performers in NBA, April 8 update
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Here are my top performers this past week for USC hoopers in the NBA:
Onyeka Okongwu
The door has opened for Onyeka Okongwu to be the Hawks' #1 big man and their guy at the 5 position. There is no Kristaps Porziņģis, and productive backup big Jock Landale is hurt. This past week, last Monday, Okongwu had 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. That was his best showing, but he has been consistent all week long. After that dominant showing, Okongwu had 2 games where he had scored in double figures, had 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The Hawks have caught fire at the right time, and while there are stars that deserve more attention on this squad, Okongwu has been handling his own on a consistent basis.
Demar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan's legacy got even greater this past week as he passed Oscar Robertson and moved to 16th all-time on the NBA regular-season scoring list. That just goes to show what DeRozan has been in his 17 seasons in the NBA; he is one of the most underrated scorers in the league in recent years. Even with the Kings not sniffing any type of relevancy this season in terms of contending for anything, DeRozan still has had some great moments. This past week, DeRozan, vs his former team, showed out big with 28 points. Just another example that DeRozan still has some juice left.
De'Anthony Melton
De'Anthony Melton did not have the best week scoring and still remains banged up as he is dealing with nagging injuries. Every team needs a defensive irritant, and the Warriors can rely on Melton to be that guy on a night-to-night basis. Melton on Thursday only managed to drop 5 points vs Cleveland, but his 3 steals are what end up making the difference and keep games close. Vs Houston on Sunday, it was the same type of offensive production. This time around, he was 2-4 from 3. He is a player whose impact goes way further than the stats; that is why he remains a starter or someone who gets heavy minutes. As Steph Curry is back now, the Warriors will need key play from Melton to get into the playoffs.
Bronny James
With the loss of both Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić, now Bronny James is going to be getting more time in the rotation. Bronny James was the lone bright spot. On Thursday, Bronny had 10 points and shot 2-4 from 3 in 17 minutes in a blowout vs. OKC. It is performances like that where Bronny gives head coach J.J. Reddick confidence he can trust him. At this point, with the Lakers' injuries, he has no choice.
Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley last Monday posted his most dominant performance recently as he had 34 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He went 15-21 from the field, and being highly efficient shooting-wise has been a consistent theme of Mobley's game recently. That is a great sign for playoff time. He is getting good shots due to James Harden and the attention a scorer like Donovan Mitchell draws. Mobley will need to carry his recent success with Harden and his new upgraded core into the playoffs for the Cavs to have success this time around.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Top USC basketball performers in NBA, April 8 update
Continue reading...
