This week in the NBA
TOP BUCKS PLAYER
Jabari Parker continued his strong play as he averaged 25.7 points in three games last week, including 27-point showings against Portland and Atlanta. Parker also had 23 points and eight rebounds in a 97-96 loss to San Antonio on Monday. If anything, Parker’s performances have come under the radar with all the attention on teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. But his teammates have noticed, and Antetokounmpo went out of his way to praise Parker after a 115-107 victory over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
BUCKS LOOK AHEAD
Milwaukee faces three tough games, beginning Monday night in Toronto against the Raptors. The Bucks lost a close one against Toronto at home last month, and they know they face a talented backcourt duo in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. On Thursday night the Bucks get some national attention with a TNT-televised home game against Chicago, a chance for Parker and Antetokounmpo to showcase their talents while facing Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade. Just 24 hours later, the teams meet again at the United Center.
BUCKS QUOTE
Center Greg Monroe, on the team blowing a 20-point halftime lead against Atlanta and losing, 114-110, on Friday: “It just can’t happen.”
TOP NBA PLAYER
Los Angeles Lakers super-sub Lou Williams scored 137 points over a four-game span, the most points off the bench by an NBA player since such statistics have been kept (the 1970-’71 season). Williams scored 40 points against Memphis on Dec. 3 and 38 on Monday against Utah. He added 24 against Houston and a game-high 35 vs. Phoenix on Friday, but all came in Lakers’ defeats. “It feels the same as not scoring a bunch of points and losing,” Williams said. “Losing is losing.”
TOP NBA TEAM
Memphis, despite playing without point guard Mike Conley, took a five-game winning streak into a home matchup with Golden State on Saturday night. New coach David Fizdale has provided inspiring leadership for the Grizzlies, who have 10 wins by five points or fewer. Big man Marc Gasol had 36 points and nine rebounds in the Grizzlies’ 88-86 victory over Portland on Thursday, the third straight time Gasol had scored more than 25 points.
NBA QUOTE
New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, after responding on Instagram to Knicks president Phil Jackson’s comments that Anthony holds the ball too long: "I'm a big quote guy. Got a million quotes on my phone. Sometimes they come up at the right time."
NBA RANKINGS (through Friday)
Top 10: 1. Golden State, 2. Cleveland, 3. San Antonio, 4. Toronto, 5. Houston, 6. Memphis, 7. Los Angeles Clippers, 8. Oklahoma City, 9. Boston, 10. Chicago.
Middle 10: 11. Charlotte, 12. Utah, 13. New York, 14. Detroit, 15. Atlanta, 16. Milwaukee, 17. Portland, 18. Indiana, 19. Los Angeles Lakers, 20. Orlando.
Bottom 10: 21. Washington, 22. New Orleans, 23. Sacramento, 24. Denver, 25. Miami, 26. Phoenix, 27. Brooklyn, 28. Minnesota, 29. Philadelphia, 30. Dallas.
ONE MAN'S OPINION
What can Antetokounmpo do to control his habit of committing silly fouls?
He played only 24 minutes Friday night after getting into early foul trouble. Antetokounmpo missed a critical portion of the fourth quarter after picking up his fifth foul with 6:27 remaining. When he returned with 3:15 left, the Bucks’ lead was gone.
The Bucks need Antetokounmpo to stay aggressive, and he will pick up some charging fouls while going to the hoop. But he can’t reach unnecessarily as he did in the aftermath of a jump ball near midcourt in the first half, with nothing to gain from the attempt.
When the Greek Freak gets in foul trouble, it also affects the minutes he does play. He was discombobulated in an overtime loss at Dallas after early fouls, and it showed up again in the loss to Atlanta on Friday.
The 22-year-old Antetokounmpo had just one assist against the Hawks, one game after posting a triple-double against Portland.
It’s about finding the balance between aggressive play and smart play, something he will learn as he matures.