Page 39 - Sports Illustrated Kids (October 2018)

% . &)# %* * % %+&% &0-2/0 $ $' * $/&77)&"0 ## ** 3"/& (0

-")& +0 Crucial Class: SPEECH Crucial Class: Crucial Class: GERMAN

The last time San Antonio GOVERNMENT Let’s start with
Crucial missed the playoffs, Mike Conley is one of the basics. WEST
Class: P.E. in 1997, the top point guards in the Repeat after
No team first-round league—when he plays. The us: Danke
likes to run pick Lonnie 31-year-old has missed schön, Dirk.
more than New Walker hadn’t 109 games in the past three It’s pronounce SO
Orleans. The been born. seasons, including 70 last dahnk-a
Pelicans led That 21-year year because of foot injuries. shoon, and UTH
the NBA last postseason run Memphis was 7–5 when he it means
year in pace is the second played and 15–55 when he thank you
(which Win MVP: longest in didn’t. In recent seasons, very much. WE
measures Anthony Davis history—and it’s the 11-year pro No current
the in danger. The has evolved as a player has ST
number of Spurs traded scorer, and the served his
possessions per perennial All- Grizzlies will team longer than PF Dirk
game). And it paid off, as Star SF Kawhi need that trend Nowitzki, who is coming
they finished the season Leonard, who to continue. back for his 20th season.
on a roll and swept the was unhappy They The 40-year-old, who
Trail Blazers in the first with the team, were came to Dallas from
round of the playoffs behind to Toronto one Würzburg, Germany, in
another strong season from for SG of 1998—when current
C Anthony Davis. The DeMar DeRozan. Last just two teams Dallas PG Dennis
Brow averaged 28.1 ppg year PF LaMarcus that didn’t Smith Jr. was one. If
and continued to develop his Aldridge averaged a average 100 Nowitzki represents the
three-point shot. However, stellar 23.1 ppg and the points per past, Smith is the future.
the guy who ran the Pelicans’ Spurs barely snuck into game last He averaged 15.2 ppg as
offense, PG Rajon Rondo, the postseason. He’ll need year. Memphis a rookie, and if all goes
signed with the Lakers. The another big year—and picked up a few solid well, he and 2018 first
new man at the point is Elfrid DeRozan will have to veterans in the offseason, rounder G-F Luka Doncic
Payton, who is a step down seamlessly blend in to the but its most valuable will be around a long
when it comes to passing Spurs’ system—to keep addition would be a time—but probably not as
and defense. San Antonio’s streak alive. healthy Conley. long as Nowitzki.
&- ) ## ) B &- ) ## ) C+ &- ) ## ) C &- ) ## ) C-

&,*+&% /, ("10 Lose the Western shooting only threes

and layups was

Ariza; he only took one
Crucial class: MATH This is pretty basic Conference finals epitomized by SF Trevor
stuff, but the Rockets reminded us last year shot all year that didn’t
that 3>2. Houston relied on the three- come from behind the
pointer more than any team in history. arc or in the paint. Ariza signed
The Rockets launched more threes with the Suns in the offseason, and
(3,470) than two-pointers (3,436), and PF Luc Mbah a Moute joined the
they made 36.2% of them. How did they Clippers. Houston has plenty
get so many looks from behind the arc? of offensive firepower to
Their offense usually consisted of withstand the loss of those
SG James Harden two—but their absence will
or PG Chris Paul be felt on defense. And if the
Rockets are going to unseat
driving to the the Warriors, they’ll have to
GREG NELSON (5) hole while three State down.
do it by shutting Golden
shooters spotted
up. Houston’s
commitment to &- ) ## ) A