Quiet but important news, Josh Hart will start for the 2022-23 fiscal year with the Blazers. We spoke very recently of this rotation as one of the last of which, nine days before the resumption, all the strings had not yet been drawn. It is now done with this spot recovered by the master of the hustle. Debrief.
Boom, badaboum, boom boom boom. What do we hear in the distance? Could it be the sound of one of the last rotations of NBA which releases the drums of war to announce its starting five? Started in 118 of his 296 career NBA gamesJosh Hart just got the last spot of the starting five Blazers. A great reward for the one who stumbled in the middle of a totally improvised Portland squad at the end of last season. In the middle of a mess of guys who hadn’t seen the floor of the year, G League players and parents of students, Josh Hart produced excellent offensive stats: 19.9 points at 50% in shooting including 37% from 3-pointers, 5.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.2 interceptions in 13 games. All the more “ valuable » when you know what he represents on the other side of the floor, where his agility and lateral speed allow him to intercept, throw himself, contain and deter opposing exteriors. Arrived in early February in Oregon via the trade between Blazers and Pelicans including CJ McCollum, Lary Nance Jr, Tony Snell, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Didi Louzada, Josh Hart worked hard in an environment devoid of any competition so that his 2022-23 salary year is finally guaranteed by the front office from Portland. On March 12, he even broke his career record by slamming 44 points on the Wizards. Performance alone is enough to justify its 13 million dollars per season.
“Okay, he’s good and versatile, but isn’t TrashTalk a bit light as a starter in the West? ». By favoring 27 years of experience and the good dynamics of Josh Hart to Nassir Little and Justise Winslow, Chauncey Billups – Blazers coach – made a choice that could be considered “wise”. He sends a professional player into battle, ready to give his body to science on one side of the floor, while letting Damian Lillard have fun on the other side. However, last night’s trip to Sacramento did not (for now) verify this complementarity. The starting five chosen by Billups was the same announced for the season opener in nine days: Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Josh Hart, Jerami Grant et Jusuf Nurkic. Results of this first test, a defeat of 30 points, Josh Hart limited to 3 units, Damian Lillard to 2/10 in shooting, Jusuf Nurkic a little shy (for a change), and a pair Anfernee Simons – Jerami Grant who saves the honors . Should we therefore attach importance to a setback – even if heavy – in the pre-season? Without affirming that yes or no, we think that we will have to garner a minimum of confidence, together, before the resumption of official games. Tuesday night against the Warriors would be the perfect date.
Source texte : Aaron J. Fentress pour The Oregonian