NBA Roundup: Evans Makes Impact Off Court, Smart Defense Wins Game

With college football essentially over and the NFL season entering the play-offs, we can turn more of our attention to basketball, both college and the NBA.

For Cowboy fans, that includes keeping tabs on the three former OSU studs competing in the NBA.

Jawun Evans

Last Week: Clippers 3-0

The Clippers are on a four game winning streak, and while Evans numbers won’t blow you away, he’s playing well in his 15-minutes-a-game duty during that stretch. He even got the start Sunday against Charlotte where he logged a 4-2-2 line in 14 minutes.

While he’s making an impact on the court, it’s what he did off of it during the holidays that made the headlines. Evans played Santa for about 30 kids at the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, bringing presents and helping to decorate Christmas cookies.

“It’s important that when you’re blessed with the opportunity to give back that you do give back,” Evans said. “The holidays should represent a special time for everyone, so I want to continue to do my part in the community.”

The NBA Cares Season of Giving is a great program, and one I’m glad to see Evans a part of.

Marcus Smart

Last Week: Celtics 4-0

Marcus Smart is known as one of the most relentless defenders in the NBA. His talent on that side of the ball was on display in the Celtics 99-98 win over Houston.

Marcus Smart draws two critical charges down the stretch to ice the game in tonight's @JetBlue Play of the Game! pic.twitter.com/TS5jr5VYgQ

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 29, 2017

His teammates of course love what he brings to the court for the team.

“Man, that just shows how crazy he is,” Rozier said. “He’s special, man. A guy like that, it’s not the first time I’ve seen him do things like that. But like I said, he’s just crazy. You need a crazy guy like that.”

“It just shows the value of Marcus Smart for our group, what he does to our team,” Horford said.

Heck, even former teammates still like him.

"I love Brad Stevens. I love Marcus Smart even though he flops all the time." ? pic.twitter.com/wysPeUs0FW

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2018

Tony Allen

Last Week: Pelicans 2-2

Speaking of relentless defenders, Tony Allen has yet to return from injury.

Meanwhile, his former Memphis teammate Marc Gasol is not happy with the team’s front office for letting Allen, as well as Zac Randolph, leave in the off-season.

“Zach and Tony being gone has been more difficult than you guys can see on the floor,” Gasol said.

While Allen is obviously on the downward trend of his career, I wish he could have finished it in Memphis where he helped to establish the awesome “Grit and Grind” mentality.