Power Forward Grades
Hoiberg is finally catching it just right.
Joffrey Lauvergne – Grade: C
I don’t even have time for this. With Cristiano Felicio hurt and a suspension to Robin Lopez for trying to knock Serge Ibaka into next week, he got a start and managed 17 points in 28 minutes against the Pistons. He hasn’t done much of anything else the rest of the week. His shooting was lousy against the Sixers and Bucks and he’s not an impact defender, though he generally is good about giving effort.
Nikola Mirotic – Grade: A+
A non-Butler ‘A’ grade is handed out to none other than Niko. Yes, the boy is straight fire right now. He’s got great passing when he chooses to not jack up a shot every time he touches the ball, tried on defense and doesn’t get tossed like Portis. The real thing with Niko is this: Is his shot falling? If it is, you get a couple weeks of WOW! If it isn’t, you’ve got the kind of player that you pray Gar Forman and John Paxson agree to let walk in the summer. In six of his last eight games, Mirotic has scored at least 14 points. He hasn’t come close to that the rest of the year. This week alone he had two games of 28 points. He’s been shooting at an insane clip. He’s shot 78.6 percent and 80 percent from the field in those games and in his last three games straight he’s shot 66.7 percent from 3-point range. His numbers can’t always be that good, but it would be nice if his numbers didn’t have to be so bad when he’s not this hot. For now, he’s the man and we should enjoy it.
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Bobby Portis – Grade: B+
Portis might be the backup, but he hasn’t been a slouch in that role. He didn’t have much to say about proceedings against Milwaukee, but he’s averaging over 19 minutes and 10 points per contest in the past week. He had his best game in a win against Philly, a game where Mirotic wasn’t outscoring everyone else on the court, and he put up a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds. He’s been solid in his production and it is a strange serenity that both he and Mirotic are sliding into their roles and performing appropriately in them.