You can catch up on previous installments of the series here.
*record scratch*
I bet you’re wondering how I got here.
When I started this series, it was because of an idea that came to me as I was lying in bed. I quickly typed in my notes app on my iPhone 7. I honestly thought it’d be a way to learn more about some players that I didn’t know much about, but it turned into a reminder to go beyond the headlines. Dig deep. Find the glue guys that fall through the cracks.
The time has come for this series to come to an end.
Maybe, before this series started, you didn’t know the NBA even had divisions and are wondering what the purpose of them are since conference championships don’t even really mean much unless the team wins it all…
… or maybe that’s just me. Regardless, whether this is your first time reading this series (or me for that matter), I hope it broadens your NBA horizons.
Let’s begin.
Houston Rockets: James Ennis
When Trevor Ariza signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Phoenix Suns, it came as a bit of a surprise. The Rockets had big free agent decisions to make (CP3, Capela, Ariza) while also figuring out how to move Ryan Anderson’s contract. Money was tight.
The Rockets then decided to give Clint Capela a five-year, $90 million extension (smart move) while also giving Chris Paul a max contract just shy of $160 million; one that includes a player option for $44 million when he’s 36 (bad, bad, bad move).
Then, the Rockets signed James Ennis to a two-year, $3.4 million deal to take Ariza’s spot in the starting five until the Rockets thought making half of a banana boat was a good move.
*laughs in Melo*
Melo was cut and is still a free agent. Ennis has started in 22 games. Good move.
Acknowledging the small sample size (only one five-man combination for the Houston Rockets this season has played more than 200 minutes together), Ennis is in two of the top-five.
Ennis is knocking down 36.3% of his triples (seven
He’s also knocking down a scorching 66.7% of his two-point attempts.
Ennis may not be in Houston much longer, but he may be finally taking off.
San Antonio Spurs: Rudy Gay
Yes, Rudy Gay, who’s long been referred to as a journeyman, but, including the Spurs, has only played for four teams in his career.
That Rudy Gay, who’s long been viewed as a volume scorer and holds a career field goal percentage of 45%.
The same Rudy Gay who’s seemingly been forgotten about but is quietly having a great year.
Rudy Gay is currently averaging 14.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 2.4 APG on .525/.451/.844 splits.
His 45.1 3P% is fifth-best among all SFs and is seeing a 14% improvement from last season.
Gay has also made 28 starts in the 31 games he’s appeared in as well. He doesn’t get a lot of media attention, similar to the team he plays for, but that’s okay.
Memphis Grizzlies: Garrett Temple
Temple, unlike Gay, fits the definition of a journeyman a bit better. Here’s a list of teams he’s played for:
- Houston Rockets
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Charlotte Bobcats
- Miami Heat
- Washington Wizards
- Sacramento Kings (second stint)
- Memphis Grizzlies
Temple has played for over a quarter of the teams in the NBA, and in the final year of his contract, is playing his best basketball.
He’s currently averaging 10.7 PPG (career high), 3.2 RPG (career high), 1.4 APG, and 1.1 SPG on .462/.388/.797.
The numbers aren’t staggering, but his on/off +7.3 offensive rating is impressive.
Arguably more impressive is appearing in and starting in every game Memphis has played this season and
Garrett Temple isn’t the Grizzlies’ answer at shooting guard for the next decade, but he’s stabilized one of Memphis’ most glaring weaknesses.
Dallas Mavericks: Dorian Finney-Smith
Besides having one of the best names in the NBA, Finney-Smith has been one of Dallas’ best and most-consistent players this season.
Finney-Smith’s 36.2 3P% ranks third on the team. His 45.9 FG% ranks fourth on the team (third if you don’t count Salah Mejri’s 61.5 FG% from his 5.9 MPG).
He’s also made 11 starts this season for the Mavs, but his value comes off the bench.
As a reserve, Finney-Smith shoots 42.6% from beyond the arc and a 48.7 FG%. His 68.8 FT% leaves something to be desired in those minutes, but his high basketball IQ makes up for it.
Despite Dirk’s forthcoming departure from the league and Doncic’s strong play, the future of the Mavericks may depend on Cuban and Co.’s ability to keep finding players like Finney-Smith.
New Orleans Pelicans: Tim Frazier
If team records were actually indicators of a team’s level of play, then the New Orleans Pelicans are the second-worst team in the Western Conference, just ahead of the Orlando Magic.
Thankfully, team records aren’t indicators of a team’s level of play. However, the season is already one-third of the way through, and a team with Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic, and Julius Randle are 9-12 against teams in the Western Conference and 4-15 on the road.
(No, this isn’t going to turn into where I think Anthony Davis should end up or anything about the future state of the Pelicans).
One players that’s helped the current state of the Pelicans is Tim Frazier.
This season is technically Frazier’s third with the Pelicans (he’s New Orleans’ Ish Smith, real ones know), and his familiarity with HC Alvin Gentry’s schemes and coaching philosophies certainly haven’t hurt.
On paper, Frazier is currently averaging a mere 4.8 PPG in 20.0 minutes of action but is also averaging 4.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds in that span. He’s also ripping twine on 40.9% of his three-point attempts so far this season.
Frazier has been forced to make 16 starts so far this season with Elfrid Payton out. When starting, he’s averaged 7.3 PPG, 6.3 APG and 3.6 RPG on .494/.459/.810 shooting splits.
Frazier is likely not the Pelicans long-term answer at point, but he’s been a stable placeholder until Payton returns.