“Skyler’s Swishes” is a column by Skyler Trepel covering the week’s top basketball events.
This week’s swishes feature an all-time playoff performance, an all-time playoff game-winner and insight on a recent Trojan’s future.
Trae Young cements superstar status with an all-time great performance
If you didn’t know Trae Young’s name before, you should definitely know it now. Young put up a jaw-dropping performance for the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday to upset the favored Milwaukee Bucks.
Young dropped a legendary 48 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds to deliver a 116-113 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Young joined current Lakers superstar LeBron James and Lakers legend Kobe Bryant as the only players 22 or younger to score more than 45 points in a Conference Finals game.
Young was a highlight reel all game, including this filthy dime to John Collins on his way to double-digit assists.
During the 2021 Playoffs Young has also been making a name for himself igniting rivalries on the road, which included taking a bow after draining a three in Madison Square Garden while eliminating the New York Knicks. He also drained a ridiculously deep three to give the Hawks momentum in eliminating the Philadelphia 76ers. Finally, in Game 1 in Milwaukee, he busted out a shoulder shimmy while draining a 3-pointer near the end of the third quarter amid his historic scoring spree.
Deandre Ayton reminds us why there’s nothing more exciting then playoff basketball
Deandre Ayton provided a historic playoff moment on Tuesday as the Phoenix Suns stunned the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Ayton recorded a brilliantly efficient double-double of 24 points on 12-of-15 shooting with 14 rebounds. However, his final two points are what will be remembered the most.
The 2018 No. 1 draft pick stands at a staggering 6-foot-11 but showed off his astounding athleticism all night during his career-high scoring outburst in the playoffs. Ayton was able to convert silky smooth mid-range jumpers and drive to the hoop like a guard, but he still found time for his signature big-man slams.
The Clippers were set to win the game or at least go up by three as Paul George went to the free-throw line with 8.2 seconds left. Somehow, the career 84.7% free-throw shooter missed both free throws, leaving an inexplicable door open for Ayton to create his playoff moment.
Jae Crowder and Ayton hooked up for an alley-oop earlier in the night, but no one could have predicted what would happen to end the game. Crowder inbounded the ball at a ridiculously perfect angle as Ayton rose up, using his soft hands to gracefully catch it while simultaneously throwing down a thunderous slam with 0.7 seconds on the clock.
There were doubts about Ayton originally, but with Ayton and Devin Booker in the Conference Finals it seems as though this young Suns core has a bright future ahead of them.
USC star Evan Mobley’s future becomes clearer
Evan Mobley was an absolute superstar for the USC Trojans men’s basketball team this season. Mobley is poised to be the NBA’s next unicorn big man, as he is one of the more unique players to come around in a while with his staggering defense, deep-shooting ability, guard-like athleticism and ferocious dunks.
Mobley is a seven-footer who most teams have projected to go No. 2 in the draft. After Tuesday’s lottery, we know which teams he is likely to go to, although he could still go anywhere in the top 3.
The Detroit Pistons own the No. 1 pick and while Cade Cunningham is poised to go first overall, the Pistons have made it clear they aren’t ruling out Mobley or projected No. 3 pick Jalen Green. The Houston Rockets are picking at No. 2, and this is where things get interesting. Mobley has long been projected to go No. 2 — but the fit may not be there.
The Rockets already have an athletic, breakout big man in Christian Wood and the Cleveland Cavaliers lack a strong inside presence at No. 3. Not only that, but with Kyle Lowry possibly leaving the Toronto Raptors, currently picking at No. 4, they may want to trade up to draft Mobley in an attempt to regain relevance and their winning ways.
Mobley became the first college player to win his conference’s Freshman of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards since Los Angeles Lakers superstar and NBA champion Anthony Davis. We’ll soon find out if Mobley can match Davis’s NBA success and even surpass former Trojan and four-time NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan as the most successful NBA player from USC of all time.
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June 26, 2021 at 12:40PM
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Skyler's Swishes: Big-time shots and big-time players - uscannenbergmedia.com
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