As Michigan State graduates, the Grizzlies’ Xavier Tillman and Jaren Jackson Jr. have a tight bond with the Warriors’ Draymond Green, but those feelings are put on hold during the playoffs, writes Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Green and Jackson have sniped at each other through the first two games of their series, and Tillman hit Green in the eye with an elbow as they chased a loose ball, causing him to need stitches.
“They’re going to try to take your head off. I’m going to try to take their head off. That’s just the reality of it,” Green said. “You’re competing for something that you put your heart into … you dedicate a lot of time to this, you sacrifice a lot of things for this. So ultimately, they stand in the way of what I want, I stand in the way of what they want.”
Tillman and Jackson both view Green as a mentor, Barnes adds. Spartans coach Tom Izzo frequently compared Tillman to Green when he was in college, and Tillman incorporated aspects of Green’s game into his own.
“I’ve watched his career every step of the way, trying to figure out how I can mold mine like his and stay in this league for a long time and be productive on the things I’m most comfortable at,” Tillman said.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane, who was listed as questionable before Game 2 because of back soreness, is feeling better, tweets Mark Medina of USA Today. “I don’t think he’s at full strength like he was in the regular season, but he’s the ultimate competitor,” coach Taylor Jenkins said.
- Coming off an impressive playoff performance, Pelicans rookie Jose Alvarado announced this week that he wants to eventually win Defensive Player of the Year honors. “One day I’m going win DPOY,” he tweeted Thursday. “Mark my word!”
- Purdue’s Jaden Ivey may be the most talented guard in the draft, but he might be an awkward fit with the Rockets, who already have Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green in their backcourt, observes Kelly Iko of The Athletic. If Houston ends up taking Ivey, who is consistently projected as a top four pick, Iko believes Porter would move from lead guard to playmaking forward, which was his original position when he entered the NBA.
That really would be great if Alvarado wins DPOY… he is good enough for it, all will depend if the league will give it to a boricua!
Alvarado avg 15 mins a gm. I guess we can all dream.
Ivey is a 2 guard. Rockets have Green there. No way they will draft Ivey. At 4 if he’s best available, I can see a trade.
Not a Porter fan, at all. To me he’s best suited as the third guard in a rotation. Can still play 26-30 mins. Can play either 1-2. Rockets still need a real PG.
Rockets will be picking top 3. If they land the top pick. They are not Taking Ivey. They probably take Smith. It’s the right pick. Biggest upside imo. Rockets also have the 17th pick. Where they can find a center (Mark Williams). Could be gone, maybe??
I can see them taking a PG if Williams is gone. Washington Jr (Kentucky) Wesley (Notre Dame) one of them should be there.
Ivey is a player that fits the young Pistons best imo.
The most talented guard in the 2022 NBA draft shoots 73.9% from the FT line and is below 2.0 in Steal Rate? Too bad the Celtics don’t have a first round pick.