Syracuse Orange alumni are making their mark in the NBA. Alot of that credit can go to SU legend Jim Boeheim. ITLH breaks it all down.
NBA players from Syracuse continue to prove that Jim Boeheim develops the best pure scoring talent basketball has to offer, Wednesday night being the latest example.
Carmelo Anthony:
Before the OKC Thunder shocked the defending champion Golden State Warriors at Chesapeake Energy Arena last night, most expected Carmelo Anthony to struggle offensively against the NBA’s two scariest defenders, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green.
Going into last night, Anthony was averaging 20 points on 42% shooting through 15 games and had a combined 26 rebounds over his last three games. It’s safe to say that the veteran kept up the pace against the NBA’s most feared team last night. In 36 minutes of action, Anthony poured in 22 points on 47% shooting from the floor (8/17), grabbed five rebounds, dished out an assist, and recorded a steal.
Despite facing mountains of criticism due to New York’s early success, Anthony has been extremely efficient for Oklahoma City thus far, and for the first time in his career, is on pace to average less than two turnovers per game. The 33-year-old turned the ball over just twice last night, which is extremely impressive when factoring in just how dangerous Green, Durant, and Andre Iguodala are on the defensive end.
As a result, the now 8-9 Thunder proved that when the pieces fit properly, their big three can take down a once seemingly unbeatable Golden State team.
Dion Waiters:
Similar to Anthony, the now 8-9 Miami Heat, led by guard Dion Waiters, beat one of the NBA’s hottest teams in the Boston Celtics, ending their 16-game winning streak last night.
The similarities between Anthony and Waiters’ performances from last night are uncanny. Waiters also played 36 minutes last night, scored just four more points than Anthony (26), and shot just one percent better from the field (46%).
In addition to the strong scoring performance, Waiters dished out a game-high six assists, grabbed two rebounds, and turned the ball over just once.
While Anthony hit big shots in the early stages of OKC’s upset win over Golden State, it was Waiters’ late-game heroics that led the Heat to shock the NBA’s hottest team.
Waiters hit contested shot after shot in the face of Boston’s premier defenders with ease. Up 91-90 with 3:00 left on the clock, Waiters pulled up for three over Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum from the corner. The shot hit the rim, then the top of the backboard, then the rim again, and dropped through the net, all while waiters walked backward in confidence, showing that he knew the ball was going in.
Just three days before, the 25-year-old went 0-10 against the Indiana Pacers from the field. His confidence is contagious, and he proved that the league’s best shooters really can have off nights every now and then, but come storming back instantly as if nothing happened the following game.
Wesley Johnson:
Clippers Forward Wesley Johnson proved that he can score the basketball at an alarmingly efficient rate Wednesday night. The 30-year-old proved that his meaningful role with Los Angeles is due to more than just injuries, early season struggles, and his defensive capabilities.
Starting in his eighth game of the season, the versatile Clipper scored 24 points on a strong 8-10 shooting, including an unbelievable 6-7 from three-point land. Going into last night, Johnson had been averaging less than seven points per game, and without his strong performance, many including myself can confidently say that the Clippers would have lost to a miserable Atlanta Hawks team.
In addition to his scoring outburst, Johnson had a rebound, assist, block, steal, and did not turn the ball over once in the win. Like Anthony and Waiters, Johnson coincidentally also played 36 minutes last night.
Honorable Mentions:
Michael Carter-Williams:
Michael Carter-Williams has not lived up the ceiling of his monstrous 2014 Rookie of the Year season suggested he would reach, at all. Going into Wednesday night, the 26-year-old had played in just five games, was averaging just two points, and was shooting a dreadful 14% from the field.
Things were different last night. In 18 minutes of action, Carter-Williams scored 11 points on an efficient 2-4 shooting (2-2 from three) and hit converted 5/6 free throws.
In addition to the strong offensive performance, Carter-Williams had three steals in Charlotte’s win over the 10-8 and ever so relevant Washington Wizards, who are poised to make a deep run in the Eastern Conference this coming April.
If the Syracuse product can continue to perform at this level, the Hornets will soon realize that he is a steal for a player making less than $3 million this season.
Jerami Grant:
Jerami Grant has been much more than the defensive specialist Oklahoma City expected him to be when the 2017-18 season began. Going into last night, Grant was averaging over nine points per game, more than four rebounds per game, and was shooting nearly 50% from the floor.
There’s a good reason why the 23-year-old was the first Thunder player subbed into last night’s game. Last night was a blowout for the Thunder by the second quarter, and because of that, Grant only played 14 minutes.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History
Grant scored just two points on three shots, grabbed two rebounds, and had two blocks, his all-around polished game results in a lot of his positive contributions going unnoticed on the stat sheet. However, had this game been close, it is safe to say that the Syracuse product would have been more than ready to provide offense for a Thunder team that knows how to share the basketball.