Friendly Bounce Belt: Paul George BACK

Welcome back to the Friendly Bounce Belt, our weekly power ranking of awesome moments. Last week, Kristaps Porzingis took home the belt by virtue of being the greatest player of all-time. Let’s see who the champ is this week. 

Paul George is about a year-and-a-half removed from a brutal leg injury that could’ve easily ended his playing career. That makes what he’s doing right now all the more remarkable. We don’t seem to hear about him as often as we do other superstars around the league, and that needs to change. So far this season, he’s led the Pacers to an 11-5 record while averaging over 27 points, eight boards and four assists a game. He’s also shooting a career-best 45.9% from the field, and 45.5% from three-point range. In short, Paul George is unstoppable right now.

He was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 37.3 points and 6.7 rebounds while connecting on a blistering 57.1% (!!!) on his threes as Indiana went 3-0. The highlight was his 40-point effort against Washington in which he hit 7-of-8 from deep. Let’s enjoy the barrage:

He capped his week by dropping 39 on the Lakers on the evening Kobe Bryant announced his retirement:

Not a bad week, I’d say.

The Contenders

Dwight Howard Kristaps’d Kristaps

Kristaps Porzingis is the king of the putback, as we’ve learned over the last several weeks. If the ball is in the air anywhere near the rim, Kristaps is going to soar like an eagle and dunk it all over you. Them’s just the rules.

Clearly, though, Dwight Howard hasn’t learned the new rules and decided to challenge King Kristaps to an aerial duel. Dwight won.

(h/t Kenny Ducey)

Lob City Redux

We know Lob City for the #DUNKZZZ. Last week in Denver, Blake Griffin decided to add a new wrinkle to it.

(via Justin Russo)

Kevin Durant is yammin’

Kevin Durant made his glorious return to the court in last week’s demolition of the Jazz, and looked no worse for the wear. KD dumped 27 on the Jazz on 10-13 shooting, though no two points were more beautiful than this Jordan-esque jam off the lob from Russell Westbrook.

Hassan Whiteside = Road Runner, Kristaps Porzingis = Wile E. Coyote

The Knicks were getting desperate down-the-stretch in last week’s eventual loss to Miami, and Kristaps Porzingis was told by Derek Fisher to intentionally foul Hassan Whiteside. This strategy is pretty hit-or-miss, but one way to ensure it can’t work for the opposition is to just outrun the guy trying to foul you. Mission accomplished, Hassan!

(h/t Rob Perez)