Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
De’Aaron Fox has been ballin’ this season.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Mark J. Terrill/AP.)
This may go under the radar depending on where you are but, dude, have you seen De’Aaron Fox this year?
It’s notable that Fox re-signed with the Kings on a 5-year, $163 million extension. It sounds really expensive and I remember my brother going, “WHAT?!” But NBA contracts are getting richer.
But I really started to take notice when Fox dropped a career-best 43 points to go along with 13 assists and four steals in a loss against the Pelicans. It was like, “Hmmmm. Maybe he really is capable.” He would later have back-to-back games of 30 and 38 points. Finally, against the Clippers on Super Bowl Sunday, he dropped 36 points in a big win. The Kings have actually won 7 of 8 games with their only loss against the Heat. And they lost by a single point.
The theme as of late for the Kings has been Fox taking over the fourth quarter. We remember when Isaiah Thomas (a former King himself) was nicknamed King of the Fourth when he was having an MVP-like season in Boston. Well, Fox might be taking over that mantle this year. Right now, he is 18th overall in fourth quarter scoring at 6.1 PPG. But in his last five games? 13.4 points per.
Ridiculous. And it’s hard to stop Fox, who was mentioned as the fastest player in the league today. Not to mention that he’s a southpaw, which can throw off so many people. It seems like he gets to the rim at will. And he has hops, too. We’ve all seen him have some impressive dunks over people.
And they are winning with Fox leading the way. He could very well be the reason the Kings stop this awful playoff drought (they haven’t made the postseason since 2006).
Right now, the Kings are 12-11 and tied for the 8th seed. Watch out for Fox and them boys. I mean, if you can see Fox since he’s such a blur.
Bullet Passes
LaMelo Ball has started four games. He’s averaging 22.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.3 steals. And he did have that 34-point game in a loss against the Jazz.
The Jazz continue to blast through the competition. It was a rare single-digit win for these guys but Utah has won 15 of 16 games.
The Suns have won 5 of 6 themselves. Look at Devin Booker doing a lot of playmaking (18-7-11) for them! Phoenix managed to get by the Celtics, who did not have Jaylen Brown for that game.
Well, help is on the way for the Knicks as the trade for Derrick Rose (yeah, I know) is official. Dennis Smith, Jr. goes to Detroit and Rose reunites once again with old coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibs coached Rose to an MVP season in Chicago as well as a stint in Minnesota.
Of course, the worry is that Rose could disrupt what RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and even Austin Rivers have going on. It’s such a crowded backcourt and finding minutes for everyone is going to be a challenge.
NBA Scoreboard
Feb. 7, 2021
Watch This Play
Jayson Tatum is usually on the end of this play but in this one, he’s lobbing to Daniel Theis.
Tatum to Theis ALLEY-OOP! 💥@celtics 77@Suns 86
Mid 4th on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/ybMX4mBetK
— NBA (@NBA) February 7, 2021
Powerful result there. Theis has been such a boon for the Celtics the last couple of years.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.