In the week before the All-Star Break, the Cavaliers finally started winning, Mason Plumlee had the best game of his young career and Ryan Kelly came back down to earth. Here is a look at how Duke’s notable NBA players performed last week:
Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns: Plumlee had an up-and-down week, scoring 12 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the team’s 122-109 win over the Warriors Saturday before playing just 14 minutes in Phoenix’s 103-97 loss to Miami Tuesday. Plumlee had just two points and six rebounds in the contest. Against smaller teams like the Heat, Plumlee—like most traditional centers—becomes a non-factor. Nonetheless, he is still almost averaging a double-double and does a solid job for a team that could be playoff bound.
Mason Plumlee, Brooklyn Nets: The younger Plumlee had the best game of his young career last week, scoring 22 points, grabbing 13 rebounds and adding three steals and two blocks in the Nets’ 93-81 win against the Pelicans Sunday. Plumlee had 13 points on 4-of-11 shooting and eight rebounds in the Nets’ 111-95 loss to the Pistons Friday before his career day. However, Plumlee logged just 19 minutes combined in Brooklyn’s two games Wednesday and Thursday—a win against Charlotte and a loss to Chicago. It seems like Plumlee’s role off the bench will continue to be unpredictable—just like head coach Jason Kidd’s entire squad.
Gerald Henderson, Charlotte Bobcats: Henderson—a streaky player in general—had a typical week. The shooting guard had 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting in Saturday’s 104-100 loss to the Spurs, adding five rebounds and four assists. Henderson then had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting in Charlotte’s 114-89 win against Dallas Tuesday before scoring just seven points on 3-of-11 shooting in the team’s blowout loss to Brooklyn the following day. Henderson has averaged 15.1 points per game this season, but his inconsistency and inefficiency continue to plague his team.
Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats: McRoberts had a quiet game in the Bobcats’ loss to the Spurs, putting in just seven points and four rebounds in the four-point loss Saturday. However, the lefty stepped up his game Tuesday against Dallas, knocking down three 3-pointers and dishing out 13 assists in the blowout win. Wednesday against Brooklyn, McRoberts was one of his team’s few bright spots, putting in 13 points and three more 3-pointers in the 16-point loss. McRoberts’ versatility earns him big minutes as a forward, but his inability to consistently compete in the paint causes problems against bigger teams.
Elton Brand, Atlanta Hawks: In a three-game week Brand was solid but unspectacular. Seeing increased minutes with Pero Antic's continued absence, the forward averaged 21.3 minutes per game while putting in 7.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. For as long as Antic remains out Brand will continue to play his glue-guy role for the playoff-bound Hawks.
Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls: Boozer played just one game last week because of a strained calf, but recorded a double-double. The power forward had 15 points and 10 boards in Chicago’s 92-76 win against Brooklyn Thursday. Boozer is part of one of the best frontcourts in the league—a frontcourt that has a short-handed Bulls squad in fourth place in the East heading to the All-Star break. The grizzled veteran should be healthy enough to help his team finish the season strong.
Mike Dunleavy, Jr., Chicago Bulls: Dunleavy has been a pleasant surprise this season for Bulls fans and is averaging 11 points per contest as one of the team’s many role players. Dunleavy had nine points and five boards in Chicago’s 92-86 win against the Lakers Sunday, 15 points and six rebounds in Tuesday’s 100-85 win against Atlanta, and 14 points and five rebounds in the team’s 92-76 win against Brooklyn Thursday. Dunleavy has made the most of his opportunity since the departure of Luol Deng to Cleveland.
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers: Irving played a major role in his team’s four-game winning streak last week, averaging 21.75 points per game and seven assists to spark close wins against Washington, Memphis, Sacramento and Detroit. Although Irving’s numbers were not dramatically different from his season averages, his late-game poise and willingness to share the ball facilitated the Cavaliers’ rare successes. Irving will enjoy his time in New Orleans as part of the All-Star Weekend festivities and could be a sleeper MVP pick for Sunday’s All-Star Game because of his explosiveness and passing ability.
Luol Deng, Cleveland Cavaliers: Deng has had a disappointing run with the Cavaliers since the mid-season trade, and struggled for most of the week. He missed Friday’s game against Washington with an illness, returned to action with a nine-point, five-rebound performance against Memphis Sunday, had one of his best games as a Cavalier with 22 points Tuesday against Sacramento, and finished off the week with a dismal four-point, seven-rebound effort on 0-of-9 shooting Wednesday against Detroit. Deng has failed to justify the high price Cleveland paid for a two-time all star.
JJ Redick, Los Angeles Clippers: Redick did not play at all last week because of a nerve injury that has caused back spasms and a sore right hip. The Clippers will try to get their best sharpshooter healthy during the break so they can go back to bringing explosive scorer Jamal Crawford off the bench and become an even more dangerous team.
Ryan Kelly, Los Angeles Lakers: After finally working his way into the rotation and briefly into the starting lineup, Kelly did not pick a good time to go into a slump. The versatile power forward totaled just 10 points and five rebounds on 3-of-12 shooting in 50 minutes off the bench in losses to Chicago, Utah and Oklahoma City. Kelly will likely keep competing with Shawne Williams and Jordan Hill for minutes at the power forward spot as the season progresses and cannot afford many more weeks like the one he just had.
Shane Battier, Miami Heat: As per usual, Battier's defense was more valuable than his offense this week. in the three-game week in which Miami went 2-1, Battier averaged 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc in 22.7 minutes per game. He'll continue to play his specified role in the second half as the Heat careen toward another NBA title.
Kyle Singler, Detroit Pistons: Although Singler scored in double figures in each of Detroit’s four games last week and averaged more than five rebounds per contest, he shot worse than 35 percent from the field and went a combined 5-of-20 from the field against San Antonio and Cleveland. Nonetheless, the Oregon native has become a consistent starter and helps his team win by doing the little things. Even though he shot the ball poorly during the four-game stretch, his team went 3-1 for the week.
Austin Rivers, New Orleans Pelicans: Rivers struggled last week, averaging six points per game on just 26 percent shooting off the bench in his team’s four games. Poor shot selection and efficiency continue to plague the second-year player.
Elliot Williams, Philadelphia 76ers: As the Sixers continue to shamelessly tank this season, Williams continues to see solid minutes off the bench. However, this week Williams failed to get much of anything going offensively. The 6-foot-5 guard shot a paltry 30.8 percent from the field in the four games this week, though he was better from long range, hitting 45.5 percent of his 3-pointers. With no intention of winning any time soon and players rumored to be on the move, Williams should continue to see solid playing time through the end of the season in Philadelphia.
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