It was a down week for Pro Cougs in the NBA: Cedric Coward hit a plateau with scoring but was active on the glass and in playmaking; Jaylen Wells’ jumpshot does not want to come out as he is still struggling from deep; and Klay Thompson finished the week off with his two best showing of the week, hoping to carry his three-point shooting as of late for the rest of the season.
Jaylen Wells (Memphis Grizzlies) –Wells’ job in the Grizzlies offense is to be a good two-way player, however he cannot be that when his jumpshot is inefficient. Wells started the week great against the Knicks with 18 points, three rebounds and four assists, shooting 57.1% from three. He followed up the performance with five points and four assists on 20% shooting. In his final game of the week, Wells had eight points, two rebounds, four fouls and two turnovers. Wells broke his wrist last season, and since then, his shot has not looked the same. With a struggling Grizzlies team, they need Wells to find his shot and go back to being a very good two-way player.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Jaylen Wells hangs in the air as he shoots the ball with just one hand, Jan. 24, in Pullman, Wash.
Klay Thompson (Dallas Mavericks) – The Cougar great may not be washed. After being benched last week, Thompson called himself “washed.” He had a point to begin the week after dropping six points on 28.6% shooting. However, he quickly turned the slump around with a 19-point showing on 37.5% shooting from deep. Thompson followed the showing with 13 points, two rebounds and two assists on 40% shooting from three. To end the week, he had 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and one block on 45% three-point shooting. It may be time for a new home for the career sharp-shooter, as the pairing has not worked as planned and both are in different directions. Thompson left Golden State because he did not want to come off the bench. He believes he can still affect winning, and with the Mavericks sitting at 4-10, the two sides could come to a buy-out or trade.
Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies) –While he has been the best Coug in the NBA this season, the high of Coward has slowly started to regress. Shooting issues of Coward’s teammate, Jaylen Wells, seems to have rubbed off on him, as he had his worst three-point shooting week of the season. Coward started the week with a stuffed statsheet against the Knicks with 11 points, three rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals on 30% shooting. Against Boston, Coward had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists on 25% shooting. To end his week, he had 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one block on 37.5% shooting. Coward became a starter for the Grizzlies this week but it did not change his approach.
“Honestly, starting never really mattered to me. It was just making an impact,” Coward said onX.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Cedric Coward celebrates after a WSU basket, Nov. 9, in Pullman, Wash.
Mouhamed Gueye (Atlanta Hawks) – Gueye finished last week with 21 points against the Lakers, but this week he has scored less than he did in that one game. Against the Clippers, he had two points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal. Gueye had a down game against the Kings with two points, three rebounds and two assists on 25% shooting. Against the Jazz, he had eight points, two rebounds and one assist on 44% shooting. To end the week against the Suns, he finished with his worst showing of 0 points, one rebound, three fouls and one turnover. Mouhamed Gueye is third in the league in FG% in the restricted area at 90.9%, having made 20-22 shots. Gueye has been a solid option for the Hawks this season. With the losses of Clint Capela and John Collins, he has flourished.
COLE QUINN
WSU forward Mouhamed Gueye makes his entrance during ZZUMania, Nov. 2. 2022.
Isaac Jones (Detroit Pistons) –Jones did not play again this week for the second week this season. He has been assigned to the Pistons G-league team Motor City Cruise, currently averaging 16 points and nine rebounds a game.
BRANDON WILLMAN
Isaac Jones floats as he shoots the ball with his right hand, Jan. 24, in Pullman, Wash.
Overall, it was an inconsistent week for Pro Cougs in the NBA. Cedric Coward remained productive; Despite cooling off, Jaylen Wells was still searching for his jumper; and Mouhamed Gueye regressed after a strong showing the week prior. Klay Thompson was the best Coug, and hopefully his jumpshot stays with him.