MavsCourtsideView reports: Devean George felt good about his first appearance of the season Thursday night. The veteran swingman returned to the lineup against Denver and played in short spurts totaling seven minutes. “I was trying to be active, but at the same time knowing my timing was off and not really trying to do too much,” he said today. “Not try to force the issue and slowly get my way back in.”
Day: December 8, 2007
Jarrett Jack feels left out
Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan and guard Jarrett Jack recently had a discussion, as reported by the Oregonian:
The gist of the conversation was Jack’s involvement in the team’s offense lately. While the second unit has flourished recently behind the dynamic play of Travis Outlaw (18.4 points, 7.2 rebounds the past five games), the hot shooting of James Jones (11-of-14 over the past two games) and effective play from Sergio Rodriguez (18 assists, five turnovers the past six games), Jack has drifted into anonymity.
Jack said he feels his best attribute is driving to the basket, but he has had fewer and fewer opportunities to take advantage that strength as the ball has increasingly been put in either Brandon Roy or Sergio’s hands. In the past seven games, Jack is 17-for-47 (36.2 percent) from the field, during which his scoring average has gone from a season-high 12.2 points a game to 10.5.
This season through 19 games, Jack is playing 26.2 minutes per game, down from 33.6 last season. He’s averaging 10.5 points and 3.3 assists per game, down from last season’s 12.0 points and 5.3 assists. However, his rebounding, field goal and three-point field goal pecentages are virtually identical.