Ja Morant might be the Most Improved Player this season who tormented every defense throughout the season, but not Patrick Beverley, not in the playoffs.
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Patrick Beverley is one of those mysteries that has been unsolvable for many for almost a decade, yet he doesn’t get his due respect. He gets overlooked for not being over the top good because he’s not a traditional guard.
Still, the former Clippers point guard is not somebody any player or coach would want to be on their opposite team, yet he doesn’t get enough praise for his dogged defense and unparalleled enthusiasm.
The 33-year-old looked pretty animated and emotional when the Wolves beat his former team in the Play-in tournament and the whole basketball community made fun of him, everyone.
They did so because most of them knew that his team would be facing the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. The Grizzlies have been the 2nd best team out of 30 in the league.
Little did anyone know that 4 games down the line, the Timberwolves would have won two games and have an equal chance to play in the Conference Semi-finals. And Pat Bev is one of the reasons they are where they are.
Ja Morant when Patrick Beverley is on the floor this series:
34.6% FG
33.3% 3FG
13 TOVHe’s shooting 61.5% when Pat Bev sits. pic.twitter.com/eN9cxEvrOb
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 24, 2022
Patrick Beverley is suffocating Ja Morant and is outplaying him
Already having tortured Grizzlies and most certainly Ja Morant, on and off the court, Beverley was too hyped in Game 3 as Memphis looked like a struggling team to start the game.
He threw away some “too small” at Morant and Co and when the Grizzlies made an incredible comeback to win the game from 25 points down, people again went off on Beverley for celebrating too early.
But that’s who he is he would never hide anything fearing people’s hatred. He’ll just keep his head up, be what he is, do what he does, and be noticed as much as he can. That’s what he did again in Game 4 where he scored more than Ja while locking him up throughout the game, leading to a 119-118 Wolves win.
Patrick Beverley tonight:
17 PTS
5 AST
5/8 FG
4/6 3PT
2 BLKHuge night from Mr.94 Feet! pic.twitter.com/DfF7Y9SxqC
— WolvesMuse (@statmusewolves) April 24, 2022
Twitter gave him his respect this time.
Patrick Beverley just outscored Ja Morant in a playoff game.
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) April 24, 2022
Minnesota Patrick Beverley is in my top 10 favorite players of all time https://t.co/u2LCqlQoIz
— Zachlandia || Hashira in training (@Wachlandia) April 24, 2022
As he says it himself, love him or hate him, you just cannot ignore Patrick Beverley not as players, not as coaches, and surely not as fans.