With a string of injuries at the point guard position, the Los Angeles Lakers have dipped into the NBA D-League to look for potential talent, and they may have found a gem.
With injuries to Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Steve Blake, Xavier Henry and most recently Jordan Farmar, the Lakers were desperate for help in the backcourt, that’s where Kendall Marshall comes in. The 22-year-old PG out of North Carolina was drafted 13th overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2012 but was unable to find his niche in the league. He’s since been playing elsewhere, including with the Delaware 87ers where he was called up from.
Let me throw this out there, I’m not sold on this whole “Marshall Madness” thing quite yet.
Through three games with the Lakers he’s been efficient, averaging about 13 points and eight assists per game, but it was his third game that turned heads.
On Friday night at Staples Center against the Utah Jazz, Marshall recorded 20 points, 15 assists, and six rebounds. L.A. also got the 110-99 win and snapped its six game losing streak.
Give Marshall credit, after the best game of his NBA career, he didn’t recognize his own play but commented on the win instead.
thankful. good win #LaLa
— Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) January 4, 2014
Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni brought up a well-known name after the game. “I’m not making any comparison but Jeremy Lin did the same thing,” he told reporters. We all know about the splash that Lin made in New York with the Knicks a couple seasons ago when he was coached by none other than Mike D’Antoni. Like Marshall, Lin was called up from the D-League and after a few games of riding the bench, had his opportunity. He strung together a series of big games as the Knicks starting point guard and became one of the NBA’s most famous player’s because of it.
There’s no need to caution you all about this, but I will anyways. It’s only one game. Let’s see if he can do this again. Remember, success can be temporary but consistency is skill.
Previous Tweet Post:
Tweet of the Night: J.R. Smith admits making bad decision against Rockets, accepts criticism
___
Brett Poirier is a contributor to Sheridan Hoops. Follow @BrettNBA
Who else thinks that the NBA All-Star voting is a disgrace and players get voted for no reason? Sound off now!
http://fantasysportsadvice.sportsblog.com/post/531975/nba_all_star_voting_is.html